Episodes
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In this episode, Elisha chats with Julie Colombino-Billingham, Founder & CEO of Deux Mains. They dive into the contrasting dynamics of nonprofits versus social enterprises and how each strives to create lasting change. Julie shares insights into the unique challenges of running a fair-trade business, such as competing against large companies with misleading "sustainable" claims and overcoming Haiti's high import dependence. She explains Rebuild Globally's model in Haiti, which provides jobs, scholarships, and financial stability for graduates, empowering them to become future leaders. They also explore the impact of fair-trade partnerships and the potential for larger brands to step up and help create sustainable economic growth in developing nations. Could big-name brands be the missing piece to long-term social change? Listen in to find out!
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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The doctor is in! Join Elisha for this insightful conversation with Ryan Zinn, Regenerative Projects Manager at Dr. Bronner’s. He discusses the company’s pioneering efforts in the early days of the business to ensure their products cared for people and the planet, and shares what he’s learned helping farmers incorporate fair trade and organic practices into their agricultural rhythms. Ryan also shares why the company chose Fair for Life certification and discusses the importance of regenerative agriculture for their farmer partners in addressing both the climate crisis and fair labor practices. Finally, he and Elisha consider how the fair trade approach stabilizes farmer incomes, particularly in light of changing market demands.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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Missing episodes?
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Join Elisha for a conversation with Brad Jeffrey, the co-founder of MadeFree, an ethical fashion accessories brand working to end human trafficking. Brad discusses his pivotal experience meeting young women in difficult circumstances in Africa and Southeast Asia, which ignited his passion for addressing global issues like poverty and slavery through sustainable solutions. He notes that consumer behavior is increasingly driven by a desire to buy products that make a difference, but he criticizes handout models for not addressing root causes. Finally, Brad stresses the importance of collaboration and flexibility in manufacturing to meet both mission-driven and design goals, and focusing on energy-producing activities to make fair trade business sustainable.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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Join Elisha for a special episode of the podcast in honor of World Refugee Day, featuring Winston Bui, a refugee of the Vietnam War. Winston recounts his family's harrowing escape from Vietnam during the fall of Saigon in 1975, highlighting their dangerous journey amidst bombings and chaos. They eventually made it to America, where a generous couple in Oklahoma helped them resettle, securing housing and jobs for his parents. Despite the initial hardships, Winston and his brothers adapted by taking on odd jobs and learning English through television, leading to their eventual success. Returning to Vietnam years later, Winston experiences profound emotions witnessing the country's transformation and contributing to its development. His story underscores the resilience and tenacity of refugees, urging others to embrace courage and hope amidst challenges.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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Ever wonder what are the keys to building a business (or socks) that lasts? In this episode, Amie Farkas, Head of Supply Chain & Products from Maggie’s Organics shares with Elisha about their 30-year journey of setting the highest standards as a fair trade and organic apparel company. From moving cotton production across continents due to climate change to welcoming 3rd party certifier audits, this conversation gives important principles to creating longevity and sustainability in business. Finally, the industry has much to learn about its latest transition to employee ownership to ensure a good company can stand the test of time.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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Trade in your cynicism for some hope in this heartwarming conversation with Gretchen Huijskens, founder and CEO of Trades of Hope. She shares with Elisha her journey transitioning Trades of Hope from a charity to a direct sales model and how that benefits both the artisans and the sellers. Gretchen highlights her hopes for her new book and how she hopes Trades of Hope will expand in the future. Finally, they both share about how their work in Haiti and the importance of long-term economic solutions to grow a brighter future.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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Put on your dancing shoes–we’ve got a special treat for you today! Bethany Tran of the Root Collective walks us through the process of making fair trade shoes, from how the soles are developed to sourcing their materials. She also shares why the company made the switch to pre-orders for their shoes and how they incorporated pre-loved shoes into their overall business model. Finally, Bethany and Elisha highlight challenges facing small fair trade brands in a tough economy and share practical ways customers can support their favorite companies.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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Calling all tea-lovers! We’ve got a flavor-packed episode for you today. Elisha is joined by Paul Bain, founder and CEO of JusTea, to talk about their fair trade partnerships with small-holder Kenyan tea farmers. Paul describes how they were able to set up tea cottages after working to enact legislative change in Kenya and why they’ve worked with women’s cooperatives right from the start of the business. He also shares a surprising fact about where tea comes from and why purple tea is so rare. Finally, Paul talks about why getting JusTea fair-trade certified was so important to the foundation of their business.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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We’ve got a sweet treat for you today! Hear from Abby Noel Davison at Tony’s Chocolonely about the company’s fair trade chocolate journey. She shares with Elisha how storytelling and raising awareness about human rights issues in the chocolate industry is baked into their branding and production decisions. They also talk about how addressing child labor directly and compassionately with producer groups leads to stronger supply chain relationships. Finally, Noel shares some encouraging and systemic changes that have happened in the West African cocoa industry in the last 20 years.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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In this episode, Elisha talks with Jenny McGee about her journey from a small town in Indiana to launching a nonprofit to support survivors of human trafficking in Southeast Asia. She talks about the importance of developing survivor leadership in all areas of their business, not just production, to foster a different future for themselves. Jenny also shares how the Starfish Project builds a culture of trust across cultural differences and emphasizes the need for a team-oriented mindset that prioritizes each person’s gifts over their educational backgrounds.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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Welcome back to another season of the Fair Talks podcast! Today’s guest, Manish Gupta, shares his journey from majoring in chemical engineering to co-founding a powerhouse global fair trade brand - Matr Boomie. He tells Elisha about the companies’ commitment to partnering with at-risk communities and how those artisan groups have evolved since working with fair trade. They dissect the importance of quality control, why emphasizing artisan’s artistry matters for high-quality products, and how to bring that same quality into every aspect of a fair trade business. Finally, Manish shares just how transformative self-confidence can be for their artisan partners.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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Ever wondered what a typical day is like for someone who benefits from a fair trade enterprise? Join Elisha for a special episode with Daniel Sainnatus, a local leader in Haiti working to foster change. He shares how education has impacted what he believes is possible and the lessons he’s learned from starting a business, while also highlighting the ways that fair trade businesses have given him opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise be available to him. He describes what an average day in a local village is like and the challenges of finding water, electricity, and other basic needs. Finally, Daniel and Elisha discuss why it’s so important for him to stay in Haiti and bring change to his village.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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Enjoy this insightful conversation with Olowo-n’djo Tchala, founder and CEO of Alaffia! He shares with Elisha the process of how he started fair trade cooperatives to support farmers & makers to employ their vast knowledge to create excellent products while protecting the power of collective bargaining. He shares the process of bringing traditional African values and knowledge to fair trade and why it’s important to consider the production structure of our goods, not just the materials. Learn how implementing an ‘investment forward’ strategy creates a more stable community future. Finally, he shares the challenges and opportunities for adapting policies and certification standards shaped by Western belief systems into local community contexts and the impact of adapting key elements of a community-centered model so that more people can gather under the fair trade umbrella.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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We are pulling back the curtains to give you a behind-the-scenes look at running Fair Trade LA! In this intimate episode, Elisha chats with four Fair Trade LA board members about their paths towards fair trade. They share creative tips for finding like-minded folks passionate about social & environmental justice in your local community and how to build a fair trade community from the ground up. Plus, hear step by step tips for creating and promoting events and how to share sobering information with infectious enthusiasm. Our board members offer resources for starting a fair trade campaign, how our nonprofit is structured, why we fundraise, and where donation dollars go to make the most impact for a better world.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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Continue learning about fair trade fashion in honor of Fashion Revolution Month! Elisha chats with Jessica Ray, Executive Director at GOEX Apparel, a fair trade apparel manufacturer in Haiti, about her journey from high-end luxury retail to ethical fashion. Jessica shares how the fair trade community fosters an abundance mindset and specific lessons the fair trade world can apply to scale our businesses and impact. She details how GOEX Apparel has transformed from its early days into a factory that employs over 77 people full-time while reducing the carbon footprint of their fabric. Both Jessica and Elisha share their experiences building businesses in Haiti and the importance of investing in and prioritizing holistic wellbeing in the workplace.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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This week we’re diving into the world of sustainable fashion! Join Elisha as she learns about the power of clothing swaps from Nicole Robertson, founder of Swap Society. Nicole shares the pitfalls of fast fashion, what it actually means to ‘swap clothing’, and why she believes it’s a game changer for your closet. She shares some practical tips for hosting your own clothing swap and envisions what the future of conscious fashion might become.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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Stop and smell the fair trade roses! This week’s conversation goes behind the scenes of Florecal, an established fair trade flower producer. Our guest, Jaime, shares why Florecal’s location in Ecuador is perfectly situated for growing flowers and how the government works with producers to create a healthy, equitable working environment. He describes the different kinds of programs that support their employee’s holistic wellbeing and how shifting mindsets helped their employees embrace fair trade practices. Finally, Jaime gives profound examples showcasing why fair trade is a vehicle for social wellbeing.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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How can fair trade economically empower women and communities? In so many ways! Join Elisha as she chats with Joy McBrien, founder of the social enterprise Fair Anita, about her path towards entrepreneurship and the powerhouse women she met along the way. Joy shares the sobering connection between financial insecurity and domestic abuse, how Fair Anita incorporates women’s empowerment into their business model & reporting structures, and the importance of centering their makers in the design process. Finally, Joy also shares how joining a network like the Fair Trade Federation helped her business thrive and grow.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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It’s time for a bonus episode! Join us as we reflect on the last five years of the fair trade movement, both here in Los Angeles and around the world. Elisha shares some incredible highlights from Fair Trade LA’s five-year report and the growth of consumer demand for fairly made products. Plus, stay tuned to the end of the episode for a big announcement about Fair Trade LA’s future projects!
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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From managing a travel agency to building a global fair trade business, this week’s guest will inspire and empower you to build a better world! Vik Giri from Gallant International shares why he chose to invest the profits from his family business in scaling their fair trade impact and how consumer demand for ethical & organic products directly impacts fair wages for producers. Specializing in certified organic & regenerative organic cotton products made in Fair Trade Certified™ factories in India, he highlights why investing in people and ethical supply chain practices is one of the best ways to strengthen a business. He gives insight into how fair trade businesses were able to treat their workers better and experience less disruption during the pandemic.
Visit fairtradela.org/podcast for show notes and exclusive discounts.
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