Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

The food system in America has changed so much in the last 30-40 years. Organic and non-GMO are terms that have become popular more recently, and we're much more aware about the importance of clean ingredients and real, whole foods. Let's be honest though: life is moving much faster today than it was even just 10 years ago. It's still important for families to have convenient options when it comes to making meals. My guest today has infused his passion for entrepreneurship, organic and clean ingredients in foods with convenience. Adnan Durrani has created a revolutionary company that is popping up in grocery stores around the country. Adnan is the founder and CEO of American Halal Co, which wholly owns its flagship brand, Saffron Road. As a long-time social entrepreneur, Adnan was searching for a social enterprise that would bring people together over delicious, convenient, and healthy food. The evidence of his dream is now in grocery stores like Sprouts, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Whole Foods and more. You can find Saffron Road meals just about everywhere now! I was so honored to have Adnan on the show today. His lifetime of experience in the food and beverage industry and his pioneering in so many areas of innovation was fascinating. Join me as I hear more of Adnan's fascinating story.

3:53 - The Adnan 101

• Adnan journey into the food and beverage industry might not be quite what you'd think at first. He actually started on Wall Street for many years. During the original stock market crash of 1987, he went from doing well to having an epiphany that the "immediate gratification" business was no longer for him.
• Adan decided the "delayed gratification" business would be a much better fit for him, i.e. becoming a venture capitalist or entrepreneur. Soon after leaving Wall Street, he started a company called Vermont Pure Spring Water.
• He had an idyllic view of the entrepreneur life, but really didn't know what he was getting into at first. It was a much harder way to earn a living than he initially realized.
• As difficult as starting that first company was, his was one of the first bottled water companies to have strong environmental values around it. They gave a lot of money back to the state of Vermont by partnering with a nonprofit to take care of the bridges and spring waters in Vermont. It eventually became the second largest bottled water company in the Northeast.
• Many people discouraged Adnan from going after several of the industries he was interested in, including bottled water and yogurt. They thought Americans drank soda and kids would never eat yogurt. Both concepts were shot down by many successful business tycoons. Where others were short-sighted, Adnan watched trends in Europe and saw a market to improve lives and people's heath amid water quality issues and foods with too much gelatin instead of healthy cultures.
• After that, Adnan was introduced to a man named through his venture capital company (Condor Ventures Inc.) named Gary Herzberg. Gary introduced Adnan to a group called Social Venture Network. Adnan was able to meet amazing entrepreneurs through the network of like-minded people who were trying to better humanity by creating businesses with a triple bottom line and socially responsible methods to give back to communities.
• Adnan learned that being socially responsible can be a for-profit motive. Twenty years ago, Adnan and his network were ahead of the game, pioneering how businesses can be operate while being compassionate and giving back to all stakeholders, not just shareholders.

11:40 - The Natural and Organic Shift

• When Adnan entered the natural and organic industry, it was only a $200-300 million-dollar industry. It's not a $50 billion-dollar industry in the United States alone.
• When mentoring other entrepreneurs, Adnan reminds them to be a bit of a rebel, but with a cause. Be sure to fight conventional wisdom but also take a deep dive into knowledge and research. He focused on shifts in lifestyles, the problems cropping up with antibiotics in the food system, strong studies on the effects organic and clean food was having on long-term health, and more.
• Adnan also saw the consumer demand start to take off for organic food. Many farms were hesitating to switch because of they would lose a lot of money initially switching the farms and becoming compliant for organic products. Once they saw the opportunity in the long game, the industry started to pick up and consumers had more organic options available to them.
• Adnan started to see opposing trends with Halal Foods customers between the European Halal consumer and the American Halal consumer. In the United States, there are 4-8 million Muslims who tend to be much more educated than the average American. Adnan recognized the buying power of this demographic and realized no one else was appealing to that market.
• Many wondered in the beginning why Adnan was focused on millennials and not baby boomers. He recognized that millennial brand loyalty was much stronger and that it spread quickly through millennial tribes on social media.
• Millennials have a lot of buying power and are willing to pay more for brands that are transparent and socially responsible.

18:42 – Saffron Road

• Saffron Road is a natural, organic platform brand. They feature frozen, organic and natural entrees that are antibiotic free. All their beef and lamb are grass-fed. They were the first non-GMO verified frozen entrée in the world and first certified humanely raised entrée in the world. All the farms that supply Saffron Road have to go through grueling audits that ensure they are treating the animals with proper animal welfare. Everything that they do is also third-party certified.
• They also feature shelf stable foods that include simmer sauces and shelf-stable meals. The packaging features low-carbon footprint materials that is non-GMO verified and quick.
• The third segment of Saffron Road are their snack options. Right now, they're the national leader in chickpea snacks out of about six other companies because they feature non-GMO, healthy label, organic snacks that are higher in protein than fat.
• There is so much division and polarization between people nations these days, that Saffron Road's mission is even stronger. They hope to bring different values and cultures together while celebrating both the aspects that make them unique, and the beauty of the melting pot when they mix and meld throughout different communities.
• There's power in what happens around the dinner table or when you gather together with all different people and share a hearty meal. Food naturally brings people together. Fusing delicious multicultural food together within fellowship is a powerful entity.
• The food culture at Saffron Road emotionally connects with consumers with viral advocacy and extends beyond specific products. It's more about the tribal affinity of distrusting large organizations that are not authentic.
• Businesses have the capability to be a change agent and influencer for good. Adnan and his team recognize their power and responsibility to influence and takes that very seriously and participate in many campaigns to give back to charitable organizations. They focus on causes that bring people together in solidary for compassion and justice and champion the commonality of various cultures.

32:04 – A Renaissance in the Food Business

• 43% of the growth of the $800 billion-dollar food and beverage industry is coming from small companies like Saffron Road. Even just ten years ago, the big-name companies were controlling the grocery store shelves.
• Consumers are more demanding and enlightened due to the information technology age. It's a renaissance in the food business.
• There is so much more opportunity now than there's ever been for venture firms to invest in this segment of appealing to values around the food system. For the first time, growth is coming from smaller startups that are chipping away at major market shares of big companies.
• When millennials started having families, the game truly started to change. They'd learned the truth about food safety and wanted to be sure their families are not exposed to harsh chemicals and unhealthy ingredients. They care about what they are eating, what their kids are eating, the products they use in their homes, and instilling those same critical values in their children.
• There are more choices for all consumers to be selective. It's all the more reason for businesses to be transparent. Saffron Road refers to it as a "journey to better." It's better for the environment, farmers, animals, and consumers, and most of all, better tasting.

Check out 39:48 to hear the trends Adnan is predicting for next year and the next five to ten years in the US food industry and how to be sure you're educated on what is truly healthy in the market now and in the future.

45:15 - Getting to Know Our Guest:

Find out what led Adnan to where he is today, when the social good component came in for him, as well as fun facts about Adnan (50:49) like which Saffron Road product he'd eat every single day for the rest of his life, a dream he's yet to achieve, what his walk up song would be, and more! You've got to stay tuned to hear the question I ask all my guests: What does it mean to you to run a business with purpose?

Memorable Quotes:

~9:10 "In the early days we were really being pioneers trying to set a new trail for how businesses can operate and at the same time be compassionate, giving back to all stakeholders, not just shareholders.

"I learned a lot about how you can connect social responsibility with a profit motive for business and have a very sustainable enterprise, as well as enhanced brand value."

~22:00 "If I could create a brand that brought together different cultures, faiths and ethnicities to champion the wonderfulness of all the different tenant and values that those cultures brought; I knew it would be a mission for me."

"It was about creating a company or responsible brand on a mission of collective progress, not only for the betterment of humanity, but to inspire, connect, and respect different global citizens through a shared love of world cuisines."

~24:45 "The food culture at Saffron Road emotionally connects with consumers with viral advocacy and extends beyond specific products. It's more about the tribal affinity of distrusting large organizations that are not authentic."

32:50 - Fun facts: "43% of the growth of the $800 billion-dollar food and beverage industry is coming from small companies like Saffron Road."

About: Adnan Durrani

Saffron Road is the culmination of Founder Adnan Durrani's life's work. As a long-time social entrepreneur, Adnan was searching for a social enterprise that could bring people together.

The natural food pioneer envisioned a halal food brand that also embodied ethical consumerism: organic ingredients with no GMOs, no artificial ingredients, and no antibiotics. A brand that celebrated world cuisine, ethnic diversity and cultural harmony.

He named it Saffron Road, inspired by the Silk Road, the legendary caravan route that connected the cultures of the ancient world.

Today as CEO, Adnan leads us on the Journey to Better. With a mission to restore the "spiritual sacredness to food."

Mr. Durrani is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the American Halal Co. Inc., which wholly owns its flagship brand Saffron Road. Mr. Durrani has been a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist for almost three decades, as President of Condor Ventures, Inc., a venture firm devoted to strategic investing in natural food companies. Saffron Road was the first halal product to be sold nationally in all Whole Foods stores and can now be found at 20,000 other retail food stores in the USA. Whole Foods, the #7 ranked US food retailer with over $16 billion in sales, has noted Saffron Road as being the most successful new brand launch in their frozen shelf nationally in recent history. Adnan's entrepreneurial ventures have resulted in a successful track record of scaling and growing niche beverage and natural food product lines into mainstream branded companies. Mr. Durrani founded Vermont Pure in 1991. Today, Vermont Pure/Crystal Rock is the 2nd largest bottled water company in the Northeast U.S. and was acquired by Cott Beverages, COT/NYSE. Mr. Durrani and Condor Ventures were also financial partners in Stonyfield Farms, Inc. He was also a principal of Delicious Brands, Inc., which he scaled, with the financial backing of Carl Icahn, to become the 5th largest cookie brand in the U.S. He also served on the Board, and was Finance Chairman, of Social Venture Network. He has been recognized by BBMG and SVN as one of the entrepreneurs who engineered "20 Ideas That Changed The Way The World Does Business". The select list of these inductees include: Ben Cohen (Ben & Jerry's), Gary Hirshberg (Stonyfield Farms), Muhammad Yunus (Nobel Peace Prize, Grameen Bank), and Steve Case (AOL).

Mr. Durrani is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Visitors of the Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Sciences of Columbia University, where he is also ex-chairman of the Entrepreneurial Advisory Board. Mr. Durrani received an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and economics from Columbia University. Mr. Durrani also serves on the Board of Directors of Maple Hill Creamery, LLC, the leading national organic grass-fed yogurt brand in the US.

About Saffron Road: https://saffronroad.com/who-we-are/

Saffron Road brand is a leading brand in the natural and organic food industry, offering a wide range of products from frozen entrées to plant-based protein snacks. All Saffron Road Products are Halal-certified by IFANCA and are available in nearly 25,000 retail locations in the U.S. and Canada. SaffronRoad is a socially responsible brand on a mission of collective progress for the betterment of humanity, by inspiring, connecting and respecting global citizens through a shared love of ethical World Cuisines. With Saffron Road, explore international cuisines that combine bold flavors from around the world with high quality, wholesome ingredients which are better for the environment, better for the farmers, better for the animals, better for your health, and most all better tasting. Saffron Road. Journey to Better®.

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Thank you our sponsor for this episode of the Business with Purpose Podcast: noissue! noissue. is the online platform for designing and ordering custom, sustainable packaging for your business or brand. With low minimum order quantities, worldwide delivery in three weeks or less (for free!!!), and a team of designers ready to help, noissue is making customized packaging accessible for businesses of all shapes and sizes. You can use the promo code purpose15 for 15% off your first order!

It's hard to fight the false narrative that working harder, making more money, and acquiring more stuff will bring happiness and fulfillment. My guest today is here to debunk that myth and help us discovery what's truly most important to us. Get ready, because Meredith McDaniel is going to share her incredible wisdom about what we are truly searching for as humans. Meredith is a licensed professional counselor and owner of her own private practice, Milk and Honey Counselling. She is a graduate of the Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and has served on staff with Young Life and worked as the lead counselor for Inheritance of Hope. She has a new book coming out next week on January 21st, 2020 called In Want + Plenty: Waking Up to God's Provision In a Land of Longing. I highly recommend you preorder it right away. I've already had the chance to read it, and it is simply incredible. Meredith says that she feels called to sit with and listen to the stories of women and men, helping them discover who they are and experience life more fully. She enjoys entering into the quiet places of people's lives in a safe setting to offer hope and help others taste of the Land of Milk and Honey. It was so refreshing, encouraging, and challenging to speak with Meredith today. Join me for this serene moment with Meredith McDaniel.

3:07 – The Meredith 101

• Meredith is a licensed counselor who also went to seminary. She completed her Master of Christian Counseling program at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. She studied core bible classes, but her main focus was integrating Christianity and Psychology.
• It's so important for the Church to care not only for people's spiritual lives, but for people's mental health as well.
• About half of Meredith's clients in her private practice are walking with the Christian faith and half of them are not. Her goal is to provide a safe space for people to process their lives. She doesn't approach sessions from an evangelical mindset, but questions like "Who Am I?", "Why Am I Here?", and "What Is My Purpose?" often come up naturally in sessions with people who don't identify as Christians.
• Meredith has been encouraged that the stigma with mental health has started to wane. There are far more organizations speaking about anxiety and depression, and more conversations are happening on podcasts and social media.
• In the near future, Meredith will work with a local school to provide counseling onsite so that students don't have to worry about missing as much school to get to appointments.

10:08 – A Universal Feeling: Purpose & Meaning

• There's a common story that brings us all together: We all want meaning and purpose in our lives no matter what our beliefs and backgrounds. Meredith calls it a yearning. Some feel it deeper than others, but we all feel it to some degree.
• Meredith began to notice a pattern that no matter what season of life people are in, many different people feel as if their lives are unraveling and they've lost sight of their purpose. Many people feel stuck in that space and don't feel like they can pull themselves out of it.
• The key seems to be finding movement and seeing our lives in a new way while being at peace with knowing there are a lot of factors out of our control. This is what gave Meredith the ideas for much what she wrote for In Want & Plenty: In Want + Plenty: Waking Up to God's Provision in a Land of Longing.

13:40 - The Exodus Provision

• Meredith compares our modern lives to biblical characters who wandered in the wilderness for years. Our mouths are dry, and our stomachs are rumbling, and we are wandering.
• Think about it this way: We wake up, we scroll through our phones, our minds are running with to do lists, we don't stop to breathe, stretch or sweat, and we have trouble connecting to each other in a real way. If you take a closer look, we can relate to the people in the story of Exodus and other parts of the bible.
• Meredith talks about the idea of "manna" both in her book and often on social media. If you're not familiar with that term, the Hebrew translation is literally, "What Is It?" The dictionary definition from biblical context is "the substance miraculously supplied as food to the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16)." Meredith summarizes the feeling of a "manna moment" to be a moment where God has provided for her in a way that she was surprised by that she didn't quite fully understand.
• Sometimes "manna moments" come in the form of things we may not like or prefer. We may not know why certain things happen, but we can surrender and trust that God has the big picture that we can't see.
• We want what we want, and we want it right now, but if we can unearth the manna that is in every single corner of our lives, it completely changes our view and we start recognizing it.

21:13 – How to Hunt for Manna

• In her book, Meredith equips readers to look for manna in their lives. The number one way to do this is slowing down. Our world is too fast and we don't have the time or space to absorb what's happening beneath the surface in our lives.
• Slowing down could look different from person to person. What does it look like to you to make space and prioritize certain things in your life?
• For Meredith, one thing that helps her slow down is music. To sit and listen to a song and absorb it can help you recognize things in your own heart and soul before going back into the world to do what you're called to do.
• Anything that helps calm our systems will help us fight anxiety and/or depression. Movement, exercise, and time in nature can also help our systems calm. Eating well and being aware of what we put in our minds and bodies helps greatly. All these things inspire us for the work we are meant to do. We have to take care of our whole being – our mental well-being as well as our physical well-being.
• Prayer, actively slowing down to nourish our spiritual lives, and patience prepares us to recognize manna moments when they're fulfilled. If life is a marathon, how are we fueling our bodies, minds, and souls?
• If we try to look at all the things we need and want to do, we become overwhelmed. It's important for people to realize it's ok if they can't do it all. We can rely on God, on others, on counseling. It's important to remember the long game. It's a lifelong journey and it's ok to slow down and relinquish some control.

33:48 – It's Not All on Our Shoulders

• It can feel daunting to look back at your life. Most of us don't want to sit with feelings from the past or even the present. We only want to look forward. It can be painful to do the work of looking back. That's when we can lean on our communities, friends, and family members we trust.
• Sometimes that community includes a therapist or spiritual director who is willing to make a space for you to process your life.
• In the story of Exodus in the Bible, the Israelites found their voice in desperation. There are so many examples of them crying to God in desperation. God still wants us to cry out to him.
• It's easy in our modern lives to think we have to pretend that we have it all together and hide our feelings from others and even from God. That's what keeps a lot of us separated from God and from the people we're blessed to have in our lives.
• When we can't manage things on our own, it's ok to ask for help and focus on healing. Both God and our communities want us to ask for help. We can surrender and trust God, even when it feels like our prayers and not being answered.

21:43 - We've got to slow down. Our world is so fast-paced and the content we have at our fingertips and in our ears at any point is crowding out the space we have to hear, see, and listen, and absorb what is happening beneath the surface."

22:30 "I think it's really important that we have time where we are just processing our story from the beginning of our life to wherever we are now…"

32:30 - "It's more of a mystery, this whole life thing. It's a case by case basis based on our own personality and who and how we were made to be. If we're disconnected than the one who made us, it makes sense that we would be walking around feeling a little bit disoriented…"

33:00 - "I am part of a greater story. I get to play a role and it's a gift and an honor to get to play a small role in the grander, rescue narrative, but I am not the main character and that is relieving and very freeing to me to get to lean in to it from that perspective."

42:30 – "My prayer is that people would start to hunt for the manna: When they're holding that ache of both (what they) want and experiencing the abundance of the plenty, that they would be able to see the manna in both."

Meredith's book In Want + Plenty: Waking Up to God's Provision In a Land of Longing comes out January 21st, 2020. You can find it at basically all the book places (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.) as well as Meredith's website. You can preorder it now! There are even extra goodies that come with preorder including a song with lyrics, a beautiful print, and access to early chapters. All you have to do is go HERE and enter your order number to claim your extras. They will arrive to your inbox on January 21st.

44:41 - Getting to Know Our Guest

Find out what rejuvenates Meredith (she hasn't shared this with many people!), her favorite TV to watch growing up, what she's reading, and something that's really important to her but she never gets a chance to talk about. Be sure to stay tuned for Meredith's answer to the question I ask all my guests: "What Does it Mean to You to Run a Business with Purpose?"

Thank you our sponsor for this episode of the Business with Purpose Podcast: noissue! noissue. is the online platform for designing and ordering custom, sustainable packaging for your business or brand. With low minimum order quantities, worldwide delivery in three weeks or less (for free!!!), and a team of designers ready to help, noissue is making customized packaging accessible for businesses of all shapes and sizes. You can use the promo code purpose15 for 15% off your first order!

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Today I asked all the questions I know you want the answers to about writing a book, or more specifically, working with a ghost writer! My guest this week is Joshua Lisec. Joshua is the world's ONLY award-winning, celebrity-recommended, #1 International Bestselling, certified professional ghostwriter. Wow! He's the founder of The Entrepreneur's Wordsmith, LLC as well as a contributor to Forbes, a TedEx speaker, and a two-time published novelist. He's taken his gift of writing and used it create change, impacting so many people. I was so fascinated by today's conversation and I know you're going to love learning more about Joshua and his ghostwriting skills!

2:31 - The Joshua 101

• You heard a little of Joshua's accolades in the introduction. Not only is he a wildly successful ghostwriter, he's also been personally recommended by celebrities for ghostwriting. They've also endorsed his books! His books have sold tens of thousands of copies a month after the book's release!
• California State University (Long Beach) is the only academically sponsored ghostwriting training program in the world. Only about 50 people have completed this course by not only completing the degree, but also demonstrating professional proficiency as a ghostwriter. Joshua is the first and only person in Ohio to complete the program.
• As a kid, Joshua loved reading The Chronicles of Narnia series and The Space Trilogy, both by C.S. Lewis. He was so inspired that he decided he wanted to become a novelist. At just 20 years old, Joshua had a two-book deal with an independent publishing house of Washington, D.C. Around this time, he also started a freelance writing business.
• As he's began promoting his novels, some of his clients told him they loved his writing and novels. They didn't want to write a novel, but they did want to share their stories with Joshua's help.
• Joshua didn't even know what ghostwriting was at the time! He learned a bit more and agreed to help. 40 books later, and he's still helping people tell their stories.

8:29 – How Does Ghostwriting Work?

• There are many people who want to get their stories out, but don't know exactly what to say or are inhibited by their own self-criticism or self-censorship. It can even happen to people who've already written a book or self-published.
• Just as entrepreneurs desire to work on their business and not in their business, authors desire to work on their book, not in their book. Their time and energy is better focused on the impact they want their book to have rather than agonizing over style and grammar as well.
• In order for a Joshua to understand what's going on in a person's head, he starts with a free manuscript strategy session. To start, this helps answer whether a person should be writing a book at all. If the answer is yes, the next step is to figure out what that person's future readers want. A ghostwriter literally helps an author figure out what the book should be about if there's a good idea there.
• This first step is an iterative process that goes on for about a month, and the goal is to figure out what the book will cover, what it will deliver, and how it will transform the readers it's intended for. For several months, the writer and ghostwriter will work on one chapter each week for several months.
• Everything written is in the voice of the author. Often a ghostwriter is better at pulling out what an author is trying to say if they are the best version of themselves, the uncensored version. It's not just what they want to say, it's the best possible version of what they want to say.
• Once a rough manuscript is ready, Joshua helps edit line-by-line, chapter-by-chapter in The Chicago Manual of Style. They style considerations are what separates a self-published book apart from a book on a bestseller list.

15:37 – The Jay Conrad Levinson Rule

• Jay Conrad Levinson wrote the International bestseller, Guerilla Marketing. It was the first book of its kind to help small business with low or no cost advertising. When asked how much money the book made him, Levinson said it was about 10 million dollars. The royalties over 30 years only paid about $30,000, but the book opened a door to consulting, speaking, products, services, upsells, masterminds, etc., that accounted for the remaining 9.9 million dollars.
• Following the Jay Conrad Levinson rule where people can gain from further resources that accompany your book after they've read it is the only way to see a big return on investment in the process of writing a book.

24:00 – Could Your Book Sell If You Didn't Market It?

• Have you ever thought about writing a book? Would you have ever thought you need to know about SEO when coming up with your book title? Joshua also equips authors with resources (like Publisher Rocket) to know how to title your book. It literally tells you what book titles are profitable and which ones are not profitable.

33:23 – Live Ghostwriting and More

• Joshua also helps people who are interested in writing a book on their own. You can write your own book, but Joshua consults on how to structure material and then reviews the work you've done or the changes you've made. It's almost like a live ghostwriting experience.
• Joshua has a similar program for publishing by setting up an independent publishing business for you, going through all the traditional processes of a normal printing press AND it comes in audiobook form too!

Memorable Quotes: 10:20:

"Authors want to work on their book, not in their book. Your job, your effort, your energy as the author should really goes toward the impact you want your book to have, that high level goal of the book, rather than whether an adverb goes here or here in the sentence."

20:42:

"Just like steppingstones across a creek, you want the stones to be there before you start walking."

39:28: Getting To Know Our Guest

Find out what Joshua would eat if he had to eat the same thing for dinner every night for the rest of his life, a dream that he's yet to achieve, and most importantly, what it means to him to run a business with purpose.

ABOUT JOSHUA LISEC:

Every day Joshua Lisec helps authors manifest the mission behind their voice. Joshua is the world's only award-winning, celebrity-recommended #1 international bestselling Certified Professional Ghostwriter. He is also a Forbes Contributor ghostwriter, a TEDx speaker, and a two-time published novelist. Since 2011, he has ghostwritten forty books for everyone from household names with millions of followers to small town preachers who want to share their testimony.

CONNECT WITH JOSHUA:

• https://entrepreneurswordsmith.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/entrepreneurswordsmith/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshualisec/
• https://www.instagram.com/joshualisec/

Thank you our sponsor for this episode of the Business with Purpose Podcast: noissue! noissue. is the online platform for designing and ordering custom, sustainable packaging for your business or brand. With low minimum order quantities, worldwide delivery in three weeks or less (for free!!!), and a team of designers ready to help, noissue is making customized packaging accessible for businesses of all shapes and sizes. You can use the promo code purpose15 for 15% off your first order!

We can often overlook the gravity of the situation that Jesus' mother Mary faced when she suddenly became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. It was scandalous! She was a teenager, engaged to Joseph, facing gossip and shame from her community. One of her relatives, Elizabeth, believed Mary and took her in. Inspired by Elizabeth, Amy Brewer took this same idea of taking in and supporting women when they need it the most and started an entire organization to make a difference. Amy is the founder of Elizabeth's Voice, a nonprofit on mission to provide dignified jobs to women and empower them to give back to their communities in Uganda and Lebanon. Join me as I hear from Amy about how supporting women changes the world.

2:24 - The Amy 101

• Amy went to college with a plan to become a nurse. She specifically wanted to become a nurse who helped women in developing nations. Her plan unfolded from wanting to be a doctor, and then a nurse. In the end, she became a midwife!
• She worked in a midwife clinic in South Sudan in a place with little to no electricity and limited supplies. It was very difficult, but she knew it was meant to do that for a long time.
• In 2013, Amy's team was scheduled to fly home for the Christmas holiday. At the same time, fighting broke out again in South Sudan. Amy always thought she'd return to Sudan, but God had other plans for her.
• In 2016, Amy had an opportunity to help a friend re-open a clinic in Mozambique that had been closed due to lack of funds. Both experiences in the Sudan and Mozambique clinics taught Amy that the only difference between her and the women she met in the clinics was opportunity.
• When her work with the clinics was complete, she couldn't stop thinking about the women she'd served. She knew more than anything that what they needed were jobs, so Amy started two artisan groups for women in Uganda and one in Lebanon for Iraqi and Syrian refugees.

7:04 – God Encounter at a Backpacker's Hotel

• Amy stayed at a hotel where a Ugandan woman was selling products to tourists. She knew the moment she saw the woman that she was supposed to work with her. This woman also told Amy that several months before they met, she saw Amy's face in her dream.
• This Ugandan woman was trying to employ single moms and widows in her community, even though she herself was also living in poverty while a single mom and widow.
• Amy's new Ugandan friend was only selling a few items a day. She and Amy decided to become business partners in 2016 and now have 28 full-time employees.
• In Lebanon, they partner with a missionary who has a Women's Center for Iraqi and Syrian refugees to receive food packages and bible studies. They also work to find the women jobs they can to supplement their family's income or help single mother's make ends meet.

11:07 –The "She Was Hired" Story

• In the Bible, when Mary finds out she's pregnant with Jesus, Elizabeth takes her in and cares for her and encourages her (Luke 1:56). Elizabeth's Voice is built on the idea of women helping women and being there when women need the most support.
• The "She Was Hired" story is the story of a young woman from a small village in Uganda. Even though Amy and Elizabeth's Choice received this woman's permission to share her story, they chose to keep her identity anonymous to reiterate that her story does not define her.
• Amy's business partner in Uganda is Eveline, and she's known in the community as a warm, caring women. She is called the Ugandan words meaning "Born Again." One day while Evelin she was walking down the road, she came across a very young woman who was crying on the side of the road.
• The woman told Eveline that she was an orphan who didn't have the opportunity to finish school and no way to make money. She was also trying to take care of her brother. Often in Uganda, women have to resort to prostitution as the only option to make ends meet.
• After Eveline heard her story, she made sure this didn't happen and brought this young woman into the family of Elizabeth's Voice. She was hired that day and is still the first person to show up to work every day. Eveline taught her to sew and make paper beads but sewing is her favorite job. Now she can make a living in a safe environment doing a job she enjoys.

18:56 - Elizabeth's Voice Speaks to the Future

• The main goal of Elizabeth's Voice is sustainable work for the women who are a part of the organization. They also started a hospital visiting program where the ladies sit with people and pray and also bring basic supplies to the hospital like soaps, tea, laundry detergent, toothpaste, bibles, etc.
• Some of the women from a smaller village recently found a group of 12 vulnerable children who needed their school fees paid. They raised money to pay for the fees and volunteered to take care of the kids on school breaks and make sure their basic needs are met.
• The vision of the women in Elizabeth's Voice in both Lebanon and Uganda is to recognize the biggest needs in their communities and work to fill those first.
• Donations to Elizabeth's Choice go to things like the hospital visits and school fees. They also sell products and those sales go toward making future product orders and sustaining the business side of things.
• Recently they started a fair-trade subscription box which will be more sustainable in providing funds. They'd also like to expand their product line to support more and more local artisans in their respective communities, continuing to provide work and creating a bridge between the consumer and artisans.

You can find Elizabeth's Voice here. To find out more about their Hope Mail subscription box, go to ElizabethsVoice.org/hopemail It's $14.99 a month and offers an affordable option for those who want to support artisan made products that support women.

You can also follow Elizabeth's Voice on Facebook and Instagram (@elizabethsvoice)

24:24 - Getting to Know Our Guest

Find out Amy's guilty pleasure, who she'd most like to sit next to on a 10-hour flight and why, what she's reading, and of course, what it means to Amy to run a business with purpose (you're going to love her answer)!

22:53 - Memorable Quote:

"I just saw a greater and bigger need. My mindset went from "Oh, I can go over there and be their nurse" to "Oh, I can go over there and hire them and give them a job and their children can become nurses or doctors or lawyers, or whatever they chose to be."

CONNECT WITH AMY AND ELIZABETH'S VOICE:

• https://www.elizabethsvoice.org/about
• https://www.facebook.com/voiceelizabeth/
• https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsvoice/

Thank you our sponsor for this episode of the Business with Purpose Podcast: noissue! noissue. is the online platform for designing and ordering custom, sustainable packaging for your business or brand. With low minimum order quantities, worldwide delivery in three weeks or less (for free!!!), and a team of designers ready to help, noissue is making customized packaging accessible for businesses of all shapes and sizes. You can use the promo code purpose15 for 15% off your first order!

More show notes to come!

Connect with Camille and Hueman Group Media:

• https://www.huemangroupmedia.com/
• Podcasts: https://www.huemangroupmedia.com/shows
• https://twitter.com/camlaurente
• https://twitter.com/hueman_media
• https://www.instagram.com/sincerelyhueman/

ABOUT CAMILLE:

Camille is the CEO and Co-Founder of Hueman Group Media, a company that inspires people to do good through the power of audio storytelling. HGM partners with thought leaders, brands and organizations to create riveting audio content. From innovations in generosity to advancing gender equality, HGM's award-winning podcasts inspire people to do good through the power of audio storytelling. We've worked with amazing partners including SAP, UN Women, Fairygodboss, Global People's Summit to name a few.

Camille is the creator, producer and co-host of Sincerely, Hueman, a narrative podcast featuring the vivid lives of humans people should know, and their stories of doing good in the modern age. The show tells the remarkable tales of advocates, philanthropists and everyday people who have changed the lives of strangers and communities around the world.

She is also the co-producer of The Fix with Michelle King, a podcast hosted by leading global gender expert and UN Women's Head of Strategy for Innovations Michelle King. The Fix shares stories of women and men who are taking action and innovating to advance equality in the workplace and beyond. Featured guests include Arianna Huffington, Zoe Saldana, Abby Wambach, Gina Rodriguez, Iceland Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Justin Baldoni and so much more!

Camille finished her master's program at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) where she specialized in technology, media, advocacy and communications.

Prior to moving to New York City to pursue her second post-graduate degree, Camille worked at Baker McKenzie as a corporate and commercial lawyer for top tech and Fortune 500 companies.

Thank you our sponsor for this episode of the Business with Purpose Podcast: noissue! noissue. is the online platform for designing and ordering custom, sustainable packaging for your business or brand. With low minimum order quantities, worldwide delivery in three weeks or less (for free!!!), and a team of designers ready to help, noissue is making customized packaging accessible for businesses of all shapes and sizes. You can use the promo code purpose15 for 15% off your first order!

Well, friends…the day is here. Chipotle Mexican Grill is on the Business with Purpose Podcast, and I cannot contain my excitement! If you know me at all, you know I'd take meeting for burritos over meeting for coffee any day. And of course, we'd get chips and guac too! Not only am I a fan of Chipotle's food, I also love their mission and purpose. The care about sustainability and use real, clean ingredients while supporting local farms worldwide. Join me as I hear more about this from Chipotle's Director of Sustainability, Caitlin Liebert. She's responsible for creating and implementing the company's sustainability vision and strategy in more than 2,500 restaurants all over the world. We're not just talking material waste reduction; this also means tackling energy management, water stewardship, and more! Hit that play button to hear more about Caitlin's beginnings with Chipotle and the initiatives she's led to take Chipotle to the next level!

4:45 - The Caitlin 101

• Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Caitlin is a Cleveland sports fan like me! Go Browns! She always wanted to attend Dartmouth College and when she didn't get in after an early-decision application process, she decided to make the most out of a start fresh at a university she knew nothing about. She had a great four years at The University of New Hampshire and after graduating, moved back to Cleveland with a plan to pursue sports marketing.
• Caitlin was recruited straight out of college to work in sports marketing with the PGA Tour. She knew immediately that it wasn't the right job for her. A few weeks later, her mom told her that she'd seen a marketing position at Chipotle in Cleveland.
• Even though Caitlin had no interest in working in the food industry and was still set on the sports marketing industry, she applied after some encouragement from her mom.
• Chipotle flew Caitlin out for a day-long interview at a regional office in D.C. By the end of the day, it was clear that Chipotle was the right company for her. The rest is history and Caitlin has worked for Chipotle for the past thirteen years!

8:25- Starting Sustainability

• Caitlin eventually moved to Boston and helped open up the New England market. After three years, she had an opportunity to start the Sustainability Department. She moved to Denver for nine years before moving to Orange County, CA when the company relocated.
• Chipotle has a mission to cultivate a better world, and Caitlin' and her team's job is to help fulfill that promise on the environmental side of that mission.
• The Sustainability Department is responsible for waste, energy, and water while also cultivating a better world in the way Chipotle grows and raises food, supporting the next generation of farmers, and even benefits they offer employees.
• Caitlin and her team also write the Chipotle Sustainability Report that is published every two years. They set "aggressive industry-leading but attainable goals" to continue improving the way they approach food, animals, people, and the environment.

10:29 - Setting the Standard

• Chipotle has been a unique leader by setting the standard for the way similar restaurants approach sustainability and health. In 2015, Chipotle announced that they were going completely non-GMO.
• Steve Ells founded Chipotle in 1993 with a vision to drive sales with flavor. He began to learn about how animals are raised, and that the quality of an animal's life impacts the way the meat tastes. The idea of food with integrity started early.
• Food with integrity has grown to changing how people eat fast food. From that foundation, Chipotle can continue to make strides in cultivating a better world.
• A clear vision and the ability to make a positive impact in the community attracts the best talent; people who are passionate about their work.
• Chipotle also partners with local food supply chains to source ingredients from local farmers. It's incredibly impactful when a large corporation is passionate about offering local, organic ingredients, and animal welfare meat at an affordable price point. The accessibility of the quality of food that Chipotle offers is very unique.
• Younger generations seem to be embracing the idea of both delicious good and sustainability. You don't have to choose between good food and supporting something positive; Chipotle is providing both!

18:48 – Defining and Achieving Sustainability

• Sustainability does not currently have a precise definition; it can mean different things to different people and various industries. One of Chipotle's biggest goals has been to divert half of their waste by 2020.
• One of the biggest challenges in sustainability is that disposable waste is a component of the restaurant industry. Many customers want to take their leftovers home or order "to go." Chipotle is working on sustainability by considering where disposable waste comes from, how it's used in the restaurant and where it ends up. It's a huge challenge but the mentality at Chipotle is innovative and creative solutions that have never been done before.
• Multiple times a year, Chipotle actually audits their waste (all of it) to determine what percentage is cutlery, straws, gloves, etc. They found that their biggest waste comes from plastic gloves employees use to prepare food. While they're working on a straw-less lid and compostable straw options, they knew the biggest priority was finding a solution for gloves.
• They looked to see if anything else in their restaurant was made out of the same plastic material as the gloves, which lead them to realize their next biggest waste were plastic trash bags.
• Chipotle asked the makers of the gloves and the trash bags if they could use those materials over again. Chipotle innovated the first-ever circular economy system where their used gloves are incorporate back into the trash bags used in their restaurants.
• Chipotle took it one step further to try and bring other industries and companies on board to do the same thing!

28:09 – Advocating Their Values

• Chipotle works hard to ensure their efforts are not just "greenwashing" (using misleading information about how a company's products to make people believe they are more environmentally sound when they're really not).
• The challenge is so massive to improve the sustainability of the planet and Chipotle wants to work together with other companies to help achieve that.
• We also need a shift at the consumer level for businesses to also take more responsibility for their outputs.
• Regulation is currently increasing around waste, and hopefully that will continue with government mandating and business responsibility.
• If we're more aware of what we have and taking care of what we have, we can use and reuse and waste less.
• If you can understand where what you buy comes from and the impact it has, the consumer level of awareness and passion to make good change will shift.

36:05 – Find out how Chipotle's new CEO, Brian Niccol (from Taco Bell!) has dramatically increased Chipotle's stock prices. Tune in to hear more about how this change has affected Chipotle's drive toward sustainability. 43:04 - Getting to Know Our Guest

Find out something you'd never guess about Caitlin (hint: she's got an amazing project on deck), her favorite thing to order on the Chipotle menu, and what it means to her to run a business with purpose (you'll want to hear what she thinks about the power you have as a consumer).

30:47 – Sustainability in the Next Decade

• Caitlin hopes to see a shift from a disposable economy to a reusable economy. We need drastic changes to continue maintaining the planet as we know it.
• Brands without purpose will not fare as well as brands with purpose. I think that it will become more and more obvious

Memorable Quotes:

13:21: "Food for us is the gateway by which we can help really make incredibly positive impact, not just in the communities that we operate which are many, but also in our supply network."

29:21: "I'm working in one little corner of the world and while it is a massive (challenge) we can all work together to help improve the sustainability of the world."

31:34: "I think brands without purpose will not fare as well as brands with purpose. I think that it will become more and more obvious that we all need to do our part to work together to help solve the tremendous challenge of climate change and sustainability as a whole."

About Caitlin Leibert - Director of Sustainability, Chipotle Mexican Grill

As Head of Sustainability for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Caitlin is responsible for creating and implementing the company's sustainability vision and strategy in more than 2,500 restaurants worldwide. From waste reduction, to energy management, to water stewardship, Caitlin works to minimize Chipotle's impact as a company and plays a key role in developing new practices. She also serves as Executive Director of the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation, Chipotle's 501(c)3. Caitlin started her career at Chipotle in 2007 as a marketing strategist in northern Ohio and later went on to oversee marketing in New England before moving to Denver, Colorado in 2011 to start Chipotle's sustainability department. Caitlin received her BA in journalism from the University of New Hampshire where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She then went on to earn her Masters in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge in the UK in 2016. She was appointed to a two year term on the Mayor's Sustainability Advisory Council for the City of Denver. She currently resides in Orange County, California.

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Thank you our sponsor for this episode of the Business with Purpose Podcast: noissue! noissue. is the online platform for designing and ordering custom, sustainable packaging for your business or brand. With low minimum order quantities, worldwide delivery in three weeks or less (for free!!!), and a team of designers ready to help, noissue is making customized packaging accessible for businesses of all shapes and sizes. You can use the promo code purpose15 for 15% off your first order!

My guest today took his love of food and faith one step further to start a business that impacts his community on a greater scale. Lawrence Yoo is the owner of Sushioki, a local sushi burrito restaurant in Durham, North Carolina. Sushioki is a restaurant with so much purpose and passion for people and the local community. Not only do they focus on sustainable, fresh, healthy ingredients, they also hire immigrants and refugees coming from vulnerable situations. No matter where you're listening from today, I know you'll be inspired by the work of Lawrence and his team to bring opportunities for families to build their lives in a new place. Join me as I sit down to chat with Lawrence, and if you're local to Durham, get ready to run, not walk to Sushioki!

4:07 - The Lawrence 101

• Lawrence has been around entrepreneurship his entire life. His father has owned a sandwich shop, construction company, market and restaurant. He's the first-born son of a first-born son in an immigrant family and there was always a lot of pressure on him to succeed.
• In high school Lawrence's life was radically changed when he first heard the gospel and ever since, this life has been driven by the call God put on his life.
• Lawrence had a desire to see new things come to life and see the community lifted up. About five years ago, he became a pastor and planted a church called Waypoint church. In the same year, he and his wife Gina had a baby and started Mebane Pediatric Dentistry.
• You don't have to have lots of special skills, education, or success to be faithful in the call God has put on your life. You only have to be obedient. That is the key to contentment.
• Lawrence uses the entrepreneurial heart God has given him to better the community around him and believes the local church is called to look out for the welfare of the community to the glory of God.
• One day the idea just came upon Lawrence to start a restaurant. He immediately found an elder in the church named Jeff Carter and shared his vision. Lawrence thought Jeff and his family would be a great team to start a restaurant with, even though Jeff already had a career in Pharmacy.

8:45 - Sushioki for the People

• Being on the board of World Relief and Samaritan's Health, Lawrence recognized that the biggest needs for refugees are sustainable, flexible jobs that pay a living wage.
• Often refugee families come here with four or more children. Buses and public transpiration are difficult to navigate, affordable childcare is hard to find, children get sick, and school schedules fluctuate.
• Lawrence wanted to build a company that would understand these difficulties of caring for a family in a new place; a company full of understanding, grace, and assistance while providing a sustainable, living wage.
• While Lawrence recognized that restaurant industry can be tough, he thought it was the best entry point to help workers learn new skills in America. A twist on a traditional Korean sushi roll called Kimbop gave Lawrence an idea to create large, hand-held sushi rolls.
• Jeff and Lawrence moved forward with their idea and brought on Jeff's son Joey who had a lot of restaurant-management experience.
• When they first began, they employed mostly refugees, but as the number of refugees coming to America has decreased, Sushioki has also hired immigrant and local families in vulnerable situations.

11:43 – An Opportunity to Provide For Their Own

• Most refugee families don't plan on coming to America. They don't want to leave their homes, but are forced to leave due to persecution, genocide, war, violence, etc.
• When they arrive, they are so far away from home where they don't know anyone or the language. It's a terrifying experience.
• When it comes to refugees, It's not an us an them situation. We would all hope and pray that if we ever found ourselves in a situation where we had to up and leave our home at a moment's notice and travel to an unknown place where we don't speak the language, that we would be welcomed with open arms; that people we find along the way and upon arrival would be willing to give us a chance and a little help.
• This is what it means to be a neighbor. Jesus said the most important commandment is to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself.
• Sustainable, flexible employment allows people the opportunity to self-support and provide for their families while they build a new life.

18:25 – Challenges and Surprises

• Lawrence is an ultimate optimist. If he had a theme song, it would be "Everything is Awesome" from The Leggo Movie. Tempering expectations has been difficult and while things have gone well, there is a delicate balance of running a business, using better ingredients, paying people well, being well-staffed, and treating people well.
• This has forced Lawrence and his team to be longer sighted rather than short-minded. They believe that building a business this way is better in the long run.
• Success usually doesn't happen overnight, even though it often looks that way. Treating people well and using quality ingredients builds trust and loyalty if you're patient enough to stick with your mission.
• If you want to be excellent as an entrepreneur, be prepared to spend more money initially to do it well, knowing you'll reap the benefits of that strong foundation in the end. Be prepared and know what to expect, and then prepare for a little bit more.

26:19 - Molly's Menu Favorites

• The RD Yoo - Poke marinated tuna, lettuce, pickled red onion, pickled ginger, cucumber wasabi sauce. They take the full tuna loin and filet it themselves instead of using leftover ground pieces of tuna.

• Veggie Bender (vegan and gluten-free) - Mushrooms, lettuce, charred cabbage, shredded carrots, pickled red onion, green onion jam.

• Oh My Gashi Bowl - Chicken katsu, lettuce, pickled cucumber, kimchi slaw, gochujang sauce. In bowl form you can get it on a bed of rice or greens or a half and half! This one is named after Jeff Carter! His grandkids call him "Gah," hence the "Oh My Gahshi."

• Bull City Bulgogi (GF) is John's favorite –Korean beef BBQ (marinated overnight), kimchi slaw, pickled daikon, boom sauce. If you don't know, you need to know about boom sauce and G sauce.

I don't know about you, but I'm hungry. If you live in Durham, you can find out more about Sushioki here. They're open Monday-Saturday, 11am-8pm. If you just want to come visit for the day, Sushioki is a destination spot!

You can find out more about Lawrence and his work with World Relief and Samaritan's Health by visiting Waypoint Church's website. or the Sushioki website.

35:20 - Getting to Know Our Guest

Find out what Lawrence is reading (which also includes a nerdy guilty pleasure), what his walk up song would be (and some debate over the correct lyrics), a dream he's yet to achieve, and of course, what it means to Lawrence to run a business with purpose.

Memorable Quotes: ~34:19:

"We do the same things over and over again when it comes to social care but when it comes to business, we're so innovative. Let's do both and start being creative with how we're helping the community."

"How can we be intentional about thinking differently about how we serve the community?"

About Lawrence:

Lawrence Yoo has been lead pastor of Waypoint Church since it started in 2014. He and his wife, Jina, are raising two cute children, Josiah and Hudson. Lawrence, a Florida native, received his Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, and attended the University of Florida for his undergraduate degree (Go Gators!). Lawrence desires to see this world changed from a "dog eat dog" world to a "doggie dog world" (click here to read about what this means) through the ministry of the local and global church. He has a passion for business as mission and has partnered with one of the elders at Waypoint to start Sushioki (click here to learn more), a sushi burrito restaurant whose mission is to make good food and hire refugees at a living wage. He is equally happy playing basketball as he is singing along to Hamilton.

Thank you our sponsor for this episode of the Business with Purpose Podcast: noissue! noissue. is the online platform for designing and ordering custom, sustainable packaging for your business or brand. With low minimum order quantities, worldwide delivery in three weeks or less (for free!!!), and a team of designers ready to help, noissue is making customized packaging accessible for businesses of all shapes and sizes. You can use the promo code purpose15 for 15% off your first order!

I didn't really grow up in the church. My walk with God as a kid included being friends with a Christian in elementary school until she broke up with me because I wasn't "Christian" enough for her, a brief stint as the lead singer of a Christian worship band in middle school called Doubting Thomas - they needed a singer and I could sing so I fit the bill, and going to Catholic mass on Christmas and Easter…. needless to say, I did not truly understand the gospel until my mid 20s.

I came to Christ after years and years of pushing Him away and even at times denying His entire existence. I thought I could do life on my own… I was so confident that I didn't need Him and that no matter what life threw at me, I could handle it. I AM AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN. All the women who independent, throw your hands up at me!

But I got to a point where the burden I was carrying was way too much… the load too heavy. For a long time I bought into that lie that "God will never give you more than you can handle" and if I'm being honest, it wasn't until the last two years or so that I realized that cliche is a bold faced lie. God will absolutely give you more than you can handle. But He will never give you more than HE can handle.

I'm often asked about my faith and my story and today's episode isn't my testimony but it is a little different… today I'm sharing just a little bit about how my faith impacts my passion for ethical fashion and purchasing with purpose.

5:13 - A little background on the fast fashion industry and its connection to modern day slavery and human trafficking

• April 24, 2013. The Rana Plaza in Dhaka, Bangladesh collapsed. 1,134 people killed. 2,500 injured. More than half of the victims were women and children. The Rana Plaza complexed house garment factories for some of the world's most prominent fashion brands. It is the deadliest garment factory tragedy in history.

7:15 - We plan an active role in the fight against human trafficking 8:23 - Here's where my faith and my passion for ethical and fair trade shopping intersect 11:15 - How God brought hope and restoration to my life

Thank you our sponsor for this episode of the Business with Purpose Podcast: noissue! noissue. is the online platform for designing and ordering custom, sustainable packaging for your business or brand. With low minimum order quantities, worldwide delivery in three weeks or less (for free!!!), and a team of designers ready to help, noissue is making customized packaging accessible for businesses of all shapes and sizes. You can use the promo code purpose15 for 15% off your first order!

The 2019 Ethical Gift Guide is HERE!

This is the most anticipated podcast episode (and post!) each year because not only do we have great gift ideas for almost everyone on your list, but also, my co-host, Em Sexton, founder of The Flourish Market joins me. We laugh! We talk gifts! We do trivia! Tell Christmas stories! Answer listener questions! It's so much fun.

Enjoy this year's ethical gift guide...

Thank you our sponsor for this episode of the Business with Purpose Podcast: noissue! noissue. is the online platform for designing and ordering custom, sustainable packaging for your business or brand. With low minimum order quantities, worldwide delivery in three weeks or less (for free!!!), and a team of designers ready to help, noissue is making customized packaging accessible for businesses of all shapes and sizes. You can use the promo code purpose15 for 15% off your first order!

WOMEN'S ETHICAL GIFTS!

1. ENCIRCLED The Dressy Sweatpant - The Dressy Sweatpant is easy to dress up or down because of the modern design and luxurious fabric that's comfortable, breathable and sustainable. This fancy sweatpant features a tapered leg with ruching at the ankle. Chic enough for the office and casual enough for weekends. The must-have pant for all seasons. Knit, dyed and sewn in Toronto! Use code "stillbeingmolly" for free shipping until January 8th, 2020.

2. POPPY ROW WEEKEND CAPSULE - Poppy Row is an ethically made, environmentally friendly clothing brand for women sized 2-28. Their fabric is made from Eucalyptus, which means it's naturally cooling + wicks your body sweat! SO comfy and amazing. The Weekender Capsule… 3 pieces - shirt, pants, skirt… all can be worn interchangeably! Use code MollyHoliday19 (15% off through Dec 25).

3. Ten Thousand Villages Eco-Leather Convertible Tote (Black) – This amazing bag can be used 3 different ways. It can be used liked a tote, a fold over clutch, or even as a trendy asymmetrical handbag. It is handmade in India by a group that seeks to develop economic self-sufficiency for a vulnerable segment of society through traditional handcrafting skills. CRC provides marketing, design, finance and exporting assistance to a large number of artisan groups across India. Use CODE: stillbeingmolly25 for 25% off one regularly priced item.

4. Daria Day - Gemstone Jewelry - Beautiful and contemporary, Daria Day jewelry is ethically sourced and exquisitely handcrafted. They are deeply committed to elevating the lives of the artisans who create each piece. They create wearable and functional art for people looking for style and authenticity of the materials used, believing in the healing and connecting power behind each gemstone. Daria Day works with a group of local miners to source our gemstones and silver. They are closely affiliated with the Rupani Foundation, an NGO that has created a rigorous testing process and ensures our gemstones are of the highest quality. Daria Day works with 50 – 60 artisans from three collectives living in remote mountain communities in Gilgit Baltistan in Northern Pakistan. While their artisans live in largely isolated and economically disadvantaged communities, each one has their own story to tell and they are working hard to create a prosperous life. Use code MOLLY15 for a 15% off discount!

5. World Finds - gorgeous jewelry made out of recycled Kantha fabric! Perfect for the colorful person in your life. WorldFinds mission is to empower women through fair trade. Their jewelry and accessories create work for over 700 artisans in vulnerable communities in India. These thoughtful designs and sustainable practices bring change to the lives of the artisans, provide a bright future for their children, and strengthen their communities. They're a { mostly } women-powered brand that began in 2001. We design all of our items in-house, and love to work collaboratively - both here at our office in the states as well as with our amazing artisans halfway around the world. Use code GG15 for 15% off!

MEN'S ETHICAL GIFTS!

Brave Soles - They sell bags, accessories, sandals made out of recycled TIRES! (both mens and womens!) But one of their most innovative and incredibly creative lines is their Aircraft Collection! Their Aircraft upcycled leather collection is made from 100% upcycled plane seat leather and inner tubes. Beautiful, soft and with a lifetime of stories to tell, this collection is available for a limited time. The Pierre Upcycled leather wallet would be a great gift for a man in your life! They also have passport covers, card holders, etc. I have to also mention the Heather leather envelope clutch if you're loving the upcycled aircraft collection! Use code EthicalTuesday20 at checkout!

Sseko Designs Men's Collection - I talk about Sseko all the time! The men's collection is so amazing - wallets, leather belts, an amazing briefcase, and weekender duffel bag all in gorgeous oiled chocolate. Fair trade. Ethically made. Classic pieces! SHOP HERE >> ssekodesigns.com/mollystillman

Right to Shower Head to Toe Bath and Body Products - This is such an amazing company that is providing access to mobile showers for people experiencing homelessness. My favorite is the Dignity body wash - charcoal and cotton blossom. Smells SO GOOD! It's vegan. Clean! Head to toe body wash! Available on Amazon and at most Whole Foods stores! They believe the access to cleanliness is a fundamental human right. With each purchase, you're helping Right to Shower turn ordinary trucks and buses into mobile showers for people living on the streets. Shop here.

ETHICAL GIFTS FOR TEACHERS / CO-WORKERS / FRIENDS!

Fair Trade Winds has gifts for just about everyone on your list! SERIOUSLY! Love this store. They have gifts for men, women, kids, coworkers… I have a gorgeous striped tee from Fair Trade Winds that is SO soft and so versatile. Can you ever have too many striped shirts? We don't think so, especially when they're made of soft organic cotton! Meet the 'Billie,' an over sized tee that will make a great new addition to your stripe collection. What's great about Fair Trade Winds too is that you can shop by "cause" - for example, eco-friendly, gifts that fight human trafficking, etc. https://www.fairtradewinds.net/ Use code MollyFTW for 10% off.

The Flourish Market - Another one of my favorite shops where you can get something for just about everyone on your list! Seriously... home decor, jewelry, bags, books, so much! http://www.theflourishmarket.com/ Use code "stillbeingmolly" for free shipping!

Batik Boutique - This is one of my favorite fair trade brands. Hear their story on my podcast interview with Amy Blair. I love their gorgeous placemats, coasters, snack bags - many REVERSIBLE designs! These pieces are handmade by artisans in Malaysia using traditional hand-printing techniques. https://www.thebatikboutique.com/ Use code Molly20 for 20% off.

Solo Hope - Brand started by my friend Emilee - SoloHope works with incredibly talented artisans in Honduras. These nesting Set Baskets are super cute, super functional for ALL the things! Perfect for holding pencils and pens or your favorite plant or BOTH (since there's two in the set!) Each item is handcrafted in Honduras. These gorgeous baskets are made from pine needles + thread and the handles are genuine leather. Use code MOLLY15 for 15% off entire purchase.

KID'S ETHICAL GIFTS!

ZUTANO Organic Cotton Pajamas! My kids have these pajamas and they are SO soft, GOTS certified organic cotton. My kids LOVE them! They come in a variety of colors, prints, and sizes for kids. You could do matching or coordinating jammies! What kid doesn't love comfy jammies? Use code STILLBEINGMOLLY20 for 20% off.

For Purpose Kids is a social good brand inspiring the next generation of global citizens by teaching kindness and doing good as a way of life. Our Subscription of Toolkits includes curated books and fun, interactive activities around helping people, animals and the environment. Each Toolkit focuses on a special cause and our activity guides use multi-cultural characters to help your kids connect to the world around them. With touch points built into each toolkit, you're not only promoting goodness, you're making a habit of it. For every Toolkit purchased, 5 meals will be donated to kids at the Sunaayy Foundation, an organization in New Delhi India, that provides basic education, nourishment and support for underprivileged children ages 3-12 in makeshift, outdoor classrooms. Use code ETHICALMOLLY15 for 15% off.

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So many options for everyone on your list! Hope you love this year's gift guide! Which gift is your favorite? A HUGE thank you to Em Sexton for being my amazing co-host and a huge thank you to my husband for being my amazing executive producer.

About Amy Ahiga, Founder of Grain of Rice Project:

Amy Ahiga is a wife, mother, former art teacher, and the co-founder of Grain of Rice Project, an organization that seeks to empower Kenyans through educational and training initiatives in Jesus' name. Amy is passionate about ensuring children from marginalized and underprivileged parts of society in Kenya have access to quality education. She is currently in the process of starting a school in Nanyuki, Kenya. Amy divides her time between Kenya and Valparaiso, Indiana, where she resides with her husband and 1-year old son.

The Kibera slum is the largest urban slum in Africa. Recent estimates show that over 235,000 people live in the single square-mile area that makes up Kibera. Other sources suggest the total Kibera population may be as high as a half a million to well over a million people depending on which slums are included in defining Kibera. Life in Kibera is beyond challenging. Men, women, and children live in simple shacks made of sticks, mud, and tin. There's no running water, sewage runs rampant, and most people survive on less than $1 a day. Children born in the slum of Kibera are at such a high risk of continuing the cycle of extreme poverty. Access to something as simple and basic as education can mean the difference between life and death. My guest today is doing her part to tip the scale and make a difference in the lives of kids in Kibera. Amy Ahiga is the cofounder of Grain of Rice Project, an organization that seeks to empower Kenyans through educational and training initiatives in Jesus' name. Amy is passionate about insuring that children from marginalized and underprivileged parts of society in Kenya have access to quality education. She's also in the process of starting a school in Nanyuki, Kenya. I actually met Amy at the Fair Trade Federation Conference last Spring and knew right away I wanted to have her on the show. I'm so excited to share this conversation with you and can't wait for you to hear more about Amy and Grain of Rice's work in Kibera!

3:00 - The Amy 101

• Amy grew up in Indiana and began her career as a teacher there. After two years, she decided to quit her job and move to Kenya. It was a big change and a lot of people didn't understand why she was doing it.
• She lived with a Kenyan family for about eight months which really helped her learn about the culture on an authentic level. When Amy came back to the US, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do next, so she went back to teaching and visited Kenya on Summer breaks.
• Amy brought her sister along on her second trip, and the two decided they wanted to get involved in a long-term situation to provide support and opportunities for Kenyan communities.
• Amy and her sister started Grain of Rice Project to empower people living in Kibera with artisan training, business training, life skills, and the ability to run their own businesses. They also work with kids to help them find opportunities for education and spiritual teaching, art classes, and more.
• Amy is also married to a Kenyan and she and her husband have a one-year-old son. Kenya is woven into Amy and her beautiful family's story.

7:39 – Why Kenya?

• Amy was actually hesitant to go to Kenya the first time after she quit teaching in the States. Even after she became involved in kid's programs, she thought she'd only make a one-time trip to Kenya.
• Once Amy saw the beautiful culture as well as the needs in the country, she became connected to the Kenyan people and continued to go back.
• God uses the very things we think are not in our plan. When we step out on faith in situations we didn't want to do or that we're uncomfortable with, it's incredible how God blesses us.

11:12 - A Local Team

• The staff of Grain of Rice Project is entirely Kenyan. It's very important to have local people on the ground running things since they are the leaders in the community.
• True change comes when those who best understand the needs of the area are running the daily operations.
• This is an important thing to remember when working in developing nations. It's a beautiful picture of how God created us to work in community and respect each other's cultures, empowering one another with a hand up rather than a handout.
• Amy recalls having a great idea to teach locals how to make beads. When she brought the supplies in, a local woman pulled jewelry out of her bag to show Amy that they already knew how to make the products but didn't know how to sell them. It was just the humble reminder Amy needed to see her blind spot and understand the actual needs of the community.

17:35 - The Largest Slum in East Africa

• To tackle a problem as big as poverty, we have to see the root of the need. It starts with education and access to sustainable economic opportunities. Grain of Rice Project tackles both.
• It can be overwhelming to think about how to help ease poverty in a slum of over 1 million people. It's hard work and it's not a quick fix, but just like the name Grain of Rice, small acts add up over time to make a difference.
• One of the biggest challenges in Kenyan education is that the system is set up to reward children who are good at memorizing. It celebrates children with high tests scores.
• Kenya sees the need and is trying to change the education system to make it more competency based. The challenge is that teachers don't have enough training or resources, so there is resistance to implementing the change in their own classrooms.
• Grain of Rice Project wants to equip teachers with simple practices like classroom management training, arts and STEM education, and making reading fun and exciting.

25:35 – A Blended Family

• Amy shares about Kenyan and American culture and what it's like to be part of a bi-cultural and bi-racial family.
• Kenyan culture is relationship-based and focuses on community and slowing down. There is a village mentality that everyone works together for the greater good.
• Parents in Kenya are very intrigued when Amy reads to her young son who cannot read yet. The curiosity has been a great way to start conversations and an opportunity to learn about each other's respective cultures.
• Mealtime slows down too! Kenyans take their time with schedules and often stop what they're doing to create hospitable and relational experiences.

33:43 – Building a School

• Grain of Rice Project is working toward building a school in Nanyuki, Kenya. There are a lot of different tribes in the area, and it still struggles with a history of tribe-based discrimination. The vision for the school is to see a body of students made different tribes coming together to promote unity and hands-on learning.
• It takes a village to complete such a big vision, and you can get involved at grainofriceproject.org . You'll also find updates on the progress of the project as it breaks ground in early 2020.

37:37 – Getting to Know Our Guest

• Find out what song Amy would chose as her "walk-up" song, her perspective on wisdom and growing older, what new book she just ordered, and what it means to her to run a business with purpose!

Memorable Quotes:

~9:00 - "Once you're there and you see the really amazing, positive things about the culture, you also see the need and the joy despite the need, I think it's really hard to turn a blind eye to some of the things you've seen after you've been there."

~10:45 - "I think it's in those uncomfortable moments that we really do grow and we kind of learn who we were made to be."