Capitalism for Good - Between the Interviews

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 podcastWhat 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.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 PatreonAll the ways to find, follow, & support the Capitalism for Good universe: Apple Podcasts (Bittersweet Paradox) | Apple Podcasts (Capitalism for Good) | Apple Podcasts (Capitalism for Green) | Bittersweet Paradox Patreon | Bittersweet Paradox Writing Club | Bluesky (Bittersweet Paradox) | Bluesky (Capitalism for Good) | Capitalism for Good’s Between the Interviews Podcast | Capitalism for Good Patreon | Capitalism for Green Patreon | Capitalism for Green: The Blog | Company Mentions | Email Bittersweet Paradox | Email Capitalism for Good | Email Capitalism for Green | Facebook | Instagram (Andrea & her 2026 Goal = No New Things, Only New Experiences) | Instagram (Bittersweet Paradox) | Instagram (Capitalism for Good) | Instagram (Capitalism for Green) | Spotify (Bittersweet Paradox) | Spotify (Capitalism for Good) | Spotify (Capitalism for Green) | The Store, by CFG | TikTok (Capitalism for Good) | YouTube (Capitalism for Good)Apple | Patreon | Email | Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. 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 PatreonPurchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodApple | Patreon | Email | Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ChiefsI'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: Charlie HustlePurchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodApple | Patreon | Email | Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. WilliamsI'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.Purchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodApple | Patreon | Email | Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"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...Purchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodApple | Patreon | Email | Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 41 - Video version first aired on 11/03/25The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below. Purchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodApple | Patreon | Email | Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 36 - Video version first aired on 09/29/25The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below. Purchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodApple | Patreon | Email | Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 23 - Video version first aired on 06/16/25The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below. Purchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodApple | Patreon | Email | Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 19 - Video version first aired on 05/19/25The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below. Purchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodApple | Patreon | Email | Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 16 - Video version first aired on 04/28/25The interview series can be found on all major podcast platforms by searching "Capitalism for Good" or through the links below. Purchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodApple | Patreon | Email | Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.