Podcast Summary
Using business as a platform for love and community building: Entrepreneur Rylan Engelhart believes that doing good and adding value to people's lives through conscious capitalism leads to profits and a deeper connection to the planet and community.
According to Rylan Engelhart, love is a constant presence within us and running a business can be an opportunity to awaken and share that love with others. Engelhart, an entrepreneur and co-owner of Cafe Gratitude and Gracias Madre, uses his businesses as a platform to inspire gratitude and community building. He also advocates for regenerative farming practices through his involvement with Kiss the Ground. Engelhart believes that doing good and adding value to people's lives is not only morally right but also leads to profits. His philosophy, which he calls sacred commerce, emphasizes the importance of conscious capitalism and the connection between soil, human, and planetary health. Ultimately, Engelhart's message is one of love, awareness, and the power of gratitude.
Cornerstones of a Meaningful Life: Privilege, Love, and Connection: Using privilege to serve and spread love, love is an internal force to share freely, and treating everyone and the earth as interconnected beings are essential for a meaningful life.
Privilege, love, and connection are the cornerstones of a meaningful life. The speaker shares how their fortunate upbringing and relationships have shaped their perspective on using their privilege to serve and spread love. They believe that love is not something found externally but is an ever-present force within us, waiting to be shared freely. The speaker's personal journey includes exploring different paths, experiencing loss, and eventually returning to the values instilled in them as a child – treating everyone and the earth as one interconnected being. Despite setbacks and challenges, their ultimate goal is to embody and share love in all aspects of life.
Exploring passions and values during challenges: Despite adversities, staying true to passions and values can lead to personal growth and a meaningful career. Nature and plant medicine influenced the speaker's commitment to protecting the earth.
Following one's passions and values, even during challenging times, can lead to personal growth and a meaningful career. The speaker's experience of recording music at home during budget cuts led him to a deep introspection and a desire to protect and care for the earth. This desire was rooted in his childhood experiences with nature and plant medicine. His parents' unconventional lifestyle, including living off the land and practicing transcendental meditation, further influenced his connection to nature. Despite facing adversities, such as learning disabilities and the dissolution of the music industry, the speaker's commitment to his values ultimately led him to a fulfilling path. The success of Follow Your Heart, a vegan restaurant and grocery store he mentioned, serves as an example of how following one's passions can lead to significant impact.
The influence of positive thinking and affirmations on the speaker's upbringing: Beliefs, thoughts, actions, and attitudes shape reality, instilled through affirmations and visualization, contributed to the speaker's personal growth and success in business and life.
The power of positive thinking and affirmations, instilled from a young age, significantly influenced the speaker's upbringing and subsequent personal growth. Raised in an unconventional household with parents who emphasized the importance of mindfulness and creativity, the speaker's parents' spiritual teachers instilled the belief that thoughts, speech, beliefs, actions, and attitudes shape reality. This belief, amplified through affirmations and visualization, played a significant role in the speaker's upbringing and eventual success in business and personal life. Despite facing financial challenges, the speaker's parents remained optimistic and instilled a sense of gratitude and generosity in their children. These values continue to shape the speaker's life today, as they work with their father in a regenerative farming business and carry on the tradition of giving back to the community through free meals and charitable donations.
From seeking wealth to embracing generosity: Embracing generosity and staying open to giving can lead to personal growth and the manifestation of dreams.
Generosity and staying open to giving can lead to personal growth and success, as well as positive cultural impact. This idea was exemplified by Matthew's journey from seeking to become a millionaire, to embracing generosity and ultimately opening the first Cafe Gratitude in San Francisco. His story began with him seeking wealth and trying various ventures, but he found greater fulfillment in giving and being open to receiving. This philosophy, rooted in the belief of oneness, led to the manifestation of his dreams and the creation of a successful business that promoted self-love and community. His story also showcases the importance of self-discovery and taking risks, as he went from trying to become a pro snowboarder to pursuing acting, and eventually finding his calling in the food industry. Through these experiences, Matthew learned valuable skills and gained the wisdom to create a business that not only provided delicious food but also fostered personal growth and connection.
Revolutionizing Dining with Gratitude and Community: Cafe Gratitude, founded in 2003, combined organic food with a focus on gratitude and community, offering games, conversations, and a 'Grateful Bowl' for pay-what-you-feel, making healthy eating accessible to all.
Cafe Gratitude, which opened in 2003, revolutionized the dining experience by combining delicious organic food with a focus on gratitude and community. The restaurant encouraged customers to engage in philosophical inquiries through games and conversations, with the ultimate goal of shifting awareness towards gratitude. The Grateful Bowl, which allowed customers to pay whatever they felt, was a significant part of this mission, as it made organic food accessible to those who couldn't afford it. Although the Grateful Bowl concept faced challenges, such as uneven payment distribution, it paved the way for the restaurant's success. Today, Cafe Gratitude operates seven restaurants in Southern California and one in Kansas City, continuing to inspire and nourish its customers with its unique approach to dining.
Cafe Gratitude: A Dining Experience that Fosters Gratitude and Deep Conversations: Cafe Gratitude fosters meaningful conversations through its unique dining experience, including a daily question, affirmations with menu items, and the concept of sacred commerce, emphasizing profitability, awakening, sustainability, and social justice.
Cafe Gratitude, a unique dining experience, goes beyond serving food by fostering meaningful conversations and affirmations. The restaurant's philosophy revolves around the question of the day, which encourages diners to reflect on their gratitude and passions. Every menu item comes with an affirmation, reinforcing positive self-talk. The intention is to create a sacred space for exchange between people, inviting deeper, more substantial conversations. Cafe Gratitude's founders also pioneered the concept of sacred commerce, an advanced form of conscious capitalism. Sacred commerce emphasizes profitability, awakening, sustainability, and social justice, focusing on the well-being of employees and the community while maintaining profitability. The goal is to create a business that not only thrives financially but also awakens and empowers individuals.
Asking employees about their struggles and gratitude enhances presence and customer experience: Encouraging employees to share their struggles and express gratitude through practices like clearing can create a positive work environment, enhance employee presence, and improve customer experience.
Creating a culture of acknowledgment and presence can significantly enhance the customer experience in a business setting. This can be achieved through a simple process called clearing, which involves asking individuals two questions: what they're struggling with and what they're grateful for. By allowing employees to share their thoughts and feelings, and acknowledging their responses, businesses can help their staff members shift their focus to positive aspects, improving their presence and ability to serve customers. This practice, along with other initiatives like team meetings and personal growth courses, can create a unique and positive work environment, contributing to the overall success and reputation of the business.
Cafe Gratitude's Controversial Practices: Cafe Gratitude, inspired by Landmark Forum, encourages uncomfortable conversations and authenticity to promote healing and growth.
Cafe Gratitude, a business known for its organic vegan cuisine, has faced suspicion of being a cult due to its association with Landmark Forum and practices like group meditations and employee bonding exercises. The founders, inspired by their transformative experiences at Landmark, encouraged employees and customers to confront their truths and have uncomfortable conversations to promote healing and authenticity. Despite the controversy, the founders believed in the power of this approach to help individuals become more whole and integrated human beings. The business's practices may have seemed unconventional or even absurd to outsiders, but they were rooted in a fundamental paradigm of promoting authenticity and confronting truth.
Embracing vulnerability for growth: Personal growth and business success involve stepping out of comfort zones, acknowledging flaws, and embracing vulnerability.
Authenticity and growth often require discomfort and vulnerability. The speaker shares an experience of participating in a program that pushed individuals to acknowledge their flaws and apologize to those they had estranged. This process led to transformative conversations and relationships. However, the program was mandatory for managers, leading to resistance and the belief that it was a bridge too far. The business, Cafe Gratitude, had to close its San Francisco location due to California's challenging business environment and the financial strain caused by overextending themselves. Despite this, they have considered reopening, and their restaurant Gracias Madre in LA has been successful in making plant-based cuisine accessible to everyone, regardless of their dietary preferences. The key takeaway is that personal growth and business success often involve stepping out of comfort zones and embracing vulnerability and authenticity.
Delicious plant-based food for all: Gracias Madre's success lies in its immersive dining experience, high-quality ingredients, sustainability focus, and commitment to sacred commerce.
Gracias Madre, a plant-based restaurant, offers delicious food that appeals to a wide audience, even those who may not consciously seek out vegan options. The restaurant's success lies in its ability to create an immersive dining experience, with delicious plant-based dishes that leave customers feeling satisfied and nourished. The restaurant's commitment to using high-quality, organic, and locally sourced ingredients, as well as its focus on sustainability, sets it apart from other establishments. Despite offering large portions, Gracias Madre has been successful in attracting a broad customer base, making it the most successful restaurant in the company. The founders' dedication to sacred commerce, which prioritizes profitability, awakening, and sustainability, has been a guiding principle since the beginning. From cold-pressed juices to ethically sourced ingredients, every detail at Gracias Madre is thoughtfully considered to ensure the best possible dining experience.
Committed to organic and local sourcing despite challenges: The interviewee prioritizes organic and local ingredients, but acknowledges compromises and exceptions, and is deeply passionate about sustainability and regenerative agriculture.
The commitment to providing organic and locally sourced ingredients in their business has been a priority for the interviewee, even if it means making compromises in other areas. They have developed a rigorous process for vetting farmers and sources, including visits to farms and working with trusted distributors. However, they acknowledge that there have been instances where they have had to make exceptions, such as with a non-certified organic beer. The interviewee's passion for organic agriculture and sustainability was deepened during a trip to New Zealand in 2013, where they learned about the dire state of the planet and the importance of regenerative agriculture. This experience led to a renewed commitment to sacred commerce and the intention of using their business as a vehicle for spiritual transformation.
Natural carbon sequestration through soil health: Improving soil health through regenerative agriculture and reducing harm to the land can enhance carbon sequestration, contributing to climate change solutions.
The health of our soil plays a crucial role in mitigating global warming. Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and transfer a significant portion of it to the soil, where it gets converted into stable carbon through the actions of microorganisms. This natural process, known as carbon sequestration, can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. By practicing regenerative agriculture and tending to the living skin of the earth, we can enhance this cycle's ability to sequester carbon and contribute to the solution rather than the problem. This shift in consciousness towards accelerating ecosystem function and reducing harm to the land can lead to a trophic cascade effect, benefiting various organisms and improving overall system health. The solution to addressing climate change may lie beneath our feet, and it's up to us to get out of the way and let nature do its thing.
Shifting from reducing harm to regenerating and renewing natural systems: Regenerative agriculture enhances soil life and biodiversity, small and medium-sized farms can play a significant role in feeding the world, and reducing food waste is crucial for food security
Sustainability is not just about reducing harm or slowing down damage, but rather restoring, regenerating, and renewing the natural systems we depend on. This requires a shift from a reactive approach to a proactive one, where we support the health and vitality of the entire living system, rather than just avoiding certain practices. Regenerative agriculture, for instance, views the farm as a living organism and focuses on enhancing soil life and biodiversity, rather than just avoiding certain chemicals. This wisdom, which has been practiced by indigenous cultures and pioneering farmers for centuries, offers a pathway to not only sustain but regenerate and restore our planet, even as the global population continues to grow. Contrary to conventional wisdom, small and medium-sized farms can play a significant role in feeding the world, and reducing food waste is crucial in ensuring food security for all.
Focus on plant-based foods and regenerative agriculture for environment: Eat more plants, less meat from industrial farms. Regenerative agriculture practices like managed grazing can have positive environmental impact. Political will needed to shift subsidies towards regenerative farming.
To address climate change and restore the earth, we need to focus on eating more plant-based foods and less meat, particularly from industrial farms. These farms contribute significantly to land degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. However, for those who continue to eat meat, regenerative agriculture practices, such as managed grazing, can have a net positive impact on the environment by sequestering carbon and improving soil health. Additionally, there's a need for political will to shift subsidies towards regenerative farming and reduce the production of crops used to feed animals. The momentum towards regenerative agriculture is growing, with companies like General Mills and Indigo committing to large-scale implementation. While there's still a long way to go, this solution offers a potential win-win for the environment, farmers, and consumers.
Regenerative agriculture: Addressing climate change and improving profitability: Regenerative agriculture practices like planting cover crops and using natural fertilizers can increase yields, reduce harmful chemicals, benefit the environment, and address mental health concerns in the farming community. Advocacy programs train and empower individuals to spread awareness and create change.
Farmers can be key players in addressing climate change and restoring ecosystems while also improving their profitability. The shift towards regenerative agriculture, which includes practices like planting cover crops and using natural fertilizers, has the potential to increase yields and reduce the need for harmful chemicals. This transition not only benefits the environment but also addresses the mental health concerns in the farming community, as the average farmer age is high and the next generation is eager to adopt sustainable business models. Regenerative agriculture advocacy programs, like the one mentioned, aim to train and empower individuals to spread awareness and create change. This approach offers a compelling alternative to the traditional, chemically-dependent farming system and presents an opportunity for farmers to be heroes in restoring ecosystems and the food system.
Training advocates and farmers in regenerative agriculture: The Regenerative Agriculture Alliance empowers advocates and farmers to adopt regenerative practices, funding them through a sponsorship program, and producing educational resources like the film 'Kiss the Ground'.
The Regenerative Agriculture Alliance is making a significant impact by training advocates and sponsoring farmers to adopt regenerative agriculture practices. This approach aims to shift the paradigm towards regeneration and reverse the damage done to the earth, particularly through agriculture. The alliance offers a free 10-day course and a farmland training program, where sponsors can fund farmers to go through a 3-year training program. The ultimate goal is to have early adopters lead the way towards a larger shift in the agricultural industry. The alliance also produces a feature-length film, "Kiss the Ground," which showcases successful examples of regenerative agriculture at scale and its positive impact on the environment and farmers' livelihoods. By healing the soil, we can recharge aquifers, create biodiversity, and improve economic opportunities for farmers. A notable example is Allen Williams, who tripled the forage on his 5,000-acre ranch in a 3-year period, resulting in increased carbon sequestration, food production, and economic opportunities.
From Vegan to Regenerative Farmer: The Role of Animals: Regenerative farming recognizes the importance of all elements in the ecosystem, including animals. Learning and adapting is crucial for creating a sustainable farming system that benefits both the land and farmers.
Sustainable farming practices, such as those used by the interviewee in this conversation, involve a holistic approach that recognizes the importance of all elements in the ecosystem, including animals. The interviewee shares their personal journey from being vegan to recognizing the role of animals in their regenerative farming system. They acknowledge the controversy surrounding this shift and the disappointment it may cause for those who associate them with veganism. However, they emphasize the importance of learning and adapting, and the overall goal of creating a sustainable and regenerative farming system that benefits both the land and the farmers. The interviewee also highlights the importance of understanding the complex web of life and death in nature and the role each element plays in the overall health and continuity of the system.
The Complexity of Our Relationship with Nature: Respect each other's learning process, acknowledge the complexity of environmental issues, and consider the impact of all our actions, not just dietary choices. Approach the reality of every meal with care and reverence.
Our relationship with the natural world is complex and nuanced, and our actions, no matter how well-intentioned, can have unintended consequences. The speaker shares their experience of changing their stance on animal agriculture and the backlash they faced from the vegan community. They emphasize the importance of respecting each other's learning process and acknowledging the complexity of environmental issues. The speaker also encourages us to broaden our perspective and consider the impact of all our actions, not just our dietary choices. They emphasize the need for reverence and appreciation for all forms of life and the interconnectedness of all things in the natural world. As Thich Nhat Hanh and Wendell Berry remind us, every meal we consume requires the sacrifice of other beings, and it's essential to approach this reality with care and reverence. Ultimately, the speaker remains hopeful that we can evolve our understanding of these issues and work together to live more sustainably and in harmony with nature.
Embracing interconnection and gratitude for nature inspires us to care for it: Embrace interconnection and gratitude for nature, support soil health and regeneration through small actions, and become part of the regeneration movement.
Living with an awareness of interconnection and gratitude for the natural world can inspire us to care for it and support its best expression of life. This mindset is at the heart of the work of Kiss the Ground, an organization dedicated to soil health and regeneration. Through initiatives like soil advocacy training, funding farmers, and Meatless Mondays, Kiss the Ground encourages individuals to become part of the regeneration movement. Upcoming projects include a feature length film narrated by Woody Harrelson and a partnership with Jaden Smith's I Love You bowl. By practicing gratitude and taking small actions, we can make a positive impact on both our personal health and the health of the planet.
Living in Alignment and Spreading Positivity with Ryland Engelhart: Ryland Engelhart, founder of Gratitude Restaurants and host of 'Kiss the Ground', emphasizes living in alignment with values and spreading positivity, despite challenges. He shares personal experiences, upcoming projects, and encourages open dialogue on sensitive topics.
Ryland Engelhart, the founder of Gratitude Restaurants and the host of the "Kiss the Ground" documentary, emphasizes the importance of living in alignment with one's values and spreading positivity, even in challenging times. During the conversation, Ryland shared his personal experiences and upcoming projects, including the hiring of a new chef for Gratitude in Beverly Hills and his upcoming meeting with friend and musician Mike Posner for the final stretch of Posner's cross-country walk. The discussion also touched on Ryland's Instagram handle, "Love Being Ryland," and the websites for his restaurants, Cafe Gratitude, Gracias Madre, and Gratitude Kitchen and Bar. Despite addressing the sensitive topic of meat consumption, the conversation remained respectful and insightful, highlighting the importance of open dialogue and understanding. To connect with Ryland and learn more about his work, check out his Instagram and Twitter @lovebeingryland, or visit kiss the ground.com or cafegratitude.com.
Love and running are about focusing on personal progress, not external factors: Focus on personal progress in love and running, rather than external factors or comparing oneself to others.
Love is an internal gift that costs nothing to share, and running is a simple activity that can be enjoyed by focusing on personal progress and not comparing oneself to others. Ryland, a guest on the show, shared his perspective on love and running. He emphasized that love is not something external, but rather an ever-present feeling in our hearts. Similarly, running is a simple activity that doesn't require complex tactics or worrying about external factors like courses, hills, or weather. Instead, it's about getting out of one's own way and focusing on personal progress. Ryland also emphasized the importance of being process-oriented, which means focusing on day-by-day improvement and not comparing oneself to others. By doing so, one can take big chances and run as hard as they can, knowing that the people who matter will still be there, regardless of the results.
