Brand on Purpose

Bombas Co-Founders David Heath (CEO) and Randy Goldberg (Chief Branding Officer) discuss how a Facebook post that mentioned socks are the number one most requested item in homeless shelters led to the creation of the brand that supports those communities by way of a one-for-one premium sock donation model. David and Randy also discuss how Toms and Warby Parker served as inspiration, the importance of having a pristine product for a mission-driven organization, their successful Shark Tank experience, and the positive impacts of keeping company culture centerfold. The two further highlight “The Black Hive,” a community of diverse Bombas employees, and what they’ve done to support individuals and organizations during the Black Lives Matter movement resurgence. Tune in to hear how David and Randy’s lack of expertise in the retail industry actually served as an advantage, and learn more about Bombas at Bombas.com.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Katrina Waelchli, Meg Ruocco, Parker Jenkins, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vessel co-founder Dagny Tucker talks about why she helped start the tech-enabled stainless steel reusable cup service. Having worked in global peace and conflict for over 20 years, Dagny was struck by how often tensions would rise in areas over resources, and began considering ways she could make a difference when it came to conservation and more sustainable solutions in everyday life. This deep interest in looking at unseen environmental and social impacts of consumption led to the creation of Vessel, and she and Aaron discuss how the library-like process empowers consumers to reduce their negative environmental impact. Tune in to hear why Dagny believes sustainability is as much a social question as it is an environmental one, and learn more at vesselworks.org.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Katrina Waelchli, Meg Ruocco, Parker Jenkins, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Photo Patch Foundation Founder and Executive Director Antoine Patton talks about how his own incarceration led to the creation of the brand that helps to increase communication for the 2.7 million children in the United States that have a parent in prison. Through a digital platform and mobile app - created by Antoine’s then 12-year-old daughter - children can write letters and send photos to their incarcerated parents, strengthening communication between youth and their family members. In conversation, Antoine highlights how a 2010 USA Today article on the mobile app explosion sparked his initial curiosity, how his daughter “Jay Jay” serves as his biggest motivation and is the future of the company, and the necessity of Photo Patch in today’s society. Antoine also discusses the lack of conversation around COVID-19’s presence in prison systems today and what Photo Patch and his own family are doing to help. Tune in to hear how Antoine gained solitude while in prison and how he turns “pain into purpose,” and learn more about Photo Patch Foundation at photopatch.org.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Katrina Waelchli, Meg Ruocco, Parker Jenkins, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Practice Makes Perfect CEO and founder Karim Abouelnaga talks about how the B Corp works with low-income schools to help narrow the achievement gap and reframe learning over the summer as a way to get ahead. Karim, a TED Fellow and Echoing Green Fellow, offers insight into his own background growing up in a community with a low high school graduation rate and limited expectations, and how he went on to become an Ivy League graduate. He and Aaron discuss the critical role of mentorship for low-income students, the importance of asking for help even when society teaches you otherwise, and ensuring parity when it comes to giving underserved kids access to the resources to achieve success. The conversation also covers how COVID-19 is impacting education and the challenges of making sure underserved students have access to the tech necessary for learning virtually. Tune in to learn why Karim thinks education is still society’s largest lever for changing socioeconomic status, and learn more at practicemakesperfect.org.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Katrina Waelchli, Meg Ruocco, Parker Jenkins, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tender Greens CEO Denyelle Bruno talks about why the chef-led kitchen company shifted its focus to grocery delivery during COVID-19. The conversation also addresses the codependency of retail and service businesses, the machismo nature of the restaurant industry, and the importance of implementing gender parity across business infrastructures to ensure a long-lasting and prosperous economic future. Tune in to learn more about how Denyelle's extensive background in social and gender psychology has guided her on the path she's on today, and learn more at tendergreens.com.Production credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Katrina Waelchli, Meg Ruocco, Parker Jenkins, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transgender District Executive Director Aria Sa'id discusses why she co-founded the world’s first legally recognized transgender district in San Francisco. Aria speaks to her own experiences with her identity, her direct support of legislation providing medial protection to intersex people, and why she is dedicated to creating a space to empower and uplift transgender communities. Tune in to this powerful episode covering everything from the unchecked privileges of white queer communities to the importance of transgender representation in media, and learn more at transgenderdistrictsf.com.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Katrina Waelchli, Meg Ruocco, Parker Jenkins, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Path Forward Executive Director Tami Forman discusses why we need to remove barriers and provide better support for caregivers returning to the workforce, which Path Forward aims to do by partnering with companies like Amazon, Apple, Walmart and more for paid, 16-week ”returnships” that help talented individuals re-enter the workforce. Tami also touches on the immense and unparalleled transferable skills gained through parenting, the long continued gender gap in the workforce, and the need for companies to remain focused on their commitments to hiring a diverse employee body. Tune-in to hear how Tami thinks the current recruitment landscape has shifted – and will continue to shift – amid the current pandemic and learn more about the nonprofit at pathforward.org.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Katrina Waelchli, Meg Ruocco, Parker Jenkins, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HumanCo CEO Jason Karp discusses why he thinks investing in and growing health-focused businesses at scale is the best way to address global health and food crises. He founded HumanCo, a clean and accessible food and lifestyle company, because of his firsthand experience in the way food can affect health. Diagnosed with a degenerative corneal disease and told he would be blind by the age of 30, Jason discovered the literal life-saving answer of clean eating and turned his life around for the better. Tune in to learn why Jason wants to invest in a people first future and learn more at humanco.com. Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Katrina Waelchli, Meg Ruocco, Parker Jenkins, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Climate Neutral CEO Austin Whitman walks us through how the nonprofit collaborates with brands to be more climate-centered and showcase that it’s time to take carbon emissions seriously. Focused on redirecting funds to low carbon assets and helping consumers make better decisions, the three-step carbon neutralizing process is achievable and affordable, setting brands – and the climate – up for success. Austin also talks about simple ways individuals can decrease their carbon impact, consumers’ increasing preference for sustainable companies, and how social distancing has had positive environmental effects. Tune in to hear about Austin’s dedication to speeding up the shift to a low-carbon world, and learn more at climateneutral.org.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Katrina Waelchli, Meg Ruocco, Parker Jenkins, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aunt Flow CEO and founder Claire Coder speaks about why she started the first full-solution company that helps businesses and schools stock bathrooms with free tampons and pads. Committed to "changing the world one cycle at a time," Claire discusses how the company's origins started when she was stranded in a public bathroom, her dedicated partnership with nonprofit organization PERIOD and how she's pivoted since the start of COVID-19. Aunt Flow's sister company, Work Flow, has manufactured over 8 million 3-ply masks and has since rolled out additional PPE products with a mission to provide everyone with basic necessities. Tune in to learn about Claire's inspiring entrepreneurial spirit, and learn more at goauntflow.com and ppestory.com.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Katrina Waelchli, Meg Ruocco, Parker Jenkins, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices