Send us a text This week let’s chat about a popular book called Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villanueva. It is a book about money, giving, and social justice. In today’s episode, we will look at how the history of colonization still affects how wealth is used today, often making inequalities worse. Villanueva’s book challenges us to rethink how we view money and shows us that it can be a tool for healing instead of causing division. Let’s talk about practical ways to change how we think about we...
Dec 10, 2024•6 min•Season 6Ep. 154
Send us a text This week let’s chat about Giving Tuesday going global and how you might plan your own Giving Tuesday this year! Links from today’s episode: Giving Tuesday campaigns from around the globe https://www.givingtuesday.org/blog/global-leaders-local-movements/ ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#105 Hosting a pop up giving circle for the holidays Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Em...
Dec 03, 2024•8 min•Season 6Ep. 153
Send us a text The Indigenous "Land Back" movement in the US and Canada has gained momentum in recent years across many Indigenous groups, representing a broad fight for decolonization, protecting their culture, and taking care of the environment. Today we will talk about the movement and how WE can support these efforts! Links from today’s episode: Landback https://landback.org/ Land Back Movement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Back A Tribe Called Red: “Land Back” Song https://youtu.be/67F7...
Nov 26, 2024•9 min•Season 6Ep. 152
Send us a text This week let’s chat about some practical suggestions for hosting a Thanksgiving that’s just a little more sustainable. From planning the meal to polling guests before they show up, you’re sure to leave today’s episode with at least one idea you hadn’t considered before! Links from today’s episode: Time Magazine: Thanksgiving Food Waste Is Nothing To Celebrate. But There Are Ways To Combat It https://time.com/6236321/thanksgiving-food-waste-ways-to-avoid/ Farm-to-Table Thanksgivin...
Nov 21, 2024•15 min•Season 6Ep. 151
Send us a text This week’s episode is raw and unedited. It’s a heart to heart about where we go from here. ICYMI another episode you might enjoy: Episode#105 Introducing Progressive Pockets! New name, same great taste Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja: Website https://www.progressivepockets.com Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts Work With Me: Email [email protected] for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements. Easy Ways to Support the Show 1. Send this episo...
Nov 13, 2024•4 min•Season 6Ep. 150
Send us a text In this week's replay, let's explore the powerful influence of small-dollar donations in American politics. You don’t need to be a billionaire to make a difference! Let’s talk about the rapid fundraising that has characterized the early days of VP Kamala Harris’ run for President of the United States and the role that the Win With Black Women collective played in her early successes. Let’s talk about the difference between giving to a candidate and giving to a political action com...
Nov 05, 2024•13 min•Season 6Ep. 149
Send us a text Ever think about what your bank is doing with your cash? Whether your bank uses the cash in your checking and savings account to fund fossil fuel companies or gun manufacturers, the reality is that the banks are using their own set of societal values to deploy our cash every single day. In today’s episode, let’s talk about community focused, mission driven banks that might actually share your values! The cash sitting in our bank accounts can be used to fund affordable housing in o...
Oct 31, 2024•12 min•Season 6Ep. 148
Send us a text Welcome back to Progressive Pockets! This is a podcast where we talk about ways to line up our values and our money. When we think about the things that keep us up at night. Whether that’s climate change, or homelessness, or the systematic oppression of our communities, we usually talk about how we can claim our power when we vote. Some of us might protest, or organize ourselves in other ways. But what about….our money? Where do we bank, where do we shop, where do we donate? Wheth...
Oct 22, 2024•28 min•Season 6Ep. 147
Send us a text In this episode, let’s chat about charitable giving among Latino Americans, including formal and informal giving, the surprising role of religious giving, and the huge impact of remittances (sending money back to one’s country of origin) from this community. Let’s also talk about cultural differences in how Latine Americans might discuss (or choose not to discuss!) their charitable giving. If you are a Latine American listener of this show, tune in for some ideas on how to join fo...
Oct 15, 2024•10 min•Season 6Ep. 146
Send us a text Today’s episode is about a fun activity to consider trying with your friends, coworkers, or fellow book club members. You might have heard of giving circles before, where you meet regularly with a group of people and pool your money and then decide collectively where to donate. But have you ever heard of a pop up giving circle? This is a very condensed version of that! No long term commitment, no complicated scheduling! It’s pretty genius. Invite a group of similarly minded people...
Oct 08, 2024•13 min•Season 6Ep. 145
Send us a text Long gone are the days when investors left their societal values at the door. These days, most investors want to invest with their environmental and social values in mind. If you are a financial advisor, you may feel intimidated or skeptical about how to serve clients who want you to incorporate their societal values into their financial plans. This week’s episode provides simple suggestions to guide advisors (or DIY investors!) on how to incorporate values aligned principles into...
Oct 01, 2024•15 min•Season 6Ep. 144
Send us a text This week let’s chat about Winners Take All: the Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas. Published in 2018, this book became a New York Times Bestseller and fired off a conversation about whether powerful elites really want to change the root causes of the social problems they claim to care about. Endlessly quotable, provocative, interesting…this book just might be what you need for your next flight. Check out today’s episode to help you decide. Links from today...
Sep 24, 2024•11 min•Season 6Ep. 143
Send us a text In this episode of Progressive Pockets, let's explore the topic of conscious travel, focusing on how to respect local cultures while prioritizing environmental sustainability. Discover practical tips for engaging with communities, understanding local customs, and avoiding cultural faux pas. We'll also discuss sustainable travel practices, such as supporting local economies, reducing waste, and choosing eco-friendly accommodations. Whether you're a low-key traveler or prefer luxury...
Sep 17, 2024•12 min•Season 6Ep. 142
Send us a text This week, let's explore how everyday shareholders can wield surprising influence over corporate behavior. Discover the power of your single vote and learn about the impact of attending annual general meetings. You'll hear about real-world success stories where small shareholders sparked big changes in major companies. From leveraging social media to engage with corporations to joining forces with other shareholders, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Whether you're ...
Sep 10, 2024•7 min•Season 6Ep. 141
Send us a text It’s time for another book review! This episode is about a book titled Activate Your Money: Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World by Janine Firpo. It is an accessible, handy guide to learning more about investing and the practical changes we can make to align our societal values with our investments. You don’t have to be a billionaire to invest your values, this book has practical advice on how to get started. Links from today’s episode: Activate Your Money, the exce...
Sep 03, 2024•12 min•Season 6Ep. 140
Send us a text It’s time for the celebrity giving series! Whether you love celebrity gossip or you want to be inspired to shake up your own giving, it can be so much fun to learn where celebrities donate their money. This week let’s chat about Serena Williams! Her giving has evolved over time and gives a sneak peek into the causes she cares most about. Links from today’s episode: The philanthropic ventures of Serena Williams | August 2022 https://march8.com/articles/the-philanthropic-ventures-of...
Aug 27, 2024•12 min•Season 6Ep. 139
Send us a text In this episode, let’s explore Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s philanthropy, highlighting their commitment to social causes. Let’s talk about their partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities, where they helped to raise funds to support families with sick children and their support of Planned Parenthood. Let’s also discuss their $200,000 donation to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund, on behalf of the heroic gymnasts of the US Olympic Team who spoke out against abuse by their ...
Aug 20, 2024•9 min•Season 6Ep. 138
Send us a text Let’s continue the celebrity giving series! Whether you love celebrity gossip or you want to be inspired to shake up your own giving, it can be so much fun to learn where celebrities donate their money. This week let’s chat about Taylor Swift’s giving. Let’s talk about her contributions to causes like music education, disaster relief, and whether the food pantry donations in conjunction with her Eras tour go far enough. Tune in this week to find out more. Links from today’s episod...
Aug 13, 2024•9 min•Season 6Ep. 137
Send us a text In this episode, let's explore the remarkable philanthropic efforts of country music legend Dolly Parton. We'll dive into her most significant charitable initiatives, including the Dollywood Foundation and its flagship program, the Imagination Library, which has distributed millions of books to children worldwide. Let's discuss Parton's commitment to education, from reducing high school dropout rates to providing college scholarships. The episode will highlight Parton's disaster r...
Aug 06, 2024•12 min•Season 6Ep. 136
Send us a text In this episode, let's explore the powerful influence of small-dollar donations in American politics. You don’t need to be a billionaire to make a difference! Let’s talk about the rapid fundraising that has characterized the early days of VP Kamala Harris’ run for President of the United States and the role that the Win With Black Women collective played in her early successes. Let’s talk about the difference between giving to a candidate and giving to a political action committee...
Jul 31, 2024•13 min•Season 6Ep. 135
Send us a text Usually on this show we talk about the power of our wallets to build the world we want. This week, let’s talk about how we can extend our power just a little bit further, to our places of work. There are lots of ways to serve as a financial ally to the planet and to our community. This week, we’ll talk about five ways that are probably easier than you might think. Practice salary transparency. Propose a socially responsible 401K option if your company doesn’t already have one. Tak...
Jul 24, 2024•14 min•Season 6Ep. 134
Send us a text This week let’s talk about a wildly successful student campaign to convince universities across America to divest from South Africa’s apartheid. This mini history lesson includes efforts from students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Harvard University, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Stanford, the University of California system, UNC Chapel Hill, and more. This episode also briefly touches on the campaigns that have come after the anti-apartheid effort such as f...
Jul 16, 2024•14 min•Season 6Ep. 133
Send us a text This week let’s chat about using our consumer power for social change. Learn how our everyday purchases can become a force for good, from "buycotts" to boycotts to organized campaigns. Hear real-world examples of consumer-driven change, tackle the challenges of ethical shopping, and reveal strategies for aligning your spending with your values. Whether you're a seasoned activist or just starting to think about the impact of your dollar, this episode will inspire you to harness you...
Jul 09, 2024•9 min•Season 5Ep. 132
Send us a text This week, let’s chat about how to make your money work for both you and the world. From environmental sustainability to gender equality, learn how to screen out harmful companies and support those actively solving societal issues. Let’s also talk about how to leverage your shareholder voice to drive positive change. Tune in for actionable tips on making your investments a force for good while still keeping an eye on returns. Links from today’s episode: Sustainable Investing: An E...
Jul 03, 2024•13 min•Season 5Ep. 131
Send us a text The philosophy of Effective Altruism captured the minds and wallets of Silicon Valley's elite - using reason and evidence to maximize positive impact. But is this clinical approach to the world’s problems really possible? And what happens now, after the shocking downfall of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, once a leader of the Effective Altruism community? In this episode, let’s examine Effective Altruism’s core principles of earning to give, cause prioritization, and longtermism th...
Jun 25, 2024•17 min•Season 5Ep. 130
Send us a text Here’s this week’s letter: I got the day off for Juneteenth and I’m trying to think about ways to honor the holiday and incorporate it into my family’s annual traditions. We have a nice tradition in my family of volunteering on Thanksgiving, we love it, it’s fun, it brings the family together, it reminds us to practice gratitude. We usually spend some time that weekend learning more about Native American history as a family and that has felt right for my family. What can we do for...
Jun 19, 2024•9 min•Season 5Ep. 129
Send us a text Do you donate money or volunteer your time for charitable causes? If so, you're engaging in philanthropic activities. But would you actually call yourself a "philanthropist"? According to a recent report from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, there's a major disconnect between the public's understanding of philanthropy and how people view themselves in relation to it. While 60% of Americans donated to charity and 30% volunteered in the past year, only 20%...
Jun 18, 2024•7 min•Season 5Ep. 128
Send us a text Ever wonder how to separate the charities genuinely driving impact from those just paying lip service? In this candid episode, you'll get the inside scoop on a personal vetting process for ensuring your donations create real positive change. You'll gain an insider's perspective on: Cutting Through the Fluff: Learn a litmus test for identifying charities with laser-focused, measurable missions (and calling out the vague, meaningless ones). You'll discover how to spot organizations ...
Jun 13, 2024•13 min•Season 5Ep. 127
Send us a text In a world grappling with climate change and animal welfare concerns, a new investment trend is taking root - vegan investing. This episode dives deep into the rapidly growing world of cruelty-free, plant-based portfolios. We'll explore how vegan ETFs like VEGN are empowering investors to align their money with their values, without sacrificing returns. Whether you're a hardcore vegan or a conscious capitalist, this eye-opening episode will inspire you to build a portfolio that li...
Jun 05, 2024•10 min•Season 5Ep. 126
Send us a text Many Americans are unaware that their retirement savings may be profiting off mass incarceration. In this eye-opening episode, we explore how major corporations and Wall Street firms are making billions by operating prisons and exploiting incarcerated workers. You’ll learn how to use the free Prison Free Funds tool to easily check if your 401(k), IRA or other investment funds are invested in private prisons and related companies. Most importantly, you’ll hear actionable steps you ...
May 28, 2024•9 min•Season 5Ep. 125
