96: Jakob Trollbäck - Creative Multiplication

Hello again, its me, Lee, I am back finally with season 2 called Big Questions.
This is just an intro and small taste of whats to come.
Look out for new episodes dropping soon!

Thank you to my faithful listeners for your ears and attention over the last 2 years. This is the last seedpod episode of the year and of season 1. I will be launching a season 2 in the coming months, i have some big ideas and intentions so stay tuned. And this final podcast is a message from my heart to yours amongst the madness we find ourselves in. Much love and peace, see you next year.

I had the absolute privilege of meeting and interviewing Theo Ndindwa, who is for those who don't know, one of the first internationally recognised black ballet dancers in South Africa. He was selected to be part of a Nutcracker production in the early 90’s which was the first multiracial ballet production in post Apartheid South Africa. Then aged 12 he had the foresight to see that this was an opportunity to greater possibilities than what he had dreamt available to him till that point. Theo threw himself into the ballet world which took him to great heights, ultimately studying and dancing at some of the top institutions in Europe.

But he knew in his heart that he was destined to return home to South Africa to play his part in providing the opportunity he was given to children from similar disadvantaged backgrounds. Having successfully run Ikapa Dance with his wife for 15 years doing just that, Theo now finds himself in search of the next challenge, how to expand and scale this type of access to creativity and education to the townships of South Africa.

Theo is a legend, generous with his time and his heart and I could not help being totally inspired by his story. Its a story of vision, will and passion. Enjoy.

This weeks guest Peter Schelstraete is the co-founder and CEO of UBUNTOO, a technology  startup whose mission is to accelerate scalable sustainability solutions and innovations by providing a digital platform for global visibility and collaboration. The Ubuntoo platform connects innovators and industry leaders to collaborate on solutions and technologies in support of the UN SDGs, starting with solutions to end plastic waste & pollution.

Previously, Peter was at The Coca-Cola Company for 19 years’ tenure, where he held a variety of high profile roles including CMO for Asia Pacific region. 

Being a true world citizen, Peter has lived and worked in four continents. He has a Master’s degree in Commercial Engineering at the University of Leuven, Belgium and also holds a Postgraduate Master’s degree in Business Management from the University of Montpellier in France.

I was inspired by Peters positivity, enthusiasm and drive to effect real change in our world. He has a huge wealth of knowledge in many areas of the sustainability sector and I see his platform making a massive contribution towards shifting the world towards a more sustainable one. Thank you Peter.

Misha Teasdale needs little introduction. As the self proclaimed Tree-E-O of Greenpop South Africa, a tree planting land restoration organization, he aims to not only facilitate the healing of our planet but ourselves as well. Misha has a B-Tech in Sustainable Industrial Design, and before he started Greenpop, he went on a journey from Cape Town to London, profiling NGO’s and CBO’s across the continent to attract CSI funding and encourage knowledge sharing and grassroots volunteering. This experience changed his life, altering his thinking and planted the seeds that have become the Greenpop we see today.

September is Arbour month, its not something many of us know or celebrate anymore, and so this conversation comes at the right time. Misha for me represents the innovative, powerful energy of the social entrepreneurs and eco warriors pushing every day for the improvement of life on our planet. It was a privilege to share some thoughts with him and I have no doubt you will walk away richer from this conversation. Enjoy.

Earlier this year at design Indaba I had the pleasure of talking to in my mind one of the most influential designers alive today. Swedish graphic designer Jakob Trollbäck is the main architect behind the communication language for the United Nations’ 17 Global Goals – an ambitious and inspiring agenda for a better world by 2030. With a client list that is impressive  – Apple, Google, Nike, Spotify, Volvo, BBC, ESPN, NBC, CBS and the TED conferences – his team has received a slew of creative industry awards over the years. But now since working on the Global Goals project he dedicates all his time at The New Division, his sustainability agency that focuses solely on work that promotes new thinking and sustainable values.

We discuss how the global goals project fundamentally changed his life, shifting his work focus, turning vegetarian and causing a complete life perspective change. We discuss the weight of the knowledge of the global issues that he now carries and how he deals with that on a daily basis. For me it felt like sitting down with an elder where I gained insights and left a better person for the conversation. Thank you Jacob.

This weeks guest is based in one of my favourite countries in the world, Bangkok Thailand. Peetachai Dejkraisak or more simply known as Niel is the co-founder and CEO of Jasberry a sustainable social enterprise that seeks to solve some of the worlds most pressing issues. The jasberry rice is a superfood which delivers high nutrition, is farmed sustainably and organically and is helping to lift the ordinary rice farmers of South east Asia out of poverty. 

Niel has a degree in Environmental engineering and an MBA and by combining these he and his co-founder have developed a model that is changing the lives of thousands of people, giving them dignity, pride and rebuilding communities.

What struck me most about Niel from our conversation was his empathy, humility and strong desire to change the status quo. He shares some incredible stories about the changes he has seen in the small holder farmers that he works with, about the personal journey he is on and where he is heading. I left our conversation feeling inspired and hopeful knowing that there are people like Niel dedicating themselves to improving the lives of others in a way that for me demonstrates a great model for the people planet profit paradigm, enjoy.

My guest for this week, Maryke Musson grew up with the ambition of being a dolphin. When that didnt work out, she managed to obtain science degrees in various fields including marine biology, medical physiology, fisheries science, psychology and neurology. She has worked in the marine science field for the past 25 years, from aquariology, to research to sustainable production and governance, and has presented at many conferences locally and internationally.

Her focus is on making a difference, every day, through marine conservation, awareness, research, education and sharing inspiring ocean stories. She is currently the CEO of the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation, a Public Benefit and Non-Profit Organisation with a variety of environmental education and outreach programmes and a very successful sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation and release programme.

My biggest take away from this conversation was Maryke’s overwhelming positivity, even in the face of suffering and devastation. She shared some incredible stories with me about some of the animals she has helped save and rewild. I left with a deeper connection and understanding of what the lives of, in this case marine conservationists, and all conservationists must be like. We need these brave souls to remind us of our humanity and role as custodians of this earth, I thank and salute all of you!

In this week's episode I jump back to an interview I did at Design Indaba earlier this year but the relevance of the content has not changed and if anything in light of recent events is that much more powerful to listen to. I had the privilege of a half an hour conversation with Nhlanhla Mahlangu known both locally and internationally for his richly choreographed theatrical productions and his work with the famous South African artist William Kentridge. Nhlanhla is the very embodiment of tenacity. Born in Phola Park informal settlement on Johannesburg’s East Rand during the height of Apartheid, he was unable to complete his matric due to the ANC, IFP and the ‘Third Force’ violence in the Nineties, dashing his dreams of going to music school.

This is probably the most political conversation I have had on my podcast and it was humbling. I learnt a lot from this short exchange. Nhlanlha does not hold back on his beliefs about the state of our country. He embodies a fierce courage that gently cuts straight to the heart of the matter. Listening to this again 6 months later I am deeply saddened about where we are as a country today, made even worse by the events of our times. Don’t skip this episode, it is important to have the difficult conversations and hear the hard things in order to heal and move forward.

Justin Needham, my last guest for the plastics free July series, has been involved in recycling for many years on a grassroots level. Having started one of the first consumer recycling collections businesses in South Africa he has first hand knowledge of how the system works and what the inherent shortfalls are. After spotting a gap in the market he is now pioneering the sector once again by bringing the reverse vending machine concept to our shores but tweaking it for local application and backing it with data and a custom consumer app.

We discuss the state of the recycling industry here in South Africa and some of the stumbling blocks in the way of really scaling and reaching true success. We also discussed the current business models, how they are not currently serving the planet and its communities and what needs to change to drive real transformation and make business a strong force for good.

This was an enlivening and motivating conversation for me, I learnt a lot and enjoyed throwing some big ideas around with Justin. If you are interested in recycling you cant miss this one, enjoy.