The Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast

The #1 Podcast for Social Entrepreneurs & Social Innovators. With host Cory Ames, Founder of Grow Ensemble, dive deeper into social entrepreneurship, social enterprises and the tools, resources, and strategies that support their growth and expand their impact. Hear from these top social innovators from both the non-profit and for-profit sector - CEOs, Executive Directors, Thought-Leaders and more.

#254 - What Makes a Great Company? - Dean's Beans Journey to Worker Ownership 03/19/2024

#253 - Seth Godin: How to Escape Industrial Capitalism's Race to the Bottom & Do Work Worth Doing 02/27/2024

#253 - Seth Godin: How to Escape Industrial Capitalism's Race to the Bottom & Do Work Worth Doing Yes, we need to make a living. But how do we make a life? It might not simply be about the money. When the world is in turmoil, when our health is at risk and the future seems murky, perhaps paychecks and productivity aren’t enough. Perhaps we can’t manage our way into the future. What if we created the best job someone ever had? What if we built an organization people would genuinely miss if it were gone? What if the work we did made things better? Mozart, not Muzak. This is the Song of Significance This interview with Seth Godin, author of 21 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work, is about how we, in business, can do better. How we need to do better. In 2023, Seth published this very important book, The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams, which was an urgent call to action for us all to rethink work, management, and leadership. Both in how it’s all practiced and what it’s all even for. Seth, has influenced an incredible many in business and marketing myself included, and I believe he has long already been a champion for embedding meaning into the work we do. To make something people remark on, you must push yourself to make something remarkable. The focus isn’t on attracting customers, but rather, on building community around what you and your organization stand for. Trust and transactions aren’t best bought but rather built and earned through servicing what people need. This book, however, takes a much broader look at business–explains the rather dangerous pathway we are on, but in simple, yet profound maxims and short stories offers us a pathway forward. In this conversation, Seth and I discuss the perceived problems at hand with business, business culture, and work–and sort through the various nuances of remedying those issues to create a better, more meaningful future. Specifically, we explore how industrialization has bred a race to the bottom culture in business where it’s margins, not meaning or service fueling the engines of our marketplace. We explore how we need NEW entrepreneurial idols – and what mainstream business misses about the Henry Fords, Elon Musks, and Zuckerbergs of the world. And most importantly, Seth shares how we can do WORK WORTH DOING both for ourselves and for our communities. 🗒️ SHOW NOTES For more --> / /episode/index/show/growensemblepodcast/id/30081668

#252 - Is Globalization Good or Bad? The Effects of NAFTA & Global Supply Chains ⛓️ 02/15/2024

#252 - Is Globalization Good or Bad? The Effects of NAFTA & Global Supply Chains ⛓️ On December 8th, 1993, Bill Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) into law. In his remarks at the signing, Clinton proclaimed, “NAFTA means jobs. American jobs and good-paying American jobs. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't support this agreement.” Two decades after NAFTA had been in effect (1993 - 2013) the Economic Policy Institute reported that over . Why? Because American companies gladly moved jobs to Mexico where the daily wage of a Mexican worker was roughly equivalent to the minimum wage per hour in the U.S. Especially in the business world, we take for granted that the global spread of capitalism (fueled by free trade agreements like NAFTA) has increased the quality of life for all by expanding participation in the market, often through jobs. But, there’s essential nuance here that’s been overlooked. Not all jobs are good jobs and trade is not good for trading’s sake. Eric Henry, President of TS Designs, a large volume screen printing company based in Burlington, North Carolina, like many many other U.S.-based businesses was forced to reinvent his business anew after bearing the brunt of NAFTA’s impact. In this podcast, we’ll share Eric’s experience, explore the wider implications and context of NAFTA and globalization, and offer a vision for what a post-race-to-the-bottom world might look like. -- -- 🗒️ SHOW NOTES For more --> https://www.socialentrepreneurship.fm/252/ ⭐️ *SPONSORED BY* agood company - https://www.agood.com/ Dean's Beans - 💌 NEWSLETTER 💌 The Weekly Ensemble: The Ensemble Weekly is a weekly newsletter exploring the art of living and working sustainably written and published by Grow Ensemble Founder and Podcast Host, Cory Ames. Join 1000s of social entrepreneurs all over the globe and subscribe >>> -- -- /episode/index/show/growensemblepodcast/id/29961418

#251 - 7 Examples of Greenwashing 02/08/2024

#250 - What Makes Great Coffee? ☕️ 01/25/2024

#249 - The 10 Characteristics of Success in Social Entrepreneurship 11/07/2023

#249 - The 10 Characteristics of Success in Social Entrepreneurship What does success mean to you? Defining success in a field can define the field. Defining success for ourselves will define our lives. And so here, friend and coach of mine, Paul Zelizer and I go through the essential exercise of defining what to each of us makes for a successful social entrepreneur. Paul is a business coach for social entrepreneurs and host of the Awarepreneurs Podcast where he’s published over 300 episodes with deep-dive interviews with world-class social entrepreneurs. Here we have a unique style of show for you, where back and forth, Paul and me reveal each of our own Top 5 characteristics of success in social entrepreneurship. Before we recorded the conversation you’re about to hear, we each created our own lists (with no knowledge of the other’s list) to see collectively what sort of definition we might come up with for what it means, what it looks like to be a “successful social entrepreneur.” This same conversation, in a slightly different final edit, is likewise being released on Paul’s show, Awarepreneurs—which, if you’re curious to check out you can go to Awarepreneurs.com, or, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts. So, in this episode here, on The Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast with me, Cory Ames as your host, you’ll hear Paul’s origin story to social entrepreneurship and then, together, our 10 Characteristics of Successful Social Entrepreneurs. #socialentrepreneurship #socialentrepreneurs #socialentrepreneur ⭐️ *SPONSORED BY* Dean's Beans - Transform - https://www.transform.global/ A Good Company - Intrepid Travel - -- -- 💌 The Weekly ensemble: The ensemble Weekly is a weekly newsletter exploring the art of living and working sustainably written and published by Grow Ensemble Founder and Podcast Host, Cory Ames. Join 1000s of social entrepreneurs all over the globe and subscribe >>> https://growensemble.com/newsletter/ /episode/index/show/growensemblepodcast/id/28536779

#248 - Are we even close? | ensemble #1 10/17/2023

#248 - Are we even close? | ensemble #1 In a little over a decade, Houston has housed over 28,000 people who were experiencing homelessness. The U.S.’s 4th largest city has cut its total homelessness figures by more than 60% since committing to tackle this issue head-on in 2012. Representatives from cities nationwide visit Houston to learn about how they’ve achieved such progress. Houston adopted what’s called a Housing First strategy. Housing First, for those unfamiliar, is an approach to addressing the challenge of homelessness by first, before addressing anything else (addiction and sobriety, employment, etc.), housing the individual in question. Research has shown this is the most effective way to get and keep people out of homelessness. Various studies confirm that a rapid re-housing approach leads to 75%-91% of households remaining housed after one year. The thing is, Housing First has been around for a while. While the ideas originated around the world over 100 years ago, the term became more widely used in the U.S. in the early 1990s. Not to take away from what Houston has accomplished, but they didn’t make some groundbreaking discovery. They were applying (effectively, very much to their credit) someone else’s ideas. So what changed? Where did the political will come from to commit so fervently to addressing this issue? These are the questions we answer in today's ensemble: Are we even close? -- -- 💌 Weekly ensemble newsletter : Every Monday receive a meditation exploring what it means to live and work sustainably at the intersection of business, nature, & philosophy. Get both practical and philosophical guides to navigate the world more sustainably and as well, take an active role in creating a more sustainable world yourself. Subscribe >>> -- -- 📄 SUPPORT THE PODCAST: (on !) Share the Podcast on or LinkedIn GROW ENSEMBLE: ABOUT CORY AMES: /episode/index/show/growensemblepodcast/id/28337336

#247 - The Preamble: What's in a Name? | ensemble #0 10/10/2023

#246 - Quit Stressing Me Out: How to Restore the World's Dying Coral Reefs 09/26/2023

#245 - What Is a Sustainable Product? (And How Can You Identify One?) 05/18/2023

#244 - Doing Real Estate Development Differently, with Anyeley Hallová of Adre 04/18/2023

#243 - What's Possible with Hydropower, with Gia Schneider of Natel Energy 01/31/2023

#243 - What's Possible with Hydropower, with Gia Schneider of Natel Energy Hydropower was the first and is now the oldest large-scale source of renewable energy that we’ve deployed worldwide. Hydropower offers a unique set of advantages in the context of an entirely decarbonized energy grid. It can offer storage capacity and be more consistent when sources like wind and solar are not available. Gia Schneider is the CEO of , an innovative company she co-founded with her brother, Abe, in 2009 that is designing and implementing hydropower projects that both produce affordable, clean, and renewable energy and leave the river ecosystems they're set up in better off. With this conversation, we’ll be working to understand hydropower: its potential, its historic challenges and limitations, and a path forward for wielding this resource efficiently and restoratively. 👉 Since this interview in the fall of 2022, Natel Energy has had some exciting updates: Commissioned their for Austrian Utility, Energie Steiermark (Natel's third fully-installed project to date) with a contract to deliver four 1.9 meter fish-safe RHTs to MyHydro for the first of 33 potential projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo outlining 100% survival of American eels passing through the RHT in Transactions of the American Fisheries Society ⭐ SPONSORED BY: and -- -- 💌 BETTER WORLD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: The Better World Weekly is a weekly newsletter written and published by Grow Ensemble Founder and Podcast Host, Cory Ames. For the latest insights, analysis, and inspiration for building a better world, join the 1000s of changemakers and social entrepreneurs from all sectors all over the globe who get this email in their inbox every Monday. Subscribe >>> -- -- 📄 SUPPORT THE PODCAST: (on !) Share the Podcast on or LinkedIn GROW ENSEMBLE: ABOUT CORY AMES: /episode/index/show/growensemblepodcast/id/25729560

#242 - How to be a Conscious Consumer 01/10/2023

#241 - Magic Exists 11/17/2022

#240 - What's Next: Learn. Understand. Love. Protect. Repeat. ∞ 11/15/2022

#239 - We’re Taking a Short Break! Here’s Why & When We’ll Be Back 08/23/2022

#238 - How (& Why) to Institute Shorter Work Weeks, with Dr. Alex Pang 08/16/2022

#237 - How Business Can Help Get Money Out of Politics, with John McCrea of American Promise 08/09/2022

#236 - How to End the World's 'Hurricane of Hunger' in One Generation, with Roland Bunch of Better Soils, Better Lives 08/02/2022

#236 - How to End the World's 'Hurricane of Hunger' in One Generation, with Roland Bunch of Better Soils, Better Lives The world's hunger crisis continues to worsen, affecting millions of people globally. Most people refer to this problem as a result of climate change, but the reality is that 80% of the problem is caused by soil, and only about 20% by climate change. Roland Bunch is one of the most well-respected thought leaders in regenerative land development and management, having studied and been in the field for 55 years. He is a former member of the UN Millennium Project Task Force on Hunger and a Co-founder of Better Soil, Better Lives. He has published dozens of articles and authored the books "Two Ears of Corn: A Guide to People-Centered Agricultural Improvement" in 1982, and "Restoring the Soil" in 2012. Roland's motto is to imitate the forest. He started an organization and worked with small-holder farmers to do everything they could to mimic a forest-like field and use green manure cover crops to generate more biodiversity. He has worked as a consultant worldwide in over 50 nations on four continents. During his work, Roland recognized the critical issue of hunger for many small-holder farmers, specifically in Sub-Saharan Africa. This led to an investigation into the use of plants for regenerating the soil, now called green manure/cover crops. During the conversation, Cory and Roland talk about the changes in farming practices that affect soil fertilization and cause drought and floods in some countries. Roland explains how the green manure cover crops are used to fight hunger, particularly in African villages, the timeline of using this approach, and how it can impact the benefactors of the soil. ⭐ SPONSORED BY: -- -- 💌 BETTER WORLD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: The Better World Weekly is a weekly newsletter written and published by Grow Ensemble Founder and Podcast Host, Cory Ames. For the latest insights, analysis, and inspiration for building a better world, join the 1000s of changemakers and social entrepreneurs from all sectors all over the globe who get this email in their inbox every Monday. Subscribe >>> -- -- 📄 SUPPORT THE PODCAST: (on !) Share the Podcast on or LinkedIn GROW ENSEMBLE: ABOUT CORY AMES: /episode/index/show/growensemblepodcast/id/23862819

#235 - The Making of an Impact Report, with Annie Agle of Cotopaxi 07/26/2022

#235 - The Making of an Impact Report, with Annie Agle of Cotopaxi An impact report is a document essential in measuring a company's impact on people and the planet. It’s a tool that can help businesses align their core values and make informed decisions, providing insight and promoting a culture of accountability and transparency for customers and value chain members. Annie Agle is the Senior Director of Sustainability and Impact at , a purpose-driven company that creates outdoor products, apparel, and experiences. As a person who grew up doing outdoor activities and is passionate about methodology and philanthropy, the opportunity of working with a company that values both what she loves and enjoys is a dream come true. Annie ensures that Cotopaxi's brands are moving in the right direction and destination as she creates as sophisticated reporting as possible that will allow investors, customers, and other businesses to understand the authenticity and effectiveness of Cotopaxi. In today's episode, Cory and Annie discuss the significance of impact reporting to a purpose-driven company such as Cotopaxi. Annie explains her role as a sustainability officer and the meaning and purpose of creating impact reports. She shares the actions Cotopaxi implements to take responsibility and accountability for their impact based on their annual reports and how they build a business model that gives moral leeway to prioritize people and the planet alongside profit. ⭐ SPONSORED BY: & -- -- 💌 BETTER WORLD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: The Better World Weekly is a weekly newsletter written and published by Grow Ensemble Founder and Podcast Host, Cory Ames. For the latest insights, analysis, and inspiration for building a better world, join the 1000s of changemakers and social entrepreneurs from all sectors all over the globe who get this email in their inbox every Monday. Subscribe >>> -- -- 📄 SUPPORT THE PODCAST: (on !) Share the Podcast on or LinkedIn GROW ENSEMBLE: ABOUT CORY AMES: /episode/index/show/growensemblepodcast/id/23712782

#234 - How to Fix Chicken Farming with Regenerative Agriculture, with Paul Greive of Pasturebird 07/19/2022

#233 - How to Buy Less, Buy Better, and End Consumer Culture, with Aja Barber 07/12/2022

#233 - How to Buy Less, Buy Better, and End Consumer Culture, with Aja Barber Do you ever wonder where old clothes end up? We see so many ads for unlimited types of clothing, the shops are full of people… When they’re worn out or just tired of a style, do most people donate items? Repurpose them? Recycle? The simple answer: most of them go into a trash wasteland and end up contributing to climate change. Aja Barber is an eco-conscious fashion consultant, personal stylist, speaker, and author of . Her line of work focuses on sustainability and its intersection with ethics, feminism, and racism, particularly in the fashion industry. As a sustainable fashion consultant, Aja makes sure to educate the general public about sustainable and ethical manufacturing, specifically with garments in the fashion industry, in the hope of creating a better and safer planet. She has written for online publications such as Eco-Age, The Guardian, and CNN. Still, she is most active in opening up conversations and informing people about sustainable and ethical fashion on her Instagram. During the conversation, Cory and Aja talk about the impact of the fashion industry on our climate crisis, how fast fashion contributes to colonial waste, the core of consumer culture, and what role we can play to creatively solve these problems. Aja also shares her journey in writing her first book and gives her advice on how to stop consumerism. ⭐ SPONSORED BY: -- -- 💌 BETTER WORLD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: The Better World Weekly is a weekly newsletter written and published by Grow Ensemble Founder and Podcast Host, Cory Ames. For the latest insights, analysis, and inspiration for building a better world, join the 1000s of changemakers and social entrepreneurs from all sectors all over the globe who get this email in their inbox every Monday. Subscribe >>> -- -- 📄 SUPPORT THE PODCAST: (on !) Share the Podcast on or LinkedIn GROW ENSEMBLE: ABOUT CORY AMES: /episode/index/show/growensemblepodcast/id/23637575

#232 - The Future of Finance & Social Enterprise on the Good Future Podcast, with John Treadgold 07/05/2022

#231 - How to Make a Clean Energy Transition that Benefits All, with Brett Isaac of Navajo Power 06/28/2022

#231 - How to Make a Clean Energy Transition that Benefits All, with Brett Isaac of Navajo Power There are different ways to generate power and electricity, one being coal mining. But this method has a significant environmental impact, such as soil erosion, loss of natural habitat, and pollution. After Brett came home from college, his community decided it was time to start a transition. They chose Brett to help build a company that provides clean energy, benefits the livelihood of the local community, and lessens the impact of climate change. Brett Isaac is a renewable energy entrepreneur, business strategist, and the Founder and Co-CEO at , a native-owned public benefit corporation that develops utility-scale clean energy projects on tribal lands and maximizes the benefits for the local communities. Brett is a member of the Navajo Nation and a skilled communicator who has worked with and collaborated with the local community to have an equitable and sustainable clean energy transition. Navajo Power has the vision to bring clean energy to communities in a different way. They work intentionally to bring and maintain power to households with sustainable, clean energy. To date, they have deployed over 200 off-grid solar systems to serve households without grid electricity. In this episode, Cory and Brett talk about making a transition to clean and equitable energy. Brett shares his foundational interest in power, particularly in clean energy, the struggles making the transition, the issues of equity, power structure and system, and the impact of the transition on the livelihood and welfare of the local community. ⭐ SPONSORED BY: & -- -- 💌 BETTER WORLD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: The Better World Weekly is a weekly newsletter written and published by Grow Ensemble Founder and Podcast Host, Cory Ames. For the latest insights, analysis, and inspiration for building a better world, join the 1000s of changemakers and social entrepreneurs from all sectors all over the globe who get this email in their inbox every Monday. Subscribe >>> -- -- 📄 SUPPORT THE PODCAST: (on !) Share the Podcast on or LinkedIn GROW ENSEMBLE: ABOUT CORY AMES: /episode/index/show/growensemblepodcast/id/23497163

#230 - How (& Why) to Save the Mangroves, with Vahid Fotuhi of Blue Forest 06/21/2022

#230 - How (& Why) to Save the Mangroves, with Vahid Fotuhi of Blue Forest Vahid Fotuhi is the Founder and CEO of , a mangrove forest restoration and conservation development organization. He is also the Founder of the Middle East Solar Industry Association (), the largest and most active solar trade organization in the Middle East. Vahid has 25 years of experience in the sustainable and renewable energy industry. He also published a photography book in 2018, "African Perspectives," after traveling all over Africa. His personal experience of challenging circumstances created his fascination with sustainable and renewable energy. As he decided to move closer to finding a solution to climate change, he discovered that mangrove trees were not just a "scrub," but a nature-based solution to enhance our climate adaptation. The idea of creating a better world for the new generations motivates Vahid to make a positive impact on the planet through renewable energy and reforestation by giving awareness, taking environmental actions, and creating eco-warriors – starting with his children. During this conversation, Cory and Vahid talk about the significance of mangrove trees in mitigating climate change and their importance to the ecosystem. Vahid highlights why mangroves are worth protecting and shares the roadmap of Blue Forest’s reforestation projects, the challenges, misconceptions, and viable solutions to the deforestation problems. ⭐ SPONSORED BY: & -- -- 💌 BETTER WORLD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: The Better World Weekly is a weekly newsletter written and published by Grow Ensemble Founder and Podcast Host, Cory Ames. For the latest insights, analysis, and inspiration for building a better world, join the 1000s of changemakers and social entrepreneurs from all sectors all over the globe who get this email in their inbox every Monday. Subscribe >>> -- -- 📄 SUPPORT THE PODCAST: (on !) Share the Podcast on or LinkedIn GROW ENSEMBLE: ABOUT CORY AMES: /episode/index/show/growensemblepodcast/id/23413778

#229 - How to Save Our Planet and Create an Ecotopia, with Professor Mark Maslin 06/14/2022

#228 - Defining the Future for Sustainable Travel, with James Thornton of Intrepid Travel 06/07/2022

#227 - Leveraging Adversity For the Greater Good, with Yasmine Mustafa of ROAR For Good [REPOST] 05/31/2022

#226 - How to Create a Greener, Sustainable Internet, with Tom Greenwood of Wholegrain Digital 05/24/2022

#225 - How to Market Travel Ethically, Sustainably, & Responsibly, with Mikey Sadowski of Intrepid Travel 05/17/2022

#225 - How to Market Travel Ethically, Sustainably, & Responsibly, with Mikey Sadowski of Intrepid Travel Some companies use misleading marketing strategies to appear more environmentally friendly. For the ones that actually “walk the talk”, how do they separate their brand from this practice? One way is through setting ethical marketing guidelines. Mikey Sadowski is the GM (VP equivalent in North America) of Global PR and Communications at , the largest adventure travel company with 25 offices around the world, and networks with 28 destination management companies (DMCs). Intrepid Travel is also the largest travel that offers sustainable, experience-rich travel, prioritizes purpose over profit, sets ethical marketing guidelines, and has a not-to-profit foundation. In this episode, Cory and Mikey talk about intentional allyship and inclusivity in travel and marketing, along with the philosophy, strategy, and marketing of purpose-driven brands in a world of greenwashing and impact washing. Mikey shares how people and brands, like Intrepid, work together to achieve their goals to grow, develop, protect, and maintain a strong public image by showing authenticity, setting ethical marketing standards, and doing simple and impactful work. -- -- 💌 BETTER WORLD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: The Better World Weekly is a weekly newsletter written and published by Grow Ensemble Founder and Podcast Host, Cory Ames. For the latest insights, analysis, and inspiration for building a better world, join the 1000s of changemakers and social entrepreneurs from all sectors all over the globe who get this email in their inbox every Monday. Subscribe >>> -- -- 📄 SUPPORT THE PODCAST: (on !) Share the Podcast on or LinkedIn GROW ENSEMBLE: ABOUT CORY AMES: FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS: Get the courses, coaching, and services to help grow your business and expand your impact with our . Our newest course, will help you use search engine optimization (SEO) to build an audience around your better-for-the-world business and mission. /episode/index/show/growensemblepodcast/id/23078054

The Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast

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