In our very first episode of NENA’s ‘Voices of the New Economy’ Podcast, Tiyana sits down with Henry Coleman from Local Futures to explore one of the most important — and misunderstood — ideas in the new economy movement: localisation.

Henry shares why he believes the future of a thriving, fair and ecologically healthy economy must be rooted in place. Rather than a single blueprint, localisation is a direction we can move towards — one that shortens the distance between producers and consumers, rebuilds community connection, restores biodiversity, and supports genuine wellbeing.

Reflecting on his own journey into systems change work, with clear explanations of how globalisation has shaped our lives, Henry offers a hopeful and practical introduction to localisation as both a movement and a mindset. Whether you’re completely new to the ideas or already part of the localisation movement, this episode gives you a grounded, inspiring and common-sense guide to why relocalising our economies matters — and how we can all take the first step.

Voices of the New Economy is a collaborative storytelling project of NENA. The podcast is produced by the Humanitarian Changemakers Network (HCN), an Anchor Organisation of NENA, as part of its commitment to strengthening economic literacy, amplifying community innovation, and supporting pathways to systemic change. Each episode features researchers, practitioners, organisers, and everyday changemakers working across disciplines and communities to re-imagine how our economies can serve people and planet.

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A full companion article for this episode is available here.

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Get involved: NENA members and friends are warmly invited to participate in the podcast — as interviewees, storytellers, or contributors to the NENA Storytelling Hub. To get involved, visit the Hub page or email: nena@neweconomy.org.au