In January, a travel ban was signed by President Donald Trump, prompting backlash from prominent brands and CEOs, a Twitter campaign to delete Uber, and general chaos. But aside from the turmoil, the events prompted some critical questions: Should brands become politically involved? If so, how? Where's the line? (Is there a line?)Here today to answer some of those questions and dive deep into the future of activism on the part of CEOs and brands is Dave Simnick, CEO and Co-Founder of SoapBox soaps. SoapBox doesn't just make excellent, thoughtfully-crafted soaps, they have a give back component to their mission, donating bars of soap and clean water in the US and abroad.What implications does political engagement have for a brand like SoapBox? What does the future hold for the ways we interact with our brands? Dave shares his thoughts on these questions and more with our Editor-in-Chief Janna Marlies Maron, offering an insider's perspective to the world of social goodness brands, politics, and the future of commerce.

When Brands Get Political: an Interview with Dave Simnick of SoapBox

Hyperlink Radio is a show about connection. Through interviews, discussions, and in-depth documentary, Hyperlink Radio explores how we interact with brands, with technology, and with the world around us. Hyperlink Radio is a bi-annual podcast, proudly produced by Winning Edits as an audio companion to its magazine, Hyperlink. Find out more at HyperlinkRadio.io.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Technology

Tech News

Podcasting

Gadgets

Software How-To

Business

Investing

Careers

Management & Marketing

Business News

Shopping

On Season 2, Episode 10 of Hyperlink Radio, it's Part 2 of The Seventh Generation—our two-part special on climate change. Host David Grabowski walks us through the underlying issues of the climate change crisis which he asserts isn't climate change itself, but the political stalemate that's blocking nationwide action.To get to the bottom of things, David is joined by Dan Kahan—the Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Law & Professor of Psychology at Yale Law School and head of the Cultural Cognition Project. Much of Dan's research has focused on the political polarization around climate change and getting to the root of why it exists. The answers will probably surprise you. David also chats with Valerie Bane—she's the Chapter Leader for the Sacramento Chapter of Citizen's Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan group that advocates for political climate change action through a measure called Carbon Fee and Dividend. Valerie explains what that is and why it might be the best bipartisan political measure for lowering emissions in America. The movement to fight climate change may be the most important period in human history, David summarizes. If you're a concerned citizen, this is the episode for you! (Don't miss out on Part 1 if you haven't heard it yet.)

Climate Change Part 2: The Mobilization

On Season 2, Episode 9 of Hyperlink Radio, Non Wels interviews Out of Print Co-Founder Todd Lawton about the transformative, magical world of books. Out of Print celebrates this literary magic, increasing literacy in the process. Non and Todd talk about the origin story of Out of Print: How a passion for books turned into a successful, mission-driven brand. Through the conversation, specifics are revealed about how Out of Print celebrates a nerd-status love of books while also sparking social progress.If you're a bibliophile then you're in good company! The story of Out of Print is a critical example of how a brand can celebrate its passion while also bettering the world around it. This is what happens when book nerds start a business. The result is pretty awesome. Thanks for listening to Hyperlink Radio! Be sure to read the article companion to this episode, "Brands That Give Back," on our Medium channel.

Brands that Give Back - an Interview with Out of Print Co-Founder Todd Lawton

On Season 2, Episode 8 of Hyperlink Radio, Ray Sylvester brings us up to speed on the ongoing battle for a free internet—the fight for net neutrality. In December of 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) put the kibosh on a two and a half year experiment in net neutrality. But that's not the end of the story, urges Ray: The battleground of this debate has shifted wide open. The fate of net neutrality is still undecided. What happens next?A survey by the University of Maryland right around the time of the FCC decision found that 83 percent of Americans support net neutrality. In January, more than twenty states and the District of Columbia sued to try to block the FCC's decision. As of March, twelve lawsuits had been filed by more than three dozen entities. A consolidated lawsuit will be heard at a federal appeals court in California. In other words: It's on.

Net Neutrality Part 2: Exploring the New Battleground of the Debate over an Open Internet

On Season 2, Episode 7 of Hyperlink Radio, Non Wels sits down with fellow teammates, Sara Jane, Mindy Holahan Peters, and David Grabowski to talk about some of our favorite recent podcasts we're listening to, books we're reading, and music we're jamming to. It's another iteration of Earholes and Eyeballs on Hyperlink Radio!In this episode, in addition to what's keeping our eyes and earholes happy, we also take a moment and remind ourselves of the things in our lives that inspire each of us, and the small, sometimes unforeseen joys we take for granted in our daily lives.

Earholes & Eyeballs: What We're Listening To, Watching, Reading, and More!

On Season 2, Episode 6 of Hyperlink Radio, Karen Beattie is delving into a facet of American democracy that's currently under serious threat: Voting. Is there any validity to the allegation of Russian hacking in the 2016 election? Are our current voting machines actually secure? How do we prepare for the future and ensure that our voting systems are fair and accurate?In today's episode, Karen Beattie interviews Barbara Simons, PhD, president of the non-partisan organization Verified Voting. Barbara has a unique insight into the vulnerability of our current systems and she has some recommendations for the future as well. As she puts it, any American patriot should be concerned about the accuracy and security of our voting machines. This episode is critical listening—enjoy!

When Brands Get Political: an Interview with Dave Simnick of SoapBox

Download our free app to listen on your phone