Thee Quaker Podcast
May 12, 2026
In this episode, host Zack Jackson speaks with Ethan Birchard '91 (Executive Director at Friends Fiduciary) and Friends Fiduciary colleagues.
Friends Fiduciary is taking a seat at the shareholders’ table, using Quaker values to persuade global brands to put humanity over quick profits.
Ethan argues that even if you aren’t managing millions of dollars, you have power as a customer through boycotts and as an everyday investor by simply asking your financial advisor questions. Ethan asks: What is one small, practical step you could take this week to align your wallet with your values? ...If you have a retirement plan of some kind, you have an investment advisor of some kind who’s managing that money, ... and if you feel like they’re not being attentive to the risk of being able to align with environmental sustainability or social responsibility,... Then you can call them up and you can say you don’t like it, ... And if enough people do that, everyone who wished their retirement savings better reflected their values made enough of this kind of noise, we’re customers. We can really have an impact.
Currently, only Meetings or organizations can invest at Friends Fiduciary, connecting their financial resources with their core missions, but the great news, as Zack shares, is that soon there will be even more ways to get involved. Friends Fiduciary is working to open their doors to individual investors as well. They want everyday people to have direct access to ethical investing. They are hoping to launch their first ETF in the next year. That stands for Exchange Traded Fund. You will not need a massive endowment to participate. They’re hoping to make this available in the next year or so, and when they do, you will be able to buy shares right from your phone. You can align your personal savings with your deepest values.
About the Thee Quaker Podcast
Thee Quaker Podcast brings stories of spiritual courage to your ears.
Quakers (aka the Religious Society of Friends) were founded in the 1600’s on the radical premise that God’s truth is available, in equal measure, to everyone. George Fox, one of the founders of Quakerism, believed there was “that of God” in everyone, and driven by this conviction, Quakers have always rejected easy answers and shallow assurances in their search for spiritual truth.
Thee Quaker Podcast is a continuation of that 400-year-old tradition.
Co-hosts are John Watts (Executive Producer )and Zack Jackson (Producer)