In this episode, Sara speaks with Ngozi Okaro, Founder of the Custom Collaborative, which trains mentors and advocates for low and no-income and immigrant women to build the skills necessary to achieve economic success in the sustainable fashion industry and broader society.

Ngozi is an advocate for a fashion industry that honors both Planet and People. In the conversation, Ngozi explains why she founded the Custom Collaborative and how this unique model can be applied to the fashion industry at large. The discussion also covers what sustainable fashion encompasses and how we can adopt a more inclusive framework for the future.

You can follow the Custom Collaborative on Instagram @customcolab, and our guest, Ngozi Okaro at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngoziokaro/ on LinkedIn.

This episode is brought to you by The Trade Impact LLC.  Certain materials used in today’s podcast were contributed by The Trade Impact Foundation.  Music provided by EdvardGares / Pond5.  Legal Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this episode constitutes legal advice.  Information is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice from any party.

In a conversation that touches on recent events in Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and China, Sara speaks with economic sanctions expert Kian Meshkat regarding the role of international sanctions in addressing human rights violators, as well as the impact of those sanctions on the local population. You can follow our guest, Kian Meshkat on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kian-meshkat-6a738527.

This episode is brought to you by The Trade Impact LLC. Certain materials used in today’s podcast were contributed by The Trade Impact Foundation. Music provided by EdvardGares / Pond5.

Legal Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this episode constitutes legal advice. Information is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice from any party.

In the second half of their conversation, Sara and Ben discuss worldwide gender discrimination and the role of international trade in promoting global gender rights.

Ben Shepherd is a trade economist and development consultant who has worked with the World Bank, the United Nations and more. You can follow our guest, Ben Shepherd on Twitter at @BenShepherdEcon.

This episode is brought to you by The Trade Impact LLC. Certain materials used in today’s podcast were contributed by The Trade Impact Foundation. Music provided by EdvardGares / Pond5.  Legal Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this episode constitutes legal advice. Information is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice from any party.

How can trade policy and economic development lead to positive impact on an individual level? In this episode, Sara speaks with Ben Shepherd, a trade economist and development consultant who has worked with organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations. Ben discusses the impact that trade policy has on the people living in a country, and how it can be used as a positive tool for development. You can follow our guest, Ben Shepherd on Twitter at @BenShepherdEcon.

This episode is brought to you by The Trade Impact LLC. Certain materials used in today’s podcast were contributed by The Trade Impact Foundation. Music provided by EdvardGares / Pond5.  

Legal Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this episode constitutes legal advice. Information is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice from any party.

Should you feel good about your purchases? Understanding the social and environmental footprint of the products you buy and brands you support is key to being a conscious consumer. 

In this episode, Sara speaks to Todd Smith, founder and CEO of KYG Trade, the “Know Your Goods” blockchain platform and marketplace. They discuss the complexity of ESG and sustainability metrics, the risk of greenwashing, and the potential for blockchain technology to provide consumers with unprecedented transparency to the real impact behind their goods. You can follow our guest, Todd Smith at https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddrsmith/.

In this episode, Sara talks to Luiza Romero, an expert in blockchain and taxes, about the potential to utilize blockchain technology to increase government transparency. Luiza first explains how blockchain works and how we pay taxes today, and then discusses (15:00) an exciting vision of how blockchain could transform our relationship with our government, by increasing public trust and government accountability. You can follow our guest, Luiza Romero at https://www.linkedin.com/in/luiza-romero/.

In this episode, Sara talks to Andrea Reyes, Chair of the NYC Fair Trade Coalition about whether fast fashion can be sustainable.  The discussion covers the environmental impact of the fashion industry, the consequences of globalization, and the connection between mental health and consumption. 

You can follow the NYC Fair Trade Coalition @nycfairtrade and our guest, Andrea Reyes @abernadette11 on Instagram.

This episode is brought to you by The Trade Impact LLC.  Certain materials used in today’s podcast were contributed by The Trade Impact Foundation.  Music provided by EdvardGares / Pond5.  Legal Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this episode constitutes legal advice.  Information is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice from any party.