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Capitalism came into fruition when the world was full of seemingly inexhaustible resources. But as we know, this is no longer the case. Climate change is threatening how we do business, and some businesses are fighting right back. 

Consumers in today’s markets are increasingly aware of corporate transgressions. We’re tired of seeing an economic system that rewards corporate behavior at the expense of other people and our shared planet.

One way we’re seeing a shift in the global economy is through sustainable capitalism and the B Corp movement. Professor and author Chris Marquis is proving that capitalism doesn’t have to be all bad, it can be a force for good when adjusted through the lens of sustainable businesses.

Chris spoke on the Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast about how the B Corp movement is integral to shifting businesses towards social good and how much progress they’ve made in the last decade for a more equitable, livable future.

In our Episode with Chris, we discuss: 

• The B Corp Movement and how it changed Chris's perceptions of corporate social responsibility.
• The differences between corporate social responsibility and a B Corp. 
• The evolution and future of capitalism as it relates to the B Corp Movement and sustainability. 
• How changing the way businesses operate can help change the world. 

Links from the Episode:

• Chris Marquis on LinkedIn and Twitter
• Better Business: How the B Corp Movement Is Remaking Capitalism by Chris Marquis 
• The Value of Everything and The Entrepreneurial State by Maria Mosacato
• Allbirds 
• The B Corp Directory

Full Show Notes & Episode Bonuses:

https://growensemble.com/sustainable-capitalism/

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This episode originally aired in December 2019. You can find the full episode & show notes here: 

https://growensemble.com/reduce-recidivism/

Almost 2.3 million people are in correctional facilities and 5 million formerly incarcerated people live in the United States. All too often, incarcerated people are left ill-equipped to reenter society without falling into the same conditions that contributed to their initial imprisonment: unemployment, poverty, violence, and dependency. 

The unemployment rate of previously incarcerated individuals, no matter the offense, is 5x higher than the general population. The effects of incarceration expand beyond one individual as well. Seventy percent of children who have incarcerated parents end up
“in the system” and develop criminal records themselves as well. 

Defy Ventures is making a difference by prioritizing sustainable solutions for ex-criminals through the lens of entrepreneurship. 

By working with prisoners prior to their release and providing intentional programming that sets them up for success in the workforce, Defy Ventures is lowering the recidivism rate and giving the formerly incarcerated population the tools they need to break the cycle of imprisonment.

In our Episode with Andrew, we discuss: 

• The causes of recidivism and the systemic issues behind mass incarceration
• How Defy Ventures is helping to reduce recidivism through education programs, employment, and giving access to resources

Links from the Episode:

• Defy Ventures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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Just shy of Antarctica, Patagonia proudly possesses grasslands, deserts, glacial fjords, and rainforests. Patagonia’s vast and remote nature doesn’t deter visitors. Instead, many flock to the edge of the continent to visit the famous Torres del Paine National Park or the crystal clear Chilean lakes. The changing needs of this vibrant area have led to a shift in land use, with more developers building up and agricultural land expanding. 

To ensure that the biodiversity, environmental quality, and accessibility of Chile’s Northern Patagonian Lakes remains strong for both inherent environmental value and tourism, Chile Lagos Limpios (ChLL) is bridging the gap between the community, the developers, and the government. ChLL uses data to inform decision-making at the highest level. By integrating sustainable economic development into the region’s pristine wonders, ChLL hopes to preserve the lake system before it becomes a dire situation, as Lake Tahoe did in the 1960s due to rapid development, harming the socio-economic welfare of the entire area. 

In our Episode with Fernando, we discuss

• The development of his nonprofit, Chile Limpios Lagos (ChLL). 
• How the work of ChLL is addressing sustainable economic development and incorporating all stakeholders into the ecosystem. 
• The relationship between Lake Tahoe and the Patagonian Lakes. 
• Why everyone benefits from clean and healthy water. 

Links from the Episode:

• Chile Limpios Lagos on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, & Facebook 
• Fernando on LinkedIn 
• The Tao of Leadership by John Heider
•  

Full Show Notes & Episode Bonuses:

https://growensemble.com/sustainable-economic-development/

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As a wise, mustached, orange creature once said, “I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues”. You may recall the famed Lorax, from the imagination of Dr. Seuss. He was right, trees are critically important to the health and wealth of our shared planet but have no voice in how they’re used. 

There are so many benefits of trees, across all sectors. Trees are important not only to the environment but also to society and the economy. These are some of the reasons that Derrick Emsley, CEO and Co-founder of tentree, started his company. tentree isn’t an apparel company that plants trees, they’re a tree planting company that sells apparel.

In our Episode with Derrick, we discuss:

• tentree's founding story and their goal to plant one billion trees by 2030.
• How tentree operates with organizations around the world to plant trees that have a positive impact on the environment and local communities. 
• How this Certified B Corp uses ethical manufacturing and sustainable materials to combat the fast fashion industry.

Links from the Episode: 

• tentree on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• The Messy Middle by Scott Belsky
• Patagonia 
• Bombas

Full Show Notes & Episode Bonuses:

https://growensemble.com/importance-of-trees 

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This episode originally aired in January 2020. You can find the full episode & show notes here: 

https://growensemble.com/shea-yeleen-rahama-wright/

More than 1.5 million nonprofits operate in the United States, but they’re not the only organizations doing good! Social enterprises use a market-driven approach to solve social and environmental problems as well. Oftentimes, these socially responsible companies are doing just as much good as their nonprofit brethren.

Rahama Wright, founder and CEO of Shea Yeleen, is quite familiar with how nonprofits and social enterprises function to bring about change as she has run both in order to improve the lives of female workers in the African shea industry.

While both nonprofits and social enterprises yield measurable impact for their causes, there are some key differences that separate the two. Rahama spoke about her experiences and transitions with Shea Yeleen, her business that produces ethical shea butter skin care products, on the Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Podcast. 

In our Episode with Rahama, we discuss

• How Rahama started Shea Yeleen 
• Rahama's journey from nonprofit to social enterprise
• How Shea Yeleen is working to empower women in the shea industry

Links from the Episode:

• Shea Yeleen on Twitter, Instagram
• Rahama on LinkedIn, Instagram
• B-Corp
• Net Impact

Connect with Grow Ensemble on Social:

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• LinkedIn

📄 Full Show Notes & Episode Bonuses

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How do you start your day? Unplug your phone, start the coffee maker, cook some breakfast, watch the news, maybe start some laundry? 

It’s often hard to connect the dots between these everyday actions and climate change. But until we convert our energy systems to renewables, flipping the lights on, driving to work, or flying across the world unfortunately does mean contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. 

The good news? You can neutralize your carbon emissions through carbon offsetting! Carbon offsetting is the process of paying to support a project that will sink as much carbon as you emit. Carbon offsetting encourages consumers to be accountable for their impact on the environment and pay the true cost of their goods and services. 

If the world of carbon offsetting is confusing to you, you’re not alone. Carbon offsetting can be an effective way to combat climate change and account for individual behaviors that would otherwise negatively impact the environment, and so it’s important to understand how it works and how to discern the best services available.

Carbonbase is a young platform that flips the overly complicated world of carbon offsetting into a digestible and frankly, fun experience for consumers. By taking a quick quiz, you can easily start your journey to carbon neutrality and be connected to impactful carbon-sinking projects around the globe. Cory spoke with Max and Elliot on the Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Podcast to learn more about the community they’re building to fight climate change.

In our Episode with Max and Elliot, we discuss

• What is carbon offsetting?
• How did Max & Elliot develop Carbonbase?
• What differentiates Carbonbase from other carbon offsetting companies?

Links from the Episode:

• Carbonbase on Twitter and LinkedIn  
• Cory and Annie’s episode on the Carbonbase Podcast
• Pale Blue Dot by Anne Druyan and Carl Sagan

📄 Full Show Notes & Episode Bonuses

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Oregon’s most diverse wine growing region has been 200 million years in the making. Two-thirds of the wine made in Oregon is grown and bottled in a geologically rich area, nourished by a delicate balance of rain and sun: the Willamette Valley.

More than 700 wineries call the seemingly magical Willamette Valley home, which stretches 150 miles between Eugene and Portland, loosely following the Willamette River and holding the state capital of Salem. One winery with a particularly rich history in the Willamette is owned and operated by the Brooks family. 

Portland native Jimi Brooks lived in the Beaujolais region of France after college to learn the intricate art of winemaking. Upon his return to the states, it was Jimi’s dream to open a winery that represented his own commitments to both land stewardship and excellent wine. 

Although Jimi passed in 2004 shortly after establishing Brooks Winery in 1998, the winery serves as his living legacy. The Brooks community banded together in the wake of this tragedy and continues to produce wine in Jimi’s signature style. Jimi’s sister Janie spoke with us on the Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast about how she led the charge to make Brooks the first winery to become a B Corporation, Certified Biodynamic, and member of 1% For the Planet all in her brother’s honor.

In our Episode with Janie, we discuss

• The history of Brooks Winery
• How Janie worked to make Brooks a Certified Biodyanmic Winery, a 1% For the Planet Member, and the first winery to become a B-Corp
• The relationship between farming, ecology, and delicious wines and why they practice Biodynamic farming
• Why Oregon is one of the best wine-growing regions in the U.S.

Links from the Episode:

• Brooks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube
• Brooks Wine Club 
• Brooks Virtual Wine Tasting
• American Wine Story 
• Kiss the Ground and the Kiss the Ground documentary 
• The Biggest Little Farm

Full Show Notes & Episode Bonuses:

https://growensemble.com/best-winery-oregon/

Connect with Grow Ensemble on Social:

• YouTube
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• LinkedIn
• Instagram

📄 Full Show Notes & Episode Bonuses

🌍Better World Weekly Newsletter

🎬Subscribe on YouTube

Oregon’s most diverse winegrowing region has been 200 million years in the making. Two-thirds of the wine made in Oregon is grown and bottled in a geologically rich area, nourished by a delicate balance of rain and sun: the Willamette Valley.

More than 700 wineries call the seemingly magical Willamette Valley home, which stretches 150 miles between Eugene and Portland, loosely following the Willamette River and holding the state capital of Salem. One winery with a particularly rich history in the Willamette is owned and operated by the Brooks family. 

Portland native Jimi Brooks lived in the Beaujolais region of France after college to learn the intricate art of winemaking. Upon his return to the states, it was Jimi’s dream to open a winery that represented his own commitments to both land stewardship and excellent wine. 

Although Jimi passed in 2004 shortly after establishing Brooks Winery in 1998, the winery serves as his living legacy. The Brooks community banded together in the wake of this tragedy and continues to produce wine in Jimi’s signature style. Jimi’s sister Janie spoke with us on the Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast about how she led the charge to make Brooks the first winery to become a B Corporation, Certified Biodynamic, and member of 1% For the Planet all in her brother’s honor.

In our Episode with Janie, we discuss

• The history of Brooks Winery
• How Janie worked to make Brooks a Certified Biodyanmic Winery, a 1% For the Planet Member, and the first winery to become a B-Corp
• The relationship between farming, ecology, and delicious wines and why they practice Biodynamic farming
• Why Oregon is one of the best wine-growing regions in the U.S.

Links from the Episode:

• Brooks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube
• Brooks Wine Club 
• Brooks Virtual Wine Tasting

📄 Full Show Notes & Episode Bonuses

🌍Better World Weekly Newsletter

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Regenerative medicine, regenerative design, regenerative therapy, regenerative agriculture, and yes, even regenerative business! What do all of these things have in common?

They’re bound by the idea that by tuning into the interdependence of systems, we can flourish into a new way of being that’s more resilient and beneficial for everyone. 

Carol Sanford is a leader in both regenerative business and, as her latest award-winning book describes, The Regenerative Life.

By treating all aspects of a company as a living system with stakeholders, Carol unlocks growth potential and helps create companies that exceed innovation by being so flexible and strong that they’re incapable of being uprooted.

This is what we discuss in this episode with Carol Sanford.

Links from the Episode:

• Carol on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Medium
• The Regenerative Business 
• The Regenerative Business Development Community
• Wholeness and the Implicit Order by David Bohm

Full Show Notes & Episode Bonuses:

https://growensemble.com/regenerative-business/

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This episode originally aired in March 2020. You can find the full episode & show notes here: 

https://growensemble.com/keepcup-abigail-forsyth/

We welcome the Managing Director and Co-founder of KeepCup, Abigail Forsyth. KeepCup is known worldwide for its bright, bold, and instantly recognizable reusable cups that have diverted billions of disposable cups from the landfill. Abigail is extremely passionate about saving our environment having dedicated her time and effort to many ventures bringing awareness to the cause. 

In our episode with Abigail, we chat about:

• Her commitment to inspiring others to reduce and reuse
• KeepCup's 10 years in business milestone
• The current climate crisis, especially how it has impacted Australia with the recent bushfires
• Her dream of rehabilitating land affected by the fires
• The evolving role of KeepCup as they enter their second decade of business
• How success has impacted both her and the company

Links from the Episode:

• Abigail on LinkedIn
• KeepCup on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn
• “Australia Bushfires: A Signal to Act” by Abigail Forsyth
• “Our Hopes and Ambitions for the Next Decade” by Abigail Forsyth
• B-Labs (B-Corps)
• 1% for the Planet
• Abigail’s interview in Business Insider Australia
• The Mandibles by Lionel Shriver 
• The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman
• War on Waste

Full Show Notes & Episode Bonuses:

https://growensemble.com/keepcup-abigail-forsyth

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