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

“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.

Check out the episode page for the transcript and the full list of the resources mentioned in this episode: https://widerroots.com/11

⭐ 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

• Bear Hebert, Radical Anti-Capitalist Business Coach
• Tad Hargrave, Marketing for Hippies
• Kelly Diels
• Hadassah Damien
• Alternate ROOTS
• Southerners on New Ground (SONG)
• "Hild" by Nicola Griffith (book)
• bell hooks (reference to "power over power under" concept)

🌲 Follow the podcast

• WiderRoots.com - Join the newsletter for more resources on personal and systemic transformation
• @WiderRootsPod - Follow the podcast on Instagram to get a peek behind the scenes
• Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts to help others find this show
• Connect with Jeremy on his coaching website

I’d love to hear how this episode resonated with you or any suggestions for future topics/guests. You can email me at podcast@widerroots.com.