Let's Hear It Podcast

To our dear fellow communications professionals, this one's for you! Our latest episode of Let's Hear It podcast features Doug Hattaway of Hattaway Communications. Doug goes deep on how to create communications that work. Three key components: 1) Start with understanding audience aspirations, not just opinions; 2) Frame issues in ways that connect to people's identities and values; and 3) Optimize for person-to-person conversation—the highest quality form of communication. If you work in foundation or nonprofit comms (or even if you don't), this episode offers valuable insights from one of the field's most respected voices. Listen now! #CommunicationsStrategy #Nonprofits #Foundations https://lnkd.in/gf93kgZX

Whoa, people, please don't miss our conversation with Anusha Alikhan, the Chief Communications Officer at the Wikimedia Foundation, which grew from a bold experiment into a global knowledge powerhouse with 50 billion monthly views. Anusha shares really helpful insights about: * Building trust through transparency * Navigating the AI revolution without losing our humanity * Creating equitable knowledge systems across 334 languages What struck us most was how Wikipedia's collaborative model offers crucial lessons for modern leadership and organizational culture. In an era of declining trust in institutions, their approach to community governance and dealing with bias is more relevant than ever. Bonus: You'll learn about some delightfully unexpected Wikipedia entries (professional ironing, anyone?) that showcase the depth, diversity, and downright kookiness of human knowledge. Mor than anything, our conversation reminds us that the future of digital information doesn't have to be dominated by surveillance capitalism. Wikipedia shows there's another way – one built on collaboration, transparency, and shared purpose. While we've got you, what are your thoughts on Wikipedia's model? Could similar principles work in your organization? #Leadership #DigitalTransformation #KnowledgeManagement #Collaboration #Wikipedia #NonprofitTech #FutureOfWork https://lnkd.in/gBmusy-c

Season Seven (!) of Let's Hear It kicks off with our own Kirk Brown as our guest!! Who is this guy? What makes him tick? And is it possible that our corn-fed midwestern co-host has the special formula to re-set American politics? Listen and find out! https://lnkd.in/g5Dr8792

We wrap up our sixth season (!) with a post-election pep talk with Takema Robinson, the CEO and co-founder of Converge Consulting, LLC, a social justice #communications consulting firm. Takema reminds us that the struggle for #social #justice happens over generations, not in four-year election cycles. That's not to say that there isn't plenty to do right now, but for #foundation and #nonprofit leaders feeling overwhelmed by current events, this episode offers a bit of comfort and a hopeful path forward. https://lnkd.in/g5p7-J8t

What’s Next for Climate Justice? – A Conversation with EPA Advisor Danielle Deane-Ryan ? Okay, folks, we know that these post-election blues are a thing, but here’s the deal – the need for climate justice isn’t changing. This week on Let’s Hear It, we’re diving deep into the work that’s pushing #environmental #justice to the forefront of #philanthropy, policy, and big-dollar investments. Eric Brown sits down with Danielle D., Senior Advisor to the EPA’s @Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and a long-time climate justice funder. Danielle shares her journey from her roots in Trinidad and Tobago to the halls of power in Washington, breaking down how billions in clean energy investments can—and must—center the communities hit hardest by environmental injustice. The conversation explores how policies like Justice40 and collaborations between grassroots leaders and major funders are changing the game. Danielle also doesn’t hold back when it comes to the communication gaps that still need fixing—and she’s got plenty of ideas for how to make progress stick. Meanwhile, Kirk Brown rallies the optimism brigade, Eric holds his ground, and they both agree – without good communications, even the best policies will fall short. If you want to hear how leaders are tackling the climate crisis with #equity, resilience, and serious grit, this episode is for you. https://lnkd.in/gu75wACN

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 think about the future. In this episode of Let’s Hear It, hosts Eric sits down with Rachel Korberg, the Executive Director and co-founder of the The Families and Workers Fund and David Etzwiler, the CEO of the Siemens Foundation to explore how #philanthropy and business can team up to create an economy that works for everyone. Rachel and David share their insights into making the clean energy transition fair and accessible, with a focus on good jobs, #workforce training, and #equity. The discussion centers on how their organizations are working together to push for an economy that includes all workers—especially women, people of color, and rural communities—in emerging fields like green energy. Then, Kirk Brown blows a gasket with excitement, Eric Brown tries to talk him off the ledge, and they try to make sense of it all. If you’re interested in how real change is happening at the intersection of philanthropy and business, this episode is a must-listen. And if you enjoy it, don’t forget to rate and review on Apple Podcasts to help others find the show! https://lnkd.in/guzdhZpq

Someone told us that there are politics going on these days. Well, if your #nonprofit or #foundation care about getting #policy wins, this episode of Let's Hear It is for you. Eric spoke with William Foster of the The Bridgespan Group and Marc Solomon of Civitas Public Affairs Group about their amazingly good paper: “Betting on the Tortoise: Policy Incrementalism and How Philanthropy’s Support Can Turn Small Sustained Steps into Big Impact,” co-written with Eric Chen and Zachary Slobig. The problem is that #philanthropy is astonishingly timid about funding policy work (sorry, philanthropy). The thing is, Marc and William remind us about how smart philanthropy can make a huge difference in the kinds of policy wins that every wants – freedom to marry, increasing the minimum wage, and many more. And then Kirk and Eric have what we humbly think is one of the funnier and more entertaining rants this season, so stick around for that. https://lnkd.in/gcrNDrin

If you want to know something about trends in #philanthropy, your very best bet is to turn to the amazing people at the Center for Effective Philanthropy, who accomplish the rare magic of being able to conduct important research and communicate about it just as effectively. So, with all the crazy Kremlinology surrounding MacKenzie Scott's giving, Eric Brown sat down with the profoundly terrific Grace Nicolette at CEP to discuss their research to examine the effect of #Scottapalooza on the field of philanthropy. And a shout out to Grace and her colleague Phil Buchanan on the launch of the fourth season of their podcast Giving Done Right (givingdoneright.org), which everyone who cares about philanthropy should add to their queue. And after the interview, stick around for Eric and Kirk Brown's discussion that follows, which we found to be pretty fun, if we do say so ourselves. #humility https://lnkd.in/giSPzxwC

Hey folks, we’re back after a quick summer break. Hope you missed us! Our guest on this episode of Let’s Hear It is Eloy Oakley, the President and CEO of the College Futures Foundation – a California foundation helping students who are facing the greatest barriers to succeed in college and beyond. Eloy was previously the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges system - the largest system of higher education in the United States, and third largest system of higher education in the world, serving more than 1.8 million students. He is also a former Regent of the University of California system. If anyone knows about what’s working and what’s not in #highereducation, it’s Eloy. Eric and Eloy have a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation about Eloy’s own educational journey, the challenges of elitism in higher education, and role #philanthropy can play in ensuring a more equitable system. Of course Eric Brown and Kirk Brown have their usually lively chat, with Kirk offering hare-brained ideas and Eric ranting as he does. Hope you enjoy! https://lnkd.in/gmP6mPha

We know. There are a lot of things to be upset about these days. But there are also a lot of folks out there who are working incredibly hard to make our lives better, and some of them are even doing it in fun and, dare we say it?, funny ways. Meet Esteban Gast, the comedian-in-residence at Generation180, a nonprofit working to inspire and equip people to take action on #cleanenergy. So maybe take a break from the doom scrolling and tune in to hear Esteban and Eric yuk it up about that most hilarious of subjects, #climate change. https://lnkd.in/gnNhtW2F