ReFi Generation Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:05:27 -0400 http://refigeneration.com en-us © 2026 ReFi Generation yes 792b1720-133d-5555-b9d3-54e84d219eec cashamu@gmail.com Cash Upton episodic false ReFi Generation explores the new frontier of regenerative finance and the community mindset that gives local actions a global reach. We talk to experts and leaders in the field while examining how the ingenuity of ReFi can help bring environmental and humanitarian efforts into the next generation. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) ReFi, blockchain, regenerative, farming, permaculture, crypto Cash Upton cashamu@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/mz0yivqestw3e2xtfkq5t0rk8egw?.jpg ReFi Generation http://refigeneration.com Cash Upton Ep. 24 The Current: Local Currency with Chris Hewitt Ep. 24 The Current: Local Currency with Chris Hewitt Greetings and welcome back to ReFi Generation! Thank you listeners for your patience, after I got married last year, I took a break for a bit. Have no fear, we are back at it and will be releasing episodes regularly again!

Today we talk local currency with Chris Hewitt, founder of Hudson Valley Current.

We discuss the nuanced topic of money, and why local currencies matter. If you live in the United States, or a country with a fairly stable monetary policy, it may not matter much to you. However, there are a lot of folks who do not have access to a stable form of money. Many see inflation destroying their savings, as well as monetary policies affecting their lives in which they have no control over. Our hope is that today’s episode will give you some context for the important reasons for having a localized, community focussed money. It is important to note, local currencies do not have to replace the standard currency, they can be complimentary. 

Our guest Chris has a background in publishing - starting in 1996 he ran “Express Magazine: Social networking for global change,” and shipped to over 22 states and 5 Canadian provinces.

Chris started the local currency, “The Current” because of his need to account for his barter agreements with local businesses advertising in “Express Magazine.” He shares how The Current developed over the years, it’s successes, as well as the hurdles he faced in the adoption of The Current.

Chris and I have a fun philosophical conversation around “What is money.” Chris brings a lot of insight into how to launch local currencies, specifically how to educate and open a dialogue about what is money. “It’s just money” is their slogan. 
Our listeners should note, to be considered “money,” there are 3 widely agreed upon criteria it should have. First is a medium of exchange, second is a store of Value, and the third is that it is a unit of account. The Current meets all three of these criteria.

Chris had a great insight and he stopped trying to teach people about money, and instead Chris builds mechanisms where people can learn by doing. Now, when people ask what is the Current, he does not try to explain what money is, he instead describes the features of the local currency.
#1. The hyper-local aspect of the Current allows people to trust each other.
#2 It shifts the narrative around money.
#3 It is innovative.
#4 it saves people money. 

Chris is a big advocate for regenerative economies, specifically cradle to grave and circular economy principles. Their non-profit, Tilda’s kitchen,is also a market, so they can have direct control over localized supply chains.

Chris tells us about his experience leading a workshop in Belgium at the Collaborative Finance conference. He shares with us how they covered hybridized local currency models, the commons, and ways to explain local currency.

I love the work that Chris is doing in the Hudson River Valley, he was a real joy to talk with. I hope you enjoy.

Episode Links


]]> Greetings and welcome back to ReFi Generation! Thank you listeners for your patience, after I got married last year, I took a break for a bit. Have no fear, we are back at it and will be releasing episodes regularly again!

Today we talk local currency with Chris Hewitt, founder of Hudson Valley Current.

We discuss the nuanced topic of money, and why local currencies matter. If you live in the United States, or a country with a fairly stable monetary policy, it may not matter much to you. However, there are a lot of folks who do not have access to a stable form of money. Many see inflation destroying their savings, as well as monetary policies affecting their lives in which they have no control over. Our hope is that today’s episode will give you some context for the important reasons for having a localized, community focussed money. It is important to note, local currencies do not have to replace the standard currency, they can be complimentary. 

Our guest Chris has a background in publishing - starting in 1996 he ran “Express Magazine: Social networking for global change,” and shipped to over 22 states and 5 Canadian provinces.

Chris started the local currency, “The Current” because of his need to account for his barter agreements with local businesses advertising in “Express Magazine.” He shares how The Current developed over the years, it’s successes, as well as the hurdles he faced in the adoption of The Current.

Chris and I have a fun philosophical conversation around “What is money.” Chris brings a lot of insight into how to launch local currencies, specifically how to educate and open a dialogue about what is money. “It’s just money” is their slogan. 
Our listeners should note, to be considered “money,” there are 3 widely agreed upon criteria it should have. First is a medium of exchange, second is a store of Value, and the third is that it is a unit of account. The Current meets all three of these criteria.

Chris had a great insight and he stopped trying to teach people about money, and instead Chris builds mechanisms where people can learn by doing. Now, when people ask what is the Current, he does not try to explain what money is, he instead describes the features of the local currency.
#1. The hyper-local aspect of the Current allows people to trust each other.
#2 It shifts the narrative around money.
#3 It is innovative.
#4 it saves people money. 

Chris is a big advocate for regenerative economies, specifically cradle to grave and circular economy principles. Their non-profit, Tilda’s kitchen,is also a market, so they can have direct control over localized supply chains.

Chris tells us about his experience leading a workshop in Belgium at the Collaborative Finance conference. He shares with us how they covered hybridized local currency models, the commons, and ways to explain local currency.

I love the work that Chris is doing in the Hudson River Valley, he was a real joy to talk with. I hope you enjoy.

Episode Links


]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-17568097 Sat, 26 Jul 2025 16:00:00 -0700 2377 24 full true Ep. 23 RECs & Blockchain Tech with Nathalie Capati of Jasmine Energy Ep. 23 RECs & Blockchain Tech with Nathalie Capati of Jasmine Energy Today we get REC’d, and explore the innovative way Jasmine Energy is pairing the renewable energy credit market, aka RECs, with blockchain technology.

Nathalie brings a wealth of knowledge around the renewable energy space and is an excellent bridge between the traditional and the cutting edge. With her electrical engineer degree she has a broad set of skills, from working in energy compliance markets, installing solar & storage for Bitcoin mining operations, to building electric race car engines for Formula 1.

Nathalie’s systems engineering mindset enables her to take complex systems and synthesize them down to understandable concepts. She walks us through the nuanced ecosystem of renewable energy credits and how they represent the clean energy attributes of renewable electricity, as opposed to the physical energy itself. These energy attributes are important because they help us to know how clean grid energy actually is and holds us accountable to sustainability goals.

Jasmine Energy is a REC tracking app and marketplace for bridging renewable energy credits into non fungible tokens on a blockchain. Why blockchain you may ask? The short answer is allowing for liquidity and accountability. RECs are often a secondary revenue stream for solar developers and financiers, and are important for helping renewable energy generators hedge against the fluctuating prices of spot market electricity. 

In addition, the traditional over the counter REC market is mostly all voice brokered, often using excel spreadsheets for tracking. REC brokers take a 10-20% fee, which takes away from the profit of renewable energy generators. By putting RECs onto a blockchain, it can more easily be validated when beneficiary claims are retired, reduce the aforementioned broker fees with less friction across a multitude of currencies, and protect against double counting and fraudulent credits. 

In this era of environmental catastrophe, we cannot rely on humans using excel spreadsheets to solve the climate crisis. By using Jasmine Energy, we can ensure energy usage is verifiably green. I hope you enjoy.

Show links:
Jasmine Energy Website
Jasmine Energy App
Nathalie's Twitter
RE+
US Green Building Council - California

]]> Today we get REC’d, and explore the innovative way Jasmine Energy is pairing the renewable energy credit market, aka RECs, with blockchain technology.

Nathalie brings a wealth of knowledge around the renewable energy space and is an excellent bridge between the traditional and the cutting edge. With her electrical engineer degree she has a broad set of skills, from working in energy compliance markets, installing solar & storage for Bitcoin mining operations, to building electric race car engines for Formula 1.

Nathalie’s systems engineering mindset enables her to take complex systems and synthesize them down to understandable concepts. She walks us through the nuanced ecosystem of renewable energy credits and how they represent the clean energy attributes of renewable electricity, as opposed to the physical energy itself. These energy attributes are important because they help us to know how clean grid energy actually is and holds us accountable to sustainability goals.

Jasmine Energy is a REC tracking app and marketplace for bridging renewable energy credits into non fungible tokens on a blockchain. Why blockchain you may ask? The short answer is allowing for liquidity and accountability. RECs are often a secondary revenue stream for solar developers and financiers, and are important for helping renewable energy generators hedge against the fluctuating prices of spot market electricity. 

In addition, the traditional over the counter REC market is mostly all voice brokered, often using excel spreadsheets for tracking. REC brokers take a 10-20% fee, which takes away from the profit of renewable energy generators. By putting RECs onto a blockchain, it can more easily be validated when beneficiary claims are retired, reduce the aforementioned broker fees with less friction across a multitude of currencies, and protect against double counting and fraudulent credits. 

In this era of environmental catastrophe, we cannot rely on humans using excel spreadsheets to solve the climate crisis. By using Jasmine Energy, we can ensure energy usage is verifiably green. I hope you enjoy.

Show links:
Jasmine Energy Website
Jasmine Energy App
Nathalie's Twitter
RE+
US Green Building Council - California

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-16310751 Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0800 2628 23 full false Ep. 22 Transforming the Carbon Market with Jeremy Epstein of Open Forest Protocol Ep. 22 Transforming the Carbon Market with Jeremy Epstein of Open Forest Protocol Today we go into the forest with Jeremy Epstein, head of growth for Open Forrest Protocol. To put it simply, Open Forrest Protocol is a registry and issuer of carbon credits. Jeremy has a background as a lawyer and gives an inspiring take on how blockchain technology is applicable for solving the climate crisis, biodiversity crisis, really any sort of any of the ecological crises we face.

Jeremy reminds us, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” and since we live in a capitalist economy, market based solutions will have the most potential for success. Jeremy wrote his graduate thesis on the European Union’s emission trading scheme and is highly knowledgeable on the carbon markets. Jeremy gives a thorough explanation of why putting carbon credits on chain is a practical idea. One example is how low quality carbon offsets on the market will encourage other assets to be of better quality and also discourage bad actors to not fudge and lie about their offsets, since it will be public, drastically diminishing the rampant green washing we see today.

We look at forward facing impact verifications that Open Forrest Protocol could be used for in the future. Essentially anything that requires MRV - Measure, Report, Verification. One example Jeremy discusses is how if there is a claim for regenerative beef, how is the producer proving that the beef production actually sequestered carbon and regenerated the land? Blockchain and MRV methodology is the tool to provide certainty that regeneration happened. Just like how proof of reserve is necessary for the gold standard, proof of regeneration is also necessary. Jeremy shares how fundamentally we need to enhance trust behind regenerative claims, so people can confidently move their capital into regenerative finance systems.

Open Forest Protocol Website
Open Forest Protocol "Atlas"
Open Forest Protocol Twitter
Jeremy's Twitter

]]> Today we go into the forest with Jeremy Epstein, head of growth for Open Forrest Protocol. To put it simply, Open Forrest Protocol is a registry and issuer of carbon credits. Jeremy has a background as a lawyer and gives an inspiring take on how blockchain technology is applicable for solving the climate crisis, biodiversity crisis, really any sort of any of the ecological crises we face.

Jeremy reminds us, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” and since we live in a capitalist economy, market based solutions will have the most potential for success. Jeremy wrote his graduate thesis on the European Union’s emission trading scheme and is highly knowledgeable on the carbon markets. Jeremy gives a thorough explanation of why putting carbon credits on chain is a practical idea. One example is how low quality carbon offsets on the market will encourage other assets to be of better quality and also discourage bad actors to not fudge and lie about their offsets, since it will be public, drastically diminishing the rampant green washing we see today.

We look at forward facing impact verifications that Open Forrest Protocol could be used for in the future. Essentially anything that requires MRV - Measure, Report, Verification. One example Jeremy discusses is how if there is a claim for regenerative beef, how is the producer proving that the beef production actually sequestered carbon and regenerated the land? Blockchain and MRV methodology is the tool to provide certainty that regeneration happened. Just like how proof of reserve is necessary for the gold standard, proof of regeneration is also necessary. Jeremy shares how fundamentally we need to enhance trust behind regenerative claims, so people can confidently move their capital into regenerative finance systems.

Open Forest Protocol Website
Open Forest Protocol "Atlas"
Open Forest Protocol Twitter
Jeremy's Twitter

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-15539386 Tue, 06 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0700 2640 22 full false Ep. 21 Carbon Markets & Blockchain with Marcus Aurelius from Klima DAO Ep. 21 Carbon Markets & Blockchain with Marcus Aurelius from Klima DAO Welcome back from our summer break! Marcus Aurelius from Klima DAO joins us to discuss how blockchain technology can revolutionize the carbon offset market. Marcus has a background in data science and data engineering and is passionate about leveraging data to solve problems and make better decisions. Marcus sets the stage for us by sharing how nearly 2 trillion tons of CO2 have been emitted since the industrial revolution, yet the carbon markets to date have yielded only 2 billion CO2 credits, with only about half being retired. This is a huge mismatch, especially with an estimated 40 billions tons of CO2 being emitted yearly.

Klima is an exciting protocol for bridging carbon offsets onto the blockchain. You might ask why this is necessary? By bridging carbon offsets on-chain, Klima brings an unprecedented level of transparency and auditability to the carbon offset market. Klima is mostly focussed on the demand side of the carbon market, but we also learn about some of the carbon projects that Klima is supporting on the supply side who are using dMRV, digital measure report verification. This drastically reduces the cost of verifying ecological data claims, thus further democratizing the ability for smaller scale regenerative actors to enter the market.

Marcus is skeptical of the top-down approach, especially in the time frame needed to solve the environmental crisis. We discuss the key players in the carbon offset markets. From buyers to suppliers, Marcus shares nuanced insights on how this traditionally opaque carbon market is in dire need of improvement. In comes Regenerative Finance - bringing greater access to carbon markets with lower barriers to entry, allowing for greater liquidity, better on ramping rails for purchasing offsets, along with reducing green washing because the authenticity of impact claims can be verified and trusted.

We learn how AMM’s (Automated market makers) or decentralized exchanges, are the key innovation in decentralized finance because they allow for the creation of an asset with complex underlying behavior, unlocking the ability to create liquid assets out of previously illiquid assets. 

Klima  is looking to address the “Carbon tunnel vision problem” to move beyond just the carbon market and we learn of some of the exciting forward financing projects Klima is taking on. The beauty of ReFi is that some of these projects are cutting edge and would be traditionally hard to fund with the more conventional due diligence process of a philanthropy, but because KLIMA is a DAO, the public who holds the KLIMA token is able to vote and make decisions on where climate financing is invested.

Klima Twitter
Marcus' Twitter
Klima's Carbon Dashboard
Klima App
Offset your emissions with Carbonmark

]]> Welcome back from our summer break! Marcus Aurelius from Klima DAO joins us to discuss how blockchain technology can revolutionize the carbon offset market. Marcus has a background in data science and data engineering and is passionate about leveraging data to solve problems and make better decisions. Marcus sets the stage for us by sharing how nearly 2 trillion tons of CO2 have been emitted since the industrial revolution, yet the carbon markets to date have yielded only 2 billion CO2 credits, with only about half being retired. This is a huge mismatch, especially with an estimated 40 billions tons of CO2 being emitted yearly.

Klima is an exciting protocol for bridging carbon offsets onto the blockchain. You might ask why this is necessary? By bridging carbon offsets on-chain, Klima brings an unprecedented level of transparency and auditability to the carbon offset market. Klima is mostly focussed on the demand side of the carbon market, but we also learn about some of the carbon projects that Klima is supporting on the supply side who are using dMRV, digital measure report verification. This drastically reduces the cost of verifying ecological data claims, thus further democratizing the ability for smaller scale regenerative actors to enter the market.

Marcus is skeptical of the top-down approach, especially in the time frame needed to solve the environmental crisis. We discuss the key players in the carbon offset markets. From buyers to suppliers, Marcus shares nuanced insights on how this traditionally opaque carbon market is in dire need of improvement. In comes Regenerative Finance - bringing greater access to carbon markets with lower barriers to entry, allowing for greater liquidity, better on ramping rails for purchasing offsets, along with reducing green washing because the authenticity of impact claims can be verified and trusted.

We learn how AMM’s (Automated market makers) or decentralized exchanges, are the key innovation in decentralized finance because they allow for the creation of an asset with complex underlying behavior, unlocking the ability to create liquid assets out of previously illiquid assets. 

Klima  is looking to address the “Carbon tunnel vision problem” to move beyond just the carbon market and we learn of some of the exciting forward financing projects Klima is taking on. The beauty of ReFi is that some of these projects are cutting edge and would be traditionally hard to fund with the more conventional due diligence process of a philanthropy, but because KLIMA is a DAO, the public who holds the KLIMA token is able to vote and make decisions on where climate financing is invested.

Klima Twitter
Marcus' Twitter
Klima's Carbon Dashboard
Klima App
Offset your emissions with Carbonmark

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-15454350 Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:00:00 -0700 2612 21 full false Ep. 20 Community Currencies for Economic Regeneration with Scott Morris Ep. 20 Community Currencies for Economic Regeneration with Scott Morris In today’s episode we talk with Scott Morris, AKA the Token Jedi. Scott graduated from college with an interdisciplinary degree in political economics amidst the great financial crisis of 2008. What followed is a captivating story of Scott researching and implementing place-based initiatives, because as he puts it, “Place-based organizing in real communities, changing patterns, with real people, will create real outcomes and real value.

Scott is a seasoned veteran when it comes to community currency and I particularly loved this conversation because it is both philosophical and nuanced. We dig deep into what is actually within our means to protect the “main street economy.” To Scott, ReFi can steer us away from a shearing economy towards a sharing economy by making use of new capabilities that allow us to re-localize and re-circulatize our economies. These new capabilities allow for greater monetary pluralism and economic diversity, allowing for back-up systems and safety nets. 

We discuss why Bitcoin is important to the world, but also how Scott sees the commodity aspect of Bitcoin being a tool of wealth preservation, whereas the folks who do not necessarily benefit from this are those people living on less than a dollar per day. Scott poses the question of what are certain instruments and strategies to bring people up from the bottom and helps us imagine what benefits a community could reap by using local currencies. 

We get an update on what the ReFi DAO is up to, and discuss the ReFi DAO local node incubator: Alert! There is a local ReFi chapter coming your way! Go get involved locally!

Scott truly cares about making place-based systems for economic regeneration happen. I left this conversation inspired, I hope you enjoy it.

The Token Jedi's Twitter
ReFiDAO.com
ReFi DAO Local Communities

]]> In today’s episode we talk with Scott Morris, AKA the Token Jedi. Scott graduated from college with an interdisciplinary degree in political economics amidst the great financial crisis of 2008. What followed is a captivating story of Scott researching and implementing place-based initiatives, because as he puts it, “Place-based organizing in real communities, changing patterns, with real people, will create real outcomes and real value.

Scott is a seasoned veteran when it comes to community currency and I particularly loved this conversation because it is both philosophical and nuanced. We dig deep into what is actually within our means to protect the “main street economy.” To Scott, ReFi can steer us away from a shearing economy towards a sharing economy by making use of new capabilities that allow us to re-localize and re-circulatize our economies. These new capabilities allow for greater monetary pluralism and economic diversity, allowing for back-up systems and safety nets. 

We discuss why Bitcoin is important to the world, but also how Scott sees the commodity aspect of Bitcoin being a tool of wealth preservation, whereas the folks who do not necessarily benefit from this are those people living on less than a dollar per day. Scott poses the question of what are certain instruments and strategies to bring people up from the bottom and helps us imagine what benefits a community could reap by using local currencies. 

We get an update on what the ReFi DAO is up to, and discuss the ReFi DAO local node incubator: Alert! There is a local ReFi chapter coming your way! Go get involved locally!

Scott truly cares about making place-based systems for economic regeneration happen. I left this conversation inspired, I hope you enjoy it.

The Token Jedi's Twitter
ReFiDAO.com
ReFi DAO Local Communities

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-15226234 Mon, 10 Jun 2024 10:00:00 -0700 3031 20 full false Ep. 19 Financing Impact with Maex Ament of WithEarth.xyz Ep. 19 Financing Impact with Maex Ament of WithEarth.xyz In today’s episode we talk with Maex Ament of  WithEarth.xyz & Centrifuge. Having vast experience leveraging technology to  fundraise and create positive impact, Maex is a bridge between web3 and the climate space. Centrifuge tokenizes real world assets and puts them on the blockchain. Some examples are invoices,  music royalties, mortgages, consumer debt, and all the way into carbon credits and carbon forwards. Maex gives a thorough and nuanced explanation of what tokenization of real world assets can allow for. One such example is democratizing the access to liquidity.

Maex shares his thoughts on how the immutability of smart contracts on the blockchain allows developers to build on a stack that is both philosophically and technologically “unstoppable.”

We discuss the real world asset summit in NYC this fall, as well as real world asset summits happening in Dubai and at ETH CC. 

We finish the conversation with Maex giving some thoughtful feedback on how the ReFi space can evolve in order to “green pill” institutional players and governments. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Maex, I hope you do too.

WithEarth.xyz
Maex's Twitter
Centrifuge.io
Centrifuge's Twitter

]]> In today’s episode we talk with Maex Ament of  WithEarth.xyz & Centrifuge. Having vast experience leveraging technology to  fundraise and create positive impact, Maex is a bridge between web3 and the climate space. Centrifuge tokenizes real world assets and puts them on the blockchain. Some examples are invoices,  music royalties, mortgages, consumer debt, and all the way into carbon credits and carbon forwards. Maex gives a thorough and nuanced explanation of what tokenization of real world assets can allow for. One such example is democratizing the access to liquidity.

Maex shares his thoughts on how the immutability of smart contracts on the blockchain allows developers to build on a stack that is both philosophically and technologically “unstoppable.”

We discuss the real world asset summit in NYC this fall, as well as real world asset summits happening in Dubai and at ETH CC. 

We finish the conversation with Maex giving some thoughtful feedback on how the ReFi space can evolve in order to “green pill” institutional players and governments. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Maex, I hope you do too.

WithEarth.xyz
Maex's Twitter
Centrifuge.io
Centrifuge's Twitter

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-15110009 Tue, 21 May 2024 11:00:00 -0700 1755 19 full false Ep. 18 Sovereign Nature Initiative: Funding Conservation & Biodiversity Ep. 18 Sovereign Nature Initiative: Funding Conservation & Biodiversity In today’s episode we talk with Alessandro Mazzi from Sovereign Nature Initiative. Ale was a joy to talk with and is a wealth of knowledge. He is getting his PHD researching the influence of law on the capacity of human and wildlife to coexist.

Sovereign Nature Initiative works in biodiversity conservation and is sitting in the middle between philanthropic giving & conservation projects. Sovereign Nature Initiative helps to raise funds and do impact reporting. By looking at nature positive solutions, aka conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems, they are creating other ways to value nature rather than the traditional extractive model.

Ale discusses the benefits of using blockchain as a transparent accounting mechanism, thus helping to prove an environmental claim actually happens, and reduces green washing because it ensures accountability.

Ale provides a fantastic look on how dMRV (digital or decentralized measure report & verification) allows for significantly reducing MRV costs - further democratizing the access to MRV tools and monetization mechanisms for regenerative land practices. By working with locals and the stewards themselves, emerging dMRV technology can further reduce the barrier to entry and allow smaller scale projects to participate.

I especially loved Ale’s perspective on biodiversity credits, and how certain species can “activate the carbon cycle” by providing important ecosystem services. We discuss an exciting European Union development for a treaty on biodiversity mandates for corporations.

Ale shares an inspiring project surrounding bison restoration in Romania, where children are leading the monitoring efforts of biodiversity. These youth then educate farmers about the importance of biodiversity. I was left inspired and enthused after talking to Ale, I hope you enjoy this episode.

Sovereign Nature Initiative Linktr.ee
Sovereign Nature Initiative Twitter
Sovereign Nature Initiative Website
WWF European Bison Restoration

]]> In today’s episode we talk with Alessandro Mazzi from Sovereign Nature Initiative. Ale was a joy to talk with and is a wealth of knowledge. He is getting his PHD researching the influence of law on the capacity of human and wildlife to coexist.

Sovereign Nature Initiative works in biodiversity conservation and is sitting in the middle between philanthropic giving & conservation projects. Sovereign Nature Initiative helps to raise funds and do impact reporting. By looking at nature positive solutions, aka conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems, they are creating other ways to value nature rather than the traditional extractive model.

Ale discusses the benefits of using blockchain as a transparent accounting mechanism, thus helping to prove an environmental claim actually happens, and reduces green washing because it ensures accountability.

Ale provides a fantastic look on how dMRV (digital or decentralized measure report & verification) allows for significantly reducing MRV costs - further democratizing the access to MRV tools and monetization mechanisms for regenerative land practices. By working with locals and the stewards themselves, emerging dMRV technology can further reduce the barrier to entry and allow smaller scale projects to participate.

I especially loved Ale’s perspective on biodiversity credits, and how certain species can “activate the carbon cycle” by providing important ecosystem services. We discuss an exciting European Union development for a treaty on biodiversity mandates for corporations.

Ale shares an inspiring project surrounding bison restoration in Romania, where children are leading the monitoring efforts of biodiversity. These youth then educate farmers about the importance of biodiversity. I was left inspired and enthused after talking to Ale, I hope you enjoy this episode.

Sovereign Nature Initiative Linktr.ee
Sovereign Nature Initiative Twitter
Sovereign Nature Initiative Website
WWF European Bison Restoration

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-15040575 Thu, 09 May 2024 09:00:00 -0700 2698 18 full false Ep. 17 Kingfishers Media Regenerating Knowledge Ep. 17 Kingfishers Media Regenerating Knowledge I love this episode with Will T. from Kingfishers Media LLC because Will is passionate about regenerative knowledge around community building initiatives.

Kingfishers Media provides educational tools and resources for starting a business in Web3. They are a bridge to help onboard people and to make sure people have the knowledge needed to engage in the space in a positive way.
Will seeks to democratize the access to knowledge and bridge the multilingual communication gap and has their learning content in Spanish, Portuguese, French, & Swahili.

This episode gives a refreshing take on how web3 & blockchain technology is a bottom-up paradigm shift from what has historically been a top-down extractive model. Will believes this technology allows everyone to participate in something that is bigger than ourselves. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Will, I hope you do too.

Kingfishers Media LLC Website
Kingfishers Media LLC Twitter
Will T's Twitter

]]> I love this episode with Will T. from Kingfishers Media LLC because Will is passionate about regenerative knowledge around community building initiatives.

Kingfishers Media provides educational tools and resources for starting a business in Web3. They are a bridge to help onboard people and to make sure people have the knowledge needed to engage in the space in a positive way.
Will seeks to democratize the access to knowledge and bridge the multilingual communication gap and has their learning content in Spanish, Portuguese, French, & Swahili.

This episode gives a refreshing take on how web3 & blockchain technology is a bottom-up paradigm shift from what has historically been a top-down extractive model. Will believes this technology allows everyone to participate in something that is bigger than ourselves. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Will, I hope you do too.

Kingfishers Media LLC Website
Kingfishers Media LLC Twitter
Will T's Twitter

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14997991 Thu, 02 May 2024 09:00:00 -0700 1750 17 full false Ep. 16 Public Goods Funding with QZ from Clr.fund Ep. 16 Public Goods Funding with QZ from Clr.fund In today’s episode, QZ gives us a refreshing look at the ETH London conference, what the blockchain space is like in Singapore, and the quadratic funding mechanism of Clr.fund

Clr.fund has a permissionless quadratic funding tool, primarily focussed now on retroactive public goods funding, QZ discusses how it can also be leveraged to fund what specific communities want. This allows for a more forward looking funding tool that can be iterated on when a communities’ goals and needs change.

QZ talks about the nuances of grant funding, and how by nature grants are not designed to be sustainable and perpetual, so how do you create a perpetual funding process for impact and nonprofit work? Quadratic funding can be a tool to plug these gaps and democratize the grant funding process.

I especially loved a question QZ posed, "who are the agents that are playing the game, and what are they optimizing for." Corporations have a fiduciary responsibility to optimize for profit, thus we have a linear extractive economic model that has gotten us to where we are now.

QZ is a systems thinker, and got me noodling on a lot of profound mental models. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, I hope you do as well.

QZ's Twitter
Ethereum Singapore Twitter
clr.fund Twitter
clr.fund Website

]]> In today’s episode, QZ gives us a refreshing look at the ETH London conference, what the blockchain space is like in Singapore, and the quadratic funding mechanism of Clr.fund

Clr.fund has a permissionless quadratic funding tool, primarily focussed now on retroactive public goods funding, QZ discusses how it can also be leveraged to fund what specific communities want. This allows for a more forward looking funding tool that can be iterated on when a communities’ goals and needs change.

QZ talks about the nuances of grant funding, and how by nature grants are not designed to be sustainable and perpetual, so how do you create a perpetual funding process for impact and nonprofit work? Quadratic funding can be a tool to plug these gaps and democratize the grant funding process.

I especially loved a question QZ posed, "who are the agents that are playing the game, and what are they optimizing for." Corporations have a fiduciary responsibility to optimize for profit, thus we have a linear extractive economic model that has gotten us to where we are now.

QZ is a systems thinker, and got me noodling on a lot of profound mental models. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, I hope you do as well.

QZ's Twitter
Ethereum Singapore Twitter
clr.fund Twitter
clr.fund Website

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14893783 Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:00:00 -0700 2413 16 full false Ep. 15 Crypto Commons Association with Giulio Quarta Ep. 15 Crypto Commons Association with Giulio Quarta Today we dive into different economic models with Guilio Quarta from Crypto Commons association. Guilio, having a background in sociology, has been studying alternative practices of organizing and assigning value. This has caused Guilio to lean into the “Blockchain for good” space. What I especially resonated with was Guilio’s narrative agnostic approach, where his work seeks to be the narrative bridge that shows people they are doing things that are actually quite similar to each other, rather than strikingly different.

Guilio discusses the concept of how a system is what it does practically, not what it says it does. One warning Guilio gives is of venture capital funding taking away from the good of all stakeholders, and how alternative forms of funding can ensure that all stakeholders such as the broader ReFi community, regen farms, everyday people etc have their needs met, rather than the needs of Venture Capital.

Guilio could see a dystopian future of making the whole world a data ledger and then plugging in all the financial market activities and ecological values. Thus, he cautions the ReFi ecosystem, similar to Douglas Gayton’s from ReFi Generation Ep. 6, to ensure that what we are putting on the blockchain is further democratizing society and increasing inclusivity. 

We finished the conversation with a teaser on CoFi - aka Collaborative Finance. The meme of CoFi originated after ReFi - but is a method of accounting that traditional financial systems have historically been using. CoFi focuses more on using credit & trust based systems to improve the local & global economy and looks at Ways to optimize existing financial systems without using tokenomics. One thing to note: Post capitalism does NOT mean communism or socialism, but rather other ways of assigning value, Conscious capitalism, for example, can be thought of a post capitalist modality.

Commons Economy
ReFi Barcelona
Co-Fi

]]> Today we dive into different economic models with Guilio Quarta from Crypto Commons association. Guilio, having a background in sociology, has been studying alternative practices of organizing and assigning value. This has caused Guilio to lean into the “Blockchain for good” space. What I especially resonated with was Guilio’s narrative agnostic approach, where his work seeks to be the narrative bridge that shows people they are doing things that are actually quite similar to each other, rather than strikingly different.

Guilio discusses the concept of how a system is what it does practically, not what it says it does. One warning Guilio gives is of venture capital funding taking away from the good of all stakeholders, and how alternative forms of funding can ensure that all stakeholders such as the broader ReFi community, regen farms, everyday people etc have their needs met, rather than the needs of Venture Capital.

Guilio could see a dystopian future of making the whole world a data ledger and then plugging in all the financial market activities and ecological values. Thus, he cautions the ReFi ecosystem, similar to Douglas Gayton’s from ReFi Generation Ep. 6, to ensure that what we are putting on the blockchain is further democratizing society and increasing inclusivity. 

We finished the conversation with a teaser on CoFi - aka Collaborative Finance. The meme of CoFi originated after ReFi - but is a method of accounting that traditional financial systems have historically been using. CoFi focuses more on using credit & trust based systems to improve the local & global economy and looks at Ways to optimize existing financial systems without using tokenomics. One thing to note: Post capitalism does NOT mean communism or socialism, but rather other ways of assigning value, Conscious capitalism, for example, can be thought of a post capitalist modality.

Commons Economy
ReFi Barcelona
Co-Fi

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14853795 Mon, 08 Apr 2024 19:00:00 -0700 2121 full false Ep. 14 BASIN Protocol is Building Nature's Balance Sheet Ep. 14 BASIN Protocol is Building Nature's Balance Sheet In today’s episode I have the pleasure of interviewing TMO of BASIN Protocol for a third time. TMO, AKA Thomas Morgan, having spent the majority of his career in commercial real estate, is the bridge we need for real world assets coming on chain.

TMO discusses the nuances of nature being on the balance sheet, versus nature having its own balance sheet. The former is the old extractive mentality, whereas the latter allows ecosystems to hold their own assets of value.

BASIN as a protocol is aimed to preserve, conserve, and restore more land by building a network of agents that are stewarding & flowing value into ecosystems. The protocol uses financial models that take real value, and then apply a monetary value to ecosystem services, such as pollination, biodiversity, soil health etc.

TMO explains how Basin’s 14 different ecosystems & 18 real values of natural capital fits into the broader Ecological Benefits Framework.

Corporations have personhood in the United States - so why not ecosystems, why not rivers & why not mountains? BASIN is creating structures so that ecosystems can fund themselves, in perpetuity. BASIN is giving land back to nature, where nature owns itself. BASIN is creating mechanisms to perpetually protect ecosystems and land against future lease and sell pressure. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, I hope you do as well.

BASIN's Twitter
TMO's Twitter

BASIN.Global
BASIN Field Manual
Confluence.BASIN

]]> In today’s episode I have the pleasure of interviewing TMO of BASIN Protocol for a third time. TMO, AKA Thomas Morgan, having spent the majority of his career in commercial real estate, is the bridge we need for real world assets coming on chain.

TMO discusses the nuances of nature being on the balance sheet, versus nature having its own balance sheet. The former is the old extractive mentality, whereas the latter allows ecosystems to hold their own assets of value.

BASIN as a protocol is aimed to preserve, conserve, and restore more land by building a network of agents that are stewarding & flowing value into ecosystems. The protocol uses financial models that take real value, and then apply a monetary value to ecosystem services, such as pollination, biodiversity, soil health etc.

TMO explains how Basin’s 14 different ecosystems & 18 real values of natural capital fits into the broader Ecological Benefits Framework.

Corporations have personhood in the United States - so why not ecosystems, why not rivers & why not mountains? BASIN is creating structures so that ecosystems can fund themselves, in perpetuity. BASIN is giving land back to nature, where nature owns itself. BASIN is creating mechanisms to perpetually protect ecosystems and land against future lease and sell pressure. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, I hope you do as well.

BASIN's Twitter
TMO's Twitter

BASIN.Global
BASIN Field Manual
Confluence.BASIN

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14808413 Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:00:00 -0700 2933 14 full false Ep. 13 Leaky Weirs with Will Masters from Ogallala Life Ep. 13 Leaky Weirs with Will Masters from Ogallala Life Join us as Will Masters from Ogallala Life discusses how regenerative finance can breathe life back into landscapes. Will doesn't just talk theory, he and his team are  actively building methods of landscape hydrologic restoration on the ground at the Wildcat Bluff Nature Center in the Texas panhandle.

Ogallala Life is at the intersection of nature, technology, and finance, navigating the rollercoaster of fundraising through cryptocurrency markets. Will discusses the nuances of landscape restoration, from the implementation of leaky weirs that rejuvenate creeks, to adaptive multi-paddock grazing that mimics the grazing patterns of the once prevelant bison that were the original stewards of our prairies.

Our conversation uncovers the challenges of carbon contracts and the much-needed narrative shift toward water stewardship that resonates with local landowners. With Will's insights, we explore the frontier of ecological monitoring, where blockchain technology can provide a new era of trustworthy environmental data. 

Ogallala Life Twitter
Wild Cat Bluff Rehydration Campaign (Donation Link)

]]> Join us as Will Masters from Ogallala Life discusses how regenerative finance can breathe life back into landscapes. Will doesn't just talk theory, he and his team are  actively building methods of landscape hydrologic restoration on the ground at the Wildcat Bluff Nature Center in the Texas panhandle.

Ogallala Life is at the intersection of nature, technology, and finance, navigating the rollercoaster of fundraising through cryptocurrency markets. Will discusses the nuances of landscape restoration, from the implementation of leaky weirs that rejuvenate creeks, to adaptive multi-paddock grazing that mimics the grazing patterns of the once prevelant bison that were the original stewards of our prairies.

Our conversation uncovers the challenges of carbon contracts and the much-needed narrative shift toward water stewardship that resonates with local landowners. With Will's insights, we explore the frontier of ecological monitoring, where blockchain technology can provide a new era of trustworthy environmental data. 

Ogallala Life Twitter
Wild Cat Bluff Rehydration Campaign (Donation Link)

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14723864 Tue, 19 Mar 2024 14:00:00 -0700 3228 13 full false Ep. 12 Live @ ETH Denver Ep. 12 Live @ ETH Denver Join us live at the Ethereum Denver conference! The pulse of the conference is vibrant, and there is a resounding narrative of regerneration. We are joined with Alan Ransil of Filecoin Green & William Skinner of Helios. A thing to note, the ETH Denver podcast studio had software to mute the background noise, which at times makes the audio not 100%, please excuse that for this episode, as the content the guests cover is not to be missed!

Yes, there is still degens abounding at the conference, but there were two entire days dedicated to regenerative finance and blockchain tools that can help solve climate change. Our discussion peels back the layers of how Filecoin Green builds tools using decentralized data to monitor and verifiably reduce the environmental impacts of networks and businesses.  Alan also shares with us his new project launch, Liquid Cert, which is addressing the rampant greenwashing issues around trust. Liqua Cert fosters trust and transparency by making verifiable claims in the world of regenerative finance, ensuring that eco-projects are both well-intentioned and impactful.

William Skinner's passion & commitment to sustainability and renewable energy is seen as he shares Helios with us. Helios is allowing liquidity to more easily drive capital to the imparative need for investing in solar, while giving retail investors a stable return.

We wrap up with a look at decentralized ownership models and their transformative impact on land ownership and ecological preservation. This discussion shines a spotlight on companies like Jasmine Energy who are on the cutting edge of innovation with the tokenization of renewable energy credits, propelling us towards a more sustainable blockchain industry.
***Disclaimer: Helios brought me on to advise on solar projects***

Alan's Twitter
Filecoin Green
Liquacert

Helios
William's Twitter

]]> Join us live at the Ethereum Denver conference! The pulse of the conference is vibrant, and there is a resounding narrative of regerneration. We are joined with Alan Ransil of Filecoin Green & William Skinner of Helios. A thing to note, the ETH Denver podcast studio had software to mute the background noise, which at times makes the audio not 100%, please excuse that for this episode, as the content the guests cover is not to be missed!

Yes, there is still degens abounding at the conference, but there were two entire days dedicated to regenerative finance and blockchain tools that can help solve climate change. Our discussion peels back the layers of how Filecoin Green builds tools using decentralized data to monitor and verifiably reduce the environmental impacts of networks and businesses.  Alan also shares with us his new project launch, Liquid Cert, which is addressing the rampant greenwashing issues around trust. Liqua Cert fosters trust and transparency by making verifiable claims in the world of regenerative finance, ensuring that eco-projects are both well-intentioned and impactful.

William Skinner's passion & commitment to sustainability and renewable energy is seen as he shares Helios with us. Helios is allowing liquidity to more easily drive capital to the imparative need for investing in solar, while giving retail investors a stable return.

We wrap up with a look at decentralized ownership models and their transformative impact on land ownership and ecological preservation. This discussion shines a spotlight on companies like Jasmine Energy who are on the cutting edge of innovation with the tokenization of renewable energy credits, propelling us towards a more sustainable blockchain industry.
***Disclaimer: Helios brought me on to advise on solar projects***

Alan's Twitter
Filecoin Green
Liquacert

Helios
William's Twitter

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14624540 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0800 2653 full false Ep. 11 Let's Grow Treegens w/ Jimi Cohen Ep. 11 Let's Grow Treegens w/ Jimi Cohen Let's Grow! This episode is an exploration of purpose, passion, and planting. I sit with Jimi Cohen to discuss the monumental vision of Let's Grow DAO and Treegens, aiming to integrate positive environmental actions with blockchain tools for onboarding. 

This conversation explores the encouraging reforestation movement as well as inspires listeners that Jimi's goal of planting more than 560M trees in 24 hrs to beat the current world tree planting record is possible. Jimi shares info about The Regenisance festival happening in Thailand, and how festivals can set the stage for creating monumental change.

The episode also delves into Let's Grow DAO's cutting-edge initiatives – from a dual-token system that rewards community involvement to creating new opportunities for environmental stewardship and using digital assets for gamifying tree planting.

We peer into the democratization of ecological efforts through blockchain's transformative of MRV processes, highlighting how this technology has the potential to empower communities, especially in the global south. Jimi is an advocate for connecting with nature and gives us a reminder of the importance of the connection between our wellbeing and the natural world we're striving to protect. Join us to discover how you can be a part of this regenerative renaissance.

]]> Let's Grow! This episode is an exploration of purpose, passion, and planting. I sit with Jimi Cohen to discuss the monumental vision of Let's Grow DAO and Treegens, aiming to integrate positive environmental actions with blockchain tools for onboarding. 

This conversation explores the encouraging reforestation movement as well as inspires listeners that Jimi's goal of planting more than 560M trees in 24 hrs to beat the current world tree planting record is possible. Jimi shares info about The Regenisance festival happening in Thailand, and how festivals can set the stage for creating monumental change.

The episode also delves into Let's Grow DAO's cutting-edge initiatives – from a dual-token system that rewards community involvement to creating new opportunities for environmental stewardship and using digital assets for gamifying tree planting.

We peer into the democratization of ecological efforts through blockchain's transformative of MRV processes, highlighting how this technology has the potential to empower communities, especially in the global south. Jimi is an advocate for connecting with nature and gives us a reminder of the importance of the connection between our wellbeing and the natural world we're striving to protect. Join us to discover how you can be a part of this regenerative renaissance.

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14603174 Thu, 29 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0800 2543 11 full false Ep. 10 Alternun: Earth is the Original Bank Ep. 10 Alternun: Earth is the Original Bank This episode just might blow your mind and cause a massive paradigm shift in your concept of gold mining. Jose Santiago & Noach Kettler join us from Alternun, and share with us the potential of "digital exploirtation" for gold mining.

Alternun is a Columbia based ReFi project that is leveraging blockchain technology to collatoralize unmined gold, thus negating the need to mine it. This is possible because upwards of 90% of mined gold is put back into banks, so Alternun is creating a protocol that uses the ground as a vault.

Alternun hopes to stop the environmental & social degradation that gold mining causes, and isntead allow for other regenerative uses of the land. One thing to note, there are times when the audio is not 100%, so please excuse that for this episode. I hope you enjoy.

Alternun Website
Alternun Twitter
Green Digital Guardians (Alternun's suggested ReFi project to follow)

]]> This episode just might blow your mind and cause a massive paradigm shift in your concept of gold mining. Jose Santiago & Noach Kettler join us from Alternun, and share with us the potential of "digital exploirtation" for gold mining.

Alternun is a Columbia based ReFi project that is leveraging blockchain technology to collatoralize unmined gold, thus negating the need to mine it. This is possible because upwards of 90% of mined gold is put back into banks, so Alternun is creating a protocol that uses the ground as a vault.

Alternun hopes to stop the environmental & social degradation that gold mining causes, and isntead allow for other regenerative uses of the land. One thing to note, there are times when the audio is not 100%, so please excuse that for this episode. I hope you enjoy.

Alternun Website
Alternun Twitter
Green Digital Guardians (Alternun's suggested ReFi project to follow)

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14542396 Tue, 20 Feb 2024 15:00:00 -0800 1920 10 full false Ep. 9 Global Reforestation Efforts with Silvi Protocol Ep. 9 Global Reforestation Efforts with Silvi Protocol Today we get inspired by the global reforestation initiative with Djimo Serodio of Silvi. Djimo shares how his journey through agricultural technologies and environmental science education has culminated in the Silvi Protocol.

This episode sheds light on the critical role of indigenous tree stewardship, and also the sophisticated methods Silvi Protocol employs, using blockchain technology to foster transparency and further enhance environmental initiatives. 

We unearth the challenges and breakthroughs of the evolving landscape of natural capital investment in aligning financial mechanisms with positive environmental impact. Djimo's insights into collaborations with MRV (measure, report, verify) organizations and the creation of hypercerts reveal a very real and possible future for investment in our planet's health.

Djimo's Twitter
Silvi.Earth

]]> Today we get inspired by the global reforestation initiative with Djimo Serodio of Silvi. Djimo shares how his journey through agricultural technologies and environmental science education has culminated in the Silvi Protocol.

This episode sheds light on the critical role of indigenous tree stewardship, and also the sophisticated methods Silvi Protocol employs, using blockchain technology to foster transparency and further enhance environmental initiatives. 

We unearth the challenges and breakthroughs of the evolving landscape of natural capital investment in aligning financial mechanisms with positive environmental impact. Djimo's insights into collaborations with MRV (measure, report, verify) organizations and the creation of hypercerts reveal a very real and possible future for investment in our planet's health.

Djimo's Twitter
Silvi.Earth

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14459744 Wed, 07 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0800 1908 9 full false Ep. 8 Taking the Green Pill with Kevin Owocki Ep. 8 Taking the Green Pill with Kevin Owocki In this episode we showcase the potential of regenerative finance with none other than Kevin Owaki, the trailblazing founder of Gitcoin and host of the Green Pill podcast. We dive into how blockchain can redefine our economic landscape and impact environmental and humanitarian efforts. Gitcoin's implementation of quadratic funding has directed over $55 million towards public goods!

As we navigate the intricacies of Web3, we confront the real-world challenges of melding traditional nonprofit strategies with the often misunderstood realm of blockchain.  The episode explores how projects like Downtown Stimulus in Boulder, CO have successfully harnessed the power of blockchain for tangible impact, without getting bogged down by crypto currency complexities.

We delve into the future of impact and funding within social media and Kevin shares how decentralized social media platforms could revolutionize the way we value online ecosystems, shifting focus from ad revenue and influencers to genuine societal contributions.

I especially loved exploring the concept of mycelium finance, drawing parallels between web3 networks and the natural world's "wood-wide web." Join us and be part of a dialogue that's reimagining the nexus of technology, finance, and social good.

Links:
Kevin's Twitter
Green Pill Podcast
Gitcoin

]]> In this episode we showcase the potential of regenerative finance with none other than Kevin Owaki, the trailblazing founder of Gitcoin and host of the Green Pill podcast. We dive into how blockchain can redefine our economic landscape and impact environmental and humanitarian efforts. Gitcoin's implementation of quadratic funding has directed over $55 million towards public goods!

As we navigate the intricacies of Web3, we confront the real-world challenges of melding traditional nonprofit strategies with the often misunderstood realm of blockchain.  The episode explores how projects like Downtown Stimulus in Boulder, CO have successfully harnessed the power of blockchain for tangible impact, without getting bogged down by crypto currency complexities.

We delve into the future of impact and funding within social media and Kevin shares how decentralized social media platforms could revolutionize the way we value online ecosystems, shifting focus from ad revenue and influencers to genuine societal contributions.

I especially loved exploring the concept of mycelium finance, drawing parallels between web3 networks and the natural world's "wood-wide web." Join us and be part of a dialogue that's reimagining the nexus of technology, finance, and social good.

Links:
Kevin's Twitter
Green Pill Podcast
Gitcoin

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14430239 Fri, 02 Feb 2024 14:00:00 -0800 2703 8 full false Ep. 7 $Earth with Utkarsh Patel: A Token for Ecosystem Regeneration Ep. 7 $Earth with Utkarsh Patel: A Token for Ecosystem Regeneration Today we explore a regenerative finance token, $Earth, with Utkarsh Patel , whose expertise in environmental sciences and economics helps us dissect the transformative potential of digital currencies. 

Utkarsh was at COP28 in Dubai and shares his insights from the conference, one being that there was a resounding narrative throughout COP28 that carbon is the trojan horse that got people thinking about other important environmental markers that need to be addressed, such as water, soil, air, biodiversity, & social equity. Through this "Environmental Benefits Framework" we talk about the potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize environmental reporting, confronting the skepticism regarding its accessibility, particularly in less developed regions of the world.

We discuss the intricacies of designing systems that not only encourage, but also reward positive environmental impact.  I hope this episode leaves you inspired that ReFi has the potential so solve global environmental challenges because it provides a sustainabile investment opportunity, where people don't have to choose between philanthropy, and investing in their future. $Earth makes doing the right thing an easy choice for all. 

https://twitter.com/solarpunkdao
https://solarpunkdao.earth/

]]> Today we explore a regenerative finance token, $Earth, with Utkarsh Patel , whose expertise in environmental sciences and economics helps us dissect the transformative potential of digital currencies. 

Utkarsh was at COP28 in Dubai and shares his insights from the conference, one being that there was a resounding narrative throughout COP28 that carbon is the trojan horse that got people thinking about other important environmental markers that need to be addressed, such as water, soil, air, biodiversity, & social equity. Through this "Environmental Benefits Framework" we talk about the potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize environmental reporting, confronting the skepticism regarding its accessibility, particularly in less developed regions of the world.

We discuss the intricacies of designing systems that not only encourage, but also reward positive environmental impact.  I hope this episode leaves you inspired that ReFi has the potential so solve global environmental challenges because it provides a sustainabile investment opportunity, where people don't have to choose between philanthropy, and investing in their future. $Earth makes doing the right thing an easy choice for all. 

https://twitter.com/solarpunkdao
https://solarpunkdao.earth/

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14377485 Thu, 25 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0800 2488 7 full false Ep. 6 Ecological Benefits Framework with Douglas Gayeton from The Lexicon Ep. 6 Ecological Benefits Framework with Douglas Gayeton from The Lexicon In this episode with Douglas Gayeton of The Lexicon we explore the nuances of regenerative agriculture and the lessons gleaned from the organic movement's pitfalls. We discuss The Lexicon's forward-thinking activator model, developed alongside Google, to create a universal framework for ecological benefits.  This "Ecological Benefits Framework" is at the integration of sustainable agriculture, regenerative finance & indigenous knowledge. 

We dissect the complexities of implementing blockchain technology in environmental initiatives, weighing its potential against its current constraints, and how it might evolve to support a more inclusive and multifaceted approach to ecological restoration.

Our discussion concludes by examining the complexities of blockchain in the food industry, with a case study on Sweet Greens' traceability efforts revealing the unexpected challenges of data sharing and privacy.  We ponder the balance between technological reliance and the wisdom of natural systems as we look towards a resurgence and broader acceptance of indigenous knowledge. 

Check out more about Ecological Benefits Framwork below:
https://www.canyouchangethefuture.org/

]]> In this episode with Douglas Gayeton of The Lexicon we explore the nuances of regenerative agriculture and the lessons gleaned from the organic movement's pitfalls. We discuss The Lexicon's forward-thinking activator model, developed alongside Google, to create a universal framework for ecological benefits.  This "Ecological Benefits Framework" is at the integration of sustainable agriculture, regenerative finance & indigenous knowledge. 

We dissect the complexities of implementing blockchain technology in environmental initiatives, weighing its potential against its current constraints, and how it might evolve to support a more inclusive and multifaceted approach to ecological restoration.

Our discussion concludes by examining the complexities of blockchain in the food industry, with a case study on Sweet Greens' traceability efforts revealing the unexpected challenges of data sharing and privacy.  We ponder the balance between technological reliance and the wisdom of natural systems as we look towards a resurgence and broader acceptance of indigenous knowledge. 

Check out more about Ecological Benefits Framwork below:
https://www.canyouchangethefuture.org/

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14315608 Mon, 15 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0800 2573 full false Ep. 5 ReFi Medellin & Topl with Tereza Bízková Ep. 5 ReFi Medellin & Topl with Tereza Bízková In this episode we discuss the potential of blockchain for social good with Teresa Bízková, ecosystem communications manager at Topl and the founder of ReFi Medellín. 

Tereza and I disucss how blockchain is not just about cryptocurrencies, but a tool for real-world impact, fostering financial inclusion, and supporting environmental causes. Teresa recounts her transformation from blockchain skeptic to advocate, while we dissect Topl's role in emerging markets and furthering financial inclusion. 

I especially loved learning about Alternun's unique approach of incentivizing gold miners to NOT MINE GOLD, and instead keep it in the ground. 

We wrap up with a glimpse into the grassroots movement and how local communities are harnessing innovative economic models to encourage environmental stewardship. From rewarding clean-up hikes with digital currency to exploring bartering systems, we discuss how blockchain tech is encouraging local stewardship and participation. 

Follow Tereza's work below:
https://twitter.com/TerezaBizkova

]]> In this episode we discuss the potential of blockchain for social good with Teresa Bízková, ecosystem communications manager at Topl and the founder of ReFi Medellín. 

Tereza and I disucss how blockchain is not just about cryptocurrencies, but a tool for real-world impact, fostering financial inclusion, and supporting environmental causes. Teresa recounts her transformation from blockchain skeptic to advocate, while we dissect Topl's role in emerging markets and furthering financial inclusion. 

I especially loved learning about Alternun's unique approach of incentivizing gold miners to NOT MINE GOLD, and instead keep it in the ground. 

We wrap up with a glimpse into the grassroots movement and how local communities are harnessing innovative economic models to encourage environmental stewardship. From rewarding clean-up hikes with digital currency to exploring bartering systems, we discuss how blockchain tech is encouraging local stewardship and participation. 

Follow Tereza's work below:
https://twitter.com/TerezaBizkova

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14274123 Mon, 08 Jan 2024 14:00:00 -0800 1681 full false Ep. 4 Funding the Commons with Beth McCarthy Ep. 4 Funding the Commons with Beth McCarthy In today's episode we explore the future of public goods funding with Beth McCarthy, my old UC Berkeley comrade and a big player in the regenerative finance space. Our dive into Funding the Commons illuminates creative infrastructure being built that is helping secure funding and reward impact in nontraditional ways.

We discuss how the merging of on-ground MRV data with on-chain data is a pivotal innovation in the climate space. Beth emphasizes the importance of attestation and impact evaluation, the backbone of projects at Funding the Commons, and how these efforts are crucial in defining precise metrics for success. Our discussion extends to the awe-inspiring bison rewilding project in Romania, showcasing how the Sovereign Nature Initiative is not just restoring ecosystems, but also reconceptualizing environmental contributions of species.

With the Funding the Commons conference on the horizon, we share our excitement for the upcoming gathering and the further allignment of ReFi with traditional sectors, enjoy!

]]> In today's episode we explore the future of public goods funding with Beth McCarthy, my old UC Berkeley comrade and a big player in the regenerative finance space. Our dive into Funding the Commons illuminates creative infrastructure being built that is helping secure funding and reward impact in nontraditional ways.

We discuss how the merging of on-ground MRV data with on-chain data is a pivotal innovation in the climate space. Beth emphasizes the importance of attestation and impact evaluation, the backbone of projects at Funding the Commons, and how these efforts are crucial in defining precise metrics for success. Our discussion extends to the awe-inspiring bison rewilding project in Romania, showcasing how the Sovereign Nature Initiative is not just restoring ecosystems, but also reconceptualizing environmental contributions of species.

With the Funding the Commons conference on the horizon, we share our excitement for the upcoming gathering and the further allignment of ReFi with traditional sectors, enjoy!

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-14237031 Tue, 02 Jan 2024 13:00:00 -0800 1693 4 full false Ep. 3 Exploring the Future of Public Goods Funding with Sophia Dew Ep. 3 Exploring the Future of Public Goods Funding with Sophia Dew In today's episode with Sophia Dew we dive into the future of public goods funding and explore the Public Goods Network, Gitcoin, and Funding the Commons. Sophia illuminates their collective efforts to develop a more transparent and efficient system for funding public goods. 

We discuss retroactive funding models and the role of hypercerts, a tool that has the power to verify and reward impact in a multitude of use cases. Sophia explains the distinction between the foundational protocol behind a hypercert, and the practical applications being built upon it. 

We finish by contemplating the future of public goods funding, while stressing the need for an open evaluator ecosystem and a bottom-up approach to system design. Enjoy!

]]> In today's episode with Sophia Dew we dive into the future of public goods funding and explore the Public Goods Network, Gitcoin, and Funding the Commons. Sophia illuminates their collective efforts to develop a more transparent and efficient system for funding public goods. 

We discuss retroactive funding models and the role of hypercerts, a tool that has the power to verify and reward impact in a multitude of use cases. Sophia explains the distinction between the foundational protocol behind a hypercert, and the practical applications being built upon it. 

We finish by contemplating the future of public goods funding, while stressing the need for an open evaluator ecosystem and a bottom-up approach to system design. Enjoy!

]]> Buzzsprout-14156212 Fri, 15 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0800 2443 3 full false Ep. 2 ReFi Panel with Traditional Dream Factory, Avano & Hypercerts Ep. 2 ReFi Panel with Traditional Dream Factory, Avano & Hypercerts Ever dreamt of a world where finance fuels regeneration instead of depletion? That's what our guests TeRex, Sam, and Sophia Dew aim to create and we’re lucky enough to hear about their innovative projects on today's episode. We delve into the intriguing world of the Traditional Dream Factory, a groundbreaking endeavor to build a network of provable regenerative villages powered by blockchain technology. You'll also get a sneak peek to Refi Week @ Traditional Dream Factory.

Bring your curiosity as we venture into the promising potential of ecological benefits Hypercerts for tracking impact claims, providing an additional source of revenue for regenerative stewards of the Earth. We also chat about the upcoming ETH Online Hackathon, pushing the boundaries of regenerative finance space. Join us as we uncover how the future of finance will be a game-changer for our environment.

]]> Ever dreamt of a world where finance fuels regeneration instead of depletion? That's what our guests TeRex, Sam, and Sophia Dew aim to create and we’re lucky enough to hear about their innovative projects on today's episode. We delve into the intriguing world of the Traditional Dream Factory, a groundbreaking endeavor to build a network of provable regenerative villages powered by blockchain technology. You'll also get a sneak peek to Refi Week @ Traditional Dream Factory.

Bring your curiosity as we venture into the promising potential of ecological benefits Hypercerts for tracking impact claims, providing an additional source of revenue for regenerative stewards of the Earth. We also chat about the upcoming ETH Online Hackathon, pushing the boundaries of regenerative finance space. Join us as we uncover how the future of finance will be a game-changer for our environment.

]]> Cash Upton Buzzsprout-13898546 Thu, 02 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0700 1413 refi, blockchain, crypto, permaculture, farming, nft, nfts 2 full false Ep. 1 White Buffalo Land Trust with Kyle Sullivan Ep. 1 White Buffalo Land Trust with Kyle Sullivan Ever wondered how blockchain technology can support regenerative farming? Join us as we explore the fascinating intersection of regenerative agriculture and innovative tech with our guest, Kyle Sullivan, Director of Marketing and Communications at White Buffalo Land Trust. Kyle takes us on a captivating journey through their unique approach to land stewardship, illuminating innovative practices at the 1,000-acre ranch in Lompoc, California. From raising cattle to growing olives and pinot noir wine, Kyle shares how they are redefining farming while staying true to principles of land stewardship and regeneration.

We explore the power of NFTs in fostering community engagement and hear all about how White Buffalo is leveraging NFTs and blockchain technology to connect and engage with various communities, all while advancing their mission of land regeneration and community building. This isn’t your average loyalty program - it's a unique initiative offering exclusive rewards and experiences to members, from exclusive wines to custom butchered meat, olive oils, and more. 

We wrap up our chat with Kyle as he emphasizes the collective momentum that’s essential to drive forward the mission of the White Buffalo Land Trust. We discuss how they are using storytelling through blockchain technology and NFTs to build community loyalty, offering members access to exclusive content and rewards. The conversation underscores the power and potential of blockchain technology in supporting their mission of regeneration and community building. Don't miss this unique opportunity to explore how regenerative farming and innovative tech can unite to create a sustainable future!

]]> Ever wondered how blockchain technology can support regenerative farming? Join us as we explore the fascinating intersection of regenerative agriculture and innovative tech with our guest, Kyle Sullivan, Director of Marketing and Communications at White Buffalo Land Trust. Kyle takes us on a captivating journey through their unique approach to land stewardship, illuminating innovative practices at the 1,000-acre ranch in Lompoc, California. From raising cattle to growing olives and pinot noir wine, Kyle shares how they are redefining farming while staying true to principles of land stewardship and regeneration.

We explore the power of NFTs in fostering community engagement and hear all about how White Buffalo is leveraging NFTs and blockchain technology to connect and engage with various communities, all while advancing their mission of land regeneration and community building. This isn’t your average loyalty program - it's a unique initiative offering exclusive rewards and experiences to members, from exclusive wines to custom butchered meat, olive oils, and more. 

We wrap up our chat with Kyle as he emphasizes the collective momentum that’s essential to drive forward the mission of the White Buffalo Land Trust. We discuss how they are using storytelling through blockchain technology and NFTs to build community loyalty, offering members access to exclusive content and rewards. The conversation underscores the power and potential of blockchain technology in supporting their mission of regeneration and community building. Don't miss this unique opportunity to explore how regenerative farming and innovative tech can unite to create a sustainable future!

]]> http://refigeneration.com Cash Upton Buzzsprout-13269082 Sat, 22 Jul 2023 15:00:00 -0700 2346 refi, blockchain, crypto, permaculture, farming, nft, nfts 1 full false