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What if the best seats, the best perks, and the most exclusive brand offers weren’t reserved for people with the biggest wallets… but for people who did something genuinely good for their community?

That’s the world Lauren Scott-Harris is building with EARNT — a social impact platform that turns volunteering into a new kind of currency.

Born out of a very specific COVID-era disconnect (nurses and teachers relying on food banks while influencers unboxed endless freebies), EARNT flips the reward system on its head. Instead of brands handing perks to the loudest voices online, EARNT helps brands reward everyday people who show up: for a litter pick, a school repaint, a food bank shift, a community centre refurb — real work that makes communities better.

The result is what Lauren calls a “golden triangle”:

causes get volunteers, brands build deeper loyalty, and people get an “EARNT thank you” (an ETY) — exclusive perks unlocked through social good.

In this episode, Georgie Brown and Lauren Scott-Harris talk about:

• The moment that sparked EARNT — and why it felt urgent

• Why traditional volunteering doesn’t work for most people (and what “bite-sized” help changes)

• How brands can use their reach to mobilise communities in a way charities can’t

• “Late stage capitalism”, the collapse of community, and why people are craving purpose

• Why influencer marketing is starting to feel hollow — even when it works

• How EARNT works behind the scenes (brands, causes, consumers — and the ETY)

• The unexpected outcomes: new friendships, local reconnection… and even dating

• Lauren’s long-term vision: kindness as a “Strava for social good”

Whether you’ve been wanting to volunteer but can’t commit every Tuesday at 11… or you run a brand looking for a more meaningful loyalty play — this episode will change how you think about rewards, community, and what “value” really means.

Key Takeaways:

• Volunteering has a UX problem. Most people want to help — they just can’t commit to rigid, recurring slots.

• “Bite-sized” social good unlocks scale. Short, flexible opportunities bring in the 84% who don’t volunteer regularly.

• Brands can mobilise communities. Their marketing reach, databases, and cultural pull can do what causes often can’t.

• Kindness can be a currency. Exclusive rewards feel more meaningful when you’ve earned them through real action.

• Community is the real product. EARNT creates connection: friends, intergenerational links, local pride — and yes, dates.

• Social impact needs business rigour. If you want a movement to last, it has to be sustainable — not just “nice”.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Lauren Scott-Harris & what EARNT is

00:40 — The COVID moment that sparked the idea

02:30 — The “golden triangle”: brands, causes, consumers

04:30 — Why volunteering doesn’t work for most people

06:30 — “Bite-sized” volunteering (and why it changes everything)

08:10 — How brands help causes reach people

09:10 — Why kindness can finally work at scale

12:55 — The backlash to old status symbols (and influencer culture)

14:40 — How EARNT works (and what an ETY is)

18:10 — What users actually get out of it (community, confidence, connection)

23:35 — The long-term vision: “Strava for social good”

26:10 — Getting involved with EARNT

26:35 — The hardest part of building it

29:15 — Founder advice: trust your gut + build proof

31:45 — Startup shout-out: Tonic by Sophie Fawcett

Links & Resources:

EARNT: ⁠⁠earnt.co.uk⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@earnt_

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by Georgie Brown in this episode are her own and do not represent the views of her employer.