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For the 21st episode of season 4, your fearless triad – Courtney Kocak, Sofiya Alexandra & Dave Rankin – is thrilled to welcome power couple Reza Aslan (religion scholar & author of God, Zealot & more) & Jessica Jackley (co-founder of microlending company Kiva.org & author of Clay Water Brick). First: The triad talks about women still being defined by their attachment to a man despite advances in gender equality & the decision whether or not to change your last name. Then: Reza & Jessica open up about being introduced via email, their TED Talk "Higher Love," raising boys with consent culture, challenging previous relationships, serial monogamy, dating after a sexless relationship, sowing wild oats, Reza's 1st three trigger-happy engagements, Jessica's post-divorce Eat Pray Love phase, realizing they wanted to commit to each other, getting pregnant right away, their surprise wedding (to the 3rd power), marriage counseling, being an interfaith couple, fostering a multifaith family, the distinction between religion & faith, traveling around the world with their kids & how they talk to their kids about sex & sexuality (hot tip: get the book It's So Amazing! by Robie H. Harris to start the conversation). This episode is brought to you by Solmar Hotels & Resorts. Check out solmar.com for booking & more information! For more Reza Aslan & Jessica Jackley: Watch their TED Talk "Higher Love" Read their blog Around the World in 80-ish Days Check out Reza's website Check out Jessica's website Follow Reza on Twitter @rezaslan Follow Jessica on Twitter @jessicajackley If you love this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating & sexy review! xo
Jessica Jackley, co-founder of the game-changing microlending site Kiva, never played the typical role from entrepreneurial stories we're accustomed to hearing. She didn't start a business as a kid, and never dreamed of making millions. Jackley considered entrepreneurship a greedy venture, in fact, and she wanted to be one of the good guys. But things quickly shifted for Jackley while she was in East Africa doing survey work for a nonprofit. Inspired by her work there with microfinancing, Jackley thought up the idea for Kiva, and wanted to spread it to other countries. Kiva would be a business, but one seeking to make a social impact. In 2009, as an experiment, Kiva launched its first pilot round of loans. Fast forward 12 years later, and the company has issued more than $1 billion in microloans to 2.6 million borrowers in 84 countries. Jackley didn’t stop there. After Kiva, she went on to become an accomplished investor, entrepreneur, and the author of Clay Water Brick: Finding Inspiration from Entrepreneurs Who Do the Most with the Least. She currently teaches social entrepreneurship at USC. Throughout her experiences, Jackley discovered how entrepreneurship and social change could not only coexist, but come together to create a huge global impact. Inspired to follow in Jackley’s footsteps? Well, don’t be. Jackley doesn’t want you to replicate what she did. She urges entrepreneurs to play by their own rules, define business with their own ideas, and never ask for permission. She believes these principles have always been the key to her success, and she outlines them in detail in this inspiring interview. Key Takeaways How and why hesitant entrepreneurs often cripple themselves Why naiveté can be a strong entrepreneurial trait The strategies Kiva used to build early-stage momentum and achieve massive exposure in its first three months The reason Jackley decided to close her latest business venture, Profounder, and pursue a different path
What does it mean to devote yourself to helping others? Larissa MacFarquhar, a staff writer for The New Yorker, follows the joys and defeats of people living lives of extreme ethical commitment in her new book, Strangers Drowning. Jessica Jackley, co-founder of the revolutionary micro-lending site Kiva, in her book, Clay Water Brick, explores the triumphs and difficulties of using entrepreneurship to change the world. Sharing inspiring—and sometimes unsettling—stories of do-gooders from around the world, MacFarquhar and Jackley will challenge us to think about what we value most, and why.**Click here for photos from the event.