Awarepreneurs

In this episode, we do something special.   I've asked Reva Patwardhan of Dialog Lab to interview Paul Zelizer (me), the founder of Awarepreneurs as well as PaulZelizer.com.  We explore my background in awareness practices and social justice work and how I came to the conscious business world.   And we explore how Awarepreneurs got started and where the community is going.

As always, we'd love to hear your questions and thoughts on this important topic in the Awarepreneurs Facebook group.  

In this episode, I talk with Dada Nabhaniilananda, The Monk Dude. Dada is a yoga monk, a meditation instructor, an author, a keynote speaker and a musician.  His tradition was founded by a "social revolutionary" that was dedicated to ending injustic and human suffering.   This interview focuses on how Dada's work has focused on carrying out this vision.  Including how he developed and successfully crowd funded a technology to support this path, Bliss Timer. 

As always, we'd love to hear your questions and thoughts on this important topic in the Awarepreneurs Facebook group.  

In this episode, I talk with Leesa Rene Hall, Author, Futurist, Technology Pioneer, Speaker.  Leesa has had great success over the years as a technology thought leader and online marketing expert.  This interview explores how technology is shaping our lives - often in ways that are not in alignment with our true purpose - and how a conscious writing practice can help us reconnect with and live from our authentic soul.

As always, we'd love to hear your questions and thoughts on this important topic in the Awarepreneurs Facebook group.  

In this episode, I talk with Kelly Diels, the founder of KellyDiels.com. Kelly's work explores how to market in ways that avoid stereotypical approaches to marketing - ones that use sexist and racist archetypes that actually make injustice worse.  And what to do instead to grow your business in ethical and effective ways.

In our conversation, we explore how Kelly got into doing social impact work, how she cares for herself in these poignant times, and the specifics of what her business model looks like. 

As always, we'd love to hear your questions and thoughts on this important topic in the Awarepreneurs Facebook group.  

In this episode, I talk with Rich Schrader, the founder of RiverSource. RiverSource is a social enterprise that teaches people - especially young people - how to be good stewards of the watersheds they live in.  RiverSource works with over 3000 young people per year and uses an innovative combination of for profit and non-profit funding structures.  

In our conversation, we explore how Rich got into doing community based environmental work, what enviromental leaders need to know in these rapidly changing times, energy and the practices Rich has used to stay deeply engaged in this work for almost 20 years. 

As always, we'd love to hear your questions and thoughts on this important topic in the Awarepreneurs Facebook group.   

In this episode, I talk with Gitanjali Laila D'Costa Hemp, the founder of Syntara Systems. Gitanjali runs one of the busiest energy based practices in Northern California with a bricks and mortar office, numerous practitioners, retreats and more.  She also has been bridging into more online offerings in the past several years.

In our conversation, we explore how Gitanjali got into doing energy based work, what conscious leaders need to know about these rapidly changing times, energy practices that can help make transitions more smoothly and what pleasure has to do with self care and sustainability for those focused on social impact work.

As always, we'd love to hear your questions and thoughts on this important topic in the Awarepreneurs Facebook group.   

My guest for this episode is Tanya Odom who works for UN Women and The FutureWorks Institute. Tanya uses a combination of leading diversity and inclusion with mindfulness and compassion practices 

Some topics covered in this conscious business podcast episode on creating effective social enterprise website include:

• How to find true mentoring - not the commercialized version.
• Identifying and being aware of unconscious bias.
• How mindfulness practices can help us be more effective in navigating difference in both personal and business contexts.
• How to effectively combine mindfulness with a diversity and inclusion mindset for powerful results.

Join us as we explore the leading edge of social enterprise and how to move past challenges and into truly having the positive impact you desire.

And, as always, there is an unique opportunity to discuss the themes covered in this episode in the Awarepreneurs Facebook community.  Just do a search in the group for EP 008.  And be sure to check out Tanya's work at The Future Works.

My guest for this episode is Rachael Kay Albers, of RKA ink. Rachael is one of the most talented and smartest web designers for social enterprise brands that I have ever met.

Some topics covered in this conscious business podcast episode on creating effective social enterprise website include:

• How to clarify and present your social impact goals on the web effectively.
• Identifying and being aware of issues of priviledge.
• How to create a comprehensive strategy based on your values.
• When in your social business journey different website choices make sense.

Join us as we explore the leading edge of social enterprise and how to move past challenges and into truly having the positive impact you desire.

And, as always, there is an unique opportunity to discuss the themes covered in this episode in the Awarepreneurs Facebook community.  Just do a search in the group for EP 007.  And be sure to pick up Rachael's guide, Don't Hire a Web Designer.

The main suggestions Rachael had is:

1) Get your content marketing plan in place BEFORE you build a site.
2) Do your professional photo shoot BEFORE you build a site.
3) Engage a copywriter for your website.

And here is the link to the book we mentioned about avoiding "the Savior Complex", No More Heros: Grassroots Challenges to the Savior Mentality.

My guest for this episode is Jesse Sullivan, of Alter.  Jesse helps scale businesses in places like Afghanistan, Haiti, Cuba and other economies that have less robust entrepreneurial ecosystems and has learned some very valuable lessons.

Some topics covered in this conscious business podcast episode include:

• How to come to the work from a place of wholeness rather than a needs based orientation
• How to engage local leaders to increase your positive impact
• Creating a business that is connected to something larger than yourself
• What being faithful has to do with success in challenging environments
• Tips for success for economies with less cash resources

Join us as we explore the leading edge of social enterprise and how to move past challenges and into truly having the positive impact you desire.

And, as always, there is an unique opportunity to discuss the themes covered in this episode in the Awarepreneurs Facebook community.  Just do a search in the group for EP 005.

My guest for this episode is Mark Silver, of Heart of Business.  Marketing is often a challenging topic for many conscious entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs.  In this heart felt interview, we look at:

Some topics covered in this leading edge conscious business podcast episode include:

• How marketing was born in the context of colonalism
• How insights from early psychological thinkers were co-opted by large corporations
• Why a majority of conscious business owners have a charged relationship with marketing
• What to do instead of manipulative marketing techniques
• Why ethical business and marketing practices are more important than ever

Join us as we explore the not so pretty history of marketing and how to move past that into truly ethical and effective marketing practices.

And, as always, there is an unique opportunity to discuss the themes covered in this episode in the Awarepreneurs Facebook community.  Just do a search in the group for EP 004.