I’m Cory Ames, a writer and media producer, and for the last several years, my work has revolved around one driving question:
How can we live and work in a way that truly sustains us—our communities, our environment, and our sense of meaning?
Through writing, podcasting, and video, I explore the powerful intersections of business, nature, and philosophy—how they shape the world we live in, and how they can be reimagined for something better.
My Work
I’m the founder of Ensemble Texas, a media company dedicated to telling stories that connect people to place (specifically San Antonio and Texas). Whether it’s the natural world, the cities we live in, or the economies we participate in.
Aside from that, I host Life Ensemble, a podcast that challenges how we think about sustainability, work, and what it means to live well.
I also serve as the Producer of bigcitysmalltown, a podcast that highlights the people who make San Antonio go and grow.
Previously, I hosted The Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast, where I conducted over 250 interviews with leaders shaping a more just and sustainable world (you can find the archive of interviews on my Life Ensemble podcast feed).
The insights from those conversations form the foundation of my forthcoming book with Trinity University Press, set to be published in Spring 2026.
The book examines how businesses, social enterprises, and entrepreneurs frame their role in solving environmental and social challenges—and whether their approaches truly make change or simply reinforce the status quo. Drawing from real-world case studies, historical context, and firsthand interviews, the book investigates what’s needed to bridge the gap between intention and impact in the business of saving the planet.
Ep. #88 on bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard
How I Got Here
I started my career in marketing, running a digital agency, before stepping away to pursue my real interests—writing, research, and storytelling. I spent years exploring sustainable business, local economies, and environmental conservation, interviewing thought leaders, and writing extensively on what it truly means to create lasting change.
Life brought me to San Antonio, Texas, where I now live with my wife and two sons. Here, I’ve become deeply invested in Texas ecology, urban sustainability, and the future of the city—how we grow, what we conserve, and how we shape a thriving future together.
I believe the way we live should leave the world better off, not worse.
That means questioning the systems we participate in, challenging our assumptions about growth and consumption, and reconnecting with what truly sustains us—our communities, our environment, and our sense of purpose.
It’s easy to get caught up in big, abstract conversations about sustainability—but real change happens at a human scale, through the choices we make daily and the way we show up in our own cities, neighborhoods, and homes.
That’s what my work is about. Understanding the world as it is—so we can create something better.
Connect with Me
• 📖 Read My Work: EnsembleTexas.com
• 🎙️ Listen to the Podcasts: Ensemble Texas, Life Ensemble, & bigcitysmalltown
• 📺 Watch My Videos: YouTube
• 🔗 Follow on Social Media: LinkedIn