Best Jess Birken Podcasts (2024)

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117: Free Therapy for Wallabies | Political Activity for c3 Nonprofits & the Heritage Foundation 21:06

5h ago21:06

21:06

Ever wondered what nonprofits can and can't do when it comes to politics? On today’s episode of Charity Therapy, Meghan and I are diving into the tricky world of political activities for 501c3 nonprofits. We'll chat about the dos and don'ts of voter engagement, why 501c3s can't endorse candidates, and how 501c4s have more wiggle room in the politic…

1
027. The Advantages of a First-In, First-Out Policy 22:55

6h ago22:55

22:55

A common piece of conventional wisdom around how law firms prioritize their work is that they should organize everything around deadlines and due dates. While deadline-driven prioritization does have a place, it's my experience that there's a better technique that law firms should be adopting as their default prioritization method: first-in first-o…

1
026. Start with What You Do Now 17:15

1d ago17:15

17:15

Why is the concept of "start with what you do now" crucial for creating meaningful and durable change in your law practice? This principle helps you understand your current processes and the people involved in them, recognizing why you are where you are, so you can make more informed decisions about how to move forward. Tune in this week for a dive…

1
116: We Don’t Need to Be Cops | Financial Fraud in Nonprofits 18:48

2d ago18:48

18:48

In this episode of Charity Therapy, we’re diving deep into nonprofit finances to help you safeguard your organization from fraud. We’ll walk you through essential internal controls like segregation of duties, setting up a budget, and making sure transactions get a second set of eyes. Trust me, even if your team feels like family, these steps are cr…

1
025. Following Your Law Firm Strategic Plan with Melissa Shanahan 40:20

8d ago40:20

40:20

Melissa Shanahan, founder of Velocity Work and host of The Law Firm Owner Podcast, teaches her clients a planning and accountability method she calls Monday Map/Friday Wrap. This method highlights some vital parts of the Agile practices of weekly planning and weekly review meetings. Monday Map/Friday Wrap is about creating micro-feedback loops with…

1
024. Sticking with Change When Change Gets Hard 16:46

15d ago16:46

16:46

Visualizing your work on a Kanban Board can be a life-changing improvement to your and your team's overall productivity. But adopting the board as a tool and the Kanban method more broadly can be a little uncomfortable at first, especially when you see all of your to-dos laid out in one place. So, how do you stick with change, like using a Kanban B…

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115: Hell No! | Dissolving a Nonprofit Organization 19:29

18d ago19:29

19:29

What really goes into shutting down a nonprofit? In this episode of Charity Therapy, Meghan and I explore the emotional and legal rollercoaster of nonprofit dissolution. We kick things off by exploring the tricky differences between closing a nonprofit versus a for-profit business. Trust us—it’s not as simple as just locking the doors. We even tack…

1
023. Roots of the Lawyer Shortage 22:30

23d ago22:30

22:30

The lawyer shortage is a complex issue with multiple factors at play, but the impacts are becoming apparent everywhere, from the public defender crisis to the civil access to justice gap, to the fierce competition for hiring and retaining mid-career associates. But what are the roots of this lawyer shortage? Tune in this week to discover what I bel…

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022. How to Write Effective Law Firm Policies 27:03

1M ago27:03

27:03

I've spoken before about the importance of making policies explicit. But what does it mean to draft an effective policy in your law firm? Tune in this week to discover what I believe are the elements that comprise a good policy, and learn how to get your team on board in implementing your policies. I share a template for writing effective policies …

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114: A Four Egg Day | Understanding Restricted Gifts for Nonprofits 18:12

2M ago18:12

18:12

Ever find yourself tangled in the mess of restricted donations and wondering how to keep everything legal and ethical? Well, you're in luck! In this episode of Charity Therapy, Meghan and I are here to help you navigate the tricky world of restricted funds with a whole lot of laughter and practical advice. We start with some hilarious stories about…

1
021. You Can't Scale Your Way Out of a Sustainability Problem 24:14

1M ago24:14

24:14

One of the features of modern business is that there's tons of pressure to grow, scale, and do more with less. Lawyers and their teams aren't exempt from this expectation. It makes sense to leverage our resources and our impact. However, growth for the sake of growth isn't necessarily the healthiest approach for your business, or for the people in …

1
020. The “Really Check:” Fostering Accountability with Jess Birken & Meghan Heitkamp 28:06

1M ago28:06

28:06

In past episodes, I’ve talked in detail about individual practices and how the Kanban method has upleveled them, and today’s show provides living proof. That’s because I’m talking with two clients of mine, Jess Birkin and Megan Heitkamp, of the Birkin Law Office, about the start of their practice and how they’ve transformed their business with syst…

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113: Take a Deep Breath | Grant Writing for Small Nonprofits 26:09

2M ago26:09

26:09

If you've ever felt like a deer in headlights when someone mentions grants, I’m here for you. In fact, I've got the guru of grant-getting, the scribe of success, Dalya Massachi herself, joining me on today’s power-packed episode of Charity Therapy. Nonprofit newbie or not, grant writing is super stressful. It’s a skill that takes practice and time …

1
019. Fit for Purpose: Designing Legal Services To Meet Client Needs 26:12

2M ago26:12

26:12

Have you ever put a ton of time and attention into a piece of legal work only to realize that it's not quite hitting the mark for your client? Or maybe you've delivered a technically flawless document, but your client’s just sort of “meh” about the whole thing, like they just don't seem to be satisfied? Tune in this week to discover how the Fit for…

1
018. Understanding "Jobs To Be Done" to Unlock Hidden Client Needs 32:33

2M ago32:33

32:33

Most lawyers think of their intake form as something that they need to send to the client so they can get the information they need to actually do the legal work their client requires. But what if we shifted the perspective and instead asked the question, "What is the job that my client is hiring my intake form to do?" Tune in this week to gain a d…

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112: Blaspheme It Up | Nonprofit Fundraising with T. Clay Buck 21:58

3M ago21:58

21:58

Today we’ve got an episode from the backlist featuring one of our favorite guests, T. Clay Buck from TCB Fundraising! Clay and I dive into the nerdy goodness of data and systems for fundraising success. Clay dropped some serious knowledge bombs about the power of a solid fundraising plan and the need to keep it real with your donors. We tackle a li…

1
017. How Minimum Viable Products Can Improve Efficiency AND Quality 21:13

2M ago21:13

21:13

As you work to meet the high standards you set for yourself, it can become impossible to get tasks all the way through to done. However, in today's episode, I'm bringing you a framework that will help counterbalance your natural tendency to overbuild in the early stages of developing a process or product, so you can ultimately land on a higher-qual…

1
016. Aligning Your Firm's People and Systems with Tim Lennon 41:14

3M ago41:14

41:14

You've heard me talk about the individual practices and concepts from the Kanban method, but today's episode is an exciting opportunity for you to learn from one of my teachers in this world of Agile, Kanban, and Lean: Tim Lennon. Tim shares his experiences using and teaching the core practices of the Kanban method (like making work visible, limiti…

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111: Yoink, You’re Done! | Understanding IRS 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status 17:57

3M ago17:57

17:57

On this episode of Charity Therapy, we're gonna break down the often confusing world of IRS status for 501(c)(3) nonprofits. We know, taxes? Yawn, right? But stick with us because we'll make it as painless as a Band-Aid on a teddy bear. We'll dig into the difference between public charities and private foundations and spill the beans on why “tax-ex…

1
015. Mastering Effective Handoffs in Your Legal Practice 30:01

3M ago30:01

30:01

Handing off work, especially multiple back-and-forth handoffs, can be a huge source of delay and rework in your law practice. Tune in this week to discover how to be more effective when handing off work in your legal practice, minimizing the negative effects of ineffective handoffs. Rework is a harmful form of waste in your practice, so you’ll lear…

1
014. How to Prioritize Work Within Your Law Practice 24:18

3M ago24:18

24:18

Ever started your Monday already swamped with emails and tasks, all competing for your attention? Determining the best sequence to tackle these tasks is crucial for maximizing your effectiveness throughout the week and beyond. In today’s episode, I introduce a structured framework that enhances your ability to prioritize demands effectively, helpin…

1
013. Taming Email Overwhelm 24:27

3M ago24:27

24:27

If you’re like a lot of attorneys, one of the more significant sources of overwhelm in your law practice comes from the sheer volume of emails and other communications you have to process in the course of your day. In today’s episode, I share my recommendations for designing a better communications policy for creating more effective, efficient comm…

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110: Don’t Do It, Emmanuel! | When NOT to Start a Public Charity Nonprofit 16:38

3M ago16:38

16:38

Ever thought running a charity is all about helping people and feeling good? Strap in because Meghan and I are about to take you on a wild ride through the real ins and outs of starting and keeping a nonprofit afloat. Spoiler alert: it's not all sunshine and rainbows. There are hoops to jump through and some pretty sticky rules that can trip you up…

1
012. Principles for Legal Design with Alexandra Devendra 33:45

4M ago33:45

33:45

One of the hardest things to recognize in a law practice is how the default way in which lawyers approach and deliver their work creates barriers to access for everyday people trying to reach that lawyer’s services. So, how do you identify it and what can you do about it? This week, Alexandra Devendra, founder of design-focused B Corp law firm Alig…

1
011. The Definition of Done 23:29

4M ago23:29

23:29

How do you know that you’ve done enough to meet the standards you’ve set for your law practice? Today, I have two specific tools that work beautifully together and amount to a specific type of quality standard policy that you can implement within your law practice. Tune in this week as I share two important parts of the Agile Framework - Definition…

1
109: SMART Goals & Cans of Worms 16:38

4M ago16:38

16:38

I've got a real treat for you in this episode of Charity Therapy. It's all about finding that sweet spot for your nonprofit's mission and vision without tripping over those pesky legal lines. Meghan and I dive into why your mission should feel like a finish line you can cross—not just some far-off dream you're chasing forever. We also get real abou…

1
010. Make Policies Explicit 21:59

4M ago21:59

21:59

If you don’t have explicit policies, it becomes incredibly difficult to develop any consistency around how and when you deliver your work. Tune in this week to discover the importance of establishing simple but clear policies in your law practice. Those policies are going to be the key to improving the quality and consistency of your work product a…

1
009. Focus on Quality To Improve Efficiency 19:37

4M ago19:37

19:37

What if the best way to improve the efficiency of your law practice is to not try to improve efficiency at all, but to focus on quality instead? This may sound paradoxical, but focusing on quality, not efficiency, is the key to unlocking more balanced workloads, smoother workflow, increased capacity, and ultimately greater efficiency while deliveri…

1
108: Clover the B | Navigating Tax Status and Exploring IRS Forms 21:21

4M ago21:21

21:21

Today on Charity Therapy, Meghan and I dive into the sometimes tricky and often murky waters of nonprofit tax exemption and financial compliance. Think of us as your guides on a thrilling trek through the IRS jungle, equipped with the know-how to tackle those intimidating forms 1023 and 1024. And yes, we'll even chat about my duck Clover's latest s…

1
008. Building the Lean Law Firm with Dave Maxfield 50:44

5M ago50:44

50:44

Dave Maxfield, co-author of The Lean Law Firm, joins me today to provide an interesting look into how lawyers can adopt techniques from the Lean methodology to empower and improve their law practices. Tune in this week to discover how to take lean production systems of global production lines and use them to improve your law practice. We’re discuss…

1
007. Don’t Let Efficiency Destroy Customer Value 28:21

5M ago28:21

28:21

Streamlining processes in your law practice makes sense. It saves you and your team precious time and energy and keeps the backend running smoothly. However, optimizing a system for efficiency doesn’t always go down well with clients. In fact, it can reduce customer value and loyalty, leaving them disengaged from the process you’re helping them thr…

1
107: All Aboard the Struggle Bus! 25:25

5M ago25:25

25:25

Jess is coming at you with another episode that's gonna knock your grant-seeking socks off. In this episode of Charity Therapy, Jess is hanging out with the amazing Allison Welch, who's like a treasure hunter for grants, guiding us through the twists and turns of nonprofit funding. We're peeling back the curtain on that mysterious world of grant do…

1
006. What Clients Really Want from Lawyers 33:53

5M ago33:53

33:53

When somebody hires a lawyer, what are they really looking for? One mainstay of being an Agile Attorney is delivering customer value consistently, so how do you invest your time and experience in your practice now to create an environment that prioritizes client value in your firm? Discover how you can pivot in your law firm to provide the kind of …

1
005. Close the Closable: Finding Balance in Your Caseload 28:57

5M ago28:57

28:57

Do you have numerous cases close to being completed but, because they are no longer urgent, they sit among the rest of your work and make you feel overwhelmed by all there is to do? Many firms overlook addressing this common issue as an opportunity to reduce the total amount of work in their system. This week, I’m building on concepts we’ve talked …

1
106: Down With the Golf Tournament 22:10

5M ago22:10

22:10

You're about to dive into a podcast episode that's gonna change the game for your nonprofit's events. On this episode of Charity Therapy, Alicia Baraga joins Jess, and she's the superstar behind Ripple Event Marketing. We're unpacking all the tips and tricks to create fundraising events that are as unique as your mission – and it's not just about t…

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004. Kanban Board Essentials for Lawyers 34:22

6M ago34:22

34:22

There is a wealth of tools out there designed to streamline your workflow, easy to pick up and capable of adapting in countless ways as you master them. A personal favorite of mine is the Kanban board. We'll explore various board types, identifying the one that best meets your practice's needs and pinpointing bottlenecks in your process. You'll lea…

1
003. Finding and Fixing Bottlenecks to Drive Law Practice Efficiency 21:33

6M ago21:33

21:33

Are you hitting roadblocks in your legal delivery systems because of stubborn bottlenecks that disrupt the flow of work? It feels like every new solution out there promises smoother operations, yet often, they just end up shifting the problem elsewhere. In today’s episode, I’m going to guide you through the most effective strategies for getting wor…

1
105: A Rose By Any Other Name… 20:51

6M ago20:51

20:51

Have you ever thought about what your nonprofit looks like to the rest of the world? Well, buckle up because we're diving headfirst into the wild world of branding with Justin Bieganek. We're not just talking logos and colors; we're getting into the nitty-gritty of what makes your nonprofit tick and how to connect with people's hearts—not just thei…

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