35. Business does NOT equal capitalism: a guide for reclaiming commerce
Capitalism is so entrenched in our world, it's hard to think of business, money, and wealth outside of it. And yet, capitalism is extremely new to human history — even the history of human commerce.Commerce that connected and enriched humanity, as opposed to exploit and extract, has existed for thousands of years before capitalism. And it's time for us to reclaim and re-create what commerce can look like.Listen to hear more about:What sophisticated human commerce looked like for thousands of years before capitalism existedThe shocking historical event that changed everything overnight (that they didn't teach me about in school)Why capitalism literally cannot stop — it's not a choice, it's built into the systemFive key ideas that will point you toward participating in alternative liberatory forms of commerceThis conversation is deep and rigorous, and it matters. If you've ever felt conflicted about doing business in our current system, this episode will change how you see everything, and offer you a viable path forward.
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36. Intentional, aggressive, and imperfect care
Who cares if you've made millions of dollars and helped thousands of people... if you have no one you trust to pick up the phone at 2 AM when your world is falling apart? We live in an individualistic, "mind your own business" culture that has created in widespread deep loneliness, and "connection for sale." I'm sharing my personal practice of changing this culture: I call it intentional, aggressive, and imperfect care.Listen to discover:Why success, acclaim, and riches are worth nothing without deep relationshipsThe dangers of "minding your own business" The counterintuitive approach to caring that feels risky, but will change the culture of individualismHow to bring this principle into your business and personal lifeChoosing community over comfort changes everything. Let's do this together.
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34. YES to millionaires, NO to billionaires
Millionaire. Billionaire. These words get thrown around like they're similar, but they're far from the same. One is disastrous for the health of local economies, and the other is not.Listen to hear more about:What I learned from the Official Historian of the City of Detroit about the former wealth built by hundreds of Black business owners - which were destroyedThe difference in the scale of millionaire vs. billionaire wealth.How distributed vs. concentrated wealth changes communitiesHow your business-building decisions can make a differenceThis episode will free you from any guilt you might have had about seeking prosperity, and show you how building ethical wealth isn't just about self-interest — it's about building economic foundations that create resilient communities for everyone.------------------You are invited to our virtual retreat TOGETHER to take this work deeper. Check out more details here.
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33. Radical Hope: A Technology of Future Creation
If you've been searching everywhere for hope — in politics, business, self-development — only to find yourself more discouraged than when you started, this episode is for you. The surprising thing is that conventional ideas about hope might actually be keeping us trapped in the very systems we need hope to escape from.In this episode, we'll explore:Why conventional ideas about hope will always lets us downWhy your deepest pain might actually be the doorway to the change you're meant to create in the worldWhat we can learn from wisdom traditions that transforms collective grief into a force for unstoppable resistance The counterintuitive reason why uncertainty is where hope becomes most dangerous to oppressive systemsThis episode will ignite something in you that goes far deeper than optimism — it's a call to step into your role as an agent of the world that's trying to emerge through you, starting right now.If you're ready to turn radical hope into a daily practice that sustains you while creating real change, join our online retreat. Check out more details here.
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32. How to find your people: Part 4. Slow growth is real growth
In this final episode of our series on finding your people, we explore why slow growth is the only real growth — and why the obsession with speed is actually working against your long-term success.In this episode, you'll learn about:Why the Charlie Munger/Warren Buffett investment philosophy applies directly to online business growthThe hidden costs of chasing shortcuts — and how they actually train your brain to think in ways that lose moneyFour business fundamentals that predict long-term success better than follower counts or viral posts ever couldThe difference between being patient vs. passiveIn a world where everyone else is burning out chasing the latest growth shortcut, find out why patience might be your best friend in business. ----Business Fundamentals Assessment WorksheetInstead of asking "Is this working?" based on follower counts or viral posts, assess your actual business fundamentals — the underlying factors that predict long-term success.1. Do you actually enjoy the work itself?Reflection questions:Do I find satisfaction in the process of sharing my ideas and connecting with people?Am I showing up because I want to, or just because I think I have to?Does my current approach align with my values and authenticity?What aspects of my work energize me vs. drain me?To do: Identify one change you could make to enjoy your work more.2. Are you getting better at your craft?The craft of your actual work:Am I more skilled at delivering my product/service than I was 6 months ago?What specific improvements can I point to?The craft of marketing and selling:Am I getting more comfortable sharing more of myself (not just polished work)?Am I finding it easier to focus on genuinely helping rather than performing value?Am I better at understanding what people actually need help with?Am I learning to be more creative with marketing (vs. cold strategy)?Am I finding it easier to have real conversations (vs. broadcasting)?To do: List 3 specific ways you've improved in the last 6 months:3. Are you actually building relationships?Remember: Growth starts with people closest to you. Don't dismiss connections from friends, family, or colleagues as "not real."Are people responding to your work (even if slowly)?Are your ideas traveling (people mentioning/sharing them)?Have you had genuine conversations this week?Are you helping people without attachment to outcomes? To do: List 5 real connections/responses from the past month (no matter how small).4. Are you actually showing up consistently?Are you doing the work or just stressing about the work? Track time spent this week on actually creating and sharing something that matters to you, having real conversations with human beings, helping someone solve a problem vs. stressing, analyzing, researching, overthinking.What foundation are you building that you can't see yet?
Let's build community care, social responsibility, and allyship into every aspect of your business — not as an afterthought, but as a core foundation. Because business isn’t neutral. The way we sell, market, and structure our offers either upholds oppressive systems or actively works to dismantle them.We’re here to have honest, nuanced, and sometimes uncomfortable conversations about what it really means to run a business that is both profitable and radically principled.
Ireland