I Built a Company That Makes a Difference - Sustainable Small Business Podcast

In this episode, we talk to Maria Burgos, founder of Trendy Seconds, an online marketplace for secondhand clothing. Maria inspires and educates consumers to embrace sustainable fashion and maximize their positive impact through their closets. We discuss the circular economy and its opportunities for sustainable clothing brands. About Trendy Seconds: Trendy Seconds is a curated online marketplace f...

In this episode, we dive deep with Crystal Wiebe, the innovative mind behind the dog beer sensation, "Beer Paws". Chart her inspiring journey from the initial sparks of her business idea to her audacious move to the Hawaiian islands. Tackling challenges, embracing island life, and combining passion with purpose, Crystal shares invaluable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. Join us as we...

We spoke with Jenn Broadwick, co-founder and vice president of marketing and sales at Brixy, a company that makes bar soaps that are an alternative to plastic hair care products. She shared how they secured their first partner: Whole Foods. She also gave us some tips on how small businesses can come into wholesale and manage the expectations of both retailers and distributors. About Brixy: BRIXY s...

This week we speak to Chenlin Feng from Doviana, a sustainable, luxury jewellery brand. Listen in as we touch on leaning on a friend’s knowledge, the importance of a brick-and-mortar store, and how your current field doesn’t have to stop you from jumping into another- feet first! ‌ About Doviana: Doviana is a new-generation jewelry brand launched in New York City. We make affordable everyday fine...

This week we spoke to Jackie Faye from One January, a sports activewear brand and She Can Tri an organisation that helps empower women through sport. As an athlete, she believes more women will become leaders when more women have opportunities to play sports. Jackie took on her own challenge and became the first woman in the world to complete six IRONMAN triathlons on six continents within one yea...

This week we speak to Divya Alter from Divya’s Kitchen about her journey to healing through Ayurveda. From repairing an autoimmune condition to opening her own kitchen inspired by Ayurvedic teachings, Divya is truly a wealth of knowledge as a business owner and a chef! ‌ About Divya’s: Divya’s is on a mission to help people find joy, nourishment and balance through food. Based in Ayurvedic princip...

This week we speak to Taylor Morabito, co-owner of Friend of a Farmer about his family's legacy spanning over 30 years. Talking on everything from how to keep costs down, developing relationships with vendors and supporting other local businesses in Manhattan, tune in for nuggets of wisdom on becoming an entrepreneur. ‌ About Friend of a Farmer: Friend of a Farmer  has been a trailblazer in th...

From creating her own major at University to building a successful clothing and jewellery business, Leah Gans is truly a powerhouse. We speak to her about the cheap rent COVID created, the power of TikTok and the brilliant flea markets of Brooklyn. Listen to her tips to becoming a successful entrepreneur. ‌ About Les Miss NYC: Les Miss  is a one-of-a-kind shop curated by Leah Gans. Leah started ou...

This episode we speak to Gone to the Dogs founders Santos and Jennifer about their journey to starting their business. From a background in the Peace Corps to the strength of their local community during COVID, listen to their wisdom on becoming entrepreneurs and why we need to think consciously about what we put into our bodies as well as those of our furry friends. About Gone to the Dogs: Gone t...

Olivia Wolk, the founder of Bedford Vintage, speaks to us about the rise of secondhand clothing and the boom of apps such as Poshmark and Depop. From starting reselling in her college dorm to building a brick and mortar business, Olivia really has done it all. ‌ About Bedford Vintage: Bedford Vintage is a vintage fashion shop in Brooklyn, New York. Catering to everyone with curated pieces by Olivi...

Nora Young, the founder of Candy Colored Girl (a vintage fashion store in Bed Stuy), speaks to us about her journey from acting to costume design and how it lead to the birth of her shop. From trusting your gut, to the power of friends when starting a business, Nora has plenty of nuggets of wisdom to share. Learn why being introverted doesn’t have to be a barrier when starting a business and how t...

Better choices begins with what you put in your body. Oliver Sindlev, Vice President of Dr. Smood speaks to us about sourcing the best quality products, the strain of COVID, educating a community and celebrity endorsements. About Dr. Smood: Our mission is to offer clean, nutritious and flavorful everyday essentials to the world. Dr Smood is here to guide you on your journey to absolute health and...

Larasati Vitoux, the founder of Maison Jar NYC, was inspired by how many refill stores were in France but not in New York. She shares her experience of the difficulties in setting up a brick and mortar shop, the benefits of good diet and exercise and building strong relationships with her suppliers. About Maison Jar: At Maison Jar, our team strives to play our part in addressing the growing climat...

Cullen Schwarz, the founder of DoneGood, began his journey in politics. After realizing lasting change couldn’t come from policies but rather from the power of consumer spending, his idea for DoneGood was born. He shares his experience with struggling to get an idea off the ground, an entrepreneur's journey, and the shocking statistics surrounding modern-day slavery. ‌ About DoneGood: DoneGood...

Callie Milford, co-founder of No Tox Life and the inventor of the DISH BLOCK® solid dish soap, started her company after realizing how many toxins are in soaps. She shares her experience scaling the company from a small town in Texas to a global brand in over 3,500 stores. She also talks about her key learnings when it comes to lean manufacturing and focusing on key products. About No Tox Life: No...

Disposable packaging, including food containers from restaurants, accounts for 9 million tons of trash in the U.S. each year. Lauren Sweeney, CEO of DeliverZero, discusses how her company aims to reduce this number through its innovative reusable takeout containers. Lauren discussed the challenges her business faced during its early stages and how important it is to keep convenience in mind when b...

Callum Miller, co-founder of Ethy, a sustainable certification business in the UK, discusses what he sees companies doing wrong when promoting their sustainability efforts and how greenwashing can be avoided. He also shares his journey as an entrepreneur and why we must work together to tackle climate change. About ethy: ethy makes it easy and affordable for brands to communicate verified sustaina...

Alyssa Cherry's family tragedy led her to the realization that toxins are everywhere, in our environments and where we live, work and play. She wanted answers, so she decided to start a zero-waste soap company in North Carolina. Listen as Alyssa tells us how she built her company by trusting her gut feeling and expanding her business to wholesale. 👉 Join BeOne Community for more exclusive content

We talked to Katerina Bogatireva, the founder of Precycle, a zero-waste store in Brooklyn. She opened her store in 2018 after three years of planning and with a mission to reduce plastic waste. She shares how she coped with the pandemic, how it sparked an idea for a new concept store, and why she's now opening a second location in Brooklyn. 👉 Join BeOne Community for more exclusive content

Isabelle DeMillan, the founder of MightyBin (a zero-waste grocery store in San Diego), tells us about her journey to start a grocery store that is better for the environment.  She wanted a way to cut down on waste, so she started a grocery store that offers everything we need at daily basis, but creates less waste than other stores.  Learn how the store is using workshops to educate thei...

Susie Wang is the founder of 100% Pure , a pioneer and OG in the clean beauty industry having done it for more than 18 years. In this episode, she'll share her story of how she got into the beauty industry completely by accident when discovering how much toxic there is in cosmetics and how real animal testing is. Susie also shares tips to fellow entrepreneurs about how important it is to offer the...

We got to chat with Kat Dey and Phoebe Yu from ettitude , who are dedicated to creating a more sustainable and regenerative future for all by innovating the next-gen home fabric called clean bamboo that is an eco-friendly alternative to polyester and other synthetic materials. Well-being is at the core of their brand identity, which can be seen in their company values when it comes to staff well-b...

We had the opportunity to speak with Kathryn Letson from By the Sea Organics . Kathryn was a corporate fashion designer in New York for 23 years, working with brands like Gap and Ralph Lauren. But she decided to change her lifestyle and career path, founding her own sustainable fashion brand! We got to find out more about her story and ask her about some of the important learnings from her sustain...