More Than Work

This week’s guest is JJ Ramberg, entrepreneur, television host, podcast host, best selling author and mom.

She is the co-founder of Goodpods, a podcast player that is seeking to solve the podcast discovery problem by allowing users to follow friends and influencers. Shows they listen to display in follower’s feeds. The app has been awarded honors by both Fast Company and Inc.

JJ also founded two companies with a charity focus. Goodshop is a coupon site where users can find the best coupons online and choose to have a percentage of their purchase go to a cause or charity. And Dogdog.org is a search engine that donates money to dog shelters every time a visitor searches the site.

JJ became aware of companies giving back (The Body Shop and Ben and Jerry’s) when she was young. Her parents also were always giving back. It became a goal to start a socially responsible company.

Before Goodpods, JJ was a journalist hosting the MSNBC show “Your Business” which focused on the stories of entrepreneurs. She started out studying journalism and then went to business school. Throughout her career she went between working in journalism and startups even founding Goodshop just as she was starting her MSNBC show.

JJ is also the author of two books. It’s Your Business was written with producers from her MSNBC show and contains small business tips learned while making the the show. And, The Startup Club is a book for kids about entrepreneurship.

We also chatted about the impact JJ’s upbringing had on her as wet watched her parents both run their own companies. The ability to take a risk was engrained in her. Check out the episode for more!

Note from Rabiah (Host): This is a quick episode. JJ is super focused and it is no wonder why. She is a busy woman! It is impressive that she has built companies while pursuing a journalism career. One career is enough for a lot of people. But, also I loved talking to her for a moment about values and how hers to give back are part of her businesses. I’m also a user of her app and have felt the benefits of using it as it has helped me discover shows. Maybe you’ll listen to this episode on Goodpods!

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Find JJ Website: https://www.jjramberg.com/ Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/jjramberg/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jj.ramberg/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jj-ramberg-6b7976/

Goodpods: https://www.goodpods.com/

Goodshop: https://www.goodshop.com/

Dogdog: https://www.dogdog.org/

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Mentioned in this episode: The Body Shop: https://www.thebodyshop.com/

Ben and Jerry’s: https://www.benjerry.com/

Fast Company 10 most innovative social media companies of 2021: https://www.fastcompany.com/90600321/social-media-most-innovative-companies-2021 Inc magazine

Top 100 Female Founders 2020: https://www.inc.com/profile/jj-ramberg

Alyssa Milano: https://twitter.com/Alyssa_Milano

Kim Kardashian: https://twitter.com/KimKardashian

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

This week’s guest is Rebecca Gulka, Founder of Teaching with Class, an online English learning school, and amateur comic. Like the host of this podcast, she is an expat as a Canadian based in France.

Rebecca studied theatre as an undergraduate and then went into teaching English internationally. Before living in France, Rebecca taught English in Korea, Thailand, Russia, Haiti and China. She taught at a private school in France before making the decision to found her own school.

We talk about why she struck out on her own, many of which will resonate with educators or others in service occupations. Amongst those are teacher’s wages in France, freedom in curriculum to teach and location to work from. We also delve into the government’s role and responsibility for the education of children as well as the equity around technology in online learning.

For those who identify as workaholics or find themselves burning out, we also talk about the culture of glorifying busy-ness and overwork and how people are challenging it by looking at what is really important and focussing on that.

It isn’t all serious. We also talk about Rebecca’s comedy and comedy writing practice. Having her own business has allowed her carve out the time and space for herself to write and perform!

Note from Rabiah (Host): This was a particularly special chat because it was the first one that I have done in person since starting the podcast. It was a different editing challenge but really cool that the “studio” setup worked. I met Rebecca online in FB comedian groups on on the online circuit. Our chat extended beyond the podcast and we had some very good conversations around comedy, females in comedy and life in general. One of the positive things to come out of the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 was the opportunity to find connection with people online. When they then become in-person connections it is even better! I loved Rebecca’s insights and hearing about her experiences and am sure listeners will too.

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Find Rebecca Teaching With Class Website: www.teachingwithclass.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccateachingwithclass

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yesyoucanteachthat

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-gulka-128343195/

Comedy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.anne.comedy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca_anne_comedy

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Mentioned in this episode:

Odessa Series on The Daily: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000510748504

Sarah Robinson episode of More Than Work: https://www.rabiahsaid.com/podcast/s2e5-sarah-robinson

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

This week’s guest is Liz Benditt, founder of The Balm Box and part-time professor at the University of Kansas.

She earned her undergraduate degree in Broadcast Film Communications. Following school, Liz worked at Disney before pursing her MBA at to USC. During her career, she has worked for major retailers and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Four cancer diagnoses and recoveries over the course of 8 years launched her company. After receiving gifts that were well-intentioned but not useful, she wondered if other people felt the same. Though the idea came to Liz back in 2017 but it wasn’t until the pandemic that she had time to explore it. In 2020, The Balm Box launched. The unique site provides shoppers with practical gifting options for cancer patients.

Throughout her life Liz has also been involved in her community but in 2016, her political advocacy started after the election of Donald Trump. In 2017, in response to a school superintendent’s view of the safety pin movement, Liz and others founded Education First Shawnee Mission, and advocacy group for her local school district. She’ll also be on the board of the National Charity League.

Hear about where she found her positivity in adversity and more in this episode. She also shares advice on self-advocacy regarding health and otherwise.

Note from Rabiah (Host):

I say it a lot but I’m really fortunate to get the chance to speak with the people I do while creating More Than Work. Liz is an extraordinary woman. There are many gifting website that people can visit of course but not all have been created so thoughtfully. After seeing close friends and family go through cancer and thinking of what I could do to help, I can say a site like hers is invaluable. We chat about service and her community involvement politically and otherwise. We also delve into acknowledging our own privilege. Lastly, as someone who has had to advocate for my health, I am truly inspired by how she has fought so hard for hers. Liz is so honest and grounded and I hope you love listening as much as I did.

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Find Liz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBalmBox

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BalmBoxIG

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BoxBalm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/balm-box-llc/

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Mentioned in this episode:

Hallmark: https://www.hallmark.com/

National Charity League: https://www.nationalcharityleague.org/

Education First Shawnee Mission: https://educationfirstshawneemission.org/

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

Mentioned in this episode:

Tragic SCOTUS Ruling on Roe v Wade

Help those impacted by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. https://www.podvoices.help/speak-up

This week’s guest is Corey Spiegel, Founder and CEO of Lighthouse. Lighthouse is a diverse community of smart women who support one another through various groups and classes.

Light House was born out of Corey reaching a crossroads in her own career and really wanting a “board of directors” for her life when she was making a major decision. After considering close friends and family to advise, she realized that there was value in getting advice. Light House began as a place for women only but has recently expanded to include topics that are designed for men.

We talk about:

• Corey leaving her 25 year career as an entertainment and digital marketing executive to start her own company
• The importance of conversation in current times and the need to take responsibility for our words and actions with grace and patience to understand others
• Setting boundaries
• Transitioning her business from in-person only to online during COVID

And more!

Note from Rabiah (Host):

Corey touched on something very important in this episode which was connection and sharing of our stories. Both resonated with me A LOT. She has created a space for both that is really unique. We have a lot in common when it comes to that and it has manifested itself in different ways for us. I’m become more and more careful about who I personally hold space with and for and think we all deserve to be discerning about that. I hope you enjoy this episode!

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Find Corey

Website: https://www.findyourlighthouse.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findyour_lighthouse and https://www.instagram.com/findyourlhlite

Email: [email protected]

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

This week’s guest is Rock Felder, Co-founder and CFO of SquadCast. This is the second interview with a SquadCast founder. Zach Moreno was on the podcast previously so check that out too. Rock grew up in a family that included entrepreneurs. And, when it was time for him to go to college and go to work, he knew he had to be self-sufficient so he chose accounting as a career knowing it was a job that paid well and was always needed. Being a CPA allowed him to work in many industries (agriculture, construction, banking) and laid the foundation for him understanding business from the views of various departments.

Having always wanted to do his own thing and start a business, it was a no-brainer when he was approached by Zach regarding the idea for SquadCast. A wonderful business partnership was born. Anyone who has started a business or is thinking of starting a business will want to hear Rock’s decision to commit to doing that himself as well as how he works with his partner.

Rock is very passionate about his work and helping people solving their problems. In addition to caring about customers, he also cares about those he works with. Trust is a key value of his and we chatted about how that looks at SquadCast. We also chatted about hiring new people onto a team and what happiness at work means.

Rock isn’t all work and no play. For him, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an activity he enjoys for physical fitness. But it also has the benefit of mentally giving him a chance to escape from the work and personal things for a while. He can just focus on the activity. We talk through what a typical class looks like too!

Note from Rabiah (Host): Firstly, I’m so glad I chose SquadCast as my recording platform when I started the podcast. There is an amazing community of podcasters that they have created with their community manager Arielle Nissenblatt at the helm. This chat with Rock was a lot of fun. I say fun a lot with the podcast but I do have fun and learn a ton. I’m so happy to bring this to listeners as he is so positive but also real and I appreciate people who are both. I also am now intrigued by jiu jitsu though honestly sometimes I feel like walking down the street is enough of a physical challenge! What I hope people get out of this episode is what Rock says about trust at work and happiness at work. But also, anything else they get is great too! Don’t forget to leave a review and share if you know someone who will want to hear this too! +++++ Find Rock Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/rockwellfelder LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockwell-felder-cpa/ Squadcast: https://squadcast.fm/?ref=rabiahcoon Between Two Mics: https://pod.link/1450592076

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Mentioned in this episode: Zach Moreno Episode: https://www.rabiahsaid.com/podcast/s5e4-zach-moreno Freakonmics podcast: https://freakonomics.com/podcasts/ Huberman Lab: https://hubermanlab.com/ Acquired podcast: https://www.acquired.fm/ Arielle Nissenblatt on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arithisandthat

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!