FAIR Talks Podcast

All Treats, No Tricks: Tony’s Chocolonely’s Mission to Transform the Chocolate Industry | Tony’s Chocolonely

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.
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Bringing the Ocean to the Starfish: How to Create a Thriving Enterprise for Survivors | Starfish Project

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.
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Keeping the ‘Art’ in Artisan: Elevating Craftsmanship in Fair Trade Products | Matr Boomie

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.

Who Benefits from Fair Trade? A Day in the Life Episode | Impactful Missions

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.

Investing Forward Using Traditional African Values and Fair Trade Practices | Alaffia

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.

Get to Know Us! A Fireside Chat with Fair Trade LA Board Members

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.

How Fair Trade Fights Economic Hardship and Fosters Abundance | GOEX Apparel

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.

One Stop Swap: How Sharing Clothing Supports a Circular Fashion Future | Swap Society

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. 
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How Fair Trade Flowers Bring More Power to Workers | Florecal

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.

Relationships Built on Trust: Empowering Women Through Fair Trade | Fair Anita

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.