How to Build a Circular Economy: Living Systems & Bridging the Political Divide with BILL SHIREMAN

How to Build a Circular Economy: Living Systems & Bridging the Political Divide with BILL SHIREMAN

Author: Limited Series - One Planet Podcast July 7, 2026 Duration: 53:26
Today on the Business in Society and One Planet podcast, Mia Funk and Bruce Piasecki welcome Bill Shireman, a pragmatic idealist, policy innovator, and the President of Solution Citizen. As the curator of the EarthX Congress of Conferences and the driving force behind Circle America, Bill has spent over three decades at the intersection of commerce and conservation. In this episode, Bill breaks down his philosophy of shifting from an outdated "machine economy" built on extraction to a thriving "living systems" economy that mimics nature's circularity. He shares incredible stories from his early days negotiating the landmark California Bottle Bill, detailing how he secretly allied with supposed corporate enemies like Bill Coors to craft legislation that worked for both businesses and the environment. Bill also explores how extreme political polarization—between the "woke" left and the "MAGA" right—hinders progress, urging listeners to step outside their tribes and find shared values with their opponents. Furthermore, he details his innovative run for California's Board of Equalization, outlining his vision to radically overhaul the tax system by penalizing negatives like pollution and waste, rather than taxing prosperity like income and payroll. Tune in to discover why the future of sustainability is not just technological, but fundamentally civilizational.

How do the largest forces in business and culture actually shape the world we live in? Business & Society, a limited series from One Planet Podcast, digs into that complex intersection. Co-hosted by Dr. Bruce Piasecki and Mia Funk, this podcast leverages Piasecki’s four decades as a consultant and New York Times bestselling author who has advised major corporations on sustainability and innovation. The conversations here move beyond abstract theory to examine the practical realities of social response capitalism and shared value. You’ll hear discussions that connect environmental imperatives to management decisions, and public policy to corporate strategy, all framed by a changing global landscape. This isn’t about quick fixes or surface-level trends; it’s a deep exploration of how responsible business can function as a genuine agent for climate solutions and societal progress. Each episode in this series naturally weaves together perspectives from business, science, and culture, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of the pressures and possibilities defining our time. For anyone curious about the tangible mechanisms behind headlines on sustainability, corporate responsibility, and economic evolution, this podcast provides essential context and forward-thinking dialogue.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 37

Business & Society
Podcast Episodes
How Can We Heal the Living World? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:00
Today on Business & Society, we explore the shift from a linear machine economy to a living systems economy. We hear from the architects of a new capitalism, defenders of the environment and the built world, and those wo…
Security, Sustainability & the Physics of Social Order [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:47
“I grew up in a pretty unstable time in the 1960s, in the United States. Right now, what's going on in the world is probably even more threatening because of whatever the normal stuff that happens in politics, you've got…
Writing, Imagination & Memory w/ Author & Filmmaker JAY PARINI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:47
“Poetry is the prince of the literary arts to me. It's at the very top because it's language refined to its apex of memorability. I am interested in poetry as memorability and poetry as something you live by. These are t…
The Future of Renewable Energy with Minnesota Power’s JULIE PIERCE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:54
How did a century-old power company become a leader in renewable energy? How can industrial giants adapt to cleaner power? What role are women leaders and community initiatives playing in the renewable energy transition?…
The Daily Pursuit of Excellence with SAM SMOLIK [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:23
How can cultivating curiosity within an organization transform it from a place of work into a community driven by passion and purpose? Why is wetland conservation crucial for combating climate change, and how can public-…