let it out mission & values

BUSINESS ETHICS AND VALUES

I believe that being vulnerable and genuine can connect us, and full transparency is the best form of business. It is impossible to feel safe enough to share when you’re constantly being re-traumatized by oppressive systems. We are for social justice and full inclusion. I’m committed to diversity, inclusion, equity, anti-racism, and ending all forms of oppression. 

For years, my work has been dedicated to genuine connection. It is a space for people to come and listen to a diverse group of people speak candidly about self-care, habits, routines, and above all, their most tender stories that make them who they are.   My aim is for this to be a safe space for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+,  and people of all sizes to feel both seen and welcome. 

Our content often highlights “self-care,” and I want to honor that the phrase “self-care” was coined by Audre Lorde as an act of radical self-preservation as a necessary act for activists to preserve energy and conserve for the fight. She was specifically talking about black women.

We believe the idea of self-care in her sense is important for women and marginalized people. However, this term is one that is often co opted by mainstream popular  “wellness” culture which is connected to diet culture. We firmly believe that diet culture is oppressive and rooted in racism and misogyny, for more on that please follow the Food Psych podcast or listen to my multiple interviews with ED professional Christy Harrison. Each project within the let it out umbrella is a safe space for people with a history of eating disorders. 

In order to enact these values in my business and my life, I engage in the following practices:

BUSINESS PRINCIPLES 

The revenue I make from the online-course sales, podcast advertising, and other products and services I sell allows me to compensate all independent contractors I work  with. 

While most of what  I make goes back into the business, I pay myself what I can so that I can continue doing creative work. This allows me to support myself completely independently as a single woman. 

I give at least 10% of my personal income to organizations and causes I believe in that are for social justice, including The Loveland Foundation and Exalt.

When enrolling in courses and trainings, I pay for the services of Black, Indigenous, POC and LGBTQ+ creators. 

I make a point to use a portion of my budget in the Black community and I am working to increase that percentage. 

ACCESSIBILITY

In order to make my work accessible to people at all income levels, I offer several options to interact with my work including my free journaling 101 kit, weekly podcast, email newsletter, let it out site written posts, and my personal and @letitouttt instagram accounts, and my low-cost book and personal growing kits. I’ve gotten feedback that my free resources have helped people alone. 

I offer payment plans as a way to make my paid word more accessible. You can contact us to work out an alternate plan if needed. I charge a low interest rate for payment plans, which serves only to cover the additional cost of administering them.

I offer 4 scholarships a year to my podcasting kit course, and I give priority to candidates from marginalized backgrounds . (for info on applying email us here)

I occasionally hold sales or promotions where I donate a percentage of revenue to a progressive organization or cause. 

In my creativity clinic, for every four full-price clients, I work with one client for free and prioritize candidates from marginalized backgrounds (to apply click here)

MEDIA ETHICS 

As a journalism school graduate I take a journalistic  approach in my work. Although  I have a clear point of view that I share in my writing and my podcast I aim for honesty and accuracy. I follow the National Eating Disorders Association’s guidelines for sharing my experiences. 

I practice citing all sources and ask that others cite me when they share anything from LET IT OUT. More on this in our terms & conditions and privacy policy.

While I do endorse products and brands I love, I always clearly label all paid ads on LET IT OUT produced shows. I never work with advertisers who do not fully align with my values because I would never run the risk of harming a member of my community by promoting brands that are triggering to them or not useful in some way, just like I would never recommend something to a friend that I didn’t believe in fully.

I have never been paid for media appearances  and the journalistic code of ethics prevents paying for interviews.  For non podcast related collaborations I pay collaborators an agreed upon rate or revenue sharing model unique to the project and scope of work. 

I seek out inclusive  sources to interview for my podcast, articles, books, and other publications.

I don’t speak at conferences or on panels unless they are also including and prioritizing BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ speakers.