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Life Ensemble
Latest Episode

#254 - What Makes a Great Company? - Dean's Beans Journey to Worker Ownership

Welcome to the Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast. In this thought-provoking episode titled "What Makes a Great Company?" we're diving into the inspiring journey of Dean's Beans Organic Coffee Company. Joining us are two remarkable...

Recent Episodes

March 19, 2024

#254 - What Makes a Great Company? - Dean's Beans Journey to Worker Ownership

Welcome to the Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast. In this thought-provoking episode titled "What Makes a Great Company?" we're diving into the inspiring journey of Dean's Beans Organic Coffee Company. Joining us are two remarkable...
Feb. 27, 2024

#253 - Seth Godin: How to Escape Industrial Capitalism's Race to the Bottom & Do Work Worth Doing

Yes, we need to make a living.  But how do we make a life?  It might not simply be about the money.  When the world is in turmoil, when our health is at risk and the future seems murky, perhaps paychecks and productivity aren’t...
Feb. 15, 2024

#252 - Is Globalization Good or Bad? The Effects of NAFTA & Global Supply Chains

On December 8th, 1993, Bill Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) into law.  In his remarks at the signing, Clinton proclaimed, “NAFTA means jobs. American jobs and good-paying American jobs. If I didn't believe that, I...
Feb. 8, 2024

#251 - 7 Examples of Greenwashing

In this episode of Grow Ensemble, host Cory Ames delves into the deceptive tactics of greenwashing, where companies mislead the public about their environmental and social responsibility. Through 7 compelling examples, Cory sheds light on how...
Jan. 25, 2024

#250 - What Makes Great Coffee? ☕️

5 roasts, over 5 regions, and the story of the coffee supply chain from farm to cup. Our task here is to explore and reconsider this question: what makes great coffee?  To do so I’ve enlisted the help of my many friends at Dean’s Beans...
Nov. 7, 2023

#249 - The 10 Characteristics of Success in Social Entrepreneurship

What does success mean to you? Defining success in a field can define the field. Defining success for ourselves will define our lives. And so here, friend and coach of mine, Paul Zelizer and I go through the essential exercise of defining what to each...

About the Host

Cory Ames Profile Photo

Cory Ames

Host of Life Ensemble

Cory is a writer and media producer exploring the art of living and working sustainably. He is the Founder of Ensemble Texas, a media company focused on environmental, economic, and cultural storytelling in San Antonio and Texas.

He is the host of Life Ensemble, a podcast that dives into the intersections of business, nature, and philosophy to help shape a more sustainable and meaningful approach to life and work. He also serves as the producer of Big City Small Town, a podcast celebrating the people who make San Antonio go and grow. Previously, he hosted The Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast, where he conducted over 250 interviews with leaders at the forefront of sustainable and ethical business.

Cory is a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas and is certified in Permaculture Design by the Permaculture Institute of North America. He frequently writes about nature, sustainability, and finding meaning in work and life.

Originally from Washington State, Cory has traveled extensively, including time in Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. He now lives in San Antonio, TX, with his wife, Annie, and their two sons

Reviews

Great Host, Great Guests

"Two things set this podcast apart. First, Cory just seems like a super chill + humble dude. I love the casual + relaxed feeling of these episodes. Second, he never fails to bring on guests to insp…"

Zach Thanasilangkul | July 14, 2021

Inspiring!

"It’s obvious that Cory puts extraordinary effort into finding guests that are authentic and truly care about being a positive force in this world. So grateful for this inspiring space. 🙏"

Arlie K | Jan. 25, 2021

Fantastic podcast for mission-driven businesses

"This is a fantastic podcast for mission-driven businesses, B-Corp enthusiasts, social entrepreneurs, etc. Cory is very down to earth and asks great questions to the diverse array of guests. Highly re…"

ERH-13 | Feb. 25, 2020

Love this podcast!!

"As a first time entrepreneur I have loved learning from this podcast and the guests Cory brings on. The content is always different, but always comes back to the same principal - that business can be…"

Deirdre Horan | Feb. 8, 2022