The Tidbit

A main thread that has run throughout this show has been the importance of defining your purpose, and how that purpose will fuel your passion in creating and sustaining business operations. We sit down with Jeff Cherry, CEO of Conscious Venture Lab and Shift Ventures - an accelerator and investment firm for purpose-driven businesses, and discuss why is it so important that this definition of WHY is brought to the forefront of an entrepreneur’s journey and pitch for capital.

When we, as a nation or global society, speak of Washington DC its common (of course) for us to think primarily about the government, our constitution, the relics of our presidential pasts. On this episode, we go further back in time to really embrace and understand the importance of our capital area prior to colonization. Did you know Anacostia (the name) comes from an Algonquin word for trading center? Learn more from clean water, land, air and outdoor advocate Lee Cain about how our capital region has been at the epicenter of trade and sustainability best practices for centuries.

Tune in to learn about the incredible work of Xavier Brown (entrepreneur, farmer, seed historian) and his company, Soilful City. Soilful City uses the principles of Kwanzaa as a guiding philosophy for creating and sustaining healthy neighborhoods. Intertwining these tenets with the wisdom of Mother Nature allows us to use agriculture as way to bring justice to communities, and to heal the sacred relationship between communities of African decent and Mother Earth.

The Vill-age is founded by team of young men from Washington, D.C. who believe that entrepreneurship, access to quality food, and strong community spaces are critical ingredients of a healthy, prosperous place. Tune in to learn more about how their mission —to be the center of empowerment, that not only satisfies the community needs, but allows them to take control of their lives— is coming to fruition with the first part of their vision underway.

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We’re switching things up at The Tidbit for the next few episodes! Instead of talking about the core tenants of starting and running a business, we are featuring different food and beverage entrepreneurs in the DC and Baltimore Metro Areas, and the amazing products and projects they’re working on. This week? Mera Kitchen Collective — a co-op business from Baltimore that provides underrepresented refugee and immigrant individuals with entrepreneurial success through true ownership and community connections.

We're fascinated by the ways in which we can apply tried-and-true business models and structures, while reimagining them for today's economy. On this episode of The Tidbit, we sit down with Rodney North — formerly the “answer man” of Equal Exchange, a democratically owned and governed worker co-operative with 150+ worker-owners and approximately $60M in annual revenue. Tune in to learn the history of co-ops and best practices on how to start one.

Have you ever wondered: how is my money serving me? On this episode of The Tidbit we discuss a new technology, Blockchain, and its digital ledger framework that provides transparency behind transactions; in addition to exploring impact investing with guests Annie and Lisa Hodges. Money is often the arbiter of stress and the unknown. Tune in to have a look behind the curtain, and gain clearer insight into how you, too, can become an impact investor.

Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place." In times of uncertainty, whether on a macro or micro level, how do you develop a mindset of growth in the face of adversity — especially as an entrepreneur? We explore strategies for developing internal and macro, local economics-based resiliency with guest Raj Aggarwal, Board Chair of Think Local First.

What are your business goals for the New Year? Do you run a small business, or have dreams to start one? At The Tidbit, we’ve got your back. Each week we drop tidbits of knowledge around starting a small business in the DC/Baltimore metro areas with featured guests. On this episode, food media expert Marisa Dobson joins us to discuss local and national food trends for 2018.

Kim discusses the future of corner store owners in relation to the Fast Company article: How Two Ex-Googlers Want to Make Bodegas and Mom-and-Pop Corner Stores Obsolete; and chats with guest, Paul Ruppert, on building community-based businesses in the District. Paul is a 6th generation DC resident, and his family has run a real estate business in D.C. since 1889! Paul shares three pieces of advice for emerging small business owners on how to best build a foundation for success.