The Power of the Purse begins with a simple question: What if every purchase was more than a transaction?

In this first part of a two-part conversation, Trystanne Cunningham and Seneca Connor examine the relationship between spending, visibility, and economic power. Together, they explore how everyday financial decisions shape businesses, communities, and culture, and why understanding where our money goes is an essential part of understanding the systems we participate in.

Drawing from current events, consumer behavior, and the research behind Seneca's Reckond app, they discuss corporate accountability, conscious consumerism, and the role economic participation plays in creating lasting change. Rather than telling listeners what to think, this conversation invites them to ask deeper questions about the choices they make every day and the impact those choices have beyond the checkout line.

In this episode:

• Why economic power extends beyond the ballot box
• The philosophy behind The Power of the Purse
• Consumer choice, corporate accountability, and conscious spending
• The relationship between visibility, economics, and community investment
• How the Reckond app helps consumers make informed purchasing decisions
• Why data and transparency matter in everyday spending
• The difference between buying power and building long-term wealth
• Why this conversation is only the beginning

Whether you're an entrepreneur, consumer, or simply curious about the connection between economics, culture, and community, this episode is an invitation to think more intentionally about where your money goes, and what it helps build.

Listen to Issue Zero.

Connect with us:

1. Issue Zero Website
2. Issue Zero Instagram
3. Issue Zero TikTok
4. Issue Zero LinkedIn

Issue Zero is Sponsored by:

1. TrooRa Magazine
2. The Bag Icon
3. Download the Reckond App

April Vaughn Shabazz joins Issue Zero for a conversation about holistic wellness, entrepreneurship, stewardship, sustainability, and what it means to build a business rooted in purpose.

As the owner and lead formulator of Earth Tu Face, April shares how her personal healing journey, decades of experience in holistic health and education, and passion for herbalism led her to acquire and lead a plant-based skincare brand built on integrity, intentionality, and care. Together, they explore founder transitions, conscious consumerism, and why true wellness begins long before the products we put on our skin.

In the second half of the episode, Desirée Rogers joins the conversation to expand on leadership, brand stewardship, and the evolving beauty industry, offering an executive perspective on building enduring brands and creating businesses with lasting impact.

In this episode:

• April Vaughn Shabazz's journey from holistic health practitioner to entrepreneur
• Acquiring and leading Earth to Face
• Herbalism, holistic wellness, and lifelong learning
• The evolution of clean beauty and conscious consumerism
• Founder transitions and preserving a brand's mission
• Leadership, stewardship, and sustainable growth
• Executive insights from Desirée Rogers on brand-building and the future of beauty
• Why education is at the heart of meaningful entrepreneurship

Whether you're building a brand, leading a business, or simply curious about the intersection of wellness, purpose, and entrepreneurship, this conversation is an invitation to think more intentionally about the products we use, the businesses we support, and the impact we create.

Listen to Issue Zero.

Dr. Akilah Cadet joins Issue Zero for a conversation about leadership, systems of power, entrepreneurship, disability, storytelling, and what it means to create change from the inside out.

As the founder and CEO of Change Cadet, author of White Supremacy Is All Around Us, and co-owner of the Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul Sports Club, Dr. Cadet shares how personal experience shaped her work, and why learning and unlearning are essential to building stronger organizations, communities, and leaders. Through stories of navigating the workplace, advocating for herself, launching a business, and helping organizations rethink culture, she offers a perspective on how power, identity, and opportunity intersect in everyday life.

In this episode:

1. Dr. Cadet's journey from healthcare executive to entrepreneur
2. Why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for change
3. Learning, unlearning, and challenging systems of power
4. Workplace discrimination, leadership, and advocating for yourself
5. Disability, identity, and leading authentically
6. The role of education, civic engagement, and critical thinking
7. Building organizations where people can truly thrive
8. Why meaningful change begins with honest conversations

Whether you're building a company, leading a team, or simply trying to better understand the world around you, this conversation is an invitation to ask deeper questions, think more critically, and lead with greater intention.

Listen to Issue Zero.

Purchase Dr. Akilah Cadet's Book:

White Supremacy Is All Around Us

Connect with us:

1. Issue Zero Website
2. Issue Zero Instagram
3. Issue Zero TikTok
4. Issue Zero LinkedIn

Issue Zero is Sponsored by:

1. TrooRa Magazine
2. The Bag Icon
3. Download the Reckond App