Is it just me… or has the world we live in started to feel more and more precarious, over the past few years? Do you think we’re on the right track?
I… can’t say I do.
And I do know I’m not alone, because I’ve been in SO many conversations with friends and comrades who feel the same.
And so many of you have been getting more scared… even more cynical… or, I even might say, more like Eeyore than Tigger.
Would you like to gather up some Tigger energy as we wind down 2025… and chart our course for 2026… and beyond?
I got you.
That energy is here. I’m talking hope. I’m talking a way forward that helps us all thrive. I’m talking the way we turn it around… for good.
I can’t wait for you to meet my infinitely wise — and wildly witty! — friend and guest, Alexander “Brave Journey” Sterling, co-founder and CEO of Turtle Island Community Capital (TICC), who shares about fostering economic sovereignty and community resilience for Indigenous peoples (and thus, all of us here).
We discuss the challenges and opportunities within Native communities, the significance of cultural stories and traditions, and the importance of investing in regenerative finance. We touch on historical injustices, the critical need for equity in investment and philanthropy, and the hope and action needed to build a thriving future for the next generations.
Get a warm drink.
Settle in.
Be ready for some inspiration… some introspection… and some dreaming.
Also, I need to mention: this is the longest episode we’ve published so far. And that’s because there is just SO MUCH GOOD CONTENT, with Alex “in the room.” I couldn’t cut any more. I just couldn’t! You really need to hear it all.
Buckle up! Listen in.
And be sure to call or text into the dedicated line for the podcast, too, with questions about — or your own experiences with — these topics. That’ll make this whole conversation even richer. ( 1 6 1 2 4 4 0 4 8 1 9)
Thank you for being here!
I’m so grateful to have you in this community.
Episode Overview
00:00 | Introduction: A Precarious World
00:43 | Gathering Tigger Energy for 2026
02:36 | Welcome to the For the Love of Humanity Podcast
03:38 | Alex’s Background and Mission
05:33 | Alex’s Stories of De-Humanization and Humanization
12:16 | The Importance of Caring for — and Respecting! — Youth
16:45 | The Origin of “Brave Journey”
19:09 | About Turtle Island Community Capital
23:15 | Challenges in Native American Financial Access
30:33 | The Erasure of Native History
36:55 | Engage with the Podcast Community
38:58 | Discussing “American Progress” by John Gast
39:59 | Manifest Destiny… and Its Modern Implications
43:33 | Economic Sovereignty Explained
48:15 | A Different Kind of Investment
51:19 | Seven-Generational Thinking: What/How?
01:03:44 | The North American Colonial Project
01:06:21 | Land Acknowledgements and Practical Actions
01:18:49 | Supporting Indigenous-Led Solutions
01:23:23 | Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Info + Links from Alex
Turtle Island Community Capital (TICC) is a mission-driven financial institution dedicated to advancing economic sovereignty in Native and underinvested communities. If this work resonates with you, consider joining us — not as donors, but as co-creators. You can offer direct support here. Or you can reach out to our team for more information on how to use your DAF or impact investing funds in our work: invest@turtleislandcommunitycapital.org.
Remember, there are $180 Million in capital needs waiting — just waiting for the funds to make them possible. TICC is raising $400K before the end of 2025.
This is the start-up, launching phase for TICC. And you can be a part of launching them towards their very ambitious goals. Give today!
Turtle Island Community Capital’s Website
Connect with Alexander via his LinkedIn Profile
Turtle Island Community Capital’s LinkedIn Page
Turtle Island Community Capital’s Instagram Page
As Mentioned In the Episode
What “Termination” Means for Native Americans
On “American Progress” by John Gast
On the “Doctrine of Discovery”
This podcast’s music is licensed from MusicBakery.com.
All copyrights, licensing, duplication, and distribution rights are held exclusively by Music Bakery Publishing (BMI).
