Jul 10, 2026 · 1 hr 8 min · 15 segments
To conclude this mini-series, guest host Jamie Bristow is joined by Gretchen Steidle, cathy-mae karelse and Rufus Pollock to step back from individual approaches explored so far and consider the wider…
Rufus PollockGuestCathy Mae CarelseGuest
Gretchen SteidleGuestJamie BristowHostCould you help us to understand what we mean by the term ecosystem? Because this is, you know, obviously a, a word that comes from ecology, you know, thinking about the, the birds and the bees and the trees and the, and the rivers.
Um, but we're now we, we applied it to humans and particularly to, I guess, you know, fields of innovation and programs and things.
I think the core of the concept of ecosystem is our interrelationships, the active interdependence between the parts within the whole.
And sometimes these are visible in the ways in which we function and resources flow and actions take place, and sometimes those are less visible.
But I believe ecosystems tend to be less about identity, but more about how, uh, different parts within a whole function and operate together.
And is it easy to spot an ecosystem or a field or identify where it begins and, and ends?
When you think about a, a field, there's usually some core common ground or identifying characteristic that defines how folks are all within a space together, and that could be core values or theory of change or methodologies or shared purpose.
And I suppose the way into an ecosystem is looking at where it's operating, whether that is a particular location or an issue or system where different practitioners and parts and players are enacting those relationships in, in real time.
I guess it's an idea we, we lay on top of what's naturally occurring in the world.
And there's, there's a point at which sometimes fields, I think, start to become aware of themselves, right? That bef-before they, it may be a loose grouping, but then it gets a sense of itself and gets a bit more coherent over time.
Well, what's been interesting in what we've been exploring through mapping and convening people who are bringing the contemplative into Their social change work is that they may be aware of the ecosystem of players within a particular social issue system.
They know the different players and the parts that they're working on as they are addressing an issue or a challenge.
But what has been fascinating is that they aren't always necessarily aware of the other players that are working within that system with a similar lens.
And when you begin to be able to draw out a more uniquely defined community within a larger ecosystem, that isn't always visible from the beginning.
And that is where some of the most fascinating wisdom is coming from, is when you start to recognize how your particular puzzle piece is functioning in a much larger puzzle that has similar values and similar methodologies and approaches, and that begins to make visible perhaps a different paradigm.
Could you help us to understand what we mean by the term ecosystem? Because this is, you know, obviously a, a word that comes from ecology, you know, thinking about the, the birds and the bees and the trees and the, and the rivers.
Um, but we're now we, we applied it to humans and particularly to, I guess, you know, fields of innovation and programs and things.
I think the core of the concept of ecosystem is our interrelationships, the active interdependence between the parts within the whole.
And sometimes these are visible in the ways in which we function and resources flow and actions take place, and sometimes those are less visible.
But I believe ecosystems tend to be less about identity, but more about how, uh, different parts within a whole function and operate together.
And is it easy to spot an ecosystem or a field or identify where it begins and, and ends?
When you think about a, a field, there's usually some core common ground or identifying characteristic that defines how folks are all within a space together, and that could be core values or theory of change or methodologies or shared purpose.
And I suppose the way into an ecosystem is looking at where it's operating, whether that is a particular location or an issue or system where different practitioners and parts and players are enacting those relationships in, in real time.
I guess it's an idea we, we lay on top of what's naturally occurring in the world.
And there's, there's a point at which sometimes fields, I think, start to become aware of themselves, right? That bef-before they, it may be a loose grouping, but then it gets a sense of itself and gets a bit more coherent over time.
Well, what's been interesting in what we've been exploring through mapping and convening people who are bringing the contemplative into Their social change work is that they may be aware of the ecosystem of players within a particular social issue system.
They know the different players and the parts that they're working on as they are addressing an issue or a challenge.
But what has been fascinating is that they aren't always necessarily aware of the other players that are working within that system with a similar lens.
And when you begin to be able to draw out a more uniquely defined community within a larger ecosystem, that isn't always visible from the beginning.
And that is where some of the most fascinating wisdom is coming from, is when you start to recognize how your particular puzzle piece is functioning in a much larger puzzle that has similar values and similar methodologies and approaches, and that begins to make visible perhaps a different paradigm.
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