The Next UN: Visions for a Regenerative Future

In this fireside episode, Silke sits with spiritual elder Jyoti Ma and Earth lawyer Alexandra (“Ally”) Pimor to explore a simple yet transformative question: What was the UN born for — and what does that origin ask of us now? Together, they trace the UN’s roots as a spiritual endeavour grounded in peace, dignity, and a collective choice for life, inviting staff to realign everyday actions with this original intention. Ally expands the meaning of “We the peoples” to include rivers, forests, future generations, and more-than-human nations, offering concrete ways to bring these voices into programmes and governance. Both guests return to the power of individual agency, reminding us that while institutions may feel stuck, people never are — each email, meeting, and act of integrity is a seed shaping the future. The episode ultimately offers a hopeful call to dream the UN forward by nurturing reciprocity, deep listening, and care for all life, and to remember that UN staff are not cogs in a machine, but gardeners in a living ecosystem.Join the conversation: regeneration-collective.org About the Podcast Guests: Jyoti Ma is an internationally respected spiritual teacher and bridge-builder between ancestral traditions and modern systems change. As Vision Keeper of The Fountain, she has dedicated her life to restoring balance between humanity and the Earth through sacred reciprocity and unity. She helped convene the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers and the Mother Earth Delegation of United Indigenous Nations, and works closely with the Kággaba Mamas in Colombia on the Sun Project to “remember the Golden Body.” Alexandra (“Ally”) Pimor is an Earth lawyer, legal scholar, and systems thinker working at the frontier of regenerative governance. As Director of Nature Governance at the Earth Law Center, she leads the pioneering Nature On The Board initiative — bringing the Rights of Nature into corporate and institutional decision-making.She served as one of the first proxies for Nature at the UK company Faith In Nature, and mentors a global network of Nature proxies through the Dandelion Fellowship. Her work invites us to reimagine law and governance as living systems that serve all of life.Connect with Alexandra on LinkedinEarth Law Center's Nature Governance Agency: a program for onboarding Nature (including Nature as inspiration, advisor, director and shareholder), and cultivating Nature-conscious governance and leadership praxis.Dandelion Fellowship: capacity‑building for individuals to practice and speak as a voice of nature

What if the UN could regenerate from the inside out—one meeting, one ritual, one relationship at a time?In this insightful conversation, host Silke von Brockhausen speaks with Liliana Uruburo, a culture-change advisor in the UN Secretariat’s Business Transformation and Accountability Division. Instead of debating large-scale reforms, they explore what every UN staff member can actually do tomorrow morning to make work more humane, energized, and effective—no matter their grade or duty station.Liliana introduces the idea of tending the UN’s “social soil”—the web of trust, presence, and relationships that makes everything else grow. Through small, repeatable habits, she shows how we can shift from fatigue and fragmentation toward clarity and collaboration.Key ThemesCulture before structure: Technology enables change, but people and relationships carry it.Micro-habits of regeneration: How brief practices like breath resets and collective listening can transform meetings.Middle management as the system’s pivot: Why the “squeezed middle” determines whether change sticks.Empowered early-career staff: Building credibility through clarity, kindness, and quiet value creation.Regeneration as participation: Re-imagining the UN’s renewal as a shared, living process—not another reform task force.💡 Practical TakeawaysTry these this month:Open–Listen–Close: Start with a 3-minute reset, practice collective listening mid-meeting, and end with one-line commitments and an energy check.Borrow before building: Before starting a new initiative, find an existing one and collaborate.Trust the outputs: Focus on outcomes over optics—flex where, when, and how work gets done.Find your circle: Join a practice group such as Transformative Spaces or NewWork to keep skills alive and embodied.Further ResourcesExplore Transformative Spaces and NewWork within the UN system for bite-size, experiential learning.Connect with Liliana Uruburo on LinkedIn.Discover more about The RE:Generation Collective and upcoming events here: regeneration-collective.org

Nora Bateson invites the UN to let life through: to work with information that is as alive as the systems we serve. Instead of preloading projects with KPIs, she proposes placing the SDGs at the end—tend the relationships that nourish relationships, then see what goals were actually met. In disaster and conflict, skip the town-hall shopping list; make space for people to be together (childcare, food, time) and allow new patterns to emerge. Warm Data Labs create an ecology of communication where personal stories widen perception—because perception is the action.Key themes Regeneration: “Participating in life that makes more life.” Relationships making relationships.Warm Data: Relational, trans-contextual information living between people, institutions, culture, ecology.Why metrics fall short: Streams of decontextualized data don’t add up to systemic understanding.SDGs at the end: Do what’s needed; afterwards, note which goals were met.Rupture as opening: In crisis, everyday patterns break—don’t impose; support emergence.No town halls: Don’t ask communities what they need in a competitive frame; it aligns them to power, not to each other.Make space: Provide childcare, food, time; let relationships re-knit.Ecology of communication: Personal stories neutralize status, amplify the quiet, soften the loud.Secretary-General thought experiment: Stop writing reports; bring in people who learn from how nature healsin multiple directions. Memorable lines“The information we need has to be as alive as the systems we want to make more life within.”“Perception is the action.”“Put the SDGs at the end, not the beginning.”“Don’t pit communities against each other for funding—help them align to each other, not to you.” About NoraNora Bateson leads the International Bateson Institute in Sweden. She coined Warm Data and developed Warm Data Labs, now facilitated in 40+ countries, to help groups perceive complexity together. She is the author of Small Arcs of Larger Circles and Combining, and director of An Ecology of Mind (about Gregory Bateson). Chapters00:00Introduction to Regeneration and the UN02:54Understanding Regeneration05:18The Concept of Warm Data10:44Challenges of Simplified Data in the UN16:07Building Relationships in Crisis22:05Creating Cohesion in Communities27:21Listening to Marginalized Voices32:56A New Way of Leading and Governing34:22Vision for the Future of the UNKey linksNora Bateson (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/nora-bateson-b4a2456/Warm Data Labs (Bateson Institute): https://batesoninstitute.org/warm-data/Nora Bateson at the Bateson Institute: https://batesoninstitute.org/nora-bateson/

In this conversation, Silke von Brockhausen and Eric Martin explore the concepts of regenerative and adaptive leadership within the context of the United Nations. They discuss the importance of redefining relationships, understanding the essence of humanity, and the need for a shift in mindset among leaders. Eric emphasizes the significance of navigating change, recognizing resistance, and the value of personal transformation in leadership. They also touch on practical tools for young leaders, the potential of a regenerative UN, and the importance of fostering a culture of truth and trust.Learn moreEric Martin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericrogermartin/Adaptive Change Advisors: https://adaptivechangeadvisors.com/Takeaways· Regeneration involves redefining relationships and values.· Leadership begins with personal transformation.· People resist loss, not change; understanding this is key.· Adaptive leadership requires discerning between technical and adaptive problems.· Young leaders should not wait for permission to lead.· Compassion and empathy are essential in leadership.· A regenerative UN would support individual contributions and creativity.· Appreciative inquiry focuses on highlighting what works well.· Daily contemplative practices can enhance leadership presence.· Understanding others' experiences fosters empathy and connection.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Regenerative Leadership02:20 Understanding Regeneration05:37 Adaptive Leadership Explained11:25 The Importance of Mindset in Leadership16:50 Navigating Change and Resistance21:26 Practical Tools for Young Leaders25:26 Envisioning a Regenerative UN29:07 The Role of Truth and Agency32:08 Appreciative Inquiry in Leadership34:01 Personal Practices for Grounded Leadership

In this conversation, Silke von Brockhausen (The RE:Generation Collective) and Joachim Stroh (Hypha) explore the concept of regeneration within the context of the United Nations and the role of technology in facilitating this transformation. They discuss the importance of moving from extractive practices to restorative ones, the potential of Web 3.0 and blockchain technology to enhance trust and collaboration, and the need for adaptable organizations that can respond to complex challenges. Joachim emphasizes the significance of collective decision-making, tokenization for community engagement, and the necessity of inner alignment within organizations to foster a regenerative culture. The discussion culminates in a vision for a more decentralized and participatory UN, highlighting practical steps that can be taken to initiate this transformation. Connect with Joachim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joachim-stroh/ Hypha's platform for systems change - https://hypha.earth/Chapters00:00 Introduction to Regeneration and the UN02:13 Understanding Regeneration: A Call to Action04:58 The Role of Technology in Regeneration08:10 Demystifying Web 3.0 and Blockchain15:39 Building Trust Through Technology20:16 Transforming Hierarchical Structures in Organizations23:52 Collaborative Decision-Making in Complex Environments28:44 Tokenization and Community Engagement31:26 Addressing Criticism of New Technologies36:14 Vision for a Regenerative UN39:06 Practical Steps for Regenerative Practices40:08 Engaging with Hypha and Future Collaborations

In this episode of the Regeneration Collective podcast, Silke von Brockhausen engages with Konkankoh, a social entrepreneur and indigenous environmental leader from Cameroon, to explore the concept of regeneration and its significance in the context of the United Nations. They discuss the importance of healthy systems, the urgency of regeneration in times of crisis, and the role of indigenous wisdom in shaping global governance. Konkanko emphasizes the need for the UN to address root causes of inequality and to learn from African cultural insights. The conversation culminates in a vision for regenerative leadership and practical daily practices for fostering regeneration. Connect with Konkankoh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuakonkankoh/Learn more about his work: https://konkankoh.com/ TakeawaysRegeneration involves healing both physical and spiritual systems.The current crises present opportunities for regeneration.Nature will regenerate itself if we do not take action.Indigenous wisdom can inform global governance and policy.The UN must address root causes of global issues.Real work is love made visible, reflecting passion and purpose.Education should be a two-way street, not top-down.The relationship between Africa and the West is crucial for regeneration.Trust and community are essential for effective change.Daily practices can help individuals connect with nature and foster regeneration. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Regeneration and the UN's Role02:45 Understanding Regeneration: Definitions and Importance05:49 The Urgency of Regeneration in Times of Crisis08:47 The UN's Role in Global Systems and Inequality11:38 Indigenous Wisdom and Global Governance14:33 Transforming the UN: A Vision for the Future17:41 Learning from Africa: Cultural Insights for the UN20:31 The Essence of Regenerative Leadership23:25 Daily Practices for Regeneration26:21 Conclusion and Future Collaborations

In this episode of the RE:Generation Collective podcast, Silke von Brockhausen speaks with Costa Rican professor Eduard Müller about the urgent need for regeneration in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss. They discuss the holistic approach to regeneration, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of changing mindsets from apathy to action. Eduard shares practical examples of regenerative practices and highlights the potential role of the UN in promoting regeneration globally. The conversation also touches on the significance of cultural identity, education, and empowering local communities to drive change. Eduard concludes with actionable steps for individuals to reconnect with nature and contribute to regeneration efforts.Connect with Eduard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduard-m%C3%BCller-a618229/Join UCI's Flagship program: Certificate in Regenerative Entrepreneurship: www.uci.ac.cr TakeawaysRegeneration means creating conditions for life.Sustainability is no longer sufficient; we must regenerate.We are part of nature, not separate from it.Unlearning is essential to address complex problems.Nature can recover quickly if given the chance.Building a new system is more effective than fighting the old one.Regenerative agriculture can significantly increase food production.Reconnecting children with nature is crucial for future generations.The UN can play a vital role in showcasing successful regeneration projects.Small actions, like rewilding gardens, can contribute to larger regeneration efforts. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Regeneration and the UN's Role02:41 Understanding Regeneration: Creating Conditions for Life05:50 The Complexity of Nature and Unlearning10:34 Rethinking Solutions: Beyond Carbon Emissions13:57 Changing Mindsets: Agency and Individual Action22:11 The UN's Potential in Embracing Regeneration25:39 The Role of the UN in Regeneration27:59 Transforming Organizational Mindsets28:57 Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Science

In this episode of the RE:Generation Collective podcast, Silke von Brockhausen engages with Elyes Mkacher, a regenerative farmer and educator, to explore the concept of regeneration in the context of the United Nations. They discuss the importance of healing our relationship with the earth, the need for a mindset shift away from colonialism, and the role of diversity in leadership. Elyes shares insights on building resilient organizations and communities, nurturing trust, and practical daily regenerative practices. The conversation emphasizes the urgency of regeneration amidst ecological and social crises and envisions a future where the UN can lead in this transformative journey.Connect with Elyes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elyes-mLearn more about the Design School for Regenerating Earth: https://design-school-for-regenerating-earth.mn.co/TakeawaysRegeneration is the opposite of degeneration and degradation.We are facing multiple collapses that require a regenerative approach.Regeneration involves healing our relationship with the earth.It's essential to see ourselves as part of nature.Diversity is crucial for effective regenerative leadership.Decolonizing our imagination is necessary for planetary regeneration.Localization should be integrated into organizational practices.Nature provides solutions that we often overlook.Listening and observing are key to understanding regeneration.Daily practices of gratitude can enhance our connection to regeneration.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Regeneration and the UN03:03 Understanding Regeneration: A Practical Perspective08:22 Decolonizing Imagination for Planetary Regeneration13:26 Building Resilient Organizations and Communities17:08 Nurturing Trust and Soil in Institutions19:30 Vision for the Future: Regeneration in the UN23:04 Mindset Shift: Moving Beyond Greed23:52 Daily Regenerative Practices