Talking Purpose: The Purpose and Profit Business Podcast

What happens when two coffee obsessives decide to build something they're genuinely proud of — with no money, no investors, and nothing but a handshake? In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Bassett, co-founder of Little Victories Coffee Roasters in Ottawa, Ontario. Andrew started LVC at 20 years old after a formative year working in Melbourne's world-class cafe scene. Ten years later,...

What if the most powerful marketing tool available to you as a founder is just being yourself? In this episode, I sit down with Caroline Ndiangui — founder of ITSO Coffee and 2024 North American RT Foundation Award winner — to unpack how she built a specialty coffee brand rooted in ethical sourcing, women's empowerment, and radical transparency. Born and raised on a coffee farm in Kenya, Caro...

What if everything you know about e-commerce marketing is the opposite of what actually works? In this episode, I sit down with Angela D. Clark — former VP of Digital at Patagonia and founder of Eclipse Advisory Group — to unpack the marketing philosophy behind one of the most purpose-driven brands on the planet. No paid Instagram ads. No discount codes. No chasing trends. Just a deeply intentiona...

What do you do when an entire industry is drowning in waste — and nobody's talking about it? In this episode, I sit down with Irina McKenzie, founder of FABCYCLE and Sewjo, to unpack how she built a purpose-driven business around one of fashion's most ignored problems: textile waste. From community repair events to a thriving fabric rescue shop, to building two tech products from scratch...

What if your product could feed 100 people every time someone bought it? In this episode, I sit down with Seema Sanghavi, founder of Cooks Who Feed — a Canadian social enterprise that combats hunger and food waste through ethically handmade kitchen textiles. Seema's "1-for-100" model is simple but powerful: every apron sold provides 100 meals to those in need. From a transformative...

Welcome back to Talking Purpose!  Is your marketing message getting lost in the noise? In this episode, Katie sits down with Drew Green, a performance marketing expert who has led campaigns for Fortune 50 brands. From starting his first business at 16 to scaling the first true pickleball-focused marketing agency, Drew knows what it takes to get noticed. We explore his "secret sauce" for...

Tired of burning through your ad budget? Here are 5 proven ways to drive traffic to your online store without spending a dollar on ads. In this solo episode, I'm breaking down sustainable, long-term strategies that build community, trust, and a loyal customer base—not just quick wins. What we cover: Pinterest – The untapped search engine for high-intent shoppers (perfect for lifestyle, fashio...

Welcome back to Talking Purpose! What does it take to walk away from Amazon when your business is growing? Vanessa Marshall, founder of Jack59, made that exact decision after 10 years—and she's never looked back. Vanessa built Jack59 from a bad vacation experience with a shampoo bar into an indigenous-owned sustainable haircare brand now in 500+ stores across Canada. Along the way, she's...

Welcome back to Talking Purpose! Tired of feeling like operating with integrity is too expensive or complicated? I sat down with Amanda Baker, founder and CEO of Baked Good Impact, to prove that running a business with purpose is the ultimate strategy for financial security, reduced risk, and explosive customer retention. In this episode, Amanda draws on her experience overhauling the supply chain...

Welcome back to Talking Purpose! Here's a truth bomb: your brand experience IS your sales funnel. They're the same thing. Every interaction someone has with your brand—whether it's scrolling your Instagram, reading your About page, unboxing your product, or attending your pop-up—is a step in the journey from curiosity to conversion. And if those experiences aren't strategically...

Welcome back to Talking Purpose!  What does it take to build a business that creates abundance for everyone—not just the founder? In this episode, I sit down with Monica Grunick, co-founder of love, Pittsburgh, a gift shop that supports over 100 Pittsburgh-based artists and makers across three brick-and-mortar locations. Monica and her business partner Kelly started with a simple wish in 2016: a p...

Welcome back to Talking Purpose! Think building a profitable, purpose-driven business means working yourself to the bone? Brian Thompson, tax attorney and financial advisor to LGBTQ+ mission-driven entrepreneurs, is here to call BS on that idea—and every other myth holding values-aligned founders back. After a decade defending people against the IRS, Brian pivoted to helping entrepreneurs be proac...

On today’s episode of Talking Purpose, I sit down with Sajna Massey, the remarkable founder and CEO of Couth Studios—a trailblazing brand that’s redefining the intersection of technology, sustainability, and fashion. Sajna shares the inspiring story behind her journey from electrical engineering and tech to launching her own data-driven fashion house, motivated by a desire to cut down on overprodu...

In today’s very special solo episode, I’m tackling a topic that’s often overlooked but absolutely vital for mission-led and sustainable e-commerce businesses: the product experience. Have you ever poured your heart into crafting a brand with a powerful mission, only to wonder why your product isn’t flying off the shelves? It might be because you’re missing the mark when it comes to delivering a me...

Welcome back! Today I sit down with Cahill Camden, CEO and founder of NovaCast AI, an innovative platform helping podcasters and entrepreneurs connect and amplify their voices. Cahill joins us from Vancouver, sharing stories from his global digital nomad lifestyle and offering inspiration for those dreaming of location-independent work. Together, we have a chance to dive into brand building in 202...

Welcome back to Talking Purpose! In today’s episode, I sit down with her longtime friend, Megan Ryder Burbidge, the inspiring CEO and founder of Sororal—a sustainable travel company dedicated to empowering women around the world. Together, we dive into Megan’s journey from growing up as a kid who traveled the world with her parents' work, to building a business that pairs intentional, luxury...

Welcome back to Talking Purpose! In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Hutchisson, CEO of Common Impact, to dive into the world of corporate philanthropy and skills-based volunteering. Rachel shares her personal journey from a childhood surrounded by community service to leading an organization that acts as a “philanthropic matchmaker” between companies and nonprofits. The conversation unpacks h...

In this captivating episode I sit down with the inspirational Adila Cokar, joining us all the way from Dubai. Adila, the founder of the innovative brand The Good Tee and the author of "Source My Garment," takes us through her incredible journey in the sustainable fashion industry. Her story is one of relentless learning and adapting, as she passionately advocates for responsible fashion...

Welcome! I am so pumped today to have Luke Tengstrom. He is the author of the growing e-commerce newsletter, the Sellout Newsletter and he he is an expert in e commerce growth. We had a lot to talk about as we had a lot in common. Hailing from Australia, but now making waves in America, Luke brings his unique perspective and wealth of experience to this episode, shedding light on the essential str...

Welcome to an intriguing episode of Talking Purpose, where we dive into the dynamic intersection of technology and brand development with our insightful guest, Janey Park. Janey, the visionary creator of The Digital Runway , is at the forefront of where fashion innovation meets groundbreaking tech. In this episode, Janey shares her fascinating journey through the realms of luxury fashion and marke...

In this captivating episode of Talking Purpose, I welcome Phil Winters, the visionary and co-founder of GoodLot Brewing in Caledon Ontario, for an in-depth discussion about the intersection of craft beer and sustainability.  Phil takes listeners on a journey back when he and his partner Gail decided to transform a 30-acre farm into a sustainable brewing enterprise. With sustainability as a core pr...

Welcome to "Talking Purpose," where stories of passion, innovation, and impact take center stage. In this episode, titled "Rootless," host Katie Kung engages in a captivating conversation with Sachi Singh, founder and CEO of Rootless. Her passion for environmental impact led her to discover the wonders of seaweed—an ingredient she envisions as a transformative force in food, he...

Welcome back to another enlightening episode of "Talking Purpose," where we delve into the heart of influencer marketing and its immense potential for purpose-driven brands. Joining us today is Bella Kuscu, a seasoned expert in the PR and influencer marketing sphere. Throughout this episode, Bella shares her rich experiences from working with notable brands like Flat Tummy Tea to offerin...

Welcome to another enlightening episode of "Talking Purpose." I am your host, Katie Kung, thrilled to embark on this journey with Donna Bungard, the director of accessibility at Indeed, the #1 job site in the world1 and a global job matching and hiring platform As we kick off 2025, Donna shares her compelling origin story, growing up within the larger disability community, and how it nat...

Welcome everyone to Talking Purpose, This week, I sit down with Zina Grossman, the Chief Growth Officer at WANNA Fashion, to explore the transformative world of augmented reality (AR) in the realms of fashion and e-commerce. Zina takes us through her intriguing progression into the AR space, starting from her first brush with this technology through the popular game, Pokemon Go, to her pivotal rol...