In this episode of Next Economy Now, Erin Axelrod speaks with Fabiola Santiago, founder and executive director of Mi Oaxaca, about what Indigenous worldviews can teach us about belonging, reciprocity, and everyday consumption. Drawing from her experience as a diasporic Zapotec woman from Oaxaca and a public health researcher, Fabiola explores the hidden systems behind mezcal, food, and tourism, and how extraction and cultural appropriation shape communities and ecosystems. The conversation invites listeners to rethink how they relate to culture, place, and what they consume, and to imagine a slower, more regenerative economy rooted in care and mutual responsibility.

View the show notes: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/choosing-home-in-a-time-of-displacement-w/-fabiola-santiago

Early bird registration is now open for the spring 2026 cohort of The Next Economy MBA, a nine-month facilitated learning journey for people building a more just and regenerative economy. Save 20 percent if you sign up before February 2. Learn more at lifteconomy.com/mba.

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True health is about more than simply taking your medicine. It’s about healing the whole person, mind, body, and spirit. In this episode of Next Economy Now, Dr. Shamini Jain, a clinical psychologist, scientist, author, singer, and founder of the Consciousness and Healing Initiative, explores the intersections of science, spirituality, and creativity in advancing health and well-being.

View the show notes: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/science-spirit-and-the-future-of-healing-w/-dr-shamini-jain

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What if accountability led to healing instead of more harm? In this conversation, restorative justice practitioner Tatiana Chaterji shares how her work in prisons, schools, and communities is helping people move beyond punishment toward real repair. She reflects on her own experience as a survivor, the power of truthful dialogue, and why accountability requires support rather than shame. This episode opens a clear-eyed look at what it takes to build safety and dignity in a society ready to move past punitive responses to harm.

View the show notes: https://lifteconomy.com/blog/tatiana-chaterji

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