A home for curiosity and care
We support individuals, organisations, and communities who defy conventional moulds—multi-passionate thinkers, lifelong learners, and those who see connections where others see boundaries.
Together, we cultivate new ways of learning, creating, and connecting that centre flourishing—of people, communities, and the ecosystems we’re part of—rather than the relentless pursuit of efficiency.
At Grokkist, curiosity and care are more than values—they are a way of being. These guiding principles shape everything we do, transforming how we collaborate, build relationships, and imagine bold new possibilities.
We are here to support the builders of the new world—those rethinking the systems we rely on, challenging outdated structures, and crafting regenerative alternatives that honour the interconnectedness of all life.
This is your space to explore, connect, and thrive as your fullest self. Whether you’re here to uncover what drives you, co-create something meaningful, or simply find a place where you finally make sense, Grokkist welcomes you.
For those who see the potential in fostering curiosity and care at scale—be it through education, policy, or innovation—we’re eager to collaborate, share insights, and imagine what’s possible together. Let’s build relationships that inspire transformation and nurture the systems we inhabit toward flourishing.
Meet Grokkist in Action
Grokkist is a living experiment in curiosity and care, brought to life by a vibrant community of multidimensional misfits. Get a glimpse into the spirit of Grokkist and the people who make it happen in this short video.
Watch our mini-grokumentary (6 min)
Our Vision
"You never change things by
fighting the existing reality.
To change something, build a new model
that makes the existing model obsolete."
– Buckminster Fuller
We envision a world where curiosity and care are the driving forces of human interaction and development. A world where individuals, communities, and ecosystems flourish together, free to explore their multifaceted interests and cultivate deeper connections.
This is a world built on systems that prioritise regeneration and relational richness over extraction and efficiency—a world where creativity, compassion, and interdisciplinary collaboration redefine how we live, learn, and work.
Our Mission
Our mission is to help every grokkist unlock their grok.
To “grok” means to understand something deeply and intuitively. Unlocking your grok is about reclaiming the hidden, fragmented, or undervalued parts of yourself and weaving them into a vibrant whole. It’s about grasping your unique red thread—the throughline that connects your passions, skills, and lived experiences—and giving it new life.
We believe that everyone already has everything they need to flourish. Our role is to meet you where you are, provide the tools and spaces to explore, and help you gain the clarity to see yourself as a cohesive, powerful whole.
Unlocking your grok is not about becoming someone new; it’s about returning to who you’ve always been—this time with a deeper understanding, renewed confidence, and the freedom to act.
We create spaces and frameworks designed to navigate complexity, embrace contradictions, and explore uncharted possibilities.
Through the Grokkist Academy, Press, and Network—and guided by a distinctive ethos of curiosity, care, and interdisciplinary exploration—we foster environments where people can take things apart, see them from all angles, and reimagine how they fit together. This ethos shapes how we engage with each other and the world, creating spaces free from groupthink and alive with genuine, generative dialogue.
By embracing curiosity and care as transformative forces, Grokkist fosters an interconnected ecosystem where builders, creators, and change-makers thrive. Together, we cultivate the clarity, imagination, courage, and relationships needed to reimagine systems and co-create a regenerative world.
How We Show Up
At Grokkist, everything we do is grounded in relationships. We see the world not as fixed or isolated, but as alive with connection.
Our ethos is shaped by the belief that meaning, creativity, and transformation emerge in the spaces between—between people, ideas, and systems.
- We co-create: Every conversation, gathering, and creation is a shared act of becoming. Whether through dialogue, collaboration, or quiet reflection alongside others, we embrace the power of relational co-creation to spark what couldn’t exist alone.
- We connect deeply: Curiosity and care guide us to explore beyond surface-level interactions. By meeting others in their fullness, we become more ourselves and help weave the kind of world we want to live in.
- We embrace the in-between: Grokkist thrives in the messy, ambiguous, and contradictory. We hold space for complexity and invite exploration of what emerges when we lean into the unknown together.
This ethos isn’t static—it’s alive, shaped by every interaction. It’s an open invitation to co-create spaces where curiosity and care transform what’s possible, where connections deepen understanding, and where the relational becomes regenerative.
To dive deeper into how this ethos shapes everything we do, explore our Guide to the Grokkist Community Ethos—a living reflection of how we show up together.
What We Do
Grokkist brings its ethos to life through an interconnected ecosystem of spaces and tools designed to foster exploration, collaboration, and transformation. At its heart are the Academy, the Press, the Network, and the Talent Exchange—each inviting Grokkists to give, receive, and grow through shared curiosity and care.
- Grokkist Network: A vibrant, shoes-off community of Grokkists connecting across disciplines, generations, and geographies. Here, we co-create spaces for dialogue, mutual support, and genuine collaboration—free from groupthink and alive with possibility. In the Network, people aren’t just participants—they’re hosts, leaders, and peers, giving as much as they receive.
- Grokkist Press: A home for creations that matter—where ideas, projects, and expressions find the context they deserve. It’s a space for grokkists to share gifts of wisdom and creativity through writing, art, podcasts, and more, offering a meaningful alternative to the commodified web. Rooted in the belief that our work belongs to people, not institutions or algorithms, the Press invites curious souls to share and discover what truly lights them up.
- Grokkist Academy: A space for hands-on learning and unlearning, where curiosity sparks discovery. Our courses and guided experiences—like Ecosophy and Unlock Your Grok—help people navigate complexity, embrace contradictions, and take meaningful action. Teaching and learning are reciprocal here; the Academy celebrates learning by doing and sharing what you’ve learned along the way.
- Grokkist Talent Exchange (in development): A space for grokkists to exchange their gifts for value—whether through paid work, skill swaps, or something else entirely. More than a jobs board, the Talent Exchange taps into the power of multidimensional misfits, connecting individuals and organisations with grokkists who thrive in the in-between and bring their whole selves to every opportunity.
Each part of the Grokkist ecosystem reflects our ethos of relational co-creation, inviting people to uncover their red thread, experiment with new ideas, and thrive as their fullest selves.
Join Us in Building the New World
Grokkist is for the builders, the dreamers, and the questioners—for anyone who sees possibility in the spaces others overlook. Whether you’re looking to navigate your own red thread, collaborate on bold new ideas, or tap into a network of multidimensional misfits, Grokkist offers a place where curiosity and care transform what’s possible.
- For individuals: Explore the Grokkist Academy to unlock your grok, share your voice through the Press, or find community and connection in the Network.
- For organisations: Partner with us to access the Grokkist ecosystem—a unique network of interdisciplinary thinkers and creators who thrive in the in-between and bring fresh perspectives to complex challenges.
Together, we’re building a regenerative world where creativity, compassion, and connection come first. If you resonate with what we’re creating, we invite you to join us:
- Become a member of the Grokkist Network to explore, connect, and thrive.
- Collaborate with us on a project or initiative that lights you up.
- Tap into the Grokkist Talent Exchange (coming soon) to work with or support Grokkists.
Let’s reimagine the systems we inhabit and co-create spaces where everyone—human and more-than-human—can flourish. Get in touch.
Our Operating Model
Grokkist® Ltd is a member-supported social enterprise built on a foundation of purpose before profit. Proudly headquartered in Aotearoa New Zealand, we draw inspiration from the principles of kaitiakitanga—guardianship and care for the interconnected systems of life.
We believe that curiosity and care should be accessible to everyone, which is why much of what we offer is free, and all of our paid offerings include dignity-first pathways for affordability. Our Forget About the Price Tag policy ensures that financial barriers never stand in the way of engagement.
Danu Poyner
Danu Poyner
Our work is grounded in relational practices and regenerative principles. Rather than chasing growth for its own sake, we focus on cultivating meaningful, sustainable impact—building systems that enrich individuals, communities, and the ecosystems we’re part of. This includes:
- Radical Accessibility: From our pay-what-you-can policies to our intentionally inclusive spaces, we strive to lower barriers and create opportunities for all.
- Unlocking the Commons: Through member support, we maintain free access to many of our resources, ensuring they remain a shared benefit for the community.
- Kaitiakitanga: Guided by the principles of guardianship, care, and reciprocity, we act as thoughtful guardians of Grokkist as an ecosystem—prioritising relationships, long-term health, and the interconnected well-being of all who engage with us.
By joining or supporting Grokkist, you’re contributing to a living experiment in how to build a world guided by curiosity, care, and ethical imagination.
Explore the Coddiwomple Compass for a peek at Grokkist’s public roadmap, or watch the latest Business Update to see founder Danu Poyner in full flight—connecting the dots, sharing the story so far, and painting a picture of what’s to come.
Meet Our Team
Grokkist is brought to life by a small but mighty team of multidimensional misfits who delight in curiosity, care, and creative collaboration. Together, we weave our red threads into the fabric of a community designed to help others thrive.
Danu Poyner
Founder
Auckland, New Zealand.
Danu is a purpose-driven leader, writer, and thinker who delights in re-humanising systems and facilitating others toward flourishing. With a background spanning academia, public policy, and entrepreneurship, Danu brings 15+ years of experience in building regenerative systems that align purpose with meaningful outcomes.
As the founder of Grokkist, Danu has cultivated a global community of multidimensional misfits, designing spaces where curiosity and care unlock transformative potential. A champion of ethical imagination, Danu’s work bridges strategic vision with the practical steps needed to create systems where people—and the ecosystems they’re part of—can thrive. [LinkedIn | Grokkist Network]
Nathan Dufour Oglesby
Co-Founder
Brooklyn, NY.
Nathan is a philosopher, educator, and artist whose work bridges ancient thought and contemporary ethical challenges. As the creator of rhapsodic pedagogy, Nathan revives the ancient bardic tradition of weaving knowledge, art, and community to inspire ecological action and social justice.
Through Grokkist and his creative ventures as Nathanology, Nathan integrates philosophy, spirituality, and ecological stewardship to spark interdisciplinary collaboration and transformative change. [YouTube | Grokkist Network]
Kendra Fee-McNulty
Director, Marketing and Communications
Rochester, NY.
Kendra is a purpose-driven communicator and founder of Raveloe+Co, a studio dedicated to helping individuals and organisations articulate their “why” with clarity and heart.
At Grokkist, Kendra weaves connections through narrative and design, helping to amplify the voices and stories that make the community flourish. [LinkedIn | Grokkist Network]
Who else is involved
Grokkist is more than a small but mighty core team—it’s a vibrant community of Grokkists contributing in countless ways. From co-creating courses to hosting events, sharing wisdom, and nurturing connections, our members bring the ethos to life in everything they do.
Explore our team contact page to meet the people shaping Grokkist, each in their unique way.
Join the Experiment
Grokkist is a permanent experiment in curiosity, care, and co-creation—a living, breathing community where individuals, ideas, and systems evolve together. Whether you’re exploring your own red thread, seeking collaborators to spark something new, or looking for inspiration to build the world you want to live in, Grokkist offers a space where anything feels possible.
The one thing we can promise?
It won’t be boring.
If you’re ready to lean into curiosity, embrace contradictions, and co-create with a global community of multidimensional misfits, we’d love to have you with us.