Progressive Pockets: a podcast about the untapped power of our wallets to build the world we want

Progressive Pockets: a podcast about the untapped power of our wallets to build the world we want

Genet "G.G." Gimja

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

164. Three Ways to Be More Generous This Year

164. Three Ways to Be More Generous This Year

Send us a textThis 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,

Feb 18, • 7:30

163. An Intro to the Black Panther Party's Social Programs

163. An Intro to the Black Panther Party's Social Programs

Send us a textLinks from today’s episode:The History and Social Work Legacy of the Black Panther Party 2022, International Journal of Education and Human Developmentshttps://ijehd.cgrd.org/images/vol8no1/1.pdf Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Networkhttps://bppaln.org/ The Black Panther Party: Challenging Police and Promoting Social Change, National Museum of African American History and Culturehttps://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/black-panther-party-challenging-police-and-promoting-social-cha

Feb 11, • 10:43

162. Revisiting Dr. Martin Luther King's Radical Money Beliefs

162. Revisiting Dr. Martin Luther King's Radical Money Beliefs

Send us a textToo 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: ht

Feb 4, • 8:22

161. Where to Donate After the LA Fires and Other Natural Disasters

161. Where to Donate After the LA Fires and Other Natural Disasters

Send us a textThis 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: mit

Jan 29, • 9:27

160. One Hundred Things to do Today Instead of the Inauguration

160. One Hundred Things to do Today Instead of the Inauguration

Send us a textLooking 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:1

Jan 20, • 18:38

159. How to live out your values this year

159. How to live out your values this year

Send us a textAre 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 y

Jan 14, • 10:52

158. Predictions for 2025 and checking in on 2024 predictions

158. Predictions for 2025 and checking in on 2024 predictions

Send us a textThis 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 CampaignConnect With Genet “GG” Gimja:Website https://www.progressivepockets.comTwitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me:Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inq

Jan 7, • 8:29

157. Most Popular Episodes of 2024

157. Most Popular Episodes of 2024

Send us a textThis 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 VideosEpisode#103 Most Popular Episodes of 2023Episode#62 Most popular episodes of 2022Most popular episodes of 2024:Episode#147 The surprising truth about what ESG actually meansEpisode#107 Dr. King’s Radical Money Beliefs

Dec 31, 2024 • 8:22

156. Getting a tax break for your donations this year

156. Getting a tax break for your donations this year

Send us a textDid 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 | Deloittehttps://www2.deloitte.com/ua/en/pages/press-room/press-release/2024/tax-discount-for-charitable-expenses.html A Histo

Dec 24, 2024 • 12:38

155. How Gen Z thinks about Investing

155. How Gen Z thinks about Investing

Send us a textThis 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 surpri

Dec 17, 2024 • 11:30

154. Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villanueva: A Book Review

154. Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villanueva: A Book Review

Send us a textThis 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 wea

Dec 10, 2024 • 6:24

153. Giving Tuesday Goes Global

153. Giving Tuesday Goes Global

Send us a textThis 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 globehttps://www.givingtuesday.org/blog/global-leaders-local-movements/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy:Episode#105 Hosting a pop up giving circle for the holidaysConnect With Genet “GG” Gimja:Website https://www.progressivepockets.comTwitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me:Email progr

Dec 3, 2024 • 8:15

152. We Can Help to Buy Indigenous Land Back

152. We Can Help to Buy Indigenous Land Back

Send us a textThe 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:Landbackhttps://landback.org/ Land Back Movementhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Back A Tribe Called Red: “Land Back” Songhttps://youtu.be/67F7WbcTQKA

Nov 26, 2024 • 9:44

151. Hosting a Thanksgiving celebration that's just a little more sustainable

151. Hosting a Thanksgiving celebration that's just a little more sustainable

Send us a textThis 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 Ithttps://time.com/6236321/thanksgiving-food-waste-ways-to-avoid/ Farm-to-Table Thanksgiving: H

Nov 21, 2024 • 15:48

150. What now?

150. What now?

Send us a textThis 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 tasteConnect With Genet “GG” Gimja:Website https://www.progressivepockets.comTwitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me:Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements.Easy Ways to Support the Show1. Send this episode to so

Nov 13, 2024 • 3:30

149. Changing the political future of our country with our wallets (Replay)

149. Changing the political future of our country with our wallets (Replay)

Send us a textIn 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 commi

Nov 5, 2024 • 13:26

148. Is your bank funding politicians you don't support? Consider these 4 banks instead

148. Is your bank funding politicians you don't support? Consider these 4 banks instead

Send us a textEver 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

Oct 31, 2024 • 12:29

147. The surprising truth about what ESG actually means

147. The surprising truth about what ESG actually means

Send us a textWelcome 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

Oct 22, 2024 • 27:46

146. Where do Latine Americans donate their money?

146. Where do Latine Americans donate their money?

Send us a textIn 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 forc

Oct 15, 2024 • 9:32

145. Hosting a pop up giving circle for the holidays

145. Hosting a pop up giving circle for the holidays

Send us a textToday’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,

Oct 8, 2024 • 12:36

144. How to Invest for More than Financial Returns: How to Consider Societal Values Too

144. How to Invest for More than Financial Returns: How to Consider Societal Values Too

Send us a textLong 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 ho

Oct 1, 2024 • 15:06

143. Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas: A book review

143. Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas: A book review

Send us a textThis 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

Sep 24, 2024 • 10:39

142. Conscious Travel and Tourism

142. Conscious Travel and Tourism

Send us a textIn 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,

Sep 17, 2024 • 12:20

141. Five Sources of Power Every Shareholder Has

141. Five Sources of Power Every Shareholder Has

Send us a textThis 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

Sep 10, 2024 • 7:19

140. Activate Your Money by Janine Firpo: A book review

140. Activate Your Money by Janine Firpo: A book review

Send us a textIt’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 excelle

Sep 3, 2024 • 11:53

139. Where Serena Williams donates her money

139. Where Serena Williams donates her money

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 2022https://march8.com/articles/the-philanthropic-ventures-of-serena-williams Th

Aug 27, 2024 • 11:53

138. Where do Chrissy Teigen and John Legend donate their money?

138. Where do Chrissy Teigen and John Legend donate their money?

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.Fina

Aug 20, 2024 • 9:29

137. Where does Taylor Swift donate her money?

137. Where does Taylor Swift donate her money?

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 Ta

Aug 13, 2024 • 8:54

136. Where does Dolly Parton donate her money?

136. Where does Dolly Parton donate her money?

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, s

Aug 6, 2024 • 11:48

135. Changing the political future of our country with our wallets

135. Changing the political future of our country with our wallets

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 wa

Jul 31, 2024 • 13:26

134. Five ways to be a financial ally at work

134. Five ways to be a financial ally at work

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 you

Jul 24, 2024 • 13:54

133. How a group of students convinced their university to divest from apartheid

133. How a group of students convinced their university to divest from apartheid

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 dives

Jul 16, 2024 • 14:10

132. Boycotts, "Buycotts" and Public Shaming

132. Boycotts, "Buycotts" and Public Shaming

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 powe

Jul 9, 2024 • 9:20

131. How to Align Your Investments with Your Values

131. How to Align Your Investments with Your Values

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 fo

Jul 3, 2024 • 13:28

130. Effective Altruism, AI, and Sam Bankman-Fried

130. Effective Altruism, AI, and Sam Bankman-Fried

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 Bankm

Jun 25, 2024 • 16:31

129. What's your relationship to Juneteenth?

129. What's your relationship to Juneteenth?

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 h

Jun 19, 2024 • 8:55

128. "I donate, but am I a philanthropist?" Apparently it depends on your identities...

128. "I donate, but am I a philanthropist?" Apparently it depends on your identities...

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 thems

Jun 18, 2024 • 6:54

127. How I Screen Charities Before I Donate

127. How I Screen Charities Before I Donate

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 exac

Jun 13, 2024 • 12:39

126. Vegan Investing: How to Beet the Market! 🥕

126. Vegan Investing: How to Beet the Market! 🥕

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

Jun 5, 2024 • 10:20

125. Are there any prisons in your 401K?

125. Are there any prisons in your 401K?

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 dive

May 28, 2024 • 9:00

124. What to ask a financial planner if you want them to consider your societal values

124. What to ask a financial planner if you want them to consider your societal values

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

May 21, 2024 • 10:33

123. Poor People’s Campaign

123. Poor People’s Campaign

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

May 14, 2024 • 10:47

122. How I switched to a more socially responsible index fund

122. How I switched to a more socially responsible index fund

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 | Forbeshttps://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.progressivepock

May 7, 2024 • 19:03

121. New Book Alert: The Social Justice Investor by Andrea Longton

121. New Book Alert: The Social Justice Investor by Andrea Longton

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 Longtonhttps://www.thesocialjusticeinvestor.com/  ICYMI another episode you might enjoy:Episode 25- What Should I Be Reading? (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of th

May 1, 2024 • 10:29

120. Where to find a financial advisor to help you invest according to your values

120. Where to find a financial advisor to help you invest according to your values

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 cov

Apr 23, 2024 • 12:02

119. Investing According to Islamic Principles

119. Investing According to Islamic Principles

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 Capitalhttps://www.saturna.com/amana/halal-investin

Apr 16, 2024 • 11:50

Announcement

Announcement

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.comLet’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.comTwitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me:Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, bus

Apr 10, 2024 • 1:05

118. Maybe banks don't have to suck: An intro to CDFIs

118. Maybe banks don't have to suck: An intro to CDFIs

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,

Apr 2, 2024 • 12:29

117. 1% for the Planet

117. 1% for the Planet

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 Planethttps://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/ Planet Impac

Mar 26, 2024 • 11:25

116. MacKenzie Scott's Giving Strategy and What We Can Learn From It

116. MacKenzie Scott's Giving Strategy and What We Can Learn From It

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 awayhttps://givingpledge.org/pledger?pledgerId=393 What MacKenzie Scott Wants in a Grantee– A New Analysis Offers Cluesht

Mar 19, 2024 • 15:03

115. Where do American Muslims Donate Their Money?

115. Where do American Muslims Donate Their Money?

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 r

Mar 12, 2024 • 16:03

114. Big Wallets, Bleeding Hearts: Support Groups for the Wealthy

114. Big Wallets, Bleeding Hearts: Support Groups for the Wealthy

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:

Mar 5, 2024 • 17:05

113. Celebrating Black Philanthropy (Replay)

113. Celebrating Black Philanthropy (Replay)

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._Walkerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ellen_Pleasant Support the show

Feb 27, 2024 • 9:02

112. The Black Dollar Index

112. The Black Dollar Index

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 com

Feb 20, 2024 • 11:11

111. Is this stock anti-racist?

111. Is this stock anti-racist?

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

Feb 13, 2024 • 17:40

110. The legacy of Jazz and Philanthropy

110. The legacy of Jazz and Philanthropy

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 Consultinghttps://bridgephilanthropicconsultin

Feb 6, 2024 • 10:01

109. Building a bridge between financial markets & social justice: Rachel Robasciotti, Founder of Adasina Social Capital

109. Building a bridge between financial markets & social justice: Rachel Robasciotti, Founder of Adasina Social Capital

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, s

Jan 30, 2024 • 57:24

108. Pros and Cons of ESG investing

108. Pros and Cons of ESG investing

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 Fundshttps://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/pros-and-cons-of-esg-funds/Support the show

Jan 23, 2024 • 11:14

107. Dr. King's Radical Money Beliefs

107. Dr. King's Radical Money Beliefs

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 Dreamhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/01/21/economic-equality-martin-luther-king-jrs-other-dream/Four Times Martin Luther King Jr. Taught Us About Moneyhttps://www.debt.com/news/what-martin-luther-king-jr-taught-us-money/Martin Luther King Jr's

Jan 15, 2024 • 8:21

106. New Year New Us? Planning for more social impact in 2024

106. New Year New Us? Planning for more social impact in 2024

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

Jan 9, 2024 • 7:38

105. Introducing Progressive Pockets! New name, same great taste

105. Introducing Progressive Pockets! New name, same great taste

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

Jan 1, 2024 • 4:15

Progressive Pockets Trailer

Progressive Pockets Trailer

Support the show

Jan 1, 2024 • 1:11

104. How to review YOUR money's social impact in 2023

104. How to review YOUR money's social impact in 2023

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

Dec 26, 2023 • 8:06

103. Predictions for 2024 and Most Popular Episodes of 2023

103. Predictions for 2024 and Most Popular Episodes of 2023

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

Dec 19, 2023 • 10:58

102. Just give them cash: what the data shows about giving people cash versus other types of help

102. Just give them cash: what the data shows about giving people cash versus other types of help

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 episodeIt's one of the biggest experiments in fighting global poverty. Now the results are in. NPR. December 7, 2023https://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_m

Dec 12, 2023 • 12:29

101. Tax write-off today, donate never?

101. Tax write-off today, donate never?

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 Collin

Dec 5, 2023 • 10:55

100. A recap of the last hundred episodes!

100. A recap of the last hundred episodes!

Today the podcast hits the 100th episode! Thank you for listening, subscribing and sharing episodes with the people you know!Support the show

Nov 28, 2023 • 23:41

99 What's your plan for Giving Tuesday this year?

99 What's your plan for Giving Tuesday this year?

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

Nov 22, 2023 • 8:50

98. Decolonizing our Thanksgiving Plates (Replay)

98. Decolonizing our Thanksgiving Plates (Replay)

This week we're exploring the topic of decolonizing our Thanksgiving plates.Links from today's discussion:Chef Sean Sherman Interview and Projectshttps://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131051237/the-sioux-chef-sean-shermanhttps://owamni.com/https://sioux-chef.com/Decolonizing Thanksgiving and Reviving Indigenous Relationship To Food byhttps://ndncollective.org/decolonizing-thanksgiving-and-reviving-indigenous-relationships-to-food/?fbclid=IwAR2N4_aL_EZtV-EvvtGoDHL_8E2b1VmsUO0bWv8cP0rByuR1RpRmnD8f_6cHow

Nov 7, 2023 • 10:17

97. When Trust Fund Kids Grow Up

97. When Trust Fund Kids Grow Up

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://resou

Oct 31, 2023 • 11:19

96. The World's Most Socially Responsible Bank

96. The World's Most Socially Responsible Bank

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

Oct 24, 2023 • 8:46

95. Volunteer Tourism

95. Volunteer Tourism

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

Oct 17, 2023 • 11:07

94. Why the Rich Don't Give

94. Why the Rich Don't Give

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.

Oct 10, 2023 • 21:07

93. Reflections on 2 years of this podcast

93. Reflections on 2 years of this podcast

Time flies! Thank you for your support over the past two years! Let's keep going!Support the show

Oct 5, 2023 • 9:13

92. Four more ways to build an organization according to your values

92. Four more ways to build an organization according to your values

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

Sep 19, 2023 • 16:24

91. Building an organization according to your values

91. Building an organization according to your values

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

Sep 12, 2023 • 18:49

90. Four Ethical Banks

90. Four Ethical Banks

Support the show

Sep 5, 2023 • 7:17

89. Where does will.i.am donate his money?

89. Where does will.i.am donate his money?

Tune in this week to find out where will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas donates his money!Support the show

Aug 29, 2023 • 8:32

88. Where does Rihanna donate her money?

88. Where does Rihanna donate her money?

Today's episode is about where Rihanna donates her money!Links from today’s episodehttps://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-halft

Aug 22, 2023 • 11:19

87. Where does Paris Hilton donate her money?

87. Where does Paris Hilton donate her money?

Today's episode is about where Paris Hilton donates her money!Links:Paris Hilton's somewhat cringe visit to survivors of earthquake in Mexicohttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6383385/Paris-Hilton-visits-Mexican-earthquake-survivors-San-Gregorio.htmlLook to the stars profile: Paris Hiltonhttps://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/paris-hiltonSupport the show

Aug 15, 2023 • 9:03

86. Where does Beyoncé donate her money?

86. Where does Beyoncé donate her money?

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 mill

Aug 9, 2023 • 17:25

85. Where does President Barack Obama donate his money?

85. Where does President Barack Obama donate his money?

Links from today's episode:Obama’s Doodle for NFhttps://images.app.goo.gl/Y52CobeDSe5CcVPo7What 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 Moneyhttps://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/us/12nobel.html Obama’s donations in officehttps://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2017/02/06/obama-donated-over-1-million-to-charity-as-president-heres-where-the-money-went/?sh=407c6b

Aug 2, 2023 • 14:09

Introducing the Celebrity Giving Series!

Introducing the Celebrity Giving Series!

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

Aug 2, 2023 • 1:27

84. On Impact Investing and Social Justice from Narratives of Purpose

84. On Impact Investing and Social Justice from Narratives of Purpose

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 commun

Jul 25, 2023 • 30:21

83. Warren Buffett's Giving Pledge

83. Warren Buffett's Giving Pledge

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

Jul 18, 2023 • 12:50

82. Divesting from Prisons

82. Divesting from Prisons

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 Fre

Jul 11, 2023 • 13:37

81. Creating a Family Mission Statement (Replay)

81. Creating a Family Mission Statement (Replay)

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-statementhttps://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/02/want-to-give-your-family-value-and-purpose-write-a-mission-statement/273491/ Support the show

Jul 4, 2023 • 8:44

80. The Five Types of Givers (Part 2)

80. The Five Types of Givers (Part 2)

What type of giver are you?Support the show

Jun 20, 2023 • 19:08

79. The Five Types of Givers

79. The Five Types of Givers

In today's episode, 5 types of givers will be discussed. What type are you?1) the skeptic2) the overwhelmed3) the flighty4) old faithful5) the firefighterTune in this week to learn more!Support the show

Jun 13, 2023 • 12:11

78. Raising Generous Kids (Replay)

78. Raising Generous Kids (Replay)

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 begin

Jun 7, 2023 • 11:12

77. Where To Start With Donating (Replay)

77. Where To Start With Donating (Replay)

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

May 30, 2023 • 5:35

Interlude

Interlude

Call for submissions! Please send your topics, questions, and feedback to spenddonateinvest@gmail.comSupport the show

May 24, 2023 • 4:06

76. The surprising truth about what ESG investing actually means

76. The surprising truth about what ESG investing actually means

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:Im

May 16, 2023 • 27:47

75. How to start a values aligned investing club

75. How to start a values aligned investing club

Links from today's episode:https://activateyourmoney.net/ Support the show

May 9, 2023 • 15:05

74. Does it matter where you say "I Do"?

74. Does it matter where you say "I Do"?

Links from today's episode:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/17/style/despite-everything-people-still-have-weddings-at-plantation-sites.htmlhttps://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/06/10514073/plantation-wedding-venuesSupport the show

May 2, 2023 • 10:21

73. It's wedding season! How to go green

73. It's wedding season! How to go green

Links from today's episode:https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/02/style/sustainability-wedding.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Lovehttps://lessstuffmoremeaning.org/weddingfootprintcalculator/Support the show

Apr 25, 2023 • 13:39

72. How much money do Harry and Meghan give away?

72. How much money do Harry and Meghan give away?

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 episodeArchewell Foundation Impact Report 2020-2022https://archewell.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Archewell-Foundation-Impact-Report-2020-2022.pdfVanity Fair Articlehttps://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/01/prince-harry-meghan-markle-archewell-foundation-raised-13-million-donated-3-million-new-hires Support the show

Apr 11, 2023 • 9:42

71. Women, Men, and Money

71. Women, Men, and Money

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 w

Apr 4, 2023 • 8:17

70. The legal right to invest according to our values

70. The legal right to invest according to our values

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 reportSupport the show

Mar 28, 2023 • 9:36

69. Women, Sex and Socialism

69. Women, Sex and Socialism

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 i

Mar 21, 2023 • 12:03

68. Is a donation a good gift?

68. Is a donation a good gift?

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

Mar 14, 2023 • 8:12

67. Did Patagonia's founder really give his company away?

67. Did Patagonia's founder really give his company away?

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_DNkAdam Conover’s analysis of Yvon Chouinard’s recent announcement and other billionaire philanthropist hype https://youtu.be/0Cu6EbELZ6I Support the

Mar 7, 2023 • 12:54

66. Supporting the Arts

66. Supporting the Arts

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

Feb 28, 2023 • 7:12

65. Celebrating Black Philanthropy

65. Celebrating Black Philanthropy

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._Walkerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ellen_Pleasant Support the Show.

Feb 21, 2023 • 9:48

64. Giving After a Natural Disaster

64. Giving After a Natural Disaster

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 expecte

Feb 14, 2023 • 8:15

63. 2023 Predictions

63. 2023 Predictions

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

Feb 7, 2023 • 20:17

62. Most popular episodes of 2022

62. Most popular episodes of 2022

Most popular episodes of 2022:Episode 23 Raising Generous Kids. Episode 29 My 2 Cents and My 2 CentsEpisode 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 101Episode 38 Funding Reproductive FreedomSupport the show

Jan 31, 2023 • 6:50

61. Donations of the Rich and Famous

61. Donations of the Rich and Famous

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=2a34a56e3a6cSupport the show

Dec 13, 2022 • 12:46

60. When a friend asks you to donate...but you don't want to

60. When a friend asks you to donate...but you don't want to

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

Dec 5, 2022 • 8:59

59. American Indian Heritage Month meets Giving Tuesday

59. American Indian Heritage Month meets Giving Tuesday

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

Nov 14, 2022 • 15:38

58. Decolonizing our Thanksgiving Plates

58. Decolonizing our Thanksgiving Plates

This week we're exploring the topic of decolonizing our Thanksgiving plates.Links from today's discussion:Chef Sean Sherman Interview and Projectshttps://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131051237/the-sioux-chef-sean-shermanhttps://owamni.com/https://sioux-chef.com/ Decolonizing Thanksgiving and Reviving Indigenous Relationship To Food byhttps://ndncollective.org/decolonizing-thanksgiving-and-reviving-indigenous-relationships-to-food/?fbclid=IwAR2N4_aL_EZtV-EvvtGoDHL_8E2b1VmsUO0bWv8cP0rByuR1RpRmnD8f_6c H

Nov 7, 2022 • 10:17

57. Focusing your values aligned investing

57. Focusing your values aligned investing

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 ho

Oct 31, 2022 • 18:54

56. What to do if your company's 401K goes against your values (Replay)

56. What to do if your company's 401K goes against your values (Replay)

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 wi

Oct 24, 2022 • 6:37

55. Moved to a Gentrifying Neighborhood, Now What? (Replay)

55. Moved to a Gentrifying Neighborhood, Now What? (Replay)

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-neighborhoodSupport the show

Oct 11, 2022 • 5:18

54. Giving Up Brands with Shaky Values (Replay)

54. Giving Up Brands with Shaky Values (Replay)

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

Oct 3, 2022 • 6:32

53. Where to Find Charities and What to Ask (Replay)

53. Where to Find Charities and What to Ask (Replay)

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

Sep 27, 2022 • 10:34

52. How Much Should I Donate? (Replay)

52. How Much Should I Donate? (Replay)

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! GGHere’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

Sep 19, 2022 • 9:07

Interlude: the podcast is 1 year old!

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

Sep 12, 2022 • 3:39

51. Activist Investing

51. Activist Investing

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-d

Aug 29, 2022 • 12:37

50. Giving more strategically

50. Giving more strategically

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

Aug 22, 2022 • 11:18

49. Socially Responsible Robo-Advisors

49. Socially Responsible Robo-Advisors

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 g

Aug 15, 2022 • 9:00

48. What to do with a Windfall

48. What to do with a Windfall

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 a

Aug 8, 2022 • 7:54

47. How to Set Up a Scholarship

47. How to Set Up a Scholarship

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 somet

Aug 1, 2022 • 11:44

46. Three Phases of Impact Investing

46. Three Phases of Impact Investing

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 i

Jul 25, 2022 • 8:48

45. Creating a Family Money Mission Statement

45. Creating a Family Money Mission Statement

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

Jul 18, 2022 • 6:54

44. Can our money help with gun violence?

44. Can our money help with gun violence?

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 gu

Jul 11, 2022 • 11:42

43. Not Your Parent's Giving

43. Not Your Parent's Giving

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 givin

Jul 4, 2022 • 10:18

42. Pay Transparency for Allies

42. Pay Transparency for Allies

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 rec

Jun 27, 2022 • 12:13

41. Juneteenth!

41. Juneteenth!

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

Jun 19, 2022 • 9:28

40. Give now or wait till I'm rich?

40. Give now or wait till I'm rich?

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 do

Jun 13, 2022 • 6:42

39. Helping with the Baby Formula Shortage

39. Helping with the Baby Formula Shortage

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 discussionhttps://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/23/us/abbott-baby-formula-sturgis-regulation.htmlhttps://greaterdcdiaperbank.org/the-monthly/Support the show

Jun 6, 2022 • 8:18

38. Funding Reproductive Freedom

38. Funding Reproductive Freedom

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 ju

May 30, 2022 • 12:01

37. Crypto vs The Environment

37. Crypto vs The Environment

Here’s today’s letterI’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=3https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/09/03/climate/bitcoin-carbon-footprint-electricity.html https://digiconomist.net/bitcoin-electron

May 23, 2022 • 9:31

36. Greenwashing 101

36. Greenwashing 101

Here’s today’s letterI 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.pdfhttp

May 16, 2022 • 8:29

35. Etsy for Ukraine

35. Etsy for Ukraine

Here’s today’s letterOne 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

May 9, 2022 • 6:34

34. Elon Musk, Twitter, and ESG

34. Elon Musk, Twitter, and ESG

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

May 2, 2022 • 12:47

Thank You Listeners!

Thank You Listeners!

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. Th

Apr 25, 2022 • 2:26

33. What should I pay my first employee?

33. What should I pay my first employee?

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

Apr 18, 2022 • 9:32

32. Is it ethical to be a billionaire?

32. Is it ethical to be a billionaire?

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 Americahttps://fortune.com/20

Apr 11, 2022 • 11:15

31. Banking till death do us part

31. Banking till death do us part

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.comrenegadecapitalpodcast.comSupport the show

Apr 5, 2022 • 8:34

30. What's the bank doing with your cash?

30. What's the bank doing with your cash?

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 FargoSupport the show

Mar 29, 2022 • 10:34

29. My 2 Cents and My 2 Cents

29. My 2 Cents and My 2 Cents

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 exact

Mar 21, 2022 • 4:10

28. How to start a giving circle

28. How to start a giving circle

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.comSupport the show at buymeacoffee.com/spenddonateMore episodes at: http://spenddonateinvest.worldSupport the show

Mar 15, 2022 • 4:42

27. Where should I bank?

27. Where should I bank?

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 areahttps://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/what-is-community-development-financial-institution-cdfiNPR A Forgotten History of How the US Government Segregated Americahttps://www.npr.org/2017/05/03/5266

Mar 7, 2022 • 6:21

26. Sustainable Vacation or Bust!

26. Sustainable Vacation or Bust!

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?

Mar 1, 2022 • 6:20

25. What should I be reading?

25. What should I be reading?

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 VillanuevaWinners Take All: the Elite Charade of Changing the World

Feb 22, 2022 • 8:46

24. Should I donate if I'm broke?

24. Should I donate if I'm broke?

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

Feb 15, 2022 • 7:51

23. Raising Generous Kids

23. Raising Generous Kids

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 begin

Feb 7, 2022 • 11:12

22. Recap of 2021 Most Popular Episodes

22. Recap of 2021 Most Popular Episodes

2021 Most popular episodesIf 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

Jan 31, 2022 • 7:28

21. Predictions for 2022

21. Predictions for 2022

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 mo

Jan 18, 2022 • 6:43

Trailer

Trailer

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.comTo support the show, visit buymeacoffee.com/spenddonateWord of mouth is the best way to help the show spread, please share an episode with someone who might enjoy it!http://spenddonateinvest.worldSupport the show

Jan 17, 2022 • 1:11

20. Where to start with donating

20. Where to start with donating

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

Dec 20, 2021 • 5:35

19. Convincing others to shop more sustainably

19. Convincing others to shop more sustainably

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 gif

Dec 13, 2021 • 4:19

18. Investing in the Underinvested

18. Investing in the Underinvested

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 KivaKeep 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 bu

Dec 6, 2021 • 8:54

17. Can you spare a dollar to help me get home?

17. Can you spare a dollar to help me get home?

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 'sus

Nov 29, 2021 • 7:29

16. Where to start with socially responsible shopping

16. Where to start with socially responsible shopping

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

Nov 22, 2021 • 3:54

15. Housekeeping and other dirty secrets

15. Housekeeping and other dirty secrets

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 worker

Nov 15, 2021 • 11:55

14. When your donations aren't stacking up

14. When your donations aren't stacking up

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 yea

Nov 10, 2021 • 6:33

13. Why we shouldn't worry about a charity's admin expenses

13. Why we shouldn't worry about a charity's admin expenses

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

Nov 7, 2021 • 6:10

13. You moved into a gentrifying neighborhood. Now what?

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 li

Nov 1, 2021 • 5:18

12. For busy people looking for socially responsible investments

12. For busy people looking for socially responsible investments

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

Oct 25, 2021 • 7:08

11. Moved into a gentrifying area? Now what?

11. Moved into a gentrifying area? Now what?

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

Oct 18, 2021 • 5:18

10. Fair trade or bust

10. Fair trade or bust

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 G

Oct 11, 2021 • 4:56

9. When your company doesn't offer a socially responsible 401k

9. When your company doesn't offer a socially responsible 401k

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 ha

Oct 4, 2021 • 6:37

8. Where to find charities and what to ask

8. Where to find charities and what to ask

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, tha

Sep 27, 2021 • 10:34

7. Giving up brands with shaky values

7. Giving up brands with shaky values

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 responsib

Sep 20, 2021 • 6:32

6. Picking a focus for my investments

6. Picking a focus for my investments

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

Sep 13, 2021 • 5:45

5. Where to donate when everyone needs help

5. Where to donate when everyone needs help

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

Sep 10, 2021 • 6:25

4. Socially responsible shopping- is there any point?

4. Socially responsible shopping- is there any point?

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 pessimi

Sep 9, 2021 • 6:34

3. Investing in line with my personal values

3. Investing in line with my personal values

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 e

Sep 8, 2021 • 11:55

2. How much should I donate?

2. How much should I donate?

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

Sep 7, 2021 • 9:07

1. Welcome to Spend, Donate, Invest!

1. Welcome to Spend, Donate, Invest!

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 initi

Jul 17, 2021 • 5:01

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