What Does It Profit Podcast

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? Spoiler alert: Nothing. This bible verse has endured over the centuries as a reminder that we can't put our price tag on what matters most. Yet, time and again, businesses have put profits above all -- leading our world to the brink of a climate catastrophe, an inequality crisis, and the greatest extinction of other creatures since the dinosaurs (except this time, the meteor is us). Can we align growing returns with the greater good? Former investment banker turned business ethicist Dr. Dawn Carpenter believes we can -- and that figuring out how just might save the world. In What Does It Profit, Dawn talks with the world's leading thinkers and researchers, entrepreneurs and executives, exploring the most innovative ways we can reconcile capitalism's demand for profit with the long term well-being of people and the planet. From socially responsible investing to conscious consumerism to business ethics in this age of extremes, Dawn is your guide to the cutting-edge ideas and experiments driving the purpose-driven business revolution. What Does It Profit?

S4.E6: Beyond Belief |How AI is Reshaping Religion 12/27/2023

S4.E5: Express Lane | AI's Journey to Better Transportation? 12/06/2023

Thanksgiving Blend: Brewing Change at Starbucks | BONUS 11/22/2023

S4.E4: POTUS IRL| Public Trust and AI Priorities 11/08/2023

S4.E3: Hard Hats to Hard Drives | How AI is Revolutionizing Construction 10/25/2023

S4.E2: Entertaining AI: Disrupting the Creative World 10/11/2023

S4.E2: Entertaining AI: Disrupting the Creative World In this episode, Dr. Dawn heads straight into the scene of the action, Paramount Studios in Hollywood, where writers and actors are fighting an existential battle that stems in large part from AI. We look beyond the glitzy Hollywood sets to learn more about how AI threatens the livelihoods of creatives in an industry where most struggle to even make ends meet. We set the stage for what feels like a David and Goliath story as we spotlight the battles writers and actors have been fighting against studio executives and producers in conjunction with the rise of disruptive technologies, like AI. We spotlight what those battles are as we delve into the fears various members of the entertainment industry have about AI, and why those fears helped catalyze a historic Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) double strike. We begin this episode with the WGA. After nearly 150 days of striking, some writers have returned to work. In late September, the WGA reached a tentative deal with studio executives, a deal which imposes guardrails on AI’s ability to create written content and be used as source material. Actors, though, haven’t had the same success yet. We speak to Towanda Underdue, an actor, writer, and producer, as well as a lead negotiator for SAG-AFTRA, to learn why. Underdue details the myriad of ways AI can further disrupt the art of acting in light of the role streaming services have had undervaluing actors. We also hear from set designer Blair Barnet who shares her concerns about how AI will alter the fabric of what entertainment is built on: the creative human experience. While we outline these various battles, these battles are inextricably intertwined. This episode brings to light how creatives are fighting to protect the humans who work in entertainment, and the humanity of the entertainment industry itself. WDIP is powered by the at Georgetown University. Engage with us on . We'd love to get to know you. Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/whatdoesitprofitpodcast/id/28281995

S4.E1: California Dreaming | AI in the Heart of San Francisco 09/27/2023

S4 Trailer | AI and the World of Work and Wealth 09/06/2023

WDIP | Summer School: Benefit Corporations 08/17/2023

WDIP | Summer School: Circularity 08/02/2023

WDIP | Summer School: Child Labor 07/21/2023

WDIP | Summer School: Greenwashing & Social Washing 07/05/2023

WDIP | Summer School: ESOPs 06/21/2023

Fair Ball: A Living Wage for Minor League Baseball 05/10/2023

Fair Ball: A Living Wage for Minor League Baseball In this episode, Dr. Dawn wraps up Season 3 by sliding into home plate. She takes us on a journey inside professional baseball. We hear the incredible story of how an inspiring group of athletes, allied with social justice advocates, finally took a stand to demand that the work of minor league baseball players was worth a living wage. Remarkably, and without much fanfare outside the world of baseball, a collective bargaining agreement was reached between the minor leaguers and Major League Baseball this Spring. As a service to those who have not heard the story, we bring you three of the key players that made it all happen. We meet , the San Francisco minor league pitcher who later went on to become the leading trial lawyer guiding the campaign for justice for the players. We then are introduced the legendary activist . who could sniff out injustice with his eyes closed. As the story progresses, we also meet . Harry is a former minor leaguer who went on to later become not only a high-powered attorney but also the Executive Director of the organizing campaign set up by Bill. Where did Harry go after that-- to the Major League Baseball Players Association to become the Assistant General Counsel responsible for leading the bargaining unit set up for the minor leaguers. There a many stories in this story, and we urge you to read more. We think a few of the best stories about all of this can be found in the Nation and the Athletic. Our hats go off to those amazing journalists. We also want to applaud the bravery of Tony Clark of the Major League Baseball Players Association who stepped up when the time was right. Respect. What a beautiful story of solidarity. This episode marks the end of Season 3. If you have been listening, this season was all about “place” and the idea that you can make change right where you are. Next up, WDIP Summer School. We will be releasing mini-episodes throughout the summer introducing some of the ideas behind the stories we tell. Stay tuned for Season 4 coming this Fall where we will explore the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the worlds of work and wealth. __________ is powered by the at Georgetown University. Our host and executive producer is . Our senior producer is Jordan Gass-Poore’, and our engineer and sound designer is Mark Bush. Music for WDIP was composed by Nick Pennington. Season 3 researchers and assistant producers are Sofia Chen, Hannah Woodford, Andy Feng, and JasperAI. Our intern is Abby Trepacz. Special thanks on this episode goes to guest researcher who knows more about baseball than anyone on the WDIP production team. /episode/index/show/whatdoesitprofitpodcast/id/26800530

Industrial Roots: Designing a Circular Economy and Creating Homespun Wealth 04/26/2023

Solar Holler: Mining the Sun in West Virginia 04/13/2023

Solar Holler: Mining the Sun in West Virginia In this episode, we are headed to West Virginia to flip the script on what we know about the energy business in the heart of coal country. We introduce you to a new type of energy and a new type of business. Meet Solar Holler, the “benefit corporation” that addresses some of the toughest economic issues in West Virginia. Joseph “Joe” and Elizabeth Opoke are father-and-daughter descendants of miners who came to Marion County, WV in the turn of the 20th century. Their immigrant kin came from Hungary to work in the West Virginia coal mines. Family is important in a place like West Virginia. Joe and Elizabeth tell us about what the coal industry has meant to West Virginia and what headwinds are faced when trying to imagine a new kind of economy and a safer and healthier way of life. One of those creative West Virginia dreamers facing these challenges is Dan Conant, the founder and CEO of Solar Holler. Dan uses the tool of a benefit corporation to create a business that seeks profit while at its core focusing on its social purpose. Dan’s vision for the social purpose of Solar Holler is creating (1) affordable energy and (2) facilitating good-paying career jobs that are safe for workers and protect West Virginia’s natural environment. Dan tells the rough and rocky story of how Solar Holler made this happen. This episode will inspire us all to find new ways to “power our lives.” Learn more about benefit corporations: and about Solar Holler: is powered by the at Georgetown University. Our host and executive producer is Dr. Dawn Carpenter. Our senior producer is Jordan Gass-Poore’, and our engineer and sound designer is Mark Bush. Music for WDIP was composed by Nick Pennington. Season 3 researchers and assistant producers are Sofia Chen, Hannah Woodford, and Andy Feng. Our intern is Abby Trepacz. Special thanks on this episode to our friends at Heartland Capital Strategies: /episode/index/show/whatdoesitprofitpodcast/id/26534601