SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | Google Podcasts | Pocketcasts | RSS | RadioPublic | I Heart Radio
Great Ideas – Regenerative Agriculture & Banking for Public Good with Kat Taylor
What if the fundamental systems shaping our food, capital, and climate could be redesigned from the ground up? In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie is joined by Kat Taylor, Co-Founder (with her husband Tom Steyer) and Board Chair of Beneficial State Bank, to discuss her work across regenerative agriculture, mission-driven banking, philanthropy, and policy. Together, they explore how beneficial banking, donor-advised funds, and catalytic investing can realign resources around public good. From restoring soil health to building policy coalitions across diverse interests, Kat shares why practical optimism, play, and curiosity are essential for transforming systems to work for everyone.
Key Takeaways:
Healthy soil is foundational. Regenerative agricultural practices support carbon storage, nutrient-dense food systems, and resilient ecosystems.
Money can be organized around purpose. Banking can function as a mission-driven tool, connecting community deposits directly to lending practices that serve the public interest.
Use resources to change systems. Philanthropic assets can drive systemic reform through catalytic investments alongside traditional grantmaking.
Coalitions make ambitious policy possible. Uniting groups across different sectors builds broader momentum for shared, long-term legislative goals.
Optimism can be practical. Curiosity, imagination, and play help changemakers stay resilient and continue working toward meaningful progress.
“The future belongs to the optimist." — Kat Taylor
"Nature is what produces anything, and photosynthesis is our only real alchemy." — Kat Taylor
"When you go together, you get everything. When you go with your single interest, you get nothing." — Kat Taylor
More About Kat Taylor:
Kat Taylor is a climate and social-impact advocate whose work spans regenerative agriculture, mission-driven banking, philanthropy, and public policy. As co-founder and board chair of Beneficial State Bank, Kat works to align capital with community interest, social justice, and environmental sustainability while advancing systemic reforms in agriculture and philanthropy.
Connect with Kat Taylor:
Websites:
https://www.beneficialstatebank.com/,
https://www.nextgenpolicy.org/,
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kat-taylor-28a6974b/
Twitter: https://x.com/kattaylor
Connect with Kristine:
The PlayFull Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-playfull-podcast-with-kristine-michie-bringing-fun/id1676838213?action=write-review
Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
