Economics + Design with Deacon Rodda

Deacon Rodda is a permaculture theorist and designer who has been working with social change organizations in Denver for more than two decades. Deacon has spearheaded localization initiatives, permaculture research, education non-profits, and social benefit business ventures. Currently, Deacon is focused on establishing a truly egalitarian heirloom currency and contributing to publications on social and ecological well-being.

In this conversation, we talk about the intersections of Economics + Design, including—

• Imagining economic options beyond capitalism and socialism.
• Whether advancements that make society safer have actually made them better.
• How we create money in society and whether money is “neutral.” 
• What Deacon feels isn’t working in our economy right now.
• How economics and climate are as intertwined as tree roots and mycelia, and whether we’ll change the economy fast enough to survive climate collapse.
• Designing an economy that’s good for humans and the environment.
• The immorality of compounding interest.
• The role of design questions in creating new economic systems.
• And, what two values Deacon believes are foundational to building the economy he wants to see.

Listeners can find Deacon online, at sqglz.com, and on Instagram at @deaconrodda. You can also support Deacon’s work on Patreon, and check out and join the Favor Solutions Network, a non-capitalist, non-socialist, free-market system designed by Deacon.

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Music: The in-house musicians at Slip.stream
Audio Engineering: The team at Upfire Digital