About this episode

Dr. Mara Einstein discusses the impact of corporate cause marketing and its implications for social responsibility.

Have you ever been suspicious of a corporation showcasing their commitment to the environment, to marginalized groups of people, or to those suffering through a deadly disease? Dr. Mara Einstein is the author of Compassion, Inc.: How Corporate America Blurs the Line Between What We Buy, Who We Are, and Those We Help. For this episode, ahe explains the history and modern state of cause marketing to show how corporations use tricks like greenwashing and pinkwashing to improve their public profiles and their profits while shifting the responsibility of true change to their loyal customers. Mara's website Hoodwinked podcast Get a copy of Compassion, Inc Become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus content Or subscribe to American Hysteria on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get some of our new merch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠americanhysteria.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, all profits go to The Sameer Project, a Palestinian-led mutual aid group who are on the ground in Gaza delivering food and supplies to displaced families. Leave us a message on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Urban Legends Hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank You To Our Sponsor: Go to…

People in this episode

Host: Chelsey Weber-Smith

Guest: Dr. Mara Einstein

Topics covered

• cause marketing
• greenwashing
• pinkwashing
• corporate responsibility
• environmentalism
• social issues

Keywords

• corporate marketing
• environment
• marginalized groups
• greenwashing
• pinkwashing
• Compassion, Inc.
• social change

Sponsors

Surfshark

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Compassion, Inc., The Sameer Project, Hoodwinked podcast

More episodes of American Hysteria

• THE BENNINGTON TRIANGLE pt. 1 with Sarah Marshall · April 27, 2026 · 1h 29m
• Introducing: History Daily · April 24, 2026 · 16 min
• Blowing Up the Georgia Guidestones with Tyler McBrien · April 20, 2026 · 51 min
• Black Magic with Gruff Webb · April 13, 2026 · 1h 3m
• Hysteria Home Companion: The Berners Street Hoax · April 6, 2026 · 44 min
• DINOSAURS pt. 2 · March 30, 2026 · 1h 2m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the American Hysteria podcast page.