Retirement policy expert Kendra Isaacson joins Jim Bonham for Part One of a two-part conversation exploring why employee stock ownership plans enjoy rare bipartisan support on Capitol Hill. Drawing on her experience at the Department of Labor and on the Senate HELP Committee, Isaacson explains how ESOPs fit within America’s retirement system—and why lawmakers on both the left and the right view employee ownership as a public good that strengthens workers, businesses, and local economies.

Dr. John Hoffmire joins the podcast for a sweeping, candid look at the history of ESOPs: How they began as bold experiments, to the lessons learned along the way, and what can be done next to create millions more employee owners.

What turns an ESOP into a true ownership community? Culture—and the communication that powers it. Jim Bonham sits down with Lindsay Shafer and Jason Wellman to break down the habits and everyday practices that create engaged employee owners and high-performing ESOPs.

In Part Two of The Ownership Effect premiere, Jim Bonham sits down with Drew Tavss, CEO of Mid South Building Supply, for a deep dive into the company’s ESOP journey. What factors went into Mid South Building Supply’s decision, what led them to their Miracle Moment, and how did the ESOP transition affect the company and employees? Listen to the latest episode and find out!

In the premiere episode of The Ownership Effect, Jim Bonham speaks with Gary Shorman, Chairman of Eagle Communications. Jim and Gary discuss Eagle’s ESOP journey, and what employee ownership has meant for the company, the employees, and the communities it serves.

The Ownership Effect is your front-row seat to one of the most powerful — and underappreciated — forces reshaping the American workplace: employee ownership. Hosted by Jim Bonham, President and CEO of The ESOP Association, this biweekly podcast dives deep into the transformative impact of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) on businesses, workers, and local economies.

Each episode features candid conversations with company founders, policymakers, and employees whose lives have been transformed by ownership. You’ll hear real stories of change and shared success, and why companies are choosing the ESOP model. We’ll dive into the challenges holding employee ownership back—and the solutions that can bring it to more Americans.

If you’re a business owner, an employee who wants more than a paycheck from your job, or someone who believes in an economy that works for everyone, this podcast is for you!

New episodes every two weeks. Subscribe and join the movement toward a more prosperous workplace and economy.