Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

By Molly Stillman | Speaker, Author, Loud LaugherComedyReligion & SpiritualityChristianityComedy Interviews
Download on the App Store

Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? episodes

  • EP 127: Jessica Kelly, Founder & CEO of THR3EFOLD

    Let's pretend for a second that you have a dream of starting an ethical fashion brand. You want to start this brand, you know the designs in your head, you have a clear vision for it, but you have no idea where to start when it comes to the manufacturing component. You look online, you do some Google searches, and you find factories literally all over the world, and you have no idea if they're ethical or not, you have no idea what these factories might look like, you have no idea what the process is like. What if there was a way to make it easier for people want to manufacture their clothes ethically? What if there was a way that you could know for sure that these factories are vetted, they're legit, they're clean, they're ethical, workers are working in clean, and safe conditions. What if there was a way you could have all of that taken care of you. My guest this week is Jessica Kelly, the founder of Thr3efold. It is a platform to help you build your ethical, and sustainable fashion brand. EXPERIENCING SYSTEMIC POVERTY After years working in the corporate fashion industry, a mission trip to Africa opened Jessica's eyes to the way that populations around the world were struggling. She knew she had to do something, and wanted to use her passion for the clothing industry to make a difference. After must trial and error, she realized the great need for a company like Thr3efold. BRANDS MAKING A DIFFERENCE Jessica was on a mission to make a difference. Upon visiting India, and some of the largest clothing manufacturers in the area, many of her stereotypes about mass production were challenged. Molly and Jessica discuss the ways that major clothing retailers like H&M and Target are actually making great strides to change the standards of production. SOURCING ETHICAL MANUFACTURING Jessica discusses the mission of Thr3efold, providing ethical sourcing and manufacturing options for new brands, with hopes to change the industry standard and even provide alternative options for well-established brands. Their online community provides great support to entrepreneurs in need of relationship, which Jessica shares is one of the most important necessities she's found in owning her own business. About Jessica Kelly, Founder & President of Thr3efold; Jessica cut her teeth in fashion by paying her dues in PR, schlepping 50 pound gowns across Manhattan to Condé Nast and working backstage at NYFW for top brands like Alexander Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Tory Burch and Tommy Hilfiger. As her career grew, she worked with over 300 brands on a daily basis preparing them for wholesale market, and she began to understand how the overarching industry worked and the many pain points all brands face. It was around this time that she went on a life changing trip to Africa where she encountered severe social injustice but simultaneously the power of sustainable employment and knew she had to start a business that provided that opportunity to people in need around the world. After much brainstorming and an extensive research and development trip to India it became clear what was needed was an easier way for fashion brands to find the trustworthy, ethical factories in order to increase supply chain standards, improve transparency, and positively impact people and planet around the world. CONNECT WITH SOMYA

    • Facebook: Thr3efold
    • Pinterest: Thr3efold
    • Instagram: @thr3efold
    Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/ Subscribe to the Business with Purpose podcast (and I'd love it if you left a review** on iTunes!)
    • Subscribe on iTunes**
    • Subscribe on Spotify
    • Subscribe on Radio Public
    • Subscribe via Podcast RSS Feed
    **Want to know how to leave a review of the Business with Purpose Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or iPad?
      1. Launch Apple's Podcast app.
      2. Tap the Search tab.
      3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
      4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
      5. Tap the Blue album art for the podcast.
      6. Tap the Reviews tab.
      7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom.
      8. Enter your iTunes password to login.
      9. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
      10. Enter title text and content to leave a review.
      11. Tap Send.

    45 min
  • EP 126: Somya Munjal

    Our lives are filled with defining moments. Tragedy shakes us, suffering changes us, but it's how we take tragedy, and how we learn from suffering that determines the next phase or trajectory of our lives. We can choose to use that suffering as an excuse, and become bitter, and disheartened, and withdraw from the world, or we can use it to grow. We can use it to make ourselves better, to make others better, to leave our communities and families better than we found them. My guest today, at the age of 26, nearly died from someone trying to kill her. She could've used that experience and let it defeat her, but instead she used it as fuel to impact the next generation for good. A CULTURE OF COMPETITIVENESS Somya and Molly dive right in and discuss how our current culture is one of competitiveness. They discuss various events in history, politics, and religion which have contributed to the society we live in now, one that starts even at the very bottom, educating our children through an elitist system, to the very top, displaying competitiveness in governments around the globe. BREAKING THE CYCLE Molly shares how even on her visit to a local restaurant, she always makes a point to acknowledge and get to know every person she comes in contact with. The two discuss how the simple act of being kind, having conversations (even the awkward ones), can lead to change. Somya share her belief that all human beings just want to be seen, and understood, and if we can all work together to address and relieve each others fears, the world could be headed for a much brighter future. IMPACTING THE NEXT GENERATION Somya's life passion is education children in a way that will change the world. Her many initiatives surrounding youth education are structured to disrupt the current education system, by providing new research, and facts countercultural to what most children are reading in their history books. Her dream is to see children achieve the same level and quality education no matter where they are born, or what economic bracket they fall under. Influencing what and how children learn from a young age has the power to change our economy, our ecosystem, our society, and the world. About Somya Munjal, Founder & President of Youthful Savings, CPA for the People, and Audacious Endeavours; Somya Munjal is a social entrepreneur whose work focuses on youth education and economic empowerment. As an advocate for the creation of a fair economy based on conscious transacting, education reform and resource redistribution, Somya believes that poverty can be eradicated through equal opportunity and economic and entrepreneurial education. To contribute to the alleviation of these issues, each of Somya's social enterprises provide economic education, financial planning and resources to build socially conscious businesses. By empowering people in these ways, each project also fosters fiscal and monetary policy reform. Somya is the Co-Founder of Youthful Savings, Managing Partner of CPA for the People, LLP and the Creative Director of Audacious Endeavors. She is also the author of the newly released book, Audacious Endeavors: 8 Steps to Social Consciousness that will Spark Your Inner Fire (Third Edition). She is a member of solution-based, action-oriented organizations dedicated to resolving socio-economic issues, such as the Los Angeles World Affairs Council and the Southern California Mediation Association. Somya is a Certified Public Accountant, FINRA Licensed Financial Advisor, and is Certified in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation, Arbitration and Negotiation. CONNECT WITH SOMYA

    • Facebook: Audacious Endeavors Book
    • Twitter: Somya Munjal
    • Twitter: Learning Marketplace
    • Facebook: Youthful Savings
    • YouTube: Youthful Savings
    Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/ Subscribe to the Business with Purpose podcast (and I'd love it if you left a review** on iTunes!)
    • Subscribe on iTunes**
    • Subscribe on Spotify
    • Subscribe on Radio Public
    • Subscribe via Podcast RSS Feed
    **Want to know how to leave a review of the Business with Purpose Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or iPad?
      1. Launch Apple's Podcast app.
      2. Tap the Search tab.
      3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
      4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
      5. Tap the Blue album art for the podcast.
      6. Tap the Reviews tab.
      7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom.
      8. Enter your iTunes password to login.
      9. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
      10. Enter title text and content to leave a review.
      11. Tap Send.

    42 min
  • EP 125: Ashley Jones, Love Not Lost

    There is a cliche saying that says, "a picture is worth a thousand words." I know we hear it all the time, but really, have you ever thought about the priceless value of an image? I don't like to think that I have regrets in life, but there is one regret that I have. To be honest with you, it sticks me with every day, and that is that I have very few photos of my mother and I together, in my teenage years. I have looked and looked, and there are little to no picture of just my mother and I in the few years before she died, and I hate that. It's one of the reasons that I take so many pictures of my kids and it's one of the reasons that I say, "sorry, not sorry," when I ask people to take pictures of me and my kids together. Pictures are so valuable when you've lost someone that you love, because it's the only physical thing that you have to remember them by, where you can see them, and feel the emotion behind that image. Today's guest realized the value of an image in the most unimaginable way possible. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE OF SKYLAR Ashley shares the inspiration behind the start of Love Not Lost, the life of her daughter Skylar. At around 2 months, Skylar was diagnosed with SMA, a disease that she was told would take her daughter's life before the age of 1 year old. Thanks to an SMA researcher, the Jones' family had 21 months with their daughter. After her passing, photographs were what helped Ashley through the grieving process, and so she wanted to provide that same resource for those approaching the loss of a loved one. CAPTURING THE LIVES OF OTHERS Love Not Lost was brought to life on November 19, 2015, what would've been Skylar's 4th Birthday. Ashley asked her friends and family to come together support her vision for providing photography to families approaching a loss, so that they'd have memories to cherish long after their loved one had passed. LOVING OTHERS DURING HARD TIMES Molly and Ashley discuss how difficult it can be to approach a friend or family member who has lost a loved one, and what you can do to love them where they are. Love Not Lost provides incredible resources for those looking to support their loved ones through hard times. About Ashley Jones Founder of Love Not Lost; After losing her daughter to a terminal condition, Ashley developed a new perspective on success, life, and love. Her passion for helping others, her photography skills, and her own personal experience through grief and loss, led her to create Love Not Lost. The driving question she asks daily is "How can we love people better?" She is constantly working on new initiatives and resources for Love Not Lost to answer that question as well as loving her husband, family, friends, and community better in her personal life. She loves speaking to companies, conferences, and groups about grief, love, and making the most of the time we have. CONNECT WITH ASHLEY

    • Website: https://lovenotlost.org/
    • Instagram: @lovenotlostorg
    • Facebook: Love Not Lost Org
    • email: [email protected]
    Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/ Subscribe to the Business with Purpose podcast (and I'd love it if you left a review** on iTunes!)
    • Subscribe on iTunes**
    • Subscribe on Spotify
    • Subscribe on Radio Public
    • Subscribe via Podcast RSS Feed
    **Want to know how to leave a review of the Business with Purpose Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or iPad?
      1. Launch Apple's Podcast app.
      2. Tap the Search tab.
      3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
      4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
      5. Tap the Blue album art for the podcast.
      6. Tap the Reviews tab.
      7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom.
      8. Enter your iTunes password to login.
      9. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
      10. Enter title text and content to leave a review.
      11. Tap Send.

    47 min
  • EP 124: Leon Lee, Founder of Flying Cloud Productions, Producer of "Letter from Masanjia"

    If I'm being honest, I don't even know how to introduce today's episode. Back in the Fall, my husband and I had the opportunity to screen a documentary called Letter from Masanjia, and I'll get into the details of the documentary, and we'll be talking about it throughout this episode. But, after I saw that documentary, it affected me in ways I can't even begin to explain. I knew that I wanted to have the producer of that documentary on this episode, and so I reached out to him, and I asked him to come on the show, and he obliged. Today's episode is tough. It is engaging, challenging, emotional, it's raw, but my prayer is that it will impact you. My guest is Leon Lee, the founder of Flying Cloud Productions and producer of the documentary, Letter from Masanjia. BECOMING A SELF-TAUGHT DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER Leon's first documentary, Human Harvest, was inspired by the accusations of Chinese Organ Harvesting, not too far from his hometown in China. Alongside a team of Canadian researchers, he took 8 years to create the film. It has now been viewed by millions, broadcast in more than 25 countries, and received the 74th Annual Peabody Award for Documentary. THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF LEON'S FILMS While creating the films were not easy, took years of research, and faced much opposition, Leon pressed on for all those affected by the tragedies he was documenting. After the release of his first film, governments around the world began to recognize the serious implications of China's organ harvesting, even banning certain travelers from traveling to China for organ implantation. LETTER FROM MASANJIA In 2012, an Oregon woman found a cry for help in her K-mart box from a man held prisoner and tortured in Chinese labor camps. Through Leon's connections, he was able to find the man, Sun Yi, and expose the horrific acts still happening in China today. About Leon Lee, Flying Cloud Productions; Award-winning Canadian filmmaker Leon Lee founded Flying Cloud Productions to share intriguing stories about modern-day China that help shine a light on human rights issues. Their debut film Human Harvest, a documentary about China's illegal organ trade, was broadcast in over 25 countries and was the recipient of numerous accolades including the illustrious Peabody Award. Their recent feature documentary Letter from Masanjia premiered at Hot Docs 2018 and is currently playing in theatres and scooping awards at festivals worldwide. Their aim is to create an impact by bringing true stories to life in unforgettable ways, sparking vital discussion on topics of international importance. CONNECT WITH LEON LEE

    • Website: http://flyingcloud.ca
    • Watch Letter from Masanjia: https://www.letterfrommasanjia.com
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/flyingcloudprod
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flyingcloudproductions/
    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCssAXAQ9lZYSX8htVgi5lPg
    Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/ Subscribe to the Business with Purpose podcast (and I'd love it if you left a review** on iTunes!)
    • Subscribe on iTunes**
    • Subscribe on Spotify
    • Subscribe on Radio Public
    • Subscribe via Podcast RSS Feed
    **Want to know how to leave a review of the Business with Purpose Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or iPad?
      1. Launch Apple's Podcast app.
      2. Tap the Search tab.
      3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
      4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
      5. Tap the Blue album art for the podcast.
      6. Tap the Reviews tab.
      7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom.
      8. Enter your iTunes password to login.
      9. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
      10. Enter title text and content to leave a review.
      11. Tap Send.

    1 hr
  • EP 123: Mary Alice Duff, Alice Alexander Co.

    The average american woman is a size 14/16. I'm a size 14, so I'm pretty average, but I will say that ever since having kids, I have noticed how much the fashion industry does not cater to average women like me, and women who are above a size 14. One of my biggest challenges as an ethical fashion advocate has been to find clothing that is ethically made and size inclusive. And I get it, ethical fashion businesses a lot of the times are small and they have to make smart business decisions and it's hard to cater to everyone. But, let's be honest, there are a lot of women who are being cut out of the ethical fashion industry because ethical fashion brands don't make clothing that fits them, and fits them well. Last year, after so many of you and so much of my community on social media asked me over and over again, 'Molly where can I find ethically made plus-sized clothing?' I went on a hunt, and one of the amazing plus size ethical fashion brands that I found, happens to be my guest today. FROM SOCIAL WORKER TO FASHION ENTREPRENEUR Mary Alice spent the bulk of her adult career as a social worker in Philadelphia. It wasn't until after she became a mother and began to progress in her career, that she realized she couldn't find the clothing that she wanted, in her size. So, she started to sew her own clothing. After recognizing the real need in the fashion industry for ethically made clothing that fit all sizes, she decided to take a leap in growing sewing her own clothing into sewing clothing for others, which is how Alice Alexander was born. CREATING A BRAND FOR ALL WOMEN Mary Alice discusses her deep intentionality behind everything she creates at Alice Alexander. From the clothing itself to the content created using inclusive models, her brand truly stands for making everyone feel loved and included and it is evident through everything she does. Her goal is to create clothing that can seamlessly fit into any woman's wardrobe. FINDING BODY POSITIVITY Molly and Mary Alice discuss finding body positivity, learning to love themselves, and what it looks like to create and raise a generation of women who value their bodies. Mary Alice found support in many online groups of women who were loving their bodies just the way they are, and Molly expresses her joy to show her own daughter how strong and loved she is.About Mary Alice Duff, Founder of Alice Alexander; Mary Alice Duff is owner of Alice Alexander, a size-inclusive, ethically-made women's apparel startup based in Philadelphia with both an online and brick and mortar presence. Started in September 2017, Alice Alexander offers bold, yet accessible pieces to the modern-day woman in sustainable fabrics and inclusive sizes, ranging from 0-28. Prior to launching her own business, Mary Alice was a nonprofit executive and social worker with dual degrees in social work and law and social policy. Frustrated with the lack of high quality clothing in her size and growing increasingly aware of the negative environmental and human impacts the fashion industry was creating, Mary Alice started sewing her own clothes, consciously building a self-made wardrobe piece by piece. Realizing there was a business in her new sewing hobby, Duff enrolled in fashion design school at Philadelphia's MADE Institute, where she balanced taking classes and working full-time. In May of 2017, Duff left a successful career in the nonprofit sector to launch Alice Alexander. In June 2018, with the crowdfunded launch of their second collection, Alice Alexander opened a brick and mortar location and combined production studio in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. To learn more visit us on the web, follow us on Instagram, check out our online store or stop by our location at 4056 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia PA. CONNECT WITH MARY ALICE

    • Website: www.alicealexander.co
    • Instagram: @alicealexanderco
    • Facebook: www.facebook.com/alicealexanderco
    • email: [email protected]
    Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/ Subscribe to the Business with Purpose podcast (and I'd love it if you left a review** on iTunes!)
    • Subscribe on iTunes**
    • Subscribe on Spotify
    • Subscribe on Radio Public
    • Subscribe via Podcast RSS Feed
    **Want to know how to leave a review of the Business with Purpose Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or iPad?
      1. Launch Apple's Podcast app.
      2. Tap the Search tab.
      3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
      4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
      5. Tap the Blue album art for the podcast.
      6. Tap the Reviews tab.
      7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom.
      8. Enter your iTunes password to login.
      9. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
      10. Enter title text and content to leave a review.
      11. Tap Send.

    38 min
  • EP 122: Kassia Binkowski, One K Creative

    I love meeting people who see a need and they fill it. They see an area that they can specialize in or an area that is underserved in this world and they just do it. They don't make excuses, they don't come up with reasons why it won't work, they just go for it. They find solutions, not excuses. They make a way instead of just saying that it can't be done. My guest today saw a need to elevate the voices of social impact companies and decided to fill it. My guest this week is Kassia Binkowski, the founder of One K Creative, a full-service studio that works to tell a story for companies and social impact brands that have a social change component. A CIRCUITOUS ROUTE Kassia grew up in a huge and supportive family in the midwest. She had traveled a lot domestically as a child, but not much internationally. When she had the opportunity to travel to East Africa, her eyes were thrown wide open to the reality of poverty. This was her first exposure to social injustice on a personal, intimate level, and it led her to delving into the world of public health. Kassia wanted to look at the community systems and the social systems that were influencing health outcomes. She got her Master's in Public Health and spent years working with the maternal a child health space. When she and her husband decided to move from Seattle, Washington (the Public Health mecca of the United States) to Boulder, Colorado (where they knew they wanted to be and raise a family, but a public health desert), Kassia knew she had to get creative. She was hired as a communications director for a non-profit that was doing education work in Guatemala. Kassia had never done communications and marketing on a professional level, but the non-profit trusted her cultural knowledge and background so much that the door opened for her. She loved the work she was doing! Kassia flourished and began getting inquiries from other organizations about her design work. She began to realize that there was space for a studio that exclusively focused on social impact organizations. THE VISION One K Creative was born as a result. One K Creative works with clients who have a social or environmental mission, regardless of whether they are for-profit, non-profit, social-responsibility, etc. It simply has to be a cause that their team cares about. One K Creative produces the content that drives these organization's audiences towards action. While they started out primarily doing writing and graphic design, their services have now expanded to include photography and film. They originally were called One Thousand Design - a nod to the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words." Kassia always wanted to build a creative studio that was bigger than herself, and she has wildly succeeded. COMMUNITY BUILDING Maybe it is a photo or an audio-clip in an email. Maybe it is a film that gives you a glance at production in a completely different country. Finding connection--that is exactly what Kassia and One K Creative find so motivating. They seek to help audiences empathize with a cause whether or not they have had a direct connection to it. It is both a challenge and One K Creative's storytelling sweet spot. About Kassia, founder of One K Creative: Kassia Binkowski grew up in Madison, WI and traveled her way around the world to Boulder, CO which she now calls home. Nestled against the Rocky Mountains, Kassia supports innovative organizations from Colorado to Kathmandu tell stories of social change. Kassia is an eternal optimist, backroad wanderer, and founder of One K Creative. CONNECT WITH KASSIA

    • Website: http://onekcreative.com/
    • Facebook: /onekcreative
    • Instagram: @onekcreative
    • Email: [email protected]
    Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/ Subscribe to the Business with Purpose podcast (and I'd love it if you left a review** on iTunes!)
    • Subscribe on iTunes**
    • Subscribe on Spotify
    • Subscribe on Radio Public
    • Subscribe via Podcast RSS Feed
    **Want to know how to leave a review of the Business with Purpose Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or iPad?
      1. Launch Apple's Podcast app.
      2. Tap the Search tab.
      3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
      4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
      5. Tap the Blue album art for the podcast.
      6. Tap the Reviews tab.
      7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom.
      8. Enter your iTunes password to login.
      9. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
      10. Enter title text and content to leave a review.
      11. Tap Send.

    46 min
  • EP 121: Stephanie Giddens, Vickery Trading Co.

    There is an ongoing refugee crisis in our country and in our world. Millions of men, women, and children are making the incredibly difficult and impossible journey to a country they don't know, with a language they don't speak, to seek refuge and a better life for themselves and their families. The stories are heartbreaking, yet there are glimmers of hope in the darkness. Often these families come and we think that they need our charity. But what they really need is an opportunity--a chance. Charity doesn't change lives in families, business does. A job does. Sustainable employment does. My guest this week is Stephanie Giddens, founder of Vickery Trading Co.--a children's clothing company with a bigger mission--to equip refugee women with long-term success through vocational training, personal development, and fair wages. This is an absolutely incredible conversation about a topic that I'm incredibly passionate about, and I know that you're going to be encouraged. AN UNCONVENTIONAL PATH Stephanie graduated college with a community health degree and went on to get her master's degree in theology. She now works for a fashion company. While this may not seem like your typical career path, the pieces fit perfectly together for Stephanie. Her fashion company is not like most, and she spends her days working with refugees--allowing her to draw on her community health knowledge. Vickery Trading Co. is a non-profit social business that equips refugee women for long-term success through vocational training, personal development, and fair wages. They hire refugee women, train them to sew at a professional level, and they produce clothing (mostly for little girls). This unique company spends an hour of each and every day assisting their partner refugees with personal development and cultural assimilation through English as a second-language, handwriting, and typing classes. This allows the refugees that they work with to become valuable, employable residents of the United States. SEWING AS AN OPPORTUNITY Stephanie decided to use sewing as a teachable skill and a tool to help these refugee women assimilate. It is a uniquely social skill in that it allows for community and relationship-building. These women are all sitting in a room together working and learning, which helps them build both trust and English skills. The company was built upon this foundation. In terms of product, Stephanie saw a lot of companies making jewelry and handbags, and not as many folks doing clothes--especially children's clothes. Stephanie saw a hole in the social business arena for people who want to do good when dressing their children. From that point of choosing their niche, Vickery Trading Co. moved on to running focus groups for mothers, allowing the team to develop their product ideas even further. A HEART FOR HELPING Stephanie's first experience with the refugee community came when she was dropping off a donation box and was invited into a woman's home. The woman told her that what she needed and wanted the most was a stable job. While the culture gap can be challenging, Stephanie has long had a heart for helping refugees. She has found the refugee populations she works with to be incredibly hard-working and industrious--always wanting to do their absolute best to create a better life for themselves and their families. At our very cores, despite our differences, Stephanie believes that we are all similarly humans with the capacity to form relationships and love one another. About Stephanie Giddens, Founder & President of Vickery Trading Co.: In the summer of 2000, Stephanie met poverty face-to-face in the slums of Calcutta. She will never forget the eyes of children whose daily reality was far different from hers. She returned to the U.S. confused and guilt-ridden about the luxuries she had but never appreciated. In 2008, she took her first trip to East Africa. While wandering through a market in Kampala, Uganda, she bought a handmade paper necklace from a local artisan. In the artisan's eyes, Stephanie saw something different than what she'd seen in Calcutta. The woman's physical circumstances weren't any better, but Stephanie's purchasing her handiwork allowed dignity in a way that charity never could. In 2011, Stephanie helped to develop a project that partnered businesswomen in Dallas with like-minded women in Rwanda. She raised money for leadership training and microfinance lending to launch Rwandan businesses. Many thrived. Later in 2011, she was confronted and horrified by the proliferation of human exploitation, so she organized a panel to address human trafficking. Stephanie recognized again what she'd seen in Uganda – the unbelievable redemption and freedom that dignified work affords the human soul. In the last five years, she's studied social business and learned how work empowers the vulnerable. Stephanie and her husband seriously looked for social business opportunities in East Africa. Their plans to move to Rwanda in the summer 2013 fell through at the last minute – heartbreaking to the two of them and many who supported them. They found themselves settling back into Dallas and though their plans changed, they knew they'd still been called to help. Their church began to engage refugees that lived in a neighborhood near their home called Vickery Meadows. Stephanie realized that she didn't need a passport, or to live 8 time zones ahead to empower the vulnerable. She decided that if she couldn't go to Rwanda, she would help women right there in Dallas. CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE

    • Website: https://vickerytrading.org/
    • Facebook: /vickerytradingcompany
    • Instagram: @vickerytradingcompany
    • Email: Vickery Trading Company
    Special thanks to Cultivate What Matters for sponsoring this week's Business with Purpose podcast. Visit http://www.stillbeingmolly.com/cultivate to shop! Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/ Subscribe to the Business with Purpose podcast (and I'd love it if you left a review** on iTunes!)
    • Subscribe on iTunes**
    • Subscribe on Spotify
    • Subscribe on Radio Public
    • Subscribe via Podcast RSS Feed
    **Want to know how to leave a review of the Business with Purpose Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or iPad?
      1. Launch Apple's Podcast app.
      2. Tap the Search tab.
      3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
      4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
      5. Tap the Blue album art for the podcast.
      6. Tap the Reviews tab.
      7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom.
      8. Enter your iTunes password to login.
      9. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
      10. Enter title text and content to leave a review.
      11. Tap Send.

    40 min
  • EP 120: 6 Tips for Shopping Ethically on a Budget

    It is episode #120 of the Business with Purpose Podcast: "How to Shop Ethically on a Budget." A couple of episodes ago, actually at episode #110, I started introducing my solo episodes. Now every ten episodes, you get an episode with just me, on topics requested by you! So if you have a topic that you would like me to talk about, you can email me at [email protected], you can find me on social media at Still Being Molly, or we have lots of awesome conversations in my Purchase with Purpose Facebook Group. By the way, if you are not already in that group, it is so much fun. We ask lots of great questions, there's a lot of great discussion, and you get to give me feedback on podcast episodes like this one! Today I've got six tips for you on How to Shop Ethically on a Budget. I want to make this really easy, really quick, and really simple, because this is one of those things that I get asked about all the time. People say to me all the time, "Molly, shopping ethically is expensive, it's too difficult!" and it doesn't have to be. TIP #1: SHOP SECOND-HAND This is the most affordable and arguably the most ethical way to shop. Whether it's thrifting, consigning, or shopping by sell pages--when you are shopping second-hand, what you are doing is you are actually purchasing clothing that is already in the "ecosystem," so to speak. You are not further contributing to the demand for clothing to be produced, because you are buying clothing that already exists--it has already been purchased by somebody else, and it's already out there. Also, a lot of great non-profits run thrift stores and consignment shops, so you might be supporting a local business--keeping money in your local economy--as well. Shopping second-hand is super, super ethical, and it's also the most affordable, because when you're buying something second-hand, you are not paying retail prices! This is a great way to purchase items you need, whether it's clothing, shoes, accessories, or home decor. You can shop some of the more mainstream brands that you already know and love, and you'll get a discount off of that retail price. Take a look at my favorite online and in-person resources below! My Favorite Online Resources

    1. ThredUp - A platform that allows you to browse through brands, sizes, styles, and categories.
    2. Poshmark - An app-based platform that allow you to search through brands, sizes, styles, and categories. You can buy directly from another person and even sell your own clothes!
    3. ReLove - A platform for shopping higher-end second-hand items.
    4. SilkRoll - A platform that operates similarly to a points-based system, where you send in designer items to earn points that allow you to shop for other designer items. This one costs no money other than their membership fee!
    5. And We Evolve - A second-hand style subscription box.
    6. Style For It - For my plus size ladies, this is a plus-size online resource!
    7. Facebook Marketplace - A great way to buy and sell used items in your local area.
    8. Facebook Buy/Sell Groups & Pages - Most areas have local buy/sell groups and pages on Facebook. Search for yours today!

    My Favorite In-Person Resources

    1. Clothes Mentor
    2. Once Upon a Child
    3. Plato's Closet

    TIP #2: BUY LESS, BUT BUY BETTER The fashion industry has you convinced that you need to buy new clothes--every week, every month, all the time. That is not how life should really be! Back in the days of our parents and grandparents, the average American only had 15 to 20 items of clothing in their entire wardrobe. Now, these days, we go through that in a month! Buying less, but buying better will help to save you money in the long-term. Rather than going to a cheap, fast-fashion store like H&M, Forever 21, or Old Navy--where new clothes are coming out weekly, where they're not as well-made, where they fall apart after a few washes and so you just end up having to replace them--save that money, and instead of buying an $8 shirt 12 times per year, spend $50 on one shirt that is going to last you much, much longer. Where you spent $96 through the year on clothing that just wound up falling apart, instead purchase one or two shirts that will last you several years. Some of my favorite brands that I purchase from produce clothing that lasts me for years, because of the intention and the quality of the product. When you buy less but buy better, you will save money in the long-run. It can be really hard to shift our mentality that way, but it is so important. TIP #3: SAVE This one may seem really simple, but so often we forget about saving. Yes, we save for retirement, we save for a home, we save for all these different things--but why not save for an investment piece that you really want and that you know is going to last you a long time? When you save up for an item, you value it more and you are less likely to go through the cycle of buying an item, using it once, and then tossing it! TIP #4: GET TO KNOW YOUR MORE AFFORDABLE ETHICAL BRANDS I know that some of the pricier brands are not in everybody's budget, so I love to share my favorite affordable ethical brands!

    • Elegantees - Elegantees makes the most amazing tops, dresses, skirts, and even men's and children's clothing! Use the code "STILLBEINGMOLLY" for 15% off and free shipping.
    • Grace and Lace - Grace and Lace carries affordable, trendy, adorable, and ethically-made items that support orphanages in India. I love their jeans, sweaters, scarves, and boot cuffs! Look for their sales and BOGO deals.
    • PACT - PACT is great for your basics like undies, undershirts, and socks. Their amazing, comfortable apparel is all-organic at an affordable price point. They also run amazing sales!
    • The Flourish Market - The Flourish Market exists to empower women, not only abroad, but also here in the United States. They make sure to carry on-trend items at every price point, for women on different types of budgets. Use the code "STILLBEINGMOLLY" for free shipping!
    • Primary - Primary makes brightly-colored, quality, well-made, affordable basics for kids. Kids can be kids in these clothes, and play without the worry of tears!

    TIP #5: SHOP SALES July and after-Christmas are the best times to shop ethical brands, as they are transitioning seasons and having SALES. This is the time when they are really trying to clear out their inventory. The Flourish Market always runs a huge sale twice a year, once after Christmas and once in July, with thousands of items 50% off. Save that Christmas money and shop ethically on a budget while things are on sale! Pro Tip: Browse my ethical brand directory and use any applicable coupon codes (I update them regularly). If you are an ethical brand and would like to create a discount code for Still Being Molly, please reach out to me! TIP #6: IF ALL ELSE FAILS, ASK YOURSELF IF YOU ARE GOING TO WEAR THE ITEM 30 TIMES I call this the 30-Wears Rule. I never purchase an item unless I know that I am going to wear it 30 times. This helps to keep you accountable when you're shopping, so you aren't just shopping for the sake of shopping and impulse-purchasing. I hope this was helpful and would love to hear your feedback! CONNECT WITH ME

    • Purchase with Purpose Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/
    • Still Being Molly Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stillbeingmolly/
    • Still Being Molly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stillbeingmolly/
    Special thanks to Cultivate What Matters for sponsoring this week's Business with Purpose podcast. Visit http://www.stillbeingmolly.com/cultivate to shop! Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/ Subscribe to the Business with Purpose podcast (and I'd love it if you left a review** on iTunes!)
    • Subscribe on iTunes**
    • Subscribe on Spotify
    • Subscribe on Radio Public
    • Subscribe via Podcast RSS Feed
    **Want to know how to leave a review of the Business with Purpose Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or iPad?
      1. Launch Apple's Podcast app.
      2. Tap the Search tab.
      3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
      4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
      5. Tap the Blue album art for the podcast.
      6. Tap the Reviews tab.
      7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom.
      8. Enter your iTunes password to login.
      9. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
      10. Enter title text and content to leave a review.
      11. Tap Send.

    20 min
  • EP 119: Marshall Morris, Co-Founder of IHeartDogs.com

    Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole, that was said by photographer Roger Karris. Maybe you are, or aren't a dog person. I'm a dog person. We have two dogs at home, Tater who is a pitbull cattle dog mix, and Audrey Hepburn who is a cavalier king charles spaniel. I will let you all figure out which one was my husbands when we got married. Whether or not you're a dog person, there's pretty much no denying that dogs hold a special place in our lives and in society. I remember when I was in high school, I got really sick and spent a few weeks in the hospital. The best day of the week was when the therapy dog came by. I never wanted those moments to end. Dogs can bring so much to a family, a person, a community. They protect, they nurture, they cuddle, they play, they heal, they are a gift. Our guest today, Marshall Morris, had a passion for helping dogs and humans, and found a way to have an impact on both. ON LEARNING TO BUILD A BUSINESS THAT GIVES BACK After his Army career, Marshall was seeking more purpose in his career. He found himself jumping from job to job, before everything fell into place. He soon found himself building businesses that surrounded that allowed him to combine his love for dogs, and his servant heart for veterans. The community spoke, and his business listened, ensuring that each product gave back to the communities they serve, as they continued to grow. iHeart Dogs not only donates toys to shelters, but gives back to provide veterans with services they may need. DEALING WITH PHASES IN BUSINESS Through scaling multiple businesses, Marshall has learned the various ways to get through hurdles in business. Whether you're in a niche business, or gaining a community of family, Marshall walks through the ways to persevere in business, and learn from the feedback of your community. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF PETS Marshall dives into the proven benefits of not only veterans having dogs, and pets in general, but as human beings the benefits that we reap interacting with dogs. Their emotional connection is proven through science but also in the way that human beings as a species cherish their pets as family. Every day new research is being done as to the real effects of war, but also the real treatments that could improve the quality of life of veterans. About Marshall Morris. Marshall is a serial internet entrepreneur and an Army Veteran who sold his first online company at the age of 28 for over 7 figures. Since then he has been actively involved in scaling profitable 7 and 8 figure internet based businesses that focus on high quality products and services that give back to humanity in a measurable way. His current company iHeartDogs.com has funded over 10 million meals to shelter dogs, donated over 140,000 toys to animals awaiting their forever homes in shelters and funded over $250,000 dollars to provide Veterans with service and companion animals. CONNECT WITH Marshall

    • Website: iHeart Dogs
    • Facebook: iHeart Dogs
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iheartdogscom/
    Special thanks to Cultivate What Matters for sponsoring this week's Business with Purpose podcast. Visit http://www.stillbeingmolly.com/cultivate to shop! Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/ Subscribe to the Business with Purpose podcast (and I'd love it if you left a review** on iTunes!)
    • Subscribe on iTunes**
    • Subscribe on Spotify
    • Subscribe on Radio Public
    • Subscribe via Podcast RSS Feed
    **Want to know how to leave a review of the Business with Purpose Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or iPad?
      1. Launch Apple's Podcast app.
      2. Tap the Search tab.
      3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
      4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
      5. Tap the Blue album art for the podcast.
      6. Tap the Reviews tab.
      7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom.
      8. Enter your iTunes password to login.
      9. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
      10. Enter title text and content to leave a review.
      11. Tap Send.
    55 min
  • EP 118: Jennifer Lunsford, Rahab's Rope

    Were you ever one of those kids who always felt like your parents were forcing you to do something? Maybe your parents made you go to church or they made you take piano or they made you learn Spanish or whatever… it was something that was important to THEM and they, in turn, wanted it to be important to you, too. Maybe for years you did whatever it was begrudgingly… as a teenager you would kind of roll your eyes but you did it anyway… but then, suddenly, as an adult.. there's that lightbulb moment where you realize that all those years of your parents encouraging you to do something all of a sudden becomes something that you care about and it becomes something you want to do on your own. Suddenly… no one is forcing you… you're doing it because you care.

    My guest this week is Jennifer Lunsford with Rahab's Rope, a non-profit and jewelry brand that is giving hope to women and children who have been, or are at-risk of being, exploited by human trafficking. As you know, this is an issue that is near and dear to my heart, so I was really excited to have Jennifer on the show. GOD'S TIMING Jennifer first got involved with Rahab's Rope through her mother. Jennifer had always been around missions, but after spending her childhood being dragged overseas and to church, she wanted to do her own thing and pave her own path in life. She got her bachelor's degree in psychology and thought that was the route she was going to take. She got married to someone she had known for many years, and they had two children. When she decided she wanted to get her master's degree in psychology, she choose start her first semester online. That was the time that she realized something was off. She realized psychology was not what she was supposed to do. Feeling empty and unfulfilled, she prayed for an answer to what exactly she was supposed to spend her life doing. It was at this time, that she asked her mother if there were any full-time positions with Rahab's Rope. Incredibly, someone had just put in their two-week notice, that very day. The business was starting to grow and they needed more help. She never imagined that working with her family business would be her life's calling, but she found it was exactly what God had been preparing her to do. A PRAYER, A PASTOR, AN ANSWER Rahab's Rope began when Jennifer's parents took a trip to India to visit some friends who had gone to India to work full-time at an orphanage. Jennifer's mother had traveled the entire world but felt she was being called to India. Two years later, Jennifer's mother and father planned another trip to India, this time to see what it would look like if she was involved in missions there. Jennifer came along this time, and her family met with an Indian pastor. They discovered that a woman from the red lights district had been praying with this pastor for help and for hope, and that Jennifer's mother was the answer to those prayers. Jennifer's family learned about the issues facing this community and realized that none of the women wanted a hand-out, they wanted somebody to teach them a trade. They, above all else, just wanted hope and opportunity. Her parents decided to do more than just fundraise. They elected to educate so that these women could go back to their community and make a positive change. THE BUSINESS MODEL: DUAL RUNGS Rahab's Rope has grown so much over the years. They are a 501c3 non-profit, but they also sell gorgeous products--through retail sales, wholesale, and host parties. On one rung of the business, Rahab's Rope combats human trafficking, and on the other side, they sell goods, which helps to provide economic empowerment for the women they work with. Rahab's Rope has 5 women's centers in India where their beautiful work takes place. In these centers, they provide basic education, vocational training, and even housing. It is in these centers that the products are crafted. Rahab's Rope wants to teach these women a trade, but their goal is not to employ them indefinitely. They seek to provide the women with the tools and opportunities that they need to go back into their community and share hope. About Jennifer: Jennifer Lunsford is a native of Hall County and married Alex Lunsford a native of Habersham County. They have 2 sons, Forrester and Fletcher and reside in Clarkesville. Jennifer received her BA in Psychology from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Jennifer is a member of the Habersham Chamber of Commerce and the coordinator for the Chambers Young Professional Group, she is on the Board for Prevent Child Abuse Habersham and Co-President for the PTCO Clarkesville Elementary. Jennifer mother, Vicki Moore is the founder of Rahab's Rope and Jennifer is the Director of Sales for Rahab's Rope. She oversees the organizations sales for wholesale and host parties along with the stores. Jennifer has traveled to India to personally work with the women and children Rahab's Rope serves. Connect with Rahab's Rope:

    • Rahab's Rope
    • https://www.instagram.com/rahabsrope/
    • https://www.facebook.com/rahabsropeindia/
    Special thanks to Cultivate What Matters for sponsoring this week's Business with Purpose podcast. Visit http://www.stillbeingmolly.com/cultivate to shop! Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/ Subscribe to the Business with Purpose podcast (and I'd love it if you left a review** on iTunes!)
    • Subscribe on iTunes**
    • Subscribe on Spotify
    • Subscribe on Radio Public
    • Subscribe via Podcast RSS Feed
    **Want to know how to leave a review of the Business with Purpose Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or iPad?
      1. Launch Apple's Podcast app.
      2. Tap the Search tab.
      3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
      4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
      5. Tap the Blue album art for the podcast.
      6. Tap the Reviews tab.
      7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom.
      8. Enter your iTunes password to login.
      9. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
      10. Enter title text and content to leave a review.
      11. Tap Send.
    45 min

About Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

From the publisher's feed

Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Podcast is a weekly podcast where we have honest conversations about faith, business, life, and everything in between. Hosted by speaker and author, Molly Stillman, her…

More shows like Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble

The Bible Recap

35,875 Listeners