Stay or go? Social media, compromise, and contradictions with Illana Burk

Should we stay or should we go?Leaving social media has been an increasingly popular choice in the past few years. But is leaving always the most impactful choice?In this episode, we sit down with Illana Burk, business coach and advocate for human-first business, to talk about the messy middle of visibility, values, and doing business inside systems you didn’t build.Illana shares why she’s choosing to stay on social media; not because she’s ignoring the harm, but because of how social media is an important place our voices can be heard.We unpack the compromises and contradictions that come with trying to do business ethically in a digital world—where every platform is flawed, no choice is pure, and the desire to get it “right” can quietly become a trap. Illana offers a grounded, generous perspective on what it means to market with integrity and show up with care.* Why “just leaving” social media isn’t always the impactful move (and who wins if we do)* The difference between marketing, community, connection, and consumption—and how social media serves each differently* Why nuance, dialogue, and moral compromise are necessary parts of human business* Why being ethical in business doesn't mean doing it perfectly, and what that actually looks like in practice* Why presence—not performance—might be the best use of platforms in 2025* The value of showing up in systems you don’t fully endorse, and how to do so with intentionAbout our GuestIllana BurkIllana Has ThoughtsBread and ButterThe Good Business Podcasthttps://illanaburk.substack.com/p/i-dont-really-love-social-media-butResources MentionedRe-imagining Online Business | Brooke Monaghan & Tristan KatzThe Digital Watercooler is Gone | Amanda NatividadLizzy GoddardConnect with UsJoin us on SubstackMeg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com