S3.E6: Nownership: The Seismic Shift from Private Property to Shared Access Artwork

Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement

Join me, Prof Wayne Visser, for inspiring conversations with leaders in the breakthrough movement to regenerate nature, society and the economy. Thriving is about going beyond sustainability to a net positive agenda of innovation and regeneration. Each episode is a dialogue with thought leaders and pioneering practitioners, capturing their perspective on the six great transitions to thriving: how to go from degradation to restoration of ecosystems, from depletion to renewal of resources, from disparity to responsibility in communities and workplaces, from disease to revitalisation of health, from disconnection to rewiring through technology, and from disruption to resilience in infrastructure and institutions. We also explore what kind of leadership are needed to create a thriving future, and how organisations can take action to integrate thriving into their strategies, products and services. This is not about false hope or blind optimism, but we actively focus on innovative solutions and positive tipping points for change. The podcast builds on the foundations of my bestselling book "Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement to Regenerate Nature, Society and the Economy." I look forward to having you join the movement for thriving and welcome your suggestions for who I should feature as invited guests on the podcast. Credits: Host: Wayne Visser. Podcast music: Amil Raja

All Episodes

Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement

S3.E6: Nownership: The Seismic Shift from Private Property to Shared Access

August 20, 2026 • Wayne Visser • Season 3 • Episode 6

0:00 | 23:46

Episode 6 is based on "Responsibility" (Chapter 5).

Core Theme: Turning disparity into responsibility by making the economy truly inclusive.

The Access Economy: Challenging "global apartheid" by giving marginalized groups fair access to economic opportunities through shared services and inclusion.

Solar Mamas: The inspiring story of Barefoot College, which trains illiterate grandmothers to be solar engineers, proving that high-tech sustainability can thrive in remote villages.

B Corporations: The movement of thousands of companies—like Patagonia and Danone—that are legally committed to balancing profit and purpose for all stakeholders.

From Ownership to "Nownership": How the sharing economy uses technology to shift us from private property to shared access, building community and efficiency.

Human-Scale Development: Applying Manfred Max-Neef’s matrix of nine fundamental needs to remember that there is no hierarchy to dignity—we need affection and freedom as much as food.

Stanley’s Story: A moving account of how an inclusive tire-recycling business provided a former protester with self-worth and healing in a post-apartheid society

Season 3 is an experiment. It features an AI-generated dialogue that deep dives into each chapter of the book, Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement to Regenerate Nature, Society and the Economy. Let me know what you think!