Business with Purpose

At ten years old, most of us were exploring the outdoors, riding bikes, and maybe playing with dolls or legos. However, today's guest was busy …

We often contemplate the origins of our clothes and shoes, but purchasing with purpose even includes notepads, sticky notes, pens, and paper. Jillian Ryan is the founder of the Marie Mae Company. She joins us to discuss …

Charity doesn't end poverty. Jobs do. Resources and money give you freedom; the give you dignity. Charity is important, but work is empowering. Jane …

The Fair Trade Federation is an association that works to elevate and strengthen fair trade partners in the United States and Canada. It's a key partner in the global fair trade movement. On this edition of the podcast, …

I do not have a green thumb. The past few years, I’ve tried to start a garden in my backyard and it almost always ends up overrun with weeds, or one year all of my cucumbers ended up just eating everything else in my …

Let’s pretend for a second that you have a dream of starting an ethical fashion brand. You want to start this brand, you know the designs in your head, you have a clear vision for it, but you have no idea where to start …

Our lives are filled with defining moments. Tragedy shakes us, suffering changes us, but it’s how we take tragedy, and how we learn from suffering that determines the next phase or trajectory of our lives. We can choose …

There is a cliche saying that says, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” I know we hear it all the time, but really, have you ever thought about the priceless value of an image? I don’t like to think that I have …

If I’m being honest, I don’t even know how to introduce today’s episode. Back in the Fall, my husband and I had the opportunity to screen a documentary called Letter from Masanjia, and I’ll get into the details of the …

The average american woman is a size 14/16. I’m a size 14, so I’m pretty average, but I will say that ever since having kids, I have noticed how much the fashion industry does not cater to average women like me, and …

I love meeting people who see a need and they fill it. They see an area that they can specialize in or an area that is underserved in this world and they just do it. They don’t make excuses, they don’t come up with …

There is an ongoing refugee crisis in our country and in our world. Millions of men, women, and children are making the incredibly difficult and …

It is episode #120 of the Business with Purpose Podcast: “How to Shop Ethically on a Budget.” A couple of episodes ago, actually at episode #110, I …

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole, that was said by photographer Roger Karris. Maybe you are, or aren’t a dog person. I’m a …

Were you ever one of those kids who always felt like your parents were forcing you to do something? Maybe your parents made you go to church or they made you take piano or they made you learn Spanish or whatever… it …

Did you know that there are literally hundreds, thousands of toxic chemicals that you are being exposed to on a daily basis? I really hate being the bearer of bad news, but in everything from air fresheners to cosmetics …

When I open up an episode, my goal is to give you a personal connection--some type of fact or interesting tidbit--that is kind of a general statement, but is loosely or directly related to the upcoming conversation. But …

Whether we realize it or not, our culture, our background, our upbringing, our childhood, the way we have lived our life up until this point, …

Global poverty is at the root of so many things. So many things. From hunger, to the orphan crisis, to human trafficking, to drug trafficking, to homelessness, to disease and HIV/AIDS - global poverty is at the root. …

We know life is short. We say life is short but, do we really believe it? Do we live that out? Do we make the most of every single day? You know, that cliché? For many of us, we go through the motions--we go through the …

We love rags-to-riches Cinderella stories. They inspire us. Personally, I love learning about people. I mean really learning about them. What makes them tick? What drives them? What fuels their fire? What’s their why? …

April 24, 2013. That’s the day that the Rana Plaza Building in Bangladesh collapsed. 1,138 people died and another 2,500 were injured. It was the …

We all love a deal. You know what I’m talking about. When you walk into a store, and you see something on sale, and you’re like “It’s only $4.50! Yes! What a deal!” Or if you’re in a thrift shop and you find a designer …

When you hear the term “ethical,” what does it mean to you? When I ask different people, different people give me different definitions. I think everyone’s idea of “ethical company” may mean something different, like …

I talk all the time about the importance of having a “why” in your business. Having a “why” is that foundation that every business owner should build …

A common thread I’ve discovered through interviewing so many social entrepreneurs is that they worked at a particular field that isn’t inherently …

I love cultural history. I love it. I soak up details and facts and information about the history of different cultures anytime I can. I listen to …

You may be one type of person. You may be the type of person who, you are currently working in a job and you have that side hustle that you really enjoy, but it just kind of supplements whatever you do for a living …

The term millennial gets a bad rap these days. Millennials are thought to be entitled, lazy, self-serving, wasteful, but here’s the thing, let’s be …

For years, the downtown area of Harrisonburg, Virginia had an eyesore that its residents had to drive past each and every day. It was a run down, bright pink pornography shop in disrepair. It was a place of hurt and …

It’s a fact - when the unemployment rate is high, the first people to be hit are women and children. Whether it’s in a developing nation or here in the United States, women and children are the first ones affected by …

Alright guys…. I’m shaking things up this week for the 100th episode extravaganza! My executive producer, also known as my husband John, is here to …

One of the things I talk about a lot is the fact that there are a lot of layers to the ethical and fair trade fashion world. It’s not just about pretty, handmade clothes. There are so many complex issues that really …

I believe in my heart of hearts that everyone, yes, everyone, is born with a gift. Now, I don’t know what your gift may be, but you, listening right now, you have a gift that was given to you at birth. Maybe you can …

Some of you may or may not know this, but I am a former comedian! I performed improvisational and sketch comedy for almost 15 years and I loved it. While I’m no longer on stage a couple nights a week, I still love the …

With today’s news cycles, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the troubles going on in our world. Where do we even start? How do we even scratch the surface of helping? What do we do? What can one person do to make a …

The entertainment industry is a tough industry. We hear all the time about entertainment industry professionals, actors, directors, musicians, producers, et cetera, who get burned out. They suffer from depression, …

With today’s social media world and our abundance of information that’s thrown our way, we can very easily get discouraged about the world around us. Sometimes we feel like there’s so much hurt and sadness in the world, …

I’m always amazed when I meet someone who has taken a trial, struggle, hardship, or some adversity in their life and used it to change and impact their community or the world. So often, when tough stuff happens to us or …

Today’s episode is a little different than usual, and I loved it. I know that I have a lot of listeners who are not entrepreneurs. You’re in the corporate world, or you’re a student, or you’re an employee, or you’re in …

One of the things I love most about ethical and fair trade fashion is telling the stories behind the companies that make these beautiful things. …

Figuring out what to make for dinner each week can be so stressful, especially with work, and kids, and life. That time of day can be MISERABLE, and …

Have you ever spent time cleaning out your closet, and you take all of your valuable clothes that you spent good money on, and you haul that stuff to …

Have you ever thought that you’re at a place in your life where it’s too late to start over? Sometimes I feel like we get to a certain age (an age that doesn’t actually really exist) and we think that we are stuck doing …

There are a lot of misconceptions around the topic of human trafficking. So many people think it happens in other countries or it happens only to people living in poor conditions or that it looks like a guy in a big …

Whether you want to admit it or not, you have fears. We all do. Maybe its a fear of bees or being chased in an alley by a masked man (okay, so those are my fears), or maybe it’s a fear of failure… or maybe it’s a fear …

I remember when John and I were planning our wedding... it literally feels like yesterday. We were on a pretty tight budget, and we were doing almost everything ourselves… And while the details of the wedding day, the …

Did you know that nearly 703 million people around the world are blind… simply due to lack of access to glasses. That’s 703 million people who are …

There are SO many people (me included), that love to travel. I know I have a list of about 100 places I’d love to see in my lifetime… but there are …

At some point in our lives, we all experience a feeling of loneliness. It’s a natural human experience and for some, the struggle is worse than others… but it can be a struggle nonetheless. And loneliness doesn’t …

Each one of us has a gift. Whether you know it or not, and whether you want to believe it or not, I believe deep down that every single person on this earth was given a gift by our Creator… and how we use those gifts to …

In today’s world, it can be really overwhelming when we see so much hurt and pain around the world. There are humanitarian crises all over the world that are horrific… whether it’s the Syrian crisis, the Rohingya …

What if you had the next, world-changing, business idea? Your business could change the trajectory of someone’s life or impact the way …

For years, there’s been this strange distaste for business. People kept thinking business was bad and business owners were greedy and money grubbers. But the truth is, business is and can be a HUGE force for good. …

Giving. What does that word mean to you when you hear it? Does it mean someone who is giving with their time, giving with their talents, giving with their money, a giver of gifts... what does it mean? For years, I was …

There’s a really difficult conversation that happens often in the ethical and fair trade space… and it’s a conversation around respect and getting …

I remember the first time I consciously wanted to quit. I was 7 and I had a big school science fair project I was working on. I was so excited about …

It is estimated that there are nearly 150 million orphans worldwide. There’s a worldwide orphan crisis… maybe you’ve heard or maybe you haven’t. But it’s a crisis and it’s not getting better. one of the harsh realities …

Have you ever had a dream as a child, or heck, even as an adult, and you had your mind set on that dream? How you thought life was going to certainly …

Did you know that only about 1 in FIVE plastic bottles are ever recycled? And that it can take between 400 and 1,000 years to decompose. It’s actually estimated that humans are purchasing one million plastic bottles… …

For years, I hated my body. I’d look in the mirror and I’d notice every flaw. Every roll, every stretch mark, every bit of cellulite… I’d say, “I …

People like to ask me when and how I got started talking about ethical and sustainable fashion. It’s definitely been a process for me over the years and I don’t claim to know it all or be perfect by any means. When I …

I love being a mom. It’s one of the most difficult and rewarding and all the things jobs I’ve ever had in my life. I’m simultaneously a nurse, a …

I can pretty much guarantee that any business owner will tell you that running a business is hard. Unless you went to business school, there are so …

One of the reasons I spend so much time talking about fair trade goods and ethical fashion is not just because I think they’re nice products or pretty things or they’re unique - sure - those things are all well and …

A common question I hear these days is, “How do I turn my PASSION into a career?” There’s a lot of talk about PASSION. Everyone has a passion. We all …

To many people, a dress symbolizes things like fragility, weakness, inequality, outdated dress code rules, societal pressures, gender roles… There …

We can all agree to two truths.... Life is beautiful and life is also tough. We all spend time trying to figure out what our purpose is or what we …

To say I am excited about today's post and BONUS Business with Purpose podcast episode is a bit of an understatement. I AM SO EXCITED. This has been in the works for awhile and was SUCH a fun project to put together.

I …

There are two types of people… people who say and people who do. I’ve spent a good portion of my life trying to be someone who does… not just someone who says. Let’s be honest, this isn’t always easy. When we see a …

There are people that come into our lives and completely change us. Maybe it’s a teacher or a coach who really believe in us and encourage us in ways others haven’t. Or maybe it’s a friendship… a friendship that starts …

Imagine a situation in which you are literally in the middle of the Gobi desert (AKA: the middle-of-nowhere OF the middle-of-nowhere) and you are …

What do you think of when you hear the term "fast fashion"? When I first heard it, I had zero clue what it meant. By definition, "the term “fast fashion” refers to a phenomenon in the fashion industry whereby production …

FACT. In the Los Angeles area alone, 10 metric tons of plastic fragments are carried into the Pacific Ocean every day. The average American throws away 185 pounds of plastic every year. It can take anywhere from …

ABOUT ASHLEIGH: Ashleigh Maynor is the founder of inTENtional U, LLC, small business coaching firm and blog. Ashleigh uses her creativity, humor and honest delivery to transform individuals from existing day to day, to …

About Kelsey – from Kelsey: I’m Kelsey, mother of three, thirty years old, redeemed, army wife vet , owner and founder of Elegance Restored, women’s …

About Holly (from Holly):  My calling is to empower people to be all God created them to be. This starts with my five children and my husband of over …

You are in for an incredible treat with this week’s episode of the Business with Purpose podcast. My guest is Yomi Abiola – a speaker, activist, and …

About Miara: A “maven” is a trusted professional who seeks to pass her knowledge on to others. Miara Shaw, also known as Maven Miara, uses her witty, yet direct style of speaking and coaching to lead and motivate …

“Doing good for others doesn’t mean doing less for yourself.” -Renyung Ho Oh, you guys, this episode. Not only was it awesome because Renyung is literally on the other side of the world in Singapore (which we talked A …

About Adam: Adam Muncy is the 26 year old founder of the Hounds, Ltd. His background in fashion, economics and Inner City missions blended to create …

About Cassidy: Cassidy Perry fights human trafficking by founding The Arise Box, an ethical subscription box that benefits survivors. She also manages and teaches social media to small businesses and churches. To relax, …

This week’s episode of the Business with Purpose podcast had me laughing, tearing up, thinking, and so much more. Ike + Tash of Ike + Tash photography are a husband and wife photography team out of Tacoma, Washington. …

Fair warning, you’re going to want to keep the tissues handy for this week’s episode of the Business with Purpose podcast. My guest is Nikki Huebner, the founder of EndureLash – an all natural, hypoallergenic, organic …

Y’all. This week’s episode of the Business with Purpose podcast is going to blow. you. away. If you are looking for a podcast that is going to challenge you, encourage you, push you to think outside of your comfort …

On this week’s episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, I’m chatting with Tim Scott, the co-founder of Mitscoots Outfitters – an Austin, Texas based clothing company that has a heart and mission to outfit *AND* …

About Natalie: Natalie Franke Hayes is an entrepreneur, mobilization marketer, community builder, and neuroscience nerd. As one of the Founders of the Rising Tide Society and the Head of Community at HoneyBook, she …

This week’s episode of the Business with Purpose podcast is such a fun one. My guest this week is Suzy VanDyke, a world-renowned wedding photographer along with her husband Lukas, and now the co-founder of Wild & …

About Kilee: Kilee Nickels is a mother, a blogger and small business owner. She and her husband are busy raising four boys between the ages of 8 and 18 months as well as running their growing business Nickel & …

On this week’s episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, my guest is Lara Casey Isaacson. Lara is the author of Make it Happen and Cultivate …

On this week’s episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, I am sitting down with Sarah Barnett, founder of International Blessings. Sarah’s story is incredible – from growing up on a farm to becoming a world traveler …

On this episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, I am sitting down with Rebecca Gardner, founder of Hands Producing Hope, a brand that provides the economic, educational, and spiritual resources necessary to …

On this week’s episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, I am sitting down with Amy Bardi, founder and executive director of Clothed in Hope. Founded in 2011, Clothed in Hope is a 501(c)(3) international nonprofit …

On this episode the Business with Purpose podcast, I am sitting down with Jolie Gray, the founder of The Purpose Box, and ethical and purposeful …

On this episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, I am sitting down with Jess Freeman, founder of Jess Creatives. Jess is one of those people that I instantly connected with. We shared what it looks like to leave a …

On this episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, I am sitting down with Liza Moiseeva, founder of GlobeIn, an ethical subscription box and online marketplace. Liza came to the United States from Moscow, Russia …

In this episode of the Business with Purpose Podcast, I am sitting down with Katherine Hanson, founder and CEO of ModaBaby – American made, high quality clothing for babies and toddlers. Katherine’s story is so …

On this episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, I am sitting down with Taylor Thompson, founder of Day22 Boutique and A Kind Journey. Taylor has an amazing passion and heart for ethical fashion and making the …

On this episode of the Business with Purpose Podcast, I am sitting down with Jessica Honegger, founder and co-ceo of Noonday Collection, one of the …

On this episode of the Business with Purpose Podcast, I am sitting down with Katie Crocombe, a professional life coach and founder of Flourish and Co. After overcoming a dark time in her personal life, Katie felt lead …

In this episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, I am sitting down with the sweet Carrie Grace McQuaid (best known online as Carrie Grace), spreader of joy and kindness and founder of The Kindness Box. We talk …

In this episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, Molly sits down with Zane Wilemon, founder of Ubuntu Made. My conversation with Zane was …

In this episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, Molly sits down with Katelyn James of Katelyn James Photography. Katelyn is a little bit of a …

In this episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, Molly sits down with Julie Hulstein, Founder and CEO of Vi Bella Jewelry, an ethical jewelry …

In this episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, I had the UNBELIEVABLE privilege and honor to sit down with Kristen Welch and Maureen Kaderi of Mercy House. Kristen is a blogger and author… she blogs at We are …

In this episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, Molly sits down with Shannon Whitehead of Factory45, an online accelerator prorgram that helps …

In this episode of the Business with Purpose podcast, Molly sits down with Bethany Tran of The Root Collective, an ethical shoe and apparel brand …