In this episode of the Black History Month Series, Luis and Catherine chat with fellow BBB colleagues in Kansas City and Atlanta to unpack the history of African-American owned businesses, the impact they have on the marketplace, and how consumers can support Black-owned businesses year-round.

In this episode of the Black History Month Series, Luis and Catherine chat with a representative of the oldest African American owned bank in North Carolina. James Sillis, CEO of M&F Bank, located in Durham, NC, shares the history of this iconic business and how it has shaped our local marketplace for both business owners and consumers.

Looking for a Valentine? Beware of scammers seeking to steal more than your heart online! In this episode Luis and Catherine share consumer resources to avoid romance scams that attempt to break the bank in addition to your heart.  For additonal information, visit bbb.org.

In this final episode of the Consumer Conscious Series, Luis and Catherine chat with Steve Weathers, President and CEO of the Greenville-ENC Alliance, about the importance of supporting local businesses. Listen in to find out why North Carolina was ranked the third best region to do business nationwide and how you can contribute to our local economy as both a business owner and consumer. 

Did you know only 10% of recyclables actually end up being recycled? This shows how unreliable our recycling efforts are, and with over 50 billion pounds of plastics dumped into our waterways and ecosystems each year, this is creating a major environmental impact. In this episode, Luis and Catherine chat with Alan Riggs (CFO), Alex Henson(COO), and Jonathan Aguilar (CEO) from R.A.W. Plastics (Restoring Another Waterway) located in Greenville, NC. "We’re going to pay for plastic pollution no matter what - so we either pay now with time and money, or we’re going to pay for it later with our health and livelihood." Listen in to learn how you can be a more conscious consumer when it comes to our local ecosystem, including:  How to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Practical steps you can take daily to make a real difference. How consumers and businesses can be more mindful of their waste.

Do you know where your food comes from?  Each day we become less and less connected with our food source, which is dangerous territory. In this epsiode, Luis and Catherine interview Will Kornegay of Ripe Revival Market, a Greenville-based business that specializes in locally sourced fresh food boxes for their customers. They even donate excess food to those in need around them. Listen in to learn: the physical, mental, and economic benefits of knowing where your food comes from, tips to identifying and becoming closer to your food source, and the impacts COVID has had on the food supply chain. Interested in learning more about Ripe Revival Market? Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Being a conscious consumer includes being mindful of your mental and physical health, which is what Pantea Dougani of Excel Body Fitness and Stephanie Phillips of The Mindly Group help unpack in this episode. Listen in to learn easy tips for prioritizing your mental and physical health. 

THIS IS YOUR YEAR! Luis and Catherine are challenging their listeners to take the reins and become more intentional in the marketplace this year. That’s why they’re dedicating the next few weeks to a Consumer Conscience Series. Do you know where your food/ products come from?   Do you know the impact your choices have on the environment?   When was the last time you purposefully supported a local business? Take the reins and become more intentional in the marketplace. Be on the lookout for future episodes in this series, including:  Owning Your Mental & Physical Health In 2021 (ft. Pantea Dougani + Stephanie Phillips) Connecting Consumers To Their Food (ft. Ripe Revival Market) Limiting Human Environmental Impacts (ft. R.A.W. Plastics) Intentionally Shopping Local (ft. Steve Weathers)

In this final episode of 2020, Luis and Catherine round out their Thankfulf for series by sharing traditions, both old and new, that they’re thankful for. Of course, their favorite new tradition from 2020 is the Brunch with BBB podcast.  Since launching in March 2020, the podcast has grown to include local and international listeners.. Enjoy the final weeks of 2020, and be on the lookout for Luis and Catherine to make their return after the new year.

What’s your definition of integrity?  In this episode, Luis and Catherine chat with Charlie Bradley of The Brian Hamilton Foundation and April Bond, a graduate of their Inmates to Entrepreneurs program.  Listen in to find out what integrity means to them, how it has impacted their lives, and influenced the work they’re doing.