Rob Pekin's guest appearances

Rob Pekin

The RegenNarration Podcast

Real Business Real Lives

The Office Guys

Wavemakers

Mark Jones

Michael Neill

Paul Hawken

Zach Bush

Scott Johnson

Douglas Rushkoff

Chris Robinson

Lynne Kelly

Mary Graham

Stephen Jenkinson

Nora Bateson

Amy Johnson

Jodie Jackson

Peter Wilson

Scott Kelly

OwlTail

Robert Pekin is the CEO &amp; co-founder of Food Connect, the self-described ‘systems enterprise’ in Brisbane. You might remember Rob from episode 28 with his brilliant partner Emma-Kate Rose, when we talked at length about their back-story and their soon to be successful $2m equity crowd fund. And from episode 88 last year, with Kungalu and Birri-Gubba Woman Gaala Watson, on an imminent native grains - and milling - breakthrough, and a transformation in governance led by First Nations. When I was in Brisbane for Convergence recently, I dropped in for an update. Rob walked me around this old industrial property as it further transforms into Australia’s first multi-function Food Hub, now hosting over 40 enterprises - each outstanding stories in their own right.This was a quick visit. I’d just recorded with mutual friend Amanda Cahill for what became episode 134, and cycled up to the Shed for a look and some lunch together. I wasn’t going to record this, but as I was being blown away all over again by Rob, alongside Chair of the Food Connect Foundation, Wiradjuri man from Dubbo NSW, Uncle Kel O’Neil, I had to pull out the recorder and share some of it with you. So join us at the Shed, for the conclusion to our Queensland series, and more beginnings for Food Connect. This conversation was recorded on 14 July 2022.Title slide image: Rob Pekin (bottom) and Uncle Kel O’Neill (top) against the backdrop of the Food Connect Shed (pics sourced from their websites).Music: Regeneration, composed by Amelia Barden, from the soundtrack of the new film Regenerating Australia, available for community screenings now. Find more:Food Connect Shed. Food Connect Foundation.Hear my previous conversations with Rob, with Emma-Kate Rose in episode 28, and Gaala Watson in episode 88.Read a transcript of our conversation including time stamps on the episode web page.And you can now gain access to all of the presentation recordings at Convergence, including Rob with Gaala Watson, via RCS Australia for $150. The RegenNarration is an independent, ad-free, freely available podcast, thanks to the generous support of listeners. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them, by heading to the Support page on The RegenNarration website.You can become a subscriber to the podcast, connect with other listeners &amp; receive other benefits, directly via the Patreon page.Visit The RegenNarration shop. And please keep sharing, rating &amp; reviewing the podcast.Thanks for your support!

Robert Pekin is the CEO &amp; co-founder of Food Connect, the self-described ‘systems enterprise’ in Brisbane. You might remember Rob from episode 28 with his brilliant partner Emma-Kate Rose, when we talked at length about their back-story and their soon to be successful $2m equity crowd fund. And from episode 88 last year, with Kungalu and Birri-Gubba Woman Gaala Watson, on an imminent native grains - and milling - breakthrough, and a transformation in governance led by First Nations. When I was in Brisbane for Convergence recently, I dropped in for an update. Rob walked me around this old industrial property as it further transforms into Australia’s first multi-function Food Hub, now hosting over 40 enterprises - each outstanding stories in their own right. This was a quick visit. I’d just recorded with mutual friend Amanda Cahill for what became episode 134, and cycled up to the Shed for a look and some lunch together. I wasn’t going to record this, but as I was being blown away all over again by Rob, alongside Chair of the Food Connect Foundation, Wiradjuri man from Dubbo NSW, Uncle Kel O’Neil, I had to pull out the recorder and share some of it with you. So join us at the Shed, for the conclusion to our Queensland series, and more beginnings for Food Connect. This conversation was recorded on 14 July 2022. Title slide image: Rob Pekin (bottom) and Uncle Kel O’Neill (top) against the backdrop of the Food Connect Shed (pics sourced from their websites). Music: Regeneration, composed by Amelia Barden, from the soundtrack of the <a href="https://theregenerators.co/regenerating-australia/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">new film Regenerating Australia</a>, available for community screenings now. Find more:<a href="https://www.foodconnectshed.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Food Connect Shed</a>. <a href="http://foodconnectfoundation.org.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Food Connect Foundation</a>. Hear my previous conversations with Rob, with Emma-Kate Rose in <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/episodes/028-transforming-food-finance-society" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">episode 28</a>, and Gaala Watson in <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/episodes/088-a-native-grains-native-mills-resurgence-part1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">episode 88</a>. <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/episodes/137-a-transforming-military-industrial-complex" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Read a transcript of our conversation including time stamps on the episode web page</a>. <a href="https://www.rcsaustralia.com.au/the-rcs-story/rcs-convergence-conference/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">And you can now gain access to all of the presentation recordings at Convergence</a>, including Rob with Gaala Watson, via RCS Australia for $150. The RegenNarration is an independent, ad-free, freely available podcast, thanks to the generous support of listeners. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them, by <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/support" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">heading to the Support page on The RegenNarration website.</a> You can become a subscriber to the podcast, connect with other listeners &amp; receive other benefits,<a href="https://www.patreon.com/RegenNarration" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> directly via the Patreon page</a>. Visit <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/shop" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The RegenNarration shop</a>. And please keep sharing, rating &amp; reviewing the podcast. Thanks for your support!

137. A Transforming Military Industrial Complex, with Rob Pekin & Uncle Kel O’Neill at Food Connect

This is a brief extra to episode 88 with Robert Pekin, founder of the award-winning social enterprise Food Connect. It features 10 minutes where Rob and I continued on briefly after Gaala left. It's well worth the listen for some profound reflections on Rob’s part.Title slide: Robert Pekin (supplied).Music:By Jeremiah Johnson.Find more:Tune into the main episode, ‘A Native Grains &amp; Native Mills Resurgence, Part 1: Gaala Watson and Rob Pekin on custodial enterprise’.The RegenNarration is an independent, ad-free, freely available podcast, thanks to the generous support of listeners. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them, by heading to the Support page on The RegenNarration website.You can become a subscriber to the podcast, connect with other listeners &amp; receive other benefits, directly via the Patreon page.Visit The RegenNarration shop. And please keep sharing, rating &amp; reviewing the podcast.Thanks for your support!

This is a brief extra to episode 88 with Robert Pekin, founder of the award-winning social enterprise Food Connect. It features 10 minutes where Rob and I continued on briefly after Gaala left. It's well worth the listen for some profound reflections on Rob’s part. Title slide: Robert Pekin (supplied). Music: By Jeremiah Johnson. Find more: Tune into the main episode,<a href="https://www.regennarration.com/episodes/088-a-native-grains-native-mills-resurgence-part1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> ‘A Native Grains &amp; Native Mills Resurgence, Part 1: Gaala Watson and Rob Pekin on custodial enterprise’</a>.The RegenNarration is an independent, ad-free, freely available podcast, thanks to the generous support of listeners. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them, by <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/support" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">heading to the Support page on The RegenNarration website.</a> You can become a subscriber to the podcast, connect with other listeners &amp; receive other benefits,<a href="https://www.patreon.com/RegenNarration" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> directly via the Patreon page</a>. Visit <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/shop" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The RegenNarration shop</a>. And please keep sharing, rating &amp; reviewing the podcast. Thanks for your support!

88 Extra. In This Place You’ll Be Fully Human, with Rob Pekin

Gaala Watson

You might remember Robert Pekin (with his partner Emma-Kate Rose) from episode 28. Rob’s the founder of Food Connect, the trailblazing social enterprise and legendary community food hub in Brisbane. Since then, plenty has happened at Food Connect. The $2m equity crowd-fund – an Australian first - was successful. And Gaala Watson, a Kungalu and Birri-Gubba Woman born and raised in Brisbane, came on board as Chair of the Food Connect Foundation. That convergence of people, skills and cultures is bringing about a revolutionary addition to their set up, thanks to a serendipitous chain of events deep and wide across Country. That included connections with local elders, the native grains off Bruce Pascoe’s farm, a young farming couple in NSW who wondered if they could build the first Australian mill in who knows how long, and this podcast.Back in episode 28, Rob and Emma-Kate talked about being a ‘systems enterprise’ more than a social enterprise – aiming to change the inter-related food, farming and economic systems, along with the cultural stories underpinning how we organise those systems. Now Food Connect is starting to flip capital from an ownership to a custodial model. This lands squarely in Gaala’s wheelhouse – where social enterprise aligns with Aboriginal systems of governance. And where this particular enterprise aligns with an enduring vision stemming from her father.Title slide: Gaala Watson (off the Food Connect Foundation website) (Rob Pekin is featured in the title slide in the Extra to this episode).This conversation was recorded on Friday 25 June 2021.Music:The System, by the Public Opinion Afro Orchestra.Find more:Tune into the 10 minute Extra to this episode, where Rob and I continue on a little after Gaala left.Food Connect Foundation  Food Connect enterprise Woodstock Flour on Instagram Hear Rob and partner Emma-Kate together on episode 28 And my conversation with Mark Taylor at Miller &amp; Baker on episode 69.The RegenNarration is an independent, ad-free, freely available podcast, thanks to the generous support of listeners. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them, by heading to the Support page on The RegenNarration website.You can become a subscriber to the podcast, connect with other listeners &amp; receive other benefits, directly via the Patreon page.Visit The RegenNarration shop. And please keep sharing, rating &amp; reviewing the podcast.Thanks for your support!

You might remember Robert Pekin (with his partner Emma-Kate Rose) from episode 28. Rob’s the founder of Food Connect, the trailblazing social enterprise and legendary community food hub in Brisbane. Since then, plenty has happened at Food Connect. The $2m equity crowd-fund – an Australian first - was successful. And Gaala Watson, a Kungalu and Birri-Gubba Woman born and raised in Brisbane, came on board as Chair of the Food Connect Foundation. That convergence of people, skills and cultures is bringing about a revolutionary addition to their set up, thanks to a serendipitous chain of events deep and wide across Country. That included connections with local elders, the native grains off Bruce Pascoe’s farm, a young farming couple in NSW who wondered if they could build the first Australian mill in who knows how long, and this podcast. Back in episode 28, Rob and Emma-Kate talked about being a ‘systems enterprise’ more than a social enterprise – aiming to change the inter-related food, farming and economic systems, along with the cultural stories underpinning how we organise those systems. Now Food Connect is starting to flip capital from an ownership to a custodial model. This lands squarely in Gaala’s wheelhouse – where social enterprise aligns with Aboriginal systems of governance. And where this particular enterprise aligns with an enduring vision stemming from her father. Title slide: Gaala Watson (off the Food Connect Foundation website) (Rob Pekin is featured in the title slide in the Extra to this episode). This conversation was recorded on Friday 25 June 2021. Music: The System, by the Public Opinion Afro Orchestra. Find more: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/88-extra-in-this-place-youll-be-fully-human-with-rob-pekin/id1236423380?i=1000529295158" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tune into the 10 minute Extra to this episode</a>, where Rob and I continue on a little after Gaala left. <a href="http://foodconnectfoundation.org.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Food Connect Foundation</a> <a href="https://foodconnect.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Food Connect enterprise</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/woodstockflour/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Woodstock Flour on Instagram</a> Hear Rob and partner Emma-Kate together on <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/episodes/028-transforming-food-finance-society" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">episode 28</a> And my conversation with Mark Taylor at Miller &amp; Baker on <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/episodes/069-communities-were-built-around-this" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">episode 69</a>.The RegenNarration is an independent, ad-free, freely available podcast, thanks to the generous support of listeners. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them, by <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/support" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">heading to the Support page on The RegenNarration website.</a> You can become a subscriber to the podcast, connect with other listeners &amp; receive other benefits,<a href="https://www.patreon.com/RegenNarration" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> directly via the Patreon page</a>. Visit <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/shop" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The RegenNarration shop</a>. And please keep sharing, rating &amp; reviewing the podcast. Thanks for your support!

88. A Native Grains & Native Mills Resurgence, Part 1: Gaala Watson & Rob Pekin on custodial enterprise

Rob Pekin is the founder of Food Connect, a dynamic community supported agriculture enterprise with an innovative community-based distribution system. So put simply, they supply fresh, local, seasonal and ethical produce to the eaters!  For more than 20 years, Rob has been challenging and transforming thefood and agricultural system in Australia. As a former organic dairy farmer and market gardener he has become known as a hands-on social entrepreneur working at the system’s end to help businesses pivot away from the not-so-good parts of our current food system. We talk about the move to a fairer food system, and how individuals and households can play their part in the hugely important regenerative fair food movement: Whether you’re interested in climate change, a new economy, collaborations - there are so many opportunities to be involved in a fairer food system Community Supported Agriculture The main concerns from consumers today when it comes to their food Nutritional density in today’s food, and how to know if you’re eating nutritious food Going beyond just organic food Drawing on Indigenous knowledge to shape our future regenerative food system. 

Rob Pekin is the founder of Food Connect, a dynamic community supported agriculture enterprise with an innovative community-based distribution system. So put simply, they supply fresh, local, seasonal and ethical produce to the eaters!  For more than 20 years, Rob has been challenging and transforming the food and agricultural system in Australia. As a former organic dairy farmer and market gardener he has become known as a hands-on social entrepreneur working at the system’s end to help businesses pivot away from the not-so-good parts of our current food system. We talk about the move to a fairer food system, and how individuals and households can play their part in the hugely important regenerative fair food movement: <ul><li>Whether you’re interested in climate change, a new economy, collaborations - there are so many opportunities to be involved in a fairer food system</li> <li>Community Supported Agriculture</li> <li>The main concerns from consumers today when it comes to their food</li> <li>Nutritional density in today’s food, and how to know if you’re eating nutritious food</li> <li>Going beyond just organic food</li> <li>Drawing on Indigenous knowledge to shape our future regenerative food system. </li></ul>

The future of food is community: Rob Pekin | FoodConnect

Today I am joined by business and life partners, Emma-Kate Rose and Rob Pekin. While receiving relationship counseling, they were introduced to an understanding of the mind that had a major impact, not only in their relationship, but in their lives as a whole. Emma-Kate and Rob explain why they no longer fight against nature, and instead, embrace the unknown. As they share their experiences, they highlight how living openly, curiously, and authentically can lead to surprising and delightful results. Emma-Kate Rose and Robert Pekin are co-owners of the well known Brisbane social enterprise, Food Connect. Emma-Kate and Rob are on a mission to democratise the food system to address many of the social and environmental problems with food access, distribution, and treating growers and workers fairly. They recently raised over $2 million with their community of 513 “Careholders” through an equity crowdfunding campaign to buy their warehouse, becoming Australia’s first community-owned local food hub.

Today I am joined by business and life partners, Emma-Kate Rose and Rob Pekin. While receiving relationship counseling, they were introduced to an understanding of the mind that had a major impact, not only in their relationship, but in their lives as a whole. Emma-Kate and Rob explain why they no longer fight against nature, and instead, embrace the unknown. As they share their experiences, they highlight how living openly, curiously, and authentically can lead to surprising and delightful results. Emma-Kate Rose and Robert Pekin are co-owners of the well known Brisbane social enterprise, Food Connect. Emma-Kate and Rob are on a mission to democratise the food system to address many of the social and environmental problems with food access, distribution, and treating growers and workers fairly. They recently raised over $2 million with their community of 513 “Careholders” through an equity crowdfunding campaign to buy their warehouse, becoming Australia’s first community-owned local food hub.

053: Stay Open, Curious & Flexible for Surprising Results with Emma-Kate Rose & Rob Pekin

Today we feature an Australian first, in an area that is developing fast globally, and potentially helping to redefine how money, business and the economy work. It’s called equity crowdfunding. It’s based on the crowdfunding model most of us are probably familiar with, though here it’s used to raise investment capital. The federal legislation for this is new in Australia, and Food Connect seeks to become the first social enterprise in this country – or as they would say, ‘systems enterprise’ - to successfully use the tool. Food Connect is no ordinary enterprise. It’s really a phenomenon in Brisbane, that has germinated other developments in its mold all over the country. It began with the dramatic transformation of farmer Robert Pekin, and a model connecting farmer to eater more directly, fairly, and healthily, called Community Supported Agriculture (or CSA). The business has since developed, with the help of his now wife Emma-Kate Rose, into so much more. And most pointedly, in their sights now, are the inter-related food, farming and economic systems, along with the cultural stories underpinning how we organise those systems. Now they aim to raise $2-4 million, to enable a transformative vision, beginning with the purchase of the premises they’ve been operating out of for a little over a decade.This is the remarkable story of a dairy farmer gone broke and ‘mad’, as he puts it in all sincerity. And a chance meeting with a woman who ended up selling her house to invest in the enterprise, such was her belief in it, while dedicating her life to making it work. So how does Food Connect and equity crowdfunding work? What would investing in Food Connect look like with this crowdfund model? And how does it change the systems and stories we live by, from ‘back-end’ food ‘rescue’ operations, to impact investing, to our broader economy and culture? Join Rob and Emma-Kate as they chat with Anthony upstairs at the Food Connect warehouse.Update: The crowdfunder was successful, raising over $2m.Music:Sounds of the Forest.Due to licencing restrictions, our guest’s nominated music can only be played on radio or similarly licenced broadcasts of this episode. Find more:Food Connect Foundation.The bio’s of Emma-Kate and Robert. Food Connect enterprise.The RegenNarration is an independent, ad-free, freely available podcast, thanks to the generous support of listeners. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them, by heading to the Support page on The RegenNarration website.You can become a subscriber to the podcast, connect with other listeners &amp; receive other benefits, directly via the Patreon page.Visit The RegenNarration shop. And please keep sharing, rating &amp; reviewing the podcast.Thanks for your support!

Today we feature an Australian first, in an area that is developing fast globally, and potentially helping to redefine how money, business and the economy work. It’s called equity crowdfunding. It’s based on the crowdfunding model most of us are probably familiar with, though here it’s used to raise investment capital. The federal legislation for this is new in Australia, and Food Connect seeks to become the first social enterprise in this country – or as they would say, ‘systems enterprise’ - to successfully use the tool. Food Connect is no ordinary enterprise. It’s really a phenomenon in Brisbane, that has germinated other developments in its mold all over the country. It began with the dramatic transformation of farmer Robert Pekin, and a model connecting farmer to eater more directly, fairly, and healthily, called Community Supported Agriculture (or CSA). The business has since developed, with the help of his now wife Emma-Kate Rose, into so much more. And most pointedly, in their sights now, are the inter-related food, farming and economic systems, along with the cultural stories underpinning how we organise those systems. Now they aim to raise $2-4 million, to enable a transformative vision, beginning with the purchase of the premises they’ve been operating out of for a little over a decade. This is the remarkable story of a dairy farmer gone broke and ‘mad’, as he puts it in all sincerity. And a chance meeting with a woman who ended up selling her house to invest in the enterprise, such was her belief in it, while dedicating her life to making it work. So how does Food Connect and equity crowdfunding work? What would investing in Food Connect look like with this crowdfund model? And how does it change the systems and stories we live by, from ‘back-end’ food ‘rescue’ operations, to impact investing, to our broader economy and culture? Join Rob and Emma-Kate as they chat with Anthony upstairs at the Food Connect warehouse. Update: The crowdfunder was successful, raising over $2m. Music: Sounds of the Forest. Due to licencing restrictions, our guest’s nominated music can only be played on radio or similarly licenced broadcasts of this episode. Find more: <a href="http://foodconnectfoundation.org.au" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Food Connect Foundation</a>. <a href="http://foodconnectfoundation.org.au/our-board" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The bio’s of Emma-Kate and Robert</a>. <a href="https://www.foodconnect.com.au" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Food Connect enterprise</a>.The RegenNarration is an independent, ad-free, freely available podcast, thanks to the generous support of listeners. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them, by <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/support" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">heading to the Support page on The RegenNarration website.</a> You can become a subscriber to the podcast, connect with other listeners &amp; receive other benefits,<a href="https://www.patreon.com/RegenNarration" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> directly via the Patreon page</a>. Visit <a href="https://www.regennarration.com/shop" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The RegenNarration shop</a>. And please keep sharing, rating &amp; reviewing the podcast. Thanks for your support!