logo
episode-header-image
Aug 8
24m 10s

A bold idea to rebuild the working class...

TED
About this episode

Struggling communities don’t need handouts — they need bold new ways to root wealth. Meet Molly Hemstreet — a TED Fellow, Southern Appalachia native and cofounder of worker support network the Industrial Commons — who’s flipping the script on generational poverty by turning textile waste into $9-per-pound yarn and factory workers into business owners. Discover how her long-haul approach is rebuilding rural economies stitch by stitch, proving that opportunity grows when we stop extracting and start empowering.

For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch.


Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:

TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou

TEDSports: ted.com/sports

TEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-vienna

TEDAI San Francisco: ted.com/ai-sf


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
The best thing that could happen to the energy industry | Matt Tilleard
History has been written by whoever controls the dominant fuel of the era — until now, says renewables entrepreneur Matt Tilleard. He explains why, as the clean energy transition ramps up, we’re moving from a world where energy comes from burning fuels to one where it will come f ... Show More
13m 51s
Oct 7
Inside the Gaza peace plan | Ian Bremmer
October 7 marks the second anniversary of Hamas' horrific attack on Israel — and Israel's devastating response. Political scientist Ian Bremmer unravels the intricate dynamics of President Trump's ambitious peace plan, the stark realities facing Gaza, how Israeli Prime Minister N ... Show More
39m 48s
Oct 6
Going viral taught me the internet is broken — but fixable | Deja Foxx
Digital strategist Deja Foxx went viral for speaking up at a town meeting — and then learned the harsh cost of being in social media’s crosshairs. She welcomes us to the “girl internet,” a growing ecosystem of women-led platforms that prioritize privacy, community and respect. "W ... Show More
11m 41s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 8
A bold idea to rebuild the working class | Molly Hemstreet
Struggling communities don’t need handouts — they need bold new ways to root wealth. Meet Molly Hemstreet — a TED Fellow, Southern Appalachia native and cofounder of worker support network the Industrial Commons — who’s flipping the script on generational poverty by turning texti ... Show More
24m 10s
Sep 4
How displaced people are driving local economies | Julienne Oyler
The number of forcibly displaced people across the world is on the rise. While aid systems often focus on providing basic necessities like food and shelter, Julienne Oyler and her team at the nonprofit Inkomoko have a more ambitious plan: invest in refugee entrepreneurs in order ... Show More
10m 8s
Sep 8
Forget hustle culture. Behold the Artist Corporation | Yancey Strickler
Kickstarter cofounder Yancey Strickler unveils a radical new economic model that could transform how creative people build sustainable careers, amass collective wealth and escape the burnout of hustle culture. Hear his vision for how artists can pool resources, share profits and ... Show More
12m 42s
Aug 22
What sex, soap and alcohol taught me about making an impact | Myriam Sidibe
What if saving lives and growing a company went hand in hand? Public health expert Myriam Sidibe thinks many businesses are going about social impact all wrong — and leaving millions of dollars on the table at the same time. Drawing from decades of experience, she reveals a playb ... Show More
11m 8s
Jul 21
You are the bridge to the next generation | Ndinini Kimesera Sikar
"Do you know what you want to preserve for the next generation?" asks community leader Ndinini Kimesera Sikar. Drawing on her experience growing up in a family of 38 in a traditional Maasai village in Tanzania — where every chore was shared, every story was sung and belonging mea ... Show More
12m 38s
Sep 9
Facing your fears with cliff diver Molly Carlson
Molly Carlson is a professional high diver, three-time runner-up at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, and the founder of Brave Gang, an online community of people who encourage each other to face their fears together. In this episode, Molly and Adam reflect on anxiety and m ... Show More
38m 49s
Sep 1
How labor unions shape society | Margaret Levi (re-release)
The weekend. Social Security. Health insurance. What do these things have in common? They all exist thanks to the advocacy of labor unions. Political economist Margaret Levi explains how these organizations forge equality and protect worker rights, calling for a 21st-century revi ... Show More
18m 2s
Feb 2025
What’s The Value In Community?
JVN sits down with Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon—educator, entrepreneur, and founder of The Village Market—to unpack one of the biggest myths of our time: being self-made. In a culture that glorifies individual success, Dr. Key challenges us to rethink the power of community. Together, th ... Show More
49m 36s
Jul 30
AI Billionaire Lucy Guo's Guide to Building Unicorns and Scaling Wealth in Silicon Valley
This week on Networth and Chill, Vivian sits down with Lucy Guo, the serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Scale AI, to explore the financial blueprint behind building multiple unicorn companies before age 30. From dropping out of Carnegie Mellon to co-founding Scale AI—now value ... Show More
44m 15s
Sep 25
Overcoming the Odds: He left his successful corporate job to build an apparel company and created the Divine 9 Fashion line for Macy's.
Two-time Emmy and Three-NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Montee Tayion Holland. 📝 Summary of the Interview Montee Holland, a Detroit native and former Marine, shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a successful ... Show More
32m 43s