Building Impact with Mark Brand

Current Mood

Social impact entrepreneur, chef, DJ and food justice advocate Mark Brand, shares his layered journey and implores us to build purpose into the design of a business. He has created over a dozen businesses like a charitable kitchen, a diner, a brewery, a butcher shop – in many cases, made to support those struggling with food insecurity and addiction. We talk about Brand's past life as a DJ and nightlife dweller and how that propelled him to become sober, even after once winning a prestigious bartending award. He educates us on the links between poverty and food deserts which he reframes as food apartheid and we also talk about how removing caffeine, alcohol and sugar changed his life and the realities of facing imposter syndrome.

Recorded at Spotify Labs in Brooklyn.

Produced by Jarell Perry.

Artwork by Julian Alexander.

Music by Abjo.