Values and Visionaries with Russ Stoddard of Oliver Russel

Kim Allchurch Flick: Welcome everyone. This is Kim Allchurch Flick, and I’m so excited to be here today with a dear friend Russ Stoddard. Who is founder of Oliver Russell, a B Corps social Impact branding agency. His latest endeavor is Inspirationally, a community hub and co-working space to spur and support creativity and social impact in Boise, Idaho.

And he also serves as a senior advisor to the social media lab. At Stanford University, Russ publishes a weekly newsletter on social entrepreneurship called Godspeed, and I highly recommend following it. And he is author of an Amazon based bestseller, rise Up, how to Build a Socially Conscious Business as well As a Being a published poet, playwright and journalist.

The topic today is really about. What we can all see and do that is good for the world and values driven. I see Russ welcome as a multipotentialite and there’s so many things that Russ does and does well with values and a smile. I welcome you here. Thanks for being here. 

Russ Stoddard: Kim, it’s great to be here.

I I hope I can live up to that entry. Thank you. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: I think you already have in my eyes. Anyway, so we’ve known each other for a while. I’ve been in B Corps circles and even did co cos spoke together at a b local PDX conference a couple of years ago, and I was just wondering what has been your journey to bring you to the multi things you’re doing today and what’s been your inspiration along the way?

Russ Stoddard: I guess I had a couple of inspirations probably that come top of mind among many. I’m certain. And the the first one is as a young guy, I was a river guide on a a wilderness river here in Idaho. The middle fork of the stam. And it’s an inspirational place to.

To begin with, to be there. And when you’re out there in the wilderness you. You innately feel the power of nature and the earth and the planet. And I think just the whole idea that this was conserved and protected as a wilderness area was inspiring to me that on the environmental impact side of things, Hey, you know what?

We need to work to preserve not only areas like like this but others, a around. And I guess that extends today to trying to figure out ways to flight, fight climate change and what have you. So that was an inspiration on the, environmental side. And then one of the first jobs I had, first quote unquote, real Jobs I had after being a River Guide, was working as communications director for a building materials company here in Idaho that was quite progressive and they lived up to having a basic business values.

So they inculcated that in me, that, Hey, you know what? A business can and should have values that they hold as a guideline for how they operate. So when I I came away from that experience and started my social impact branding agency, Oliver Russell, I was certain to have business values to begin with and one of those was to be socially responsible. And as far as being socially responsible for about the first 15 or so years of business that expressed itself primarily through volunteering in the community and making donations and what have you until, one day I heard about a thing called B Corps.

Somebody here in town who’d been involved with some B Corp down in California told me about them and said, Hey, you should become a certified B Corp. And so that was in 2011 and I looked at it and was like, wow, what a holistic model for a business to actually create change and positive impact in the world.

So I became a B Corp and haven’t looked back since. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: And you were on the cutting edge of B Corp? That was early in the. In the beginnings of the B Corps movement. 

Russ Stoddard: I generally am on the bleeding edge of things Kim, and typically I’m a guy who doesn’t necessarily look to see how deep the water is before I jump because I’m just a jumper, I guess.

So, yeah, I was early on in, in that, I think I was like B Corp around 400, and I know there’s 10 or 11,000 now around the, so I’m happy to have been like, like you and others among the pioneers who were able to prove that it’s a business model that works. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: Absolutely. And I’m so fascinated by Oliver Russell, and yet you come from a history of.

Really embracing, preserving the planet from that rafting trip. And one thing we have in common is, I didn’t do rafting like you did, but I had summer jobs in Glenwood Springs, Colorado as a raft guide. Oh, did you? I didn’t know that. Bringing out, being out there. You are absolutely right. It’s so inspirational to be outside in nature, but also with that power.

Russ Stoddard: Yeah. Oh, for sure. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: What has it been like being early in B Corps and as B Corps has grown and changed? What has it been like for Oliver Russell and how has it led you to inspirationally and other things? 

Russ Stoddard: I guess I, I get a lot of inspiration from the community of B Corps that are out there, like you and your company and so many others, and friends that I have developed over the years who are a source of inspiration refuge moral support and what have you.

In the early days, it seemed like it was a a tighter community. Of course that happens when you don’t have that many B Corps to begin with. And as it’s grown, I’ve managed to retain a lot of those friends and collaborators and what have you, while also growing my network of other B Corps.

And that’s really some of the, the, the value I find in the certification is it gives you a great framework if you wanna build a holistic bus business that’s actually contributing to solutions rather than actually creating them. Then the other thing aspect of it is just the network of people, when you say you’re a certified B Corp as far as entry to maybe making connection with someone else, there’s just an instant recognition that you’re both cut out of similar cloth. You might be different in any number of ways, but it’s it’s certainly a a door open or a what have you to actually finding help and support from others and perhaps being able to share some of the things you’ve learned as well.

Kim Allchurch Flick: I totally agree. And what do you also see in your community with the B Corps, but also those who have clear values but may not, may be struggling? What are some of the things you see in the community about mission-driven businesses? 

Russ Stoddard: You always struggle when you have values and you try to adhere to them.

Esp, esp, especially if they are purpose-driven values. Because what that means is you’re going to be confronted with decisions that are. Hard to make and oftentimes have financial consequences for you. Yes. That the temptation is there to basically say, oh, you know what? I’ll hold my values for tomorrow as opposed today because I could really use this new client, this account.

The sale or what have you. But if you’re living up to your values, which I think most B Corps do, and many mission driven businesses as well, then you basically take a hit today to keep those values going forward. And that’s really what I think differentiates the the businesses that are built for the long terms around purpose as opposed to those who are just basically living for the short term.

Kim Allchurch Flick: Indeed and we also hope, if you build it a B Corps, they will come. What do you see, because you’re in have a wonderful branding agency as well. What are some companies missing in terms of connecting those values with the consumer base? 

Russ Stoddard: Oh I think there’s two types. There’s the type, and this is not necessarily B Corps necessarily.

I’d say this follows into the category of greenwashing where you have people who purport to be mission driven or what have you, and they use it as basically a marketing ploy. And which is unfortunate. But the the good thing is that, people these days, they can smell bullshit a mile away.

And oftentimes they’ll look at claims and if they aren’t substantiated through actions, they’re like, nah, I got you here. And that really comes back to hurt the company that’s making those claims. And you see that, whether it’s small companies or mega corporations, and for those who do live up to their values through their actions, I think.

Oftentimes, some people simply just let the actions try to speak for themselves, but in a crowded and competitive world, I think you have to be far more proactive than that. And oftentimes the way to do that is let third parties do the storytelling for you. Whether that’s a, a supplier, a customer, an employee or what have you, people who are have the credibility to tell the story and shine a light on you.

And I think those are the ones that most of your stakeholders respond to. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: I love that. And I think it’s so true. And as the movement grows, we’re seeing some of that. And there’s also a statistic that. Nielsen studies, they do so many studies that are amazing and in the social enterprise space, there have been a couple from 2014 and 2017 where they found that two thirds of consumers globally are willing to pay more for products and services, including B2B when they know a company has good values or sustainability.

And then they studied millennials only and it was like 73%. And as a marketer, and I can see for clients too, that there’s a lot of customers in that two thirds. So everybody has some customers that are there. What are some ways to reach them? How do we connect those dots? Because sometimes it’s difficult to search for values driven companies.

How do people find us and them, the clients that you serve? 

Russ Stoddard: Yeah that’s the big question, isn’t it? And, I’ve known so many people who’ve tried to start, say purpose driven marketplaces online to help consumers find the type of country companies that they and their values align with those of say like the the shopper, what have you.

And it’s just tough because, so much happens online today that it’s really, really tough to stand out and get people. To find you and get them to pay attention. One place where it’s increasingly easier to do that. I think it’s a little bit of a response to what’s going on in the digital world these days with the skunks of Silicon Valley and ai.

And what have you is to do it on a a local basis. Because I think people in their own communities, it’s more of a physical touchstone for ’em, and they’re looking for it. Once they, they’ve. Find it, it resonates with them and they come back time and again. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: I absolutely see that and agree with you and be locals have been popping up over the years.

Be locals. For the people listening are local communities and cities across the country that bring B Corps and purpose driven companies together with some structure, with some education, with events, and. Do you see that being of help as well? 

Russ Stoddard: Oh, sure. And I think we’re going to see more of that. I think it will be definitely a reaction to too many of us spending too much time on our computers and what have you.

And I think, people es especially with miss and disinformation that’s out there, it’s harder and harder for people to gauge what’s real. But I tell you what, if you pick a tomato that you’ve grown, you understand that’s real. Or if you shake some per anybody’s person, someone’s hand, or give them a hug at an event you know, that stuff is real.

So I think we’re gonna see, more of that, whether it’s a B Corp. Gathering in Wisconsin this year, or just you just going to stay like a grocery store and making a connection with somebody who works there in the organic produce section. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: Oh, absolutely. We’ll go back to organic produce and regenerative ag in a second, but with you and your customers, and we’re talking in January of 2026, what are some of the obstacles that you’re seeing?

Russ Stoddard: Oh, the obstacles? Well, you know, one is purely economic. I think the state of the world in our country and what have you is in such a crazy shape right now that people are holding onto their dollars in many regards especially on the shopping side. And I know that’s affecting an awful lot of small businesses.

The, and I don’t necessarily think the economic indicators that they have out there on the more of the macro economic side of things really are telling the story about small, local based businesses that are just trying to hold on. So that’s what I’m seeing right now is a lot of struggle that you don’t hear people nationally talk, talking about today.

Kim Allchurch Flick: Yeah I concur with that. I also find because of my work, some frustration with mission-driven companies that I know their values are deep and strong, and yet I don’t see it online. I don’t see it in the marketing, the product definitely. Or the service. And in asking them. Often they’ll feel like working on the value side is like having a second job and doing that.

Marketing has to be separate and it takes more time or also that they feel it might dissuade from, or people might not see the product as much. I was wondering, particularly since you’ve had Oliver Russell so long as a values-based marketing company, do you see companies that don’t. Articulate their values as much as you’d like to see.

And what do you say to them? 

Russ Stoddard: Oh, sure. And, I think it’s a fallacy that it’s a second marketing job or what have you, I think should be integrated. Creating a brand is all about differentiation. And if you have a clear differentiator, then it needs to be a part of your marketing mix.

Not all for sure, because you’ve gotta talk about your product. Your service and the benefits of that. But it should be integrated into your content matrix, the calendar that you put out there. And you can certainly talk about your product. You can talk about your service, you can talk about.

Your company and you can talk about your values, and it’s all a different, it’s all a great differentiator. So I think that’s really a fallacy. And if you look at your values as a product, which in some regards you should be communicating that 

Kim Allchurch Flick: values as a product. That’s a beautiful way to reframe it.

Yeah. I want people to remember that. Think of your values as a product. How do you market your product? How do you market your values then? 

Russ Stoddard: Yeah, exactly. So I think it’s just, I have firsthand experience at this over the decades, and I can tell you that it works. It doesn’t mean that you don’t have to be competitive on pricing.

Doesn’t mean that you don’t have to have great quality. Those things are all almost a given anymore, but if everybody else has similar sort of offerings, and how do you differentiate one of those is. Through your values and people know whether you’re a consumer or it’s B2B, that when they spend money with you, some of that is going to be spent towards good works in the community or for the planet.

Kim Allchurch Flick: Absolutely. And what do you say to companies in your clients about their benefit reporting? 

Russ Stoddard: I understand the challenges there because the fact of the matter is most don’t do benefit reporting and that falls into the category of great intentions. It’s.

It’s hard enough and work enough to actually be creating a social and environmental impact all year long. And then it’s like, okay, we better do a benefit report or AKA, an impact report. And then, you know what, you’re into your next year and all of a sudden the challenges of the market what have you kind of, take over.

So people don’t do it. And I just think it’s a it’s a, it’s an opportunity that is missed out on. And I think if people, I think if people came, if they started actually working on their benefit report all year long and. Pieces and parts. If you’re including your impact in your content calendar for actually communicating it all year long, then you’ve got a repository right there that enables you to actually pull that stuff together at the end of the year and create a a benefit report that goes out to your stakeholders and communicates really the difference that you’re making and oftentimes you’re making on their behalf.

Kim Allchurch Flick: And do you feel that a company that isn’t certified or verified as B Corp or Benefit Corporations for Good or one of the others yet, or maybe won’t, but they do have good values, is it beneficial for them to have a benefit report? 

Russ Stoddard: Oh, I think absolutely. It is, B Corp. Public benefit corporations what have you.

Those are, say for instance one way, but there are many ways towards doing this. And you for sure can have a company with values at its heart that is doing good in the community and is mission driven to an extent without certifications. And as long as you can prove that. And proving it usually is through actions and numbers and what have you for things that you do, by all means you should be doing a benefit report.

Kim Allchurch Flick: I thank you. I love that. I find I’m one of these people that looks for benefit reports with companies, and they can be inspiring. They can be truly amazing. And I also love what you said about start early and document through the year. Don’t wait till the end. It doesn’t have to be like crazy tax time or something.

Russ Stoddard: Yeah. I always look at the equivalent of remembering back when I was in a college, the equivalent is basically not studying for your final until the very end and cramming for it, as opposed to if you did that all semester long then you’d be in far better shape for it.

Kim Allchurch Flick: Indeed and I truly think you’re, I love the term multipotentialite because I’ve, as I’ve gotten to know you over the years, it was Oliver Russell and also h how you live on land, and then the inspirationally piece and the authoring and Godspeed, which I. Wait for with bated breath, and as soon as that pop pops into my email, I’m always reading Godspeed and I do recommend everyone take a look.

But how did, how do you manage it? And also comes to this question because I find companies that are working with products or services or more industrial, that they find it difficult to grasp environmental impacts. That aren’t like offsetting or volunteering, which is all good. I’m not dissuading from that, but I do believe there are things, no matter what we’re doing in life, we can still make personal choices and changes that improve the environment as well.

And I was wondering if you could speak to that because you. Are also like me. I think, enjoy dirt therapy every once in a while, which is being out there. Absolutely. And I know, I realize, and I apologize that was more than one question but seeing how you are, there’s so many facets to your life and it seems to me that you enjoy them all and they’re all inspiring and they’re all different.

And how do you incorporate all that? Keeping the environment in mind. 

Russ Stoddard: Keeping the environment and in mind. I’m a little bit all over the place. When it comes down to it, I have a hard time saying no to people, and I’ve got an active mind that creates ideas a mile a minutes.

In, in some regards, I might be better served by having more focus on just one thing, but that’s never how I’ve rolled. So I try to spark a lot of things and see if they catch fire. Create good in the world. And as far as the environmental side, a lot of that comes, personally it’s everything.

So I’ll look at two things. Riding bicycles, for instance. And then doing some farming. So both of them can be very selfish endeavors when it comes down to, bicycling is fun. I do that for me. Farming is hard work. I get something out of it, which is produce and what have you.

But at the same time, both can be quite good for others as well. On the bi bicycling side, obviously increases my health. It gives me a far better connection to my community than driving around because oftentimes as you’re riding your bike. You see things you wouldn’t otherwise. It might be somebody taking a walk who you know, and a simple wave turns into a two hour conversation, and then you ride merrily along and at the same time you’re not creating e emissions or what have you.

Then on the farming side, you put your hands in the dirt, the science says, Hey, there are organisms there that’re gonna transfer through your your dermal layer or what have you, and make you healthier as, as far as that goes. And you can compost the organic matter that you generate in your household and regenerate the soil outside.

So it’s all, all like circular sort of stuff that has. Not only steal gain, but also community benefit as well. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: I concurrent, I was thinking about for people who don’t have access to farm but might have even a small backyard or a patio, there are ways that we can do things because pollinators love plants that have pollen and they’re beautiful to look at.

So even in pots having. Having the more native, the better, but creating some beauty in a small space that attracts those pollinators as well can be a way to, to think of contributing to environmental good. 

Russ Stoddard: Oh, sure. Container garden on your patio is absolutely fantastic. And, you can e it’s, you can even see the difference, say for instance, in the soil, if you’ve started amending it with a compost that you, you, you make yourself, there’s a difference in the way it feels and looks, and you realize, oh, that’s productive and it’s healthy, and there’s no way quite like doing that. You have two different containers, one that you amend. With compost that you make and one that you don’t, and it’s like, wow.

I can see a difference in the difference. The plant’s healthier, I get more fruit from it or what have you. And it just feels better. Is that healthy, earthy lowy sort of soil? 

Kim Allchurch Flick: And do you see possibilities to integrate some of that into offices as well for the people? But it’s also a way on the impact assessments.

To say there’s a contribute contribution locally and in person to the environment. 

Russ Stoddard: Sure, sure there is. It goes back to everything from rewarding alternative methods of transportation that create fewer carbon emissions to just your basic. Basic recycling. And then in an office, you can also have composting forever in a, a day, I’ve taken a compost that from here at the office and, or I should say organic matter that can be composted and take it back to our small farm. And what I’d really love to do is have a an actual composter here at my coworking space so that people could see the results of that. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: That would be amazing. So tell us about inspiration Ally. Oh yeah. 

Russ Stoddard: Forever and a day I’ve wanted to have a co-working space.

I’ve seen them in larger communities and worked at a few, and always en enjoyed that. And I thought, wow I’d like to have one here. I own a building here in downtown Boise that I’ve been here for nearly 25 years and it’s a cool old building that’s become. I guess a little bit of a landmark in the community for the architectural style of the building.

And then it sort wrapped in wrapped in large scale murals of social and environmental impact heroes. So people really know about it. And I thought, oh, I’d like to create a company. Place where creative types can come together and create a community. And so I started that about a year and a half ago, Kim.

And I, that makes sense. I hit the market, I think. Right? It’s not like I’m minting the money or anything. But over the last year and a half, I think people are not only exiting the pandemic, but with what everything is going on in society right now. People are hungry for the ability to get out and work and talk and be around others who are similarly trying to do not only like.

A a great job at their their work and progressing their careers, but also to be in the the harmony of others who are hoping and working towards a better community and planet. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: And I’ve always, I love that. And I’ve always seen you as having a spirit of understanding and wanting to help the innovators and the new entrepreneurs help them be as strong and.

And compelling to their clients and customers as possible. 

Russ Stoddard: Yeah. And I get to do that on a daily basis with a mix of very interested, interesting, and smart people from our members range from a guy who’s a forester to a market researcher, to an architect to what have you.

So it’s a very, very broad and interesting group of people here. And it’s it’s keeping me young Kim, which, you get up in the ears and you gotta take every little bit of fountain of Youth that you can get. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: Indeed. I also appreciate that you have somewhat of an activist heart.

And tell us about the murals. And some of the inspirational and important things that have been on the murals of inspirationally through time. Oh, 

Russ Stoddard: okay. I always had, this was another dream of mine to do a project like this, that, not only honors champions of social and environmental justice, but also does it in an art artful way.

So during the pandemic, I thought this is my opportunity here. Idaho is a, very, very, very conservative state. Boise is probably purple, but I thought, you know what? I want to put up an honor and hopefully inspire some people by the lessons and models of of those in society who have done something that oftentimes they’ve had to make.

Pretty significant sacrifices for, so I hired a couple of super talented muralist street artists here in Boise. They go by the collective named Sector 17, and we started putting up, murals around the building. The first one was Colin Kaepernick and Maya Moore, both out of the sports world, who made significant sacrifices in their life on behalf of social justice. And the community rallied around those. So I did a couple more. I did Dolores Huerta, who is from the United. Farm workers movement and is a hero to many, but specifically to the Hispanic community. And then I thought, okay, I’m going to see if I can wrap the entire building in them.

And I did a community crowdfunder because I thought the first ones I paid for. And then I thought, I wanna involve others and see if we can get the community behind this. And we raised nearly 20,000 dollars to do that. And we’ve got people who are, as far as the icons go, we’ve got, every, just about every sort of ancestry. We’ve got Muslims, we’ve got Hispanics, we’ve got Japanese Americans. We’ve got more women than men. And it’s really re rewarding to be able to watch the community respond to that and see people come every day and take pictures and selfies with, uh mm-hmm.

Some of the people who are there. So that’s that’s the genesis and execution of that Kim. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: Oh, and with that, I love that and I’m gonna bring you back to your quote that values is a product, and in a way, your values have become art. Creating a building that’s a coworking space is also a dynamic space for.

People to learn something. And you mentioned people that I hadn’t heard of until I read your post, that these really important stories to think about and you have so many layers in ways that you express values. And that’s one of the things that I’m so impressed by with the murals and also the way you live your life.

And I’m curious what inspires you into the future? 

Russ Stoddard: Oh, what inspires me into the future? I see online I see a lot of courageous people out there doing things that I hope and I wonder if I would actually do when confronted with them. And a lot of that. Has to do with the societal unrest that we’re experiencing today.

But I’m inspired when I go to a a rally at the State House here in Boise with thousands of others that are protesting the current administrations. Many of its political actions. And then day in and day out here in my coworking space, I am inspired by young people. Who see things in a different way than a lot of my generation certainly did.

And I’ve got hope for them to actually address all these pressing issues not the least of which is climate change, which I think, sometimes I look at it and go holy smokes. I’m worried. I’m worried about my kids and my grandkids and the the world they’re going to inherit from our generation.

And then I’m around them and I’m like, emboldened and heartened by the fact that, you know, what, they were working on it in a way that I probably wasn’t when I was their age. So that’s incredibly inspiring to me. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: And I’d love that you have all sorts of diversity and inclusion in your life and your world and your work, including generational.

And there’s something to be said for that that I think is truly in inspiring for people to think about is where is wisdom? How do we create it? You are a B Corps of your company. Oliver Russell has been one of the, one of the early B Corps. And you’ve been through that journey and seeing the changes so you can give so much perspective and yet gaining perspective from youth.

I think there’s so much value to that. It’s circular. 

Russ Stoddard: Yeah, I you can’t live forever, but there’s some days I wish I could not like the Silicon Valley guys who are trying to do that. It’s just like, wow, there’s so much unfolding. I’d love to see how it turns out, and I’d love to keep contributing.

Kim Allchurch Flick: Me too. I’m a, I don’t wanna miss out on anything. I’m a big, I’m a big believer that there are innovations to come that people are working on now and. I at least can I be aware of them and support them in some ways. And I see you doing the same. 

Russ Stoddard: Yeah. Yep. Is 

Kim Allchurch Flick: there anything else you’d like to share about Oliver Russell inspiration Ally your work and your community.

Russ Stoddard: Oh, I don’t think there’s anything I’d like to share there. I guess I’d like to just use those as examples to others. Yes. For what I hope they might be doing in their own communities. It’s just reaching out and connecting with others and maybe spending an hour or two each month volunteering or helping someone.

Kim Allchurch Flick: Absolutely. And how can people reach you? 

Russ Stoddard: Oh gosh, I’m all over social media. I’m on LinkedIn quite regularly, so that’s a great place and easy to find through an internet search there. My newsletter, as you mentioned earlier, Godspeed is another way, and that’s hosted on the Ghost Plat platform.

So you can check out. Find me there and connect with me through the newsletter every week. So that’s two good ways. My maybe in show notes, you can link to my email address to rto@oliverrussell.com. 

Kim Allchurch Flick: That sounds wonderful and you’ve given us so much to think about that values as a product.

Also think about how to incorporate even small ways of. Doing some environmental things where you are, even if it’s a pollinating plant in a pot that attracts a small habitat. Also being aware of community and what’s out there. I think it’s, IM important to think of community as a way to not only improve business by commun, by being in community.

People wanna buy from each other. But as a way to make things better in the world and sharing values can do that. It creates something strong. You’re also an activist and I hope that people will pick up the links for the book as well. And I have one last question, and that is if you could have dinner with anyone living or deceased.

Who might that person be or why? And you could have up to a table of four, including you, 

Russ Stoddard: but it could be a table, just one table of four. Okay. Well, let me I think I’ll start with Greta Thunberg, the environmental and social Activist. She would be a great one because I admire her courage for sure.

And I think she’d have many great stories to tell and would probably be challenging to me to up my game as well. Second, I think I’d include Mother Teresa. Because just the the fullness of her heart and that she dis displayed, I think I would like to learn from her as well.

And she’s another courageous one, I think. And then I might end with, john Steinbeck, the author and I guess oh. I absolutely love his writing, both his short stories and his novels. I don’t think there’s a finer writer around, and then he also probably has the the quote that has stuck with me that I return to often as a source of inspiration.

So I’ll read that now if I could. Absolutely. Okay, so here’s the quote from Steinbeck that I use as a touchstone, and it’s all the goodness and the heroism will rise up again. Then be cut down again and rise up. It isn’t that the evil thing wins, it never will, but that it doesn’t die. And so for me, I use that as an acknowledgement that yes, there is evil in this world.

And I think we get to see that on display, unfortunately, on a daily basis today around the world. But the forces of good are the only thing that keeps that from running rampant. So I. Have that as kind of a call to arm to use good here in the community and wherever I can to actually combat that.

Kim Allchurch Flick: The forces for good. Keep that from running rampant. I am truly inspired by that because I think a lot of us can feel unsettled at the very least, at sometimes, but it’s that continuing on. Continuing to do. That’s why I love having you on this program because you are an inspiration and you are someone who has continued on and does and is so innovative about the ways to do that, but also.

It’s so embracing of community at the same time. Yeah.

Russ Stoddard: It’s helpful to remember that every day is a new day, and on any given day you can help someone, whether that’s smiling and waving and saying hi on, on a street to a stranger, or by actually going out and doing some volunteer work.

Kim Allchurch Flick: Indeed. Thank you so much for being here. Everyone, thank you for listening. I’m Kim Allchurch Flick. Take care.