In this episode of Beyond the B, co-hosts Ryan Honeyman and Emmy Allison explore the recent decision by Dr. Bronner’s to decertify as a B Corporation. Ryan kicks off the episode with a monologue offering both a generous interpretation of the decision and constructive feedback on how the announcement could have been handled differently.

Then, Emmy and Ryan are joined by Farmer Cee (Clarenda Stanley), CEO of Green Heffa Farms and a leader in the B Corp community. As a Black woman in regenerative agriculture, a small business owner, and the first company to go through the B Lab Level program, Farmer Cee shares her candid reaction to Dr. Bronner’s decision. She discusses the implications for small and historically excluded businesses, the importance of maintaining rigorous yet accessible standards, and the broader impact on the B Corp community.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/dr-bronners-decertifies-as-a-b-corp

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We are sharing this crossover episode from Next Economy Now, our other LIFT podcast highlighting the leaders who that are taking a regenerative, bio-regional, democratic, equitable, racially-just, and whole-systems approach to creating the new economy. Check out all episodes here lifteconomy.com/podcast.

How can we move beyond shame and blame to foster collaboration in addressing climate challenges? In this episode, Jenny Morgan, climate strategist and author of Cancel Culture in Climate, discusses the intersection of B Corps, cancel culture, regenerative economics, and sustainable business practices.

For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/jenny-morgan/

Our newest session of the Next Economy MBA begins March 25th – join us! This nine-month learning journey is designed to provide emerging leaders of the Next Economy with the skills they need to help their organizations thrive.

Learn more and sign up for a free intro with one of our facilitators: https://www.lifteconomy.com/mba.

Special Offer for BtB Listeners: Use code PODCASTMBA to save 10% on tuition.

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We want to hear from you! Email us at beyond@lifteconomy.com with requests for content, suggestions for future guests, and feedback about our episodes.

In this mailbag episode, we give an update on Beyond the B listener stats, answer your questions about the new B Corp standards, share the latest updates from B Lab, and explain how you can already begin to make progress on the new B Corp standards--before their official release!

View the show notes. https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/make-progress-on-the-new-b-corp-standards-today

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In this episode, Vincent Stanley, longtime Patagonia executive and co-author of The Responsible Company, describes how his company first found out about B Corps, why Patagonia didn't initially join the community, and his thoughts on the arc of the B Corp movement to date. Vincent also highlights the challenges of balancing urgency with patience, fostering localism, and building a business that prioritizes environmental and social impact.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/vincent-stanley-patagonia-b-corps

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We want to hear from you! Email us at beyond@lifteconomy.com with requests for content, suggestions for future guests, and feedback about our episodes.

In Part 2, Kevin Bayuk from LIFT Economy returns to continue our discussion about what it could look like to go "beyond B Corp." We explore this topic through the second half of the 10 Principles of Next Economy enterprises, which include:

• 6) Open source and regionally replicable
• 7) Transparent
• 8) Regenerative operations
• 9) Supports movement building for broader systems change
• 10) Supports personal growth and development

Whether you’re a dedicated B Corp advocate or simply curious about the Next Economy, this conversation will inspire you to reimagine the role of business in driving systemic change.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corps-10-principles-of-next-economy-enterprises-part-2-kevin-bayuk

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What does it mean to go “beyond B Corp”? LIFT Economy’s Kevin Bayuk explores this question through the lens of the 10 Principles of Next Economy enterprises. In this episode, we go through the first 5 principles:

• 1) Need-oriented, basic goods and services
• 2) Inclusive ownership
• 3) Equitable and democratic culture
• 4) Supports local economy ecosystem
• 5) Education embedded into the good or service

This conversation offers a powerful roadmap for B Corps striving to create a regenerative and just future. Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon!

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corps-10-principles-of-next-economy-enterprises-part-1-kevin-bayuk

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In this episode, we take a deep dive into the history and evolution of one of the most obscure, fascinating, and constantly evolving aspects of the B Corp movement--the B Corp verification process. We are joined by Kali Gibson, former Co-Director of Certification and Verification for B Lab Global, who shares her firsthand experience of scaling the process, tackling the pandemic backlog, and balancing the growing demand for certification with limited resources.

View the Show Notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corp-verification-process

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Are any of your clients involved in controversial industries? Tune in to learn more about B Lab's new framework ("Companies with Clients in Controversial Industries") for assessing the nature of your company's involvement with the client, the difference between controversial vs. ineligible industries, and whether you will need to meet additional requirements in order to be eligible for B Corp certification.

View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/can-your-clients-jeopardize-your-b-corp-certification

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We want to hear from you! Email us at beyond@lifteconomy.com with requests for content, suggestions for future guests, and feedback about our episodes.