Capitalism for Good - Between the Interviews

Here’s my caveat to my thoughts & reflections for this week: remember, I’m new to this game. I’ve been thinking a lot about the way in which our society has set up channels to fund creative endeavors. The more I think about it, the weirder it seems to me that we have this large powerful revenue stream of creatives being paid by potentially unrelated advertisers gaining their revenue from customers. For anyone that’s been in the creative field for a while, this is likely speaking the obvious out loud here: why aren’t we, as consumers of creative projects, paying creators directly? Why is an unrelated 3rd party needed, and often, the flashy revenue stream? For any creators that have successfully built through direct from consumer sales without 3rd party advertisers, hit me up! I’d love to talk to you about your experience in doing that, lessons learned, unexpected hurdles, and advice to others. The dream would be to put all of our effort together to change the tide so that it’s easier and more accessible for creatives to be paid directly for their work whether we’re talking about a writer, actor, makeup artist, social media creative, painter, etc. What’s been your experience? And what are your thoughts about all of this? What I’m listening to: Speaking of creatives, I have refueled my love for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, especially those that are new to me. I love discovering new musicians that I otherwise wouldn’t have heard of and being able to hear their personalities show through. I also recommend Sofar Sounds for a similar reason. They’re small pop up concerts in many different cities and have also been a great venue for discovering new (to me) artists. Check them out if they have shows near you!I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but here’s where I’m putting my dollar: Last week, I went to watch a live podcast with my sister and would highly recommend checking out these folks, especially the musicians! No Small Endeavor with guest Malcom Gladwell + musicians: Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Alicia Enstrom, Ruby AmanfuPurchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodAll 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)

We all make decisions differently. I can be incredibly analytical and thrive when I’m in a position to look at the entire road map, assess the options by gathering as much information as is reasonable, identifying the destination as well as the potential risks & associated resources, and then handing over that plan for a champion executor. At the same time, part of that information assessment phase is that I listen to my gut & intuition. While so much of my information gathering is fact-based, that repeatedly tested attention to my physician gut reaction has proven to be a valuable source of information. That’s what works for me and is what makes me feel good about the lane I’m in (call back to the interview with Shannon Masterson where she advises to “Find your lane. Get in it and feel good about it.”While that’s what works for me in my personal and professional life, that’s not the way everyone operates best. The key is to understand and value the processes that others around us make to make decisions. By trusting that there’s value in the way others work best and allowing each of them to thrive in their own way and in their own lane, we’re recognizing and adding to the confidence behind their decisions. There’s value in everyone playing their own role aligned to their strengths. How do we continue to capitalize on everyone’s individual strengths in building better community to benefit the greater good (even just by 1% more). How do you go about making decisions? What have I been listening to: Not Gonna Lie podcast with Kylie Kelce - talk about a woman who values the choices and decisions of others. I imagine that she and I live very different lives with very different experiences, but her relatability is unmatched by any other podcast I’ve listened to. She’s a champion for women, individualized confidence, and reasonability through self-awareness. I’m a proud Real One. I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: Tickets to sports games, especially those that are in minor leagues! Major league teams in most sports get a lot of the hype and attention, but there’s so much to cheer for in the minor leagues. There’s talent and entertainment in smaller markets that is very cool to watch as they follow their passion and skill. Shout out to the Louisville Bats, Memphis Redbirds, Springfield Cardinals, Tacoma Rainiers, Toledo Mud Hens, and Quad Cities River Bandits. Purchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodAll 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)

I was just visiting KCMO, which I called home many years ago, and found myself bursting with nostalgic pride while being there and showing my friends and loved ones around town. In this episode, I give examples of experiences I’ve had while shopping local and also how “shopping local” has expanded into online communities with proceeds still directly benefiting geographic localities. Whether it’s purchasing a t-shirt from your favorite local restaurant in your old town, wearing a baseball hat with your favorite basketball team on it, or buying a one-of-a-kind painting from a local artist, shopping local can really lift up your community members and can lead to connections with others. Even better, these connections with others are almost entirely unique to small businesses and are largely not common with larger chain businesses.  What have I been reading: Small Ball BIg Dreams by Joel Goldberg (shout out to him & KC Slugerrr being so friendly and fun when I lucked out to find the author signing books when I was on the hunt to buy that book from a local KCMO bookstore!)I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: Made in KC & The Bunker - I could go on & on about my favorite places in Kansas City, but these two are both places that I just purchased items from when I was visiting last. Highly recommend clothes, jewelry, books, shoes, planters, etc. Bonus shout outs to: Tony Packo’s in Toledo, OH, Beer Kitchen in Kansas City, MO (Westport), Harpo’s in Kansas City, MO (Westport)Purchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGood

What started as something in the zeitgeist of my childhood became a frequent topic of discussion and then I tool that I’ve since used many times to understand other people in a different way. On the surface, the recycle bin analogy distinguishes between those who don’t believe that all recycling is truly recycled so they they choose to always throw away their trash and those who always choose the recycle bin in hopes that there’s at least a chance that it will end up being recycled. When we dig a little deeper, we can find so many more options and so many more complexities in the “why” behind that decision. What’s your stance? What have I am reading: Wirecutter - it’s another tool in the toolbox when making purchase decisions.I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: Local boutiques - I just went shopping for a dress to wear for a wedding I’m going to this weekend. A few that I lucked out with this weekend are Mamili, Peplum, and Magnolia & Fig in Louisville, KY. Purchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGood

In the words of Kacey Musgraves, “I’m alright with a slow burn.” I moved at turbo speed for so much of my life figuratively and literally running as fast as I could. For many years of my late teens and early twenties, I lived with the goal of “never saying no to anything unless I could think of 3 good reasons to not do it.” Let me tell you, I lived a full life during that time. I also didn’t sleep much and thrived being fueled by caffeine, anxiety, and forward motion. I don’t regret a moment of it, but my goals and mantras have since evolved into finding ways to simplify, slow down, and to find enjoyment from saying no. What I learned was that there is so much value in not getting caught up in the whirlwind of life when it’s not necessary. There’s value in doing without manufactured stress and arbitrary deadlines that aren’t always necessary. Life’s stressful enough; why create more stress? What I found was by making small decisions and making small changes, I ended up saving myself money, time, and stress. I carried that over to my work life and learned to prioritize thoughtful analysis and strategic planning over just checking the box. It turns out that strategic planning can actually help check the boxes when it’s done right.What am I reading: The Joy of Missing Out by Tanya Dalton - The FOMO vs. JOMO comparison was a frequent topic at a recent trip to watch the Ohio Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Weekend in Evansville, IN - Go SIUE and Go Jayhawks! (really channeling my love for Ted Lasso here with Coach Barone being the real life Ted Lasso & the real life Jason Sudekis being a fellow big Kansas fan here) - in comparing introverts with extroverts and finding ways that we’re all different or similar. We’re all different and we all have different ways that we feel fulfilled. In the last decade, I’ve really leaned into the JOMO part of myself and it’s served me well. I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: I’m not. By that I mean that, I’m relatively frugal. I don’t often buy single use things or even things that don’t need purchasing. I’m talking about reusing glass jars and bottles as storage containers and vases. I’m talking using old towels and t-shirts with holes in them instead of paper towels. It’s probably been more than a decade since I’ve spent money on paper towels or napkins. If there’s not a real need or desire for it, generally I’m not buying it.Now, again. I’m not over the top. I try to keep my life pretty simple and 10-15 years later, I’m happy to report that while life can get stressful and can get to be a lot, I don’t feel it the way I used to. I credit that a lot to purposely simplifying as I’ve aged. It didn’t happen overnight. It happened slowly over more than a decade. I have a strong desire to not stress over things that don’t absolutely need to be stressed over because I’ve learned that there’s so much in life that is unexpected and deserves the stress. The last thing I want to do is manufacture more stress. Purchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodAll 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 | Bluesky (Capitalism for Good) | 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 | 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)

Today, I do some back of the napkin math to examine the cost of turnover vs. investing into employees and when it might make sense to choose one over the other. We use the lens of different financial business models and how they may be guided by flashy buzzwords and arbitrary deadlines expedited by manufactured urgency. Ultimately, is chasing the flashy thing really worth it in the end or would a differently focused investment give way to longevity and stability fueling better results? How do you calculate the return on investment? What have I have been listening to: The Dollop (both a regular listen and attending live podcast recording shows) - It’s well researched, hilarious, entertaining, thought provoking, and I never fail to learn something new from it. The host, Dave Anthony, reads a true historical story to his friend, Garreth Reynolds. The relatability of the co-host reacting to the outrageous twists in turn at the same time the listener is reacting is genius. I'm not telling you what to do, but here's where I'm putting my dollar: RareformPurchase the full Collection of Between the Interviews episodes (includes video option) here or at Patreon.com/CapitalismForGoodAll 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)