Building a Business Without Social Media: Values-Driven Visibility with Amelia Hruby

In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp sits down with Amelia Hruby, feminist philosopher, podcaster, and founder of Softer Sounds, to discuss the radical act of leaving social media and building values-aligned businesses. Amelia shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship, how she created a feminist podcast studio, and the intentionality behind slowing down and prioritizing a human-first approach to work. Together, they dive into the challenges of resisting hustle culture, the ethics of using platforms like Substack, and the power of cultivating community outside of algorithm-driven spaces. Whether you're contemplating leaving social media or seeking inspiration for running a feminist business, this episode is full of practical insights and heartfelt wisdom.

Amelia Hruby (she/her) is a writer, educator and podcaster with a PhD in philosophy. She is the founder of Softer Sounds, a feminist podcast studio for entrepreneurs and creatives. And she’s the host of Off the Grid, a podcast about leaving social media without losing all your clients.

Amelia’s Website | Softer Sounds | Off the Grid | Book

Discussed in This Episode:

• What it means to run a feminist podcast studio
• The challenges and fears of leaving social media as a business owner
• Practical alternatives to social media marketing
• How intentionality can disrupt hustle culture and create space for alignment
• The design and philosophy behind Softer Sounds and Off the Grid
• Why intersectional feminism is at the heart of ethical business practices
• Strategies for visibility without social media
• Balancing creativity, community, and profitability as a service provider

Resources Mentioned:

• Amelia’s dissertation
• “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism” by Shoshana Zuboff
• Worthwhile Paper
• Feminist Business School from Sister.is
• “50 Feminist Mantras” by Amelia Hruby
• Designer Kening Zhu
• adrienne maree brown’s Loving Corrections
• Black and Pink PenPals
• Amelia’s Arena boards (from bonus conversation for newsletter subscribers)

If you’ve been grappling with how to align your business with your values or wondering whether leaving social media could work for you, this episode is a must-listen!