Don’t Be an A**hole (with Marie Estrada)

Don’t Be an A**hole (with Marie Estrada)

Author: iHeartPodcasts May 6, 2021 Duration: 30:47

In a future where we depend increasingly on Amazon, the fates of many small businesses hang in the balance. In this episode, Baratunde learns about a new model to help local small businesses compete with the online ease of ordering from Amazon. He speaks with whiskey distiller Marie Estrada, a small business owner who has pushed through the hurdles of the pandemic, while giving back to the community in ways that corporate monopolies just don’t.

Guest: Marie Estrada - small business owner, distiller, motorcycle enthusiast

Instagram: @motospirits

Bio: Marie Estrada left a career in book publishing and in 2016 opened MÔTÔ Spirits distillery in Bushwick, Brooklyn with her business partner, Hagai Yardeny. Inspired by their travels, they specialize in rice whiskey and Jabuka, an invented spirit made from apples and rice. She lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.


SHOW NOTES + LINKS

Go to howtocitizen.com to sign up for show news, AND (coming soon!) to start your How to Citizen Practice.

Please show your support for the show in the form of a review and rating. It makes a huge difference with the algorithmic overlords!

We are grateful to Marie Estrada for joining us! Follow MÔTÔ Spirits at @motospirits on Instagram, or learn more about what Marie’s brewing at motospirits.com.


ACTIONS

PERSONALLY REFLECT 

How do you relate to local businesses?

What locally-owned businesses do you rely on? Do you know the owners? What do you most appreciate about the shop? What would you miss if it went out of business? Try following some of your favorite local businesses on social media - many have instagram accounts where you can reach out directly.


BECOME INFORMED

Know Why Small Business Matters

We often hear that it’s “good to support local, independent businesses,” but why? The Institute for Local Self Reliance answers that question in the article, “Why Care About Independent, Locally Owned Businesses?” If you want to do a deeper dive, go to bookshop.org/shop/howtocitizen to check out more titles on this topic.


PUBLICLY PARTICIPATE

Shop Local, Buy Direct

If you live in New York City, check out https://shopin.nyc/ - a new online service for residents to shop from small businesses in their area, not Amazon. Shop In NYC has plans to expand, so keep an eye out for one near you or reach out to them if you want to start a marketplace in your region. Meanwhile, the Shop app by Shopify can help you spot local businesses selling directly online. As always, when in doubt, order directly from the business that is providing the good or service you are buying. You get the same great product, and they get more of the revenue. 

 

If you take any of these actions, share that with us - action@howtocitizen.com. Mention Don’t Be an A**hole in the subject line. And share about your citizening on social media using #howtocitizen. 

Visit the show's homepage - www.howtocitizen.com - to sign up for news about the show, to learn about upcoming guests, live tapings, and more for your citizen journey.

Also sign up for Baratunde's weekly Recommentunde Newsletter and follow him on Instagram or join his Patreon. You can even text him, like right now at 202-894-8844.


CREDITS

How To Citizen with Baratunde is a production of iHeartRadio Podcasts and Dustlight Productions. Our Executive Producers are Baratunde Thurston, Elizabeth Stewart and Misha Euceph. Stephanie Cohn is our Senior Producer and Alie Kilts is our Producer. Kelly Prime is our Editor. Original Music by Andrew Eapen. Valentino Rivera is our Engineer. Sam Paulson is our Apprentice. This episode was produced and sound designed by Alie Kilts. Special thanks to Joelle Smith from iHeartRadio.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Finding your place in a world that often feels broken can be disorienting. How To Citizen with Baratunde, from iHeartPodcasts, tackles that confusion head-on by treating "citizen" not as a static label but as a series of actions we can all learn. This podcast moves beyond the headlines and the outrage to explore the tangible, often surprising ways we can participate in shaping our communities and systems. Each episode is a deep dive into the mechanics of collective power, featuring conversations that span society, culture, technology, and news. You'll hear from people who are actively redefining what it means to belong and contribute, offering practical insights that replace helplessness with agency. The discussions remind us that while voting is crucial, a functioning democracy requires much more from all of us. This isn't about abstract theory; it's about the real-world application of citizenship. Tune in for a thought-provoking and actionable guide to wielding your influence, discovering how to move from being overwhelmed to being effectively engaged. The entire premise of this podcast is built on the idea that we can learn to citizen better, together.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 69

How To Citizen with Baratunde
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