Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Beyond the B: Latest on the B Corp Movement

Rod Johnson, co-founder and Chief Values Officer of BLK & Bold, joins Ryan Honeyman to talk about building a nationally distributed coffee and tea brand that gives 5 percent of gross profits to youth programs. They discuss staying independent without growth capital, the economics of retail and distribution, hiring for alignment, and what B Corp certification has and has not delivered for the company. Rod also shares his view on what the racial equity moment of 2020 left unfinished and what founders of color often face in the room.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/blk-bold-growing-a-business-without-compromising-its-mission-w/-rod-johnson

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Hannah Sandmeyer, founder of Steward Market and CEO of Up & Over Advisors, joins Ryan Honeyman on Beyond the B to discuss how mission-driven companies can use mergers and acquisitions to grow and how founders can plan ownership transitions that protect their mission. They cover why B Corps often think about selling rather than buying, how acquisitions have helped employee-owned companies like 3LS grow, and what cultural integration requires after a deal closes. Hannah also explains how Steward Market, a marketplace for ethical exits, helps sellers, buyers, and capital providers find each other.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/ethical-exits-for-b-corps-w/-hannah-sandmeyer

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Ryan Honeyman talks with Brigitta Nemes of B Lab about the purpose and stakeholder governance impact topic in the new B Corp standards. They discuss how it operationalizes the B Corp legal requirement, including public purpose, stakeholder mapping, materiality, responsible marketing, grievance procedures, and board oversight. Brigitta also explains what assurance providers are likely to look for and how ownership structures such as purpose trusts relate to protecting purpose over time.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/v2-standards-purpose-and-stakeholder-governance-w/-brigitta-nemes

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Equator Coffees co-founder Helen Russell and Director of Coffee Culture Devorah Freudiger join Ryan Honeyman to share how the company has kept its founding values intact through 30 years of growth, pivots, and change. They explore how B Corp certification helped Equator codify and protect its values, why long-term supplier relationships sometimes require choosing partnership over short-term optimization, and how employee benefits, culture, LGBTQ+ visibility, and sustainability show up in everyday decisions. The conversation offers a practical look at what it takes to turn purpose from a set of intentions into the operating blueprint of a growing business. 

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corp-as-a-blueprint-w/-helen-russell-devorah-freudiger

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

What happens to a values-led company when its founders or longtime owners are ready to step away? Ryan Honeyman speaks with Miren Oca of Ocaquatics and Claire Randall of Grand Central Bakery about employee ownership trusts, perpetual purpose trusts, seller financing, and the culture required before an ownership transition can work. They share what they learned from rejecting more traditional exit paths, why profitability and financial literacy matter, and how alternative ownership can help B Corps protect mission and keep wealth rooted in their communities.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/two-ceos-share-their-inside-stories-employee-ownership-and-purpose-trusts-w/-miren-oca-claire-randall

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Maria Emilia Correa, cofounder of Sistema B and a pioneer of the B Corp movement in Latin America, joins Ryan Honeyman to explore why better individual companies are necessary but insufficient to build a better economy. Drawing on Sistema B’s origins, benefit corporation policy, business education, and her work with small and midsize businesses in Colombia, Maria Emilia makes the case for collective action that changes the rules surrounding business. The conversation offers B Corps and mission-driven leaders a practical challenge: keep improving your company while also working with investors, educators, policymakers, citizens, and people with different perspectives to create change at scale.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/the-next-frontier-of-business-as-a-force-for-good-w/-maria-emilia-correa

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Professor Christopher Marquis joins Ryan Honeyman to examine what we can and cannot yet prove about the financial ROI of B Corp certification. They explore why Christopher supports B Lab’s shift from an 80-point threshold to minimum requirements across seven impact areas, what may be lost without clearer recognition of leading companies, and how businesses such as Tony’s Chocolonely, Dopper, and Triodos pursue systems change beyond their own operations. The conversation offers practical context for B Corps, aspiring B Corps, consultants, researchers, and mission-driven leaders weighing the value and future of certification.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corp-roi-standards-and-systems-change-w/-christopher-marquis

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this rebroadcast of one of our most listened to episodes of all time, we dive into the prominent role of circularity in the new B Corp standards with Nellie Cohen, creator of Patagonia's Worn Wear project, and Dan Kurzrock, CEO of Upcycled Foods. Nellie and Dan share strategies for transforming waste into value across diverse industries like textiles and food. We also highlight how smaller companies and service-based businesses can integrate circularity more deeply into their operations. Tune in today!

Show Notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/circularity-lessons-from-patagonia-and-upcycled-foods-rebroadcast

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Bernard Gouw joins Ryan Honeyman to unpack the new Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion topic as part of the V2 B Corp standards. Drawing on his four and a half years at B Lab developing the Human Rights, Fair Work, and JEDI topics, Bernard explains how companies can use data, stakeholder feedback, and context-specific action to move beyond good intentions. Ryan and Bernard also explore the anti-DEI backlash, concerns around demographic data, and why JEDI work must reach beyond the workplace.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/v2-standards-jedi-w/-bernard-gouw

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Douglas Lamont, CEO of Tony’s Chocolonely, joins Ryan Honeyman to discuss how Tony’s is using business to help end exploitation in the cocoa industry. Drawing on his experience at Innocent Drinks and Tony’s, Douglas shares how Mission Lock, Open Chain, and the 5 Sourcing Principles help the company protect its purpose while scaling its impact. Listen in for a practical conversation about ethical sourcing, B Corp certification, the Better Business Act, and how companies can help shift entire industries.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/tonys-chocolonely-mission-lock-open-chain-b-corps-w/-douglas-lamont

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

What does it mean for a company to respect human rights, and how can the new B Corp standards help companies focus on the places where they may be causing or contributing to harm? Social impact specialist Bernard Gouw joins Ryan Honeyman to unpack the Human Rights topic in the new B Corp standards, including human rights due diligence, salient human rights issues, supply chains, procurement, client screening, and the limits of social audits. This conversation helps B Corps understand how to move beyond policy language and begin building the systems, processes, and judgment needed to take human rights seriously.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/v2-standards-human-rights-w/-bernard-gouw

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this episode of Beyond the B, Andy Schmidt guest hosts a conversation with Ryan Honeyman and Amy Bourbeau on the 20-year evolution of the B Corp movement. They reflect on what the movement has gained as it has grown from a small community of early adopters into a global network of more than 10,000 companies, and what has become harder to preserve along the way. Together, they explore the new B Corp standards, the tension between keeping a big tent and holding a high bar, and what the next 20 years may require from B Corps around the world.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/the-b-corp-movement-at-20-what-weve-gained-lost-and-still-need-to-build-w/-amy-bourbeau-andy-schmidt

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Eric Ries, creator of The Lean Startup and author of Incorruptible, joins Ryan Honeyman for a conversation about why B Corp certification and benefit corporation status are no longer enough to protect a company’s mission over time. Drawing from both mainstream tech and business worlds and purpose-driven examples like Patagonia, Tony’s Chocolonely, and Mondragon, Eric explores how financial pressure, governance defaults, and ownership structures can pull even good companies off course. Together, they discuss what B Corps can do to design companies that remain accountable to stakeholders for 50, 100, or even more years into the future.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/how-b-corps-become-incorruptible-w/-eric-ries

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

What happens when a values-driven business movement tries to scale without losing its soul? In this episode, Ryan and Emmy speak with Todd Schifeling and Suntae Kim about their research (and article in the Harvard Business Review) about the “paradox” at the heart of the B Corp movement—balancing growth with authenticity. They explore why this tension is unavoidable, how B Lab has navigated it so far, and what it means for the future of the movement.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/the-paradox-at-the-heart-of-b-corps-w/-todd-schifeling-suntae-kim

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

The B Corp movement stands at a critical inflection point, with growing urgency to move beyond certification and toward true systems change in business and society. Marcello Palazzi, civic economist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of B Lab Europe, joins Ryan Honeyman to reflect on the evolution of the B Corp movement and what it will take to realize its original ambitions.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/can-b-corps-still-change-the-system-w/-marcello-palazzi

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Ryan Honeyman and Emmy Allison speak with Corey Lien about the original promise of the B Corp movement, what it meant to build B Lab Taiwan in the early days, and why the movement now feels more fragmented and uncertain. Corey reflects on authenticity, interdependence, and the tension between certification as a tool and movement as the larger purpose. Together, they explore whether this is a moment for reinvention or a return to the deeper “why” that first animated business as a force for good.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/reclaiming-the-why-behind-b-corp-w/-corey-lien

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Ryan Honeyman and Emmy Allison speak with Rooney Castle, President and CEO of Rhino Foods, about what it actually means to lead in a way that reflects an organization's values. Rooney shares how Rhino Foods has built a culture you can feel from the moment you walk through the door, through consistent small gestures, deep proximity to employees across all shifts, and a commitment to shared responsibility rather than centralized authority. The conversation explores how living your values is less about charisma or positional power and more about showing up consistently, listening carefully, and using whatever influence you have to elevate the voices of others.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/beyond-certification-what-living-b-corp-values-actually-looks-like-w/-rooney-castle

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Ready or not, a new B Corp era has begun. Former B Lab standards analyst Jeffrey Stewart joins us to unpack what Version 2 means in practice. We discuss AI-enabled audits, mandatory documentation, digital audit platforms, major versus minor nonconformities, the shift to a five-year certification cycle, and more. If your company is preparing for recertification or trying to understand how European regulation and third-party auditors are reshaping the movement, this conversation provides expert insight.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/ready-or-not-a-new-b-corp-era-begins-w/-jeffrey-stewart

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this resurfaced 2019 conversation, Ryan Honeyman speaks with Vincent Stanley, Director of Philosophy at Patagonia, about what it really takes to operationalize values at scale. The discussion covers KPIs, pricing, materials, fair trade labor, transparency, repair, and the internal systems Patagonia uses to stay accountable as it grows. Vincent also explains how Patagonia’s benefit corporation structure, reporting tools, and employee practices translate purpose into day-to-day decisions.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/patagonia-case-study-4-of-4-operations

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

This resurfaced 2019 conversation with Patagonia’s Vincent Stanley remains one of the most replayed episodes in our archive because it offers a grounded look at how culture, strategy, and operations work inside a company that has shaped the global conversation on responsible business. In part three of our four part series, Vincent reflects on Patagonia’s evolution, its approach to marketing and activism, its expansions into film, food, and impact investing, and how the company has navigated questions of authenticity for decades. He also shares how the B Impact Assessment influenced Patagonia’s decisions and what the future looks like as the next generation leads.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/patagonia-case-study-3-of-4-strategy

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Originally recorded in 2019, Patagonia’s Vincent Stanley joins host Ryan Honeyman (for part two of a four part series) to explore how a small dirtbag climbing company became a global business in service of “saving our home planet.” They dig into Patagonia’s culture, the Bears Ears lawsuit and benefit corporation status, tools for grassroots activists, and what it really means for businesses to take public stands on policy, democracy, and public lands. Vincent also reflects on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the deep links between racism and environmental destruction, and why biodiversity loss may be the defining ecological crisis of our time.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/patagonia-case-study-2-of-4-culture

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

This episode begins a four-part case study on Patagonia with a conversation on vision and values with Vincent Stanley, Patagonia’s Director of Philosophy. Originally recorded in 2019, the discussion explores how Patagonia’s founding experiences in climbing and environmental activism shaped its long-term purpose and moral orientation. 

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/patagonia-case-study-1-of-4-vision

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this year-in-review episode, Ryan Honeyman and Emmy Allison take an honest look at what worked, what didn't, and what they’re still wrestling with on Beyond the B and across the B Corp movement. They reflect on controversial moments, listener engagement, and how the new B Corp standards are starting to land in practice. The conversation moves beyond metrics to ask bigger questions about scale, transparency, and what real success could look like in 2026 and beyond. A candid check-in for listeners who are deep in the work and thinking critically about where the movement goes next.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/year-in-review-what-worked-what-didnt-and-whats-next

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this episode, Ryan and Emmy dig into the newly released 14-step B Corp certification process and make sense of what companies can expect as the standards shift. They walk through each phase in plain language, highlight what has changed, and offer practical context on where organizations tend to feel overwhelmed. Along the way, they share their own reactions and insights as they sort through the details together.

If you’re trying to understand how the new process works, what to prioritize, or how to get started without feeling buried, this episode gives you a clearer view of what’s ahead and how to navigate it more confidently.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/mailbag-unpacking-the-new-14-step-b-corp-certification-process

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

From politically motivated attacks to basic configuration errors, purpose-driven orgs are now on the front lines of cyber risk. In this episode, Steve Sharer and Garrett Miller walk through five areas where B Corps are more vulnerable than they realize — and the practical steps that strengthen each one. They explain why these gaps matter and how to close them with straightforward practices that don’t overwhelm small teams.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/5-cyber-risks-for-b-corps-and-how-you-can-fix-them-w/-steve-sharer-garrett-miller

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

People & Planet First is a global, participatory verification system designed for enterprises that put purpose ahead of profit. In this episode, Rebecca Dray breaks down the five core standards, why the badge is gaining traction, and how it complements the B Corp movement. If you're a B Corp or values-led business looking for a way to signal deeper structural commitment, this conversation is a helpful starting point.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/people-planet-first-verification-a-primer-for-b-corps-w/-rebecca-dray

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

This episode takes listeners inside the latest B Corp updates—Version 2.1, the new five-year certification cycles, and the EU’s Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) regulations. Ryan and Emmy unpack what these changes mean for both new and existing B Corps, and share candid reflections on how to navigate the transition. It’s an informative, unfiltered look at what’s new, what’s confusing, and what’s next for the movement.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/mailbag-v2.1-5-year-certification-cycles-ecgt-more

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Many purpose-driven businesses say they value inclusion—but when it comes to trans issues, most don’t know where to begin. In this candid conversation, trans organizer Benn Marine joins Ryan Honeyman and Emmy Allison to explore how B Corps can move beyond fear, “wokeness,” and silence toward genuine compassion and action. A grounded, honest look at what it takes to navigate the trans conversation in this political climate with courage and care.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/how-b-corps-can-navigate-the-trans-conversation-w/-benn-marine

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Salary negotiations can feel messy, so how do we design pay that’s fair, transparent, and free of bias? In this episode of Beyond the B, we sit down with Kate Dixon, Principal and Founder of Dixon Consulting, to unpack salary negotiation, equitable compensation design, and what the new B Corp Fair Work standards mean in practice.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/anti-oppressive-pay-designing-compensation-that-works-for-everyone-w/-kate-dixon

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

The new B Corp standards (v2.1) promise to push companies beyond checklists and into real systems change—but will they deliver? In this episode, we dig into purpose governance, human rights due diligence, lobbying and tax, and the EU rules reshaping what it means to be a B Corp. Join us as we explore whether these changes mark a true shift in business—or just a different badge.

View the Show Notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/can-the-new-b-corp-standards-drive-systems-change-adam-garfunkel-mike-rowlands

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Steward ownership is emerging as a powerful step for B Corps that want to safeguard their mission beyond what the benefit corporation legal protection provides. In this episode of Beyond the B, Ryan Honeyman talks with Achim Hensen of the Purpose Foundation and Luis Duarte of Amoofy about how steward ownership can shift power dynamics, protect purpose, and build a more values-driven economy. From Patagonia to emerging startups, they explore why this model may be the “gold standard” for B Corps seeking lasting impact.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/is-steward-ownership-the-gold-standard-for-b-corps-w-achim-hensen-luis-duarte

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this episode, we dive into the Environmental Stewardship and Circularity (ESC) Impact Topic of the new B Corp standards (v2) with Brigitta Nemes, the sustainability expert who led their development over the last few years at B Lab. We discuss why environmental stewardship was separated from climate action, how the new standards balance rigor with accessibility for small businesses, and what true circularity means beyond just recycling. Brigitta also shares behind-the-scenes stories of the tensions in creating the new standards.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/new-b-corp-standards-environmental-stewardship-circularity-w/-brigitta-nemes

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

What does it mean to build a truly fair workplace—and how do the new B Corp standards define it? In this episode, we’re joined by Bernard Gouw, Senior Manager of Social Standards at B Lab, to explore the Fair Work topic. Bernard unpacks how the new requirements balance ambition with flexibility, from family living wages and collective bargaining to pay transparency and stakeholder engagement. He also reflects on the hard tradeoffs, why some outcomes are prioritized over others, and what he believes is the single most powerful lever for change.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/new-standards-unpacking-fair-work-w-bernard-gouw

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In Part 3 of our “Are B Corps Too Woke?” series, we sit down with Annie Korver and Hayley Roulstone from Rise Consulting, an Indigenous-owned firm advancing Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. Annie and Hayley offer a powerful invitation to center rights-holders, not just stakeholders, and to embrace a relational approach to impact rooted in trust, reciprocity, and lived experience.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-3-annie-korver-hayley-roulstone

Part 1 w/ Raj Aggarwal: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-1-raj-aggarwal

Part 2 w/ Nathan Stuck: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-2-nathan-stuck

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this three-part series, we examine the B Corp community’s evolving relationship with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI)—celebrating progress and grappling with uncomfortable truths.

In Part 2, we’re joined by award-winning B Corp leader, educator, and author Nathan Stuck to explore the complex intersection of business, purpose, and politics in today’s polarized climate. 

In this episode, he offers insight into the ongoing conversations around DEI and urges a return to outcome-driven work over performative gestures.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-2-nathan-stuck

Part 1 w/ Raj Aggarwal: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-1-raj-aggarwal

Part 3 w/ Rise Consulting: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-3-annie-korver-hayley-roulstone

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this  three-part series, we examine the B Corp community’s evolving relationship with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI)—celebrating progress and grappling with some uncomfortable tensions that have emerged in recent years.

In Part 1, Raj Aggarwal—founder of Provoc and long-time B Corp leader—joins to explore whether the B Corp movement’s approach to JEDI needs any changes. Drawing from his deep involvement in B Lab’s early inclusion efforts, Raj shares stories of transformation, struggle, and resilience within the community, while grappling with critiques of performative DEI and the challenges of building authentic, relational change in a politically polarized time.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-1-raj-aggarwal

Part 2 w/ Nathan Stuck: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-2-nathan-stuck

Part 3 w/ Rise Consulting: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-3-annie-korver-hayley-roulstone

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

As the B Corp movement grows across Asia, leaders in Japan, China, and Singapore are finding creative ways to adapt global standards to local cultures, business norms, and social priorities. This episode explores the challenges and breakthroughs of building a values-driven business movement in this important and fast-growing region.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corps-in-asia

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this episode, Ryan Honeyman is joined by Erinch Sahan (Doughnut Economics Action Lab) and Vincent Stanley (Patagonia) for a candid, thought-provoking conversation about the ongoing tensions within the B Corp movement. From Nespresso to Dr. Bronner’s, we examine the question of whether multinationals threaten the credibility of the B Corp community—or whether they are essential to scaling impact. Together, we examine the fault lines between purpose and profit, ownership and extraction, and integrity versus storytelling—raising timely questions about the future direction, identity, and integrity of the B Corp movement.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corp-tensions-erinch-sahan-vincent-stanley

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this episode, Grace Son, Senior Manager on the Standards Team at B Lab Global, unpacks the new Government Affairs and Collective Action (GACA) impact topic within B Lab’s updated standards. Drawing from her experience in finance and four years at B Lab, Sun explains how these requirements push companies beyond individual actions toward systemic change through responsible lobbying, collective action, and tax transparency.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/new-b-corp-standards-government-affairs-collective-action-grace-son

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

B Lab has released its first-ever brand awareness report--providing valuable insights into the current state of recognition for B Corps worldwide. In this episode, we delve into the findings with two influential leaders from B Lab: Charlotte Levitt, the Global Director of Marketing and Communications, and Michele Bradley, the Data Analytics Manager on B Lab's Insights Team.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corp-brand-awareness

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Many people have an opinion about Nespresso becoming a Certified B Corporation. But very few have ever heard their side of the story. In this episode with Lucy Bai, Sustainability Manager for Nespresso US, we strive for a balance of genuine curiosity about the things Nespresso is doing well, and tough but fair questions about places where there is concern.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/nespresso-b-corp

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

The new B Corp standards have finally arrived! In this episode, Ryan Honeyman and Emmy Allison share their first impressions and key takeaways from the 1,130-page update. What’s changed? What’s stayed the same? And what does it all mean for companies striving to build a more just and regenerative economy? Join us as we explore the early implications, the process behind the changes, and what to watch for as implementation begins.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/new-b-corp-standards-key-takeaways

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

Last month, B Lab Global made an announcement that affects some small-to-medium existing B Corps. If your B Corp is due to submit for recertification between July 1 and December 31, 2025, and you would like to be evaluated under Version 6 (i.e., the current version of the standards), you must submit your assessment by June 30, 2025 — six months earlier than many of us expected.

If you miss that deadline, or your submission date is in 2026 or later, you will be moved onto the new standards (new B Corps still have until the end of 2025 to submit under Version 6 of the standards).

Emmy and Ryan explore why this change caught many off guard, what it means for businesses of different sizes, and how companies can navigate the revised timeline. Whether you’re directly affected or just keeping up with the evolving B Corp landscape, this episode offers essential insights to help you stay prepared.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/last-call-current-version-v6-b-corp-standards

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this episode, we speak with Marcel Fukayama, co-founder of Din4mo and a key leader in the B Corp movement, to explore the evolving landscape of B Corps, the role of policy in shaping the movement, and the challenges and opportunities ahead. 

Marcel shares insights on reducing dependency on philanthropy, navigating governance hurdles, and fostering deeper collaboration among B Corp leaders. He also reflects on the impact of COVID on the movement and the urgent need to reconnect with its core purpose.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corp-ecosystem-building-policy-marcel-fukayama

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

The B Corp movement in the UK is growing at an unprecedented pace. In this episode, Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, and Dyann Heward-Mills, CEO of HewardMills, explore what’s fueling this rapid expansion. From the rise in purpose-driven leadership to the push for systemic change through the Better Business Act, we discuss how UK businesses are embracing B Corp certification and what this means for the future of ethical enterprise.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corp-growth-in-the-uk

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

A new initiative called the "Purpose Pledge" launched earlier this week. The timing—coinciding with Dr. Bronner’s decision to decertify as a B Corp—has led to questions about whether Purpose Pledge is designed to compete with B Corp certification. Folks are also understandably confused about why LIFT Economy is involved.

In this episode, we set the record straight.

• What is the Purpose Pledge, and how does it differ from B Corp Certification?
• Why did LIFT Economy help co-create it?
• Why do we believe B Corp and Purpose Pledge are complementary, not competing?

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/purpose-pledge-b-corp-setting-the-record-straight

If you haven’t already, we highly recommend listening to our most recent episode with Farmer Cee Stanley for additional context: 

https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/dr-bronners-decertifies-as-a-b-corp

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this episode of Beyond the B, co-hosts Ryan Honeyman and Emmy Allison explore the recent decision by Dr. Bronner’s to decertify as a B Corporation. Ryan kicks off the episode with a monologue offering both a generous interpretation of the decision and constructive feedback on how the announcement could have been handled differently.

Then, Emmy and Ryan are joined by Farmer Cee (Clarenda Stanley), CEO of Green Heffa Farms and a leader in the B Corp community. As a Black woman in regenerative agriculture, a small business owner, and the first company to go through the B Lab Level program, Farmer Cee shares her candid reaction to Dr. Bronner’s decision. She discusses the implications for small and historically excluded businesses, the importance of maintaining rigorous yet accessible standards, and the broader impact on the B Corp community.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/dr-bronners-decertifies-as-a-b-corp

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

We are sharing this crossover episode from Next Economy Now, our other LIFT podcast highlighting the leaders who that are taking a regenerative, bio-regional, democratic, equitable, racially-just, and whole-systems approach to creating the new economy.Check out all episodes here lifteconomy.com/podcast.

How can we move beyond shame and blame to foster collaboration in addressing climate challenges? In this episode, Jenny Morgan, climate strategist and author of Cancel Culture in Climate, discusses the intersection of B Corps, cancel culture, regenerative economics, and sustainable business practices.

For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/jenny-morgan/

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this mailbag episode, we give an update on Beyond the B listener stats, answer your questions about the new B Corp standards, share the latest updates from B Lab, and explain how you can already begin to make progress on the new B Corp standards--before their official release!

View the show notes. https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/make-progress-on-the-new-b-corp-standards-today

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers

In this episode, Vincent Stanley, longtime Patagonia executive and co-author of The Responsible Company, describes how his company first found out about B Corps, why Patagonia didn't initially join the community, and his thoughts on the arc of the B Corp movement to date. Vincent also highlights the challenges of balancing urgency with patience, fostering localism, and building a business that prioritizes environmental and social impact.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/vincent-stanley-patagonia-b-corps

Registration open now! Check out Impact Peers, a new support group launching in January 2027 for CEOs, founders, and other leaders of purpose-driven companies. 

Learn more at: https://www.lifteconomy.com/impactpeers