In our final episode of the season, we reflect on what we have learned and focus on concrete, practical next steps to align our money with our values. Moving beyond individual guilt and financial anxiety, we explore how practicing integrity and simplicity—combined with targeted collective action—can help us transform our economic systems and pursue shared liberation.

Guests Rich Kent, Dov Baum, Lisa Graustein, and Lucy Duncan explore the practical realities of inflation, the mechanics of strategic corporate boycotts, and the necessity of moving from charity to structural reparations. Diana and Peterson also provide practical next steps for individuals, institutions, and collective movements.

About the Guests

Rich Kent A financial professional with Friends Fiduciary who helps Quaker meetings and organizations balance radical values with the practical necessity of managing institutional assets.

Dov Baum Director of the Action Center for Corporate Accountability at the American Friends Service Committee, guiding faith communities in strategic divestment and boycott campaigns.

Lisa Graustein A Quaker with inherited wealth advocating for impact investing and using money as a tool to rectify centuries of intentional inequity.

Lucy Duncan A lifelong Quaker activist serving on the Reparations Committee at Greene Street Friends Meeting, challenging Friends to move from traditional charity to structural reparations.

Key Topics Covered

Integrity, Simplicity, and Radical Testimony

Why leaning into integrity keeps us honest about our money, and how simplicity frees us from hyper-consumerism and builds community resilience.

From Individual Guilt to Collective Action

Why we must shift our focus from seeking personal moral purity to utilizing organized economic leverage against profit-maximizing corporations.

Impact Investing and Reparative Economics

How to move beyond boycotts and actively fund solutions while shifting our mindset from traditional charity to structural reparations.

Next Steps: Where Do We Go From Here?

Practical action steps across three interconnected rings: personal stewardship audits, institutional queries on ethical screening, and joining collective campaigns.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and the Tension of Simplicity

04:36 – Shifting to Collective Action and BDS

09:16 – Impact Investing and Reparations

11:47 – Practical Next Steps

13:21 – Sponsor Messages, Credits, and Conclusion

Resources & Links

Quakers Today Website: https://quakerstoday.org

Friends Journal: https://friendsjournal.org

Investigate: https://investigate.info

Action Center for Corporate Accountability: https://afsc.org/acca

Never Vanguard Campaign: https://eqat.org/never-vanguard

Connect With Us

What becomes possible when we stop trying to carry the weight alone—and start moving our resources together in community? Leave a voicemail at 317-QUAKERS (317-782-5377) or email podcast@friendsjournal.org.

Sponsors & Credits

Quakers Today is a project of Friends Publishing Corporation, hosted by Peterson Toscano and Diana Yañez. Season 6 is supported by Friends Fiduciary (https://friendsfiduciary.org) and the American Friends Service Committee (https://afsc.org).

Financial Disclaimer

All investments involve risk, and financial decisions should be made based on your individual circumstances, ideally in consultation with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host, Natural Investments, or its affiliates.