Social Entrepreneurship Episodes
Meet entrepreneurs building businesses that create positive social and environmental impact.
107: Bryan Mauk shares lessons in the unhoused community, recovery, and scaling social enterprise for justice reform
SHOW NOTES: Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/D7zlefTWd5g Bryan Mauk is a passionate social entrepreneur and advocate for criminal justice and drug policy reform. He currently leads End It For Good, championing health-centered approaches to addiction and incarceration, building on decades of grassroots and executive experience in housing, reentry, and digital access. In this episode, Bryan and Jeffrey discuss social impact, recovery & scaling reform. Bryan also shares his journey from teen volunteer to national nonprofit leader. Learn how his early work with the unhoused inspired a lifelong mission of healing trauma, empowering second chances, and advancing compassionate drug policy with End It For Good. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro Clip 0:55 - What Motivates You? 2:50 - Early Life 10:23 - College Experience 17:53 - PC's for People 21:33 - End It For Good 26:47 - Making Your Mark 37:21 - Upcoming Initiatives 41:54 - When Work Affected Change 46:54 - Mentor 50:35 - Ask Jeff a Question 52:21 - Most Grateful for 54:11 - Most Proud of 56:35 - Snap Your Fingers 59:47 - How to Support Bryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-mauk-77a04310/ End It For Good: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enditforgoodms/ https://enditforgood.com/ https://www.instagram.com/enditforgoodms/ https://www.facebook.com/EndItForGoodMS/ Other resources: The PBS documentary “Her Time” is actually called “Apart” - https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/apart/ Free copy of End It For Good founder Christina Dent’s book, Curious: A Foster Mom's Discovery of an Unexpected Solution to Drugs and Addiction, to the first 5 listeners that email them at curious@enditforgood.com and include the name People are the Answer! Christina Dent’s been on PatA podcast twice: Episode #’s 4 and 94 Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 4/24/25
80: Julie Christeas on sustainable filmmaking
In this episode, Julie and Jeffrey discuss her journey from immigrating from Greece at a young age to growing up in Brooklyn and New Jersey, her unexpected path to becoming a producer, her impact on Jeff’s production career, how taking care of the environment is a win-win for impact and business, and much more… Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/O4gwHSzyCSI Learn more: Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 9/18/23 https://www.tandempictures.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tandempictures/ https://www.facebook.com/tandempictures https://www.linkedin.com/company/tandem-pictures/ Other resources: https://www.tandempictures.com/brand-content?wix-vod-video-id=c1c8e677ffc144c9955977e89f1d6931&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-julnk1ne https://www.producersunion.org/ https://www.earthangelsets.com/ https://www.motionpictures.org/2020/12/the-sustainable-production-alliance-celebrating-the-green-production-guides-10-year-anniversary/ https://www.bricfoundation.org/ https://www.green4ema.org/ Bio: JULIE CHRISTEAS is the founder and CEO of Tandem Pictures, since 2010. Her recent films include BLACK BEAR (Sundance 2020) starring Aubrey Plaza, Christopher Abbott and Sarah Gadon, which was released last year by eOne/Momentum, and THE SURROGATE (SXSW 2020/Monument Releasing). She also executive produced the cult horror favorite THE EYES OF MY MOTHER (Sundance 2016/Magnet Releasing), MONOGAMY (Best NY Narrative, Tribeca Film Festival 2010), the feature doc DUKALE'S DREAM starring Hugh Jackman, and GHOST TEAM starring Jon Heder, David Krumholtz, Justin Long, Amy Sedaris and Melonie Diaz. Previously she produced BLOOD STRIPE (Jury Prize for Best Narrative Film, LA Film Festival 2016), WILDLIKE starring Bruce Greenwood and Brian Geraghty (HIFF), and THE SLEEPWALKER starring Christopher Abbott and Brady Corbet (Sundance 2014/IFC). Julie also produces original short-form content for some of the biggest brands in the world -- Amazon, Chase Bank, Ford Motors, Netflix, Cadillac and many more. Before Tandem, Julie was EVP across production and development at Renart Films. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 12:47 - Importance of Giving Back 18:29 - Education 27:49 - Early Career 30:31 - Producers 40:13 - Tandem Pictures 46:27 - Representation in the Industry 49:54 - Sustainable Sets 58:35 - Profit Donations 1:00:27 - Black Bear & Nuked 1:05:28 - BRIC Foundation 1:07:40 - Barbie 1:14:02 -When Work Affected Change 1:18:04 - Ask Jeff a Question 1:20:30 - Snap Your Fingers
82: Dissecting the social impact of the Barbie movie
This episode features a deep dive on the master class in social impact that is the Barbie movie with friend of the podcast Megan Gregory, our editor Nick Case, and our producer Kait Grey. Regardless of how you felt about its messages, there’s no denying that this was a new way of deeply weaving impact into film Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dRtxJTOInb4 Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 11/1/23 Chapters 0:00 - Intros 5:43 - The Hype 9:25 - What is it About Barbie? 16:36 - Gloria’s Monologue 25:57 - Triangle vs Circle 31:33 - Sasha’s Monologue 40:49 - Millennial Parenting 43:38 - Ruth’s Monologue 48:27 - Mental Health 55:30 - The Male Complex 1:01:46 - Soundtrack 1:05:05 - Examine Your Relationships 1:11:30 - Mattel Over the Years 1:30:39 - Takeaways 1:36:25 - How to be a Better Ally
74: Henk Rogers on Tetris, climate action, space exploration
In this episode, Jeffrey chats with Henk Rogers, a serial entrepreneur best known for bringing Tetris to the world, but his story goes way beyond video games. Henk’s a climate activist, space explorer, and entrepreneur who is on a path to get Hawaii to 100% renewable energy. Henk and Jeff discuss his upbringing, the Tetris story/movie, his work in climate action with Blue Planet Alliance, and his efforts in space exploration… Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ODpZeThujw4 Learn more: Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 8/23/23 Henk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henkrogers/ https://www.instagram.com/henkrogers/ https://twitter.com/henkrogers https://www.facebook.com/HenkRogers/ Blue Planet: https://blueplanetfoundation.org/ https://www.bluestartups.com/ https://www.blueplanetenergy.com/ Other resources: https://moonbasealliance.com/ Bio, Henk: I am a Dutch-born entrepreneur and clean energy visionary who has dedicated the past decade of my career to the research, development, advocacy and implementation of renewable energy sources in my adopted home of Hawaii. More recently, I have been a leading global advocate for space exploration as the Chairman of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems and the founder of the International MoonBase Alliance, a group dedicated to building the first colony on the moon. I spent my early career in Japan as a video game developer and publisher, gaining distinction for producing the country’s first major role-playing game, The Black Onyx. I then went on to revolutionize the video game industry by securing the rights for the blockbuster Tetris, which 30 years later remains a bestseller and global icon of gaming culture. Follow me on my journey to create a world in which humanity and nature can live in harmony. 0:00 - Intro 11:29 - Education 13:32 - Black Onyx to Tetris 22:51 - Blue Lava Wireless 24:56 - Blue Planet Alliance 31:03 - Climate Change Status 35:41 - Incubator Program 37:50 - Blue Planet Energy 39:32 - Space Exploration 43:58 - International Moonbase Alliance 50:54 - When Work Affected Change 52:31 - Mentor 54:12 - Ask Jeff a Question 59:13 - Most Grateful 1:00:43 - Snap Your Fingers 1:04:19 - How to Support
72: David Homan, super-connector, on the power of trust and trusted relationships
In this episode, David and Jeffrey discuss the power of trust and trusted relationships and how he leverages that with Orchestrated Connecting. We also discuss his childhood, his music and non-profit careers, a more recent start-up endeavor, and much more… Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/n0SfWWDqgNc Learn more: Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 7/26/23 https://orchestratedconnecting.com/ https://orchestratedopportunities.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlfKlXohGGw https://orchestratedconnecting.com/podcasts/ https://www.homanmusic.com/ Bio: David: I believe in the power of trust and trusted relationships. This is my world. I run a community of 800+ family offices, startups, philanthropists, and impact focused individuals. This community of "givers" make thousands of intros each year that result in tangible, effective, and inspiring changes in people, businesses, impact, and opportunity. I've changed organizations from the inside out and rebuilt them to flourish. I am a "super-connector" whose reach and knowledge-base spans wealth, influence, and dozens of industries, giving me access to those with the means to make positive change. My advice is sought after privately with influential colleagues to help them weave a larger, more impactful and purposeful set of goals. Specialties: Strategic planning; Board Development; Public Speaking; Arts; Fundraising; Connecting; Depth of knowledge on single topics (oranges, islands, cod, salt, paper, tea); and raising my kids. My writings have been published via Forbes, &simple, and I work at the intersection between action and connection. As part of Nexus, Forbes Impact, the Arthur Miller Foundation and many other avenues where my expertise and connections are utilized for social good, I believe that when you engage people to give you enrich not only the lives of those beneficiaries, but also those who come to understand philanthropic impact as an incredible way to achieve purpose in your life. 0:00 - Intro 10:27 - Education 16:25 - Early Career 29:32 - LunaClips Media 34:52 - When COVID Hit 53:13 - Orchestrated Connecting 1:00:00 - Depth of Music Engagement 1:05:10 - Orchestrated Opportunities 1:11:02 - When Work Affected Change 1:15:50 - Ask Jeff a Question 1:21:34 - Most Proud of 1:25:00 - Snap Your Fingers 1:28:09 - How to Support
S7E7 (episode #67): Martin Richardson on healing the hockey community
In this episode, the first in-person video recording for the show, Martin and Jeffrey discuss Marty’s career as a controller and CPA, how DAWG Nation started, what led him to dedicate himself to the org full time 5 years ago, his college soccer career, building an accessible ice rink, and much more. We even dig into my own passion for hockey, its influence on my life, and my ongoing work with his organization Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Q0lCuruqT4M Learn more: Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 7/13/23 DAWG Nation: https://www.dawgnation.org/ https://www.instagram.com/dawgshockey/ https://twitter.com/DawgsHockey https://www.facebook.com/DawgNationHockeyFoundation https://www.linkedin.com/company/dawg-nation-hocky-foundation/ Bio: Experienced finance professional with expertise in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, business modeling, and tax planning. Also founder and president of one of Colorado's fastest-growing nonprofit charities (Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation). Skills include fundraising, executive networking, event management, board president, and business planning. 0:00 - Intro - 9:03 - College Sports 12:09 - Early Career 14:22 - Dawg Nation 20:53 - Dawg Nation Aid Stories 27:57 - Humboldt Broncos 30:19 - Jared Bednar 33:41 - Dawg Bowl 37:20 - Sled Hockey 40:38 - Willie O'Ree Hero Award Finalist 43:19 - Future of Dawg Nation 48:06 - Youth Soccer Coach 53:05 - Mentor 54:52 - Ask Jeff 1:01:11 - Most Grateful for 1:03:27 - Snap Your Fingers 1:05:42 - How to Support
S7E1 (episode #61): Jai Kensey on creating true social impact through business
In this episode, Jai and Jeffrey discuss her growing up in Southern California and finding her way east, the various roles that taught her how to be successful in the communications space, her desire to create positive impact, how she ended up at GTI, and much more… Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZeblxdyNVfM Learn more: Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 5/18/23 Jai’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/Jaikensey GTI: https://www.instagram.com/begoodgreen/ https://www.gtigrows.com/ https://twitter.com/gtigrows https://www.instagram.com/gtigrows/ https://www.facebook.com/GreenThumbIndustries/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/gtigrows/ Other resources: Good.green to register for 6/19 DE&I Event Jai Kensey joined Green Thumb in 2021 as Director of Social Impact. In this role, she leads community outreach efforts in support of the company’s Growing for Good program. Prior to Green Thumb, Jai was Manager of Development Communications at the American Red Cross, National Headquarters in Washington, DC. Jai has managed and supported various internal and external communications and community relations efforts in the non-profit, government and corporate sectors while working at companies such as Young Communications Group in Los Angeles, California; Publicis Life Brands and Edelman Public Relations in Sydney, Australia; Sprint and Boost Mobile in Irvine, California; and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide in Washington, DC. Jai currently serves on the board of Illinois Women in Cannabis, a not-for-profit group created to serve, support, and advance women connected to Illinois’ regulated cannabis industry. Jai received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing from Georgia State University.
S5E5 (45): Tess Murphy on how micro-loans are changing the world
In this episode, Tess and Jeffrey discuss how her years abroad influenced her desire to create impact, being a “Kiva Boomerang,” the incredible impact that can come from loans as low as $400 and from an individual lending as little as $25, why Kiva gift cards are the best gift cards, and much more… Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TOml6XzWvPM Learn more: Recording date: 11/16/22 Tess: Connecting Around a Shared Purpose - ideas to engage employees & customers - https://assets.brandfolder.com/q7tke1-5izjcg-d8lx55/v/15575737/original/Connecting%20Around%20A%20Shared%20Purpose%20Kiva.pdf Tess on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tess-murphy-7a21b083/ Kiva: Website - https://www.kiva.org/ Donate to Kiva - https://www.kiva.org/donate/supportus Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kiva Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kiva.org YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/kiva LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/kiva-org Tess is the director of managed lending at Kiva, an international non-profit that celebrates and supports people looking to create a better future for themselves, their families and their communities through financial inclusion. Tess started out her career by harnessing her passion for travel and writing through her travel website as she taught English in Myanmar and worked across Southeast Asia. Eventually, she made her way to Kiva as an online marketing intern, and soon became a Kiva fellow, working directly with Kiva borrowers in Zimbabwe and South Africa. After a few years at Indiegogo and Wishbone.org, she found her way back to Kiva as the manager of Strategic Partnerships. Her work has blossomed into becoming the program lead for Managed Lending, a B2B solution that utilizes products and services to meet partner goals of audience engagement and/or organization impact through Kiva. She is responsible for building out the programmatic strategy, keeping employee engagement and corporate social responsibility at the forefront, providing account management and customer support, partner campaigns, communication needs, and business development.
S3E10 (episode 30): Dr. Michael Barnes on teaching, ed tech, and investing part of your rent, and more…
In this episode, Michael and Jeffrey discuss his journey from teacher to founder, exiting TeacherTalent, starting Viva, and his incredible learnings along the way…major discussion of Viva Fund begins at 59:22 Watch this episode on YouTube Learn more: https://viva.fund/ https://www.instagram.com/vivaequity/ https://twitter.com/VivaEquity https://www.facebook.com/VivaEquity https://www.linkedin.com/company/vivaequity/ https://twitter.com/PolicyRiot Portfolio highlights: Creation Crate, Gardenio, Uinclude Michael Barnes is the Co-Founder & CEO of Viva - a new app which helps landlords save money while renters build wealth. Renters living in the Viva network for 30 years can build $250k in wealth without ever holding debt and with the freedom to live wherever, whenever. Michael is the former CEO of TeacherTalent, a Techstars company acquired in 2018. He is committed to helping create a more equitable world, and in addition to leading his team, he advises and invests in diverse and social impact teams. Michael also enjoys spending time traveling with his family, including 3 cool kids (ages 5, 11, 13), and playing ultimate frisbee.
S3E8 (episode 28): Justin Kahn on the importance of of a legal defense plan and more
In this episode, Justin and Jeffrey discuss Justin’s career journey, growing up adjacent to the VA system, the process of starting and exiting telehealth company TruClinic, his current endeavors in personal liability insurance, his cat that thinks she’s a human, and much more… Watch this episode on YouTube Learn more: Reepher website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter Justin is passionate about social entrepreneurship and the belief that a company can provide for the social good while still having an economically successful business...all while having some fun along the way. He views his work as the Co-Founder & CEO of Behavior Labs, Co-Founder & CEO of reepher, Founder/CEO of TruClinic, and his work with InTouch Health as opportunities to impact the world in a positive way by making insurance and healthcare more accessible and equitable.
S3E2 (episode 22): Dr. Nicole F. Roberts on global health, ending food insecurity and its effects, and more
In this episode, Nicole and Jeffrey discuss making dents in food insecurity and human trafficking, having a bias for action, the best part of the SuperBowl, and much more… Watch this episode on YouTube Learn more: Global Good Podcast Feed a Billion website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube Donate! $1=1 meal!; volunteer Nicole Instagram, Twitter, Forbes Dr. Nicole F. Roberts is the Executive Director of Feed A Billion, an international nonprofit that feeds girls around the world to prevent exploitation, and the founder of Health & Human Rights Strategies, a health care and human rights-focused advising firm in Washington, D.C. Roberts is also the host of The Global Good Podcast based on her years of international work.
S2E2 (episode 12): Jake Kloberdanz on cause-centric commerce
In episode 2 of season 2, Jake and Jeffrey discuss cause-centric commerce, democratizing the wine industry, giving hope, and much more…. Learn more: One Hope Wine website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube; 20/20 Collective; After the Fire USA; Fume Brands website; Instagram Jake Kloberdanz founded ONEHOPE in 2007 where he has served as CEO for 13 years. ONEHOPE empowers people to share wine and give hope by powering over 3,000 in-home and virtual wine tasting experiences monthly. Since launching ONEHOPE in 2007, Jake has successfully raised more than $100 million to help grow the brand from zero to over 1.5 million bottles a year, and build a flagship vineyard, home and winery from the ground up in the heart of Napa. Their wines have received numerous 95+ point ratings and 100+ medals in wine competitions. Under Jake's leadership, ONEHOPE has grown to one of the 250 largest wineries of 10,000+ in the US and has received recognition in Inc. magazine’s “500|5000” the last six years for being amongst the fastest-growing private companies nationwide thanks to their innovative DTC model powered by thousands of independent consultants (Cause Entrepreneurs) who have put on 30,000+ wine tasting events in the last year, all raising money for over 10,000 non-profits. Sales of their wine and gifts have empowered the ONEHOPE Foundation to donate over $6M to many deserving nonprofit partners. Other professional accomplishments and commitments include: - Founding Fumé, a vertically integrated cannabis company with ultra-premium and luxury brands. - Serving as an advisor to 8VC, one of the most successful Technology VC's in the world with over $3 billion under management. - Serving on the board of Rebuild North Bay, a foundation that's already helped raise over 1 Billion Dollars for the long-term rebuilding of the North Bay following the recent wildfires Jake has been recognized by Bloomberg Businessweek’s, “Top 25 under 25”, Wine Enthusiast’s, “Top 40 Under 40”, and by Ernst & Young as a nominee for “Entrepreneur of the Year” on multiple occasions. He’s spoken at events and universities including TEDx, The UN Global Summit, Stanford, U.C. Berkeley, UCLA and MIT, and his work has been profiled in magazines including Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Inc.; and on shows such as CNBC, FOX and ABC sharing his expertise in building consumer brands, communities and his new model, known as Cause-Centric Commerce, the integration of social impact into everyday commerce and culture. A graduate of Haas School of Business, Jake was a four-year Scholar-Athlete at Berkeley playing football and rugby, where he won numerous national championships.