Making Good Money

Elina Ashimbayeva

A podcast about money transparency in purpose-driven businesses. Hosted by Elina Ashimbayeva, we explore how social entrepreneurs, ethical brands, and mission-driven organisations actually run: financially & operationally. If you're building (or dreaming of) a values-driven venture AND you are uncomfortable talking about money. This is your place! Join me as I ask founders: How much money do you make? What’s your business model? Can you build wealth for liberation without replicating capitalist systems (eeek)?

Episodes

  1. How to build in AI safety when you're 21 and still figuring it out with Breanna (Dakyum) Lee

    21 Jun

    How to build in AI safety when you're 21 and still figuring it out with Breanna (Dakyum) Lee

    Breanna Lee is 21, studying at Northwestern, whom I met through stalking (khm-khm doing research) on AI ethics. She interned with Tech Justice Law, researching algorithmic harm and gaps in Big Tech's trust and safety efforts. In our interview, we talk about Tedio, a book series and mobile app she set out to create to help parents raise kids who can consciously refuse fast dopamine. We talked about what it actually costs to pursue this kind of work - her parents' retirement savings in Korea going toward her American university degree, the cultural expectations around studying film and philosophy, how she funds Tedio, and the honest reality of trying to build a sustainable life in AI ethics. We also got into whether ethical social media is even possible, the tools that actually help you scroll less (it's not your willpower), and what it's like to do all of this and still feel like you're procrastinating. Ha! When I was in Chicago for one day, Breanna showed me the Bean, and we ate very disappointing deep-dish pizza. Shout out to cool 21-year-olds! Resources: Breanna’s LinkedInHer start-up, TedioCommon Sense Media, a child’s digital safety advocacy and education organisation Maka Kids, a streaming app for kids with no addictive algorithms Actions you can take around AI safety and ethics Tech Justice Law, an impact litigation and advocacy organization bringing justice to individuals and communities harmed by tech productsWatch the AI Doc or if you want to listen to an episode instead, listen to this with Tristan Harris One Sec, an app I use to help me block Instagram (and other apps) Hosted by Elina Ashimbayeva - follow me on my adventures with money and impact on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and Instagram Music by ⁠Mark Michele⁠ Edited by ⁠Jemilah Ross-Hayes

    1hr 19min
  2. When purpose stops paying the bills with Ashlyn Baum

    22 May

    When purpose stops paying the bills with Ashlyn Baum

    Ashlyn Baum spent five years bootstrapping a due diligence platform for NGOs and public sector organisations in New Zealand before moving back to the US, having a baby, and taking a tech job. We get into what happens when purposeful work stops providing the security you need, why people in the impact space have an allergic reaction to sales and fundraising, how AI is reshaping her thinking on money and career longevity, and what "success" actually means when you're caught between the corporate machine and the work that matters. Hosted by Elina Ashimbayeva - follow me on my adventures with money and impact on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and Instagram Here is Ashlyn's LinkedIn Music by ⁠Mark Michele⁠ Edited by ⁠Jemilah Ross-Hayes

    1hr 7min
  3. How to run (and close) a values-driven rental shop with James Dong

    5 May

    How to run (and close) a values-driven rental shop with James Dong

    James Dong was the first person I was suggested for this podcast. I read a 41-page doc on his approach to work & values and was like… umm… yes please, can we talk?! He studied at Berkley, consulted at Bain & Company, worked in early-stage nebulousness at a number of tech startups, and launched Last Minute Gear. Last Minute Gear was an outdoor gear rental shop. James has just closed it down after 10 years of operating, and this episode is all about that. We talk about the necessary switch from scale-everything to going-local-and-small. How much James paid himself, how he operated, what he learned about triple-bottom-line businesses, and whether ‘sustainable businesses’ even exist. James is incredibly thoughtful, and I can guarantee that he will make you reflect on how you live your life. Enjoy! ✨ Useful links and resources: James’ Approach to Work docHis LinkedIn@blackforager and the specific link about anti-trespass lawsThe study on food waste % in the US from USDAA great recent read on what's going on with Buy NothingTriple bottom line business explanationHosted by Elina Ashimbayeva - follow me on my adventures with money and impact on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and Instagram Music by ⁠Mark Michele⁠ Edited by ⁠Jemilah Ross-Hayes

    1hr 28min
  4. How to run an ethical real estate company in Brooklyn with Victoria (Hagman) Alexander

    24 Apr

    How to run an ethical real estate company in Brooklyn with Victoria (Hagman) Alexander

    I’ve been an avid goer to all the events NYC has to offer since moving here recently. I bumped into today’s guest, Victoria at two events, which, you know, feels like universal serendipity in a huge city. Victoria runs a bunch of hyperlocal ventures and initiatives around planning and historic preservation issues across Red Hook, Brooklyn. And she sustains herself by running a real estate company, Realty Collective. It feels like ethics and real estate do not belong in the same sentence but that’s why I wanted to interview Victoria! In a world of huge real estate conglomerates like Compass, how does one operate a small, local, community-connected business? Resilient Red Hook Realty Collective Hosted by Elina Ashimbayeva - follow me on my adventures with money and impact on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and Instagram Music by ⁠Mark Michele⁠ Edited by ⁠Jemilah Ross-Hayes

    1hr 8min
  5. How to sue your landlords and make your building rent-controlled? with Liv Malone

    9 Apr

    How to sue your landlords and make your building rent-controlled? with Liv Malone

    I met Liv in 2023 when we both came to NYC for a 6-week summer acting school. Years later, we reconnected, and I learned Liv is living this beautiful double (triple?) life. She's pursuing acting (I went to see her in this amazing Lesbian Bigfoot play, yes you heard that right). She's working a day job. And she's organizing to make the 72-unit apartment building where she lives in Jersey City rent-controlled — which means suing her landlords. We talked about what that process actually looks like, what it costs, how she supports herself through it all, and how she holds these three lives together. We disagree, we agree, we laugh — I feel like I got to know Liv better through recording this, so hope you enjoy a little sneak into our friendship! Find Liv's GoFundMe here and her IG here Hosted by Elina Ashimbayeva - follow me on my adventures with money and impact on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and Instagram Music by ⁠Mark Michele⁠ Edited by ⁠Jemilah Ross-Hayes

    1hr 18min
  6. How a small NYC accessibility consultancy runs with Thomas Logan

    9 Apr

    How a small NYC accessibility consultancy runs with Thomas Logan

    Thomas has been running Equal Entry, an accessibility consulting company, for 12 years. Twelve years of helping organizations make their apps and websites usable for the billion-plus people worldwide who experience disability. No big exit, no venture funding, no hockey stick growth - just a small team doing essential work that most of tech still ignores. (Fun fact: only 40% of the top 100 websites are actually accessible.) I met Thomas at his accessibility meetup in NYC, and then we went to a Heated Rivalry spin class together 😛 because that's how friendships start on this podcast. We got into the real stuff: how he runs the business, what it actually earns, how much he pays himself, and what 'contribution' means when your work matters but the market doesn't always reward it. Find Thomas's work here: a11y NYC meet up Equal EntryThomas Logan LinkedIn profile Hosted by Elina Ashimbayeva - message me on LinkedIn or check out Making Good Money on Instagram Music by Mark Michele Edited by Ethan Alderson-Hughes

    1hr 4min
  7. Welcome to Making Good Money!

    Trailer

    Welcome to Making Good Money!

    Baby I’m back! My name is Elina Ashimbayeva and this is Making Good Money. A podcast for people who run or want to run projects, organizations that are good for people and the planet AND who hate talking about money. We have so much great content where people break down how they built their businesses, what playbooks they use, how to make sales, marketing tips, growing your wealth. But what about us, artists, socially conscious entrepreneurs, activists, non-profits, usually broke, usually uncomfortable about money & the idea of business? I want to see how people build wealth for liberation. To quote Simone Grace Seol and Joey Liu: “We can’t do land back and healthcare for all on thoughts and prayers”. After running my Storyo platform for 5 years, where I interviewed over 200 people every day in New Zealand. Where the mission was always to share openly and vulnerably! Not thought leadership but personal experiences and learning together. This series is no different. I want to have transparent conversations with people who run tech for good projects, educational blogs, sex therapists, local grocers, artists and ask them all the vulnerable questions: How do you make money?What goes into running your business? Marketing? Sales?What values do you hold and where do they get shakyHow do we build wealth, not to become rich but to sustain ourselves and people around us?So if you are running or want to run your own project, organization that is value-led, mission-driven, tries to create good for the world AND you are like “how the heck do I and others navigate money conversations - join in!

    2 min

Trailer

About

A podcast about money transparency in purpose-driven businesses. Hosted by Elina Ashimbayeva, we explore how social entrepreneurs, ethical brands, and mission-driven organisations actually run: financially & operationally. If you're building (or dreaming of) a values-driven venture AND you are uncomfortable talking about money. This is your place! Join me as I ask founders: How much money do you make? What’s your business model? Can you build wealth for liberation without replicating capitalist systems (eeek)?

Information

  • Creator
    Elina Ashimbayeva
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Elina Ashimbayeva
  • Show Website
    Making Good Money

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