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April 21, 2025 112 mins
On this episode of the Swell Season Surf Podcast, we do a deep dive with journalist and podcaster Matt Barr to explore the implications of Patagonia founder Yvonne Chouinard's groundbreaking decision to transfer ownership of the company to entities that prioritize the environment. Matt discusses his three-part podcast documentary series 'The Announcement,' which provides a comprehensive investigation into this transformative corporate model. The conversation tackles whether capitalism can truly be a force for good, the scrutiny faced by Patagonia, and the broader implications for the future of capitalism and sustainability. Tune in to gain valuable insights from Matt Barr's journey, learn about the challenges and benefits of the B Corp status, and understand the critical questions we need to ask about corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship.

To Find out more about the Looking Sideways Podcast, go do yourself a favor and check out his substack: https://www.wearelookingsideways.com/

To follow Matt Barr  on Instagram go to @welooksideways

The Swell Season Surf Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. 

For more information, you can follow @swellseasonsurfradio on Instagram or go to our website: www.swellseasonsurf.com 

Music:
Artist: The Smiths
Song: Oscillate Wildly
Album: Louder Than Bombs


00:00 Introduction to the Swell Season Surf Podcast
01:36 Patagonia's Revolutionary Corporate Model
02:27 Matt Barr's Investigative Podcast Series
03:23 Interview with Matt Barr Begins
03:49 Philanthropy and Corporate Responsibility
09:16 The B Corp Certification Debate
15:19 Patagonia's Unique Ownership Structure
29:37 Employee Ownership vs. Traditional Models
41:57 Discussing Taxing the Rich and Patagonia's Stance
43:17 The Complexity of Yvon Chouinard's Image
45:26 Activism and the Need for Stronger Actions
46:39 Debating Wealth Tax and Public Perception
49:04 Patagonia's Environmental Messaging and Accountability
51:47 Evaluating Patagonia's Long-Term Impact
01:00:26 Exploring New Economic Models
01:18:47 The Role of Leadership in Social Movements
01:21:36 Discussing Immigration Challenges
01:22:18 Plans for Future Travels
01:23:51 The Journey of Creating a Documentary
01:26:09 Family Influence and Support
01:28:01 Collaborating with Friends and Experts
01:31:34 Refining the Project
01:38:32 Exploring New Documentary Ideas
01:44:14 Feedback and Future Plans
01:48:30 Shameless Plug and Final Thoughts


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season-surf-radio--3483504/support.
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