Cultures within Capitalism

Post-Social: Growing Your Business Beyond the Algorithms Post-Social is a gathering for entrepreneurs building businesses without relying on social media. In a culture that prizes constant posting and algorithmic visibility, this panel explores what happens when you step away—and what you might gain. Moderated by Martha Williams ( BreakBread World ), with panelists Harry Doull ( Keap Candles ), Ho...

This month, I welcome Frederick Woodruff to the pod. Frederick is the founder of Frederick Woodruff Astrology. You can find him here writing about astrology, politics, and culture. We talk all things current astrology, how they can relate to leadership and entrepreneurship, how we find acceptance and the mystical in astrology, and why we're likely in the blackening phase of alchemy. Yikes! I...

This month of the pod, I welcome John Sorensen-Jolink of Coil and Drift . As a fellow dancer, John shares his experience moving through the dance world and into the design world. He gives us insight into what it is like to move through multiple careers, to build a studio and team from scratch, and to continue to follow your creative vision even if that means moving through mediums. John recently r...

For the final conversation of 2024, I'm so excited to share this episode with Spencer Bailey, co-founder of Time Sensitive and the slowdown . Spencer shares with us what he means by culture forward, sharing my favorite definition of culture thus far: Till-Based Knowledge. I found this conversation a revelation to really think about the value of culture and how it can transform us if we seek i...

This month on the pod, I welcome Jess Morelli of Palermo Body . Palermo has just celebrated their 9th anniversary this past September. Jess lets us in on her personal journey of growing Palermo over the last 9 years. From its very personal inception inspired by her Nona to the present day, where she leads a small team, manufactures in-house, and can be found throughout the US bringing botanical sk...

This month, I'm so excited to have Adam Brand of M&S Schmalberg on the pod. I met Adam while working with the Garment District Revitalization program in NYC a few years back. M&S Schmalberg is a 108-year-old (yes, you read that correctly) fabric flower manufacturer with the most fascinating and inspiring story. Adam, now at the helm of this multigenerational business, is a total joy t...

This month on the pod, I welcome Rebecca Atwood . Rebecca is a rare talent who is able to carve out paths as both an artist and designer. In this episode, Becca shares what it was like to grow her business from her apartment in Brooklyn to her current studio in Charleston, SC. Becca shares lessons from working in her parent's restaurant on Cape Cod as a teenager, how she found herself at RISD...

This month on the pod, I welcome Alex Daly and Ally Bruschi of Orchard Street . You may remember Alex Daly as the very first guest on this podcast back in 2022, and now she is back with her partner Ally as they launch Orchard Street—a seed fund that invests in workplace-shaping ideas—pairing funding with deep strategic advising around Comms, Operations, and Culture Building. Alex and Ally tell us...

This podcast holds very special meaning for me. Susan Povich of the Red Hook Lobster Pound was one of my very first clients and the first client I ever got through cold outreach (you'll have to listen all the way to the end to find out how I did it!). Susan and her husband Ralph, partners in RHLP, are an incredible force and are full of wisdom. Susan takes us back to the beginning, before Bro...

This month on the pod, I welcome Rachel Van Dolsen, Founder of RVD Communications –– Recently Acquired by Band of Insiders . I'm excited to bring Rachel's story of how she built and sold RVD Communications. She is a 2022 graduate of the Business Growth Program and, during graduation, set a goal to sell her company, so I was thrilled to receive an email from her earlier this year informin...

This month on the pod, I welcome Harry Doull of Keap . Keap was born from a philosophical question: In an always-on world, how can we reconnect with ourselves and restore our balance with nature? This is a very rich conversation about running a business today. Harry shares what it was like to grow up in a castle! (bed and breakfast) and the business lessons he learned (one of my favorite conversat...

This month on the pod, I welcome Al Fine of Dame . Dame is committed to changing the way sexual wellness and pleasure are understood and experienced in the world. Wired named Dame one of the most innovative wellness companies of 2020, and Al was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine's 30 under 30. Al shares what it has been like to usher Dame through its first almost-decade of life, the childhoo...

This month, I welcome to the pod Cari Sekendur of Butter Studio and host of the podcast The Spread: Where Sports and Creativity Meet Bottom Line . Cari is a talented designer living out her vision from Berlin. Her work has recently been featured in The Brand Identity , The Creative Review , and AIGA Eye on Design , among many others. A fellow Chicagoan, Cari, shares how her unconventional backgrou...

This month on the pod, I welcome Mandell Conway, founder of Giving Is Like and Coach at Seth Godin's altMBA .  This episode holds a special place in my heart as Mandell is also a founding member of Book Club! Mandell shares his journey from learning childhood lessons from his mother about giving, how that informed his approach to generosity, his very winding path to joining the coaching team...

This month I welcome to the pod Sara Berks of Minna .  Minna is a queer-lead BCorp selling ethically handcrafted goods for you and your home. In this episode, Sara shares generously about what it's like to collaborate with 26 artisan groups throughout Latin America, what her 5th-grade bedroom looked like (hello blow-up couch!), how queerness has been a guiding principle, what she's learn...

This month on the podcast, I welcome Chelsea Minola of Grain  in Bainbridge Island, Washington. Chelsea and her husband, James Minola, run a creative partnership exploring the poetic objects of an intentional life.  Chelsea shares her experience with design, becoming a certified BCorp, deciding to run a design studio outside of a major city, investing in robots to expand their practice, her deep d...

Alex Schmidt (b. Chicago, IL) is an artist and MFA candidate at Hunter College (anticipated graduation F/W 2023). Alex has been a guest lecturer for my business growth programs on the topics of both feedback and improvisation for leaders. I find Alex’s work brilliantly helpful when it comes to thinking more openly about what feedback is and how improv can help you create a crack through which an u...

This month, I welcome my fellow Irish Midwesterner ;) Molly Fitzpatrick of Dittohouse and Molly Fitzpatrick Studio . Molly is that rare entrepreneur who truly operates from a place of wholeness and integrity . Molly shares her wisdom about how she used her values to guide the creation of systems of solidarity with her manufacturing partners— Trama Textiles in Guatemala—her commitment to the profit...

This month I'm excited to welcome Brent Young of The Meat Hook and Cozy Royale to the pod. Brent is one of my longest-standing clients, and it's always a joy and a privilege to witness someone's growth over a long period of time. Brent shares so much wisdom, including what it's like to start out as four business partners and be the last man standing, why culture doesn't ju...

This month I'm excited to welcome Erica Weiner and Lindsay Salmon of Erica Weiner to the pod. Erica and Lindsay are a dynamic duo and one of the rare examples of business partners who achieve longevity. Hear their experience of what it's like to go through couples therapy as business partners, completely transform their business model from a table at the original artists and fleas to two...

Luis Mojica is the founder of Holistic Life Navigation . Unlike the previous episodes, Luis is neither a graduate of the Business Growth Program nor a private client. Luis is my former therapist and a dear colleague. In this episode, we talk about his journey to Somatic Therapy, what couples therapy can teach you about leadership, non-charged capitalism, and changing how you relate to your busines...

Mike Duesenberg is a 2021 graduate of the Business Growth Program . Mike is the founder of Blank Studio in Chicago, IL (#wootwoot). Mike is our first solopreneur on the pod. We talk about everything from his family history with the Duesenberg Car , Indy Racing, Starter Jackets , his first record label in 2002, powerlifting, and our favorite Real Housewives , lol! He shares his wisdom about learnin...

Ellie Lum of Klum House  joins the pod to share her journey from friendship-bracelet maker to psychedelics dealer to graffiti artist, bike messenger, industrial sewer to educator and entrepreneur. She shares her feelings and insights about rules & structure,  the difference between leadership & management, the importance of seeing yourself as separate from your company, using your values a...

This is a new series under the Cultures [w/n] Capitalism umbrella. We're bringing together pop culture and business culture to learn valuable lessons about growth. In this episode, Matt Little returns to discuss: JLo’s Halftime Documentary on Netflix Beyonce’s Break My Soul Martha Stewart’s new podcast with Snoop episode #1 We'll dig into psychographics versus demographics, leadership, v...

St. John Frizell is the founder of Fort Defiance , and partner at Gage & Tollner and the Sunken Harbor Club , all in Brooklyn, NY. This episode talks about visioning, perseverance relating to regeneration and growth, and creating jobs with dignity.