Capitalism for Good

Folks, today we have Brooke Salvaggio, Owner of Urbavore Farm & Compost Collective KC as our 35th out of 100 business leaders making a positive impact on their community.  In this episode we talk about what it’s really like to own a purpose-driven business fuelled by intentionality down to every last detail. She tells a story full of big dreams and the big challenges that come alongside it. She’s an example of a radical leader who’s evolved over her time stating, “the 44 year old Brooke probably wouldn’t have had the nerve to do what 24 year old Brooke did.” But we’re grateful that 24 year old Brooke did channel the naivete of youth to create some really cool things that have the ability to feed an entire community, power a neighborhood with clean energy, provide a space for green education, and pull together a really cool ecosystem of a community. It hasn’t all been easy. We talk about the bureaucratic systems and people in powerful positions that hinder efforts to provide local food to neighbors, responsibly power neighborhoods, and education & support the community. It’s a set of frustrations that seem evident in the worlds of so many in the sustainable-business field. We talk about what happens when the framework of a world that currently exists isn’t good enough and what it means when you desperately want to function outside of that framework because you truly believe that it’s worthwhile in the long run to do so. Even more importantly, we talk about the impact of those decisions on the humans behind them threatening to take their optimism. Luckily for us though, she tells us that she’s not getting off this ride. She’ll continue to rise, create, grow, and inspire and we can’t wait to support & watch it all. Compost Collective KC: When you compost with us, your food waste becomes a part of this natural process by going back into the soil. What’s more, this food waste isn’t being cycled into just any soil. It is being cycled into the soil at a local farm, Urbavore, where it provides vital nutrients for an abundant selection of healthy, organic foods for the community. This very special farm serves as the “mothership” and the pilot site for a much greater vision of urban sustainability.This vision includes holistic compost hubs tied to farms and community gardens scattered throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. Like the hub we’ve created at Urbavore Farm, these compost hubs would not only handle and process the waste in a environmentally-friendly manner, but they would apply the finished compost to their fields to build soil, conserve water, and increase crop yields, thus strengthening our local food system and making organic produce more readily available.Urbavore Farm: Urbavore is a biologically diverse farmstead set on 13.5 acres in Kansas City's urban core. Our energy-independent systems for food production, waste, water and shelter redefine sustainability to build community and ecology. Urbavore includes fresh food & flowers grown locally on the farm, an farmstead dedicated to earth contact, solar power, & water recycling, composting services (see Compost Collective KC), and a whole lot of dreams & plans for the future. Shout out to: Curtis Millsap, Owner of Milsap FarmsLinks: Compost Collective KC WebsiteCompost Collective KC FacebookCompost Collective KC InstagramUrbavore Farm WebsiteUrbavore Farm FacebookUrbavore Farm Instagram  Between the Interviews (of the Capitalism for Good) Podcast | Company Mentions | BioSite | Email | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | The Store, by CFG | Transcripts | YouTube

Folks, today we have Katie Schmidt, Founder of Passion Lillie, a Fair Trade apparel brand really leveraging their brand to advocate for fair trade to push the industry in a more socially responsible and sustainable direction. She talks a lot about Fair Trade today and how that’s become a large priority in her decision making and operating process. There are links to Fair Trade as well as Passion Lillie in the show notes and the company mentions page. She also gives a well deserved and timely shout out to Joy McBrien, the Founder of Fair Anita, a jewelry & accessory brand also with a strong Fair Trade Federation foundation and based in Minnesota, so we’ve also added links to check out and support Fair Anita. Katie talks about how Passion Lillie started, how the industry has changed over time, and the impact that the Fair Trade Federation has had on herself and the business over the past 13 years. We talk about challenges, being adaptable, but also about how advocacy through community contributes to positive changes. She talks very highly about being part of The Fair Trade Federation and how it touches so many aspects of her business. It helps with advocacy and outreach. It helps shape internal company culture and processes. It helps with decisions about materials, partners, and manufacturing. As much as certifications and organizations like The Fair Trade Federation are known for being trusted sources of reputation that some customers look for in order to get a sense of company values, it’s also a tremendous assistance to help companies follow a blueprint that allows them to function in a socially responsible and sustainable way. It’s a resource for all helping companies like Passion Lillie to expand their reach and influence to push the boundaries of the apparel industry in a positive direction.Katie also talks about the community of like-minded leaders and organizations that she’s become connected to through retail relationships, advocacy, and connecting to other Fair Trade businesses. Her shout out is to a kindred spirit of a business called Fair Anita based in Minnesota selling jewelry, accessories, and gifts while also giving back to the community and being mindful of their impact. It’s businesses like these and leaders like these folks that give us a little ray of hope that we can make a positive impact. Shout out to: Joy O’Brien, Founder of Fair AnitaInstagram | Company Mentions | BioSite | Transcripts | YouTube

This is 100 interviews with business leaders making a positive difference in their community. I’m a small business leader looking to learn from those who’ve founded, grown, led, and scaled companies while keeping their values front and center. I’m looking for those who’ve managed to keep their soul intact. I’m looking for folks who’ve done things the right ways so I can follow in the footsteps and learn from them in real time. I’m also a customer looking to make intentional decisions about how I spend my money. I’m recording those conversations here in the Capitalism for Good podcast project. Today we have Elizabeth Hudy, Owner of The Peach Fuzz. This is a creative brand with a strong giveback game both monetarily through donating a portion of sales, but also sharing freely resources that she's created to help other small businesses. In fact, I heard about her right here on this podcast while interviewing Tory Hall, Owner & Operator of Sower Books in Lincoln, NE when she mentioned seeing Elizabeth redistributing higher than expected profits to her employees and how Tory wanted to figure out how to do the same. Elizabeth also leverages her fun creative designs on stickers, hair clips, lighters, and all sorts of things to make a clear message: all are welcome and we should care about one another. That intentionality can be seen in every detail from eco-friendly materials and mindful packaging to donating 10% of every purchase to a worthwhile cause to t-shirts and pins with messages like: abolish ice, queer joy cannot be legislated away, and baseball hats that just say “overwhelmed.” She’s a self-described “neurodivergent loudmouth” creative with an accounting background here to make some moves, start some conversations, and do a lot of good. So, get cozy if you want to. Settle in. I’ll start here with my perspective on this conversation. Here’s a woman who’s taking her own skills and talents and freely sharing them with others working to also turn their own skills and talents into thriving businesses just like The Peach Fuzz. Here’s a woman boldly bringing people into her community by demanding that they be seen, heard, loved, and accepted and giving people a way to announce that they’re a fellow safe community member with bright colors and flashy designs. Here’s a woman that’s putting her money where her mouth is by donating more than $400,000 of those profits right back to causes to support that community that’s supporting The Peach Fuzz.This is the woman behind a company that’s a powerhouse of good in a logical and strategic way. This is a woman whose voice deserves to be heard because she’s actively listening and valuing those around her. This is a woman whose voice deserves to be heard now. Not when my arbitrary plan had considered sliding her in at a later date. Now. So if you want to channel your money into a company that will exponentially explode its impact for good, then I recommend The Peach Fuzz. If you want an example of how to build your business model in a way that creates your own personal stability while also fighting back against the chaos of the powers around us, then I recommend listening to how Elizabeth has done it. If you want some tangible advice about how she approaches risk and scales her company, then I recommend paying attention to Elizabeth. And if you want a really freaking cute patch to put on your favorite purse to show people that you’re a fellow lover of all humans (because all humans deserve to be loved), then I recommend looking through the designs that she created with her own beautiful brain. There are a lot of things in this world that make be frustrated, angry, fearful, hopeless, and feeling swept up into the chaos, but what Elizabeth has created demands that I remember the goodness in people and that community is the key. It’s the answer.Alright. That’s enough. Lets go leave this place better than we found it. Shout out to: NooworksTory Hall, Owner of Sower Books

This is 100 interviews with business leaders making a positive difference in their community. I’m a small business leader looking to learn from those who’ve founded, grown, led, and scaled companies while keeping their values front and center. I’m looking for those who’ve managed to keep their soul intact. I’m looking for folks who’ve done things the right ways so I can follow in the footsteps and learn from them in real time. I’m also a customer looking to make intentional decisions about how I spend my money. I’m recording those conversations here in the Capitalism for Good podcast project. Today we have Elizabeth Hudy, Owner of The Peach Fuzz. This is a creative brand with a strong giveback game both monetarily through donating a portion of sales, but also sharing freely resources that she's created to help other small businesses. In fact, I heard about her right here on this podcast while interviewing Tory Hall, Owner & Operator of Sower Books in Lincoln, NE when she mentioned seeing Elizabeth redistributing higher than expected profits to her employees and how Tory wanted to figure out how to do the same. Elizabeth also leverages her fun creative designs on stickers, hair clips, lighters, and all sorts of things to make a clear message: all are welcome and we should care about one another. That intentionality can be seen in every detail from eco-friendly materials and mindful packaging to donating 10% of every purchase to a worthwhile cause to t-shirts and pins with messages like: abolish ice, queer joy cannot be legislated away, and baseball hats that just say “overwhelmed.” She’s a self-described “neurodivergent loudmouth” creative with an accounting background here to make some moves, start some conversations, and do a lot of good. So, get cozy if you want to. Settle in. I’ll start here with my perspective on this conversation. Here’s a woman who’s taking her own skills and talents and freely sharing them with others working to also turn their own skills and talents into thriving businesses just like The Peach Fuzz. Here’s a woman boldly bringing people into her community by demanding that they be seen, heard, loved, and accepted and giving people a way to announce that they’re a fellow safe community member with bright colors and flashy designs. Here’s a woman that’s putting her money where her mouth is by donating more than $400,000 of those profits right back to causes to support that community that’s supporting The Peach Fuzz.This is the woman behind a company that’s a powerhouse of good in a logical and strategic way. This is a woman whose voice deserves to be heard because she’s actively listening and valuing those around her. This is a woman whose voice deserves to be heard now. Not when my arbitrary plan had considered sliding her in at a later date. Now. So if you want to channel your money into a company that will exponentially explode its impact for good, then I recommend The Peach Fuzz. If you want an example of how to build your business model in a way that creates your own personal stability while also fighting back against the chaos of the powers around us, then I recommend listening to how Elizabeth has done it. If you want some tangible advice about how she approaches risk and scales her company, then I recommend paying attention to Elizabeth. And if you want a really freaking cute patch to put on your favorite purse to show people that you’re a fellow lover of all humans (because all humans deserve to be loved), then I recommend looking through the designs that she created with her own beautiful brain. There are a lot of things in this world that make be frustrated, angry, fearful, hopeless, and feeling swept up into the chaos, but what Elizabeth has created demands that I remember the goodness in people and that community is the key. It’s the answer.Alright. That’s enough. Lets go leave this place better than we found it. Shout out to: NooworksTory Hall, Owner of Sower Books

The January 2026 CFG Community Giveback Partner is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.This means that 10% of all Patreon membership dollars from all projects within the CFG universe will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.The next round of interviews for the Capitalism for Good project will be back in January! Keep an eye out for new episodes soon! All 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 (Bittersweet Paradox) | Instagram (Capitalism for Good) | Instagram (Capitalism for Green) | Spotify (Bittersweet Paradox) | Spotify (Capitalism for Good) | Spotify (Capitalism for Green) | TikTok (Capitalism for Good) | YouTube (Capitalism for Good)

This week is yet another outcome from my November 2025 Instagram algorithm dive to find companies that were doing their part to support their community. Mothership Coffee’s Sip with Purpose program chooses a new nonprofit to support each quarter with customers purchasing a designated drink with proceeds benefiting the charity. It’s another creative way to integrate a community giveback program into the DNA of the business model. It’s a way of prioritizing the people all around the business, inside and out, to give them an extra boost of the warm & fuzzies. It’s this culture that brought me to Lisa Tanasi, COO of Mothership Coffee & Sunrise Coffee in Las Vegas, Nevada. Capitalism for Good looks for the definition of “community” that involves a group of people cheering one another on and encouraging them to keep going, keep trying, and keep doing good work. Lisa talks about ending the interview with Mothership with a compliment about the company and a genuine wish for success in the future. That’s what community is all about here. It’s a true crowd cheering on one another regardless of whether or not we reap the benefits of it. It’s truly wanting folks and companies to succeed when it’s deserved regardless of what our role is in that success. The warm & fuzzy community is also backed by logistical & strategic operational practices that provide the structure to succeed. Much like what leaders like Stacy Grace and Lindsey McCoy mentioned, Lisa & Juanny have clear delineations between roles so each person can thrive within their own wheelhouses. That gives room for each to thrive where they do best. There’s a key function to the internal community that seems to happen when strengths are recognized and fostered by aligning with a professional role regardless of what level we’re talking about. Again, another theme that Lisa brings up is when someone earlier in her career recognized her own strengths and encouraged her to lean into them. When we have those folks in our communities that spot our talents and support being able to run free with them, we often figure out what feels best for us. We learn from the things that we mess up or that don’t work as well as we wanted them to. But because we enjoy the freedom and following the things that bring us joy (and that give us our own warm & fuzzies), we continue to follow them (again, I really think Tory Hall is onto something here with the evolutionary advantage of the warm & fuzzies…).Entrepreneurial grit in 17 years gave her the thick skin that she needed to thrive in the corporate world. In corporate America, she talks about how she earned her metaphorical MBA getting education & exposure on all the foundational aspects of a large company. Then moving into the world of Mothership, she brought with her humanity, humility, grace, and recognition that we’re all imperfect humans just trying to do our best. It’s the personal connection. Even as I was editing this episode, I pictured Lisa’s words hitting home for folks and texted a friend with a heads up that I would recommend she prioritize this episode (shout out Sara!). Lisa’s way of connecting is something that we can each find our own throughline within our own lives and careers. Calling out my own bias here, obviously I also personally love someone that encourages me to “stay in the questions.” If I’m going to follow the same logic of the themes here, it’s likely because that question strength gives me my own warm & fuzzies when I lean into it. It’s empathetic leadership like this that we can all learn something from and can all find ways to set others up for success. And for that, I’m incredibly thankful that she took the time to share her story & perspective for all of us to learn from! Shout out to: Motivational speakersLinda HofferBonus mentions: Happy Ending ChocolateThe extended full version of this episode is available at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGood.