Capitalism for Good - Between the Interviews

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)

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)

Hey folks. Let’s talk about dollars. The impact of dollars. The cost of dollars. The cost of things. As I’ve had an increased ratio of these kinds of conversations in the last year(and let me tell you, I was already annoyingly interested in these kinds of conversations before I started this project), I keep hearing a couple similar themes over and over when it comes specifically to sustainably manufactured and/or socially responsible goods & services. One is time. Put a pin in that one (or, rather, listen to many of the previous & future Between the Interviews episodes for counter points to that one). Two is cost. It is seemingly more expensive to purchase sustainable goods. We could start with just the straight harm reduction on a global scale example like with Indosole, but sometimes I think these examples feel too abstract or global to impact the individual person (unless your individual person is me). Instead, let’s go back to elementary school and talk this through word-problem style.Reusable paper towels:Single Use Option: 1 roll of disposable paper towels at my local Walmart = $1.31/roll of 165 sheets each sold in a pack of 3 “triple rolls” = $7.92 = $0.016 a sheetAssuming you only used 2 11x7in sheets (which is actually a “half-sheet” size and is confusing to someone who hasn’t purchased paper towels in many years…) per day, this package of 3 rolls should last you about 8 months. Total cost over 5 years = $59.78.Swaps:Swedish Discloths (available at the local Walmart)1 pack = $9.99/set of 4 = $2.498/eachThe average lifespan of each cloth is roughly 6-9 months, so conservatively, this pack would last approximately 2 years and you could expect to purchase 3 packs in 5 years. 5 year total = $29.975 year minimum savings = $29.81Reusable Paper Towels (handmade 100% cotton knit also available at the local Walmart)1 pack = $22.99/roll of 24 sheets = $0.958 lasting a minimum of 5 years5 year minimum cost savings = $36.79 + additional packaging and product waste**Now, you’re right to point out that reusable paper towels should be washed and thus will likely have a higher rate of water and soap usage. I would recommend considering (and maybe even further considering other ways to reduce water usage and lower soap costs if that’s a concern). This same formula can be applied to things like cotton balls, q-tips, makeup wipes, coffee filters, plastic zipper bags, foil, plastic wrap, plastic bags (including plastic produce bags from the grocery store produce section although I’m personally an advocate for just forgoing all bag options for your produce because you’re going to wash it anyway so why put it in a separate bag at all when you’re at the store?), dryer sheets, lint rollers, and tea bags. Hair CareDip - taken from their website: “One full sized Dip conditioner bar alone can save you over $200 (personally I save over $500) if you're switching from pricey salon brands...”Products like those made by Dip & Dew Mighty might be more expensive per purchase, but are designed to eliminate fillers like water that take up space in their containers prompting multiple purchases over the course of months... 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 (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 Patreon | Capitalism for Green Patreon | Capitalism for Green: The Blog | Company Mentions | Email | 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 | YouTube

Note from Andrea: Even though there are just a couple resources listed in this episode, I don't feel right about gatekeeping it, so here's a not-so-fun bonus Between the Interviews episode for all. Hey folks. So listen. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how the mission & purpose of this Capitalism for Good project overlaps with the world at large. Part of that overlap is obvious. The purpose is the people making a positive impact on their community. Part of it is personal, like how incredibly grateful I am that I’m not currently working at a government adjacent company any more. My heart goes out to all of those that are in that world. Part of it is a zoomed out perspective on things like SNAP benefits in jeopardy. It is really disheartening to watch the lives of so many people in our country’s community be used as pawns in a government game. I understand why we’re here. But I don’t like it.The impacts of these decisions will have ripple effects on the rest of our economy and will continue to touch our communities long after they are (hopefully) resolved. The de facto delayed impact of these actions mean that while they might be in the headlines today, they’ll likely have a direct impact after implementation and will then ripple out to the broader community later. For example, if we look at SNAP benefits as of November 3, 2025: approximately ​​42 million people in the United States receive SNAP benefits to supplement their nutrition (as the program title “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program” suggests). While rulings came down last Friday in favor of these benefits continuing, the logistics of the program mean that arrangements needed to send this funding to the 12% of the population who are beneficiaries of the program in order for them to be received on time need arranging. Additionally, it's likely safe to factor in some additional time for the legality tangle that the head of our country is known for favoriting. Note that those pulling the levers of the logistics are also government employees and/or contractors directly or indirectly impacted by the current government shutdown. SNAP benefits are used to purchase food. Food is largely sold at grocery stores. Grocery stores largely need to purchase food by vendors to be delivered to the store on a given date (and those vendors also need to prepare downriver by gathering and organizing said deliveries). Planning for a reduction in customer spending by, let’s just say 12% on average, let’s assume that most grocery store inventory purchasers bought 12% less inventory (aka food) for this next shipment. Assuming that they expected 12% less customers in their store, they also scheduled 12% less hours for those stocking inventory and/or to man check out counters. Also assuming that most of those stocking inventory and working check out counters are hourly workers, they’re now expecting to work 12% less hours and, thus, making 12% for this pay period. These employees also need to purchase food and now have a reduction in their income that will likely correlate to a reduction in the amount spent, not only on food, but also on other necessary and discretionary spending. That means that other retailers and service providers in the community that typically plan for an average customer...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 Patreon | Bittersweet Paradox Writing Club | Bluesky | Capitalism for Good Patreon | Capitalism for Green Patreon | Company Mentions | Email | 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 | YouTube

Being new, trying to figure things out, being the least smart person in the room doesn’t always feel good to me personally, but is the best way for me to feel like I’m always learning and growing. I’ve been thinking a lot about the conversation with Tiera Barber and her point about opening up a candle making retail business where she teaches classes on candle making without ever having done it before. She talks about just knowing in her core that it was the right thing to do. She was led by her gut, her intuition, and what she calls her discernment that helped guide her belief that it was just the right thing to do. That’s a lot like where I am right now. I’ve been working on this Capitalism for Good project for a couple years now and it’s been out in the world for almost an entire year since I posted the first podcast episode. So many things have changed. I’ve changed locations. My life situation has changed. My goals have changed. And none of this is surprising. I’m a human just doing what all humans do by evolving. So I’m not exactly sure what it’ll look like, but I’ve got some very specific long term visions and some personal goals that are my parameters. I’ve started writing about those in a blog on the Capitalism for Green Patreon which was the first step of me showing how I'm attempting to put all of the things I’m learning in Capitalism for Good into practice. If you haven't been following along there, then you know that this Capitalism for Good project has shaped so much of where I am now. Specifically, it’s shaped my confidence and idea that I can really replicate what others have done in a really tangible and specific way. As I was researching and vetting all of these different folks that might be good fits for the project making sure that they come from a variety of fields, backgrounds, demographics, experiences, and have all these different perspectives to bring to the table with the obvious overlap of making a positive impact on their community, I kept finding myself being naturally drawn to 2 very specific types of business leaders: 1. Those that lead sustainably manufactured goods and 2. Those that have refill and zero waste shops. If I let my own personal interest overhaul the project, I would have diverted it completely toward those two categories even though I knew that the misison & vision of it was something more broad where I really learn and showcase folks from all different fields. Especially those which I personally wouldn’t have thought of at the beginning. I wanted that variety and that approachability that touches a broader range of interests and people to prove that we all can really make a positive impact no matter our role in making a spending money. So me as a human was popping into all these refill and zero waste stores as I was all over the US and following them on social media and emailing and, yes, interviewing some of them for Capitalism for Good. I’ve also talked a little bit about how I’ve been spending more time in the Kansas City suburbs where I grew up and where my parents still live trying to reconfigure what the next few years of my life might look like. So as I’ve been resubmerging myself in midwest suburban culture, I’ve tried to better understand the trends, needs, and wants of this community that I’ll likely be spending a lot more time around in...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 Patreon | Bittersweet Paradox Writing Club | Bluesky | Capitalism for Good Patreon | Capitalism for Green Patreon | Capitalism for Green: The Blog | Company Mentions | Email | Facebook | Instagram (Andrea & her 2026 Goal = No New Things, Only New Experiences) | Instagram (Bittersweet Paradox) | Instagram (Capitalism for Good) | Instagram (Capitalism for Green) | Spotify | The Store, by CFG | TikTok | YouTube

Hi folks. So listen. I am a pretty good compartmentalizer mixed with a pretty good anti-procrastinator who loves a good routine. It’s what keeps me sane when life gets chaotic. Part of that routine is completing as much as possible at the moment. I’m a wash-the-dishes-as-you-go kind of woman because the last thing I want is another task on the to-do list if I can help it. It also helps me feel accomplished while not putting too much pressure on myself to do more. Because I already feel like I did what I could in the day, even if there are things that I didn’t get to. Anyway…this isn’t a productive self-help book here. It’s just the background to explain why it’s Tuesday, October 14 and I’m getting a little nervous that I don’t know what the next early release interview episode will be. Because it hasn’t been scheduled. And even though there’s still time for it to come together and I have a plan B (and also a plan C, D, E, and F because I like to have options) for what I’ll do if it doesn’t, I still prefer not to let it get this close to the wire. Which brings me back to an exchange I had with Dan Gomer during another time when the details were coming together in less-than-ideal way (and honestly, when is it actually really all coming together in an ideal way?). We were getting ready to record and I was explaining to him about the poor internet connection when recording Anastasia and Tierra’s episodes to warn him that there was a chance I might need to relocate as I was figuring out where it’s best to record in my new temporary location. And I’m over here giving him too much information about why I was in a different spot, specifically the walk in closet in my parent’s bedroom, because I’m a true believer in it being better to tell on yourself than set some unrealistically high expectation that I don’t meet and then we’re all annoyed and you’re no longer listening or reading or watching or however you’re choosing to interact with this project. And one of the options I had at that time was to just reschedule until I had it all figured out and polished up.I could have pushed pause on this whole project. It certainly would be more professional if I chose to do that. But I keep coming back to this one thing: real life. One of the core ideas I had about this whole project was that I wanted to get the real life transparently honest look behind the experiences of the people I spoke to in these 100 interviews. Yes, I want all the ways in which they were successful so that I could follow in their footsteps and learn from them. But I also want to see what it’s really like. It helps me in those challenging times when things aren’t coming together the way that I want to. It puts it into perspective that calms that anxiety that I have in the back of my mind fueled by focusing on all the ways in which I could be better, do better, and make something better. Tierra recently talked about comparison and competition vs. combining forces with those in her industry so they could all be stronger together. Shannon talked about how there are chairs and tables for everybody. There’s no singular right way to go about doing something and there’s no true secret key to success. But there’s knowledge, information, and experiences that can inform your decision between the options of plans A-F (and beyond) so you can use your discernment (another nod to Tierra here) to make the decision that’s best for...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 Patreon | Bluesky | Capitalism for Good Patreon | Capitalism for Green Patreon | Company Mentions | Email | Facebook | Instagram (Bittersweet Paradox) | Instagram (Capitalism for Good) | Instagram (Capitalism for Green) | Spotify (Capitalism for Good) | Spotify (Capitalism for Green) | The Store, by CFG | TikTok | YouTube

Listen. I’m not the biggest TV watcher out there. In fact, I didn’t buy my first TV until I was in 30s and I gave it away within a year of purchasing it. I’m even more out of the loop when it comes to reality TV. So it’s safe to say that I’m a bit under a rock when it comes to pop culture related to TV…Or, I prefer to describe myself as a 90 year old grandma that has recently chosen to hook herself to the quiet birdwatching bandwagon with her 70+ year old dad on the front driveway (where I actually am currently sitting while typing this).My second caveat is that I get a lot of recommendations (THANK YOU!) for businesses and folks that I should look into for the Capitalism for Good project. I spend a lot of time creeping around, looking at Instagrams and websites and asking the folks around me if they know about the people in their cities. It’s a baseline built out of “is this person actually an a-hole? Or are they actually known for being pretty great?” kind of vibe check. I try not to go tooooooo deep because then the overbearing side of me takes over and tries to control the conversation leading the guest into what I want them to talk about. It’s better for us all if I let my curiosity lead us into the conversation in a genuine way where I get to learn about these folks and their stories in real time. That’s how Generous Coffee Co. made it on my obnoxiously big spreadsheet, but I’d failed to write down who told me about it. So, here I am, googling away and watching Instagram and sure enough, the company passes the vibe check. Community give backs = big check. Accessibility & inclusion = check. Stable enough to be around for a bit = check. People seem to like them and support them = check. I open up my email and type away. I get forwarded to Ben Higgins, the Co-Founder. He agrees & books a time to talk to me. Cue phase 2 of research: I do some googling to check out his LinkedIn and see if any articles pop up namedropping him. And lo and behold, there are lot of clips. And articles. And all sorts of things because he’s made a name for himself in The Bachelor world. So I call up the biggest The Bachelor fan I know, Shannon Masterson, also of Interview #1 in the Capitalism for Good project fame, to ask her what she knows about Ben & Generous Coffee Co. and she uses her most practiced big-sister voice to say “Yeah. I know. I told you about him. You shut it down saying that reality TV isn’t your thing…” So here I am to eat my words that dismissed him because of this piece of his background. And also to ask some questions about why Shannon Masterson recommended him and ask some questions that she wants to know so she can follow in his footsteps a bit. And man am I eating my words here today because I’m truly, honest to god, blown away by Ben. I mean, all of the folks in the Capitalism for Good project are worthy of praise and have so much for us all to learn from and Ben is no different. I just had no idea about the breadth and depth of his dedication to capitalize on his values for such a positive impact. There’s so much there that we didn’t even scratch the surface. Things I want to talk to him more about: Accessibility. Inclusion...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 (Capitalism for Good) | Apple Podcasts (Capitalism for Green) | Bittersweet Paradox Patreon | Bluesky (Bittersweet Paradox) | 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 | Facebook | Instagram (Bittersweet Paradox) | Instagram (Capitalism for Good) | Instagram (Capitalism for Green) | Spotify (Capitalism for Good) | Spotify (Capitalism for Green) | The Store, by CFG | TikTok | YouTube

I’m drilling down more from people into the value of having a person, partner, duo, buddy, a yin to your yang. Someone to lean on and be in the trenches with you. Because sometimes you just need to not be alone.Nothing happens in a vacuum. Even those of us that individual sports & lone wolfs out there (including me, a self-described introvert who just happens to love talking to people), aren’t entirely alone as we wander through life. It takes people. More importantly, it takes good people that mean well, try hard, and do the right thing to support one another. As evidenced by the last third of this episode, this hits home especially for me. It doesn’t always take a lot of time or a heavy lift to make a positive impact on those around you. Sometimes it’s just setting a good example. Sometimes it’s just listening. Sometimes it’s not gatekeeping the lessons you’ve learned. Sometimes it is a heavy lift. Sometimes it is going out of your way to be helpful to someone. Sometimes it does take effort. My point is that it comes in all different shapes, sizes, volumes, and even morphs over time and through changing circumstances. Regardless, it matters. It’s impactful. The way we treat people is meaningful. The way we interact with our community is powerful, even when it doesn’t feel that way.Alright. That’s enough. Let’s go leave this place better than we found it.Shout outs to:Angela Houska (hello.haveaseat & Good Spirits & Co.)Gabby Butcher - The Bakers HouseMollie Bliss - Garcia PropertiesMelanie Hellmann - organization philosopher and business jack of all tradesPurchase 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)