Sawyer CEO - Philanthropist Kurt Avery

Sawyer CEO - Philanthropist Kurt Avery

Author: Francis Tapon April 3, 2026 Duration: 31:40

Corporations are often seen as evil, selfish entities. We overlook that they allow billions of parents to feed, educate, and heal their kids. Jobs also generate taxes that allow governments to build roads, hospitals, and schools. Taxes fund welfare and protect national parks.

None of this would be possible (or at least easy) without corporations.

Don’t believe me? Consider humanity before corporations. Our global standard of living was far lower than today.

Still don’t believe me?

Listen or watch this episode with Sawyer CEO Kurt Avery.

https://youtu.be/yAzYx2psyXQ

Buy his book, Sawyer Think.

Timeline

00:00 Sawyer’s charitable actions

05:00 Sawyer Think book

10:00 Protecting Against Bugs

12:20 Origin Story

17:00 Burning off the COGs

19:00 The Why

20:30 Decision Matrix

22:55 Math Trap

27:10 Final Advice

If you’re a backpacker, you’ve heard of Sawyer & probably used their filters.

In this show, Kurt Avery explains what he’s been doing for decades through his company. It might surprise even the most cynical of you out there. It might give you a bit of hope for humanity, too.

If this episode inspires you, consider giving to the Sawyer Foundation.

Or, if you want a win-win, buy their Sawyer’s products online or at your local retailer. A portion of Sawyer’s profits always goes to charity.

Connect

Send me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTapon

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!

On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:

* Facebook

* X

* YouTube

* Instagram

* TikTok

* LinkedIn

* Pinterest

* Tumblr

Sponsors

1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon

2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!

3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K

4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.

5. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.

6. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!

7. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken.

8. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!

9. For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear



Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

There's a certain kind of travel that changes you, not just your location. It’s the slow, immersive kind where the journey itself becomes the teacher. In WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life, Francis Tapon acts as your guide into this world, exploring how leaving familiar ground can fundamentally reshape your perspective. This isn't about quick tips or itineraries; it's about the deeper conversations that happen at the crossroads of culture, society, and personal growth. Each episode delves into how we engage with places and people, often weaving in discussions about the role of modern technology in both enabling and complicating these profound experiences. You'll hear stories and insights that challenge the conventional tourist mindset, pushing toward a more thoughtful, engaged way of moving through the world. Francis draws from a wealth of experience to discuss concepts like vagabonding and deep travel, making the case that the greatest souvenirs aren't trinkets, but transformed thoughts. Tuning into this podcast feels like sitting down with a well-traveled friend who understands that the real destination is often a shift within yourself. It’s for anyone who believes that travel, at its best, is a powerful catalyst for learning and living differently.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life
Podcast Episodes
Derek Sivers On Things That Are 'Useful Not True' - Episode 1/3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:00
Video #1: What's Useful, Not True?This is episode 1 of 3 featuring Derek Sivers. Derek has accomplished numerous impressive feats. He founded CD Baby. In 2008, he sold CD Baby for $22 million and donated the proceeds to…
Plan B's Bitcoin Stock-To-Flow Model Will Die in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:34
Watch Video on YouTubeFive years ago, I predicted Plan B's Bitcoin stock-to-flow model (S2F) would fail in this decade because it had 8 flaws.During Bitcoin's spectacular 2022 crash, many analysts declared the S2F models…
I Speak 10 Languages on YouTube! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:57
I encourage you to watch this 3-minute podcast on YouTube.YouTube is now dubbing my English videos into 10 other languages:DutchFrenchGermanHindiIndonesianItalianJapaneseKoreanPolishPortugueseSpanishIn my "After the Spik…
Confusing Words: Liberal and Left/Right Politically [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:57
See 20 other misused terms or expressionsRather than a left/right political spectrum, I prefer the 5 categories in the pictured grid. Take the test to discover where you stand.The terms "left" and "right" on the politica…
"The Media" is More Diverse Than You Think [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:17
Do you know people who wail about "the media"? Whenever that happens, it's always an incomplete sentence. They should say, "The media I disagree with."Saying "the media" implies there is only one media or that they have…
Is It Good or Bad News If We Depopulate "After the Spike"? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:03
Simon & Schuster provided me with an advanced copy of the superb book After the Spike: Population, Progress, and the Case for People, scheduled for release on July 8, 2025.The University of Texas authors, Dean Spears and…
The Fastest Traveler Looks to the Future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:41
Michael Zervos is the fastest traveler ever!Watch the VideoNow that Michael Zervos has traveled to all the countries faster than anyone else, what's next for him? Additionally, what advice would he offer to anyone who wa…