Welcome to Let’s Hear It, a podcast about foundation and nonprofit communications (among other things), hosted by non-relatives Eric Brown and Kirk Brown. Let’s Hear It is sponsored through generous contributions from the College Futures Foundation, the Lumina Foundation, the Prebys Foundation, and the Stupski Foundation. On Let’s Hear It, Kirk and Eric speak with leaders in the field about who they are, what makes them tick, and how they think about their work.
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The Clean Energy Economy is Coming! – with Rachel Korberg of the Families and Workers Fund and David Etzwiler of the Siemens Foundation
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Okay, folks, we know there’s an election happening and that you might be a bit, um, distracted. But one thing is sure, whatever happens this week, a clean energy economy is coming, and we need to do everything we can to make this transition work for everybody. So when you’re finished blowing into your paper bag, you might want to take a moment to t…
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Hey Philanthropy, You Can Fund Policy Work! No, Really! - A Conversation with Marc Solomon of Civitas Public Affairs and William Foster of the Bridgespan Group
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Fans of Let’s Hear It (and there are oh-so many!) will acknowledge that Eric and Kirk get a little nutty about their guests sometimes. Well, this time, Marc Solomon of Civitas Public Affairs and William Foster of the Bridgespan Group drive Kirk and Eric to 11. The topic this time is Marc’s and William’s new paper “Betting on the Tortoise: Policy In…
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Grace Nicolette of the Center for Effective Philanthropy Unpacks the $17 Billion Bombshell - MacKenzie Scott's Philanthropy Revolution
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In this dandy episode of Let's Hear It, Eric Brown sits down with Grace Nicolette from the Center for Effective Philanthropy to make sense of the phenomenon that is MacKenzie Scott's revolutionary approach to giving. Grace is the Vice President for Programming and External Relations at the Center for Effective Philanthropy and the co-host with Phil…
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Eloy Ortiz Oakley of the College Futures Foundation on the Power of Community Colleges
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Hey folks, we’re back after a quick summer break. Hope you missed us! As many parents pack their kids off to college this month, it’s important to remember that almost two out of five college students in the U.S. attends a community college. These are students who are often working full time, caring for family members, or going back to school to le…
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Esteban Gast, Climate Comedian - Yes, You Read That Right
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Sometimes it's okay to take a moment away from the massive challenges and simply laugh. Thanks to Esteban Gast and the organization he works for, Generation 180, we can even laugh about climate. Well, actually, Esteban helps us better understand how we can take actions that matter, understand that we're not alone, and have a little fun along the wa…
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ComNet24 is Coming! - With Sean Gibbons, Carrie Clyne, and Tristan Mohabir
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We are so excited about ComNet24 in Kansas City! When Sean Gibbons joined the Communications Network as its new leader a decade ago, he was tasked with leading an organization with 400 members and a staff of, um, himself and a ham sandwich. Today, the Network boasts over 4,000 members and a team of eight, reflecting Sean's infectious enthusiasm and…
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Suzanne Ehlers of USA for UNHCR Gives Us Hope on World Refugee Day
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As we approach World Refugee Day, it’s so good to know that there are people like Suzanne Ehlers who are making an extraordinary difference and people’s lives and providing real hope for the future. Suzanne is the Executive Director and CEO of USA for UNHCR, a nonprofit organization that supports the United Nations Refugee Agency. It helps raise aw…
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Fatima Angeles of the Levi Strauss Foundation Challenges Foundations to Fund their Partners "Like We Want Them to Win"
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A huge thank you to Fatima Angeles, the Executive Director of the Levi Strauss Foundation, for joining us on the latest episode of Let’s Hear It. Fatima talks with Eric about the Levi Strauss Foundation's groundbreaking work in areas like reproductive justice, worker rights, immigrant rights, and democracy. Fatima discusses her 24-year tenure at Ca…
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Inside Philanthropy’s David Callahan Gets All Carrot-y Stick-y With It
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Eleven years ago, David Callahan launched a most audacious project – a new publication that was going to get under the hood of philanthropy (to borrow from that great philosopher, Ross Perot) and expose the good, the bad, and the meh. Some folks chortled, some scoffed, and some cast their eyes heavenward in the hope that he would shed a little ligh…
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Heather McGhee Talks About the Amazing Future that the Multiracial Governing Coalition Will Bring
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Join us for a truly extraordinary conversation with the amazing Heather McGhee, the author of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. Heather exposes the lie of so-called zero-sum thinking—where one person's gain is seen as another's loss—and flips it on its head by explaining how diverse coalitions can produce a …
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Robert Pérez and the Genius of Upstairs, Downstairs
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We’ve been doing this show for a while, and every so often the pieces just elegantly slide into place. In thirtyish minutes, Robert Pérez does this for us. Robert is the founder and Chief Exploration Officer of Wonder: Strategies for Good, a network of experts in messaging, storytelling, psychology and public-opinion research that works with founda…
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Kristen Grimm of Spitfire Strategies Takes on the Trust Challenge
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Societies can’t thrive without sufficient levels of trust – trust in our elected officials, in our major institutions, the value of the dollar bill in our wallet, and even in our belief that our fellow motorists will abide by the traffic laws when we enter an intersection. You know where this is going, don’t you? We have a trust problem that threat…
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Chris DeCardy, the President of the Heinz Endowments, Convinces us that Pittsburgh is the Center of the Universe
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When Chris DeCardy took the reins of the Heinz Endowments last year, he was one of the very few former foundation communications directors to ascend to the lofty heights of president. And Chris has dived in with the energy of a teenager. Indeed, if there is a more energetic – nay, ebullient – foundation president in the land, we haven’t met them. C…
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A Marriage Made in Heaven! - Elena Chavez Quezada of Gov. Newsom’s Office and Don Howard of the Irvine Foundation Talk Partnerships
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Governments have money and foundations can take risks. Shouldn’t these be marriages made in heaven? Amazingly they’re not, but in California, we’re starting to see partnerships that are bucking the trend, which can be spectacularly good examples of how to make great collaborations work. On this episode of Let’s Hear It, Eric speaks with Elena Chave…
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Oscar Nominee John Hoffman Tackles the Racial Wealth Gap with his Amazing Film, “The Barber of Little Rock”
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Academy Award season is here, but while the rest of the world may be debating which half of the Barbenheimer phenomenon will take home the most trophies, at Let’s Hear It we’re putting all our chips on Best Documentary Short nominee “The Barber of Little Rock,” co-directed by Christine Turner and our dear friend John Hoffman. Eric and John reunite …
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In this episode of Let’s Hear It, our guest is none other than one of Hollywood’s most passionate and entertaining environmentalists – the amazing Ed Begley, Jr. As it happens, Ed and Eric go way, way, back, having worked together in Hollywood in the last millennium. Today, they’re both working in environmental communications, after a fashion, and …
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Anat Shenker-Osorio – The Magical Message Whisperer of Progressive Causes
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We are so delighted to present the legendary Anat Shenker-Osorio. Yes, that’s right, that Anat Shenker-Osorio. Maybe you’ve heard her on Ezra Klein, MSNBC, on her excellent podcast Words to Win By, or read her work in the New York Times, the Guardian, and more. On our latest episode of Let’s Hear It, Anat goes deep on how to create messages that wi…
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Don Chen of the Surdna Foundation Kicks off Season Six of Let’s Hear It
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How many of us in the nonprofit world can track our interest in climate to nightmares we had about natural disasters at age ten? Anyone? Oh, right, just Don Chen, President of the Surdna Foundation, former director of the Cities and States program at the Ford Foundation, former CEO (and founder!) of Smart Growth America, and this week’s guest on Le…
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Holiday Re-Release - Shanelle Matthews of the Radical Communicators Network
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Here is another one of our favorite interviews - Shanelle Matthews, founder of the Radical Communicators Network, former communications director for the Movement for Black Lives, and now Distinguished Lecturer at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at City College at the City University of New York. Shanelle is simply amazing an…
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Holiday re-release - the Great Jim Canales
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Today, we offer another one of our favorite interviews - a blast from the past with the inimitable Jim Canales, President and Trustee of the Barr Foundation. Jim is charming, funny, and one of they absolute nicest people in philanthropy. If you didn't get a chance to hear this conversation the first time, you're in for a treat.…
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This holiday season we're re-releasing some of our favorite and most popular episodes. Today - Trabian Shorters, one of our leading thinkers on asset framing - defining people by what they're hopes and dreams and what they have to offer. He has been such an important influence on so many of us.By letshearitcast
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Alison Smart is Changing How We Talk About Climate Change
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In our latest episode, we offer a fascinating conversation with Alison Smart, the Executive Director of Probable Futures - a nonprofit climate literacy initiative. Alison shares her organization's approach to democratizing climate science, making climate predictions accessible, and providing practical educational resources for anyone, anywhere, for…
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Larry Kramer’s Hewlett Foundation Exit Interview
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When Larry Kramer announced recently that he was leaving the Hewlett Foundation to run the London School of Economics, it marked the end of an extraordinarily productive tenure as the head of one of the world’s largest and most influential charitable foundations. In Larry’s nearly twelve years at Hewlett, he helped lead a new era of climate philant…
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Jen Carnig, the Brand-Spanking-New Head of Spitfire Strategies
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As the new president of the groundbreaking consulting firm Spitfire Strategies, Jen Carnig, who succeeds the legendary Kristen Grimm, might feel a little like whoever takes Megan Rapinoe’s place. It might seem a little daunting and very hard on your hamstrings, but think of the possibilities! Jen may have big shoes to fill, but she’s obviously read…
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Ashwath Narayanan is Proof That There’s Hope for the Future
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When our guest, Ashwath Narayanan, was 22, he launched Social Currant, a creative agency that is helping nonprofits and issue organizations use social media to reach audiences more effectively. By contrast, when co-host Eric was 22, he was working as a production assistant on low budget horror movies. So there’s that. Ashwath and his team of six fu…
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Stacy Palmer of the Chronicle of Philanthropy Reflects on Thirty Five Years as a Watchdog and Cheerleader for the Field
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On our latest episode of Let’s Hear It, we’ve snagged a giant in philanthropy. Our guest this week may well know more about philanthropy than any human walking the planet. Stacy Palmer created the Chronicle of Philanthropy thirty-five years ago, and since then her publication has simultaneously been philanthropy’s watchdog and its cheerleader (as i…
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Dena Kimball and David Brotherton on the Kendeda Fund’s Epic Journey
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Spending out, spending down, sunsetting – whatever you call it, it’s a tricky business. This year the Kendeda Fund will close its doors, having provided over one billion dollars in funding over the past thirty years. Their causes included girls’ rights, preventing gun violence, environmental sustainability, advancing racial equity, and supporting v…
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Going Commando with Nima Shirazi of Spitfire Strategies and Citations Needed
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Going Commando with Nima Shirazi of Spitfire Strategies and Citations Needed This week on Let’s Hear It, cynical-ish and salty-tongued Nima Shirazi of Spitfire Strategies and the hit podcast Citations Needed endures a slightly arduous, minorly torturous time behind the mic with Eric. Nima’s career is full of exciting experiences, including his curr…
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Tony Proscio Deconstructs Word Salad in the Philanthropic Jargon Space
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We have an impactful episode deep-diving into how Tony Proscio, a thought leader in this space, has moved the needle on the innovation of language in nonprofit and foundation work. He and Eric partner to get granular on staying transparent with folks from the donor pipeline to the board room. *record scratch* Just kidding! This week on Let’s Hear I…
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Tara Dorabji on the Power of Art and the Art of Power
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As long as there has been art, there have been artists using their creativity to try to transform society for the better. On the latest episode of Let’s Hear It, Eric speaks with Tara Dorabji, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at the Center for Cultural Power, an organization dedicated to harnessing the power of creativity. Tara Dorabji and…
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Making Reparations a Reality: Blazing a Trail to Racial Repair with Trevor Smith
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Join us in this thought-provoking and inspiring episode as we welcome Trevor Smith, the Director of Narrative Change at Liberation Ventures, an organization helping to strengthen the movement for Black-led racial repair. Trevor is a writer, researcher, and strategist focused on the topics of racial inequality, wealth inequality, reparations, and na…
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Designing the Office Space for the Aftertimes - Emily Krone Phillips of the Spencer Foundation and Francis Court of Wondersphere
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Let’s face it, most of us will never work the way we did before COVID. The office is different, and how we learn, share, and connect are different. So what are we going to do about it? Emily Krone Phillips, the Communications Director at the Spencer Foundation, working with her colleague Francis Court of the design firm Wondersphere, decided to rev…
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Alan Jenkins asks, “What if the 1/6 Insurrection Succeeded? – in a Comic Book
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Harvard Law professor Alan Jenkins has argued cases before the Supreme Court, made grants at the Ford Foundation, co-founded a national narrative change nonprofit, and now has co-authored...a comic book. But not just any comic book. 1/6: The Graphic Novel is a powerful and chilling reminder that great communications and great advocacy takes many fo…
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Marta Tellado of Consumer Reports – Our Privacy is a Setting, and it Needs to be a Right
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Marta Tellado’s new book Buyer Aware: Harnessing our Consumer Power for a Safe, Fair, and Transparent Marketplace is both an amazingly useful tool for today’s consumer to navigate the rat’s nest that is the modern marketplace and a manifesto for consumer freedom in the age of digital everything. Marta talks with Eric about the dangers of the lack o…
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Jacob Harold’s New Book Will Make Your Head Hurt (in a good way)!
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Many of us spend a career doing something, gathering stories, ideas, skills, and things like that and think to ourselves, “Hmmm. All this stuff I’ve learned might make a good book,” and then go right back to the brewpub for another Hazy IPA. Not Jacob Harold. Mind you, Jacob has had quite a rather distinguished career – he’s been a community organi…
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Using The Science of Storytelling to Change the Narrative on Poverty and Wealth: Shanelle Matthews of Radcomms and Annie Neimand of Third Sector
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If you aren't at the table, you’re on the menu, Shanelle Matthews and Annie Neimand remind us. In their new report, Broke: How the Nonprofit and Philanthropic Sectors Are Talking About Poverty—And How We Can Do Better, they note, “The stories we’re currently told about how the rich got rich, why the poor stay poor, and why people can’t “move up” pl…
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Ken Weine of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Has a Very Important Person on the Line
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Ken Weine blows our mind. As the Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President for External Affairs at one of the most famous and (dare we say it?) important cultural, social, and historical institutions on the planet, he oversees the marketing and media for 43 exhibitions a year, not to mention the famous Costume Gala, debates around cult…
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Jenn Hoos Rothberg of Einhorn Collaborative Dares You to Hope
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If you work in the social sector, you know how hard this moment is. You would be forgiven for feeling that our social and political world is spinning hopelessly out of control. Go ahead, belly up to the bar, or the ice cream section of your local supermarket, or whatever you do when you get that feeling. On the other hand, Jenn Hoos Rothberg, the E…
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Race Forward’s Jeff Chang: A Cultural Wing Walker and Oracle of the Zeitgeist Talks about Hip Hop, Chris Rock, and Moving Forward
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Jeff Chang has such a special view of race and culture in America that it’s almost impossible to do him justice. He draws on his Hawaiian/Chinese roots and his background as a hip hop DJ and indie label founder to help us better understand culture, politics, the arts, and music. Jeff was formerly the Vice President of Narrative, Arts, and Culture a…
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Disability Rights Advocate Emily Ladau Blows Our Minds Wide Open
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When Emily Ladau appeared on Sesame Street at the age of ten, she probably didn’t realize that she was beginning a lifetime of advocacy for people living with disabilities. Emily is the author of Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be An Ally, the Digital Content and Community Manager for the Disability & Philanthropy For…
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Aaron Belkin is a Stone-Cold Communications Genius
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We don’t bandy about terms like these, but Aaron Belkin is a stone-cold communications genius. He was a leader of the communications strategy that helped end the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that prevented gay and lesbian soldiers from serving openly in the military, and he followed that with a successful campaign to allow transgender i…
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Stupski Foundation‘s Glen Galaich Offers the Best Idea Yet for How Philanthropy Should Measure Success
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Did you miss us? We missed you! Let’s Hear It has been on a brief hiatus but we’re thrilled to be back with what we think is a cracking great conversation with Glen Galaich, the CEO of the Stupski Foundation in San Francisco. Eric sits down (in person!) with Glen to discuss Glen’s colorful career as a drive time talk radio host, his full-throated e…
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Jasmine Banks of UnKoch My Campus is Unafraid
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Jasmine Banks is unafraid. As the Executive Director of UnKoch My Campus, she is fighting to preserve democracy and protect higher education from undue corporate donor influence. She and her colleagues are taking on a nationwide network of think tanks, "action" groups, and academics funded by Koch Industries and its many subsidiaries. And you think…
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Edgar Villanueva’s Quest to Decolonize Philanthropy
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Edgar Villanueva is an author, activist, and expert on issues of race, wealth, and philanthropy. He is the Principal of the Decolonizing Wealth Project and Liberated Capital and author of the bestselling book Decolonizing Wealth, whose second edition was just released in August. He advises a range of organizations including national and global phil…
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If You Are Very Lucky, Rich Neimand Will Make You Some Soup
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Rich Neimand has spent his long career using his considerable marketing chops to advance important social causes. His firm, Neimand Collaborative, has worked on a wide range of issues to improve education, protect the environment, improve people’s health, and promote financial inclusion, among many, many others. At the center is his focus on unitin…
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Rinku Sen of the Narrative Initiative Shows Us Why What We Say Matters
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It’s not easy to describe a guest as dynamic as Rinku Sen, but we’ll give it a shot. Rinku is the executive director of Narrative Initiative, co-president of the Women’s March Board, and author of two incredible books. As a political strategist, she has worked with the ACLU and PolicyLink, and her work on the “Drop the I Word” campaign has revoluti…
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Living the Work: Precious Stroud of the BlackFemaleProject
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Precious Stroud is a Let’s Hear It guest like no other. With a career that unites communication, higher education, and storytelling, she has created spaces where there weren’t spaces before and asked questions few have thought to ask. We’re very lucky to have her on the show. Precious’s CV, like so many remarkable guests we’ve had on the podcast, i…
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Kris Putnam-Walkerly: News Flash – Philanthropy is Messed Up
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Maybe working in philanthropy is like attending a large Thanksgiving family gathering. There are folks you dearly love, folks you put up with, and folks who need a bit of a talking to. Kris Putnam-Walkerly knows this as well as anyone. She is a philanthropic advisor with a long history in the field, and she isn’t afraid to tell Uncle Irving that he…
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Lowell Weiss Got Yelled at by the President and Other Tales of Derring-Do
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Sometimes we need a little breath of fresh air during the workday. This week’s guest on Let’s Hear It might just do the trick. Lowell Weiss, President of Cascade Philanthropy Advisors, is probably one of the most genial guests we’ve had the pleasure of speaking with. From his behind-the-scenes perches at the Atlantic Monthly, the Bill and Melinda G…
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SF Foundation's Valerie Goode Has Never Seen Her Office
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Valerie Goode has been the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the San Francisco Foundation for a year now, but she has yet to set foot in her office. She has also led communications at a community foundation dedicated to advancing racial equity and economic inclusion at a moment when the challenges and opportunities have never felt m…
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