When you walk into a space that feels welcoming and inviting to you, have you ever thought that the same space might feel off-putting or unwelcoming to someone who is quite different from you? Physical spaces tell an immediate story to everyone who enters, even if the space wasn’t “designed,” or the designer wasn’t conscious of the story they were telling at the time. Our guest today has made a career out of designing spaces and experiences for everyone, K.J. Hughes. His journey, spanning from nightclubs to becoming a trusted advisor to athletes and entertainers, has culminated in his latest endeavor, Manifest—a cultural oasis nestled in Washington, D.C.

The topic of mental health in the workplace gets a lot of attention these days - but mostly focused on how bad it is. What does it look like to have a mentally healthy workplace? How can employers create an environment to support employee wellbeing? What policies and practices make a difference? Our guest today is Laura Louise Green, a psychotherapist, organizational consultant, and the founder of Healthy Pour.

What if your business doesn't have a physical product, but a digital one? How do you translate Social Responsibility to a service business? Our guests are founding executives of Fearless, "an impact-focused digital services integrator building software with a soul, while creating the conditions for organizations and their people to thrive." CEO Delali Dzirasa and Chief Impact Officer John Foster have built a different kind of tech company that seeks to integrate impact through every layer to harness the power of business for good.

Culture is the water we swim in, the default behavior when no one is looking. Managers and leaders are creating culture every single day - so how do you make sure the culture supports your goals to be a socially responsible business? Our guest is Donte Johnson, General Manager of the Thompson Buckhead in Atlanta, and a master of creating an impact culture.

Experts estimate that there are seventy- to one hundred-million Americans with an arrest record - that's one in three citizens. "Fair chance hiring" is a philosophy that encourages you to go beyond the background check - and inquire about individual stories that help us see applicants as complete and complex people. The benefits to your business are significant - fill positions faster, gain loyal employees and build a culture of inclusion that benefits everyone - not just those with an arrest record. Our guest Ken Oliver, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Checkr and Executive Director of the Checkr Foundation, shares his wisdom and know-how around implementing fair chance hiring in the tech sector and beyond.

Blake Jones, co-founder of socially responsible business icon Namaste Solar, an employee-owned cooperative. Blake then went on to co-found Clean Energy Credit Union, which provides an alternative to banking with institutions that are using your deposits to fund oil pipelines.

One advantage of being a socially responsible business is having a compelling brand story, which leads to loyal employees, customers and community partners. Turn that loyalty into financial support that goes beyond sales - through crowdfunding. Crowdfunding was previously limited to soliciting donations, but thanks to recent changes in securities regulations, you can now raise equity in small amounts from a large group of people. Our guest Devin Thorpe, bestselling author and podcaster, will share the secrets of a successful crowdfunding campaign for your socially responsible business.

CEOs can set priorities and articulate company values, but it takes a team to translate those ideas into the day to day work of a company. Which means that you can’t be a socially responsible business if your team isn’t on board. Today we’ll talk with Michael Snyder, Operations Associate at a mission-driven company about how he lives into company values like partnership, humility, and nimbleness in everything from planning meetings and events to technology and physical office space.

“Socially Responsible Business” radio show, Episode 1: an introduction to the show and host Sharon Schneider, plus a conversation with guests Ken and Pam Cruse, the founders of Soul, Community Planet and pioneers of “holistic hospitality”

The core belief behind Socially Responsible Business - this show - is that you can actually be more successful - more profitable, more influential - as well as happier and more personally fulfilled - when you make choices that are not just good for you (the entrepreneur or business owner), but good for your employees, your vendors, your customers, your community and the environment.