Progressive Pockets: a podcast about the untapped power of our wallets to build the world we want
A podcast at the intersection of social impact and personal finance that covers questions of how we might spend, donate, and invest more in line with our values.Hosted by Genet "GG" GimjaFormerly known as the Spend Donate Invest Podcast
S6 E171 · Wed, April 02, 2025
Are you ready for climate month at Progressive Pockets?!
Send us a text Are you ready for climate month at Progressive Pockets? Let’s talk about dealing with climate anxiety. Let’s dig into banks and retirement accounts that actually care about the environment. Let’s talk about sustainable landscaping... that’s still cute. Sound good? Subscribe to Progressive Pockets wherever you listen to podcasts. Love the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf: https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase. Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E170 · Tue, April 01, 2025
170. The 23 Things They Don't Tell you About Capitalism by Ha-Joon Chang. A Book Review
Send us a text This week let’s chat about a great book by Ha-Joon Chang, it’s called 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism. The book is easy to read, even if you don’t have a background in economics, or even if you’re a little suspicious of the field. ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#118 Maybe banks don’t have to suck: an intro to CDFIs Love the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf: https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase. Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E169 · Tue, March 25, 2025
169. Why Everyone is Talking About the Great Wealth Transfer...and What They're Leaving Out of the Conversation
Send us a text Have you heard people talking about The Great Wealth Transfer and wondered what they were talking about? Do you feel like something’s missing from the conversation? Dive into today’s episode for a quick summary of what’s happening and what no one’s talking about. Links from today’s episode: What is the “great wealth transfer,” and who’ll benefit from it? | Marketplace | December 2024 https://www.marketplace.org/2024/12/12/what-is-the-great-wealth-transfer-and-inheritance-millenials-gen-z/ The Great Inequality Transfer, Urban Institute, 2024 https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/The_Great_Inequality_Transfer.pdf Why the Great Wealth Transfer Is Making History for Women and Wealth | Ellevest | January 2024 https://www.ellevest.com/magazine/investing/great-wealth-transfer ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#155 How Gen Z Thinks about Investing Love the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf: https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase. Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// <a rel="payment" href="http
S6 E168 · Wed, March 19, 2025
168. Will boycotting Target actually achieve anything?
Send us a text Links from today's episode: These U.S. Companies Are Not Ditching DEI Amid Trump’s Crackdown | Time Magazine March 2025 https://time.com/7261857/us-companies-keep-dei-initiatives-list-trump-diversity-order-crackdown/ Which US companies are pulling back on diversity initiatives? | AP News February 2025 https://apnews.com/article/dei-diversity-equity-inclusion-lawsuits-f2f5e9136ac95d9466ee91c97c7e3be1 Victoria’s Secret Tweaks DEI Language To ‘Inclusion And Belonging’: Here Are All The Companies Rolling Back DEI Programs | Forbes March 2025 https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/03/05/victorias-secret-tweaks-dei-language-to-inclusion-and-belonging-here-are-all-the-companies-rolling-back-dei-programs/ As the war on DEI intensifies, some companies hold the line while others work behind the scenes | CNBC February 2025 https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/07/dei-companies-holding-the-line.html The 2016 Campaign to remove Trump products from stores like Nordstrom, Sears, and Marshalls https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GrabYourWallet ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#36 Greenwashing 101 (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Love the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf: https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase. Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffe
S6 E167 · Tue, March 11, 2025
167. Self Care for Times Like These
Send us a text How are you feeling today? Are you one of millions of Americans who are feeling stressed and on the verge of current events burnout? Today’s episode is about self care for times like these. Pour a mug of something warm and grab a notebook. The work of building a better world is challenging, and requires that we find opportunities for rest, joy, pleasure, and community. Links from today’s episode: Promoting self care and well-being among feminist activists and women’s rights defenders: Reflections from Burma and Palestine by Ginger Norwood | March 2013 https://www.upaya.org/uploads/pdfs/NorwoodPromotingSelfCare.pdf ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#160 One Hundred Things to do Today Instead of the Inauguration Love the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf: https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase. Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show: 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E166 · Tue, March 04, 2025
166. The Financial Activist Playbook by Jasmine Rashid Book Review
Send us a text This week let’s chat about a wonderful new book by Jasmine Rashid, “The Financial Activist Playbook.” The book covers 8 strategies for everyday people to flex the power of their wallets. The book covers banking, shopping, donating, investing, and earning in ways that can feed our collective well being. Tune in to hear more about the book and find out how to get your own copy today. Links from today’s episode: The Financial Activist Playbook: 8 Strategies for Everyday People to Reclaim Wealth and Collective Well-Being by Jasmine Rashid Link to purchase book (contains an affiliate link) Author’s website ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#155 How Gen Z Thinks About Investing Love the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf: https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase. Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E165 · Tue, February 25, 2025
165. Jazz and Philanthropy
Send us a text This week, let’s chat about the beautiful legacy of philanthropy within the jazz community. Let’s talk about community building work by artists like Jon Batiste, Wynton Marsalis, Ella Fitzgerald and others. Links from today’s episode: Jazz and Philanthropy | Bridge Philanthropic Consulting https://bridgephilanthropicconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Iconic-Impact-__-Jazz-and-Philanthropy_v10-Final-1.pdf Wynton Marsalis: how music makes a difference https://www.ft.com/content/1d5dbcb2-2724-4638-a2b3-3307ecda2aac 2019 Interview with Jon Batiste https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiegoldsmith/2019/09/09/john-batiste-so-much-more-than-steven-colberts-music-director/?sh=141fbd553b77 Democracy! Suite Album from Wynton Marsalis https://wyntonmarsalis.org/discography/title/the-democracy-suite Lou Rawls song complication https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zSWIdQKTYQ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#128 Do you identify as a philanthropist? Apparently it depends on your identities… Love the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf: https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase. Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! <
S6 E164 · Tue, February 18, 2025
164. Three Ways to Be More Generous This Year
Send us a text This week let’s chat about three ways to be more generous this year! Whether you have five minutes or you have more time, you'll find an idea in this episode that inspires you to become the more generous person that you want to be in 2025. ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#136 Where does Dolly Pardon donate her money? Love the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf: https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase. Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E163 · Tue, February 11, 2025
163. An Intro to the Black Panther Party's Social Programs
Send us a text Links from today’s episode: The History and Social Work Legacy of the Black Panther Party 2022, International Journal of Education and Human Developments https://ijehd.cgrd.org/images/vol8no1/1.pdf Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network https://bppaln.org/ The Black Panther Party: Challenging Police and Promoting Social Change, National Museum of African American History and Culture https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/black-panther-party-challenging-police-and-promoting-social-change ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#65 Celebrating Black Philanthropy (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Love the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf: https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase. Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E162 · Tue, February 04, 2025
162. Revisiting Dr. Martin Luther King's Radical Money Beliefs
Send us a text Too often, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy has been simplified to a few memorable phrases from his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. But did you know that Dr. King held some pretty radical money beliefs? Dr. King advocated for social justice and economic equality for all Americans and his ideas still resonate today. This is one of the most popular episodes of Progressive Pockets, so please enjoy it as we kick of Black History Month! Links from today’s episode: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/01/21/economic-equality-martin-luther-king-jrs-other-dream/ https://www.debt.com/news/what-martin-luther-king-jr-taught-us-money/ https://www.npr.org/2021/01/18/958120759/martin-luther-king-jr-s-vision-for-economic-justice ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#123 Poor People's Campaign Love the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf: https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase. Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for business inquiries and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models//
S6 E161 · Wed, January 29, 2025
161. Where to Donate After the LA Fires and Other Natural Disasters
Send us a text This week it has finally started to rain in LA and the fires are almost completely contained. As we think about how we can help, please consider supporting the most vulnerable and least supported populations affected by the fires. If you are still considering where to give, here are 8 specific places to consider: https://www.progressivepockets.com/p/la-fires-where-to-donate/ In today’s episode, let’s talk about giving after a natural disaster at four different phases, including: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#127 How I Screen Charities Before I Donate Love the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf: https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you make a purchase. Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E160 · Mon, January 20, 2025
160. One Hundred Things to do Today Instead of the Inauguration
Send us a text Looking for healthy alternatives to going down the inauguration rabbit hole today? You’re not alone! Tune in to hear some practical self-care strategies to help you navigate today. We’ll explore practical techniques for managing stress, setting boundaries, and finding moments of peace. Whether you’re an activist, a concerned citizen, or just looking for ways to recharge, you’ll likely walk away with at least a few ideas that you can take action on today. Links from today’s episode: 100 Things to Do Instead of the Inauguration PDF to Share with Friends http://bit.ly/4fZdvKk Love the book recos on this show? Check out the Progressive Pockets Bookshelf: https://bookshop.org/shop/progressivepockets As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Progressive Pockets will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#122 How I switched to a socially responsible index fund Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E159 · Tue, January 14, 2025
159. How to live out your values this year
Send us a text Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in the coming year? Today’s episode will help you reflect on your achievements from last year and guide you in making intentional choices about how you spend, donate, invest and bank in 2025. Together, we’ll explore ways to support local businesses, give generously to causes you care about, and invest in companies that align with your values. You'll leave with a personalized action plan to maximize your impact and create positive change in your community and beyond. ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#xyz Title (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E158 · Tue, January 07, 2025
158. Predictions for 2025 and checking in on 2024 predictions
Send us a text This week let’s reminisce on the official Progressive Pockets predictions for 2024 and make some new predictions for 2025. In the meantime, please reach out with topics you’d like to hear covered this year on the show! ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#123 Poor People’s Campaign Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E157 · Tue, December 31, 2024
157. Most Popular Episodes of 2024
Send us a text This week’s episode is a quick recap of the most popular episodes of 2024. Whether you’re a new listener or you want to take a walk down memory lane, enjoy these top picks of the year! Previous Recap Videos Episode#103 Most Popular Episodes of 2023 Episode#62 Most popular episodes of 2022 Most popular episodes of 2024: Episode#147 The surprising truth about what ESG actually means Episode#107 Dr. King’s Radical Money Beliefs Episode#144 How to help your clients invest for more than financial returns: how to consider societal values too Episode#124 What to ask a financial planner if you want them to consider your societal values Episode#148 Is your bank funding politicians you don’t support? Consider these 4 banks instead Episode#122 How I switched to a socially responsible index fund Episode#127 How I screen charities before I donate Spotify Playlist Most Popular Episodes of 2024 Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show: 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine l
S6 E156 · Tue, December 24, 2024
156. Getting a tax break for your donations this year
Send us a text Did you know that the US has offered tax breaks for charitable donations since income tax rates were increased to fund World War I? What does the IRS recommend to ensure that your donations qualify you for tax breaks? And is all of that effort even worth it? Tune in this week to find out more… Links from today’s episode: Tax deductions for charitable donations | Deloitte https://www2.deloitte.com/ua/en/pages/press-room/press-release/2024/tax-discount-for-charitable-expenses.html A History of the Tax-Exempt Sector| IRS https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/tehistory.pdf ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#120 Where to find a financial advisor to help you invest according to your values Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E155 · Tue, December 17, 2024
155. How Gen Z thinks about Investing
Send us a text This week let’s chat about Gen Z and how they tend to invest. As digital natives, Gen Z investors tend to be more comfortable with various investing platforms and apps. As investors who have been exposed to more information about the world, Gen Z investors consider their environmental societal values when they decide whether or not to invest in a company. But just how far are Gen Z investors willing to go to live out their values? Tune in this week to find out. The answer may surprise you! Links from today’s episode: ‘Not just money and math’: Young people are willing to sacrifice returns for ESG | MSNBC Aug 2023 https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/27/not-just-math-and-numbers-young-people-are-willing-to-sacrifice-returns-for-esg.html Generational Investment Trends And Automation In Modern Trading | Forbes March 2024 https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2024/03/11/generational-investment-trends-and-automation-in-modern-trading/ Wall Street Zen Gen Z Money Social Media Survey https://www.wallstreetzen.com/blog/genz-money-social-media-survey/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#70 The legal right to invest according to our values (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works i
S6 E154 · Tue, December 10, 2024
154. Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villanueva: A Book Review
Send us a text This week let’s chat about a popular book called Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villanueva. It is a book about money, giving, and social justice. In today’s episode, we will look at how the history of colonization still affects how wealth is used today, often making inequalities worse. Villanueva’s book challenges us to rethink how we view money and shows us that it can be a tool for healing instead of causing division. Let’s talk about practical ways to change how we think about wealth, focusing on the need to recognize past injustices and empower communities that have been left out. Whether you are interested in philanthropy, social justice, or just want to understand more about money's role in society, this episode will inspire you to think deeply and take action. Links from today’s episode: The Decolonizing Wealth Project https://decolonizingwealth.com/ The 7 Steps to Healing https://decolonizingwealth.com/7-steps-to-healing/ Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villanueva https://bookshop.org/p/books/decolonizing-wealth-second-edition-indigenous-wisdom-to-heal-divides-and-restore-balance-edgar-villanueva/10784512?ean=9781523091416 ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#143 Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas, a book review Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E153 · Tue, December 03, 2024
153. Giving Tuesday Goes Global
Send us a text This week let’s chat about Giving Tuesday going global and how you might plan your own Giving Tuesday this year! Links from today’s episode: Giving Tuesday campaigns from around the globe https://www.givingtuesday.org/blog/global-leaders-local-movements/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#105 Hosting a pop up giving circle for the holidays Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E152 · Tue, November 26, 2024
152. We Can Help to Buy Indigenous Land Back
Send us a text The Indigenous "Land Back" movement in the US and Canada has gained momentum in recent years across many Indigenous groups, representing a broad fight for decolonization, protecting their culture, and taking care of the environment. Today we will talk about the movement and how WE can support these efforts! Links from today’s episode: Landback https://landback.org/ Land Back Movement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Back A Tribe Called Red: “Land Back” Song https://youtu.be/67F7WbcTQKA The Native Roots Network https://www.nativerootsnetwork.org/ Be•le Bo•m: Land Back Initiative https://www.nativerootsnetwork.org/land-back-pg ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#132 Boycotts, Buycotts, and Public Shaming Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E151 · Thu, November 21, 2024
151. Hosting a Thanksgiving celebration that's just a little more sustainable
Send us a text This week let’s chat about some practical suggestions for hosting a Thanksgiving that’s just a little more sustainable. From planning the meal to polling guests before they show up, you’re sure to leave today’s episode with at least one idea you hadn’t considered before! Links from today’s episode: Time Magazine: Thanksgiving Food Waste Is Nothing To Celebrate. But There Are Ways To Combat It https://time.com/6236321/thanksgiving-food-waste-ways-to-avoid/ Farm-to-Table Thanksgiving: How to Host a Sustainable Fall Feast https://biofriendlyplanet.com/farm-to-table-thanksgiving-how-to-host-a-sustainable-fall-feast/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#108 Decolonizing our Thanksgiving Plates (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E150 · Wed, November 13, 2024
150. What now?
Send us a text This week’s episode is raw and unedited. It’s a heart to heart about where we go from here. ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#105 Introducing Progressive Pockets! New name, same great taste Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E149 · Tue, November 05, 2024
149. Changing the political future of our country with our wallets (Replay)
Send us a text In this week's replay, let's explore the powerful influence of small-dollar donations in American politics. You don’t need to be a billionaire to make a difference! Let’s talk about the rapid fundraising that has characterized the early days of VP Kamala Harris’ run for President of the United States and the role that the Win With Black Women collective played in her early successes. Let’s talk about the difference between giving to a candidate and giving to a political action committee (PAC). Either way, the point is, let’s reclaim our power as everyday Americans to influence the political and cultural future of our country. USA! USA! Links from today’s episode: Harris’ Zoom-fueled campaign triggers a dormant Democratic base | Politico July 2024 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/27/kamala-harris-identity-zoom-00171489 5 facts about U.S. political donations | Pew Research 2017 https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/05/17/5-facts-about-u-s-political-donations/ NPR Book Review of “Kochland” by Christopher Leonard | August 2019 https://www.npr.org/2019/08/13/750449277/kochland-explores-the-money-stream-of-the-famous-brother-duo How the Koch brothers fundamentally changed modern politics | August 2019 https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/23/politics/david-koch-charles-koch-brothers/index.html ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#114 Big Wallet, Bleeding Heart: Support Groups for the Wealthy Title (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets <p
S6 E148 · Thu, October 31, 2024
148. Is your bank funding politicians you don't support? Consider these 4 banks instead
Send us a text Ever think about what your bank is doing with your cash? Whether your bank uses the cash in your checking and savings account to fund fossil fuel companies or gun manufacturers, the reality is that the banks are using their own set of societal values to deploy our cash every single day. In today’s episode, let’s talk about community focused, mission driven banks that might actually share your values! The cash sitting in our bank accounts can be used to fund affordable housing in our communities, or to inject cash into small businesses that have traditionally been locked out of traditional capital. The point is, we have options! Tune in this week to learn more! Links from today’s episode: Understanding CDFIs and their impact | JP Morgan https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/real-estate/community-development-banking/what-is-a-community-development-financial-institution-cdfi Banks Can Deliver Both Social Impact and Profits. Here’s How | Boston Consulting Group https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/balancing-social-impact-and-profits-with-banking ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode 31 (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) https://pod.link/1577031108/episode/ae16a1239e052b0da35e0eb6e8999e99 Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S6 E147 · Tue, October 22, 2024
147. The surprising truth about what ESG actually means
Send us a text Welcome back to Progressive Pockets! This is a podcast where we talk about ways to line up our values and our money. When we think about the things that keep us up at night. Whether that’s climate change, or homelessness, or the systematic oppression of our communities, we usually talk about how we can claim our power when we vote. Some of us might protest, or organize ourselves in other ways. But what about….our money? Where do we bank, where do we shop, where do we donate? Whether you call it: Impact Investing Ethical Investing Socially responsible investing Sustainable Investing, or Values- Aligned investing You have probably come across the term "ESG" when looking for investments that line up with your values. Often you may hear the abbreviation used as a shorthand for "socially responsible" investing. But this is a gross misunderstanding of what ESG really means! Tune in this week to learn more! Please share this episode with someone who you think might appreciate a concise, clear, easy to understand explanation of ESG. Links MSCI ESG Ratings Explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79rZm7FCkOU Sustainalytics What is ESG? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwGmtThiwII An Institutional Approach to Gender Diversity and Firm Performance by Letian Zhang https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=55194 What MSCI’s ESG Ratings are and are not https://www.msci.com/our-solutions/esg-investing/esg-ratings/what-esg-ratings-are-and-are-not Support the show Support the show
S6 E146 · Tue, October 15, 2024
146. Where do Latine Americans donate their money?
Send us a text In this episode, let’s chat about charitable giving among Latino Americans, including formal and informal giving, the surprising role of religious giving, and the huge impact of remittances (sending money back to one’s country of origin) from this community. Let’s also talk about cultural differences in how Latine Americans might discuss (or choose not to discuss!) their charitable giving. If you are a Latine American listener of this show, tune in for some ideas on how to join forces with other givers within your community. ¡Adelante! Links from today’s episode: The Latino Community Foundation https://latinocf.org/latino-giving-circle-network/ Hispanics in Philanthropy https://hipfunds.org/ Latinx Philanthropy: Understanding Generosity Trends Across Latinx Communities in the U.S. | 2023 https://hipfunds.org/latinx-generosity-report/ The World's Top Remittance Recipients | Statista June 2023 https://www.statista.com/chart/20166/top-10-remittance-receiving-countries/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#115 Where do Muslim Americans donate their money? Title (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machi
S6 E145 · Tue, October 08, 2024
145. Hosting a pop up giving circle for the holidays
Send us a text Today’s episode is about a fun activity to consider trying with your friends, coworkers, or fellow book club members. You might have heard of giving circles before, where you meet regularly with a group of people and pool your money and then decide collectively where to donate. But have you ever heard of a pop up giving circle? This is a very condensed version of that! No long term commitment, no complicated scheduling! It’s pretty genius. Invite a group of similarly minded people, set aside 90 minutes and get ready to have a lot of fun and make an impact in less time than it takes to watch a movie! Tune in this week to learn more about how to take part! Links from today’s episode: Philanthropy Together https://philanthropytogether.org/ https://philanthropytogether.org/pop-up-giving-circles-employee-engagement-csr-and-30000-in-90-minutes-or-less/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#99 What's your plan for Giving Tuesday this year? (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Episode #28 How to set up a giving circle (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// <a rel="payment" href="ht
S6 E144 · Tue, October 01, 2024
144. How to help your clients invest for more than financial returns: how to consider societal values too
Send us a text Long gone are the days when investors left their societal values at the door. These days, most investors want to invest with their environmental and social values in mind. If you are a financial advisor, you may feel intimidated or skeptical about how to serve clients who want you to incorporate their societal values into their financial plans. This week’s episode provides simple suggestions to guide advisors (or DIY investors!) on how to incorporate values aligned principles into how they serve their clients. Links from today’s episode: ‘Not just money and math’: Young people are willing to sacrifice returns for ESG | CNBC Aug 2023 https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/27/not-just-math-and-numbers-young-people-are-willing-to-sacrifice-returns-for-esg.html The ESG Generation Gap: Millennials and Boomers Split on Their Investing Goals | Nov 2022 https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/esg-generation-gap-millennials-boomers-split-their-investing-goals Beyond Returns: The Rise Of Values-Aligned Investing | Forbes May 2023 https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/05/26/beyond-returns-the-rise-of-values-aligned-investing/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode #120 Where can I find an advisor to help me invest according to my societal values? Episode#124 What to ask a financial planner if you want them to consider your societal values Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast e
S6 E143 · Tue, September 24, 2024
143. Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas: A book review
Send us a text This week let’s chat about Winners Take All: the Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas. Published in 2018, this book became a New York Times Bestseller and fired off a conversation about whether powerful elites really want to change the root causes of the social problems they claim to care about. Endlessly quotable, provocative, interesting…this book just might be what you need for your next flight. Check out today’s episode to help you decide. Links from today’s episode: NY Mag interview with Anand Giridharadas in 2018 https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/08/anand-giridharadas-on-winners-take-all.html Anand Giridharadas on the elite charade of changing the world | Vox 2018 https://www.vox.com/2018/9/5/17821522/anand-giridharadas-winner-take-all-ezra-klein-podcast Aspen Institute https://www.aspeninstitute.org/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#69 Women, Sex and Socialism (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E142 · Tue, September 17, 2024
142. Conscious Travel and Tourism
Send us a text In this episode of Progressive Pockets, let's explore the topic of conscious travel, focusing on how to respect local cultures while prioritizing environmental sustainability. Discover practical tips for engaging with communities, understanding local customs, and avoiding cultural faux pas. We'll also discuss sustainable travel practices, such as supporting local economies, reducing waste, and choosing eco-friendly accommodations. Whether you're a low-key traveler or prefer luxury, this episode will inspire you to make thoughtful choices that leave a positive impact on both the places you visit and the planet. Links from today’s episode: Sustainable tourism worldwide - statistics & facts | Jan 2024 https://www.statista.com/topics/1916/green-tourism/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#73 It's wedding season! How to go green (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E141 · Tue, September 10, 2024
141. Five Sources of Power Every Shareholder Has
Send us a text This week, let's explore how everyday shareholders can wield surprising influence over corporate behavior. Discover the power of your single vote and learn about the impact of attending annual general meetings. You'll hear about real-world success stories where small shareholders sparked big changes in major companies. From leveraging social media to engage with corporations to joining forces with other shareholders, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, you'll come away with a toolkit for responsible ownership and the knowledge to make your shares count for more than just dividends. Tune in to unlock the potential of your portfolio to drive positive change in the corporations that impact our planet and our people. Links from today’s episode: Chevron investors back proposal for more emissions cuts | Reuters May 2021 https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/chevron-shareholders-approve-proposal-cut-customer-emissions-2021-05-26/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#51 Activist Investing (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E140 · Tue, September 03, 2024
140. Activate Your Money by Janine Firpo: A book review
Send us a text It’s time for another book review! This episode is about a book titled Activate Your Money: Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World by Janine Firpo. It is an accessible, handy guide to learning more about investing and the practical changes we can make to align our societal values with our investments. You don’t have to be a billionaire to invest your values, this book has practical advice on how to get started. Links from today’s episode: Activate Your Money, the excellent companion site for the book https://activateyourmoney.net/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#121 New Book Alert: The Social Justice Investor by Andrea Longton Title (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E136 · Tue, August 27, 2024
139. Where Serena Williams donates her money
Send us a text It’s time for the celebrity giving series! Whether you love celebrity gossip or you want to be inspired to shake up your own giving, it can be so much fun to learn where celebrities donate their money. This week let’s chat about Serena Williams! Her giving has evolved over time and gives a sneak peek into the causes she cares most about. Links from today’s episode: The philanthropic ventures of Serena Williams | August 2022 https://march8.com/articles/the-philanthropic-ventures-of-serena-williams The Yetunde Price Resource Center https://www.serenawilliams.com/pages/philanthropy Serena Ventures https://www.serenaventures.com/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#88 Where does Rihanna donate her money? (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S6 E138 · Tue, August 20, 2024
138. Where do Chrissy Teigen and John Legend donate their money?
Send us a text In this episode, let’s explore Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s philanthropy, highlighting their commitment to social causes. Let’s talk about their partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities, where they helped to raise funds to support families with sick children and their support of Planned Parenthood. Let’s also discuss their $200,000 donation to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund, on behalf of the heroic gymnasts of the US Olympic Team who spoke out against abuse by their team doctor. Finally, let’s talk about their $288,000 contribution to the ACLU in protest of immigration policies (and what it had to do with Donald Trump’s 72nd birthday). Links from today’s episode: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend Have a Message and a Donation for Trump’s Birthday | Time Magazine June 2018 https://time.com/5312445/chrissy-teigen-john-legend-donate-to-aclu-for-donald-trump-birthday/ Chrissy Teigen and John Legend Just Donated $200,000 to Fight Harassment | Global Citizen January 2018 https://www.globalcitizen.org/de/content/chrissy-teigen-john-legend-times-up-donation/ John Legend Shares How He and Chrissy Teigen Teach Their Kids to Give Back | People Magazine November 2023 https://people.com/john-legend-chrissy-teigen-teaching-their-kids-give-back-8402009 Chrissy Teigen and John Legend Open Up About Their 'Grief' as They Announce New Charity Initiative | People Magazine November 2020 https://people.com/parents/chrissy-teigen-john-legend-first-interview-pregnancy-loss-good-morning-america/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#110 The Legacy of Jazz and Philanthropy (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is
S6 E137 · Tue, August 13, 2024
137. Where does Taylor Swift donate her money?
Send us a text Let’s continue the celebrity giving series! Whether you love celebrity gossip or you want to be inspired to shake up your own giving, it can be so much fun to learn where celebrities donate their money. This week let’s chat about Taylor Swift’s giving. Let’s talk about her contributions to causes like music education, disaster relief, and whether the food pantry donations in conjunction with her Eras tour go far enough. Tune in this week to find out more. Links from today’s episode: A Timeline of Taylor Swift’s Generosity | 2024 https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swifts-charity-donations-gifts-timeline/march-2023-swift-gives-back-to-food-banks-on-eras-tour-route/ Dolly donates $1 million, Taylor Swift helps Grimey's and Old Crow's ode to Nashville | 2020 https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/04/02/dolly-parton-taylor-swift-garth-brooks-acm-our-country/5105958002/ Taylor Swift donates $100,000 to Dolly Parton telethon to help Tennessee fire victims | 2016 https://newschannel20.com/news/entertainment/taylor-swift-donates-100000-to-dolly-parton-telethon-to-help-tennessee-fire-victims Taylor Swift Could Reshape Philanthropy. Will She? | 2024 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/taylor-swift-could-reshape-philanthropy-she-kmstrategiesgroup-ptv9c Look to the Stars: The world of celebrity giving | https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/taylor-swift ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#72 How much do Harry and Meghan give away? (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. <br/
S6 E136 · Tue, August 06, 2024
136. Where does Dolly Parton donate her money?
Send us a text In this episode, let's explore the remarkable philanthropic efforts of country music legend Dolly Parton. We'll dive into her most significant charitable initiatives, including the Dollywood Foundation and its flagship program, the Imagination Library, which has distributed millions of books to children worldwide. Let's discuss Parton's commitment to education, from reducing high school dropout rates to providing college scholarships. The episode will highlight Parton's disaster relief efforts, such as the My People Fund, which aided families affected by the 2016 Tennessee wildfires. We'll also cover her contributions to healthcare, including her $1 million donation to COVID-19 vaccine research and support for children's hospitals. Finally, let's touch on Parton's lesser-known charitable acts and some of the awards she’s won for her charitable work. Links from today’s episode: A Timeline of Dolly Parton’s Good Deeds | March 2023 https://www.billboard.com/lists/dolly-parton-good-deeds-timeline/ Dolly Parton’s Most Charitable Moments: From The Dollywood Foundation to Natural Disaster Donations | December 2023 https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/dolly-partons-most-charitable-moments-over-the-years/ A timeline of Dolly Parton's philanthropy | July 2024 https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/a_timeline_of_dolly_partons_philanthropy/s1__28363436#slide_20 5 times Dolly Parton’s philanthropy, business acumen and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights redefined culture | Jan 2024 https://www.tatlerasia.com/lifestyle/entertainment/dolly-parton-philanthropy-advocacy ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#128 Do you identify as a philanthropist? Apparently it depends on our identities... Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Wo
S6 E135 · Wed, July 31, 2024
135. Changing the political future of our country with our wallets
Send us a text In this episode, let's explore the powerful influence of small-dollar donations in American politics. You don’t need to be a billionaire to make a difference! Let’s talk about the rapid fundraising that has characterized the early days of VP Kamala Harris’ run for President of the United States and the role that the Win With Black Women collective played in her early successes. Let’s talk about the difference between giving to a candidate and giving to a political action committee (PAC). Either way, the point is, let’s reclaim our power as everyday Americans to influence the political and cultural future of our country. USA! USA! Links from today’s episode: Harris’ Zoom-fueled campaign triggers a dormant Democratic base | Politico July 2024 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/27/kamala-harris-identity-zoom-00171489 5 facts about U.S. political donations | Pew Research 2017 https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/05/17/5-facts-about-u-s-political-donations/ NPR Book Review of “Kochland” by Christopher Leonard | August 2019 https://www.npr.org/2019/08/13/750449277/kochland-explores-the-money-stream-of-the-famous-brother-duo How the Koch brothers fundamentally changed modern politics | August 2019 https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/23/politics/david-koch-charles-koch-brothers/index.html ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#114 Big Wallet, Bleeding Heart: Support Groups for the Wealthy Title (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Lea
S6 E134 · Wed, July 24, 2024
134. Five ways to be a financial ally at work
Send us a text Usually on this show we talk about the power of our wallets to build the world we want. This week, let’s talk about how we can extend our power just a little bit further, to our places of work. There are lots of ways to serve as a financial ally to the planet and to our community. This week, we’ll talk about five ways that are probably easier than you might think. Practice salary transparency. Propose a socially responsible 401K option if your company doesn’t already have one. Take advantage of your company’s matching donations. Participate in paid volunteer days or suggest them if they're not already offered. Finally, hire vendors with your mission and values in mind. Links from today’s episode: The Enduring Grip of the Gender Pay Gap | Pew Research https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/03/01/the-enduring-grip-of-the-gender-pay-gap/ Gender pay gap in U.S. hasn’t changed much in two decades | Pew Research https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/01/gender-pay-gap-facts/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#42 Pay Transparency for Allies (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Episode #9 When your company doesn’t offer a socially responsible 401K (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the s
S6 E133 · Tue, July 16, 2024
133. How a group of students convinced their university to divest from apartheid
Send us a text This week let’s talk about a wildly successful student campaign to convince universities across America to divest from South Africa’s apartheid. This mini history lesson includes efforts from students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Harvard University, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Stanford, the University of California system, UNC Chapel Hill, and more. This episode also briefly touches on the campaigns that have come after the anti-apartheid effort such as fossil fuel divestment, prison divestment and other current student campaigns. Links from today’s episode: 15 National Universities With the Biggest Endowments | US News & World Report Oct 2023 https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/10-universities-with-the-biggest-endowments The Anti-Apartheid Movement in the United States Was Fueled By Student Activists by Rita Omokha Teen Vogue May 9, 2024 https://www.teenvogue.com/story/anti-apartheid-movement-united-states Contemporary Divestment Campaigns: Tufts University Prison Divestment https://sites.tufts.edu/prisondivestment/contemporary-divestment-campaigns/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#123 Title (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and developm
S5 E132 · Tue, July 09, 2024
132. Boycotts, "Buycotts" and Public Shaming
Send us a text This week let’s chat about using our consumer power for social change. Learn how our everyday purchases can become a force for good, from "buycotts" to boycotts to organized campaigns. Hear real-world examples of consumer-driven change, tackle the challenges of ethical shopping, and reveal strategies for aligning your spending with your values. Whether you're a seasoned activist or just starting to think about the impact of your dollar, this episode will inspire you to harness your consumer power and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable world. Tune in to transform your shopping habits into a tool for positive change! Links from today’s episode: The 2016 Campaign to remove Trump products from stores like Nordstrom, Sears, and Marshalls https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GrabYourWallet ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#36 Greenwashing 101 (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.// Support the show
S5 E131 · Wed, July 03, 2024
131. How to Align Your Investments with Your Values
Send us a text This week, let’s chat about how to make your money work for both you and the world. From environmental sustainability to gender equality, learn how to screen out harmful companies and support those actively solving societal issues. Let’s also talk about how to leverage your shareholder voice to drive positive change. Tune in for actionable tips on making your investments a force for good while still keeping an eye on returns. Links from today’s episode: Sustainable Investing: An ESG Starter Kit for Everyday Investors by Kylelane Purcell and Ben Vivari https://www.businessexpertpress.com/books/sustainable-investing-an-esg-starter-kit-for-everyday-investors/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#124 What to ask a financial planner if you want them to consider your societal values Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episode to someone you know! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow! 2. Buy me a coffee (or a soundproof panel!) https://buymeacoffee.com/progressivepockets 3. Leave a 5 star rating and review for the show! //NO AI TRAINING: Any use of this podcast episode transcript or associated show notes or blog posts to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. This includes, without limitation, technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this content. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models// Support the show
S5 E130 · Tue, June 25, 2024
130. Effective Altruism, AI, and Sam Bankman-Fried
Send us a text The philosophy of Effective Altruism captured the minds and wallets of Silicon Valley's elite - using reason and evidence to maximize positive impact. But is this clinical approach to the world’s problems really possible? And what happens now, after the shocking downfall of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, once a leader of the Effective Altruism community? In this episode, let’s examine Effective Altruism’s core principles of earning to give, cause prioritization, and longtermism that drew in Bankman-Fried and many tech leaders. Did his professed altruism merely mask grotesque fraud and self-interest? Or was he a true believer whose actions undermined the very ideas he championed? And more importantly, what can we learn when it comes to our own giving? Links from today’s episode: FTX’s Collapse Casts a Pall on ‘Effective Altruism’ Movement - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/13/business/ftx-effective-altruism.html Sam Bankman-Fried, Effective Altruism, and the Question of Complicity | The New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/sam-bankman-fried-effective-altruism-and-the-question-of-complicity Effective Altruism's Philosopher King Just Wants to Be Practical https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/09/oxford-philosophy-professor-william-macaskill-effective-altruism-interview/671597/ The Most Good You Can Do by Peter Singer | Foundational text on Effective Altruism https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-most-good-you-can-do-how-effective-altruism-is-changing-ideas-about-living-ethically-peter-singer/8495814?ean=9780300219869 Doing Good Better by William MacAskill | Foundational text on Effective Altruism https://bookshop.org/p/books/doing-good-better-how-effective-altruism-can-help-you-help-others-do-work-that-matters-and-make-smarter-choices-about-giving-back-william-macaskill/7788582?ean=9781592409662 ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#107
S5 E129 · Wed, June 19, 2024
129. What's your relationship to Juneteenth?
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: I got the day off for Juneteenth and I’m trying to think about ways to honor the holiday and incorporate it into my family’s annual traditions. We have a nice tradition in my family of volunteering on Thanksgiving, we love it, it’s fun, it brings the family together, it reminds us to practice gratitude. We usually spend some time that weekend learning more about Native American history as a family and that has felt right for my family. What can we do for Juneteenth to honor the magnitude of this day? https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth#:~:text=Freedom%20finally%20came%20on%20June,newly%20freed%20people%20in%20Texas. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/884989263 Support the show
S5 E128 · Tue, June 18, 2024
128. "I donate, but am I a philanthropist?" Apparently it depends on your identities...
Send us a text Do you donate money or volunteer your time for charitable causes? If so, you're engaging in philanthropic activities. But would you actually call yourself a "philanthropist"? According to a recent report from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, there's a major disconnect between the public's understanding of philanthropy and how people view themselves in relation to it. While 60% of Americans donated to charity and 30% volunteered in the past year, only 20% considered themselves philanthropists. Even those actively giving of their time, talents and treasure don't seem to self-identify with that label. In this thought-provoking episode, we'll dive into unpacking this philanthropic identity paradox. Why is there such a divide between our charitable actions and how we perceive ourselves? What's holding people back from embracing the "philanthropist" title? And what might be the advantages of identifying as a philanthropist? Links from today’s episode: "What Americans Think About Philanthropy and Nonprofits" https://scholarworks.indianapolis.iu.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/b5904a8a-5081-42cd-bd44-56740b98fb67/content ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#116 MacKenzie Scott's Giving Strategy and What We Can Learn From It Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S5 E127 · Thu, June 13, 2024
127. How I Screen Charities Before I Donate
Send us a text Ever wonder how to separate the charities genuinely driving impact from those just paying lip service? In this candid episode, you'll get the inside scoop on a personal vetting process for ensuring your donations create real positive change. You'll gain an insider's perspective on: Cutting Through the Fluff: Learn a litmus test for identifying charities with laser-focused, measurable missions (and calling out the vague, meaningless ones). You'll discover how to spot organizations articulating exactly what they aim to achieve and how. Examining the Origins: Dive into why scrutinizing a charity's founders and leadership is crucial for you. You'll gain insights into sniffing out misaligned values from the get-go based on an organization's origin story and current team. Reading Between the Financial Lines: Annual reports revealed! Walk through how to analyze where a charity's money comes from, what they prioritize spending on, and what to make of those much-debated overhead costs. The "Get to Know You" Tactic: Hear a unique approach of strategically deploying small donations to get on charities' mailing lists and volunteer - so you can truly understand their operations. The Sooner the Better: Learn why to start giving somewhere now while refining your long-term charitable strategy, as every dollar and day counts. By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with a framework for confidently vetting charities and ensuring your donations translate into real-world impact aligned with your values. Links from today’s episode: Americans know very little about charities, new poll finds April 2023 https://apnews.com/article/nonprofits-poll-philanthropy-626acbb7a3f140068d4c814cfeae23ab ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#13 Why We Shouldn’t Worry About a Charity’s Admin Expenses (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. pK8inPyaAHsMRTab9CwC Support the show
S5 E126 · Wed, June 05, 2024
126. Vegan Investing: How to Beet the Market! 🥕
Send us a text In a world grappling with climate change and animal welfare concerns, a new investment trend is taking root - vegan investing. This episode dives deep into the rapidly growing world of cruelty-free, plant-based portfolios. We'll explore how vegan ETFs like VEGN are empowering investors to align their money with their values, without sacrificing returns. Whether you're a hardcore vegan or a conscious capitalist, this eye-opening episode will inspire you to build a portfolio that lines up with your own societal values. Links from today’s episode: The World’s First Vegan ETF https://veganetf.com/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#119 Investing According to Islamic Principles Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S5 E125 · Tue, May 28, 2024
125. Are there any prisons in your 401K?
Send us a text Many Americans are unaware that their retirement savings may be profiting off mass incarceration. In this eye-opening episode, we explore how major corporations and Wall Street firms are making billions by operating prisons and exploiting incarcerated workers. You’ll learn how to use the free Prison Free Funds tool to easily check if your 401(k), IRA or other investment funds are invested in private prisons and related companies. Most importantly, you’ll hear actionable steps you can take to divest your retirement savings from this industry. Whether it's contacting your employer about alternative fund options or choosing socially responsible funds, you'll walk away empowered to align your investments with your values. Our money has power. By keeping it out of the prison-industrial complex, we can be part of the solution to end mass incarceration and build a more just society. Tune in to learn how to take control of your financial future while making a positive impact with your investments. Links from today’s episode: American Slavery, Reinvented. The Atlantic. September 2015. https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/09/prison-labor-in-america/406177/ Prison Free Funds https://prisonfreefunds.org/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode 82 Divesting from Prisons https://pod.link/1577031108/episode/04a729da60dd2f1eb0b27eaf1ac8853b (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S5 E124 · Tue, May 21, 2024
124. What to ask a financial planner if you want them to consider your societal values
Send us a text Are you passionate about having a positive impact in the world but unsure how to incorporate that into your financial strategy? In this episode, we'll explore how to have a thoughtful conversation with your financial advisor about aligning your investments with your social impact goals. You'll learn: The key questions to ask your advisor to understand their knowledge and approach to socially responsible investing. This will help you assess if they are up-to-date on the latest trends and strategies in this rapidly growing field. How to clearly communicate your specific values and priorities around issues like the environment, social justice, corporate governance, etc. Being able to articulate your values will allow your advisor to better understand your goals and help you build an appropriate portfolio. Investing with intention is one of the most powerful ways to drive positive change. But it starts with having an open and honest dialogue with your financial advisor. Tune in to gain the tools and confidence you need to make your money matter in a way that aligns with your principles. Links from today’s episode: 3 Questions Investors with Social Justice Values Should Ask Their Advisor. Adasina Social Capital May 2023 https://adasina.com/3-questions-investors-with-social-justice-values-should-ask-their-advisor/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#108 Pros and Cons of ESG investing (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S5 E123 · Tue, May 14, 2024
123. Poor People’s Campaign
Send us a text This week let’s chat about the Poor People’s Campaign. This is a revival of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s radical campaign to unite poor people across the country to fight for an “economic bill of rights” including a guaranteed basic income and affordable housing. Fifty years later, the torch has been picked up by Rev. Dr. William Barber and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharris. They have dedicated their lives to fighting for the poor, and have been gaining momentum in this modern renewal of the campaign. Tune in this week to learn about the differences between the new and the old campaign and who might feel called to join the fight. Links from today’s episode: Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/ 1968 Poor People’s Campaign https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_People's_Campaign Smithsonian: 1968 Poor People's Campaign - Challenges and Successes https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/1968-poor-peoples-campaign-challenges-and-successes Poor People's Campaign: Then & Now https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/poor-peoples-campaign-then-now NYT article about the Poor People’s Campaign in June 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/20/us/poor-peoples-campaign-platform.html William Barber Takes on Poverty and Race in the Age of Trump https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/05/14/william-barber-takes-on-poverty-and-race-in-the-age-of-trump ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode 107 - Dr. King’s Radical Money Beliefs Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S5 E122 · Tue, May 07, 2024
122. How I switched to a more socially responsible index fund
Send us a text This week, host GG Gimja will share the simple process she used to move her investments to a more socially responsible index fund. Links from today’s episode: How to choose the best index fund | Forbes https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/how-to-choose-the-best-index-fund/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode 76 The Surprising Truth About What ESG Investing Actually Means (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. The information provided in this podcast is for general entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional financial advice. We make no guarantees about the accuracy or applicability of the content. Consult a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial planning decisions. Support the show
S5 E121 · Wed, May 01, 2024
121. New Book Alert: The Social Justice Investor by Andrea Longton
Send us a text This week let’s chat about a book that was just released called “The Social Justice Investor” by Andrea Longton. It’s a very smooth read, good for beginners who are just getting started with investing and don’t want to have to check their societal values at the door. Links from today’s episode: The Social Justice Investor by Andrea Longton https://www.thesocialjusticeinvestor.com/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode 25 - What Should I Be Reading? (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S5 E120 · Tue, April 23, 2024
120. Where to find a financial advisor to help you invest according to your values
Send us a text Have you ever thought about hiring a financial advisor? Did you know that there are a growing number of financial advisors and money coaches that are specializing in offering services for clients who want to consider their societal values in their plans for their money? And did you know that there are even financial planners who can help your existing financial planner learn about socially responsible investing so you don’t have to get a new advisor if you don’t want one? Today’s episode will cover a few different places where you can find financial planners who are committed to more than just the bottom line. Links from today’s episode: ValuesAdvisor https://valuesadvisor.org US Sustainable Investing Forum https://www.ussif.org/ Certified Financial Planner Board Directory https://www.letsmakeaplan.org/ ICYMI related episodes you might enjoy: (both were recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Episode 51 Activist Investing Episode 76 The Surprising Truth About What ESG Actually Means Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S5 E119 · Tue, April 16, 2024
119. Investing According to Islamic Principles
Send us a text Like many religious texts, the Quran has a lot to say about money! Back on episode 115 we discussed Islamic concepts of giving. In today’s episode, the principles of Islamic investing are covered. Whether you’re a religious person or not, learning about faith based investing principles can provide inspiration for your own journey in finding investments that align with your values. Tune in this week to learn more. Links from today’s episode: Saturna Capital https://www.saturna.com/amana/halal-investing ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode 115 Where do American Muslims donate their money? (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
Wed, April 10, 2024
Announcement
Send us a text The best episode ideas come from YOUR suggestions. Is there a topic you'd like to hear about on the show? Please send your ideas to progressivepockets@gmail.com Let’s talk again soon. ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode 103 Most Popular Episodes of 2023 (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
Tue, April 02, 2024
118. Maybe banks don't have to suck: An intro to CDFIs
Send us a text Ever think about what your bank is doing with your cash? Whether your bank uses the cash in your checking and savings account to fund fossil fuel companies or gun manufacturers, the reality is that the banks are using their own set of societal values to deploy our cash every single day. In today’s episode, let’s talk about community focused, mission driven banks that might actually share your values! The cash sitting in our bank accounts can be used to fund affordable housing in our communities, or to inject cash into small businesses that have traditionally been locked out of traditional capital. The point is, we have options! Tune in this week to learn more! Links from today’s episode: Understanding CDFIs and their impact | JP Morgan https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/real-estate/community-development-banking/what-is-a-community-development-financial-institution-cdfi Banks Can Deliver Both Social Impact and Profits. Here’s How | Boston Consulting Group https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/balancing-social-impact-and-profits-with-banking ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode 31 (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) https://pod.link/1577031108/episode/ae16a1239e052b0da35e0eb6e8999e99 Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With GG: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S5 E117 · Tue, March 26, 2024
117. 1% for the Planet
Send us a text With so many of us trying to shop sustainably these days, it can be confusing to know what all of the “free trade” and “socially responsible” tags on products mean. Tune in this week to learn more about the 1% for the Planet pledge that 5,000 companies in over 100 countries have signed. As a bonus, you’ll also learn about a fairly new Planet Impact Fund that has been launched by the same organization. Links from today’s episode: 1% for the Planet https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/ Planet Impact Fund https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/planet-impact-fund ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode 36 Greenwashing 101 (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With GG: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S5 E116 · Tue, March 19, 2024
116. MacKenzie Scott's Giving Strategy and What We Can Learn From It
Send us a text MacKenzie Scott is famously tight lipped about how she’s making decisions to give away her estimated $40 billion net worth. But researchers at Harvard have analyzed publicly available data to see what trends emerge. Where does she donate? And is any of it applicable to our own giving? Links from today’s episode: MacKenzie Scott’s Giving Pledge to give the majority of her wealth away https://givingpledge.org/pledger?pledgerId=393 What MacKenzie Scott Wants in a Grantee– A New Analysis Offers Clues https://www.philanthropy.com/article/what-mackenzie-scott-wants-in-a-grantee-a-new-analysis-offers-clues Harvard Research on MacKenzie Scott’s Giving https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/mackenzie-scotts-15-billion-pledge-what-the-data-says-about-her-epic-giving ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode 88 Where does Rihanna donate her money? (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S5 E115 · Tue, March 12, 2024
115. Where do American Muslims Donate Their Money?
Send us a text A common question that comes in from listeners is the soul searching question of “how much should I donate?” There are lots of ways to make that decision, for example, by studying various religious and cultural practices. In today’s episode, the concept of zakat, the third pillar of Islam will be discussed. This is the religious obligation to donate 2.5% of your wealth above a minimum threshold. Tune in today to learn about how zakat is calculated and the guidelines for who can give and who can receive. Whether or not you practice this faith or any faith at all, sometimes it can be helpful to get a peek into how other people make their giving decisions. Links from today’s episode: Muslim American Zakat Report 2023 https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/720d569d-3cfb-432b-9ec0-f5d7924ccf4c/content Online Zakat Calculator https://irusa.org/zakat-calculator/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode 2 How Much Should I Donate? (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S5 E114 · Tue, March 05, 2024
114. Big Wallets, Bleeding Hearts: Support Groups for the Wealthy
Send us a text Did you know there are membership organizations for people of means who want to use their money in greater alignment with their values? Whether you are looking for a group to join or looking for free resources online to DIY your own journey towards greater alignment between your money and your values, tune in this week to learn more about: Toniic, Women Donors Network, Solidaire, Resource Generation, and Thousand Currents. Links from today’s episode: Toniic’s Directory of Impact Investments https://toniic.com/diirectory/ Financial Times: Toniic, partner of GIIN, wants to bring impact investing to China’s wealthy https://www.ft.com/content/23f02dd0-f3c9-11e8-9623-d7f9881e729f Women Donors Network https://womendonors.org/ San Francisco Chronicle: Zendaya makes $100,000 donation to Bay Area theater where she got her start https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/zendaya-california-shakespeare-theater-donation-18680592.php Solidaire https://solidairenetwork.org/ Solidaire's Black Liberation Pooled Fund https://solidairenetwork.org/movement-partnerships/black-liberation-pooled-fund/ Thousand Currents https://thousandcurrents.org/ Resource Generation https://resourcegeneration.org/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: When Trust Fund Kids Grow Up - Episode 97 (recorded a few weeks before the 2024 rebranding of this show) Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Support the show
S5 E113 · Tue, February 27, 2024
113. Celebrating Black Philanthropy (Replay)
Send us a text Links from today's episode: https://www.tides.org/accelerating-social-change/philanthropy/five-facts-to-know-about-black-philanthropy/ https://www.blackphilanthropymonth.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madam_C._J._Walker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ellen_Pleasant Support the show
S5 E112 · Tue, February 20, 2024
112. The Black Dollar Index
Send us a text Today let's discuss the Black Dollar Index. During the racial reckoning in 2020, a group of Black professionals with expertise in healthcare, consumer packaged goods, media, finance, politics, and consulting got together and formed the Black Dollar Initiative. The idea was that this consumer advocacy group could unify the one and a half trillion dollars spent annually by Black Americans for racial equity. This group wants to hold corporations responsible to its Black employees, consumers and communities. And it wants to empower Black consumers to be able to shop with more information about the companies we are patronizing. Tune in today to learn how the Black Dollar Index scores are calculated and how they might inform your own decisions as a consumer. The Black Dollar Index https://blackdollarindex.com/ Support the show
S5 E111 · Tue, February 13, 2024
111. Is this stock anti-racist?
Send us a text This week let's investigate a stock that claims to be designed for those of us who want to invest in anti-racist companies; the NACP ETF created by Impact Shares in 2018. The NACP ETF is an interesting model for socially responsible investing. Not only are the holdings screened according to criteria agreed to with the NAACP, but any proceeds that Impact Shares would receive from the ETF are donated to the NAACP. Sound too good to be true? Tune in this week so we can discuss. As always, this podcast doesn't include financial advice, please consult a licensed professional to advise you on your financial situation and products that might be appropriate for you. NACP ETF https://impactetfs.org/nacp-etf/ Fossil Fuel Free Funds Rating of the NACP ETF https://fossilfreefunds.org/fund/impact-shares-naacp-minority-empowerment-etf/NACP/fossil-fuel-investments/FS0000DK8D/F00000ZTQL Support the show
S5 E110 · Tue, February 06, 2024
110. The legacy of Jazz and Philanthropy
Send us a text As we kick off Black History Month, this week's episode is about the interesting link between jazz and philanthropy based on research from Bridge Philanthropic Consulting, the nation's only Black full service fundraising consultancy. Tune in to learn about the contributions of Jon Batiste, Wynton Marsalis, and the legacies of Lou Rawls, Ella Fitzgerald and other jazz greats. Links from today's episode: READ: Jazz and Philanthropy | Bridge Philanthropic Consulting https://bridgephilanthropicconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Iconic-Impact-__-Jazz-and-Philanthropy_v10-Final-1.pdf READ: Wynton Marsalis: how music makes a difference https://www.ft.com/content/1d5dbcb2-2724-4638-a2b3-3307ecda2aac READ: 2019 Interview with Jon Batiste https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiegoldsmith/2019/09/09/john-batiste-so-much-more-than-steven-colberts-music-director/?sh=141fbd553b77 LISTEN: Democracy! Suite Album from Wynton Marsalis https://wyntonmarsalis.org/discography/title/the-democracy-suite LISTEN: Lou Rawls song complication https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zSWIdQKTYQ Support the show
S5 E109 · Tue, January 30, 2024
109. Building a bridge between financial markets & social justice: Rachel Robasciotti, Founder of Adasina Social Capital
Send us a text This week please enjoy a fascinating episode from Renegade Capital featuring an interview with Rachel Robasciotti, Founder of Adasina Social Capital. In this interview she discusses an approach for financial activism that will surely appeal to social impact investors. Renegade Capital Podcast hosted by Andrea Longton, Ebony Perkins, and Leah Fremouw, is the activist’s podcast for finance and investments. They interview thought leaders who go into the ring every day to fight against the racist, sexist, and exclusive norms established by traditional financial and capital systems. Listeners walk away inspired by their guests and armed with actionable tips and tools to use money to create the world in which they want to live. Whether you're an expert or a novice, there is something for everyone as they discuss impact investing, philanthropic giving, community lending, diversity in finance, and more. Rachel J. Robasciotti is the CEO and Founder of Adasina Social Capital, an investment and financial activism firm serving as a critical bridge between financial markets and social justice movements. Rachel’s passion for social justice investing is rooted in her background as a Black, queer woman and growing up in a community that struggled for safety and financial security within a rural town that was largely segregated. Learn more about Renegade Capital Podcast https://renegadecapitalpodcast.com/ Learn more about Adasina Social Capital https://adasina.com/ Support the show
S5 E108 · Tue, January 23, 2024
108. Pros and Cons of ESG investing
Send us a text Thinking about dipping your toe into ESG investing or socially responsible investing? What are the pros and cons? Tune in this week to find out! Link from today's episode: Pros and Cons of ESG Funds https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/pros-and-cons-of-esg-funds/ Support the show
S5 E107 · Mon, January 15, 2024
107. Dr. King's Radical Money Beliefs
Send us a text In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day let's dig into what this civil rights icon had to say about money. Spoiler alert- it might be more radical than you expect! Links from today's episode: Economic Equality: Martin Luther King Jr's Other Dream https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/01/21/economic-equality-martin-luther-king-jrs-other-dream/ Four Times Martin Luther King Jr. Taught Us About Money https://www.debt.com/news/what-martin-luther-king-jr-taught-us-money/ Martin Luther King Jr's Vision for Economic Justice https://www.npr.org/2021/01/18/958120759/martin-luther-king-jr-s-vision-for-economic-justice Support the show
S5 E106 · Tue, January 09, 2024
106. New Year New Us? Planning for more social impact in 2024
Send us a text It's a new year and a new opportunity to think about ways that our money can be used to build the world we want. So if you've been thinking about the social impact of your money, and wanting a little more this year, tune in for a practical and simple way to make a goal for this year. Support the show
S5 E105 · Mon, January 01, 2024
105. Introducing Progressive Pockets! New name, same great taste
Send us a text Welcome to Progressive Pockets! Formerly known as Spend Donate Invest. After two years and about a hundred episodes, the show has a new name! Tune in this week to learn about the change! Support the show
Trailer · Mon, January 01, 2024
Progressive Pockets Trailer
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S4 E104 · Tue, December 26, 2023
104. How to review YOUR money's social impact in 2023
Send us a text Somehow we've come to the end of 2023! As we look back on the year, it's a great time to think about what impact our money had on the world. This week's episode will help you do exactly that! Support the show
S4 E103 · Tue, December 19, 2023
103. Predictions for 2024 and Most Popular Episodes of 2023
Send us a text This week on the show you'll find out which episodes were the most popular downloads in 2023, as well as some non-podcast related predictions for 2024. Enjoy this week's episode and stick around, new episodes will be uploaded through the holidays! Support the show
S4 E102 · Tue, December 12, 2023
102. Just give them cash: what the data shows about giving people cash versus other types of help
Send us a text Results from a study of the impact of cash donations to 30,000 adults in Kenya have been released and the findings could lead to a paradigm shift in how most charities think about helping people. Links from today's episode It's one of the biggest experiments in fighting global poverty. Now the results are in. NPR. December 7, 2023 https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/12/07/1217478771/its-one-of-the-biggest-experiments-in-fighting-global-poverty-now-the-results-ar?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_8499655_nl_Philanthropy-Today_date_20231208&cid=pt&source=&sourceid= Universal Basic Income: Short-Term Results from a Long-Term Experiment in Kenya September 2023 https://conference.nber.org/conf_papers/f192616.pdf Support the show
S4 E101 · Tue, December 05, 2023
101. Tax write-off today, donate never?
Send us a text Donor advised funds...are they a handy tool to help be thoughtful about our donations or just another form of wealth hoarding? Share your thoughts at https://spenddonateinvest.world or visit the site to request another topic for a future episode and to sign up for the monthlyish newsletter. Links from today's episode: Charitable Tax Reform For the 21st Century by Roger Colinvaux and Ray D. Madoff https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3462163 Until the River Runs Dry by by Chuck Collins Helen Flannery Dan Petegorsky Bella DeVaan https://inequality.org/great-divide/charity-reform-video/ The 2023 DAF Report released by National Philanthropic Trust https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/ Support the show
S4 E100 · Tue, November 28, 2023
100. A recap of the last hundred episodes!
Send us a text Today the podcast hits the 100th episode! Thank you for listening, subscribing and sharing episodes with the people you know! Support the show
S4 E99 · Wed, November 22, 2023
99 What's your plan for Giving Tuesday this year?
Send us a text Today's episode will help you make your plan for this year's Giving Tuesday. If you want to support the show, please consider: Sharing an episode with someone you know. Podcasts grow by word of mouth! Leaving a review for the show on your podcast app. Let me know what other podcasts you recommend. Shows with similar general topics and vibes. Doesn’t have to be about money per se, but maybe there’s a show that you enjoy that is generally on this topic of doing what we can to make the world a slightly better place. https://www.cnet.com/culture/giving-tuesday-2023-when-it-is-what-it-means-and-how-you-can-help/ https://www.catchafire.org/ Support the show
S4 E98 · Tue, November 07, 2023
98. Decolonizing our Thanksgiving Plates (Replay)
Send us a text This week we're exploring the topic of decolonizing our Thanksgiving plates. Links from today's discussion: Chef Sean Sherman Interview and Projects https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131051237/the-sioux-chef-sean-sherman https://owamni.com/ https://sioux-chef.com/ Decolonizing Thanksgiving and Reviving Indigenous Relationship To Food by https://ndncollective.org/decolonizing-thanksgiving-and-reviving-indigenous-relationships-to-food/?fbclid=IwAR2N4_aL_EZtV-EvvtGoDHL_8E2b1VmsUO0bWv8cP0rByuR1RpRmnD8f_6c How to Decolonize Your Thanksgiving Dinner https://www.vice.com/en/article/9a8axe/how-to-decolonize-your-thanksgiving-dinner Support the show
S4 E97 · Tue, October 31, 2023
97. When Trust Fund Kids Grow Up
Send us a text What happens when a bunch of trust fund kids grow up and get fed up? Tune in this week so we can discuss! https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/1/13/20827389/young-donors-philanthropists-resource-generation-politics-trump https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2020/03/02/their-families-built-fortunes-these-millennials-are-trying-figure-out-how-undo-their-class-privilege/ https://twitter.com/ResourceGen https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/27/style/trust-fund-activism-resouce-generation.html https://resourcegeneration.org/choosing-to-talk-about-ugly-stuff/ Support the show
S4 E96 · Tue, October 24, 2023
96. The World's Most Socially Responsible Bank
Send us a text Today let's talk about the world's most socially responsible bank...or is it? Tune in this week so we can discuss. Support the show
S4 E95 · Tue, October 17, 2023
95. Volunteer Tourism
Send us a text Whether you call it volunteer tourism or voluntourism, it can be a tricky topic. Should you go abroad on a volunteer trip? Tune in this week so we can talk about it! Support the show
S4 E94 · Tue, October 10, 2023
94. Why the Rich Don't Give
Send us a text Every day we read headlines about the ultra wealthy announcing their intentions to donate portions of their fortunes...but then they often don't actually do it. Is it greed? Or is there something else that is preventing the ultra wealthy from donating? Tune in this week to find out why they don't give, and how we can apply those lessons to our own lives. Links from today's episode: https://www.bridgespan.org/getmedia/37911384-bac3-4a5c-8c3d-8ddafd21f928/four-pathways-to-greater-giving-no-appendix.pdf?ext=.pdf Support the show
S4 E93 · Thu, October 05, 2023
93. Reflections on 2 years of this podcast
Send us a text Time flies! Thank you for your support over the past two years! Let's keep going! Support the show
S4 E92 · Tue, September 19, 2023
92. Four more ways to build an organization according to your values
Send us a text Whether you are a startup founder or you are in the beginning stages of creating a nonprofit, it makes a lot of sense to bake your values into the foundation of your organization. Last week, in the first part of this discussion, we talked about starting with identifying your specific values for your organization. Today we will continue the discussion with four more categories. Support the show
S4 E91 · Tue, September 12, 2023
91. Building an organization according to your values
Send us a text When I was growing up, I had the impression that if you wanted to do good you worked for a nonprofit, if you wanted to make money, you worked for a business. And they were separate paths. Are you building an organization? How are you thinking about building it according to your values? Tune in this week for some suggestions! Links from today’s episode: https://www.becomingdenizen.com/essentials/co-ops Support the show
S4 E90 · Tue, September 05, 2023
90. Four Ethical Banks
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S4 E89 · Tue, August 29, 2023
89. Where does will.i.am donate his money?
Send us a text Tune in this week to find out where will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas donates his money! Support the show
S4 E87 · Tue, August 22, 2023
88. Where does Rihanna donate her money?
Send us a text Today's episode is about where Rihanna donates her money! Links from today’s episode https://claralionelfoundation.org/ https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/rihanna https://www.marketwatch.com/story/rihanna-was-a-philanthropist-long-before-she-was-a-billionaire-heres-why-shes-considered-a-trailblazer-when-it-comes-to-giving-away-money-d7a19c4b https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/rihannas-foundation-donates-15-million-to-climate-justice-groups https://mashable.com/article/rihanna-super-bowl-halftime-philanthropy Support the show
S4 E87 · Tue, August 15, 2023
87. Where does Paris Hilton donate her money?
Send us a text Today's episode is about where Paris Hilton donates her money! Links: Paris Hilton's somewhat cringe visit to survivors of earthquake in Mexico https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6383385/Paris-Hilton-visits-Mexican-earthquake-survivors-San-Gregorio.html Look to the stars profile: Paris Hilton https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/paris-hilton Support the show
S4 E86 · Wed, August 09, 2023
86. Where does Beyoncé donate her money?
Send us a text Ever wondered where Beyoncé Knowles Carter donates her money? Did you know that her philanthropic foundation BeyGood is on tour right alongside the historic Rennaissance tour? Tune in to this episode to find out more! Links from today's episode: "Beyoncé's BeyGOOD Foundation to help entrepreneurs, small businesses in Charlotte" https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/Beyonce-beygood-foundation-entrepreneurs-small-business-charlotte/275-f418f117-955d-42f6-b306-bc1cfcae45b5 "Beyoncé to donate $2 million to students and small business owners during Renaissance tour" https://www.today.com/popculture/music/Beyonce-2-million-renaissance-tour-donation-students-entrepreneurs-rcna80706 "The 10 Not-So-Publicized Times Jay Z and Beyoncé Gave Back" https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/do-good-brothers/10-not-so-publicized-times-jay-z-and-Beyonce-gave-back/#144743 "Celebrity Giving Profile: Beyoncé" https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/beyonce Support the show
S4 Enull · Wed, August 02, 2023
Introducing the Celebrity Giving Series!
Send us a text Given that it is summer time and you might be spending a little more time relaxing with family and friends, I am going to do a light series this month on celebrity giving! So grab your beach towel and some iced tea, and unwind as we chat about where our favorite celebs donate their money. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find that you have some places in common or maybe you will be inspired to check out a new place to give that you hadn’t thought about before! Enjoy the rest of your summer and let’s talk again soon! Support the show
S4 E85 · Wed, August 02, 2023
85. Where does President Barack Obama donate his money?
Send us a text Links from today's episode: Obama’s Doodle for NF https://images.app.goo.gl/Y52CobeDSe5CcVPo7 What do Nobel Prize Winners do with their Winnings? https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1848817_1848816_1848803,00.html Obama’s donation of his Nobel Prize Money https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/us/12nobel.html Obama’s donations in office https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2017/02/06/obama-donated-over-1-million-to-charity-as-president-heres-where-the-money-went/?sh=407c6b30459e Support the show
S4 E84 · Tue, July 25, 2023
84. On Impact Investing and Social Justice from Narratives of Purpose
Send us a text Eleni Janis started her career researching bias in lending. Today she is working to provide more access to capital for business owners who have traditionally been cut out of the system. This episode is from Narratives of Purpose, a podcast highlighting unique stories of impact, through conversations with global changemakers, hosted by Dr. Claire Murigande. You can find a more detailed episode description here . Did you know there is a monthlyish email newsletter for the Spend Donate Invest community? Sign up at spenddonateinvest.world and follow the show on Twitter . Support the show
S4 E83 · Tue, July 18, 2023
83. Warren Buffett's Giving Pledge
Send us a text Today's episode is about the Giving Pledge that Warren Buffett and friends Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates created in 2010. Have they actually given their money away yet? Who else has signed up for the pledge? And what does the future hold for the giving pledge? Links from today's episode: https://givingpledge.org/ Support the show
S4 E82 · Tue, July 11, 2023
82. Divesting from Prisons
Send us a text Today's topic came in from a listener, it was about how to divest from prison labor. So we’re going to talk about what prison labor is and how it might be used to create the products that we buy and to address the listener’s question, how to divest from prison labor. Links from today's episode: Northstar Asset Management Report "Prison Labor in the United States: An Investor Perspective" https://northstarasset.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/revMay2018_Prison-Labor-in-the-Supply-Chain.pdf Prison Free Funds https://prisonfreefunds.org/ Book reco: The New Jim Crow Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander https://newjimcrow.com/ Support the show
S4 E81 · Tue, July 04, 2023
81. Creating a Family Mission Statement (Replay)
Send us a text Today's topic is about how to create a family mission statement, especially as it relates to money! Links from today's episode: https://hbr.org/2020/08/whats-your-familys-mission-statement https://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/02/want-to-give-your-family-value-and-purpose-write-a-mission-statement/273491/ Support the show
S4 E80 · Tue, June 20, 2023
80. The Five Types of Givers (Part 2)
Send us a text What type of giver are you? Support the show
S4 E79 · Tue, June 13, 2023
79. The Five Types of Givers
Send us a text In today's episode, 5 types of givers will be discussed. What type are you? 1) the skeptic 2) the overwhelmed 3) the flighty 4) old faithful 5) the firefighter Tune in this week to learn more! Support the show
S4 E78 · Wed, June 07, 2023
78. Raising Generous Kids (Replay)
Send us a text Here’s today’s letter: Coming out of last year’s holiday season, I started to wonder if my kids are getting a little spoiled. My partner and I both grew up in working class families, our parents often lived check to check and we learned to be grateful for what little we had. I really think those tough times pulled us together as a family. My partner and I have been very fortunate to have more disposable income as we raise our children. What that means is they usually have new outfits at the beginning of the school year, they get lots of presents for their birthdays and Christmas, and they have never had to worry about our financial security as a family. I’m grateful for this, but now I’m starting to wonder if they are going to be missing out on some of the positive parts of our childhoods. Gratitude, a hard work ethic, not being wasteful, not feeling entitled, all of those sorts of things. Basically, we want our kids to be humble, hard working, and generous. Our kids are 7 and 4. Any suggestions? Links from today's discussion: Resources to empower kids for a more connected and caring world: learningtogive.org Children's Book Recommendation: A Chair for My Mother written and illustrated by Vera B. Williams https://bookshop.org/books/a-chair-for-my-mother/9780688040741 Discussion Guide for A Chair for My Mother https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/chair-my-mother-literature-guide Children's Book Recommendation: Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn (Author) and Cornelius Van Wright (Illustrator) https://bookshop.org/books/sam-and-the-lucky-money/9781880000533 Discussion Guide for Sam and the Lucky Money https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/sam-and-lucky-money-literature-guide Support the show Support the show
S4 E77 · Tue, May 30, 2023
77. Where To Start With Donating (Replay)
Send us a text Today’s letter is about where to start with donating. Here’s the letter: What to do if I feel overwhelmed by donating? It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, I don’t think most of us learned anything about donating as kids, except for maybe some kids grow up with the practice of giving to their religious institutions. And even then, I think what kids tend to learn is more about the practice and benefits of giving, not as much about how to make decisions related to giving. So here are some tips. 1. Pick a percentage goal. Check out episode 2 for some thoughts on this. In addition to the ideas in that episode, you might find it to be an interesting benchmark that the USA gives 0.75% in foreign aid, you could start at 1% if you're brand new to giving. Please don't get caught up on whether you’re giving 1% of your gross income versus net income after tax. Let’s keep it simple, start with 1% of your take home pay, after taxes. The reason I’m suggesting you set a goal percentage is because the problem with deciding how much to give after your see what's left at the end of each month is that it's less likely to actually happen that way. I don’t think a lot of us are disciplined enough to look into our bank accounts on that day before we get paid to see exactly how much is left. Or if you are one of those people that spends your account down to zero every month because you keep a separate emergency savings account, I don’t think you’re going to be thinking about donating at the end of the month. So this is one way, set a percentage of 1% after taxes and donate that much each month. 2. Tie it to a routine. Give on your birthday. Or on all days you get off work, most of those are federal holidays. You could decide to give $50 every time you get a day off. Or $100 if that makes more sense for your budget. There are roughly ten federal holidays per year, so if you are giving $50 each time, that’s $500 total donations over the course of a year. If you are doing $100 per holiday, that is going to get you to around $1,000. I think that could also give you something to look forward to on those days off. 3. Keep it simple. By picking a favorite place to give, or a theme to reduce the scope of charities to choose from. Your theme could be your neighborhood or city. Your theme could be one of your priorities, like racial justice, or the environment, or mental health. 4. Keep it fun. For a lot of people that means community. You can do a giving circle with friends from work or family. You can let people know about this experiment you're doing this year. You can build in rewards. I respond very well to rewards. Lol. Like maybe you wear your favorite outfit on the days when you send that donation in. Or you go to the park to feed the ducks. Whatever your idea of a treat is. Those are some initial suggestion
S4 Enull · Wed, May 24, 2023
Interlude
Send us a text Call for submissions! Please send your topics, questions, and feedback to spenddonateinvest@gmail.com Support the show
S4 E76 · Tue, May 16, 2023
76. The surprising truth about what ESG investing actually means
Send us a text Welcome back to Spend Donate Invest! This is a podcast where we talk about ways to line up our values and our money. When we think about the things that keep us up at night. Whether that’s climate change, or homelessness, or the systematic oppression of our communities, we usually talk about how we can claim our power when we vote. Some of us might protest, or organize ourselves in other ways. But what about….our money? Where do we bank, where do we shop, where do we donate? Whether you call it: Impact Investing Ethical Investing Socially responsible investing Sustainable Investing, or Values- Aligned investing You have probably come across the term "ESG" when looking for investments that line up with your values. Often you may hear the abbreviation used as a shorthand for "socially responsible" investing. But this is a gross misunderstanding of what ESG really means! Tune in this week to learn more! Subscribe to the monthlyish newsletter by emailing spenddonateinvest@gmail.com Please share this episode with someone who you think might appreciate a concise, clear, easy to understand explanation of ESG. Links MSCI ESG Ratings Explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79rZm7FCkOU Sustainalytics What is ESG? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwGmtThiwII An Institutional Approach to Gender Diversity and Firm Performance by Letian Zhang https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=55194 What MSCI’s ESG Ratings are and are not https://www.msci.com/our-solutions/esg-investing/esg-ratings/what-esg-ratings-are-and-are-not Support the show
S4 E75 · Tue, May 09, 2023
75. How to start a values aligned investing club
Send us a text Links from today's episode: https://activateyourmoney.net/ Support the show
S4 E74 · Tue, May 02, 2023
74. Does it matter where you say "I Do"?
Send us a text Links from today's episode: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/17/style/despite-everything-people-still-have-weddings-at-plantation-sites.html https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/06/10514073/plantation-wedding-venues Support the show
S4 E73 · Tue, April 25, 2023
73. It's wedding season! How to go green
Send us a text Links from today's episode: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/02/style/sustainability-wedding.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Love https://lessstuffmoremeaning.org/weddingfootprintcalculator/ Support the show
S4 E72 · Tue, April 11, 2023
72. How much money do Harry and Meghan give away?
Send us a text Curious about how much money Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle give away? Tune in this week to hear where and how much they give. Links from today’s episode Archewell Foundation Impact Report 2020-2022 https://archewell.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Archewell-Foundation-Impact-Report-2020-2022.pdf Vanity Fair Article https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/01/prince-harry-meghan-markle-archewell-foundation-raised-13-million-donated-3-million-new-hires Support the show
S4 E71 · Tue, April 04, 2023
71. Women, Men, and Money
Send us a text Welcome back to Spend Donate Invest. This is where we talk about ways we can line up our values in terms of the world we’d like to build and we try to line those values up with what we’re doing with our money. Where we invest, where we save our money, and how we spend our money. If you ever have something you’re thinking about, please drop a note and your topic might get selected for a future episode. The email address will be shared at the end of today's episode. Today we are going to wrap up women’s month by talking about women, men and money. Specifically women and giving drawing on research from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University. Links from today's episode: https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/institutes/womens-philanthropy-institute/research/index.html Support the show
S4 E70 · Tue, March 28, 2023
70. The legal right to invest according to our values
Send us a text In Nov 2022 the Department of Labor passed a rule allowing 401k managers to consider climate change environmental, social and governance when they make investment decisions. To put it mildly, there was some push back to this. And heads up, they’re using the word “woke” incorrectly again. Links: US SIF Biennial report Support the show
S4 E69 · Tue, March 21, 2023
69. Women, Sex and Socialism
Send us a text Today's episode is a short book summary, on a book called Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence by Kristen Ghodsee. This book was written for young Americans who were pissed off and energized by the election of Trump. The author, Dr. Kristen Ghodsee is a professor of Russian and Eastern European Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She studies countries that went from socialism to capitalism. Her big thesis in this book is that capitalism isn't all it is cracked up to be. That it turns out we, as a society can't really have it all, and she zeroes in on women in particular. Based on her research, she believes that women will have more economic freedom and work life balance under socialism, whereas capitalism has reinforced gendered stereotypes and roles, a gender wage gap and a situation where women work second shifts as caretakers. Tune in to the episode to learn more! Support the show
S4 E68 · Tue, March 14, 2023
68. Is a donation a good gift?
Send us a text Are you thinking about what to get your friend, relative or colleague for their special occasion this year? Today's discussion is whether a donation is a good gift or not. What do you think? Email the show anytime at spenddonateinvest@gmail.com ! Support the show
S4 E67 · Tue, March 07, 2023
67. Did Patagonia's founder really give his company away?
Send us a text Links from today's discussion: “Billionaire No More: Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company” New York Times Sept 14, 2022 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/14/climate/patagonia-climate-philanthropy-chouinard.html Yvon Chouinard’s statement on Patagonia’s site https://www.patagonia.com/ownership/ Yvon Chouinard’s Google Talk https://youtu.be/eBbmRLR_DNk Adam Conover’s analysis of Yvon Chouinard’s recent announcement and other billionaire philanthropist hype https://youtu.be/0Cu6EbELZ6I Support the show
S4 E66 · Tue, February 28, 2023
66. Supporting the Arts
Send us a text Today's episode is about supporting the arts. Download to hear more about 1) supporting local artists 2) increasing arts education and institutions, and 3) making art more accessible in your community. Support the show
S4 E65 · Tue, February 21, 2023
65. Celebrating Black Philanthropy
Send us a text Links from today's episode: https://www.tides.org/accelerating-social-change/philanthropy/five-facts-to-know-about-black-philanthropy/ https://www.blackphilanthropymonth.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madam_C._J._Walker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ellen_Pleasant Support the show
S4 E64 · Tue, February 14, 2023
64. Giving After a Natural Disaster
Send us a text When it comes to disaster relief, there are generally, 4 different phases where you might want to help. Phase 1: Mitigation: this is about future planning. Analyzing the possibility of future disasters and planning out what we can do now to lessen the suffering as a result of a natural disaster. Phase 2: Preparedness: this is when you know that a natural disaster is about to happen, what can you quickly do to prepare in the days beforehand. Depending on the type of natural disaster that is expected, it might mean making sure there are sandbags in place, there is enough food and water in reserves, making sure that hospitals have the right PPE and staffing levels. Phase 3: Response: this is the immediate aftermath of the natural disaster. Looking for survivors, for example. Phase 4: Recovery: Building homes and other infrastructure that were damaged. Maybe making changes to how that is done to lessen the impact of potential future disasters. Which phase do your donations tend to go to? Can we be more intentional in our disaster relief giving? Links from today's episode: https://privatebank.jpmorgan.com/gl/en/insights/giving/four-strategies-for-impactful-disaster-relief-giving Support the show
S4 E63 · Tue, February 07, 2023
63. 2023 Predictions
Send us a text In today's episode we will revisit 2022 predictions and make a few guesses for what 2023 has in store for us! Link from today's episode: https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/12/vitalik-buterin-donates-1-billion-worth-of-meme-coins-to-india-covid-relief-fund/ Support the show
S4 E62 · Tue, January 31, 2023
62. Most popular episodes of 2022
Send us a text Most popular episodes of 2022: Episode 23 Raising Generous Kids. Episode 29 My 2 Cents and My 2 Cents Episode 37 Crypto versus the Environment Episode 33 What should I pay my first employee? Episode 24 Should I donate if I’m broke? Episode 25 What should I be reading? Episode 30 What’s the Bank Doing With your Cash? Episode 36 Greenwashing 101 Episode 38 Funding Reproductive Freedom Support the show
S3 E61 · Tue, December 13, 2022
61. Donations of the Rich and Famous
Send us a text This week’s episode is a little stroll through donations of the rich and famous. Links: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeswealthteam/2022/01/19/americas-top-givers-2022-the-25-most-philanthropic-billionaires/?sh=2a34a56e3a6c Support the show
S3 E60 · Mon, December 05, 2022
60. When a friend asks you to donate...but you don't want to
Send us a text Welcome to Spend Donate Invest. Today's question is, how do you politely decline when someone asks you to donate to a fundraiser and you don’t… want… to? Please share this episode with someone who you think might enjoy a short listen. Introduce them to something new. That’s how podcasts tend to survive and grow. Word of mouth. Thanks so much and let’s talk again soon. Support the show
S3 E59 · Mon, November 14, 2022
59. American Indian Heritage Month meets Giving Tuesday
Send us a text Links from today's episode: https://decolonizingwealth.com/ https://www.givingtuesday.org/ https://native-land.ca/ https://www.ala.org/aboutala/indigenous-tribes-washington-dc https://www.firstnations.org/ https://narf.org/ https://www.naahillahee.org/ https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/ Support the show
S3 E58 · Mon, November 07, 2022
58. Decolonizing our Thanksgiving Plates
Send us a text This week we're exploring the topic of decolonizing our Thanksgiving plates. Links from today's discussion: Chef Sean Sherman Interview and Projects https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131051237/the-sioux-chef-sean-sherman https://owamni.com/ https://sioux-chef.com/ Decolonizing Thanksgiving and Reviving Indigenous Relationship To Food by https://ndncollective.org/decolonizing-thanksgiving-and-reviving-indigenous-relationships-to-food/?fbclid=IwAR2N4_aL_EZtV-EvvtGoDHL_8E2b1VmsUO0bWv8cP0rByuR1RpRmnD8f_6c How to Decolonize Your Thanksgiving Dinner https://www.vice.com/en/article/9a8axe/how-to-decolonize-your-thanksgiving-dinner Support the show
S3 E57 · Mon, October 31, 2022
57. Focusing your values aligned investing
Send us a text One question I’ve received quite a bit is on the topic of trying to decide on a focus for our values when it comes to our money. There are so many problems we could tackle, how can we pick a issue or a small number of issue areas to focus on? Otherwise you will find yourself overwhelmed at trying to do everything all at once- climate change, racial equity, gender equality, homelessness, poverty, hunger, clean water access, religious freedom, migrant protections, I could literally go on for an hour listing incredibly important issue areas you could decide to focus on. But to avoid getting overwhelmed, and to avoid letting a pursuit of perfection paralyzing us, it can be helpful to pick a focus area. For now. And then maybe every year you rotate your focus areas. I’m gentling nudging us all to be more intentional. So how to pick a focus area? I have some suggestions for you to consider today. Link from today's episode: https://assets.website-files.com/5e6a6600949076ab67ab2487/5f7f692105c2ca31424ad6ce_Ellevest%20Private%20Wealth%20Management%20Whitepaper%20July%202020.pdf Support the show
S3 E56 · Mon, October 24, 2022
56. What to do if your company's 401K goes against your values (Replay)
Send us a text Here's today's letter: My employer doesn't offer a socially responsible 401k, what should I do? Here's a summary of today's discussion: 1. Buddy up, get other employees into the effort. They probably won’t add options unless you have a ton of influence at your company, but if they see that there’s a group of people that want this, you’ll have more weight. It probably won’t be hard to get some employees to get on board with you, Morgan Stanley did a report and found that 88% of survey respondents with access to 401k plans are interested in sustainable 401k options, but less than half say they are available according to the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing report in 2019. 2. Be patient. This will probably take a year to change. 3. Don’t let up the pressure. Keep asking, and asking, and asking. If you have a financial advisor, you might even get their help in how to word the request in the first place. Please do stay in touch and send an update on what ends up happening at your job and any other tips you gather along the way. Good luck! Support the show
S3 E55 · Tue, October 11, 2022
55. Moved to a Gentrifying Neighborhood, Now What? (Replay)
Send us a text Here's today's letter: I'm a gentrifier and I feel guilty about it all the time. Is there a way to spend my money in the neighborhood in a socially responsible way? Link from today's discussion: https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/types-of-gentrifiers-you-see-in-your-neighborhood Support the show
S3 E54 · Mon, October 03, 2022
54. Giving Up Brands with Shaky Values (Replay)
Send us a text Today's letter is about giving up brands with values that are different than our own! Here's the letter: I can't give up the hate nachos from the restaurant in my neighborhood but I'm trying to vote with my dollars. What can I do? I'm ashamed and hiding this behavior from my friends. Tune in for today's discussion! Support the show
S3 E53 · Tue, September 27, 2022
53. Where to Find Charities and What to Ask (Replay)
Send us a text Today's letter is about where to find charities and what to ask. Here's the letter: How should I research a charity to decide if I want to give to them? Where do I look and what questions should I be asking myself? Support the show
S3 E52 · Mon, September 19, 2022
52. How Much Should I Donate? (Replay)
Send us a text In celebration of the podcast's one year anniversary, some of the most popular episodes will be rebroadcast. In the meantime, if you have a question you've been pondering, a question about how to better align your money and the type of world you'd like to help build, please send it in for a future episode! Thanks! GG Here’s today's letter: How do people decide how much money to give? I'm not religious, so 10% doesn't hold a personal significance to me. How much should I give? To submit your letter to the show, email spenddonateinvest@gmail.com Support the show
Bonus · Mon, September 12, 2022
Interlude: the podcast is 1 year old!
Welcome back! This is a podcast where we talk about ways to line up our personal values and our money. When we think about the things that keep us up at night. Whether that’s climate change, or homelessness, or the systematic oppression of our communities, we usually talk about how we can claim our power when we vote. Some of us might protest, or organize ourselves in other ways. But what about….our money? Are there ways that we can use our money in line with some of our other values? That’s what this show is about. You can send in your letters with whatever you’ve been thinking about, and then I’ll do some research, talk to experts, and come back with some thoughts. Hopefully you’ll come across some helpful suggestions, you might laugh, you might think differently than you did before, either way, thank you for being here. So usually, right about now I’d be reading a listener letter and then sharing some gentle and intentionally realistic suggestions. This week though, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for all of the support for this podcast and monthlyish newsletter. The podcast has just turned 1 year old , which is a big milestone for a podcast. There are a little more than 50 episodes which is another big milestone as far as podcasts go. And there’s still so much to talk about. There’s still so much to explore in terms of how we can use our money to create more of the world we want to see, so let’s keep the discussion going. And actually this is a great time for me to ask you what your questions are. What have you been pondering? Is there some topic that you haven’t seen covered yet on this show? You can email your question to spenddonateinvest@gmail.com or if you don’t feel like typing you can leave a voicememo on the podcast’s website which is spenddonateinvest.world While I work on your incoming letters, you’ll notice the next few weeks will be replays of the more popular episodes, just in case you missed them the first time, or if you’re more of a *greatest hits* type of listener LOL. In the meantime, if you’re interested in receiving the monthlyish email newsletter, just send an email to spenddonateinvest@gmail.com . You can also add the show on Twitter, the handle is spenddonatevest. And there’s a nice clean website where you can find all episodes ever for this show, the website is spenddonateinvest.world . Thanks again for your support! One last thing- if you’re wondering how you can support the show, please share an episode with your colleagues, your friends, your family, your book club, your running group. Word of mouth is still how people discover podcasts. So, thank you for spreading the word. Back soon with more! Support the show
S3 E51 · Mon, August 29, 2022
51. Activist Investing
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: I recently heard a talk by someone who was saying that shareholders can influence what a company does. But my question is, do I need to be a big time player with lots of stocks to be able to have any influence? The speaker gave the example of Engine 1, and said they had a tiny amount of stocks in Exxon but I guess I just want to hear another opinion about this. Can a middle income person really have any influence? https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-hedge-fund-manager-who-did-battle-with-exxonand-won-11623470420 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/23/magazine/exxon-mobil-engine-no-1-board.html https://www.asyousow.org/reports/proxy-preview-2022 Support the show
S3 E50 · Mon, August 22, 2022
50. Giving more strategically
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: In the past, I’ve donated money whenever I’m asked. I don’t really have much of a strategy, someone asks, I think about whether it sounds right to me, or my current budget and then I give what I can at that time. But I’m wondering if there’s a way to get a little more organized around my giving. I heard an episode that gave some guidelines on how to figure out how much I want to donate, but I want to know if there are guidelines on breaking down that amount by different types of giving. For example, my kid’s school, my mosque, etc. Links from today's episode: https://www.ellevest.com/magazine/personal-finance/how-to-make-a-strategic-giving-plan Support the show
S3 E49 · Mon, August 15, 2022
49. Socially Responsible Robo-Advisors
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: I just discovered the show recently and have been learning a lot, especially as I think about stepping up my investing game. My issue is that I’m busy. I work at a startup and I just don’t know when I’ll have time to really sit and think through every stock in my portfolio and make sure that they are socially just companies and that I’m setting myself up safely for retirement at the same time. So, what do you suggest for the super busy investor who still wants to feel good about their portfolio? Support the show
S3 E48 · Mon, August 08, 2022
48. What to do with a Windfall
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: I’m writing to ask what you think I should do with a windfall? I completely did not expect to be compensated for some work that I did to help out a friend. It’s not a life changing amount of money, but it’s enough to go on a nice vacation for example. A little context- my finances are in good shape. I have my emergency savings where I want them. I am maxing out all my retirement accounts. I comfortably pay my living expenses every month with enough to put into savings above and beyond my retirement savings. There’s nothing that I really want or need. So I’m asking what should I do with this windfall? I have never been this financially secure before so it is scary to think about just blowing it all on something extravagant or just giving it all away, but I’m just looking to find out if you have any suggestions on how to think about this cash. Support the show
S3 E47 · Mon, August 01, 2022
47. How to Set Up a Scholarship
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: I was just watching a video of billionaire Robert Smith giving a commencement speech at Morehouse and then surprising the graduates at the end by announcing that he is paying off their student loans. I watched the video three times, the looks on those students’ faces was something I’ll never forget. They looked so surprised and then elated and it just really was an amazing moment. So. I’m not a billionaire, but I am a thousandaire. And I want to know if I could do something like that too. Any ideas? Links from today's discussion: https://www.kiplinger.com/article/college/t042-c001-s003-setting-up-a-scholarship-fund.html https://bold.org/ Support the show
S3 E46 · Mon, July 25, 2022
46. Three Phases of Impact Investing
Send us a text Welcome to Spend Donate Invest. This is a podcast where you’ll find short episodes about how we might use our money in ways that line up with our personal values and the type of world you’d like to help create. Maybe your thing is climate change. Maybe it’s poverty. Maybe it’s the gender pay gap. Maybe it’s reproductive freedom. You can choose your own values, the idea here is that you will get some suggestions on lining up your money and your values. We talk about where you shop, where you’re investing, and even where you keep your cash. Today someone wrote in about socially responsible investing, you can send in whatever question you’ve been thinking about. I’d love to chat about it, and share some resources that might send you in the right direction to achieve whatever your heart desires. Here’s this week’s letter: I’m somewhat new to investing in general, I’ve always put money into my 401k because my company matches, but I’ve started to invest outside of the 401k. For now, I’m looking at mutual funds, ETFs, maybe a few individual stocks, but I’m still pretty beginner level. I have heard you talk about social impact investing, is that something for small time investors like me or is it for the rich people of the world? Links from today's episode: https://unlesscollective.com/ Support the show
S3 E45 · Mon, July 18, 2022
45. Creating a Family Money Mission Statement
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: I’ve been taking a more active role in managing my money and my family’s money and I want to look for ways for us to all get on the same page. My partner, I think, just wants to make as much money as possible. For me, it’s more than just growing our money, I also care a lot about how we make the money and how we show up in the world. Our kid, honestly, I don’t think he’s ever thought about money. For his birthday he gets money but he tends to throw it aside honestly. I would like for us to show up better as a family when it comes to our money. Not sure if my question makes sense, but I’m looking for any suggestions on how we can step up as a family who uses its money intentionally to reflect what we think is important. Link from today's episode: https://www.ellevest.com/magazine/personal-finance/family-mission-statement Support the show
S3 E44 · Mon, July 11, 2022
44. Can our money help with gun violence?
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: When I was growing up, I knew a few friend’s dads that had guns, but they were old hunting rifles that had been passed down. This was out in the country, so hunting deer was just what some of them did for fun. I don’t know when it happened but it seems like our country has been flooded with guns meant to harm people. I’m really concerned about this. I’ve heard you talk about climate change and poverty and homelessness on your show, but I’ve never heard you talk about guns. What do you think? Can our money help with gun violence? Links from today's episode: https://www.gunsdownamerica.org/ https://isyourbankloaded.org/ https://marchforourlives.com/ https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/ https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/02/03/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-u-s/ https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/arms-control/gun-violence/ https://everytownresearch.org/report/guns-and-violence-against-women-americas-uniquely-lethal-intimate-partner-violence-problem/ Support the show
S3 E43 · Mon, July 04, 2022
43. Not Your Parent's Giving
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: Growing up my experience with giving was giving to my church. My parents would tithe to the church and every week they would give us kids each one dollar to put in the collection plate. To be honest, by the time I was a teenager, I would pocket the money sometimes. I felt like my parents were chumps, and blindly giving instead of really analyzing what was being done with the money. And it wasn’t just the blind faith, I think what bothered me too was that they were giving because they were told to give. Like an obligation or something. Like they were programmed to give. So, now I’m entering my middle age and I’m starting to feel like maybe I need to be more generous. I have broken ties with the church, but there are other things I care about. But whenever I think about donating, I remember my parents and their robotic relationship to giving. I don’t want donating to feel like a chore. Or a reaction to guilt. Any tips? Support the show
S2 E41 · Mon, June 27, 2022
42. Pay Transparency for Allies
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: I’m wondering how I can be an ally at work. I heard that there’s a new pay transparency law coming into play, in the past what always made me uncomfortable was thinking about the nondisclosure form I had signed promising that I wouldn’t share my salary with anyone, but over the past few years as I’ve become educated about pay discrepancies particularly for women, I have started to think that what my employer is asking me to do is unethical. So my question is, do you recommend pay transparency as a form of allyship? Links from today's discussion: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ruthgotian/2022/05/24/why-new-pay-transparency-law-may-not-solve-the-wage-discrimination-problem/?sh=6943467d489e https://www.wired.com/story/salary-transparency-gender-pay-gap/ https://www.govdocs.com/can-employees-discuss-pay-salaries/ Support the show
S2 E41 · Sun, June 19, 2022
41. Juneteenth!
Send us a text Welcome back to Spend Donate Invest. We vote, we protest, but what about our money? Is there a way we can line up our personal values and our money? This is what I’m exploring on this show. Thank you so much for all of your emails and DMs with all of the questions you’re wondering about. Here’s this week’s letter: I got the day off for Juneteenth and I’m trying to think about ways to honor the holiday and incorporate it into my family’s annual traditions. We have a nice tradition in my family of volunteering on Thanksgiving, we love it, it’s fun, it brings the family together, it reminds us to practice gratitude. We usually spend some time that weekend learning more about Native American history as a family and that has felt right for my family. What can we do for Juneteenth to honor the magnitude of this day? Thanks for your letter. Before I offer some thoughts on honoring the day, I’ll encourage you to do your own research to understand the history and meaning of the day. And really look around at multiple sources. There’s a tendency to gloss over some of our ugliest aspects of our country and an inability to hold painful truths alongside gratitude for our progress. Our best self is one where we can acknowledge where we started, work to improve, and continually check for successes and failures as we evolve. I think your family’s participation in Juneteenth can be a part of how your family does this. Let’s start with education. When I think about the potential of Juneteenth, the first thing I think of is the potential for education. I’d encourage you to think about your family’s specific relationship to the enslavement of Africans in this country. Were your family members enslaved? Were they enslavers? Do you live on a former forced labor camp? I guess they call those plantations in a lot of places. What’s the truth behind your family’s relationship to the enslavement of kidnapped Africans in America? Are you recent Americans like my family? Maybe you showed up here after the Emancipation Proclamation in the 1800s. Did your family benefit from the anti-Black policies that lingered after slavery? Did your family work in careers where Black people were not allowed the same government protections or benefits? Did your family work in agriculture for example? Did your family buy a home in a redlined area? Has your family benefited from anti-blackness? Exploring your family’s relationship to slavery in America could be one way that you honor Juneteenth in your family. Let’s talk about celebration. Depending on your relationship to slavery in America, you can be thoughtful about how to celebrate? Are you celebrating your ancestors' survival? Are you celebrating Black joy? Are you celebrating African American culture and history? And finally, let’s talk about activism. What can you do
S2 E40 · Mon, June 13, 2022
40. Give now or wait till I'm rich?
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: Should I wait until I am financially well off before I give? No. Please don’t wait until you are “rich” before you take your giving seriously. We’ve talked about this before on Episode 24, you might never feel rich. In my observation, nobody hoards money more than a wealthy person. Give what you can when you can. Especially because people need help now. As of the end of 2021, 20 million Americans reported living in households without enough food. In America! If you're doubting what your small donation can do, take heart, you can change someone's day. You can change someone's season with an act of generosity. You can step in to help right when someone is about to go down a spiral or you can set someone onto a different path with an intervention today. If your hesitation is that you think giving will hold you back from becoming financially well off, you can set boundaries for yourself. I’ve never met anyone who was donating too much except for people who have said they were giving too much to their relatives. Now that’s a concern that I do think warrants some caution. You’re going to want to get guidance from someone who understands your cultural background to be able to provide you guidance on how to help those that you love while still protecting your financial future. But I’m talking about helping your parents keep their house or your cousin fix their car so they can get to work. But if you’re concerned that you giving small donations as you can on your path to financial security is going to hold you back from financial security, I just haven’t seen that to be true before. If you are worried you will become an impulsive giver, you can definitely think about setting some giving goals. There’s a very popular episode #2 about figuring out how much you want to give. If your concern on the other hand is that you won’t be able to create meaningful change with small donations versus this hypothetical large donation you want to give at the end of your life, again I would shine the spotlight on the issues your fellow humans are facing right now. Because the reality is that you can do both. You can give in small increments as you grow your wealth and then your level of giving can grow as your wealth grows and if it is important to you to leave a big donation when you leave the earth, I think you can plan for this. Then again, much like saying how you feel about people while they are alive, and not waiting until their funeral. I would encourage you to give while you are alive and not wait until your own funeral. Of all the things to procrastinate, please don’t let helping others be one of those things. <a href='https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/tracking-the-covid-19-economys-effects-on-food-housing-and#:~:text=The%20COVID%2D19%20pandemi
S2 E39 · Mon, June 06, 2022
39. Helping with the Baby Formula Shortage
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: Is there any way I can contribute towards helping parents who are facing the baby formula shortage? Links from today's discussion https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/23/us/abbott-baby-formula-sturgis-regulation.html https://greaterdcdiaperbank.org/the-monthly/ Support the show
S2 E38 · Mon, May 30, 2022
38. Funding Reproductive Freedom
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: Watching the news lately has felt like watching the Handmaid’s Tale. I have to admit I wasn’t paying attention to the gradual erosion of how secure I thought the right to abortion was in the US. It felt like I woke up one day and all of my group chats were talking about the leaked document from the Supreme Court. I had no idea there was a real threat to Roe v Wade. I live in the DMV so I was able to travel to the Supreme Court to protest. I vote in all elections, not just presidential cycles. But I want to put my money in too. I wish I could buy enough Plan B to hand out in the streets. Or offer to pay for women’s abortions. Something. Any thoughts on this? Should I donate to Planned Parenthood or is there a way to give more locally? Links from today's episode: https://dcabortionfund.org/ https://www.msreprofreedomfund.org/ https://www.theafiyacenter.org/programs https://www.iwrising.org/ https://www.thecut.com/article/donate-abortion-fund-roe-v-wade-how-to-help.html https://www.blackwomenradicals.com/blog-feed/honoring-a-reproductive-justice-pioneer-an-interview-with-loretta-j-ross Support the show
S2 E37 · Mon, May 23, 2022
37. Crypto vs The Environment
Send us a text Here’s today’s letter I’ve heard that crypto is bad for the environment, but I have to be honest, I don’t see how. And I’d like to understand a little about this as I’m thinking about getting into investing while the market is down. Links from today's show: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/22/technology/bitcoin-miners-environment-crypto.html?searchResultPosition=3 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/09/03/climate/bitcoin-carbon-footprint-electricity.html https://digiconomist.net/bitcoin-electronic-waste-monitor/ https://www.leafscore.com/blog/the-9-most-sustainable-cryptocurrencies-for-2021/ https://theimpactinvestor.com/is-investing-in-bitcoin-ethical/ Support the show
S2 E36 · Mon, May 16, 2022
36. Greenwashing 101
Send us a text Here’s today’s letter I mentioned to my brother that I started trying to buy certain brands and shop at certain stores because I’m worried about climate change and he said that all of that marketing is greenwashing. I didn’t want to give him the smug feeling of knowing I have no idea what he’s talking about. So, I’ll ask you, what is greenwashing? Links from today's show: https://www.twosides.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Terrachoice_The_Sins_of_Greenwashing_-_Home_and_Family_Edition_2010.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3roITeXVWuE&list=PLEXiy5qiBZFvMordIzn1pANU048CLBfO9&index=10 Support the show
S2 E35 · Mon, May 09, 2022
35. Etsy for Ukraine
Send us a text Here’s today’s letter One interesting thing I've seen with this Ukraine thing is how people are sending money in untraditional ways. So I heard people are buying things from Ukrainians on Etsy (like digital products) or booking Airbnbs. It's not quite mutual aid, but it's innovative. I don't have a question just a comment about how interesting it is. Support the show
S2 E34 · Mon, May 02, 2022
34. Elon Musk, Twitter, and ESG
Send us a text Here’s today’s letter: I am lowkey stressed about Elon Musk and Twitter. At first when he said he wanted to buy Twitter I thought he was just trying to get the attention that he craves, but it turns out he was serious and I just read that he’s going to buy Twitter. I know on a rational level that he’s not the first billionaire to buy a media company, if that’s what Twitter is, but I feel stressed because I see Twitter as having been instrumental to some of the social causes that I care about. All of this has me thinking about something I heard on an early episode of the show, if Elon Musk becomes one of Twitter’s leaders, would that change Twitter’s ESG score? Links from today's episode: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/1/27/the-social-media-myth-about-the-arab-spring https://www.vox.com/2018/7/18/17576302/elon-musk-thai-cave-rescue-submarine https://fortune.com/2021/11/09/elon-musk-tweets-tesla-shares-hertz-funding-secured-twitter-sec-shiba-inu/#:~:text=In%20May%20last%20year%2C%20Musk,The%20shares%20promptly%20slumped%2010%25 . Support the show
S2 E0 · Mon, April 25, 2022
Thank You Listeners!
Send us a text Welcome back! This is a podcast that sits at the intersection of social justice and money. Usually we talk about ways to line up our personal values and our money. Every week, I take a question that a listener has sent in, about something that’s keeping them up at night and how they might use their money to help, and provide some gentle and realistic suggestions. This week though, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for all of the support for this podcast and monthlyish newsletter. The podcast has just hit a thousand downloads, which is a big milestone for a podcast. It took a little over 6 months of consistent episodes, and it was worth it. Thank you so much for sending in your questions and your reflections and your rebuttals. I am still fired up about the ways we can use our money to create more of the world we want to see, so let’s keep the discussion going. In the meantime, if you’re interested in receiving the monthlyish email newsletter, just send an email to spenddonateinvest@gmail.com . You can also add the show on Twitter, the handle is @spenddonatevest . There’s a nice clean website where you can find all episodes ever for this show, the website is spenddonateinvest.world . That being said, I have been thinking about renaming the show to something that better fits the vibe of the show, so if you have ideas for that, please do share. I’m looking for a name that someone can look at and immediately understand what this show is about, and of course, a name that hasn’t already been taken. Thanks again for your support! Back next week with another question from another listener! One last thing- if you’re wondering how you can support the show, please share an episode with your colleagues, your friends, your family, your book club, your running group. Word of mouth is still how people discover podcasts. So, thank you for spreading the word. Back soon with another episode! Support the show
S2 E33 · Mon, April 18, 2022
33. What should I pay my first employee?
Send us a text Here’s today’s letter: I’m finally doing it! I’m starting my own business. Things are going better than expected and I’ll need to hire people soon. What should I pay? Link from today's discussion: https://livingwage.mit.edu/ Support the show
S2 E32 · Mon, April 11, 2022
32. Is it ethical to be a billionaire?
Send us a text Here’s today’s listener letter: A friend and I recently got into a debate about whether or not there’s such a thing as an ethical billionaire? What do you think? I don’t think Billionaires should exist but my friend says that innovators should be incentivized to improve the world. Links from today's discussion: Walmart and McDonald’s employees are https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/11/18/food-stamps-medicaid-mcdonalds-walmart-bernie-sanders/ Wealth Hoarding in America https://fortune.com/2020/07/14/billionaires-philanthropy-coronavirus-crisis/ America’s billionaires have a hoarding problem https://fortune.com/2020/07/14/billionaires-philanthropy-coronavirus-crisis/ Support the show
S2 E31 · Tue, April 05, 2022
31. Banking till death do us part
Send us a text Here’s today’s listener letter: A few recent episodes of the show have made it clear to me that I want my money to be put into banks with community minded values, however, I am stuck. My money is currently at a very large and very shady national bank along with my wife’s money and she does not agree that we should move it to a values aligned bank. How can I convince her to move our money? Links from today's conversation: mightydeposits.com renegadecapitalpodcast.com Support the show
S2 E30 · Tue, March 29, 2022
30. What's the bank doing with your cash?
Send us a text Here’s today’s listener letter: I heard the recent episode about banking and I have more questions! I’m not 100% ready to cut the cord with my big bank, but I liked your advice about moving some of my savings to a bank that lines up with my values as a first step. My question is, how do I find the right bank for me? Links from today's episode: https://mightydeposits.com/ NYT article about Black homeowner suing Wells Fargo Support the show
S2 E29 · Mon, March 21, 2022
29. My 2 Cents and My 2 Cents
Send us a text Here’s today’s listener letter: Should I try to specify exactly what my donation is used for? No! End of episode. LOL. OK, I am kidding. Let’s talk this one out. I can see how it would be tempting to try to donate money to an organization and then provide your two cents on exactly how you’d like the money to be used, but I want to caution you against being so prescriptive and trusting the organization that you’ve selected to be a good shepherd of the money you are donating and to better know exactly what your dollars are needed for. You don’t know if their copier is broken and operations are coming to a standstill until they can figure out how to get it repaired. Or maybe they receive funding but it is restricted funding. Sometimes foundations will donate to an organization and then put in some restrictions like it must be used for programmatic funding only, not for any administrative expenses. This can really make it difficult for an organization to be able to run itself effectively. I guess what I’m really cautioning against is specifying whether your donation is being used for programmatic funding or administrative funding. But it could be that you’re wanting to specify which program your money goes to, in that case, I think do whatever feels right to you. You might want to support a community organization that provides free medical care to a neighborhood as well as a food pantry and a jobs training program. If you really really really feel strongly about one of those more than the others, then sure, go ahead and specify, if the organization even asks your preference. But in general, I would suggest that you try to trust the organization to know that ok this month, the health care clinic is running very low on supplies, but they’re actually doing OK in terms of the food pantry and the jobs training course. This echoes the advice you’ll generally hear on this show about providing donations to individuals as well. Back in Episode 21, I gave some predictions on trends for 2022, in terms of how we as a society are aligning our personal values and our money. One of those predictions is that direct cash transfers will become more popular. In other words, instead of requiring people to queue up at the food pantry, for example, just cutting people checks so they can go to their local grocery store or farmer’s market and get the exact groceries their family needs. When the person you want to help is suffering from poverty, I would suggest that you don’t try to specify where your donation goes. Imagine how frustrating it must be to know that you are late on rent and someone has handed you $100 that has to be used for books. Or clothing. Or food. Let the recipient decide where that emergency cash infusion needs to go. <a rel="payment" href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com
S2 E28 · Tue, March 15, 2022
28. How to start a giving circle
Send us a text Here’s today’s listener letter: Recently I heard someone mention a "giving circle." It sounded like a way to give money with my friends. What is it and how do I know if I should start one? Link from today's episode: The Philanthropy Connection https://thephilanthropyconnection.org/ Send your questions to spenddonateinvest@gmail.com Support the show at buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate More episodes at: http://spenddonateinvest.world Support the show
S2 E27 · Mon, March 07, 2022
27. Where should I bank?
Send us a text Here’s today’s listener letter: Where should I bank? On the one hand, I am lazy. On the other hand, the world is on fire and traditional banks don’t lend to Black and brown people. Help. Links from today's discussion: Nerd Wallet on Community Development Financial Institutions to check out in our area https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/what-is-community-development-financial-institution-cdfi NPR A Forgotten History of How the US Government Segregated America https://www.npr.org/2017/05/03/526655831/a-forgotten-history-of-how-the-u-s-government-segregated-america The Color of Money https://bookshop.org/books/the-color-of-money-black-banks-and-the-racial-wealth-gap-9780674970953/9780674237476 Race for Profit https://bookshop.org/books/race-for-profit-how-banks-and-the-real-estate-industry-undermined-black-homeownership/9781469653662 Send your questions to spenddonateinvest@gmail.com Support the show at buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate More episodes at: http://spenddonateinvest.world Support the show
S2 E26 · Tue, March 01, 2022
26. Sustainable Vacation or Bust!
Send us a text Here’s today’s listener letter: Staying home during the pandemic gave me a lot of time to think about the travel I used to do. I’m glad I don’t have to take work trips anymore, but I miss going on vacation with my family. I think I’m ready to start getting out there again, so my question is, how do I take a sustainable vacation? I’m wondering things like: How can I make sure that the money I spend ends up in the local economy? Doesn't destroy the environment? Doesn't take advantage of the locals? Links from today's conversation: Center for Responsible Travel tips for responsible travel https://30ghywahyur3pzyoi3qg4r9c-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2021/03/responsible-travel-tips.pdf NYTimes piece on how to think about booking sustainable travel https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/22/travel/sustainable-travel.html?action=click&module=Editors%20Picks&pgtype=Homepage How to Read Sustainable Travel Company Labels https://destinet.eu/who-who/civil-society-ngos/ecotrans/publications/guide-through-label-jungle-1/download/en/5/Labelguide%202016%20EN.pdf?action=view Send your questions to spenddonateinvest@gmail.com Support the show at buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate More episodes at: http://spenddonateinvest.world Support the show
S2 E25 · Tue, February 22, 2022
25. What should I be reading?
Send us a text Here’s today’s letter: I’m looking for some reading material to learn about how I might better walk the talk in my own life. Like, I have all these strong beliefs about things, but I’m not always sure I’m living in alignment with those values. Do you have any recommendations for where to start? Today we discuss books for adults and kids, including: Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance by Edgar Villanueva Winners Take All: the Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way for Africa by Dambisa Moyo 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism by Ha-Joon Chang Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America by Marcia Chatelain The Color of Money Race for Profit Activate Your Money: Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World by Janine Firpo Wallet Activism: How to Use Every Dollar You Spend, Earn, and Save As a Force for Change by Tanja Hester CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams Sam and the Lucky Money” by Karen Chinn Send your questions to spenddonateinvest@gmail.com Support the show at buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate More episodes at: http://spenddonateinvest.world Support the show
S2 E24 · Tue, February 15, 2022
24. Should I donate if I'm broke?
Send us a text Here’s today’s listener letter: Should I donate even though I’m broke? Or should I wait until I’m financially stable? In this episode, we define what it means to be "broke" and then talk about how to decide if donating makes sense for you. We also discuss: * the legacy of Oseola McCarty * the wealth gap in America and counter intuitive findings on who donates the most * why you might be donating even if you don't feel like you're donating * a caution about waiting until you're financially set to start donating Links from today's episode: https://www.tides.org/accelerating-social-change/philanthropy/miseducation-of-black-philanthropy/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/11/blacks-prioritize-philanthropy/ If you've decided you want to start getting intentional about your charitable giving, check out these episodes: Episode 2: How much should I donate? https://spenddonateinvest.buzzsprout.com/1802564/8885591-2-how-much-should-i-donate Episode 14: When your donations aren't stacking up https://spenddonateinvest.buzzsprout.com/1802564/8912921-14-when-your-donations-aren-t-stacking-up Send your questions to spenddonateinvest@gmail.com Support the show at buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate More episodes at: http://spenddonateinvest.world Support the show
S2 E23 · Mon, February 07, 2022
23. Raising Generous Kids
Send us a text Here’s today’s letter: Coming out of last year’s holiday season, I started to wonder if my kids are getting a little spoiled. My partner and I both grew up in working class families, our parents often lived check to check and we learned to be grateful for what little we had. I really think those tough times pulled us together as a family. My partner and I have been very fortunate to have more disposable income as we raise our children. What that means is they usually have new outfits at the beginning of the school year, they get lots of presents for their birthdays and Christmas, and they have never had to worry about our financial security as a family. I’m grateful for this, but now I’m starting to wonder if they are going to be missing out on some of the positive parts of our childhoods. Gratitude, a hard work ethic, not being wasteful, not feeling entitled, all of those sorts of things. Basically, we want our kids to be humble, hard working, and generous. Our kids are 7 and 4. Any suggestions? Links from today's discussion: Resources to empower kids for a more connected and caring world: learningtogive.org Children's Book Recommendation: A Chair for My Mother written and illustrated by Vera B. Williams https://bookshop.org/books/a-chair-for-my-mother/9780688040741 Discussion Guide for A Chair for My Mother https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/chair-my-mother-literature-guide Children's Book Recommendation: Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn (Author) and Cornelius Van Wright (Illustrator) https://bookshop.org/books/sam-and-the-lucky-money/9781880000533 Discussion Guide for Sam and the Lucky Money https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/sam-and-lucky-money-literature-guide Support the show
S2 E22 · Mon, January 31, 2022
22. Recap of 2021 Most Popular Episodes
Send us a text 2021 Most popular episodes If you sent in questions, thank you for that. If you have questions you’ve been pondering, send them over! You can send in the big existential questions like should I pull all of my money out of banks that don’t loan to Black and Latino communities or it can be a really specific question like how to get your employer to offer socially responsible 401k plans. In 2021, a mix of broad and narrow questions came in. I'll cover them today. Support the show
S2 E21 · Tue, January 18, 2022
21. Predictions for 2022
Send us a text As we start a new year, it can be fun to try to predict what will happen. On this podcast we talk about how to line up what we’re doing with our money and our personal values in terms of the world we’d like to see. So let’s talk about predictions for 2022. In no particular order: (1) Wealth guilt will grow among the 1% (2) It will become easier to donate crypto and easier for financially insecure families to receive donations of crypto (3) Donations from the mega-rich will be scrutinized a little more (4) Direct financial assistance will grow in popularity as a practical way to provide faster, more efficient help to those who need it (5) Employees are going to push their employers to offer socially responsible 401k plans What do you think is going to happen in 2022 in terms of how our money and our values are going to evolve this year? And if you have made any new year’s resolutions in terms of better aligning your money and your personal values, please do share! Click on the show notes to find out how to get in touch, join the newsletter. There are lots of episodes to choose from if you’re taking stock of your money and your motivation this year to walk the talk in terms of your own values. Good luck this year and let’s go forward! Send your questions to spenddonateinvest@gmail.com Support the show at buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate More episodes at: http://spenddonateinvest.world Support the show
Trailer · Mon, January 17, 2022
Trailer
Send us a text Welcome to Spend Donate Invest! Check out the trailer to meet host GG and learn more about the show. To submit a question or topic for the podcast, please email spenddonateinvest@gmail.com To support the show, visit buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate Word of mouth is the best way to help the show spread, please share an episode with someone who might enjoy it! http://spenddonateinvest.world Support the show
S1 E20 · Mon, December 20, 2021
20. Where to start with donating
Send us a text Today’s letter is about where to start with donating. Here’s the letter: What to do if I feel overwhelmed by donating? It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, I don’t think most of us learned anything about donating as kids, except for maybe some kids grow up with the practice of giving to their religious institutions. And even then, I think what kids tend to learn is more about the practice and benefits of giving, not as much about how to make decisions related to giving. So here are some tips. 1. Pick a percentage goal. Check out episode 2 for some thoughts on this. In addition to the ideas in that episode, you might find it to be an interesting benchmark that the USA gives 0.75% in foreign aid, you could start at 1% if you're brand new to giving. Please don't get caught up on whether you’re giving 1% of your gross income versus net income after tax. Let’s keep it simple, start with 1% of your take home pay, after taxes. The reason I’m suggesting you set a goal percentage is because the problem with deciding how much to give after your see what's left at the end of each month is that it's less likely to actually happen that way. I don’t think a lot of us are disciplined enough to look into our bank accounts on that day before we get paid to see exactly how much is left. Or if you are one of those people that spends your account down to zero every month because you keep a separate emergency savings account, I don’t think you’re going to be thinking about donating at the end of the month. So this is one way, set a percentage of 1% after taxes and donate that much each month. 2. Tie it to a routine. Give on your birthday. Or on all days you get off work, most of those are federal holidays. You could decide to give $50 every time you get a day off. Or $100 if that makes more sense for your budget. There are roughly ten federal holidays per year, so if you are giving $50 each time, that’s $500 total donations over the course of a year. If you are doing $100 per holiday, that is going to get you to around $1,000. I think that could also give you something to look forward to on those days off. 3. Keep it simple. By picking a favorite place to give, or a theme to reduce the scope of charities to choose from. Your theme could be your neighborhood or city. Your theme could be one of your priorities, like racial justice, or the environment, or mental health. 4. Keep it fun. For a lot of people that means community. You can do a giving circle with friends from work or family. You can let people know about this experiment you're doing this year. You can build in rewards. I respond very well to rewards. Lol. Like maybe you wear your favorite outfit on the days when you send that donation in. Or you go to the park to feed the ducks. Whatever your idea of a treat is. Those are some initial suggestion
S1 E19 · Mon, December 13, 2021
19. Convincing others to shop more sustainably
Send us a text Today’s letter is about convincing others to shop responsibly. Here’s the letter: I can't seem to convince my family to shop responsibly. Any ideas? This is a tough one. You can’t really control what anyone else does, so let’s focus on what you can control, which is what YOU are doing. So here are some ideas. Model the behavior yourself. So, when it is time for you to buy them gifts, give them the type of gifts that you’d like to receive. Shop locally, or buy from fair trade companies. Or give gift certificates from business owners that you believe in. This will not only give a little cash injection to that business but now you are introducing another potential consumer, your family member. If your family does wish lists where you get to dictate what gifts you want, ask for items that fit your values- if your thing is reducing the harmful environmental impact of fast fashion, ask for a vintage jacket or ask for your loved one to take your favorite shoes to a cobbler so you can wear them again. If you’re interested in supporting the local restaurants in your neighborhood, say so, maybe even ask for a dinner date with your loved one in a restaurant in your neighborhood. Those are probably your best bets. I would caution you against lecturing your family about why it is important to you, I just don’t know that most people who are already resistant to an idea or way of living are often swayed by a lecture. Definitely don’t try to shame them into it. That almost never works. I would stick with giving them socially responsible gifts and if it is appropriate, asking for socially responsible gifts. I also want to encourage you to give your family some grace. Obviously, our individual action is important and can change the world. But I think we have to acknowledge that the harms that are plaguing our society are largely institutional and I just don’t want you to take so much responsibility that you are blaming your family members for climate change, for example. And actually, maybe that’s the message that will resonate with your family members. That we, as individuals didn’t cause these problems and we don’t have the power to completely reverse these harms, but we can do the part that’s within our control, and that includes putting pressure on the institutions and government, and thinking about the impact our money has on our world. To submit your letter to the show, email spenddonateinvest@gmail.com To support the show visit buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate Support the show
S1 E18 · Mon, December 06, 2021
18. Investing in the Underinvested
Send us a text Today’s letter is about investing in the underinvested. Here’s the letter: I'd like to invest in some underinvested entrepreneurs. How can I do this? In today's episode, we discuss 3 approaches: Equity crowdfunding for example through Backstage Capital, Arlan Hamilton’s VC. Microlending, for example through an organization like Kiva Keep some of your money in a CDFI bank or credit union so people who have historically been locked out of our country’s financial system can have access to capital to buy homes, and take out loans and start businesses. Find a CDFI bank or credit union in your state: https://www.cdfifund.gov/programs-training/certification/cdfi/Pages/default.aspx To submit your letter to the show, email spenddonateinvest@gmail.com To support the show visit buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate Support the show
S1 E17 · Mon, November 29, 2021
17. Can you spare a dollar to help me get home?
Send us a text Today’s letter is about a listener who wonders about giving money to a person with a cardboard sign. Here’s the letter: Last weekend, my partner and I were out walking our dog and I gave a guy $20. He had a sign that said he'd had a bad year and needed help. He was in pretty bad shape and the way I saw it, we would've just wasted the money ordering lattes on Postmates, but my partner flipped out. He said the guy would 'blow the money on alcohol and drugs' and that twenty bucks won't make any 'sustainable change.' What do you think? We have a long history of not trusting poor people to handle money. And an even longer history of over-trusting that rich people know what to do with money. It’s a story as old as time. As a result, we have built a lot of middle men and middle steps to supposedly protect the money from being blown. Not to protect the people who actually needed the help, but to protect the money. And here’s the ironic part, we know that when we just give people the money directly, we reduce the time they will have to wait, they get to keep all of the money we intended for them without losing it to middle men, and they are able to apply the money to their lives with a surgeon’s accuracy for how they need and want to use it. So, if you really want to help someone, just give them the money. But to be honest, I think there’s also the moral hand wringing that we need to address here. This concern that the guy with the cardboard sign will use some or all of the money to buy drugs and alcohol. In two words, so what? Is your partner sure that poor people use more drugs and alcohol than rich people? Based on my observations occupying both types of spaces, I’m not sure that’s the case at all. Or is his point that poor people shouldn’t be buying drugs and alcohol because they aren’t financially secure? Why not? Are drugs and alcohol the reward for having a financial cushion? What else are the rewards? Cigarettes? Caffeine? Sweets? Soda? Art? I’m trying to draw out the line of thinking because I think sometimes these beliefs are hardwired without ever really questioning them and thinking through them out loud. I don’t know you or your partner, but when I hear “that won’t create sustainable change” I can’t help but wonder if that’s really and truly what they’re worried about. If a house is on fire, you throw some water on it. And then you discuss how can we prevent this house from catching on fire again. You don’t stand there observing the flames and say “well, we can’t throw water on it again, because it will just catch on fire again next summer.” It’s both. That’s how we help people in crisis. We put out the fire and we also try to reinforce the house to prevent the next fire. Maybe we look at the greater context to find out why that house keeps catching on fire. Is it located next to a restaurant
S1 E16 · Mon, November 22, 2021
16. Where to start with socially responsible shopping
Send us a text Today's letter is about where to start with socially responsible shopping. Here's the letter: When I think about all of the harms created by all of the products I buy, I get overwhelmed. Where can I start with socially responsible shopping? I often feel the same way too. If there’s one change to start with, I would suggest looking for more opportunities to shop locally. This can reduce a few different harms at once. For one, it can reduce the environmental impact of ordering something online and having it shipped. You’re saving on the transportation and packaging. You’re also investing in your neighborhood. Often, the shopkeepers are family run businesses that are always being threatened by the big retailers. So you’re reducing another harm there. If you’re in a gentrifying neighborhood, you can pour money into the small businesses that may be struggling to hang on with the rising property taxes and rents. If you’re already shopping locally when it is possible, the next area to think about is buying from companies with good track records. This may mean that you stop buying products from a company that has values that don’t align with yours. Or you try to reduce the amount that you buy from that company. It may also mean that you actively seek out companies that have fair trade practices or a social cause associated with their success metrics. It may also mean that you seek to shop from marginalized business owners. I’ll give you an example, rather than buying a culturally appropriated design from that store at the mall, look for vendors within that community that are making and selling crafts. So that’s how I would think about a possible set of stages to try as you dip your toe into socially responsible shopping. Start with shopping local, then move on to reducing the amount that you shop from crappy companies, increase the amount that you shop from companies that share your values, and then look for opportunities to buy from marginalized business owners. I’ll include a bonus tip too. If you’re a gift giver, I’d encourage you to set a goal that this year you’ll give gifts from marginalized business owners. It’s a double win, not only are your dollars going towards growing that business, but now you’ve also introduced another potential future consumer to their products. To submit your letter to the show, email spenddonateinvest@gmail.com To support the show visit buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate Support the show
S1 E15 · Mon, November 15, 2021
15. Housekeeping and other dirty secrets
Send us a text Here's today's listener letter: One thing I realized pretty quickly during the pandemic is how much I was relying on my housekeeper and my kid's nanny. It has left me feeling a little uneasy about that, especially as I learn more about inequality in our country. According to the Economic Policy Institute, there are probably many more than the recorded 2M domestic workers, 90% are women, more than half are Black, Hispanic, AAPI and they are 3x more likely to live in poverty compared to other workers. They are also explicitly excluded from labor protection laws as a concession to Southern lawmakers. Clearly, institutional changes are necessary, but in the meantime, I want to encourage you to think about reducing the inequality in your home. Today's episode is about exactly that- tangible and intangible suggestions to consider. If you have experience as an employee or an employer in this situation, would love to hear your tips as well! Link to the epi.org domestic worker chartbook https://www.epi.org/publication/domestic-workers-chartbook-a-comprehensive-look-at-the-demographics-wages-benefits-and-poverty-rates-of-the-professionals-who-care-for-our-family-members-and-clean-our-homes/ To submit your letter to the show, email spenddonateinvest@gmail.com To support the show visit buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate Support the show
S1 E14 · Wed, November 10, 2021
14. When your donations aren't stacking up
Send us a text Today's letter is about donations that aren't quite stacking up. Here's the letter: I feel like I donate all the time, but when it is time for me to do my taxes in April every year and I gather up all my receipts from the year before, I'm always surprised the total isn't actually that much. How can I do better? This happens to a lot of us, we overestimate how often we do good things and underestimate how often we do bad things. But you’re right, the truth is in the accounting at the end of the year. So how can you donate more often? Leaving it up to chance isn’t cutting it. So here are four ideas then a wildcard: Donate with friends. You might have a bookclub or a Dungeon’s and Dragon’s den or be a part of a runner’s group that meets on Saturdays, whatever group you’re a part of, might be a great place to start. Test the waters, see if you think people would be interested in pitching in together to donate as a group. That could be really fun. Or you could ask your friends if they want to form a small giving group where you each pitch in some amount of money every month and decide where it goes or maybe you have a designated place, the point is that doing it with others can make it more fun and help generate more momentum so you’re less likely to forget or fall off the wagon. Consider tying your donations to holidays or other special events. Most months have causes associated with them, you could use that as a guide. In February you could donate to organizations committed to uplifting Black communities, in November, you could give to organizations fighting against voter intimidation. There’s Pride month, women’s history month. If you already have a particular community you’re fighting for, you could use that as your center for the other months. Let’s say your focus is uplifting Black communities all year long, well on Earth day, you give to organizations that are fighting for climate justice in Black neighborhoods, during PRIDE, you give to the organizations that are fighting for the safety of LGBTQIA+ migrants that are languishing on the border right now. The point is, you could use holidays and themed months to spark your giving throughout the year. You could also give up trying to keep up with giving throughout the year and do it once a year, one lump sum. Like on your birthday, or if there’s a religious holiday that’s particularly resonant for you. Maybe Eid is the biggest giving day of the year for you. If you already know where you want to give, you might consider setting up auto deductions. You can set that up with a lot of charities nowadays, but you could also set it up through your bank, especially if you want to be careful to limit the time frame that those checks are being automatically deducted. Last idea is a wildcard, but you could tie your donations to a particu
S1 E13 · Sun, November 07, 2021
13. Why we shouldn't worry about a charity's admin expenses
Send us a text Here's today's letter: How do I find charities that have low administrative overhead expenses? Let's begin by discussing a less common question: why do we hold nonprofits to a higher standard of scrutiny than other organizations? There’s less scrutiny on silicon valley startups and 90% of them fail. And they are trying to sell apps and websites. They aren’t trying to undo hundreds of years of structural inequality and oppression. Why do we hold nonprofits to a higher level of rigor? So, here’s the thing, you can look up a charity’s overhead ratio on a lot of the popular charity evaluation sites, like charity navigator, but I want to first push back to ask if that is as important of a metric as you might have been told. Let’s say we are looking at an organization that is working on access to clean water, in a place like Michigan, or Papua New Guinea in the Asian Pacific region. We need those organizations to have office space, we need them to have the technology systems to make sure they are tracking their work accurately. We need them to be keeping up with advancements in the field of clean water. If they need to do a fundraiser, they will need to pay to keep a list of donors, they will need to buy mailers, pay for some graphic design so it doesn’t look bad. If they’re doing an event, they need to pay for that. We need them to pay their staff, otherwise you get a bunch of trust fund kids that are the only people that can afford to work there. Salaries need to be sufficiently high so that the organizations can be staffed by people who reflect the communities they are serving and have expertise that is helpful to the organization. So this notion that an organization should starve itself, not invest in its infrastructure, staff, research, fundraising, it just doesn’t make sense. And in fact, it has been proven, that organizations that starve themselves in this way, don’t perform as well. That being said, there have been some outliers, and I do mean outliers, these are the ones that get all the press and cause a panic that then harms the vast majority of nonprofits that are not running themselves that irresponsibly. So, my advice is, if you are still worried about overhead, start your donations small with an organization, while you get to know them. Or check to see, some organizations will let you restrict your donation so that it can only be used for programmatic expenses. And as you donate and engage and start to read their reports and maybe interact with the nonprofit (remember, that’s someone’s job, every time you want to ask a question or for them to provide more documentation, these are all things that cost overhead), but as you get more comfortable, I think you’ll find yourself not restricting your donations anymore and letting the organizations figure out where they need t
S1 E13 · Mon, November 01, 2021
13. You moved into a gentrifying neighborhood. Now what?
Today's letter is about being a gentrifier. Here's the letter: I'm a gentrifier and I feel guilty about it all the time. Is there a way to spend my money in the neighborhood in a socially responsible way? Your question isn’t about whether or not you should move into a gentrifying neighborhood, your question is, now that you’re a neighbor, how can you spend your money in your new neighborhood in a socially responsible way? Well, for one thing, shop at the corner stores! Shop at the little mom and pop restaurants. Read the bulletin boards to find service providers to help with whatever you need- home repairs, lawn care, tutors, fortune tellers. And, even if you were the top student in our negotiating class at Harvard Law School, don’t nickel and dime your neighbors. It may be more expensive to shop locally in your neighborhood, but go with it. Remember that these local business owners are likely struggling to hang on as more and more businesses open up to serve the newly arrived gentrifiers. A bonus tip: Rather than assume your neighbors are powerless against the forces of gentrification, I’d encourage you to organically get to know the people in your neighborhood and to find out if there’s a place for you as an ally. Find out what the local activists in your neighborhood are concerned about and find out if there is a place for you to help. Again, I’m being very specific here- find out what their concerns are, find out what battles they are fighting and if there is a way they want your help. I’m trying to help you avoid a savior response here. I also want to encourage you to join the local area council if you have the capacity- you can advocate for your neighbors and be an ally. Don’t decide what your neighbors need, find out from their own mouths. I think that a lot of money decisions start with our mindsets and if you want a quick read that will make you think, I enjoyed this piece by in Next City, where the author writes about the 4 types of gentrifiers. I especially loved his cautionary tale about not finding yourself romanticizing or exoticizing your neighbors. https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/types-of-gentrifiers-you-see-in-your-neighborhood To submit your letter to the show, email spenddonateinvest@gmail.com To support the show visit buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate)
S1 E12 · Mon, October 25, 2021
12. For busy people looking for socially responsible investments
Send us a text Today's letter is about how to find socially responsible investments if you are a busy investor. Here's the letter: I don't have time to make sure companies are on the up and up, is there a way to quickly pick socially responsible investments? There are some quick options. If you are busy and not the type to pick individual stocks, you may want to choose from some socially responsible mutual funds that have already been bundled together. They tend to perform well, just as well, some data suggests they perform even better than “mainstream” funds. Check with a financial advisor for legally binding advice, but here are some examples for illustrative purposes: Vanguard's index fund VFTAX excludes fossil fuels, nuclear power, weapons, tobacco, alcohol, and adult entertainment (lol). It had a 23% return last year. To learn more about ESG, check out episodes 3, 6, and 9. Fidelity's index fund FITLX includes companies with higher ESG scores relative to their peers. Their return was 19% last year. Impact Shares' Minority Empowerment ETF NACP includes companies that are "empowering to minorities." Their return was 26% last year. State Street's gender diversity ETF SHE includes companies with higher executive-level gender diversity compared to their peers. Their return was 18% last year. BlackRock's low carbon target ETF CRBN includes companies with low carbon footprints relative to their peers. Their return was 17% last year. If you are someone that chooses your own individual stocks, and you are busy, the buzziest option is the one that seems to be the hot topic, and that is going according to the ESG ratings. That is a risk rating that is based on 3 categories: Environmental, Social, and Governance. There’s a lot of enthusiasm for this rating system, but it is far from perfect. Here is a sampling of ESG risk scores: Microsoft: 15 (great environmental score, average human capital development, average or good corporate governance, good privacy & data security) Amazon: 27 (average carbon footprint, whack labor management and corporate behavior, good corporate governance and privacy & data security) Tesla: 31 (negative environmental impact of their batteries, bad working conditions for employees, Elon Musk is erratic) Fox Media: 41 (bad carbon emissions, average labor management, bad corporate behavior, good corporate governance) It’s not a perfect rating to use for a variety of reasons. It isn’t completely inclusive of everything you might care about, if you’re thinking about social responsibility. Also, I do wonder sometimes about the supply chain of a company. Maybe the company itself isn’t on the books for inflicting some serious harm on our world, but their partners do, or their suppliers do. So, it
S1 E11 · Mon, October 18, 2021
11. Moved into a gentrifying area? Now what?
Send us a text Here's today's letter: I'm a gentrifier and I feel guilty about it all the time. Is there a way to spend my money in the neighborhood in a socially responsible way? Your question isn’t about whether or not you should move into a gentrifying neighborhood, your question is, now that you’re a neighbor, how can you spend your money in your new neighborhood in a socially responsible way? Well, for one thing, shop at the corner stores! Shop at the little mom and pop restaurants. Read the bulletin boards to find service providers to help with whatever you need- home repairs, lawn care, tutors, fortune tellers. And, even if you were the top student in our negotiating class at Harvard Law School, don’t nickel and dime your neighbors. It may be more expensive to shop locally in your neighborhood, but go with it. Remember that these local business owners are likely struggling to hang on as more and more businesses open up to serve the newly arrived gentrifiers. A bonus tip: Rather than assume your neighbors are powerless against the forces of gentrification, I’d encourage you to organically get to know the people in your neighborhood and to find out if there’s a place for you as an ally. Find out what the local activists in your neighborhood are concerned about and find out if there is a place for you to help. Again, I’m being very specific here- find out what their concerns are, find out what battles they are fighting and if there is a way they want your help. I’m trying to help you avoid a savior response here. I also want to encourage you to join the local area council if you have the capacity- you can advocate for your neighbors and be an ally. Don’t decide what your neighbors need, find out from their own mouths. I think that a lot of money decisions start with our mindsets and if you want a quick read that will make you think, I enjoyed this piece by in Next City, where the author writes about the 4 types of gentrifiers. I especially loved his cautionary tale about not finding yourself romanticizing or exoticizing your neighbors. https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/types-of-gentrifiers-you-see-in-your-neighborhood To submit your letter to the show, email spenddonateinvest@gmail.com To support the show visit buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate) Support the show
S1 E10 · Mon, October 11, 2021
10. Fair trade or bust
Send us a text Today's letter is about shopping fair trade. Here's the letter: How do I know if the places I shop really are sustainable? There are some phrases that sound good, but might not actually mean anything, or anyway, aren’t official stamps of approval. For example, “ethically sourced.” On the other hand, if you see “Fair Trade Certified” that is an actual certification that requires the company to provide proof. You can also look to other certifying organizations like the Rainforest Alliance, or the Global Organic Textile Standard https://www.global-standard.org/ to read about which companies have met their certification standards. There’s another interesting one for ethical fashion called good on you https://goodonyou.eco/how-we-rate/ They even have an app you can download. You can look on Open Secrets https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup to see where your favorite companies donate their money. There are some companies which have done more than just make a public pledge to do good, it is baked into their DNA. Some companies are actually “benefit corporations.” That is a legal structure for a business, like an LLC or a corporation. Benefit corporations are legally bound to consider both societal impact and profit. And these benefit corporations can even go one step further and get officially certified by a nonprofit called B Corp that certifies these companies. Specifically, they are assessing the overall positive impact of the company. That certification involves a combination of (1) third-party validation, 2) public transparency, and 3) legal accountability Patagonia went through this process back in 2012. In order to get their B Corp certification, they had to: 1. have an explicit social or environmental mission 2. A legally binding fiduciary responsibility to take into account the interests of workers, the community and the environment as well as its shareholders. 3. A company must also amend its articles of incorporation to adopt B Lab’s commitment to sustainability and treating workers well. In addition a B Corp must pay an annual fee based on revenues, biannually complete a B Impact Report (a lengthy questionnaire that measures social and environmental impact), meet B-Lab’s comprehensive social and environmental performance standards and make that B Impact Report public, in order to receive the certification from B Lab. You can go onto B Corp’s directory to look up companies you’re considering spending your money with. So those are some places you can check to see if your favorite place to shop is a socially responsible company, but I also want to plug shopping locally. Shopping locally can hit a lot of things that might be on your checklist- supporting family owned businesses, marginalized communities, and in many cases, reducing the environ
S1 E9 · Mon, October 04, 2021
9. When your company doesn't offer a socially responsible 401k
Send us a text Today's letter is about getting your company to offer a socially responsible 401k. Here's the letter: My employer doesn't offer a socially responsible 401k, what should I do? In order to maximize your chances of success, I have three tips for you to consider: Buddy up, get other employees into the effort. They probably won’t add options unless you have a ton of influence at your company, but if they see that there’s a group of people that want this, you’ll have more weight. It probably won’t be hard to get some employees to get on board with you, Morgan Stanley did a report and found that 88% of survey respondents with access to 401k plans are interested in sustainable 401k options, but less than half say they are availableaccording to the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing report in 2019. Be patient. This will probably take a year to change. Don’t let up the pressure. Keep asking, and asking, and asking. If you have a financial advisor, you might even get their help in how to word the request in the first place. Please do stay in touch and send an update on what ends up happening at your job and any other tips you gather along the way. Good luck! To submit your letter to the show, email spenddonateinvest@gmail.com To support the show visit buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate Support the show
S1 E8 · Mon, September 27, 2021
8. Where to find charities and what to ask
Send us a text Today's episode is about where to find charities and what to ask. Here's the letter: How should I research a charity to decide if I want to give to them? Where do I look and what questions should I be asking myself? Start by asking yourself your budget and your financial requirements. For example, is it important to you that you claim tax benefits from your donation? Is that even realistic for you given the standard deductions? If you think you’ll be donating less than that threshold this year, that might free you up from having to worry about whether or not the charity is a 501c organization, which means that they have filed paperwork with the IRS and have agreed to comply with the various legal requirements involved in keeping up their tax exempt status. There are some wonderful initiatives around our country that have not filed for 501c status. So you may have opened up even more options for yourself to find the people who are doing the work you are passionate about. After you’ve figured out your budget and whether or not tax deductions are important to you, now it’s time for the fun part- thinking through your values and your priorities for the year. I would encourage you to take some quiet time, pour yourself a warm beverage, maybe in the morning before your day starts, or in the evening if you get a moment to yourself, to reflect on the topics that really speak to you. When you read the news, which articles are the ones that you always read? When you read or listen to someone’s autobiography and they talk about the challenges they’ve faced, which ones really tug at you? What do you feel like are the most important, most overlooked types of help that are needed? Who is overlooked? These are some questions that start that brainstorming for you. And these priorities can change over time as you change and as the world changes. For you, it might be that you are committed to being a better ally to the people in your community. That can be an amazing way to think about your giving. And on this show, in addition to talking about donating, we also talk about your spending and investing. Being oriented around your local community is an amazing way to orient how you use your money in all 3 of these ways. You can do some google searches to find out what local initiatives are going on that need financial assistance in your city. Even if you’re not religious, you can connect with local religious institutions to find out what programs they know about. They tend to be connected to what’s going on locally. If you’re somewhat new to giving, I would suggest picking two or three places to give this year and getting that experience. Maybe one small and one medium charity. Set up reminders on your calendar, or auto deductions from your banking account to send donations
S1 E7 · Mon, September 20, 2021
7. Giving up brands with shaky values
Send us a text Today’s letter is about giving up brands with values that are different to our own. Here’s the letter: Before I offer up two suggestions for things you can do, let's be clear that it was never intended to be our responsibility as individuals to hold corporations accountable for human rights abuses of their employees, or to have the task of having to research whether your paint shop is actively lobbying against providing basic human rights to all people. That was never supposed to be our responsibility. Our governments have that responsibility and in a cruel twist that anyone could have seen coming, our corporations have continued to weaken our government over time to the point that that we are in now. So, I do believe in doing what is within our control, I do believe in putting pressure on those who are in positions of power, but I want to acknowledge that first. If you are financially insecure and truly are making trade offs between affording mental health care for yourself or buying from socially responsible places, then please, take care of your needs, because we don’t have much of a safety net in our country with the way it is currently set up. But, if you have some financial stability, and you have the mental capacity to think about doing some good with your money, then here are a couple of suggestions: The first one is to start with the biggest purchases you make. I don’t want to suggest you obsess over small purchases you rarely make. I would think about your budget and what the top line items are. It might be that housing is your biggest cost, followed by student loans, followed by health insurance, followed by food costs, followed by other items. Those food costs might be a great place to start. If you’re worried about the harmful impacts of the big box grocery store where you shop, consider shopping at a co-op if there is one in your neighborhood. It’s sort of similar to thinking about reducing your carbon footprint, rather than obsessing over your plastic straws, I would encourage you to spend a month thinking about the next car you purchase, or your local elections where you can not vote for candidates who will not make the high level, broad, sweeping reforms necessary. I’m not saying straws don’t count, I’m just saying, we’re all busy, if you have limited time to do your research, spend it on the big ticket items that make a bigger difference. A second suggestion: sometimes you can’t or don’t want to give up those hate fries from that place that makes perfect waffle fries, or you don’t want to give up the one stop shopping for cheap art supplies once a year, in that case, put money towards the causes you do support. In my case, after I shopped at the art store, I made a donation to a organization that explicitly provides equal access to women’s health care and also lobbies the
S1 E6 · Mon, September 13, 2021
6. Picking a focus for my investments
Send us a text Today's letter is about picking a focus for socially responsible investments. Here's the letter: How should I pick the focus of my socially responsible investments? If you tend to pick from the 401k options at your job, I will be very impressed if your employer is already offering ESG funds as part of the 401k options. I do think that some companies, especially those that want the branding and to appeal to millennial employees are going to start offering more of these options in the future, but I don’t know how many are already doing that now. However you’re investing on your own, I think the first thing is to set expectations. It is difficult to find publicly traded companies that are not harming our society. You might be thinking of companies like Ben & Jerry’s, but that is a subsidiary of Unilever. Or maybe you’re thinking of Patagonia, the clothing company, but they are not publicly traded. So, what we’re left with are the publicly traded companies. You can rely on ESG ratings to select your stocks. ESG ratings are not morality ratings. I want to be crystal clear about that. It is more about the risks a company is taking in the way they operate within the categories of Environmental, Social, and Governance practices. And in fact, if you were to choose an ESG fund that some mutual fund has put together, you’ll probably find Amazon, and Tesla even though their scores aren’t sparkling. And yes, the fees are higher for ESG funds. But I think your question gets at the higher level question a lot of us are wondering which is, with the impact that I can make, what are my priorities? Our priorities as individuals will be as varied as our life experiences and our exposure to the injustices that are taking place all around us. So, I’ll share some categories that investors often list as their priorities when they link up with these socially responsible minded financial investors. Maybe some will resonate with you. And if you have a moment, you can email the show at spenddonateinvest@gmail.com for a worksheet you can go through to sort out your priorities. Environment Weapons Tobacco Equity and Inclusion Labor Practices Anti-monopoly These are the most common categories you'll hear socially responsible investors discussing, and again, as discussed before, more often than not, investors are screening companies out if they are egregiously failing on one of these values. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good, while you look for companies that align more fully with your values, and while investment professionals come up with better tools to rate companies, get started with one step. That might be scanning your portfolio to make sure fossil fuel companies aren’t in your portfolio, or companies with known, glaring
S1 E5 · Fri, September 10, 2021
5. Where to donate when everyone needs help
Send us a text Today's letter is about trying to decide where to donate when it seems like everyone needs help: Is it better to split donations across many groups or pick one to consistently support? I care about so many things its hard to choose, so many people need help these days! The most important thing is to avoid decision paralysis. Don’t get caught up trying to find the “perfect” or “most efficient” way to help and spend so much time analyzing whether or not you’ve come up with the very best solution and in the meantime, you aren’t helping anyone. Sitting at home and feeling bad about the world’s suffering doesn’t actually accomplish anything. I’d argue it’s probably doing more harm than good because you’re internalizing all of that suffering and not experiencing any release from actually addressing the cognitive dissonance you’re experiencing by observing the suffering and taking no action. That can’t be good for you. So, do something. You’ve decided you want to donate, that is awesome. I have two questions for you. How much time and energy you realistically have to be out there researching and thinking and deciding on where to give your money? If you just don’t have the time, I say pick one place to donate and stick with it for the next 12 months. If you’re worried about setting up auto donate because you’re worried you’ll forget about it and discover years later that you’ve given way more than you meant to, then you can also set up auto payment from your bank’s side. Some banks have the feature where you can go online and designate which dates checks will be sent, you specify the recipient’s name and address and how long you want it to go on for. It’s great. Even better than set it and forget it, in a way, because there’s a specified end date. So you could do hat for 6 months or a year and then see how you feel at the end. Many organizations will send regular updates by email to donors and an annual review which can also help you to decide if you want to continue giving to that organization. If you have a little more time, enough to find more than one place to donate to, I would encourage you to start by picking a theme or a location to orient your giving. You mentioned i your letter that a lot of people need a lot of help nowadays. You could pick a theme like food security, and decide that for the next 6 months or a year, your donations will be focused on the theme of food. Just narrowing it down like that is going to make the decisions a lot easier. You might pick a small number of charities that focus on this topic. For example, the local food bank, or a meal delivery service for vulnerable communities. Rather than a theme, you might pick an area. I really like this idea because you could pick the neighborhood where you live now, or where you grew up and really focus on the local
S1 E4 · Thu, September 09, 2021
4. Socially responsible shopping- is there any point?
Send us a text Today's letter is about socially responsible shopping: My twin says that socially responsible shopping is just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. What do you think? So your twin’s a skeptic. It’s good to keep skeptics around. What’s funny is that your twin’s attitude might be a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy, at least as far as socially conscious purchasing goes. People who think the world is getting better are more likely to shop consciously. 58% of the optimists versus 42% of the pessimists. Interesting, the lowest percentage of socially conscious shoppers are the people who think the world is about the same as it has always been. 34% of those folks shop consciously. That research is linked below. Does shopping consciously make you more hopeful about the future because you are taking action, or does feeling hopeful empower you to try to make changes like shopping consciously? I’m not sure. As an aside, if you had a covid19 diagnosis in the past year, you are also more likely to shop consciously, 50% versus 39%. And as many studies have pointed out before, people ages 18-34 are more likely to shop consciously as are women. But I guess your question is getting at whether or not socially conscious shopping makes an impact. I think it might. There are lots of surveys where consumers have made it clear that they care about a company’s practices and that it is one of the most important drivers in their decision to buy. I think the real proof might be in where consumers actually shop, not where they say they’ll shop. And they are buying from companies who have a clearly stated mission to be socially responsible. You could think about specific companies like TOMS shoes who donate a pair of shoes every time you buy a pair of their shoes. There are shoes of the same quality that are much cheaper, but still, many many consumers prefer to buy TOMS. If you look at the fashion industry, there’s been a real conversation about the harms of so called “fast fashion." Thrifting your clothes was not a widespread trend in the 80s or 90s or in the early 2000s. Things have changed so much in the past decades. Thrifting is widely viewed in the US as environmentally conscious and a way to demonstrate your own creativity and identity. More and more brands have popped up that are committed to sustainable manufacturing methods including using recycled fibers and reducing the environmental harms in other ways too. At the same time, there’s still a fledgling conversation about the working conditions for the people who make the clothes we buy and wear. Spending your dollars consciously with companies that are committed to social responsibility isn't the entire solution by any stretch of the imagination, but it is something. When given the choice between tw
S1 E3 · Wed, September 08, 2021
3. Investing in line with my personal values
Send us a text Today’s letter is about Socially responsible investing...here’s the letter: I'd like to invest more in line with my values. How can I do this? I want to set expectations up top. It is difficult to find publicly traded corporations who are not harmful to our society. So, more often than not, this conversation of socially responsible investing is actually about eliminating a few companies that investors find to be the most egregious, according to a very narrow set of criteria. This is probably the easiest way to dip your toe into investing according to your values. Popular companies to exclude are fossil fuel companies, for example. And in fact, when you look at the ESG funds, they have all the usual companies you’d see in traditional mutual funds. You’ll find Amazon and Google and Microsoft. The slight difference you’ll find in an ESG fund is that they are probably not including gun manufacturers and retailers for example. The other thing you can do is to actively look for investments that do line up with your values. So now we’re talking about adding in certain companies. If you’ve never really sat down to identify what your values are, when it comes to the kinds of companies you might want to choose or avoid, there’s a one page pdf tool you can request by emailing the show at spenddonateinvest@gmail.com If you're busy and don't mind a completely untailored approach, consider investing in funds that have already been put together. If you have a little more time, skip the ready-made funds and compare ESG risk scores at sites like Sustainalytics, Yahoo! Finance, and MSCI to pick individual stocks yourself. By now, you're probably starting to see the limitations of ESG ratings. Asking some dude on Wall Street to pick a bunch of socially responsible stocks is like asking a stranger to make you something delicious. There’s no guarantee that you’re going to be on the same page about what constitutes a socially responsible company. Looking at some of the bundles of socially responsible mutual funds and ETFs, I saw lots of companies that do not have good track records in terms of how they have treated working class people, immigrants, women, Black people, and other oppressed groups. That's why the most tailored approach is to read the annual reports of the companies you're interested in to find out how they operate. It's still not a perfect method, because businesses lie, or their harms may be created indirectly through outsourcing partners, etc, but this is still a step above relying on the ESG ratings or investing in funds that someone else put together based on their sense of what "socially responsible" means. And there’s one thing to keep in mind that critics of ESG funds often bring up. The fees are higher than other types of funds. The more actively managed a fund is, the h
S1 E2 · Tue, September 07, 2021
2. How much should I donate?
Send us a text Today’s letter is about deciding how much to donate. Here’s the letter: How do people decide how much money to give? I'm not religious, so 10% doesn't hold a personal significance to me, so how much should I give? 1. Even if you aren’t religious, you could borrow from those traditions. The Bible instructs Christians to donate 10% as a tithe. The Torah guides Jews to give 10%. Among other donations, the Koran instructs Muslims to donate 2.5% of your wealth (not their income) after you have reached a certain threshold of income, which I think is a very interesting way to think about it as well. It’s interesting that you need to meet a minimum financial security before you are required to give, and also it is interesting that the 2.5% is of your wealth not your income. So in other words, 2.5% of the value of all of your possessions (your retirement savings, your property if you own one). This is so important to the religion that it is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. Actually this is just one aspect of the giving laws in Islam, I highly recommend reading more about this if you have time, different types of wealth are subject to different giving requirements. I read that in Germany, if you have declared yourself a Christian, 8-9% of your income tax is shared among the churches (Catholic, Lutheran, etc). Unless you opt out. So 8-9% of your income tax probably comes out to about 1% of your income depending on your situation. 2. Look at how much you have left after you pay your bills every month. In other words, to look at your disposable income and decide how much you can part with. Personally, I find that kind of an unreliable way to think about it because for most of us, we have debt, e.g. student loans and mortgages. If I had an extra $1k at the end of the month, I would probably drop that into a spreadsheet to see how much that would save me in terms of interest payments on debt. Even without debt, I’m just not sure it is within most of us to give from the leftovers at the end of the month. Kind of like planning your workout for after you “finish everything else.” 3. So that’s why I like thinking about it the other way around by thinking about how much money I put towards other things. For example, do you use your ex’s hbo log in? Well donate that amount every month to a good cause. How much is that? $15/month? Donate that. Personally, I have a little bit of a book habit that I used to spend $150/month on...don’t judge me...but these days, thanks to the public library, I’m now down to $75/month and often much less, so that could be another benchmark. I could donate the $75+ I had already been spending on books. 4. You could borrow from the example of carbon offsets. You could do the same thing for whatever your vice is. For example, donate however much you spe
S1 E1 · Sat, July 17, 2021
1. Welcome to Spend, Donate, Invest!
Send us a text This past year has made the inequality in our society even more blaringly obvious than it was before. A lot of us are grappling with our own role in the current movements towards a more just society. More people have hit the streets to protest, more people have shown up to the polls to vote, and that begs the question...what other sources of power do we have to improve the world around us? That’s where this podcast comes in. When this idea first came about in the fall of 2020, the focus was initially on donations. This is an area of research I’ve always found interesting. I’m the person that likes to read the annual reports to places that I’m thinking about donating to. About once a year, I like to ask my colleagues, my friends and family where they are donating. And a lot of the time, the response is usually "...uh, I usually just donate wherever someone asks me to." Which is fine, but it made me think, why not share the research I’m doing anyway. I started to take questions on what folks would like me to cover in the podcast, and someone asked a great question about impact investing- how can we invest in a way that aligns more with our values. And that’s when the lightbulb went off: there’s more to doing good with our money than donating, there’s where we invest our money, and also where we spend it. Let’s talk about all of these things. So far, some really interesting questions have already come in. I’ll share a few of them as a sneak peek for what we’ll be discussing this season: * How to get started donating money a little more strategically even if you’re not a millionaire. * What are the pros and cons of socially responsible investing? * How to spend more responsibility when you just can’t give up those perfectly golden waffle fries from the restaurant that has values that are literally opposed to yours. The questions so far have been fascinating! If you want to send yours in, feel free to send it in to spenddonateinvest@gmail.com Support the show
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