Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

We often hear on the news how we're a divided nation. Tensions run high as political, racial, and cultural divisions lead to hate, prejudice, and fear. Amidst the turmoil, one woman in an under-resourced community in Detroit, Michigan is taking small steps toward creating meaningful, cross-cultural relationships and bridging the divide. Rebecca Smith is the founder of Better Life Bags, a company that seeks to provide economic opportunities for women who might otherwise face barriers to employment. This is her story.

Things You Don't Want To Miss: Meet Today's Guest.

• 1:20 - Rebecca Smith is the founder of Better Life Bags. Better Life Bags is a custom handbag company located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan. Every bag is hand-sewn by a woman from their under-resourced community. Your purchase gives these women the opportunity to excel at a skill and provide for their families. Click the video below to learn more of Rebecca's story.

The Rebecca 101.

• 10:30 Better Life Bags will celebrate its tenth birthday this summer, and it really started as a hobby. In the summer of 2009, Rebecca was in the final months of her first pregnancy, and she was bored. She decided to make her own diaper bags, and at the behest of her friends, she decided to try selling them on Etsy. Around the same time, she decided to send a portion of her proceeds as a micro-loan to low income entrepreneurs overseas.

• 14:00 Her family moved to an under-resourced, ethnically diverse community in Detroit, Michigan. She needed help scaling her business, and she hired a Yemeni neighbor to help her keep up with the work. The two quickly developed a close relationship, and in a lightbulb moment, Rebecca realized she could use her business to provide economic opportunities to other women in the neighborhood.

A Higher Purpose.

• 20:35 - Rebecca is currently in the process of writing a book that tells the story of her journey. She's been reminded throughout the project that God is looking out for us, and that He leads us as we take small steps of obedience in faith.

Lessons From The Old Testament.

• 22:13 - In the Old Testament of the Bible, we're constantly reminded of God's plan for His people. He's constantly leading the Israelites despite their shortcomings. Even amidst their fear, He offers protection as He leads them toward the Promised Land in order to accomplish His purposes for them. We're reminded of how difficult it can be to trust God amidst difficult times. However, as we look back over time, we begin to see His bigger plan. Sometimes, we simply need to follow him, one step at a time.

Making Cross-Cultural Connections.

• 25:44 - It can be difficult to start relationships with people who are different from us. Rebecca shares how God used the story of Jonah to call her to love her local community. She shares how her neighborhood in Hamtramck, Michigan enabled her to develop relationships and bridge the cultural divide Americans often face.

An Update On Better Life Bags.

• 37:00 - Better Life Bags has greatly evolved through the years. They currently employ about 15 women, and Rebecca shares how God has challenged her to consider what it means to do His will. She saw the business grow immensely through its first seven years, and now as growth has leveled out, she's asking herself whether she can trust God's plan through a period of slow growth. She wants to follow His plan, and trust Him with the results, even if it means losing sales.

Getting To Know Our Guest:

• 45:34 - Rebecca shares her love for sweets, her aptitude for long-distance road trips, and her longing to return to the 1950s.

A Memorable Moment:

"It's about taking small steps and trusting God has good plans for us. We don't have to wear ourselves out because He has the plan. We just have to walk it."

- Rebecca Smith

To visit the Business With Purpose website, click the link: https://www.stillbeingmolly.com/2019/04/17/business-purpose-podcast-rebecca-smith-better-life-bags/

Join me for a special edition of the podcast as we feature exciting moments from the Fair Trade Federation Conference in Austin, Texas. I'll recap my favorite stories, brands, and personalities from the week.

Things You Don't Want To Miss: Llenay Ferretti, Acting CEO Of Ten Thousand Villages.

• 2:41- Llenay Ferretti has been involved in fair trade for years. She gave a presentation outlining the research surrounding consumer markets as well as the information gap between the consumer's understanding of fair trade and what they value.

Reshaping The Story.

• 3:28 - Llenay discuses Ten Thousand Villages' efforts to bring its mission into the modern age. They created the Maker to Market Movement, and they now encourage consumers to connect to ten thousand villages around the world.

Liz Bohannon, Founder Of Sseko Designs.

• 5:00 - Liz Bohannon encourages us to use design thinking to build better businesses and in turn, a better world.

The Myth Of Preparation.

• 5:56 - The idea that we can perfectly design a product is a myth. Every solution we have is simply a stepping stone to a more relevant, more robust solution. If you want to improve your ideas, get them out into the marketplace.

Working With Influencer Marketing.

• 8:50 - Kirsten Dickerson, founder of Raven + Lily, hosted a panel on partnering with influencers who will leverage their status for the good of your fair trade brand. The panel spoke on finding the right influencer for your brand and how to find influencers who are more relational with their followers.

Catching Up With Shannon Riesenfeld.

• 12:22 - Shannon Riesenfeld is the founder of Mango + Main. Her company works with artisans in Rwanda, Haiti, and Peru to develop and distribute their products around the U.S. We caught up to discuss her journey into the world of fair trade and her recent jump into the Fair Trade Federation.

Alice Grau, Global Mamas.

• 18:24 - Global Mamas seeks to create prosperity for African women and their families by selling their beautifully hand-crafted jewelry, apparel, and soaps. Alice Grau is the organization's creative marketing director, and she shared Global Mamas' mission to create prosperity and enable their producers to buy a car, build their own home, and educate their children.

Charlie Brandes, Equal Exchange

• 23:55 - Equal Exchange is a producer of fair trade coffee, chocolate, and tea. Charlie Brandes works in their sales department. He spoke about Equal Exchange's goal of connecting consumers with the farmers who grow their food and the challenges or partnering with big box stores.

Lucia's Imports.

• 28:28 - Lucia's Imports is a wholesale business that sells handmade imports from Guatemala. They design jewelry, ceramics, purses, and other products as they seek to preserve Mayan culture.

Marita Miller, Pebblechild.

• 30:58 - Pebblechild is a fair trade organization that makes baby products while providing opportunities for employment to women in Bangladesh. It wants to enable women to work while continuing to care for their own children. Pebblechild works with about 12,000 women and keeps them from working in hazardous inner city factories.

The Grain Of Rice Project.

• 34:28 - The Grain Of Rice Project is a non-profit ministry, which seeks to empower Kenyan people with the love of Christ by helping them become self-sufficient through employment, education, and skills training. It works within one of the largest slums in Kenya, generating income for locals by selling handmade jewelry, accessories, housewares, and decorations.

Rover And Kin.

• 37:34 - Rover & Kin is a newly-minted fair trade fashion company. All of its clothing comes from a small, women's cooperative in West Bengal, and it centers its style around minimalist designs.

Mayamam Weavers.

• 40:55 -Mayamam Weavers is a brand I've often talked about. Mayamam Weavers make beautiful handwoven textiles, and they seek to preserve Mayan culture while empowering women from a small cooperative in Cajolá, Guatemala.

Katie Schmidt, Passion Lilie.

• 45:15 - Passion Lilie is a fair trade clothing line that utilizes artisanal fabrics manufactured in India. Katie Schmidt is the founder, and she leveraged her background in fashion, sewing, and textile design to provide fair wages and employment opportunities to women in India.

Joy McBrien, Fair Anita.

• 47:57 - Fair Anita is a beautiful line of ethical jewelry and accessories. Fair Anita seeks to make ethical brands more affordable. Joy McBrien is the founder and CEO, and she wants to appeal to the average consumer. She wants to feature designs that fit into your everyday closet.

Campbell Plowden, Center For Amazon Community Ecology.

• 50:57 - Campbell Plowden is the executive director of the Center for Amazon Community Ecology. He started the organization in an effort to help people make a living in the rainforest without cutting it down. The organization works with 15 communities as they develop and market innovative fair trade handicrafts and essential oils.

A Snippet From My Talk.

• 54:22 - I was honored to be featured as a plenary speaker at the Fair Trade Federation Conference. I wanted to inspire fair trade warriors to continue to innovate as the Fair Trade Federation turns 25. My hope is that fair trade will one day become business as usual.

Jessica Honegger, Noonday Collection.

• 1:00:43 - Jessica Honegger is the founder and CEO of Noonday Collection. She encouraged fair trade warriors at the conference to continue striving toward their vision of eradicating poverty and promoting fair trade principles in industries worldwide.

A Memorable Moment:

"I hope to see the term fair trade cease to exist in the next 25 years. Fair trade values need to become the norm."

- Molly Stillman

To visit the Business With Purpose website, click the link: https://www.stillbeingmolly.com/2019/04/10/business-purpose-podcast-fair-trade-federation-conference-recap/

It seems like out of nowhere, eating healthy has suddenly become trendy. People like to talk about eating Organic and Non-GMO foods. It's funny because our grandparents and ancestors did this for years, yet somehow, it's come onto the scene as this trendy, new concept. Regardless, our guest today wanted to make clean, healthy food more accessible. Join us as we speak with Kat Eckles, the founder of Clean Juice.

Things You Don't Want To Miss: Meet Today's Guest.

• 1:08 - Kat Eckles is the founder of Clean Juice. It's the only USDA certified organic juice bar in the country. She joins us to discuss how her homemade smoothies and juices inspired the idea of opening a juice bar in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Kat 101.

• 2:30 - Kat is a mom of five, and she wants to create a healthy home for her children. As a young mom, she researched healthy foods, looking for ways to make green smoothies a bit tastier. She quickly discovered you could disguise the taste of spinach in a smoothie by adding a banana and some blueberries. What started as a way to make nutritious meals for her children became a business when she and her husband decided it was time for a career change. They moved to Charlotte and started Clean Juice in 2014.

Origins Of Clean Juice.

• 6:45 - Kat lived in suburban Pennsylvania, and while she enjoyed making smoothies and juices at home, she realized there weren't many healthy options for the general public. Most play dates ended at fast food jaunts, and she wanted to create healthier options for other families.

Turning A Hobby Into A Business.

• 8:30 - Kat attributes much of her success to her faith. She believes God provided her family with the right opportunity at the right time. She also credits her husband and his business acumen. The two of them worked together leveraging their savings in order to get the credit off the ground. They tried to keep things simple as they got started. The fruit came from Costco, and the staff came from local churches and youth groups.

Rooted In Faith.

• 12:19 - Clean Juice puts faith at the forefront of its business. Scripture decorates cups, bowls, and other branded materials. Kat says she committed her family to faith when she moved back to North Carolina. She saw how God was able to hold her family together, and she wants to incorporate that into her business.

Expanding The Business.

• 16:40 - As soon as Clean Juice opened its doors, customers wanted to know where they could find others. They'd always wanted to open 10 Clean Juice franchises in Charlotte, and they quickly decided other communities needed access to healthy food as well. Today, Clean Juice has 56 stores in thirteen states. They hope to be in more than twenty states by the end of 2019.

Partnering With Burn.

• 21:49 - Clean Juice shares a unique partnership with Burn Boot Camp, which also started near Charlotte, North Carolina. Both businesses care about health and wellness, and they regularly collaborate and share business ideas.

Since When Did Healthy Eating Become A Trend?

• 23:55 - When did eating fruits and vegetables become a trend? They've always been good for our bodies, so it's hard to imagine healthy eating becoming a "one hit wonder." While it might not be realistic to only drink clean juices and smoothies, a fast or juice cleanse can work wonders for your body as you seek to create a healthy lifestyle and prevent various diseases.

Defining The New Vision.

• 32:41 - In Charlotte, there's tremendous income gap between underprivileged and wealthier families. Certain families don't have access to healthy foods, and Clean Juice wants to shift that paradigm. The new foundation will work to create opportunities for kids in schools to eat healthy at home.

Getting To Know Our Guest:

• 36:24 - Kat shares everything from her favorite acai bowl to what she's most grateful for today.

A Memorable Moment:

"God always brings beauty from the ashes. We want an opportunity to share Jesus' love and show what an impact He's had on our lives and what he can do for others."

- Kat Eckles

To visit the Business With Purpose website, click the link: https://www.stillbeingmolly.com/2019/04/03/business-purpose-podcast-kat-eckles-clean-juice/

Maybe you want to get into ethical fashion, but you're not sure where to start. Meet Amy Ann Cadwell, the Co-Founder and CEO of The Good Trade. The Good Trade is a digital media and lifestyle brand publication that covers sustainable fashion. Amy Ann joins us to tell her story and share with you how your purchases can truly work toward alleviating poverty and suffering for marginalized communities.

Things You Don't Want To Miss: Meet Today's Guest.

• 1:19 - Amy Ann Cadwell is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Good Trade. She founded The Good Trade in Los Angeles in 2014. It's a digital media and lifestyle brand publication that covers sustainable fashion and lifestyle.

The Amy Ann 101.

• 2:45 - Amy Ann first pursued social change as an academic interest. She studied development economics and along the way became interested in micro-finance and entrepreneurship as sustainable solutions for poverty alleviation. As a result, she received her master's degree in social entrepreneurship. During this time, Amy Ann watched the Netflix documentary, The True Cost. It showed her the dark underbelly of fast fashion, and it convicted her to leverage her graduate work toward solving labor issues and promoting sustainability in the fashion industry. She subsequently founded The Good Trade in 2014.

The Power Of One.

• 8:13 - You might be thinking, "I'm just one person. Does it really matter where I shop?" We need to combat that mentality because the truth is, you do have an impact on change. As consumers, we're collectively capable of making huge shifts in global, economic power, and it starts with one. As consumers, we must question the status quo and support companies that align with our values. Consider what you're bringing into your home.

Do Your Purchases Serve A Purpose?

• 12:40 - No, we're not asking you to become a minimalist. However, we would encourage you think about whether you're purchasing with a purpose. We have a skewed idea of how many things we need in our lives to live comfortably, and our purchases can have detrimental impacts upon those who created those items. Ironically, the more stuff you have, the less satisfaction you'll probably receive out of a particular item.

Something To Write About.

• 14:45 - Amy Ann always had a desire to write and create. She leveraged that interest for her passion for sustainable development. She and her husband started a blog about popular local businesses as a hobby while she was in graduate school. When she moved to Los Angeles, they sold the publication, and she decided to start over with a new digital publication centered around her work.

Transforming A Passion Project Into A Publication.

• 20:00 - The Good Trade began as a side hustle. It was a full year before Amy Ann began thinking of it as a serious business, but she soon began seeing the momentum behind her content. She wanted to dedicate more attention to sustainable fashion, so she developed a studio of writers toward the cause as she and her husband built the organization.

How To Get Started.

• 22:18 - If you've never read The Good Trade, take the baby step of subscribing to their newsletter. It's released daily, and it's a place to get some of The Good Trade's best content. The Good Trade covers everything from fashion and beauty to lifestyle and travel. It's become a community of women looking to make an impact.

A Lightbulb Moment.

• 25:00 - Amy Ann was first convicted The True Cost. Now, as she receives reader feedback, she's constantly reminded of the millions of people who care on an individual level about sustainable fashion. She sees how individuals can join together as a collective and become a powerful impetus for change.

Getting To Know Our Guest:

• 30:18 - We quiz Amy Ann on her unusual talents, spirit animals, and favorite cheesy songs. We'll also travel back in time for a visit with America's favorite roommates.

A Memorable Moment:

As consumers we have a responsibility to question the status quo and support companies and lifestyle decisions that align with our own personal values."

- Amy Ann Cadwell

To visit the Business With Purpose website, click the link: https://www.stillbeingmolly.com/2019/03/27/business-purpose-podcast-amy-ann-cadwell-good-trade/

At ten years old, most of us were exploring the outdoors, riding bikes, and maybe playing with dolls or legos. However, today's guest was busy growing his family's business; Perkins Orchard. Join us as we interview Donovan Alexander Watson about the importance of buying local, supporting local farmers, and connecting the community with farm fresh produce.

Things You Don't Want To Miss: Meet Today's Guest.

• 00:42 - Donovan Alexander "Alex" Watson is the owner and CEO of Perkins Orchard. It's a family business he took over when he was just ten years old. Perkins Orchard is that largest and oldest fruit stand in Durham, North Carolina. Alex transformed his grandfather's fruit stand into a full-fledged business. He's here to share his story.

The Alex 101.

• 4:08 - Alex's grandfather started Perkins Orchard started as a roadside produce market in 1970. However, his grandfather also pastored the Apex First Baptist Church, and around 2004, he started a divinity school within the church. The fruit stand proved to be too much work, and Alex's grandfather had almost closed it down when Alex stepped in to run the business. At the time, Alex was 10 years old, and he handled everything from inventory and finances to customer service. Fast forward to 2013; Alex tore down the original fruit stand and expanded it to a three-acre operation.

Painting A Picture.

• 6:34 - Perkins orchard sits just off of Barbee Road in South Durham, North Carolina. As you turn off the main road, a gravel driveway gives way to a sprawling three-acre outdoor market. They work with three hundred farmers in twelve states, and they're about to begin their 49th season in business.

Keeping Others In Business.

• 9:50 - Perkins Orchard works to keep other family farms in business. Alex began writing checks to producers when he was 15, and as Perkins Orchard expanded, their producers were able to buy more land, grow more crops, and provide for their families. Many of these farmers are local to North Carolina. They also contract with Chiquita, Del Monte, Welch's, and Sunkist. Their goal is to support local farmers while also providing customers with produce that isn't native to our state.

The Perkins Orchard Story.

• 14:48 - Alex's grandfather started Perkins Orchard 49 years ago. At the time, there were several neighbors who operated various produce stands off of Barbee Road. It was a suburban area of Durham, and many folks sold produce out of their front yards. Perkins Orchard started with just a couple of tomato boxes. It was never meant to be more than a hobby. It was a respite from the stress that came with being a pastor, and Alex was blessed to transform it into a business.

Hitting The Road.

• 22:32 - In addition to running the business, Alex is constantly on the road picking up produce. Many of the pickups happen in Raleigh, but you'll often hear of Alex hitting the road for South Carolina or Florida to bring in fresh produce. He says the thrill of waking up before dawn to meet his farmers runs in his blood.

Lessons From The Orchard.

• 25:18 - Alex finds there's a certain camaraderie in his relationships. He relies on his farmers to take care of his customers and provide them with a high-quality product.

Connecting With The Community.

• 33:30 - Alex makes it his mission to impact the community with his business. He seeks to educate people on why it's important to buy locally, he partners directly with farmers, and he makes it his goal to provide produce that's superior to other grocery store products. Perkins Orchard even hosts other local vendors and tries to connect with the community via community events. One year, he made artificial snow and invited the community to come out for hot chocolate and football. He says it's his way of building relationships with others.

A Fun Fact About Alex.

• 39:00 - He dreams about becoming a meteorologist. He shares his passion for tracking snow as well as his high school hobby of sending out weather reports.

The Vision For Perkins Orchard.

• 40:26 - Alex is currently immersed in several small projects including expanding the parking lot for customers and adding plum trees by the business' 50th season. His long-term goal is to open a brick-and-mortar farm-to-table restaurant in downtown Durham that features local meats and produce.

Getting To Know Our Guest:

• 42:23 - Alex shares his little-known love for Katy Perry, and unpacks how he might survive solely off of watermelon from his fruit stand. He expresses his desire to glean wisdom from former President Barack Obama.

A Memorable Moment:

"I'm grateful for the life I've been brought up in, for the family who has raised me, and for the resources I've been provided with in life to create my own path."

- Donovan Alexander Watson

To visit the Business With Purpose website, click the link: https://www.stillbeingmolly.com/2019/03/20/business-purpose-podcast-donovan-alexander-watson-perkins-orchard/

We often contemplate the origins of our clothes and shoes, but purchasing with purpose even includes notepads, sticky notes, pens, and paper. Jillian Ryan is the founder of the Marie Mae Company. She joins us to discuss the tremendous social impact you can have by purchasing items as simple as office supplies.

Things You Don't Want To Miss: Meet Today's Guest.

• 00:54 - Jillian Ryan is the Founder and Creator of the Marie Mae Company. Her company provides invaluable business training for entrepreneurs around the world. By purchasing Marie Mae's office supply products, you're contributing to the education of students at the Marie Mae Business School.

The Jillian 101.

• 8:30 - Jane grew up in Texas where she graduated from Texas A&M. She ended up working in Washington D.C. for ten years with an international business consulting firm. She was a political risk consultant, and she helped businesses overseas to navigate the nuances and risks associated with business in an emerging market.

A Change In Direction.

• 9:46 - While helping big businesses operate in Africa, she witnessed these enterprises wanting work with small, local businesses, only to reach a dead end as local entrepreneurs lacked the necessary skills and resources to partner together. She decided to discover the means and training necessary to run a business in rural Africa. It started as a side project, and her goal was to provide a business bootcamp for local entrepreneurs. However, she needed funding, and selling office supplies was a way to pay for the project.

How Marie Mae Works.

• 12:00 - Basically, for each product you buy, Marie Mae provides one hour of training for a local entrepreneur. It started as a side project, and quickly grew into a full-scale operation.

A Big Break.

• 13:52 - The next year FabFitFun approached Jillian about providing them with 250,000 boxes of stationary. Suddenly, Jillian was scrambling to figure out how to scale her business.

What Does Marie Mae Sell?

• 18:04 - Their main focus is practical and professional gifts. They produce notebooks, stationary, and artisan-made goods, and they work a lot with corporate businesses, and of course, their products are ethically-sourced. Marie Mae even has their own quarterly subscription box.

How Does The Training Work?

• 21:20 - Jillian worked with so many high-powered bankers, lawyers, etc...and so many of them wanted to volunteer. Jillian wanted to provide local entrepreneurs in Africa with business training, and she saw an opportunity to enable her corporate partners to share their expertise. Thus was born the Marie Mae Business School, and business professionals train entrepreneurs with the skills needed to run a successful business.

Humble Beginnings.

• 30:04 - Jillian reflects on the early days of Marie Mae and shares strategies and products that just didn't work. Oddly enough, some of her flops turned out to be best-sellers later. Remember, business is about perseverance.

Practical Lessons.

• 41:30 - Jillian seeks to equip her entrepreneurs with practical skills. General business concepts will only take you so far, so Marie Mae seeks to contextualize their lessons for their audience. Jillian shares how she was able to train a sewing cooperative in Rwanda.

Getting To Know Our Guest:

• 45:05 - Jillian shares her desire to learn Spanish and travel through space to the fantastical locations featured in Interstellar.

A Memorable Moment:

"It's the power of perseverance. It's one of the things I try to drive home. People might be smarter than you. People might have come from a better background, but you can always win in a perseverance game."

- Jillian Ryan

To visit the Business With Purpose website, click the link: https://www.stillbeingmolly.com/2019/03/13/business-purpose-podcast-jillian-ryan-marie-mae-company/

Charity doesn't end poverty. Jobs do. Resources and money give you freedom; the give you dignity. Charity is important, but work is empowering. Jane Mosbacher Morris joins us to discuss how job access could end global poverty.

Things You Don't Want To Miss: Meet Today's Guest.

• 1:22 - Jane Mosbacher Morris is Founder and CEO of TO THE MARKET. She's also the author of the newly released book, Buy The Change You Want To See. TO THE MARKET connects consumers and businesses to ethically made products from around the world. It partners with businesses that offer a safe work environment for women who have been exploited in the sex trade or who are vulnerable to human trafficking.

The Jane 101.

• 3:29 - Jane shares her belief that every person has a purpose as well as her passion for promoting the dignity of work. Her career started in the U.S. Department Of State, and she spent a lot of time around people who lacked control over their own destiny. She wanted to create opportunity for these individuals, and she discusses how the private sector was the best way to do that.

Looking For Opportunities.

• 7:00 -Working for the Department Of State and the McCain Institute provided Jane with several unique glimpses into life in the developing world. She found opportunities to create value in the market.

Starting TO THE MARKET.

• 12:06 - The vision was to connect talented makers around the world who are overlooked and vulnerable with consumers fueled by tremendous buying power. Jane shares the beginnings and discusses how TO THE MARKET built supply chains with organizations that employed individuals in an ethical way. She wanted to change the manufacturing paradigm.

Money Leads To Choices.

• 16:01 - It's not about becoming rich. Money is simply a tool, but it allows you to achieve financial freedom, and it can lends itself to creating resources. Financial aid clearly plays an important role in global development. However, once people's basic needs are met, people prefer to have the ability to earn their own way. When you're constantly receiving, you don't really have the ability to make your own choices.

Growth Is Slow.

• 20:23 - There's been a lot of talk surrounding the need to purchase ethically, but behavioral change takes time. Jane shares how she discovered the importance of continuing to pursue people who say they want to shift their buying habits.

Highlighting Jane's New Book.

• 25:46 - Buy The Change You Want To See debuted at the end of January. It promotes the idea that as buyers, we have purchasing power. If we harness that purchasing power, we can positively impact the lives of others.

How Your Purchases Impact Others.

• 28:20 - We discuss how our purchasing power can affect the lives of trafficking survivors and others living in poverty. Customer loyalty has kept Mom and Pop shops open for years. If you commit to buying locally, and supporting these businesses, your purchases enable business owners to stay open, generate revenue, and impact the lives of others with their hires .

Getting To Know Our Guest:

• 33:24 - We take a moment to get to know Jane and discover her go-to song at a Karaoke night. She'll also share her memories of watching America's favorite family as a kid.

A Memorable Moment:

"These amazing men and women don't want charity. The want opportunity. They want access to resources. They want money, so that they can make their own choices for their family."

-Molly Stillman

To visit the Business With Purpose website, click the link: https://www.stillbeingmolly.com/2019/03/06/business-purpose-podcast-jane-mosbacher-morris-to-the-market/

The Marie Kondo craze has swept the nation with her new show on Netflix, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. A good purge can be cathartic, but what will become of your things that don't "spark joy?" Give your clean-up a purpose, and consider how you'll develop new habits amidst your clutter-free lifestyle.

Things You Don't Want To Miss: Who Is Marie Kondo?

• 00:00 - Okay, most of you are familiar with Marie Kondo. Perhaps you've even tried tidying up, but in case you've missed the craze, Marie Kondo is a Japanese organizational consultant. She's got her own show on Netflix, and she helps people to declutter their homes while sparking joy in their lives along the way. She wrote a New York Times Best Seller, and she's even appeared on Ellen.

A Few Statistics On Your Clothes.

• 2:23 - According to the EPA, Greenpeace, The New York Times, and a few other resources, more than 15 million tons of used textile waste is generated each year in the United States. In other words, we throw away a lot of clothes in this country. However, only 2.62 million tons were recycled, and 3.14 million tons were combusted for energy recovery. The rest was shipped off to the landfill. An even crazier statistic, the average American throws away approximately 80 pounds of used clothes each year. Synthetic clothing takes multiple lifetimes to decompose, but you could reduce your carbon footprint by recycling your clothes.

We Need To Steward Our Resources.

• 4:55 - Look, I'm not your average John Lennon hippie of the tree hugging variety, but I believe it's important to take care of our planet. As a Christian, I believe we need to cherish the things God has given us. He's directed us to steward our time, our wealth, and our resources.

When Your Clothes Don't Spark Joy...

• 6:04 - The KonMari method would have us dispose of any clothes that don't spark joy in our lives, but this generates a problem. Of course it's a good idea to tidy up your home, but you need to consider where you're tossing your undesirables. Statistics show ninety percent of the time, you're tossing your clothes in the trash or shipping them off to Goodwill. After that, it's "out of sight, out of mind," and all the while, thrift shops and landfills are beginning to overflow. Instead of haphazardly dumping our old Beanie Babies and grandma's scratchy old sweater, we should carefully consider how we choose to retire those items.

What Should We Do With Our Stuff?

• 7:28 - We've broken your stuff down into a few categories. Let's start with your clothes. I'm of the opinion when you toss your old clothes, you shouldn't immediately head out to the thrift shop. If an item is still in decent condition, sell it, or consign it first. Use services like thredUP, Poshmark, Relovv, And We Evolve, Schoola, and SilkRoll. You could also check out local buy-sell pages on websites like Facebook. People who buy your clothes will value them more, and they will give your clothing a longer lifespan. In other words, selling your clothes helps them to avoid rotting in a dump somewhere.

Your Donations Are Being Dumped.

• 10:05 - In 2017, I went on my third trip to Kenya, and I got to visit the Dandora Dump. It's the largest landfill in East Africa, and it's basically a sea of waste. In that waste site, there were hundreds if not thousands of people scavenging. It's a well-known fact the majority of the clothing we "donate" gets shipped off to developing countries, and these countries get overwhelmed. There's nothing wrong with donating your clothes, but it's far more effective to try to sell them first.

Donate With A Purpose.

• 12:02 - If you can't sell your clothes, donate them to a specific organization that can use your clothes. These organizations can make sure your items don't go to waste.

What To Do When You Can't Sell Or Donate.

• 14:24 - If you have items you can't sell or donate, recycle them. Almost one hundred percent of textiles can be recycled. Turn your old t-shirts into quilts, dish rags, car-washing rags, napkins, and other useful items. Take your textiles to the textile recycling center. Yes, those exist. Here in Durham, you can drop your old clothes off at drop centers around town.

What To Do With Old Furniture And Home Goods.

• 15:51- Of course, Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are great options for your old furniture. However, Habitat For Humanity is a great, overlooked resource. In several cities, they even have a store where they will resell your items. There's also an online shop called Chairish where you can buy and sell used pieces. Even if your furniture no longer sparks joy for you, it could spark joy for someone else.

Paper Is Recyclable.

• 17:53 - Obviously, any type of old paper is recyclable. Don't throw it in the trash. Recycle it. Donate your old books to local schools and libraries, and if you have memorabilia, you might be able to donate it to a local museum. There's even an option for your random stuff. In Durham, we have a shop called The Scrap Exchange. They'll put your old knick knacks to good use.

Change Your Habits.

• 20:35 - Once you've finally disposed of your old stuff, change your buying habits. Don't just purge for the sake of purging. Otherwise, you'll accumulate more stuff. When you consider buying something, ask yourself whether it's really worth the purchase. This might sound like a simple thought process, but it's an important one. Don't leave Target wondering where your $100 went. Rid yourself of impulse purchases, and steward your resources. Be intentional about your purchases, and you will begin to spark joy in your life.

A Memorable Moment:

"As a Christian, I feel a very strong calling to be a good steward of the thing God has given us, and if God has given us this planet to take care of, then we need to be good stewards of those resources." - Molly Stillman

To visit the Business With Purpose website, click the link:https://www.stillbeingmolly.com/2019/02/27/business-purpose-podcast-what-to-do-with-things-dont-spark-joy/

The Fair Trade Federation is an association that works to elevate and strengthen fair trade partners in the United States and Canada. It's a key partner in the global fair trade movement. On this edition of the podcast, we catch up with the organization's executive director, Chris Solt.

Things You Don't Want To Miss: Come To The Fair Trade Federation Conference!

• 1:20 - I'm going to be speaking at the Fair Trade Federation Conference in Austin, Texas in March. If you live in the area, you need to come check it out. There will be all sorts of speakers, fair trade organizations showing their wares, breakout sessions, and much more. For more information, visit fairtradefederation.org.

The Chris 101.

• 3:45 - Chris takes us all the way back to the beginning and shares the story of his upbringing in Vermont and Ohio. Chris' father was a band director, and he grew up learning to play the drums, bass, guitar, piano, and many other instruments. He was even in a band, and he just knew he'd become a musician. He chose to skip college and become a recording engineer while working in Border's in Cleveland. In 1999, Chris became a father and attended college. His degree in Social Science landed him in a Ten Thousand Villages store, and it ultimately changed his path completely.

Following A Different Path.

• 8:04 - Chris took a job with a company called Ten Thousand Villages. It's a nonprofit that markets fair trade artisan products to alleviate poverty around the world. While there, Chris learned how commerce and retail could be leveraged to impact lives and boost local economies.

Becoming The Executive Director At The Fair Trade Federation.

• 10:58 - A friend connected with Chris and led him down the path toward working with the Fair Trade Federation where he now serves as their executive director.

How Do We Find Our Calling?

• 12:38 - Maybe you grew up wanting to be a teacher or a doctor, so you went to school and turned your passions into a profession. However, maybe your path hasn't been as clear. Chris shares how his life experiences in his twenties led him toward his calling later in life.

What Is The Fair Trade Federation?

• 14:10 - The fair trade industry consists of more than coffee, tea, and chocolate. There are all sorts of businesses involved, and the Fair Trade Federation is a trade association that seeks to strengthen and promote these organizations. Their mission is to build equitable and sustainable trading partnerships and create opportunities to alleviate poverty. The Fair Trade Federation works with all sorts of wholesalers, retailers, nonprofits, and faith communities. These organizations seek to promote justice and provide opportunities for laborers all over the world to find dignity in their work while sustaining their livelihood.

How The Fair Trade Federation Operates.

• 19:50 - The federation operates under principles of transparency and accountability for the purposes of creating opportunities, promoting fair trade, ensuring fair wages, and developing safe working conditions for laborers. They also fight for the rights of children, cultivate environmental stewardship and respect cultural identity. These seem like high standards, but the organization seeks to guarantee the products being sold by federation members haven't come at the cost of someone's health or dignity. The Fair Trade Federation wants its members to put fair trade in the very DNA of how they operate.

How The Fair Trade Federation Operates.

• 23:50 - The Fair Trade Federation works with all sorts of marginalized communities. They want to alleviate poverty and suffering, and they want to be a resource for those trapped in modern-day slavery.

A Story From Nepal.

• 26:16 - Chris shares the story of a trip to India and Nepal in 2008. While there he partnered alongside an organization called New Sadle which works exclusively with victims of leprosy. These victims are seen as outcasts in their villages and are even considered to be cursed.

Consider Your Purchases.

• 27:08 - Walk through Walmart and consider a $1.99 t-shirt. While that graphic tee might be harmless to you, there's a real possibility it was put together by an indentured servant on the other side of the world. We must consider where our money is going.

Chris Explains The Difference Between The Fair Trade Federation And The World Fair Trade Organization.

• 30:30 - In short, the Fair Trade Federation is based in the United States in Canada while the World Fair Trade Organization is worldwide.

A Difficult Question.

• 34:49 - Can something be ethical and not be fair trade? While this is a challenging concept to consider, the answer is absolutely. The Fair Trade Federation sets a high bar for its retailers, and not every well-meaning company qualifies. The fair trade movement is a spectrum, and while the term "fair trade" can get nebulous, any movement toward becoming fair trade is to be applauded. The simple step of adding transparency to a business can change lives.

Fair Trade Is A Learning Process.

• 41:22 - You don't change the world overnight, and you don't change your behavior overnight. It takes time to educate yourself about what it means to support fair trade and ethically made goods. It's easy to be discouraged, but take heart. The small steps you're taking really do impact lives.

Chris Shares More Details About The Fair Trade Federation Conference.

• 45:57 - This conference runs March 26-28th in Austin Texas. It's the 25th anniversary of the federation. While it's a professional conference, it's a great opportunity to learn about the fair trade industry, and the expo portion of the conference is open to the public.

Getting To Know Our Guest:

• 52:20 - We take a moment to get to know Chris a little bit better by quizzing him on his favorite tv shows, meals, and guilty pleasures.

A Memorable Moment:

"When it began to click for me, I realized there is no piece of jewelry, there is no pair of shoes, there is no t- shirt that is worth someone else's life being treated as not worthy just so I can buy that item." - Molly Stillman

To visit the Business With Purpose website, click the link: https://www.stillbeingmolly.com/2019/02/20/business-purpose-podcast-chris-solt-fair-trade-federation/

I do not have a green thumb. The past few years, I've tried to start a garden in my backyard and it almost always ends up overrun with weeds, or one year all of my cucumbers ended up just eating everything else in my garden. I had no less than 50 cucumbers that year, and then the next year I wasn't able to grow anything, then the next year I tried to grow things with plants, and maybe had a couple of jalapeños. But for the most part, every year, my garden has turned into a big flop. I really wish I could garden, I really want to learn how to garden. So, this year we're going to try again, we're going to do some raised beds, planted some fruit trees, got some blueberry bushes that maybe will give us some blueberries. We've got a blackberry bush, we're trying. My guest today, took the idea of a garden in her backyard, and decided she no longer wanted to just feed her family, she wanted to feed her entire community on the south side of Chicago. What was once a small idea that she had, is now a full fledged dream that she is pursuing. FOLLOWING OPEN DOORS After the death of Natasha's sister, she learned not to take life for granted. She started to explore areas where she could use her passions to serve other people and boy did her idea explode. Molly and Natasha discuss the miracles that happen when you follow open doors. Her community garden has not only opened doors in her own life, but opened the doors of people in the community, allowing them to come together, get to know one another, and support each other in times of need and celebration. STARTING A COMMUNITY GARDEN From starting a small community garden, to collaborating with other non-profits in Chicago to buy a plot of land that has sustained much of the community, Natasha's vision has grown beyond what she imagined. Their unique design allows for the community to come together and request certain foods, sparking an interest that they're hoping will lead to classes, teaching others how to grow and sustain their own food. About Natasha Nicholes, Founder of House of Nicholes: Natasha C. Nicholes is a serious maker. To be a serious maker, you need the ability to see things not as they are but as what they can be. Not only that, you need the skills to make that vision into reality. That is Natasha's super power. Where others saw an abandoned lot on the Southside of Chicago, Natasha saw a community garden overflowing with greens, fresh food for her neighbors, and chickens. Because of Natasha's community leadership and hard work, the We Sow We Grow Community Garden allied with local stores, won features on the Harry show and in the Chicago Tribune, and was a 2017 Iris Award Nominee for the Best Philanthropic Work of the Year. Not only does Natasha grow food, she grows humans. She made four bold and brilliant children with her husband – and even made two of them at the same time. She even homeschools. But when she was researching online to find families like hers, she didn't find any voices of African Americans represented. So of course, she created her own space at www.housefulofnicholes.com. Through her blog, Natasha forged partnerships with companies and organizations such as Kia,Samsung, General Mills, Dream Kids, and Habitat for Humanity. She spoke at conferences such as Blogalicious,BlogHer, National Box Tops University, and various Illinois Farm Bureau summits. She is the Travel Editor at Mom 2.0 Summit and was a cast member for the Chicago 2017 Listen to Your Mother Show. And if that isn't enough, there's more. Sewing. Knitting. Canning. Preserving. Building. Growing. Sowing. Natasha can do all these things. She is a serious maker. CONNECT WITH NATASHA

• Website: www.housefulofnicholes.com
• Facebook: House of Nicholes
• Instagram: @houseofnicholes

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