Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

Some of you may or may not know this, but I am a former comedian! I performed improvisational and sketch comedy for almost 15 years and I loved it. While I'm no longer on stage a couple nights a week, I still love the art of improv comedy and used so many of the skills I gained doing improv in my everyday life: in my work, all the things. Yup, despite what you may realize, the foundational principles of improv are some of the most effective principles for doing life and business! My guest this week is Travis Thomas, the founder of Live Yes And!, which helps businesses and athletes and people apply the cornerstone improv mindset "YES, And!" This mindset focuses on life-transforming collaboration that results in greater profits, but more importantly a more engaged creative, innovative team. This was such a fun episode for me to do and I cannot wait for you to hear it! THE BASICS OF LIVE YES, AND! Travis has impacted thousands of people by teaching them improv skills that they can apply to everyday life. By working in many different areas over the years, Travis knows that it doesn't matter what industry you're in, it's all about building up life and relationships to grow creativity and collaboration. Travis and I talk about experiencing empathy, passion, and collaboration in his workshops and the importance of building trust and respect. NO MISTAKES IN IMPROV It is so easy to let what we think is a mistake determine our happiness or if we succeeded or failed. However, there are no mistakes in improv. Nothing is a mistake because you're making up your own reality, and this can be applied to real life! Rather than looking at something as a mistake, and instead looking at something as making the best with what we have, life becomes so much better. Travis and I discuss how mistakes are just jumping off points and unexpected gifts. UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT One of the best things about improv is the unconditional support you get from your teammates, and the same can be said for business as well. Once you create and build up that trust, creativity and collaboration come naturally and you can start to take risks that you didn't feel like you could before. Travis and I talk about the importance of this support and what prevents something good from becoming something great. About Travis Thomas, Founder of Live Yes And!: After 20 years of performing hundreds of improv comedy shows across the country, Travis Thomas has learned that the same principles that apply to improv comedy also apply to business, mental, and leadership skills. As an author, speaker, coach, improv comedian, and the Founder of Live Yes And!, Travis has been helping businesses and athletes apply the cornerstone improv mindset - "YES And!" - to succeed in life and business for the last 10 years. In the world of improvisation, "YES, And" means accepting whatever is being given to you, and then responding and building on that reality. Most of us live life in denial – saying "no" to reality. This leads to a life unfulfilled and lived in fear. Living "YES, And" is about accepting and embracing everything that is happening – even the bad stuff! Why? Because good or bad, the only way to move forward is by facing it and moving through it. As a professional public speaker and coach, Travis has trained thousands of people and dozens of organizations like the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, University of Georgia Football, US Soccer, Gatorade, PepsiCo., and Under Armour on the principles of improvisation and how developing a "YES, And" mindset will help create an engaged, creative, collaborative, and healthier life and workplace. CONNECT WITH TRAVIS:

• Website: http://liveyesand.com
• Instagram: @liveyesand
• Twitter: @LiveYesAnd
• Facebook: Live Yes, And
• LinkedIn: Travis Thomas
• Youtube: Travis Thomas

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With today's news cycles, it's easy to feel overwhelmed with the troubles going on in our world. Where do we even start? How do we even scratch the surface of helping? What do we do? What can one person do to make a difference in some of the world's biggest problems? It does not have to be complicated. It doesn't have to be hard. You can make a difference! You can make a change! This isn't just some fluffy, woo-woo talk, you really can make an impact. My guest this week is Kristi Porter, the founder of Signify. Kristi helps small nonprofits and for-profits with a social mission get noticed and grow through effective marketing and communications, She also teaches solopreneurs and small businesses how to incorporate philanthropy and giving strategies so they can leverage their resources and influence to make a positive impact. Today's conversation is absolutely incredible; Kristi and I personally tackle some pretty tough issues: human trafficking, racism, religion, our faith. It's a lot, but it's oh so good! You're going to love it! INSPIRATION IS ALL AROUND YOU When Kristi felt the call to be more involved and make an impact, searching for jobs on the internet just didn't cut it. She knew she wanted to be heavily involved, whether it was through one big organizations or many small organizations. When Kristi realized that many owners of small businesses needed help in the marketing and communications department, she knew she had found a way to make her mark. Kristi and I talk about how the biggest inspirations can come from the little things in your life. ANTI-TRAFFICKING Kristi and I are similar in many ways, including our passion for preventing human trafficking. Kristi had always had been drawn to the issues of slavery because of the history of slavery in the Bible and around the time of Abraham Lincoln, but had no idea that people today were facing these hardships as well. Kristi and I talk about how our independence led to our involvement in the anti-trafficking movement. CHRISTIANITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE Lucky for me, Kristi was comfortable to get a little uncomfortable and we were able to talk about christians' role in social justice. These days, christians and the christian church tend to take a backseat when it comes to the social justice movement and they should be doing better! Looking at the Bible, Jesus stood for social justice and was meeting the needs of those who needed help most, something that christians should be striving to do also. Kristi and I discuss why we think the church is struggling in the social justice movement. About Kristi Porter, Founder of Signify: Kristi Porter believes in using her skills, talents, and influence to do good wherever she can. As a self-described #wordnerd, she is often assisting small nonprofits and for-profits with a social mission in their marketing and communications efforts, primarily through copywriting and marketing strategy consulting. Kristi also teaches solopreneurs and small businesses how to incorporate philanthropy and giving strategies so they can actively participate in the issues they care about too. She believes that cause-focused organizations are the future of business, and when they succeed, we all win. CONNECT WITH KRISTI:

• Website: https://www.signify.solutions
• Instagram: @kporter9876
• Twitter: @signifysolution
• Facebook: Signify Solutions
• Pinterest: WeSignify
• LinkedIn: Kristi Porter
• Facebook Group: Signifiers

LINKS FROM THE SHOW:

• Freebies Link: http://bit.ly/signifylisten
• Candy Shop Movie

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The entertainment industry is a tough industry. We hear all the time about entertainment industry professionals, actors, directors, musicians, producers, et cetera, who get burned out. They suffer from depression, struggle with hurting relationships, and so much more. But sometimes the entertainment industry can also connect people to doing good in a way they wouldn't be able to do otherwise. So many of those people end up doing incredible, philanthropic work around the world! Today's guest took his experience in the entertainment industry and actually left it to revolutionize the way philanthropy could be done. My guest this week is Liron Artzi, the founder and CEO of Utopi, a new platform that revolutionizes philanthropy, elevates live-streaming Blockchain technology, and integrates influencers and user generated content to transform our planet. Liron was an incredible guest, and make sure you listen till the end when he tells me about how he almost became the lead singer of one of the biggest rock bands of our generation! It's a crazy story and I know this is a conversation you'll love! THE AGE OF TRUST Liron recognized a need for a creative environment where Millennials and Gen Zers could be rewarded for their work and make an impact at the same time. Utopi utilizes Blockchain, which allows creators to use smart contracts, a digital contract that makes it easy to track exchanges. By making information concrete and unalterable, this platform is creating a sense of trust that wasn't there before. Liron and I chat about the age of trust and why this sense of security and efficiency is so important. RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME Everybody has a story, and Liron is no exception. With one of the most unique backgrounds I've ever come across, Liron will blow your mind with all his different experiences. From movie roles to publishing a magazine to singing in a rock band, his experiences built on each other to give Liron the knowledge and tools he needed to create a platform like Utopi. Liron explains his belief that everything happens for a reason. UTOPI IN PRACTICE With his mom working for non-profits for many years, creating change and making an impact has always been a priority for Liron. His passion for entertainment projects that educate and motivate led him to create a platform that merges letting creators help themselves with the want to help humanity. Liron and I talk about giving kids a unique platform to help others that wasn't available before and how Utopi is used in everyday life. About Liron Artzi, Founder and CEO of Utopi Liron Artzi is the Founder and CEO of Utopi. He has years of experience in media, entertainment, film and television. He has 20 years of experience working in all aspects of the entertainment industry. Liron's role in business development, corporate sponsorship and consulting allowed him to interact and work with major international brands. As Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing for Milestone Media Group, Liron Artzi launched and distributed the Warner Brothers DVD box collection set across Asia. He also sold the first English language picture to the Chinese market. As Vice President of London International Television in New York City, he produced and financed the Business Profile Series for CNBC, working with the CEOs of ING, Fortis Investments, Ford, Coca-Cola, Getty Museum, Umbro, Adidas-Salomon, and Nike. CONNECT WITH LIRON:

• Utopi Website
• Instagram: @artzilove
• Twitter: @utopi_io
• Facebook: Liron Artzi | Utopi
• LinkedIn: Liron Artzi

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With today's social media world and our abundance of information that's thrown our way, we can very easily get discouraged about the world around us. Sometimes we feel like there's so much hurt and sadness in the world, and we get overwhelmed, we feel like the apocalypse is nigh. But the truth is, it's just not true. Yes, there are bad things in the world, but there's also so much good, and there's so much room for good! There are so many people and businesses changing and impacting lives, and sometimes the space between a person's success or failure when it comes to doing good is just a matter of support or education or access to the right resources. The fact is, we cannot change the world on our own. We were made to do it in community. My guest this week is Kathleen Kelly Janus, an award-winning social entrepreneur, author, and lecturer at Stanford University. As an expert on philanthropy, millennial engagement, and scaling early-stage organizations, her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Stanford Social Innovation Review, TechCrunch, and the San Francisco Chronicle. She is the co-founder of Spark, the largest network of millennial donors in the world. Based in the heart of Silicon Valley, her book Social Startup Success features best practices for early-stage, nonprofit organizations based on a 5 year research project interviewing hundreds of top-performing social entrepreneurs. Kathleen is one of those people that I instantly felt smarter just by talking with her. But in all seriousness, her passion is infectious and I loved my chat with Kathleen, and I know you will too!

RISE OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP More and more companies these days are developing social impact programs, and for good reason. According to Kathleen, 85% of millennials ask about a company's social impact program before taking a job, which is changing the role of business in the social sphere. Kathleen explains why she believes that soon all entrepreneurship will be in pursuit of the greater good.

GETTING KIDS INVOLVED From an early age, both Kathleen and I were raised on the idea of helping others, which has driven us to instill the same values in our own kiddos. Children understand so much more than we give them credit for, and explaining the realities of the ways other people live is so important in kids' growth. Kathleen and I talk about how philanthropy plays a role in our own kids' lives.

SHARING THE STORY At so many fundraising events, I see too much focus on raising money for a cause and not enough focus on the cause itself. Kathleen brings up the idea that in order to to build a movement, an organization must be able to tell a story. Organizations so often fail in this area, skipping the details or leaving out the passions and the personal connections are a part of the cause. The organizations who focus on the community and tell a good story are always the best organizations.

About Kathleen Kelly Janus, Co-founder of Spark and Author of Social Startup Success: Kathleen Kelly Janus is an award-winning social entrepreneur, author and lecturer at Stanford University. As an expert on philanthropy, millennial engagement and scaling early stage organizations, her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Stanford Social Innovation Review, TechCrunch and the San Francisco Chronicle. She is the co-founder of Spark, the largest network of millennial donors in the world. Based in the heart of the Silicon Valley, her forthcoming book, Social Startup Success, features best practices for early stage nonprofit organizations based on a five-year research project interviewing hundreds of top-performing social entrepreneurs. About Social Startup Success: What Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus is calling an "important catalyst for training the next generation of social entrepreneurs on how to change the world," Social Startup Success: How the Best Nonprofits Launch, Scale Up and Make a Difference, by Stanford lecturer and Spark Co-Founder Kathleen Kelly Janus, is a guidebook for how to achieve breakthrough impact in the nonprofit sector. For the past five years, Janus has traveled the country visiting the founders, leadership teams, and funders of dozens social entrepreneurs, both newcomers and veterans in the field, including the leaders of Teach for America, City Year, DonorsChoose and charity:water. The book features her findings, detailing best practices for testing ideas, measuring impact, funding experimentation, leading collectively and storytelling with purpose. Social Startup Success is a social entrepreneurship's essential playbook; the first definitive guide to solving the problem of nonprofit scale. CONNECT WITH KATHLEEN:

• Spark Website
• Kathleen's Website
• Social Startup Success
• Twitter: @kkellyjanus
• Facebook: Kathleen Kelly Janus
• LinkedIn: Kathleen Kelly Janus

Special thanks to CAUSEBOX for sponsoring this week's Business with Purpose podcast. Use coupon code MOLLY for $15 off! Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/

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I'm always amazed when I meet someone who has taken a trial, struggle, hardship, or some adversity in their life and used it to change and impact their community or the world. So often, when tough stuff happens to us or when life hands us a really huge, massive lemon, we use that to sit and throw ourselves a pity party. But when we flip that on its head and instead use that hardship for good, it's amazing what we can accomplish! My guests on the Business with Purpose podcast this week are Ben & Laura Harrison, founders of Jonas Paul Eyewear, a children's eyewear company focusing on creative, fashion-forward eyewear for kids. Their brand was inspired by their son Jonas after he was born with a rare eye disease. As they were on the hunt looking for stylish eyewear for their son, they noticed the limited options and decided to create their own brand of eyewear that inspires confidence in children. Through their pain and suffering, they have impacted thousands of children. They were blessed to be only a few hours away from some of the best eye care in the world that has helped provide Jonas with some sight. In return, they have turned their blessing into helping kids in undeveloped countries in the need of sight. With each purchase, they help provide sight to children in need. For being a little over 4 years old, they have impacted over 30,000 kids around the world. This is an incredible conversation I know you're going to love! [click_to_tweet tweet=""I felt like there was a gap in the market for more stylish glasses that kids actually got excited about wearing and that was my long-term mission, was to make glasses cool." @jonaspaulframes" quote=""I felt like there was a gap in the market for more stylish glasses that kids actually got excited about wearing and that was my long-term mission, was to make glasses cool." @jonaspaulframes"] CONFIDENCE THROUGH STYLE Many people need glasses to see, yet there is such a lack of stylish glasses, especially for kids. As Ben and Laura began to search for glasses for Jonas, Ben was reminded of his own struggles with glasses when he was a kid. The stigma around glasses paired with an unstylish pair of children's glasses can create many bullying opportunities, something Ben and Laura hope to change through Jonas Paul Eyewear. We talk about making glasses cool and how a little confidence can change a life. [click_to_tweet tweet=""When you create a really empowering, exciting brand and also have that impact piece, kids get really excited about it and I love the thought of them walking into school the first day with their glasses and they're so excited about it.' @jonaspaulframes" quote=""When you create a really empowering, exciting brand and also have that impact piece, kids get really excited about it and I love the thought of them walking into school the first day with their glasses and they're so excited about it.' @jonaspaulframes"] PREVENTING AND PROVIDING Part of what makes Jonas Paul Eyewear special is their give-back component. Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable childhood blindness and through their Buy Sight, Give Sight program, Ben and Laura donate Vitamin A supplements to prevent childhood blindness in the developing world. They also donate their own glasses to various ministries and school programs to provide sight to those in need. Ben and Laura explain why they choose to give back and the importance of something as small as Vitamin A. STARTING FROM SCRATCH When Ben and Laura started their life together, they never thought they would have started a business like Jonas Paul Eyewear. Going from wedding photographers to creating medical devices was a huge jump for the couple that took a lot of hard work and trial and error. Ben, Laura, and I talk about the process of starting Jonas Paul Eyewear and why being open to change is so important. About Ben & Laura Harrison, Founders of Jonas Paul Eyewear: Jonas Paul Eyewear was founded by Ben and Laura Harrison and inspired by the birth of their son, Jonas Paul. Jonas was born with a rare disorder, Peter's Anomaly, that caused opacified corneas and glaucoma. Despite being blind at birth, Jonas Paul now has low vision thanks to 21 surgeries and the dedication of his loving parents. As Ben and Laura searched for fashionable eyeglasses for their son, they grew increasingly frustrated at the limited options for children. The Harrisons decided to leave their careers to launch Jonas Paul Eyewear with the mission of helping children feel beautiful in their glasses and providing sight to children in need with every purchase. Since its founding in 2013, the company has been featured on NBC Nightly News and NBC Today Show, The Wall Street Journal, and Huffington Post. Jonas Paul Eyewear has garnered numerous awards for its social responsibility and design. Jonas Paul's refined, sophisticated look empowers children to feel confident and parents to be socially responsible with their eyewear purchases. The Harrison's are thankful that they have been given the opportunity to make a broad social impact while, at the same time, helping kids all over the world look incredibly dapper. CONNECT WITH BEN & LAURA:

• Jonas Paul Eyewear Website
• Buy Sight, Give Sight Program
• Jonas Paul Eyewear NBC News Feature
• Instagram: @jonaspauleyewear
• Twitter: @jonaspaulframes
• Facebook: Jonas Paul Eyewear

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Today's episode is a little different than usual, and I loved it. I know that I have a lot of listeners who are not entrepreneurs. You're in the corporate world, or you're a student, or you're an employee, or you're in a job that you just cannot stand and you're looking to change jobs or find a job where you can serve on a team that utilizes your gifts. You're looking for a job with purpose and meaning and you just don't know where to start. Well, we've got you covered today! My guest this week is Mac Prichard, founder and president of Prichard Communications and Mac's List. Mac is the proud owner of two registered B Corporations and he is so passionate about helping others find their dream job that allows them to make a sustainable living while doing good in the world. Today's episode has something for literally everyone in it and I know you're going to love it! B CORPS BROKEN DOWN Benefit Corporations, or B Corps, are huge in the ethical world, but many people don't know the significance of this type of business. With over 2,500 B Corps across the world, these businesses aren't just trying to make a profit, they are used to better the community and the environment. Mac breaks down what it takes to become a B Corp and how these businesses manage the triple bottom line. THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET So many people who are unemployed or feel stuck in a job are looking to pursue something that has meaning and purpose. Yet, it can be very difficult to find a job to fulfill these needs just by looking through job boards. Most great positions are never advertised and are found only in the hidden job market through word of mouth. Mac and I discuss why some people struggle to find jobs in the hidden job market and how you can learn to find them. BUILDING CONNECTIONS Creating relationships is key in all aspects of life, but so many dread the thought of networking. However, people's idea of being successful at networking events is often very different than how to actually be successful at networking events. Mac and I chat about playing up your strengths to make networking more bearable and the importance of authentic conversation, listening, and asking questions when building connections. About Mac Prichard, founder and president of Prichard Communications and Mac's List: Mac Prichard is the founder and publisher of Mac's List, an online community for people looking for rewarding, creative, and meaningful work. More than 80,000 people a month visit the site, which includes a job board, a blog, and coursed about the nuts and bolts of job hunting and career management. A leading career expert, Mac helps people who are looking for a job during all of life's transitions: millennials getting a first job, midlife professionals switching sectors, parents getting back to work after raising a family, or baby boomers who want to change careers. Mac is proud to own two registered B-Corp companies, which use the power of markets to solve social and environmental problems. He is the author of Land Your Dream Job Anywhere and hosts the weekly podcast, Find Your Dream Job. CONNECT WITH MAC

• Mac's List Website
• Prichard Communications Website
• Instagram: @macs_list
• Twitter: @mac_prichard | @macs_list
• Facebook: Mac Prichard | Mac's List
• LinkedIn: Mac's List

Special thanks to CAUSEBOX for sponsoring this week's Business with Purpose podcast. Use coupon code MOLLY for $15 off!

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One of the things I love most about ethical and fair trade fashion is telling the stories behind the companies that make these beautiful things. That's basically why I started this podcast, so you could hear the stories behind the brands doing these amazing things! But what I love even more is when I'm out somewhere and someone says "Oh I love that gorgeous necklace" or "That shirt is incredible, where did you get it?" and I get to tell the story behind the gorgeous piece. But it's not like they knew that piece was made by artisans or is changing the world somehow. They just knew it was beautiful and wanted to know where I got it, but the fact that it has a story behind it means that much more. My guest on the Business with Purpose podcast this week is Manish Gupta, founder of Matr Boomie, a fair trade brand that produces some of the most beautiful jewelry and hand-crafted goods that works with INCREDIBLY talented artisans in India. I have been a big fan of Matr Boomie for quite some time and was honored to hear Manish's story and hear about how they got started. This is such a great conversation and you're going to learn so much! EMPOWERING ARTISANS When ethical brands try to sell products, it is easy to make the products too much about the story of the artisans and not the art itself. Manish and I discuss how he lets the products lead while still empowering the artisans behind the products. By viewing the artisans as partners and not as a charity, Manish avoids "pity sales" and lets the amazingly beautiful products speak for themselves. FAIR-TRADE CERTIFIED In today's world, the term "fair trade" is thrown around quite often while few companies are actually fair-trade certified. It is so much harder for craft products to be certified due to the complex nature of supply chains. However, some businesses are Fair Trade Certified by the Fair Trade Federation, meaning they follow ethical practices. Manish explains the intense review companies like his own have to go through to become certified and the principles they have to follow. POWER OF CONSUMERS As consumers in the US, we are so far away from where many products are being made and it is easy to say we don't know the processes and ignore the problem. Manish and I discuss how consumers need to take ownership about what they're buying in this day and age. Consumers make a huge impact and can make brands more conscious just by asking them how products are made. A change in consumers' spending habits will force businesses to pay attention and make a change. About Manish Gupta, Founder of Matr Boomie: On a trip back to his native India after years living in the United States, Manish Gupta was struck anew by the extreme material poverty of his homeland. With deep respect for the rich culture and potential of rural Indians, he began asking questions. After hundreds of conversations and even more glasses of tea, Manish realized that he had a role to play — that he could bridge these two seemingly disparate worlds. He started partnering with grassroots organizations to transform unskilled women and men into master artisans. He personally ensured that the materials were safe for people and kind to the land. With the help of his mother and sister, Manish established a team in India to guarantee clear, efficient communications and high-quality production. He gathered a team in Austin, Texas, to design collections that entice Westerners while honoring the culture, craft and capacity of Indian artisans. And along the way, he married a beautiful, inspiring Indian designer, Ruchi, who quickly became his partner in life, love and business. Nearly a decade later, the little company run out of Manish and Ruchi's Austin apartment has grown into a leading fair trade wholesaler and innovator in ethical, sustainable business. CONNECT WITH MANISH:

• Matr Boomie Website
• Matr Boomie Blog
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matrboomie/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/matrboomie
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MatrBoomie/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fairtraders

Special thanks to CAUSEBOX for sponsoring this week's Business with Purpose podcast. Use coupon code MOLLY for $15 off!

Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/

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Figuring out what to make for dinner each week can be so stressful, especially with work, and kids, and life. That time of day can be MISERABLE, and takes everything out of you just to get food on the table. A few years ago, my friends and I actually started a monthly Freezer Meal Party, where we gather and we cook freezer meals, and then we swap them. So, we have easy meals ready to go throughout the week or month. This has been such a lifesaver for me and my friends, and honestly it's become such a joy to just gather with them each month. Getting to talk about freezer meals, and community, and the importance of the dinner table on the podcast, well this was an episode I couldn't wait to do!

ON THIS WEEK'S BUSINESS WITH PURPOSE PODCAST EPISODE My guest on the Business with Purpose podcast this week is Polly Conner, the co-author of The Thriving Home blog, and From Freezer to Table, the freezer meal cookbook. I have been following Polly for quite some time, and I was so excited to do this interview. We have the BEST time chatting, and clearly could be best friends in real life, and I really just loved hearing her heart behind the blog, and the cookbook, and we even talking about internet trolls. Also, be sure to head on over to my Instagram, as we'll be giving away a copy of From Freezer to Table. We laughed, we cried, we talked about all the things, so we hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!

BALANCE Balancing motherhood, working, and taking care of the family can be exhausting at times. In this episode, Polly and I discuss what real balance looks like and how to most women, this can be an unspoken battle. Balancing the kids and cooking dinner can make 4pm-7pm the real STRUGGLE. Polly's Freezer Meals approach allows mothers to, "free your time, be more present, and be more hands on. Be available for your people."

FRIENDSHIPS AND THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY The need for real, honest friendships is so necessary throughout many stages of life. Being new to motherhood, and coming out of working a full-time job can leave women feeling lonely. When life gets demanding, it's important to be intentional in creating space for community. Gathering around the table is not just important in our own families, but with friends and other loved ones who can be each other's support system in times of need.

VULNERABILITY Being a blogger, author, or even just person on the internet often exposes us to much criticism (we've all dealt with the trolls,) but also allows us to really make an impact with our words. Polly and I discuss what writing, blogging, and the community we've built online means to us, and how privileged we feel to have a platform to be vulnerable and real with our audience.

About Polly Conner, Co-Author of From Freezer to Table: Polly is a wife and mother of three little ones. She refers to herself as a "high-tech grandma," because she enjoys the typical hobbies of a grandma - crafting, sewing, knitting, baking, and slipper-wearing - but have the skills of techie. As a woman constantly in a state of nesting, Polly has grown to love being at home and finding ways to be resourceful. A few years ago, Polly and her friend Rachel, came together to start a blog with the mission of helping families to thrive. Together, they recently authored From Freeze to Table as a resource for busy mothers to be efficient in their homes, community, and lives, while still valuing the importance of time at the dinner table. CONNECT WITH POLLY:

• Thriving Home Website
• Use code MollyPolly1982 for 50% off Table Talk Cards from their store
• From Freeze to Table Freezer Meal Cookbook
• https://www.facebook.com/thrivinghomeblog/
• https://www.instagram.com/thrivinghome/
• https://www.pinterest.com/polly827401/

Special thanks to CAUSEBOX for sponsoring this week's Business with Purpose podcast. Use coupon code MOLLY for $15 off!

Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/

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Have you ever spent time cleaning out your closet, and you take all of your valuable clothes that you spent good money on, and you haul that stuff to your local consignment store or like Plato's Closet or Clothes Mentor and you are excited for how much money they're going to give you… and then suddenly the wind has been taken out of your sails when they want to offer you like $3 for your $180 J.Crew blazer? Or $5 for that $250 Coach bag? Yeah, I've experienced that a time or 12… well, what if there was a way to clean out your closet AND get what the items are actually worth… AND also get new stuff sent right to your doorstep???

My guests on the Business with Purpose podcast this week are Janet Wu and Erin Wold, the founders of Silkroll… a GENIUS startup that is essentially a fashion exchange program for high end clothing and accessories… Really… I was so excited for this interview and I'm so pumped about what Silkroll is doing (you can tell how excited I am throughout the interview! HAHA!)... Enjoy this episode!

About Janet Wu & Erin Wold of Silkroll:

SilkRoll was founded by Janet Wu, who spent 10 years developing her style and taste in fashion while working around the world as an investment banker. Her lucrative career allowed her to create the closet of her dreams, but left her always wanting more… With a wealth of financial knowledge, Janet took a risk and became the CFO of a cleantech startup and eventually moved to San Francisco where her entire high-end wardrobe became obsolete. Every day she looked at the fashion she loved but no longer wore and was unsatisfied with the options to purge this valuable collection. She contemplated, "how can I keep the value of this fashion and share it with someone who would appreciate my style?" On the 4th of July, 2015, Janet shared her idea with Erin Wold. Erin always dreamed of owning this kind of fashion but with an abundance of student loan debt her ability to invest in high-quality fashion was limited. By this time, Erin had already spent 4 years in operations at a startup that was in skyrocket growth mode, so she knew her expertise in scaling operations was as valuable as this idea, she became Janet's co-founder. As they began building SilkRoll, friends connected them to a renowned photographer, San Francisco's Best of the Best: Gavin Farrington. His tech background, professional edge, and passion for automation & perfection make SilkRoll's products appear so desirable online that customers can realize the real value that their style deserves!

CONNECT WITH SILKROLL:

• Silkroll Website
• https://www.facebook.com/silkroll
• https://www.instagram.com/silkroll
• https://twitter.com/SilkRollSF
• https://www.pinterest.com/silkroll

Special thanks to CAUSEBOX for sponsoring this week's Business with Purpose podcast. Use coupon code MOLLY for $15 off!

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 Google Play
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**Want to know how to leave a review of the Business with Purpose Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or iPad?

1. 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.
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Have you ever thought that you're at a place in your life where it's too late to start over? Sometimes I feel like we get to a certain age (an age that doesn't actually really exist) and we think that we are stuck doing what we are doing forever. We think that if we aren't successful doing something by age…. let's day 28! Then we are STUCK. It's never too late. I mean, Morgan Freeman was 52 when he got his first leading role in a movie… and now we see Morgan Freeman do everything! Vera Wang decided she wanted to be a designer… at age 40! Ray Kroc didn't open his first McDonald's until after he turned 50. This just goes to show it is NEVER too late to pursue something you believe in…

My guest this week is Steven Wallace, author of OBRONI AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and founder of Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company, the first beyond fair trade, "single-origin" chocolate in Ghana. I LOVED chatting with Steven because, let's be honest, I love chocolate, and also because this is an area that I honestly do not know a lot about and I was so eager and ready to learn from Steven's experiences… You're going to LOVE this one…

About Steven: Steven Wallace, Founder/President of The Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company. Omanhene is the first company to sustain exports of premium chocolate manufactured entirely in Africa. Omanhene is credited with producing the world's first single-origin chocolate bar in 1994 and with creating an entirely new chocolate category (dark milk chocolate). Omanhene's entrepreneurial accomplishments and path-breaking business model have been recognized by President Jimmy Carter, former ambassador Shirley Temple Black and the United Nations Global Compact. He was selected as one of the inaugural TED Fellows in 2007. He is a featured subject in the book, "Food Heroes" by Georgia Pellegrini and features prominently in the book "Chocolate Nations" by Orla Ryan. He is the author of "Obroni and the Chocolate Factory: An Unlikely Story of Globalization and Ghana's First Gourmet Chocolate Bar" (2017, Skyhorse Publishing). Wallace first came to the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana as a high school foreign exchange student during the summer of 1978. (He lived with a traditional Ghanaian family, which consisted of a host father and his three wives and 21 children.) He founded Omanhene at the age of 29. Wallace often speaks on economic development, cross-cultural issues and the challenges of starting a gourmet food business in Africa. He delivered a TEDx talk in Accra and has served as a guest panelist at the US State Department sponsored African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum in Accra, Ghana. Wallace frequently speaks at public events and universities including Brown, Princeton, The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, The University of Michigan Graduate School of Business and Northwestern University. Wallace is a founding partner in NuMedika, a patient-centric telemedicine platform specifically designed for the African continent. Previously, Wallace worked in broadcasting in the newsroom of WMAL-AM 63, a networkowned radio station in Washington, DC and then as an attorney with the boutique tax law firm of Silverstein & Mullens in Washington, DC. He later served as the vice-president of Midstates Sportswear. He served as vice-chair of the board of directors of AFS-USA, Inc. and on the board of trustees of AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. the largest volunteer student exchange organization in the world. AFS has been instrumental in the US State Department's YES program bringing young people from countries with Muslim populations to the US to spend a year with a US family and attend a US high school. Wallace holds a bachelor's degree in History magna cum laude (Phi Beta Kappa) from Brown University and a juris doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School. Mr. Wallace is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He lives in Whitefish Bay, WI. For more information, see www.omanhene.com.

Connect with Steven:

• https://www.omanhene.com/
• https://twitter.com/OmanheneChoc
• https://www.facebook.com/OmanheneIsMadeFromTheBestCocoaInTheWorldPeriod/
• Buy Steven's Book

Special thanks to CAUSEBOX for sponsoring this week's Business with Purpose podcast. Use coupon code MOLLY for $15 off!

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 Google Play
• 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. 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.