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It Shouldn't Be This Hard

Phil White & Heidi Schoeneck
Sustainability
Climate Change
Cancel Culture
Plastic Pollution
Social Impact
Journalism
Food Waste
COP
Universal Flourishing
Smoking
Cigarettes
Poverty
Conscious Leadership
Social Innovation
Business Challenges
Hyperlocal Journalism
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Media Freedom
Renewable Energy
Conscious Capitalism

The podcast that dives deep into the messy, meaningful work of responsible business and conscious leadership. Learn more at: grounded.world/itshouldntbethishard.

Hosted by Phil White and Heidi Schoeneck, co-founders of Grounded – and joined by Gaia, their brilliantly provocative AI sidekick – this show explores what it really takes to drive change from the inside out.

Are you a founder or social e... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes16Foundeda year ago
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ManagementMarketingBusiness

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Latest Episodes

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, co-hosts Phil White and Heidi Schoeneck are joined by Matthew McCarthy, former CEO of Ben & Jerry’s, to challenge one of the most deeply ingrained beliefs in business: that purpose and profit are competing pri... more

In Part 2 of this conversation, co-hosts Phil White and Heidi Schoeneck continue their discussion with Jeffrey Hollender — Founder of Seventh Generation, professor at New York University Stern School of Business, social entrepreneur, and author of Bu... more

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What happens when the company you built to change the world starts drifting away from the very values it was founded on?

In Part 1 of this conversation, co-hosts Phil White and Heidi Schoeneck are joined by Jeffrey Hollender — co-founder of Seventh ... more

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Every year on Earth Day, businesses around the world make commitments, launch campaigns, and announce new sustainability goals.

What happens when the Earth Month celebrations pass?

Because the real test of sustainability isn’t what gets said on Apr... more

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Every April 22nd, a billion people across 193 countries do something for the planet. Companies make bold commitments. Partnerships get announced. And then April 23rd arrives.

For businesses building sustainability into how they actually operate (not... more

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After a full season of conversations with leaders from Starbucks, Plastic Bank, Earth Day Organization, Philip Morris International, BIGGBY Coffee, Divert, and The Washington Post one theme kept surfacing:

If so many people care about sustainability... more

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People don’t want to “be sustainable”... and Starbucks learned that the hard way. In this episode of It Shouldn’t Be This Hard, we learn from Amelia Landers, VP of Innovation at Starbucks, for a rare inside look at how one of the world’s most iconic ... more

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What happens the day after Earth Day?

In this episode of It Shouldn’t Be This Hard, we sit down with Kathleen Rogers, President of EarthDay.org, the force behind one of the most iconic and enduring movements on the planet. 

This episode is a master... more

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Jennifer Motles
Chief Sustainability Officer at Philip Morris International, human rights lawyer, and corporate change maker.
Philip Morris International
Episode: A Future Without Cigarettes Shouldn’t Be This Hard | Jennifer Motles
Karimah Hudda
Systems Change Catalyst and founder of Illumin Earth
Illumin Earth
Episode: Universal Flourishing Shouldn’t Be This Hard | Karimah Hudda
Jenny Morgan
Author of Climate, Cancel Culture
Episode: Cancel Culture in Climate | Jenny Morgan
Hilary Keates
Expert in sustainability and food waste management.
Divert
Episode: Fighting Food Waste Shouldn’t Be This Hard | Hilary Keates
Kathy Baird
Former Chief Communications Officer at The Washington Post with experience in purpose-driven communications.
The Washington Post
Episode: Why Is It So Hard to Do the Right Things? (Trailer Episode)

Hosts

Phil White
Co-founder of Grounded; co-host of the show focusing on responsible business and conscious leadership.
Heidi Schoeneck
Co-founder of Grounded; co-host of the show, bringing insights on leadership and sustainability implementation.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 1 ratings
  • 10/10 Highly worth listening to!

    This show is so fascinating, not only because the guests are so notable and seasoned but mainly because getting the inside scoop from business leaders doing the work on the ground is incredibly validating and Inspiring to listen to. I would recommend this podcast to anyone frankly — so much to learn from these folks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    paloma_j
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Candid conversations with leaders doing the hard work of transformation.
Notable guests deliver practical, ground-truth insights for driving impact.
Shows offer actionable takeaways for CSR, sustainability, and leadership teams.
High-quality guest mix and thoughtful discussions on system change and collaboration.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Making Earth Day Every Day Shouldn’t Be This Hard | Kathleen Rogers
Q: What's your words of wisdom to impart in the hope that you can actually affect the change that you've been striving so hard to achieve through Earth Day?
Nature is extraordinary. We have been given a gift that provides for us, is emotionally rewarding, and spiritually rewarding.
A Future Without Cigarettes Shouldn’t Be This Hard | Jennifer Motles
Q: How do we reconcile the addiction aspect with the offering of a smoke-free future?
Jennifer explains that the health impacts of products are due to combustion, not nicotine, which has therapeutic value and potential if separated from smoking.
A Future Without Cigarettes Shouldn’t Be This Hard | Jennifer Motles
Q: What are the key three parts of your journey that brought you to where you are today?
Jennifer reflects that there isn't a single pivotal moment but rather many smaller decisions that collectively shaped her career.
Coffee and Convenience Shouldn’t Be This Hard | Amelia Landers
Q: What have you found the most challenging in coordinating and delivering while managing the gap between aspiration and reality in sustainability?
Amelia expressed that the hardest part lies in things that Starbucks cannot control, such as regulations and recycling infrastructure, highlighting the collaborative nature required to achieve sustainability goals.
Fair Price For Coffee Shouldn’t Be This Hard | Bob & Michelle Fish
Q: Is your partnership part of building a life you love?
Yes, it allows us to combine personal and professional lives seamlessly, enriching both our work and our marriage.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About It Shouldn't Be This Hard

What is It Shouldn't Be This Hard about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on responsible business and conscious leadership, hosting conversations with founders, sustainability leaders, and social impact practitioners who are trying to close the gap between good intentions and real impact. Episodes feature executives from major brands and innovators in climate, governance, and social change, sharing hard-earned lessons, collaborative approaches, and practical strategies for driving change from the inside out. A recurring strength is the willingness to tackle messy, real-world challenges—from supply chains and consumer behavior to corporate transformation and ethics—while emphasizing progress over perfection and actionable takeaways for listeners in marketing, CSR, and leadership roles.

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How many episodes of It Shouldn't Be This Hard are there?

It Shouldn't Be This Hard launched a year ago and published 16 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on It Shouldn't Be This Hard?

Recent guests on It Shouldn't Be This Hard include:

1. Jennifer Motles
2. Karimah Hudda
3. Jenny Morgan
4. Hilary Keates
5. Kathy Baird

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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