Best Workercooperative Podcasts (2025)

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Higher Education Labor United (HELU) Rises 33:39

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13h ago33:39

33:39

On this week’s episode of Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on the Vermont Public Employers who got the contractual right to act with pay to "defend democracy," Tesla’s board offers Musk a $1 trillion CEO pay package, Trump and top corporate executives merge at Intel and other hi-tech corporations, quite like the mergers in Nazi Ger…

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The Fight Against Money Corrupting Politics 32:10

8d ago32:10

32:10

This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on Bernie-endorsed Independent U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner in Maine, the latest Gallup poll showing that 68% Americans are pro-union, more than 97% of park workers at Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon parks vote to unionize, ICE has so far deported half a million, while DOGE …

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An Argument for A New Labor Party 30:57

12d ago30:57

30:57

The left-wing surge of the U.S. working class during the Great Depression of the 1930s compelled the Democratic Party to prioritize serving the working class more than it had before or would again. It was called the New Deal. In response, the US employer class, angry that taxes on corporations and the rich were used to fund government programs for …

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Purpose Trusts and EOTs: Expanding the Ownership Conversation 46:32

20d ago46:32

46:32

SUMMARY: In this episode of Owners at Work, we sit down with Zoe Schlag of Common Trust and Mark Hand of the Purpose Trust Ownership Network (PTON) to explore the growing momentum behind Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) in the U.S. Zoe shares her journey from early-stage and impact investing to co-founding Common Trust, an organization dedicated to…

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Social Problems Require Social Movement Solutions 31:12

23d ago31:12

31:12

Economic Update returns this week with an all-new episode of updates by Professor Wolff on: Trump ending Housing First Spain exploring the possibility of a wealth tax Trump busting unions within government agencies Protecting yourself in a declining capitalistic system France's upcoming Sept. 10th mass movement against Macron's government Air Canad…

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Government Deficits; Why They Happen, Who Benefits From Them, and MMT 34:32

1M ago34:32

34:32

Economic Update returns next week to its regular schedule! This week's episode was recorded in June this year and covers topics our viewers have written to us and requested. Professor Wolff explains what deficits are and why the capitalist system enables and invites employers to cause them. He then proceeds to explain how deficits both solve specif…

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Making It Work: How Apis & Heritage Is Closing the Capital Gap in EO Transitions 58:57

2M ago58:57

58:57

SUMMARY: In this episode of Owners at Work, we sit down with Todd Leverette and Kyle Chin-How of Apis & Heritage Capital Partners (A&H)—the 2025 recipient of the John Logue Award in Employee Ownership, which we present annually to organizations making a lasting and transformative impact in the field. A&H is a mission-driven investment firm focused …

1
How Expanding ESOPs Plans to Unlock Trillions in Wealth for Workers 36:34

5M ago36:34

36:34

Guests: Danny Massey, Head of Strategy and Communications at Expanding ESOPs SUMMARY: In this episode of the Owners at Work podcast, we speak with Danny from Expanding ESOPs, a new national initiative focused on dramatically scaling employee ownership through policy change and public advocacy. Danny shares his journey from labor journalism and the …

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Building Employee Ownership Collaboration 33:47

7M ago33:47

33:47

SUMMARY: In this episode Chris Cooper sits down with Jim O’Brien founder and current President of Go2Partners, a 100% ESOP Company. We talk about the interesting way in which Go2Partners was founded and funded by the employees themselves, why employee ownership was an attractive choice for him and the founders of the company, and how becoming emplo…

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How Direct Employee Ownership Created the Right Succession Plan, and Company Culture, at Cargas 49:00

1y ago49:00

49:00

SUMMARY: One of the exciting happenings in the world of employee ownership today is the proliferation of different models and methods for bringing employees into the ownership of a company. In this episode we discuss the Direct Stock Ownership model that Chip Cargas, Founder of Cargas Systems, implemented at his company. We also discussed where the…

1
The State of Sector: Worker Cooperatives 51:06

1y ago51:06

51:06

Guests: Olga Prushinskaya and Jamie Pockrandt, Democracy at Work Institute Summary: The second most common form of employee ownership in the United States is the worker cooperative where workers participate in both the financial success and governance of the firms. Today there are over 750 worker cooperatives in the United States, which is triple t…

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Measuring the Impact of Employee Ownership in the United Kingdom 55:26

1y ago55:26

55:26

Guest: Campbell McDonald, Ownership Works SUMMARY: Much of the work for raising awareness and advocating for supportive policies for further expansion relies on data collection. When making the case for employee ownership, it is one thing to say that, in theory, employee ownership can benefit workers, companies, and communities. It is quite another…

1
Gina Schaefer on The Power of Telling Your Story 31:38

1+ y ago31:38

31:38

Guest: Gina Schaefer SUMMARY: For 38 years, the OEOC has gathered hundreds of people from across the employee ownership community at our Annual Conference and every year, we invite a keynote speaker to address those in attendance. This year, we invited Gina Schaefer, the founder, CEO, and selling owner of A Few Cool Hardware Stores, which became 10…

1
Employee Ownership in the Americas: A Path to Shared Prosperity 35:12

1+ y ago35:12

35:12

SUMMARY: When we think about expanding awareness about employee ownership, we often think of the United States and how much more work we have to do. However, the movement to expand the prevalence and awareness of employee ownership goes well beyond US borders. In this episode, we highlight an international example of this effort. We speak with Rodr…

1
The European ESOP – A New Model of Employee Ownership 57:33

1+ y ago57:33

57:33

SUMMARY: When we look into the field of employee ownership three major models come to mind, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), worker cooperatives, and employee-owned trusts. But practitioners are always looking to improve existing models and in some rare cases develop new ones. In this first episode of season five we speak with David Ellerman…

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Project Equity’s Reflections on the Kendeda Fund’s Big Bet Grant 22:40

2y ago22:40

22:40

SUMMARY Back in 2018 the Kendeda Fund, a philanthropic foundation based in Atlanta, decided to make a series of big bets in areas that were both critical and timely. One of those areas was employee ownership and the investment made by Kendeda was historic. Over 5 years a total of $24 million dollars was provided to 4 employee owner support organiza…

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Nexus Community Partner’s Reflections on the Kendeda Fund’s Big Bet Grant 24:45

2y ago24:45

24:45

SUMMARY Back in 2018 the Kendeda Fund, a philanthropic foundation based in Atlanta, decided to make a series of big bets in areas that were both critical and timely. One of those areas was employee ownership and the investment made by Kendeda was historic. Over 5 years a total of $24 million dollars was provided to 4 employee owner support organiza…

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The Fund for Employee Ownership’s Reflections on the Kendeda Fund’s Big Bet Grant 17:01

2y ago17:01

17:01

SUMMARY Back in 2018 the Kendeda Fund, a philanthropic foundation based in Atlanta, decided to make a series of big bets in areas that were both critical and timely. One of those areas was employee ownership and the investment made by Kendeda was historic. Over 5 years a total of $24 million dollars was provided to 4 employee owner support organiza…

1
ICA Group’s Reflections on the Kendeda Fund’s Big Bet Grant 30:02

2y ago30:02

30:02

SUMMARY Back in 2018 the Kendeda Fund, a philanthropic foundation based in Atlanta, decided to make a series of big bets in areas that were both critical and timely. One of those areas was employee ownership and the investment made by Kendeda was historic. Over 5 years a total of $24 million dollars was provided to 4 employee owner support organiza…

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Cooperatives at Work with George Cheney 59:46

2y ago59:46

59:46

SUMMARY: For too long, cooperatives have been cast to the margins of our economy and discussions around economic development and community building. Yet, there are numerous examples throughout the US and across the globe demonstrating how cooperatives serve as a viable organizational form, allowing individuals and communities to achieve their econo…

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Unpacking the Meanings of Ownership 52:45

2+ y ago52:45

52:45

SUMMARY: If one thing is true, its that the word ownership has baggage – every person has a different conception of what it means. In this episode we speak with Chris Mackin, who has worked in the employee ownership community for decades, to talk about a recent article he published on the multiple meanings of ownership. We discuss how being aware o…

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Preparing to Sell Your Company – What You Need to Know 33:28

2+ y ago33:28

33:28

SUMMARY: In this episode Chris Cooper speaks with Eric Zaleski and Michael Rosendahl of PCE Investment Bankers, about what business owners should be thinking about, and doing, to prepare for a business succession. In many cases, business owners see succession planning as something that will take place far off in the future, as something that can wa…

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Economic Outlook and What it Means for Company Valuations 23:02

2+ y ago23:02

23:02

Guest: Eric Flickinger and Matt Silla SUMMARY: In this episode we sit down with two valuation experts, Eric Flickinger and Matt Silla of Apple Growth Partners. The conversation is wide ranging and includes discussion of high level trends we saw in 2022 that will impact company valuations, what their general 2023 outlook is, and what they are watchi…

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From Family-Owned to Employee-Owned - The Hamill Manufacturing Company 34:17

2+ y ago34:17

34:17

Guest: Jeff Kelley, Hamill Manufacturing Company SUMMARY: In this episode we speak with Jeff Kelly, former CEO, selling owner, and current Chairman of Hamill Manufacturing, a Pennsylvania based precision and fabricating company which serves the defense, aerospace, and power generation industries. We talk to Jeff about what led him to begin working …

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Lessons from the Field: Communicating Ownership 31:26

3y ago31:26

31:26

In this episode we sit down with Bina Smith who is the HR Generalist and Communication Committee chair at Palmier Donavin, a 100% employee-owned company. The interview covers a wide range of areas and draws on Bina’s 8 years of experience serving on her companies communication committee. The discussion includes how to build an ownership culture at …

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The EO State Centers (Owner to Owner Podcast Rebroadcast) 55:04

3y ago55:04

55:04

So, what exactly are state employee ownership centers? What do they do, and why do we need more of them? This episode is a re-broadcast of an interview originally aired by Owners to Owners – another podcast that focuses on employee ownership. Jesse Tyler, the host of Owners to Owners, sits down with Matt Cropp of the Vermont Center for Employee Own…

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Maintaining Culture Through Rapid Growth and Change 49:41

3y ago49:41

49:41

SUMMARY: In this episode we speak with Deanna Colombo of Butler/Till a women owned, 100% employee-owned, and Certified B Corporation marketing agency located in Rochester NY. We talk about all things culture and communication, and how both can be maintained through periods of rapid change and growth. In the past two years, Butler/Till has nearly do…

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Reinventing Companies, Capitalism, and Who Owns What 36:34

3y ago36:34

36:34

SUMMARY: In this episode we speak with Corey Rosen, founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership about a his new book he co-authored with business reporter John Case. The interview is wide ranging and touches upon what is driving economic inequality today, how employee ownership is a practical and transformative solution, the role of priva…

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LLC ESOPs? The Facts, Risks, and Possibilities 33:10

3y ago33:10

33:10

It is common understanding that only C-corporations and S-corporations can sponsor Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). But is this indeed the case? In this episode we speak with Mike Sorice about how LLCs can indeed sponsor an ESOP and the reasons why some have chosen this option. We talk about the differences between LLCs and other types of co…

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Third Party Administrators - The Who, What, When, and Why 38:55

3y ago38:55

38:55

SUMMARY: In this episode we speak with Pete Shuler of Blue Ridge ESOP Associates and go into the mechanics of ESOP administration and talk about Third Party Administrators (TPAs) – what they are and do, why they do it, and how you as a plan administrator in your company can take steps to ensure your relationship with your TPA is strong, efficient, …

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New Research: How Employee-Owned Companies Weathered Covid-19 57:40

3+ y ago57:40

57:40

SUMMARY: A growing body of research shows that employee-owned companies outperform traditional companies on a range of measures, especially during economic downturns – but is has this pattern continued through covid-19? On this episode we speak with Nancy Wiefek and Nathan Nicholson of the NCEO about two recent research projects that seek to answer…

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Cooperative Development in Ohio: Reports from the Field 26:50

3+ y ago26:50

26:50

In this episode we speak with Jonathan Welle of Cleveland Owns and Ellen Vera of Co-op Cincy – two Ohio-based nonprofits that are working around cooperative development and community wealth building. We dig into how both Jonathan and Ellen began working on cooperative development, mission of vision of their organizations, and talk about programs an…

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State of the State Centers 31:33

3+ y ago31:33

31:33

Owners at Work is back for season 3! In our first episode of this season we speak with Steve Storkan, Executive Director of the Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOX) - a national nonprofit focused on establishing and supporting a network of independent nonprofit State Centers for Employee Ownership. We talk about the steady growth in number of…

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Growing Employee Ownership Through Acquisitions 1:09:55

4y ago1:09:55

1:09:55

SUPPORT THE SHOW: We make all episodes of Owners at Work free and never place them behind a paywall. But, they take time and money to produce. Consider making a DONATION today to help keep our work going 2022 Annual Conference - https://www.oeockent.org/resources-events/annual-ohio-employee-ownership-conference SUMMARY: In the US there are over 14 …

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Taking Stock and Looking Forward: Employee Ownership Updates 49:45

4y ago49:45

49:45

SUPPORT THE SHOW: We make all episodes of Owners at Work free and never place them behind a paywall. But, they take time and money to produce. Consider making a DONATION today to help keep our work going SUMMARY: In this episode we take stock of employee ownership developments in Ohio and discuss how covid has impacted businesses and employee-owned…

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How Wise Consulting Maintained its Ownership Culture Through Covid 38:09

4y ago38:09

38:09

SUPPORT THE SHOW: We make all episodes of Owners at Work free and never place them behind a paywall. But, they take time and money to produce. Consider making a DONATION today to help keep our work going OEOC UPCOMING PROGRAMS Southwest Forum Communication Roundtables SUMMARY: In this episode we speak with Eamon Muholland, Senior Consultant at Wise…

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Building Community: How A Few Cool Hardware Stores Transitioned to Employee Ownership 43:30

4y ago43:30

43:30

SUPPORT THE SHOW: We make all episodes of Owners at Work free and never place them behind a paywall. But, they take time and money to produce. Consider making a DONATION today to help keep our work going SUMMARY: Sometimes companies transition to employee ownership to help spark a transformation in workplace culture, in other cases a move to employ…

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Rethinking Your ESOP Company's Repurchase Obligations 25:14

4y ago25:14

25:14

Repurchase obligations are a major component of ESOP administration and the main way in which employee-owners benefit from owning a financial stake in the companies they worked for. Yet, these obligations are often seen as a burden, and in some cases, can lead to the freezing or termination of the ESOP plan. In this episode we speak with Josh Young…

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Preserving Beacons of Hope, Reducing the Racial Wealth Gap Through Employee Ownership 47:03

4y ago47:03

47:03

In the world of employee ownership, agreement has begun to crystalize around the idea that broad-based models of employee ownership, like ESOPs, worker cooperatives, or employee-owned trusts are powerful tools in the fight to reduce the enormous racial wealth gap in the United States. But exactly how would this happen? And what are the barriers tha…

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Preparing for and Executing a Sale to an ESOP - The Douglas Company 30:23

4y ago30:23

30:23

In this episode we speak with President Pete Douglas and Executive VP Finance and Administration, David Brockbader of the The Douglas Company about their recent transition to employee ownership via an ESOP. The interview also includes Franco Silva, Director, Prairie Capital Advisors who was one of the main advisors for the transaction. In this epis…