Capitalism for Good - Between the Interviews

10% Check in! (10 interviews down & 90 to go)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

10 down & 90 to go!

First 10 interviews:

Break Down of Field

1 Tech
1 OT/Nonprofit Founder
3 Sustainable Brands
1 Sports Management
1 Food Industry
1 Zero Waste Store
2 Local Stores
Ratio of men vs. women
Men = 4
Women = 6
“According to Catalyst’s latest report, women occupied merely 41 or 8.2% of the CEO positions at S&P 500 companies in 2023.”

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Overflowing with Gratitude Today

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Today is a rare day where I don’t have a lot of words to say aside from saying “thank you” over and over again. Taking last week’s theme of turning embarrassment into excitement by capitalizing on the less polished side of life and of myself, here’s a true behind the scenes look at what I’m thinking and feeling at this moment in time: Overflowing with gratitude. Thankful for every single person in my community. Thankful for all the leaders that are gracious enough to take the time to speak with me and share all of their experience and knowledge with others. Thankful for anyone that is following along with the Capitalism for Good project. Thankful for anyone injecting the world with some much needed positivity. Just flat out thankful. So thankful.

Since I apparently can’t think of anything else aside from that today, I’ll spare you from the desire the keep repeating it again (as well as the tears that won't stop making their presence known) and I'll move it along.

What am I learning, listening to, reading, and watching: the wonderful people around me that make up this beautiful community that I’m lucky to be a part of. There’s so much inspiration, positivity, and wisdom to gather from the good people in this world and I would encourage anyone else to learn from those that you see out there doing it the right way. Learn from them. Grow with them. Evolve together. That’s what it’s all about, right?

I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but here’s where I’m putting my dollar: my community (is anyone surprised by that answer today? Trust me, it’s worth it. We each have the power to contribute and make a positive impact. You don’t have to be the richest. You don’t have to be the smartest. You don’t have to be the most charismatic. You don’t have to be the prettiest. You can make a positive difference by just being your own person.

Ok. Alright. That’s enough. Let’s go leave this place better than we found it.

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We're Getting Over the Embarrassment Over Here!

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

This episode is just what the title suggests: I'm working on turning my embarrassment into excitement.

The story about me being such a terrible french horn player that I ultimately quit primarily because I refused to practice. Even worse, I refused to practice regularly because I was so embarrassed about being bad. I dreaded practicing and dreaded having anyone think that I wasn't naturally Jon Batiste (shout out Jon Batiste, a true musical genius of our time). I have to admit that I'm still embarrassed by so much. I'm now attempting to embrace that embarrassment and not let it hold me back from chasing new ventures.

So if I'm going to truly talk about showing what it's like to build something from the start and to learn new skills from the ground up, then that means that I actually have to showcase my embarrassment and, even further, capitalize on it. Instead of deleting things like the livestream that I attempted for the first time or leaving the dream of this project because it's the first time I've every truly chased a dream like this on my own, I'm actually doing it despite the embarrassment (or maybe because of the embarrassment?). You might say that I'm channeling the plants that I love growing. They start small. Some were cut off from the larger plant they were once part of. They were then put in water on their own and then slowly started growing their own roots, finding their way into their new homes, and growing their own leaves being whole plants themselves. Perhaps I relate to these plants more than I realized. Just like how much I love watching them grow and evolve, I'm opening up this process for you to watch me grow and evolve with this project.

Lesson that I keep relearning the hard way: Life is messy. People are dynamic. The world is grey. While Veronica (Interview 4/100) used Nike to spark her creativity to pursue a career in sports marketing and sports management, Kyle Parsons (Interview 7/100) used Nike as an example of companies not focused on sustainable manufacturing. The reality is that both things can be true. Nike can both be a company inspiring greatness, but it can have room for improvement in its use of sustainable materials.

That's also why I build in the grey-ness of life into strategic plans when working with companies through CFG, LLC. (Hit me up if you're interesting in how we might be able to work together to further your business's community involvement!) Trust me, I love a plan. I also recognize that plans need to change (cue my road trip analogy).

What I’m watching: my plants grow. I know, I know, it’s a typical millennial woman activity, but I love that it’s a tangible look at something actually grows (sometimes it’s a failure and dies) and evolves. If that’s not a metaphor for this entire Capitalism for Good project, especially the parts that are beyond the 100 leader interviews, I don’t know what is.

I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but here’s where I’m putting my money: bamboo tissues, toilet paper, and toothbrushes (and really any item that I can find to swap out plastic for a compostable and biodegradable bamboo products). Shout out to Emma (Interview 5/100) for also using bamboo to make their sustainable toothbrushes at MABLE.

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Lessons Learned

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

I’ve learned so much since this project began to take shape about a year ago (but really, what is time?). This week’s recent lessons have been in some practical items like adding a frame around a video and now how to make that frame look a little more visually appealing (easter egg: it’ll likely change again as I understand more about design…hopefully for the better!).

At the same time, I’ve been thinking a lot around the shout out that Emma Grose (CEO & Co-Founder of MABLE & HAY! Straws) had for local zero waste stores. I had admittedly not known about a zero waste store in Louisville, KY where I’m based, but I did know of a couple that were in the Kansas City area. I found one, Peace of the Earth, and lucked out enough to meet the owner when I went to check it out. The nerdy part of me was thrilled when she immediately opened up to me about how difficult it is to open and operate a store like this. She mentioned how others in the city had tried to open similar stores, but rather quickly went out of business. Her store was able to stay open because she had both a refillery shop and a more traditional retail shop to balance each other out.

While opening a brick & mortar store of any kind is likely a difficult venture, it seems to be especially difficult for sustainable businesses. One recent hurdle that we’d discussed and I’ve seen play out for a handful of zero-waste stores is where products are imported from. It’s no secret that manufacturers and retailers have been facing new challenges due to the chaotic changes to import tariffs, but to dig a little deeper into that is how some countries have prioritized sustainable products and manufacturing well beyond the capabilities of the US. Canada, the US’s neighbor to the north, has a country-wide goal of reducing plastic waste by 30% 2030. The incentives and focus on eliminating plastic waste allows for an increased production of plastic-free and zero-waste items which the US directly benefits by importing and selling these products. As we know, this raises the cost of these types of products in the US, and, unfortunately, forces many of those zero-waste shops out of business. As I’ve been researching zero waste stores for upcoming interviews, I’ve witnessed a handful of shops throughout the United States announce that they’re closing their doors in May 2025.

While it’s tough to see companies that prioritize sustainable activities and manufactured goods struggle to the point of closing up shop, there are still reasons to be hopeful. In the conversation with Kyle Parsons (Founder of Indosole) talked about the push...

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What's New?

Tue, 26 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The goal is still the same: Interview 100 business leaders making a positive impact on their internal and external communities. This is not meant to be a definitive black & white guide to which companies to support, but an opportunity to explore what’s going on out there and for us all to learn together.

We’re about 7% of the way through with 4 released on the main feed (there are more early releases on the Patreon…more about that later).

So what is new since I started this?

Mentions - I’ve added a list companies and organizations mentioned that includes links and is organized by episode. It’s on my website (capitalism-for-good.com) under the blog & transcripts tab (direct link here). If there’s an associated referral code or discount code, it’ll also be there. I’m learning a lot as I go, so I’m sure this list will evolve. As always, if you have recommendations or requests, please let me know!
Referral & discount codes - There’s just a couple that have come up along the way so far, so those are posted with the associated company by episode.
Social media - I’m still a grandma when it comes to social media, but I’m learning and I’m trying! There are now several associated accounts for however you interact best: Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. I’m a real grandma when it comes to social media, so I’m using repurpose.io to help me with that. There’s a discount referral code in the mentions page if you’re also interested in checking it out.
Between the Interviews episodes - These will be largely posted on the Patreon (put a pin in this) on Mondays and will have both an audio & video option available. The main free feed available on all major podcast platforms will still include all 100 interviews.
Patreon - The project is supported through the Capitalism for Good Patreon (you may also support directly via the bio site link). Thank you to anyone that’s supported so far! It...

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Women in Leadership

Mon, 25 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

If you thought that perhaps I might not bring up women in leadership roles again throughout this project, unfortunately, you were sorely incorrect. As a woman myself, it’s something that I can’t unsee. I’ve been working on write ups, reflections, and social media posts for the interview with Veronica Hernandez, GM of the Modesto Nuts, a men’s minor league baseball team, and I can’t stop thinking about how less than 8% of the General Managers in minor league baseball are women. I found her name in a list of 14 women in leadership in minor league baseball in an article that was championing and celebrating these women. Don’t get me wrong, these women deserve to be recognized and celebrated. I’m so happy to here that there are a handful of them out there, but 8% is not enough. Even for a men’s baseball team. Sports operations are so much more than just the players, so I look forward to this evolving into greater representation of women in leadership in the future.

I’m curious, what are your thoughts about why there is still such a comparatively low number of women in business leadership positions? And how can we change that?

What have I been watching: Good Hang with Amy Poehler - I linked the YouTube channel for this podcast because I particularly love the video version of this one. There are so many more visual comedic elements to the show that come through the video version (and I admittedly have not listened to it any other way). If you’re looking for something that’s truly heartwarming and funny, I highly recommend it.

I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but here’s where I’m putting my dollar: Peace of the Earth Refillery in Louisville, KY as well as all refillery and zero-waste stores (shout out to Emma Grose for this recommendation in her interview episode!).

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Why So Many Shout Outs

Tue, 19 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Veronica Hernandez (GM of the Modesto Nuts) said it best when she was talking about “non-needy” conversations. Even her decision to say yes to me interviewing her could be considered her agreeing to a “non-needy” conversation that was based around simply being curious, learning, and listening. So often, we get sucked into this traditional structure relying on large companies occupying large sections of the advertising market that we may have come to expect all conversations involving companies being sales opportunities. And while, yes, I can honestly admit that these interviews are a platform for promotion, however, the core goal is more of spreading the mentality of these leaders in a way in which we can learn from them. Then, secondarily, if folks choose to give the respective company their business,

Emma Grose (CEO & Co-founder of MABLE & HAY! Straws), talks about her management philosophy being focused on pointing out the wins and the things that are going well whenever possible. Leading from a place of encouragement instead of with an iron fist and fear that seems to only notice the things that could be better.

Infinity Song’s Hater’s Anthem is a great song and an even better example of a satirical look at the Mean Girls culture that permeates our world. It’s also an example of the opposite of what I’d like to promote. If anything, I’m a hater of haters.

What have I been watching: The Kentucky Derby - I currently live in Louisville, KY, so the Derby celebrations are difficult to avoid. Non-locals may be surprised to learn that the city turns this one race on one day into an almost month and a half long festival celebration all over the city. There’s an air show. There’s a fireworks show. There’s a gala. There are fashion shows. There are

I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but here’s where I’m putting my dollar: The local tourist economy. Just like a stay-cation is a great way to escape without actually fully escaping, jumping into the fun of your local community event that draws tourists can also be fun for locals and a great way to give your money right back to your local industry workers.

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Lucky #3 Reflection

Mon, 18 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

So. Many. Themes. Already.

It’s all about the people that surround you. Cheering them on. Learning from them. Trusting them to use their strengths to be successful.

Continue to go back to your values, the mission, and what you want your legacy to be. Shannon talked about this when she said, “Find your lane. Get in it and feel good about it.” And Andrew Bolton talked about it when he said, “ If you are doing good work and you are doing good for somebody else, the money will follow.”

There will always be highs and lows, but you just have to keep things moving. (Easter Egg: Emma Grose from MABLE & Hay! Straws has a similar outlook). When the store and office were shut down during COVID, they found a way to keep all of the employees on the payroll for 2 whole years. It’s clear that he prioritizes the people working for Charlie Hustle and made a conscious decision to find a way to keep them on board and working toward the common goal.

Embrace the pivot (just like the Friends Episode)! Sometimes we start down a pathway and then decide to make a left turn. Pivots are ok and they’re even better when you take the skills and lessons learned from the path you’ve taken so far to the new pathway that you’re walking down.

What have I been reading (and what have I been writing): The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad is a book of essays and writing prompts that combine a wide range of thought-provoking and unexpected writings by people of all kinds with each ending in a writing prompt giving the reader a chance to be involved in the creative process right alongside each of the authors. This book has been a great way for me to get out of my own head for a bit and look at life through a different lens. 10/10 highly recommend.

I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but here’s where I’m putting my dollar: The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad (and really any book or piece of art she’s made)

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Making Mistakes

Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Mistakes. We all make them. They almost always suck. We try not to, but they happen. The key is how we handle them. It’s tough to admit when we’ve made a mistake, but the impact on our reputation is difficult to outrun. The way we address mistakes tells our internal and external circles both about who we are as people and also what we expect from them.

As a millennial woman from middle America, I struggle sometimes walking the line between being a self-reporter wanting to show that I’m taking accountability for my own missteps and unintentionally amplifying mistakes by shrinking behind them. In personal and professional life, I’ve found myself, often without even realizing it, inserting “my apologies” out of attempted curtesy and engrained “politeness” when an apology isn’t really warranted. I’ve been actively practicing catching myself before I say or type those things to consider if I’m truly sorry for actually making a mistake to be corrected or if I’m finding myself attempting to play the part of a polite and palatable woman.

Can anyone else relate?

What I’m reading: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight tells the story about the idea conception and start of Nike. If you’re into stories about how companies got their start, the motivation behind the inception, and hurdles faced along the way, I highly recommend this book.

I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but here’s where I’m putting my dollar: Shopping local is a great way to support your community. Today, I specifically shout out both Quills Coffee and Chik’n & Mi in Louisville, KY for being great local businesses that I’ve recently been to.

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Rethinking Creative (Cash) Flow

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Here’s my caveat to my thoughts & reflections for this week: remember, I’m new to this game.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the way in which our society has set up channels to fund creative endeavors. The more I think about it, the weirder it seems to me that we have this large powerful revenue stream of creatives being paid by potentially unrelated advertisers gaining their revenue from customers. For anyone that’s been in the creative field for a while, this is likely speaking the obvious out loud here: why aren’t we, as consumers of creative projects, paying creators directly? Why is an unrelated 3rd party needed, and often, the flashy revenue stream?

For any creators that have successfully built through direct from consumer sales without 3rd party advertisers, hit me up! I’d love to talk to you about your experience in doing that, lessons learned, unexpected hurdles, and advice to others. The dream would be to put all of our effort together to change the tide so that it’s easier and more accessible for creatives to be paid directly for their work whether we’re talking about a writer, actor, makeup artist, social media creative, painter, etc.

What’s been your experience? And what are your thoughts about all of this?

What I’m listening to: Speaking of creatives, I have refueled my love for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, especially those that are new to me. I love discovering new musicians that I otherwise wouldn’t have heard of and being able to hear their personalities show through. I also recommend Sofar Sounds for a similar reason. They’re small pop up concerts in many different cities and have also been a great venue for discovering new (to me) artists. Check them out if they have shows near you!

I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but here’s where I’m putting my dollar: Last week, I went to watch a live podcast with my sister and would highly recommend checking out these folks, especially the musicians! No Small Endeavor with guest Malcom Gladwell + musicians: Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Alicia Enstrom, Ruby Amanfu

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Making Decisions

Tue, 05 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

We all make decisions differently. I can be incredibly analytical and thrive when I’m in a position to look at the entire road map, assess the options by gathering as much information as is reasonable, identifying the destination as well as the potential risks & associated resources, and then handing over that plan for a champion executor. At the same time, part of that information assessment phase is that I listen to my gut & intuition. While so much of my information gathering is fact-based, that repeatedly tested attention to my physician gut reaction has proven to be a valuable source of information. That’s what works for me and is what makes me feel good about the lane I’m in (call back to the interview with Shannon Masterson where she advises to “Find your lane. Get in it and feel good about it.”

While that’s what works for me in my personal and professional life, that’s not the way everyone operates best. The key is to understand and value the processes that others around us make to make decisions. By trusting that there’s value in the way others work best and allowing each of them to thrive in their own way and in their own lane, we’re recognizing and adding to the confidence behind their decisions. There’s value in everyone playing their own role aligned to their strengths. How do we continue to capitalize on everyone’s individual strengths in building better community to benefit the greater good (even just by 1% more).

How do you go about making decisions?

What have I been listening to: Not Gonna Lie podcast with Kylie Kelce - talk about a woman who values the choices and decisions of others. I imagine that she and I live very different lives with very different experiences, but her relatability is unmatched by any other podcast I’ve listened to. She’s a champion for women, individualized confidence, and reasonability through self-awareness. I’m a proud Real One.

I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: Tickets to sports games, especially those that are in minor leagues! Major league teams in most sports get a lot of the hype and attention, but there’s so much to cheer for in the minor leagues. There’s talent and entertainment in smaller markets that is very cool to watch as they follow their passion and skill. Shout out to the Louisville Bats, Memphis Redbirds, Springfield Cardinals, Tacoma Rainiers, Toledo Mud Hens, and Quad Cities River Bandits.

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Hometown Pride

Mon, 04 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

I was just visiting KCMO, which I called home many years ago, and found myself bursting with nostalgic pride while being there and showing my friends and loved ones around town. In this episode, I give examples of experiences I’ve had while shopping local and also how “shopping local” has expanded into online communities with proceeds still directly benefiting geographic localities. Whether it’s purchasing a t-shirt from your favorite local restaurant in your old town, wearing a baseball hat with your favorite basketball team on it, or buying a one-of-a-kind painting from a local artist, shopping local can really lift up your community members and can lead to connections with others. Even better, these connections with others are almost entirely unique to small businesses and are largely not common with larger chain businesses.

What have I been reading: Small Ball BIg Dreams by Joel Goldberg (shout out to him & KC Slugerrr being so friendly and fun when I lucked out to find the author signing books when I was on the hunt to buy that book from a local KCMO bookstore!)

I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: Made in KC & The Bunker - I could go on & on about my favorite places in Kansas City, but these two are both places that I just purchased items from when I was visiting last. Highly recommend clothes, jewelry, books, shoes, planters, etc

Bonus shout outs to: Tony Packo’s in Toledo, OH, Beer Kitchen in Kansas City, MO (Westport), Harpo’s in Kansas City, MO (Westport)

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Recycle Bin

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

What started as something in the zeitgeist of my childhood became a frequent topic of discussion and then I tool that I’ve since used many times to understand other people in a different way. On the surface, the recycle bin analogy distinguishes between those who don’t believe that all recycling is truly recycled so they they choose to always throw away their trash and those who always choose the recycle bin in hopes that there’s at least a chance that it will end up being recycled. When we dig a little deeper, we can find so many more options and so many more complexities in the “why” behind that decision.

What’s your stance?

What have I am reading: Wirecutter - it’s another tool in the toolbox when making purchase decisions.

I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: Local boutiques - I just went shopping for a dress to wear for a wedding I’m going to this weekend. A few that I lucked out with this weekend are Mamili, Peplum, and Magnolia & Fig in Louisville, KY.

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Slow Burn

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:00:20 GMT

In the words of Kacey Musgraves, “I’m alright with a slow burn.” I moved at turbo speed for so much of my life figuratively and literally running as fast as I could. For many years of my late teens and early twenties, I lived with the goal of “never saying no to anything unless I could think of 3 good reasons to not do it.” Let me tell you, I lived a full life during that time. I also didn’t sleep much and thrived being fueled by caffeine, anxiety, and forward motion. I don’t regret a moment of it, but my goals and mantras have since evolved into finding ways to simplify, slow down, and to find enjoyment from saying no.

What I learned was that there is so much value in not getting caught up in the whirlwind of life when it’s not necessary. There’s value in doing without manufactured stress and arbitrary deadlines that aren’t always necessary. Life’s stressful enough; why create more stress? What I found was by making small decisions and making small changes, I ended up saving myself money, time, and stress. I carried that over to my work life and learned to prioritize thoughtful analysis and strategic planning over just checking the box. It turns out that strategic planning can actually help check the boxes when it’s done right.

What am I reading: The Joy of Missing Out by Tanya Dalton - The FOMO vs. JOMO comparison was a frequent topic at a recent trip to watch the Ohio Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Weekend in Evansville, IN - Go SIUE and Go Jayhawks! (really channeling my love for Ted Lasso here with Coach Barone being the real life Ted Lasso & the real life Jason Sudekis being a fellow big Kansas fan here) - in comparing introverts with extroverts and finding ways that we’re all different or similar. We’re all different and we all have different ways that we feel fulfilled. In the last decade, I’ve really leaned into the JOMO part of myself and it’s served me well.

I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: I’m not. By that I mean that, I’m relatively frugal. I don’t often buy single use things or even things that don’t need purchasing. I’m talking about reusing glass jars and bottles as storage containers and vases. I’m talking using old towels and t-shirts with holes in them instead of paper towels. It’s probably been more than a decade since I’ve spent money on paper towels or napkins. If there’s not a real need or desire for it, generally I’m not buying it.

Now, again. I’m not over the top. I try to keep my life pretty simple and 10-15 years later, I’m happy to report that while life can get stressful and can get to be a lot, I don’t feel it the way I used to. I credit that a lot to purposely simplifying as I’ve aged. It didn’t happen overnight. It happened slowly over more than a decade. I have a strong desire to not stress over things that don’t absolutely need to be stressed over because I’ve learned that there’s so much in life that is unexpected and deserves the stress. The last thing I want to do is manufacture more stress.

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Return on Investment

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Today, I do some back of the napkin math to examine the cost of turnover vs. investing into employees and when it might make sense to choose one over the other. We use the lens of different financial business models and how they may be guided by flashy buzzwords and arbitrary deadlines expedited by manufactured urgency. Ultimately, is chasing the flashy thing really worth it in the end or would a differently focused investment give way to longevity and stability fueling better results? How do you calculate the return on investment?

What have I have been listening to: The Dollop (both a regular listen and attending live podcast recording shows) - It’s well researched, hilarious, entertaining, thought provoking, and I never fail to learn something new from it. The host, Dave Anthony, reads a true historical story to his friend, Garreth Reynolds. The relatability of the co-host reacting to the outrageous twists in turn at the same time the listener is reacting is genius.

I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: Rareform

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What is Capitalism for Good?

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Business Karma. This idea that if we choose the greater good or we choose to prioritize people when making business decisions, that it will often be a benefit back to us. It may take some time. It may be a delayed benefit, but sometimes that benefit might even come back multiplied.

While the focus of the Capitalism for Good project is through the lens of discussions with business leaders, I would argue that we all, regardless of our positions or titles, have the opportunity to be leaders through our actions. No matter who we are working for. No matter what our field is. No matter if we aren’t even working for the company. We can all conduct ourselves as leaders in a given situation.

You never know when that good business karma may come back around later. It could increase your return on investment many times over. There’s also a chance that it might not, but how much does it hurt to try?

What have I read: Mantras/quotes/affirmations. Sometimes I just need to give myself a quick pep talk and having a handful of options at my fingertips to help keep me going forward is so valuable to me. One of my recent favorites is, “you have been here before and you can do it again.” What are your pep talks that you give yourself?

I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: Trader Joe’s! Seriously, I’ve been to Trader Joe’s all over the United States and I’m so impressed that regardless of where I am geographically, the culture is still the same. There’s always a friendly and helpful team of staff with some reliably great produce and products. More times than not, I’m choosing a Trader Joe’s if that’s an option.

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All the ways to find, follow, & support the Capitalism for Good universe:

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Going Gray

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

One thing that I’m cognizant of is that by putting the word “good” in the name of this project, it may seem to imply that there’s either a “good” or a “bad” way to make and spend money. It could seem like there’s a judgement of a right vs. a wrong way. Especially as a woman with some strong views of the world, I wholeheartedly believe that there are lines to be drawn in the sand and a time to speak up when they are crossed. I also wholeheartedly believe that much of life is more of a spectrum of gray than a simple either/or choice of black or white.

I never intend to make someone feel like they’re being judged by me for any of the decisions they make. We all have to make decisions. We all have to weigh the pros and cons. Sometimes we choose not to weigh the pros and cons because it makes more sense to us to not think too long about a decision. After all, the saying “time is money” exists for a reason.

The point is, life is complicated. While in this project I focus on making good choices in how we make and spend our dollars, that “good choice” is complex. This is not intended to be a judgement of choices, but rather a dig into the intentionality of the choices we make and the impact of those choices on the world around us. Perhaps an encouragement to think even just a beat more about the choices we make. Perhaps an encouragement to just strive for 1% better, whatever that means to each of us at a given time.

What have I read: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano is a beautiful story of the complexities of the lives of each of the women in a family. It’s messy, heartfelt, dramatic (but not overly so), heavy while being light, and very well written.

I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: Physical books purchased at a local bookstore. Two of my favorites are Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, KY and KD’s Books in Lee’s Summit, MO.

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Why does any of this matter?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Using one of my favorite analogies about choosing which bin to put your trash in might seem like you just have two choices in front of you - trash vs. recycling bin - but perhaps the world is less black & white and really you have many more options than just the two right in front of you. Further, maybe the truly the option with the most value to you in the long run is the one that takes a couple more moments to consider and a little more time and energy on the front end.

What have I read: Atomic Habits by James Clear where he presents many examples of how the compound interest of just striving for 1% better regularly has an exponentially positive impact (and also what can happen when you don’t). Sometimes a decision about something seemingly small can have much larger impacts than they appear on the surface.

I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: directly to the creator! Specifically, tipping the live music at the bar/restaurant, buying artwork from the artist at the market, following Andrew Hickey’s A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs on Patreon

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Making Sense of Nonprofit Nonsense

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

When talking about the Capitalism for Good project, I often get recommendations for nonprofit organizations, companies with give-back programs & associated foundations, and community-based companies focused on serving a specific underserved population. These are great! I’ll be highlighting some of these in future interviews with business leaders because I truly want to promote those that are focused on the greater good. These organizations aren’t the only ones that have the ability to do so though.

In this episode, I focus on clearing up some misconceptions around these organizations, bring in government organizations to the conversation, and explain how the context, functionality, and details of how organizations operate are key to achieving higher rates of effectiveness and efficiency. Specifically focusing on the desire to use both donations and taxpayer dollars to “directly serve clients” and when this phrase all too often does the exact opposite watering down the ROI of that donation or taxpayer dollar. This is a lesson in overhead rates and indirect cost rates as well as how nonprofits can increase the ROI on clients served by looking beyond commonly thought of “direct costs.”

References: NOT-OD-25-068: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement; NIH = National Institutes of Health; CFR = Code of Federal Regulations; Indirect Cost Rates; IDC = Indirect Costs; ROI = Return on Investment; KY IEP Advocate’s All Things Special About Education podcast

What I'm reading: Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell because its (and The Tipping Point) examination of examples of when a tipping point was reached to make a change in our world, both positively and not-so-positively.

I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: travel is a priority to budget my time and money because it fills my cup.

All the ways to find, follow, & support the Capitalism for Good universe:

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Episode 4: Business Karma

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:00:20 GMT

In an effort to continue to set the foundation for the Capitalism for Good project, this is who I am: I’m a millennial woman acknowledging that many generations of people prior to and up to my lifetime have successfully fought to change the landscape of the world in which I live. Today, I call out a few key pieces of government actions that have shaped the lens in which I view the world: The 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 1920, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the 1974 Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Women’s Business Ownership Act in 1988.

Regardless of whether these and other similar pieces of legislation legally protect the basic human rights of all people in the United States continue to exist into our future, we must act as if they do. Regardless of what the government does or does not mandate, we must act with civility. One of the key themes of this podcast is focused on using how we make and spend our dollars to support the greater good and how we promote “better business karma” by prioritizing people and the greater good.

What I'm watching: NPR & KCUR - fact-based and unbiased information news sources are key to understanding the world around us. Local and national public radio are committed to this through transparency and are free to all.

I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: NPR & KCUR - National Public Radio exists on the donations of its listeners and supporters to keep this access to reliable and accurate information available to all. This is a two-for-one answer with both what I’m listening to and reading as well as where I’m spending my dollars.

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Episode 3: Set the Foundation

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:48 GMT

Stick with me here as I connect the way we use our dollar to how we make our dollar with government and politics. I know politics is a hot topic here in the United States after the transition of presidential power, so take us through an adjacent path exploring how choosing where to spend our money can potentially impact our lives in other ways (ex: implications of government & politics).

This is meant to be less of an endorsement of a specific candidate or political party, but more of an encouragement to use our dollars, when feasible, to promote what’s important to us. Money is power, but not just in that when we make more money, we have more power. It’s also the power of the control over where we spend our dollar.

It’s also meant to be an explanation of the way in which I view the world. I am deeply interested in the way our inherent motivations guide our actions as well as how we evolve with additional experiences and information. In my experience, talking about tough topics, especially those that may superficially seem different from my own stance, often gives way to greater understanding, empathy, and respect. I understand that this is not the lens through which everyone else views the world, but in this episode, I present my rather rosy-colored lens of people, politics, power, and players. And I’d love to better understand the lens through which you view the world.

What I'm watching: Kansas City Chiefs

I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: Charlie Hustle

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Episode 2: Introduction & Vision Reflection

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:24 GMT

The culture of a company is important. There's a popular saying that "people don't leave companies, they leave bad bosses." This has been true for me at several points in my career. I've even dropped clients in my own business because of the way they behaved. I've also experienced the opposite where I've followed a great boss to a new job and I've had employees in one job join me again later (and with the new skills and experienced they picked up the last time they were with me).

The folks I shout out in this episode are examples of strong contributors to a solid and appealing culture that keeps me as a returning customer whose dollar can be counted on by each of their respective establishments. I'll also strongly recommend each of them to anyone that I hear of looking for a new service provider. That word of mouth recommendation is FREE advertising. The more free advertising that's done for you, the more that leaders can reinvest in their companies and employees perpetuating this cycle of positivity.

In the two examples of negative experiences I had with former employers and bosses, I ultimately left. More specifically, I left willingly, loudly, and without an ounce of regret.

Culture matters. People matter. Values matter.

What I'm reading: Give Her Credit by Grace L. Williams

I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: Small business experts with hearts of gold. In the first Capitalism for Good interview with Shannon Masterson, we shout out two talented hairstylists that we are repeat customers of: Jen at Hello Gorgeous Hair Design and Madi at Helm Salon in Kansas City, MO. In this Between the Interviews episode, I also add a shout out to Demi at Lumi Skin Bar + Aesthetics. As my friend, Melanie, often says "let experts be experts." These skin & beauty experts combine inclusion and building others up in a such a positive way. AND they're good at their jobs.

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Between the Interviews - Episode 1

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:12:04 GMT

"Let's leave this place better than we found it."

Welcome to the Between the Interviews of the Capitalism for Good Podcast project! This first Patreon episode will outline the future of these behind the scenes...

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SNAPping into Place

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Episode 41 - Video version first aired on 11/03/25

The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below.

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25% Check In

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Episode 36 - Video version first aired on 09/29/25

The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below.

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10% Check in! (10 interviews down & 90 to go)

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Episode 23 - Video version first aired on 06/16/25

The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below.

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What's New?

Tue, 20 May 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Episode 19 - Video version first aired on 05/19/25

The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below.

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Lucky #3 Reflection

Tue, 06 May 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Episode 16 - Video version first aired on 04/28/25

The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below.

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Making Mistakes

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Episode 15 - Video version first aired on 04/20/25

The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below.

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Why does any of this matter?

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 10:00:00 GMT

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Slow Burn

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Episode 10 - Video version first aired on 03/16/25

The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below.

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Return on Investment

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Episode 9 - Video version first aired on 03/18/25

The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below.

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What is Capitalism for Good?

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Episode 8 - Video version first aired on 03/02/25

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Business Karma

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Episode 4 - Video version first aired on 02/02/25

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Going Gray

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Episode 7 - Video version first aired on 02/24/25

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Why does any of this matter?

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

Episode 6 - Video version first aired on 02/16/25

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Making Sense of Nonprofit Nonsense

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Episode 5 - Video version first aired on 02/10/25

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Episode 2

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Episode 2 - Video version first aired on 01/20/25

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Episode 1

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Episode 1 - Video version first aired on 01/12/25

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