Community Currency - 07/15/10

Download

Sharing with Neal Gorenflo, publisher of SHAREABLE.net a nonprofit online magazine that tells the story of sharing. They cover people, places, and projects bringing a shareable world to life. In a shareable world, solutions like clothing swaps, childcare coops, potlucks, carsharing, community gardens, and cohousing can make life more fun, green, and affordable. When we share, not only is a better life possible, but so is a better world. They tell the success stories of Zipcar, Wikipedia, Kiva, open source software, Freecycle, and Creative Commons, and show what’s possible when we share. They show that we don't act merely for our own good, but go out of our way to contribute to the common good. They show that we can solve the social and environmental crises we face, and thrive as never before. They show that a new world is emerging where the more you share the more respect you get, and where life works because everyone is motivated to help each other.

Neal Gorenflo is a former market researcher, stock analyst, and Fortune 500 strategist. A revelation in 2004 inspired Neal to leave the corporate world to help people share through Internet startups, public events, and a circle of friends committed to the common good. Through this circle, Neal met those who would co-found SHAREABLE .net with him. Neal also serves on the board of nonprofits Independent Arts & Media and ForestEthics, and is a Strategy Fellow at FAS.research and a member of Stanford's Persuasive Technology Lab. He lives in Mountain View, California with his wife Andrea, a pediatrician, and young son Jacob. The show opens with Neal explaining the experience/epiphany/crisis which transformed his life.  He also quantifies the growing shift that is happening to move humanity towards sharing, referencing an excellent article he wrote entitled Ten Ways Our World is Becoming More Shareable.