Episode description

On this Munk Dialogue we are speaking with one of the most successful and well known entrepreneurs of the past 50 years. John Mackey was a 24 year old self described hippie in 1980 when he opened up a small natural foods store in Austin, Texas. But what started off as a niche, counterculture company transformed into one of the most popular and profitable grocery chains in North America with annual sales exceeding $22 billion. Whole Foods transformed the natural and organic food market and made its CEO - John Mackey - a very wealthy businessman. But despite his financial success, John has stayed true to his counterculture roots and the conscious capitalism that still fuels his entrepreneurial endeavors. In his most recent book, The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism, John takes readers on the adventure of building Whole Foods Market from the ground up, And he joins us on the podcast for a wide ranging conversation about Whole Foods, conscious capitalism, income inequality, and what role the government has - and should - play in shaping the economy.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch