Adam Davidson is one of the godfathers of podcasting, the cofounder of NPR’s Planet Money, and a longtime contributor to many popular podcasts including Freakonomics and This American Life. He has written for such esteemed publications as The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and the New York Times Magazine. He is also the author of The Passion Economy, a book that profiles entrepreneurs who have leveraged their passions to create meaningful work and build thriving businesses. In this episode, Adam shares some of the history of podcasting, explains the passion economy, and lends advice to Sascha on how to make a successful podcast.

Mentioned:
Planet Money
The Passion Economy
Freakonomics on AI

Jen Saxton is a serial entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Tot Squad, a baby services marketplace that connects new parents with health, wellness, and safety services— like car seat installation, babyproofing, doulas, sleep consultants, and more. In this episode, Jen talks to Sascha about building and selling her first company, how assuming the resiliency of “a cockroach” has helped keep her businesses alive in tumultuous times, and what she is most optimistic about moving forward.

Mentioned:
Tot Squad at Target
Tot Squad at Amazon

Kelly Brush is a mother, athlete, healthcare professional, and the inspirational leader behind the Kelly Brush Foundation (KBF)—an organization dedicated to making active and engaged lives a reality for those who have experienced a spinal cord injury. In 2006, Kelly crashed and injured her spinal cord while racing for the Middlebury College ski team. After undergoing rigorous rehabilitation for her new life in a wheelchair, Kelly and her family created the foundation—just months after her accident—as a way of channeling the support she received in her recovery and to share the power of sport for physical and mental health, confidence, and community building. In this podcast, Kelly shares her story and talks with Sascha about KBF’s aim to influence culture and how all humans are living adaptive lives.

Mentions:
Kelly Brush Foundation
“What Can a Body Do? By Sara Hendren

Nic Longo is the Director of Aviation at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV). In addition to being the busiest airport in Vermont (and New England’s fifth busiest and second busiest commercial service airport when it comes to landings and takeoffs), BTV is home to the F35s of the Green Mountain Boys (Vermont’s Air National Guard), the fast-growing start-up BETA Technologies, and, of course, the place where Mamava piloted our first lactation pods. In this episode Nic talks about his career path, optimistic leadership style, and approach to making this community-oriented airport a delightful user experience.

Mentioned:
Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport
BETA Technologies 

Roxanne Vought is the Executive Director of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR). VBSR is a statewide, nonprofit business association founded 34 years ago by a group of pioneering socially responsible businesses in Vermont, including Ben and Jerry’s and Gardener’s Supply Company. VBSR’s mission is to leverage the power of business for positive social and environmental impact. In this episode, Roxanne and Sascha talk about the evolution of the organization as corporate social responsibility has become more mainstream, where the B Corp movement intersects with VBSR, and how Roxanne leads in the face of radical change.

Mentioned:
Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility
B Corporations 

Michael Jager is the cofounder of the design studio Solidarity of Unbridled Labour. For more than 30 years, Michael has been designing and collaborating with international brands like Burton Snowboards, Xbox, and Patagonia. In this episode, Michael talks to Sascha about how his love for music became a love for art and inspired his career in multidisciplinary brand design, which includes building the Burton brand, and the origins of Mamava. Michael shares how his philosophy of Living Brand design was inspired by his roots growing up close to nature in rural Vermont. This episode is a master class for anyone interested in category-creating brand design, and the inevitability of needing to embrace change in business and life.

Mentioned:
Hard’ack Mountain 
Burton Snowboards
Solidarity of Unbridled Labour
No Bullshit Strategy by Alex M H Smith 

Claire Coder is the founder and CEO of Aunt Flow. Founded in 2016 when Claire was just 18, Aunt Flow supplies free-vend dispensers and 100% organic cotton menstrual products to businesses and schools to ensure that everyone has access to healthy, sustainable menstrual products wherever they are. Aunt Flow has implemented free period products in thousands of bathrooms and donated millions of tampons and pads. In this interview, Claire and Sascha talk about creating new business categories, “Flow Bros” and “Fairy Pod Fathers,” and what it feels like to be the Betty Crocker of menstruation.

Mentioned:
Stadiums that stock Aunt Flow
Menstrual Equity Legislation

content warning: swearing, 31:20-32:20

Raena Boston is the leader of the Working Momtras online community and a cofounder of the national nonprofit organization Chamber of Mothers. With a monthly reach of over 4 million, Chamber of Mothers champions the work of existing advocacy groups; educates mothers about the personal impact of politics; and encourages women to use their voices, dollars, and power to hold lawmakers accountable for the nexus of failed or nonexistent support systems for mothers. In this episode Raena talks to Sascha about the intersection of advocacy and parenthood, the need for care infrastructure in America, the power of storytelling, and what she is bodaciously optimistic about as a mother of three young children.

Raena Boston is a mother of three, seasoned HR professional, and a writer. She is also the co-founder of the national nonprofit organization, the Chamber of Mothers.

In 2020, Raena established The Working Momtras, an online community aimed at empowering mothers to break free from the pressures of motherhood and let go of the expectation to do it all. Within this community, she leads discussions on vital topics such as parental leave, childcare, and the challenges of working parenthood.
Raena is a prominent thought leader in the realm of working motherhood, paid leave, and childcare. Her insights have been featured on platforms such as Good Morning America, PBS Newshour, and Yahoo Life.

Mentioned:
The Chamber of Mothers

The Working Momtras

The Mamattorney, Daphney Delvaux

For The Bodacious Optimist’s inaugural podcast, coproducer Nicci Micco talks with the show’s host and Mamava cofounder Sascha Mayer about her path to making pods (both this show, and the lactation pods she invented). The episode focuses on how Sascha and cofounder Christine Dodson incubated the concept of freestanding lactation pods (the birth of Mamava) at the design studio where they worked, the power of design and brand to influence culture, and the challenges of creating an entirely new category and business from the ground up.

Sascha is a recognized expert on lactation space design, family-friendly workplace policies, and social entrepreneurial leadership.  Her career in design started at JDK (now Solidarity of Unbridled Labour) where as Strategy Director, Sascha designed and facilitated multidisciplinary creative collaborative sessions with brands including HP, Levi’s, Lululemon, Nike Women, and Seventh Generation. Prior to joining Solidarity, Sascha served as assistant press secretary for former Congressman (now Senator) Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Nicci Micco, Mamava’s Chief Marketing Officer, began her career as a magazine journalist and content creator, producing multi-platform health and lifestyle content for brands including EatingWell, SELF, Cooking Light, Men’s Health, and Glamour—and later working with health and wellness experts to architect lifestyle programs that help people live healthier, happier lives. Nicci is also a mom of two sporty teenagers and a yoga teacher.

Mentioned:
Michael Jager creative director of Solidarity of Unbridled Labour

Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Evolution  by Cat Bohannon

Mamava presents The Bodacious Optimist, hosted by Sascha Mayer. 

Episode 1 launches April 17, 2024.