E.11 Building the Regenerative Ecosystem

Regenerative Culture Podcast

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E.11 Building the Regenerative Ecosystem

Through Global Gathering & Conscious Collaboration

Yoshi Pantera

and

Victor Vorski

Jun 06, 2025

Something extraordinary is happening across the globe, and I just had a conversation that illuminated exactly how profound this shift really is.

I sat down with Victor Vorski, the visionary behind The Gathering, and what he shared completely enhanced my understanding of how regenerative movements can scale while maintaining their soul. What started as a single gathering in Portugal in 2022 has become something much bigger - a global network of regenerative leaders asking the same question: "How do we bring this collaborative regenerative spirit to our region?"

The Story Behind the Movement

Victor didn't set out to create a traditional festival or conference. He was experimenting with something entirely new - a format that combines the celebration of festivals, the learning of conferences, and the practical connection of trade shows. But with one crucial difference: no spectators allowed. Everyone who comes must contribute, must participate, must co-create the experience.

"We're trying to create a 500-person regenerative think tank," Victor told me. And as he described it, I realized he's not just organizing events - he's pioneering new ways for humans to collaborate.

Beyond Fear: The Collaboration Challenge

One of the most powerful moments in our conversation came when we explored why so many regenerative leaders try to build their projects alone. Why are we afraid to collaborate? Why do we default to isolation when abundance comes from working together?

Victor's answer was profound: we're still learning how to work together. We're remembering what collaboration actually means. And instead of giving up after a few failed attempts, we need to keep practicing, keep experimenting, keep pushing through the discomfort of interdependence.

This resonated deeply with my own journey building Collective Wave and our SEEDS retreats. How many times have I defaulted to "I'll just do it myself" instead of embracing the messy, beautiful process of co-creation?

I mentioned in the conversation that it is really important not to give up. There are so many relationships that just don’t work during collaborations, but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible and that we should do things on our own. “The most beautiful thing about humanity are relationships with others.”

The Digital-Physical Bridge

Victor's vision extends beyond physical gatherings. His latest project, Coherence, is revolutionizing how regenerative practitioners connect online. Using AI to match conversations and create meaningful connections before events even happen, he's building what he calls "ecosystemic build in public" - sharing our journeys, our struggles, our breakthroughs, so the entire community can learn and grow together. A different format of one or two people talk and the rest listens.

The Vision of Community Ownership

Perhaps most inspiring is Victor's 10-year plan to "exit to community." By 2032, The Gathering won't belong to him - it will belong to all of us. This is the regenerative leadership model we desperately need: stewardship that leads to shared ownership, not permanent control.

Key Insights from Our Conversation

The Gathering Model: Festival + Conference + Trade Show = Collaborative Innovation
Connect for Action: Moving beyond networking to real partnership formation
Global Scaling with Local Soul: Supporting regional organizers while maintaining core values
AI-Assisted Collaboration: Using technology to amplify human connection, not replace it
Coming Together in Difference: Finding alignment while respecting diverse perspectives
Community Ownership Vision: Building movements that belong to everyone

Why This Matters for Our Movement

As I reflect on this conversation, I am so happy that physical gatherings will always remain essential in our digital age. There's something irreplaceable about sharing space, breathing the same air, creating together in real time. And when we combine that with intelligent technology that helps us find our collaborators and continue our connections, we create something unprecedented.

If you're building regenerative projects, organizing community events, or simply wondering how to find your tribe in this movement, this conversation will shift your perspective on what's possible when we truly embrace collaboration over competition.

The regenerative future isn't being built by isolated heroes - it's being co-created by networks of collaborators who understand that our individual projects become infinitely more powerful when they're part of a larger ecosystem.

With love and collaboration,
Yoshi Pantera