Frontlines of Social Good Podcast

July 29, 2025: After the news, Clayton Weimers, Executive Director of Reporters Without Borders USA (RSF) talks about threats to journalism. Later, Alex Curley, Author of Semipublic on Substack, and Founder of Adopt A Station, discussed how public media can innovate in crisis.  

July 22, 2025: After the news, we're joined by Alice Ferris of Goalbusters Consulting to discuss funding cuts to public broadcasting. Then, Kimberly Dye talks about her new book, "Getting to the Yes."

July 15, 2025: After the news, we're joined by Bill McMorran, Senior Partner at Green Oak, to discuss the new tax laws and their impact on nonprofits. Then, Lieve Hendren, Senior Consultant, Director of Strategic Initiatives, CFRE, of Alford Group, talks with us about her new book, "The Joyful Flow Formula."

July 1, 2025: After the news, we’re joined by Trisha McLoughlin, General Manager of the Anthem Awards, to discuss key findings from the 2025 State of Impact Report—what’s shifting in the world of social good, and where momentum is building. Then, Armando Zumaya, Founder and Executive Director of Somos El Poder, explores a troubling question: Are funders pressuring Latinx nonprofits to change—and at what cost to authenticity and community trust?

June 24, 2025: This week, we break down the newly released Giving USA report with a powerhouse panel of philanthropy experts. Roger Ali, Chair of AFP Global, joins Rasheeda Childress, Senior Editor at The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and Sarah TeDesco, Executive Vice President at DonorSearch, to unpack what the latest data reveals about donor trends, sector resilience, and the road ahead for charitable giving in America.

June 10, 2025: After the headlines, we speak with George Weiner, Chief Whaler at Whole Whale, about the abrupt cancellation of Microsoft’s Premium Office Grants—and the ripple effects hitting thousands of nonprofits that rely on these essential tools. Later, Harvey McKinnon, acclaimed fundraising strategist and author, joins us to share the behind-the-scenes story of the grassroots campaign to save CBC Radio from devastating cuts—and the lessons it offers for defending public media here in the U.S.

May 27, 2025: After the news, we speak with Shannon McCracken, CAE, President & CEO of The Nonprofit Alliance, about “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill”—a controversial proposal that, despite its name, poses serious threats to the nonprofit sector’s ability to serve communities nationwide. Later in the show, Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Community Engagement at Neon One and Chair of the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, joins us to unpack new data revealing how the giving gap is widening—and what it means for the future of charitable fundraising.

May 20, 2025: After the news, we speak with Michal Heiplik, President & CEO of the Coalition for Public Broadcasting, about the future of public media funding and what proposed cuts could mean for civic education and local journalism. Later in the show, we’re joined by Anil Soni, Chief Executive Officer, and Bob Carter, Founding Board Member of The WHO Foundation, to explore how global philanthropy is fueling frontline health solutions.

May 13, 2025: After the news, we speak with Tooshar Swain, Director of Public Policy at Americans for the Arts, to discuss the threat to the National Endowment for the Arts, and what’s at stake for artists, organizations, and communities across the country. Later in the show, we speak with Dr. Aaron Conley and Dr. Genevieve Shaker, authors of Fundraising Principles for Faculty & Academic Leaders and recipients of the 2023 AFP/Skystone Partners Prize for Research on Fundraising and Philanthropy, to discuss how academic leaders can become better champions for their institutions.

May 6, 2025: After the news, we speak with Dr. Raquel Rall of the University of California Riverside and Dr. Demetri Morgan of the University of Michigan about their opinion piece in Inside Higher Ed, "Where Are the Boards?" Later in the show, we speak with Derrick Feldmann, Managing Director of the Ad Council Research Institute, on philanthropy and communications in the current environment.

April 29, 2025: After the news, Laura MacDonald, Principal and Founder of Benefactor Group, to explore The $100 Trillion Wealth Transfer and what it means for fundraisers, philanthropists, and generational giving. Later in the program, we speak with Chris van Bergen, co-author of Certifiable: How Businesses Operationalize Responsible Sourcing, about the intersection of business, ethics, and impact—and what nonprofits can learn from the corporate world when it comes to building trust and transparency.

April 15, 2025: After the news, Sara Herschander, Staff Reporter at The Chronicle of Philanthropy, discusses her article, "10,000 Job Cuts in 70 Days," which addresses recent job losses in the nonprofit sector. Later in the show, Ken Miller discusses his new book, "Becoming Ken."

April 8, 2025: After the news, Gene Takagi, Principal at NEO Law Group, joins us to talk about the growing movement toward purpose-driven board leadership—what it means, why it matters, and how boards can become stronger agents of mission and equity. Later in the show, Patton McDowell, author of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, shares practical guidance for emerging and seasoned leaders alike.

April 1, 2025:  After the news, Louis Diez, Founder of the Donor Participation Project & Annual Fund Toolkit, shares proven strategies to boost donor retention and long-term engagement. Then, Evan Wilstein, co-author of the Social Impact Staff Retention (SISR) Study, examines key factors influencing nonprofit staff retention and how organizations can foster a more sustainable workforce.

March 25, 2025: After the news, Bethany Snyder, MPP, Director of the Iowa Nonprofit Alliance and Founder of Snyder Strategies, reveals four nonprofit advocacy superpowers that can amplify impact, mobilize supporters, and drive meaningful policy change.

March 18, 2025:  After the news, Jay Love, active angel investor and former tech CEO, explores the latest game-changing technologies transforming the nonprofit sector and what they mean for the future of fundraising. Then, Julia Campbell, Founder & Principal of J Campbell Social Marketing, shares key insights from her forthcoming book, Minimalist Marketing for Nonprofits, offering practical strategies to streamline outreach and maximize impact.

March 11, 2025:  After the news, Jeff Schreifels, Principal at Veritus Group, explores strategies for sustaining public broadcasting through donor engagement and major gifts. Then, Nathan Chappell and Scott Rosenkrans discuss insights from their book, Nonprofit AI: A Comprehensive Guide to Implementing Artificial Intelligence for Social Good, highlighting how AI-driven strategies can enhance fundraising and drive greater impact.

March 4, 2025:  After the news, Rusty Stahl, President & CEO of Fund the People, provides insights from Foundations on the Hill, highlighting key policy discussions shaping the future of philanthropy. Then, Erica Waasdorp, author of Monthly Giving Made Easy, shares expert strategies for building sustainable fundraising through recurring donor programs. Closing out the program, and in recognition of the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we revisit conversations with David Szakonyi on the Russian oligarch influence through philanthropy and the work of Tabletochki with its founder, Olya Kudinenko. 

February 25, 2025:  After the news, Anne Murphy, Founder of SheLeadsAI, explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping philanthropy with a focus on women-centered giving and fundraising. Then, Bobby Dawson, Vice President of Information Technology & Security at DonorSearch, talks about his new book, Leadership Life: Breaking Through the Individual Contributor Ceiling. 

February 18, 2025:  After the news, Carly Euler of MemoryFox examines the role of ethics in nonprofit storytelling and fundraising. Then, Alan Clayton, CEO of Revolutionise International, discussed his new book, Great Fundraising Organizations, which explores how strategic organizational leadership can accelerate fundraising growth.    

February 11, 2025:  After the news, Paul Clolery, Editor-in-Chief of The NonProfit Times, examines the implications of a recent White House memo on NGOs. Then, in our author segment, Heidi Johnson, author of Change for Good: The Transformative Power of Giving as the Ultimate Cure, shares insights on how philanthropy can drive lasting social change. 

February 4, 2025:  After the news, Jessica Blake, Policy Reporter at Inside Higher Ed, analyzes recent presidential actions and their impact on colleges and universities. Then, in our author segment, Haley Cooper, author of Sow, Grow, Lead, discusses how leadership in higher education can adapt to change. Finally, in our On The Road segment, we explore the work of USAID.

January 28, 2025:  After the news, Tiffany Gourley Carter, Policy Counsel at the National Council on Nonprofits, breaks down the latest executive orders and their implications for nonprofits. Then, in our author segment, Devin Thorpe, author of How To Make Money With Impact Crowdfunding, discusses innovative ways nonprofits can leverage crowdfunding for financial sustainability. 

January 21, 2025:  After the news, we sit down with Brian Saber, President of Asking Matters, to explore the differences between transactional and relational fundraising and the role of the board. Then, in our author segment, Dave Raley, author of The Rise of Subscription Giving, discusses the growing trend of recurring donations and its impact on the sector. Finally, in our On The Road segment, we highlight the impactful work of Interfaith Community Services of Escondido, California. 

January 14, 2025:  After the news, we speak with Rev. Tracy Kronzak, MPA, Chief Strategy Officer at Benevolent Tech, about the biggest challenges and opportunities nonprofits will face in the next four years. Then we chat with David Rhode, author of Passion Isn't Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders, who shares practical insights on nonprofit leadership and sustainability. Finally, in our "On The Road" segment, we explore the work of the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program.