Erica Courdae joins Becky Mollenkamp for an eye-opening conversation on collective healing, interdependence, and the intersections of feminism. They dive into the difference between equity and equality, explore the power of shadow work for personal and collective liberation, and unpack the toxic culture of hyper-independence in society and business. Erica shares her journey from the beauty industry into coaching and DEI work, highlighting the importance of values-based leadership and the need to foster truly interdependent communities. Together, they challenge mainstream narratives, discuss the ongoing challenges of practicing imperfect allyship, and explore how individuals can cultivate intuition and connection as part of their leadership.

Erica Courdae Coté (she/her) is committed to shifting focus, power, and resources to support individual healing to foster a thriving community collective. She takes action through being an author coach, mentor, speaker, and 25+ year beauty industry veteran. Erica believes imperfect action is necessary as a pivotal part of evolution and growth. In 2018, Erica co-founded the Pause on the Play Podcast, which also expanded to include a consultancy. She has provided training for established businesses such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Martha Beck Incorporated, and Paul Mitchell School. Website | Instagram | Threads

Discussed in this Episode:

• The difference between equity and equality and why equity matters more in feminism
• Why interdependence is the future of sustainable communities and businesses
• The journey from hyper-independence to interdependence in life and work
• How shadow work can lead to personal and collective healing
• Feminism and intersectionality: why the personal is always political
• Erica’s transition from the beauty industry to DEI work and coaching
• The importance of values-based business and leadership
• Understanding intuition and its role in effective leadership
• The significance of collective action in social change

Resources Mentioned:

• “Who Are You? A Shadow Work Journal for Self-Exploration” by Erica Courdae: https://amzn.to/3ZOgkcW
• Pause on the Play: https://pauseontheplay.com/
• Erica’s free course: Shadow Work for Collective Healing: https://www.ericacourdae.com/shadowworkcourse
• From Implicit to Explicit workshop from Pause on the Play: https://pauseontheplay.com/explicit
• “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho: https://amzn.to/4dvVxha
• Backyard Basecamp: https://backyardbasecamp.org/

In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp interviews Sean Adams, founder of Drowned in Sound and music industry expert, to discuss the complexities of feminism in the music industry. They explore the challenges for female musicians, the barriers to equality in music, and how allyship plays a crucial role in creating ethical and empowering spaces. Sean shares his insights on toxic masculinity in music, the importance of safe spaces for women in live music, and what it means to promote an inclusive, values-driven business model in the music world. This conversation dives deep into how the music industry can better support marginalized artists, combat sexism and misogyny, and work towards equality in every facet of the industry.

Sean Adams (he/him) founded the music community and music publication Drowned in Sound in 2000. It grew to be a record label that launched the careers of artists such as Kaiser Chiefs and Bat for Lashes, as well as pioneering with an award-winning podcast back in 2005, developing groundbreaking playlist features, and launched spin-off websites like The Quietus. Alongside running the media organization, Sean has also managed various musicians including Charlotte Church, Ed Harcourt, and The Anchoress. Outside of music, he’s a member of The Movement Forward political group alongside the likes of Carol Vorderman and was the launch producer for The Trawl podcast hosted by Marina Purkiss & Jemma Forte.

Website | Instagram | Threads

Discussed in this Episode:

• The challenges facing female musicians and the barriers created by gender inequality
• How men can be better allies to women in the music industry
• The pervasive nature of toxic masculinity in music spaces
• Why supporting marginalized artists is crucial for creating equality in music
• Insights into promoting female artists and empowering women in music
• The importance of safe gigs for women and fostering safe spaces in live music settings
• Social responsibility in music and ethical music business practices
• Misogyny in live music and how the feminist music movement is pushing back

Resources Mentioned:

• Safe Gigs for Women
• Drowned in Sound

Nikki the Death Doula

In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp sits down with Allison Davis to explore how to do sales differently, centering ethics, empathy, and human connection. They discuss how traditional sales techniques, often dominated by white male voices, have perpetuated harmful practices, and how feminist business owners can shift to more values-aligned approaches. From compassionate sales tactics to consent-based selling, this conversation dives deep into how business owners can thrive while staying true to their principles. Whether you're navigating B2B sales strategies, focusing on service-based business growth, or just looking for more ethical sales techniques, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Allison Davis (she/her) is the founder of Sales Done Differently, a consultancy focused on founder-led sales. Drawing from her 20 years of sales experience at companies like National Geographic and Time Out North America, Allison helps her clients leverage their strengths into consistent revenue-generating systems. In the past year alone, Allison’s clients have sold millions of dollars in services to organizations like Charles Schwab, Gartner, Planned Parenthood, Levi’s, Hulu, ACLU and more.

Website | LinkedIn

Discussed in this episode:

• How to build sales strategies for small businesses without sacrificing values
• Ethical sales techniques that foster trust and long-term relationships
• Relationship-based sales as an antidote to high-pressure tactics
• Sales done differently: Approaches that challenge traditional norms
• The importance of a progressive sales approach in today’s market
• Feminist sales strategies that center the buyer’s humanity
• Sales coaching for women in service-based industries
• Why compassionate sales tactics lead to better outcomes
• Consent-based sales and its role in building customer trust
• The intersection of anti-capitalist values and sustainable business growth
• Transformational sales practices that foster authentic connections
• Tips for recovering from sales trauma and mindset coaching for resilience
• How values-based sales can transform your business model
• The role of empathy in sales, particularly in B2B environments
• Organic lead generation and sales without manipulation

Resources mentioned:

• Allison's monthly sales roundtable
• “Snap Selling” by Jill Konrath
• Animal Kind (Hudson, NY)