As the rule of law in the United States comes under strain, many companies have chosen silence. In this episode, Mike Hower sits down with business ethicist and Higher Ground author Alison Taylor to examine what corporate courage actually looks like when legal norms, civil rights, and community safety are being tested. Together, they explore why companies retreat in moments of crisis, the limits of compliance-driven ethics, and the role sustainability and communications leaders can play when speaking up carries real risk. This is a candid conversation about silence, responsibility, and whether business is willing — or able — to stand for the rule of law when it matters most.

• Connect with Alison Taylor on LinkedIn.
• Order Alison's book, Higher Ground.
• Read the American Sustainable Business Network's statement calling for companies to defend the rule of law in America.

• Pre-order Sustainability Storytelling — Mike's book on crafting compelling, credible, and compliant sustainability narratives (Kogan Page, May 2026)
• Follow Mike on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to The Sustainability Story on Substack
• Got a guest or topic idea? Reach out at howerimpact.com/contact

In this episode, Mike sits down with Erik Hansen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Workday, to explore how CSOs have evolved into the lead communicators for corporate sustainability. Erik shares insights on building trust through transparency, making the business case for sustainability initiatives, and how companies are increasingly being asked detailed sustainability questions in hundreds of RFPs. The conversation covers practical strategies for working with legal teams on compliant communications, measuring the success of sustainability storytelling, and thinking beyond company silos to advocate for industry-wide change.

• Connect with Erik Hansen on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Workday's sustainability strategy.

• Pre-order Sustainability Storytelling — Mike's book on crafting compelling, credible, and compliant sustainability narratives (Kogan Page, May 2026)
• Follow Mike on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to The Sustainability Story on Substack
• Got a guest or topic idea? Reach out at howerimpact.com/contact

In this episode of The Sustainability Communicator, Mike sits down with Alexandra Talleur, an internal communications lead at HP who specializes in sustainability engagement. While companies often focus on external sustainability communication, internal communication frequently receives less attention. Yet effective employee engagement is crucial for implementing sustainability strategies and maintaining talent. Alexandra shares insights on creating meaningful internal sustainability communications, connecting sustainability to employees' roles, and navigating challenges like the "green gap" between stated values and actions.

• Connect with Alexandra Talleur on LinkedIn
• Learn more about sustainability at HP

• Pre-order Sustainability Storytelling — Mike's book on crafting compelling, credible, and compliant sustainability narratives (Kogan Page, May 2026)
• Follow Mike on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to The Sustainability Story on Substack
• Got a guest or topic idea? Reach out at howerimpact.com/contact