Bear Hébert - How To Earn A Living Without Dying From Capitalism (Yes, Really!)
“It's possible to do business in a way that is liberatory and exciting and generative and not just following the old scripts.” - Bear Hébert
Why is this episode late to my site and my socials? Because I’m doing a lot right now. Why am I doing a lot right now? Because of my internalized capitalism and ideas of what productivity means. What a perfect way to introduce today’s guest, Bear Hébert
Capitalism is the worst. It’s easy to feel stuck in it (I know I do), espeically if you struggle to comprehend how you would make a living in a liberated society. This episode is an invitation to get curious, ask the basic questions, get stuff wrong, and connect with people who love to share their revolutionary wisdom.
Bear Hébert aims to support folks to get a little bit more free via their work as an artist, anti-capitalist business consultant, and social justice educator. They help business owners of all sizes build thriving livelihoods while helping them sidestep the traps of capitalism. Bonus: Bear’s side hustle is teaching men+ how to unlearn patriarchy! Bear has been self-employed for over 10 years, so you know they have the street cred to offer advice. Our conversation delves into the guilt, shame, and inaction that often accompany upward shifts in economic status (a capitalist trap). They and Sarah also chat about navigating personal reckonings amid a major regional crisis, thriving despite painful childhoods, and embodying an anti-capitalist ethos in real life.
“That feeling of ‘I know the world needs this, but the world doesn't know it needs this’ was the way it felt inside my business for a long time,” says Bear, recounting their earliest days as an anti-capitalist business consultant. “I just kept talking about it, even when people said, ‘That's stupid!’” The more they showed up in that radical, daunting space, the more Bear attracted like-minded rebels needing guidance. Just hearing this conversation made me want to sign up to work with them!
What exactly does an anti-capitalist business coach do? Bear works with clients who want to be in business without conceding to capitalism. They help folks unlearn these internalized systems and challenge their (often) harmful personal narratives around productivity. Bear also helps their clients create space for collective care to counter our cultural individualism.
Bear kicks down the ‘bootstrap’ myths that many of us have inherited. They don’t sugar-coat the challenges of shedding that logic. Instead, they support clients who are learning to hold space for the world as it is now and eschew the zero-sum game of chasing profit at all costs.
Their work inspires me and makes me feel hopeful. I hope it does the same for you!
Mentioned in this Episode
Legacy Of The Heart: The Spiritual Advantages Of A Painful Childhood
GUEST CONTACT AND BIO
Bear Hébert (they/them) is an artist, anti-capitalist business consultant, and social justice educator. Since 2014, Bear has helped tiny business owners build thriving livelihoods while sidestepping the traps of capitalism. Their side gig is teaching men+ how to unlearn patriarchy. They believe that relational work is real work, and emotional work is movement work; they're trying to help us all get a little more free.
Let’s be friends! You can find me in the following places…
