What if we could reimagine our economy to prioritize wellbeing over endless growth? In this episode, Jess Rimington, author of "Beloved Economies: Transforming How We Work," joins us to explore how businesses can break free from extractive capitalism and create workplaces that actually support human flourishing.

After both experiencing severe burnout from traditional workplace structures, Jess and her co-author spent eight years following 60 enterprises that were sharing power in unique ways. What they discovered challenges everything we've been taught about business success. In this conversation, we explore:

The 7 practices of beloved economies, including shared decision-making, prioritizing relationships, and reckoning with history

Why capitalism requires constant extraction and how that affects our collective wellbeing

Alternative funding models like reparative capital and patient capital

How venture capital keeps founders trapped in scarcity mindset

Why only 2% of VC funding goes to women and 1% to people of color

The connection between economic democracy and political democracy

Practical ways to organize collectively during uncertain times

How to build businesses that align with your values without burning out

Jess offers a refreshing perspective: we don't need to figure out the perfect economic system before we start making changes. The beloved economy we want is already being created by businesses and entrepreneurs who are choosing to operate differently right now.

Whether you're a startup founder questioning the traditional VC path, an employee wondering if work has to feel extractive, or simply someone seeking hope for a more humane economic future, this conversation offers both inspiration and actionable pathways forward.

Key Takeaways:

Business can exist outside of capitalism - we just aren't taught that our MBA programs teach ideology, not universal truth

Values aren't aspirational statements; they're reflected in what you actually prioritize

Sharing power isn't zero-sum - it actually replicates and creates more for everyone

The companies pioneering new economic models already exist; we just need to amplify them

Resources Mentioned:

Ernst Gotsch, Farmer in South America

"Beloved Economies" by Jess Rimington and Joanna Levitt Gutin

"Believe in You Money" by Jess Norwood (Runway/reparative capital)

Acumen Fund and patient capital models

Working Families Party, Indivisible, Movement Voter Project

Join us for this vital conversation about building an economy that can actually love us back.

Jess Rimington is a next-economy strategist, practitioner, and scholar focused on supporting businesses and organizations to step out of extractive economic practices. She is co-author of Beloved Economies: Transforming How We Work –winner of the Porchlight’s Business Book Award in Management & Workplace Culture. She was co-director of the Beloved Economies research initiative from 2015-2022.

You can follow her at @jessrimington or at belovedeconomies.com

You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett

Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or advice.

In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Jane Chen, co-founder of Embrace Global and author of Like a Wave We Break, shares her transformative journey from celebrated social entrepreneur to burned-out founder, and ultimately to healed leader. After 10 years building Embrace, a revolutionary infant incubator that has saved nearly 1 million babies, Jane faced the collapse of an acquisition deal and had to shut down her company. What followed was a profound healing journey across Indonesia and beyond, working with trauma experts like Bessel van der Kolk, exploring psychedelic therapy, and ultimately discovering that the answers she sought externally could only come from within. What You'll Learn:

Wounded vs. Healthy Ambition: How childhood trauma can fuel achievement while leading to burnout

The Truth About Startup Success: Why external validation never fills the internal void

Healing Modalities That Work: From somatic therapy to psychedelics to parts work (IFS)

Leadership and Inner Work: Creating psychological safety starts with doing your own healing

Redefining Resilience: Why softness and self-compassion are more powerful than pushing through

Key Topics Covered:

Entrepreneurial burnout and trauma responses

The role of childhood experiences in driving achievement

Social entrepreneurship challenges and funding gaps

Healing from imposter syndrome and self-doubt

The science of trauma and nervous system regulation

Finding identity beyond work and accomplishments

Sustainable leadership practices

The power of vulnerability in leadership

Perfect for: Entrepreneurs, founders, social impact leaders, high achievers struggling with burnout, anyone on a healing journey, and those interested in conscious leadership and personal development.

Resources Mentioned:

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership

Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy

Jane Chen is a globally recognized entrepreneur, inventor, and speaker. She is the co-founder of Embrace Global, which developed a groundbreaking infant incubator that has helped to save nearly a million babies. She has been a TED Fellow, an Echoing Green Fellow, and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. Jane was recognized asaForbes Impact 30 andSchwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the World Economic Forum and was a recipient of the Economist Innovation Award. She received her MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and her Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

You can follow her at @janemarie.chen and buy Like A Wave We Break at any bookstore

You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett

Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions for advice.

Join host Denise Love Hewett for an inspiring conversation with Jayce Baron, a screenwriter, director, Emmy-winning documentary producer, and former elected official who's making waves in entertainment, advocacy, and policy. In this episode, discover:

How Jayce built a successful PR company at 23 with no New York experience

The power of rejection as redirection in creative careers

Why timing matters more than talent when launching creative projects

Navigating feast-and-famine cycles as a creative professional

Step-by-step guide to getting started in local policy advocacy

How to identify the right elected officials and their teams to contact

The surprising impact of "unglamorous" policy issues (like leaf blower regulations)

Why consistency matters more than one-time testimony at city council meetings

The difference between working inside vs. outside the political machine

When to let go of collaborators and business partners (and how to know)

The art of surrendering control while staying grounded in survival needs

How creative thinking applies to policy work and vice versa

Jayce Baron is an Afro-Latinx, globally recognized, award-winning screenwriter, author, executive producer, director, political figure, and advocate for the Black and Brown LGBTQ+ community. As the founder of jBaron Creative House, Jayce has consistently demonstrated a passion for fostering conscious conversations within the community through various creative and impactful mediums. For over a decade, Jayce has seamlessly merged his entertainment career with his commitment to social justice. He contributes to platforms like NBC and hosts a globally recognized independent podcast with over half a million streams across more than 50 countries. In early 2022, Jayce executive produced and directed the groundbreaking documentary Beyond Ed Buck alongside Emmy Award-winning Pose star Hailie Sahar. Jayce’s advocacy has been widely recognized. In 2016, he was invited to Capitol Hill to raise awareness about sexual assault and played a pivotal role in the passage of SB 813, a California law revoking the statute of limitations on rape charges. That same year, he was honored as one of 16 Heroes alongside Joe Biden, Ashley Judd, and other national leaders. In December 2023, Jayce began his journey as a former elected official when he was unanimously elected to his Neighborhood Council in Los Angeles, where he served as chairs the Homeless & Social Justice Advocacy Committee and as member of the Government Relations Committee before resigning in 2025. Additionally, he was appointed to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Latine Advisory Board and served with the DA until the November 2024 election, furthering his commitment to addressing critical issues affecting marginalized communities.

You can follow him at @jaycebaron

You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett

Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions for advice.

Featured Topics: LGBTQ+ advocacy, documentary filmmaking, Beyond Ed Buck, neighborhood council experience, SB 813 sexual assault legislation, marriage equality messaging, connecting with nonprofits, labor unions, environmental policy

Perfect for: Creative professionals, aspiring activists, policy advocates, entrepreneurs, anyone seeking to merge creativity with social impact

Keywords: policy advocacy, creative career advice, LGBTQ activism, documentary filmmaking, local government, city council, social justice, career pivots, entrepreneurship, Los Angeles politics, legislative change, nonprofit work, community organizing