Building a business that resists capitalism (w/ Bear Hebert)
August 13, 2024

Building a business that resists capitalism (w/ Bear Hebert)

Explore anti-capitalist business strategies with coach Bear Hebert. Learn ethical marketing, pricing, and policies for justice-oriented entrepreneurs.

“Reminding ourselves that, that commerce is not the same thing as capitalism. Buying and selling things is a really old thing that human beings have been doing for way longer than capitalism has existed.”   

Today's episode features anti-capitalist business coach Bear Hebert (they/them). We explore Bear's definition of capitalism as exploitation for profit and discuss principles for running an anti-capitalist business. We examine manipulative tactics often used by entrepreneurs and consider more justice-oriented alternatives.

Bear and I discuss the pressure to have an "ideal" business and how to align money-making with our values. With over 20 years in social justice work, Bear brings insights as both a radical business coach and educator, highlighting how capitalism intersects with white supremacy and patriarchy.

⭐ Key moments

  • 03:57 - How Bear got politicized

  • 10:11 - What makes us feel gross about marketing

  • 18:46 - Authentic alternatives to manipulative marketing tactics

  • 28:44 - Debunking the myth of the perfect dream job

  • 33:47 - Rethinking niching from an anti-capitalist lens

  • 36:15 - Business as a garden, not a machine

  • 43:37 - Key areas to integrate anti-capitalist values in your business

  • 47:58 - Aligning business policies with anti-capitalist principles

  • 52:18 - Bear's sources of nourishment

  • 56:51 - Closing

📚 Resources & Links

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I’d love to hear how this episode resonated with you or any suggestions for future topics/guests. You can email me at [email protected].