TRIIBE Talk

Powered by www.Streamr.nyc | With the climate crisis bringing the planet to the brink, Alex Wright-Gladstein's climate-friendly investment firm Sphere breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in finance: that you have to choose between performance and impact. Drawing from her journey discovering climate change in middle school to building multiple climate tech companies out of MIT, Alex explains how a simple shift in investment strategy can drive both strong returns and meaningful environmental change. Alex unpacks why fossil fuel companies have underperformed for decades, how most ESG funds miss the mark, and why climate-friendly index investing is more accessible than people think. She also shares hard-earned lessons from her path as a serial entrepreneur, including how to evaluate ideas, build confidence in decision-making, and develop the resilience required to succeed in sales and fundraising. Whether you're an aspiring founder, investor, or next-generation change maker, this conversation challenges outdated narratives and offers a new lens on how capital can shape the future.

Nancy Bonges's story starts as the daughter of Korean immigrants whose experience as a first-generation American informs her work as Executive Director of Community Engagement at William Blair, now spearheading a global corporate community strategy. Bonges explains how companies can move beyond traditional philanthropy by empowering employees to drive meaningful change in their communities. She also dives into the idea of "first-gen wealth builders," why inclusive economies benefit everyone, and why nonprofit status should never limit how organizations invest in people, infrastructure, and growth. Along the way, Nancy offers candid insights on trust-based philanthropy, skills-based volunteering, and how emerging generations are redefining impact, purpose, and leadership in business. Whether you work in philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, entrepreneurship, or are simply curious about how business and community can grow together, this conversation delivers thoughtful perspective and practical inspiration.

Samin Bhan, founder and CEO of Lookupp, is establishing "Lookup Zones" across college campuses to help young people reclaim in-person connection in a screen-saturated world. Samin shares the middle-school brunch moment that sparked his mission, why he chose to build a nonprofit instead of joining traditional high school clubs, and how he's designing a "people time app" that rewards presence instead of screen time. From grit and entrepreneurship to the mental health impacts of digital overuse, this conversation explores how one Gen Z founder is reframing technology, not as the enemy, but as a tool that must serve human connection. If you care about mental health, digital well-being, entrepreneurship, or the future of social connection, this episode will challenge how you think about presence in the modern age.

In today's episode, Kahina Haynes, Executive Director of the Dance Institute of Washington (DIW), shares how her experience as a third-generation dance artist shapes her worldview. Today, she's transforming one of the most historically exclusive industries into a more equitable, accessible space for young BIPOC dancers. Kahina defines dance as a powerful formula of expression, rhythm, and movement, one that lives everywhere from protest marches to boardrooms. She opens up about being unexpectedly "catapulted" into executive leadership after the sudden passing of the organization's founder, and the hard-earned lessons she learned about succession, documentation, and preparing the next generation to carry the mission forward. This conversation goes beyond the stage, into identity, systems change, founder transition, nonprofit leadership, and what it truly means to facilitate impact instead of simply performing it. If you care about arts access, mission-driven leadership, or building something that lasts beyond you, this episode is essential listening.

What starts as a family tradition can become a global mission. Nayla Jimenez, founder and executive director of the Philippine Health Initiative, shares how sending balikbayan boxes to her family's hometown in Cebu City grew into a youth-led nonprofit improving pediatric health, education, and wellness across the Philippines. Now a neuroscience student on the physician-scientist track, Nayla reflects on confidence, leadership, cultural identity, and why she chose to spend her birthdays serving children instead of celebrating herself. From medical donations and school rebuilding to basketball clinics and holistic care, this conversation explores how empathy, energy, and community can turn small acts into lasting systems of change. A powerful reminder that age doesn't limit impact, intention does.

Shrusti Amula, Founder and CEO of Rise N Shine Foundation, unpacks how a student-run composting program grew into a youth-powered movement tackling food waste, climate change, and food insecurity across Maryland. She shares how launching her first compost program in seventh grade sparked a ripple effect through schools, families, and communities; eventually helping students organize, testifying before government bodies, and passing a $1.25 million state bill to fund school composting programs. Along the way, she reflects on leadership setbacks, the power of perseverance, and why empowering young people early creates lifelong changemakers. This conversation is a masterclass in youth leadership, grassroots organizing, and how small habits, when taught early, can drive systemic change.

Paul Spivey, Principal at Phillips Oppenheim, unpacks what most founders, CEOs, and board members get wrong about leadership, governance, and power. Drawing on his rare experience serving both as a nonprofit executive director and a board member, Paul shares candid insights on why relationships matter more than resumes, how ego quietly derails organizations, and why boards often hold more power than leaders realize. From founder mistakes and board dynamics to DEI, trust, and the overlooked discipline of listening, this conversation is a masterclass in values-driven leadership for anyone building or stewarding an organization with real impact.

In this episode of TRIIBE Talk, Varuni Chopra, Founder of Bridge the Gap, shares how a pandemic-era initiative grew into a national movement connecting young volunteers with senior citizens through technology, empathy, and human connection. It began as helping seniors video call their families and evolved into something far more powerful: a two-way exchange where youth teach digital tools and seniors pass down wisdom, perspective, and purpose. Varuni dives into building intergenerational relationships, scaling a volunteer-driven nonprofit, adapting to changing community needs, and reimagining what "connection" looks like beyond technology. This conversation is a powerful reminder that bridging divides isn't just about tools…it's about listening, learning, and showing up for one another.

Danielle Guindo, Executive Director of Read Alliance, knows just a single word can change how young people see themselves. She and Kyle Matthys explore how youth leadership, literacy, and authentic purpose can change lives across generations. Danielle shares her personal journey as the child of two public school teachers, the power of language in shaping identity, and how Read Alliance's teen-led reading model has helped thousands of children become confident readers and leaders. This conversation dives into leadership development, burnout prevention, social impact, and why believing in young people isn't just inspiring. It works.

For Anne-Sophie Frédérick, a love of human languages translated into a program to teach computer languages to students in Haiti. The Founder and Product Lead of HAITECH Learning explores her remarkable journey from growing up in Haiti to launching a nonprofit expanding computer literacy for youth around the world. Anne-Sophie shares how her early passion for education, language, and service shaped HAITECH's mission, whether that's with hands-on coding cohorts and peer mentorship to teaching technology through art, culture, and storytelling. This episode is a powerful reminder that technology isn't just about code, it's about people, access, and the courage to build something bigger than yourself.

What happens when life falls apart and you choose to move forward anyway? In this powerful episode of Tribe Talk, host Kyle Matthys sits down with global entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder Wendy Diamond to explore a life defined not by circumstance, but by resilience, purpose, and action. If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your path, this episode is a masterclass in reclaiming agency, finding purpose, and creating impact starting right where you are.

Adeline Azrack's early work with young people from underresourced backgrounds has led to a lifetime of service and leadership inside one of the world's most influential brands. In this deeply reflective conversation, she shares how her commitment to human dignity was forged through service, systemic injustice, and jobs that changed everything, even if they didn't always feel glamorous. Together, Adeline and host Kyle Matthys explore what it means to restore dignity in a world shaped by inequity, how multi-generational leadership is essential to real progress, and how you may be a leader long before you ever realize you're leading.

Former NFL captain and Rayze Founder/CEO Carl Nassib joins TRIIBE talk to discuss his journey from professional football to building a platform that reimagines how people give back. Reflecting on a lifetime of volunteering, from church to the Special Olympics, Penn State THON and The Trevor Project, Carl explains why philanthropy isn't just charity, but community, mental health, and leadership in action. In this wide-ranging conversation, Carl and host Kyle Matthys explore why volunteering builds perspective, how young people and companies are reshaping purpose-driven work, and why the future of giving needs a centralized, social-first hub. From corporate philanthropy gaps to the power of local impact, this episode makes a compelling case that success, fulfillment, and service are deeply connected.

When she was ten, Esha Venkat never imagined the small acts of service she did with her family would grow into NEST4US, one of the country's fastest-scaling youth-powered volunteer organizations. A decade, 10,000 volunteers, and millions of dollars in volunteer-hours later, Esha and her sister Shreyaa lead five programs spanning education, food security, climate action, leadership, and community celebration. She shares her personal story of how a simple mission to make kindness routine became a global movement.

Powered by www.Streamr.nyc | At just 14 years old, Maya Gowda founded SEED to fill a gap she saw in her school's curriculum: real, actionable climate education. What started as a single classroom lesson in Miami has now grown into a global movement, reaching students across 171 elementary schools, multiple African countries, and 73 languages. In this episode, Maya shares how she built SEED from scratch: partnering with teachers, cold-emailing international organizations, navigating skepticism as a teenager, and designing localized climate-change curricula that meet students where they are. She opens up about growing up in Florida amid rising heat, hurricanes, and mosquito-borne illnesses; the teachers and family members who championed her; and how she inspires young people across the world to take climate action no matter their age. This is the story of a young leader turning education into empowerment, and planting the seeds for a more climate-literate generation.

Powered by www.Streamr.nyc | At just 14, Olivia Zhang turned unimaginable loss into one of the fastest-growing youth-led nonprofits in the world. In this powerful conversation, the founder of Cancer Kids First shares how a grassroots project born in a high school cafeteria grew into a global movement supporting 10,000+ young cancer patients. Olivia opens up about the all-nighters, the failures, the WikiHow beginnings, the impact of technology, and what it really takes for young people to lead at scale. Her journey, recognized by TED, Prince William, and L'Oréal Women of Worth, is a masterclass in resilience, purpose, and youth-driven impact.

Powered by www.Streamr.nyc | Former NFL star and Rayze founder Carl Nassib joins TRIIBE Talk to reveal how a single volunteer day near the Buccaneers' stadium opened his eyes to a broken system, motivating him give philanthropic giving an upgrade. In this episode, Carl talks about the emotional moment that inspired Rayze, the generational disconnect holding nonprofits back, and why young people actually do want to give… if we meet them where they are.

Powered by www.Streamr.nyc | What would motivate you to quit your job at JP Morgan to get into the business of saving food headed for the dumpster? And what would your parents say? Robert Lee, founder of Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, joins TRIIBE Talk to share how immigrant experiences, volunteer power, and smart business models turned into one of New York's most innovative food-rescue engines. Robert reveals the quirks, the missteps, the moments that shaped his mission, and why food rescue might become the universal norm in the next decade.