Let’s Hear It

Most Conferences Suck, But Not This One! - A Bonus Preview of ComNet26

Eric went to the Communications Network annual conference for 21 years in a row, so he knows a little bit about what makes this gathering special. In this bonus episode, Eric is joined by Communications Network CEO Sean Gibbons, VP of Events and Community Carrie Clyne, and Director of Strategic Projects and Partnerships Erica Pelletreau two weeks before ComNet26 in San Diego. And this conference comes at a critical time. It's been a very hard year to do communications for good. Nonprofits are losing funding at the same time more people need their help. New research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy reveals that grantees think that their funders are out of touch with their needs. In San Diego, communicators from foundations and nonprofits from around the world will come together to learn from each other, teach each other, and make some lifetime friendships. Can't make it to San Diego? Stick around to find out how you can still be part of it. Follow Let's Hear It, leave a rating, and help more people find the show.

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So You Wanna Start a Podcast? With Emily Shaw and Bridget Conley

This podcast exists because Kirk Brown had what Eric thinks was a very stupid idea, to start a podcast about foundation and nonprofit communications. Seven years later, they're still at it. Our guests today, Emily Shaw and Bridget Conley, started the podcast Disrupting Peace because Bridget had a very good idea: create a podcast to take on the question of why peace hasn't worked, and find ways to address those challenges. Bridget is the research director at the World Peace Foundation. Emily is the crack producer who helped her build the show. Organizations are always looking for new ways to use communications to advance their mission, and sooner or later the question comes up, "Should we start a podcast?" So this episode is for every foundation, nonprofit, consultant, or anyone else out there sitting on a podcast idea and wondering if it's worth doing. Check out our website, where you can find all seven years of shows! Follow us on Apple Podcasts Follow us on Spotify Please rate and review! It really helps. Show Notes Our guests and their work Disrupting Peace — https://disrupting-peace.captivate.fm/ | Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disrupting-peace/id1759500826 World Peace Foundation — https://worldpeacefoundation.org/ Bridget Conley, host bio and research — https://worldpeacefoundation.org/blog/lessons-from-disrupting-peace/ Emily Shaw — https://www.emilyshawcreates.com/ Emily's case study on building Disrupting Peace, which covers a lot of what she describes in the interview — https://www.emilyshawcreates.com/work/disrupting-peace-world-peace-foundation Episodes they mention by name "Why Listening is the First Step to Peace," their most-listened episode — https://disrupting-peace.captivate.fm/episode/why-listening-is-the-first-step-to-peace "Syria: How Do You Rebuild After a Dictator?" — https://disrupting-peace.captivate.fm/episode/syria-how-do-you-rebuild-after-a-dictator "We Thought We Solved World Peace," the first episode, with Sam Moyn — https://disrupting-peace.captivate.fm/episode/we-thought-we-solved-world-peace The people and ideas they referenced Samuel Moyn, Yale — https://law.yale.edu/samuel-moyn | His book Humane, which is the "bombing for peace" material: https://campuspress.yale.edu/samuelmoyn/humane-how-the-united-states-abandoned-peace-and-reinvented-war/ Generous listening, the scholar's concept Bridget cites, is the framework behind Tufts' Generous Listening and Dialogue Initiative — https://tischcollege.tufts.edu/generous-listening-and-dialogue-initiative-gladi/about Edwin Ginn and the 1910 founding — covered on the WPF site: https://worldpeacefoundation.org/ The Fletcher School at Tufts — https://fletcher.tufts.edu/ Emily's origin story Cozy Boat, the show recorded in the inflatable boat — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cozy-boat/id1403224776 Justine Lucas, the singer-songwriter in the pilot — https://www.justinelucas.com Candy Ears, her ongoing personal project — https://www.emilyshawcreates.com/work/candy-ears Last but not least, our sponsors! Prebys Foundation — https://www.prebysfdn.org/ | Stop and Talk with Grant Oliphant and Crystal Page — https://stopandtalkpodcast.com Break Fake Rules — https://stupski.org/break-fake-rules/ Lumina Foundation — https://www.luminafoundation.org | Today's Students, Tomorrow's Talent — https://www.luminafoundation.org/podcast/

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Eloy Ortiz Oakley Shows How Valuable College Really Is

We are delighted to have College Futures Foundation CEO Eloy Ortiz Oakley back on the show to talk about one of our favorite subjects – the value of a college degree or certificate. Eloy joined us to talk about a new study College Futures commissioned from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce that makes a powerful case about how valuable a college education is, not only to students, but to California’s economy. The conversation also offers a perfect example of how a foundation can use research to move policy makers and other decisionmakers to action. Follow Let's Hear It, leave a rating, and help more people find the show.

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Fiona Guthrie of the Innocence Project on Using Story to Fight for the Wrongfully Convicted

Fiona Guthrie spent decades reporting stories as a broadcast journalist and later served as Director of Story at the Ford Foundation. Now, she’s using storytelling to help free people who are wrongfully imprisoned, including those on death row. In this episode, Eric talks with Fiona about the extraordinary career that led her to the Innocence Project, one of the country’s leading advocates for the wrongfully convicted. They discuss why it’s essential for an organization to stay relentlessly focused on its mission while helping build a broader movement for justice—and how storytelling can shape every aspect of a communications strategy. Fiona also reflects on her early days in radio and television in the UK and Australia, as well as the harrowing days covering 9/11. It’s a great conversation with an exceptional communications professional.

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Please Be Good at Philanthropy with Jen Ford Reedy

Jen Ford Reedy has spent more than a decade leading the Bush Foundation, and over that time she has come to a conclusion that should be a challenge to the field—nobody actually has to be good at philanthropy. There's no license needed, no regulators keeping them accountable, and no market that punishes funders for doing it badly. You can just write checks, get celebrated for your generosity, and never once answer the question of whether any of it actually worked. Her new book, Please Be Good at Philanthropy, out on July 21, 2026 from Disruption Books, argues that good intentions aren't enough, and that philanthropy can do real harm when it's done badly. Jen talks with Eric about why she thinks being good at this work is a skill you have to learn, not something you arrive at already knowing, no matter how successful you've been elsewhere. They acknowledge the challenges funders face in getting honest feedback, especially from grantees who don’t want to risk the relationship. And they discuss the importance of being honest about what didn’t work, without blaming grantees. After the interview, Eric and Kirk chew on what philanthropy actually owes the people it serves, and concede that maybe they should please be good at podcasting while they’re at it. Follow Let's Hear It, leave a rating, and help more people find the show.

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What Every Nonprofit Communicator Can Learn From Arts Marketing Genius Sean Kelly

Sean Kelly is one of the sharpest marketing minds Eric has ever met — and he's spent his career doing something all arts organizations dearly want to do: truly understand what their audiences want, align it with their own artistic vision, and set ticket prices accordingly. Sean is the founder of Vatic, a dynamic pricing company for performing arts organizations. His genius is his ability to look at a mountain of data and pull out the story it's trying to tell — then use that story to fill auditoriums and strengthen arts organizations. If you work in or fund the arts, clear your calendar. But any nonprofit communicator can learn a ton from Sean. His ability to truly understand what his audience wants – and needs – is a great lesson for us all. Follow Let's Hear It, leave a rating, and help more people find the show.

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Marc Moorghen of Lever for Change – the Elvis of the Nonprofit World

On the latest Let's Hear It, Eric sits down with Marc Moorghen, VP of Marketing and Communications at Lever for Change. Founded by the MacArthur Foundation, Lever for Change connects donors with bold ideas through massive open calls. In just six years, Marc and his team have helped move $2.5 billion to nonprofits — including MacKenzie Scott's $640 million Yield Giving Open Call and Pivotal's $250 million Action for Women's Health. Eric and Marc get into how Lever for Change flips the traditional philanthropic "do not disturb" sign on its head, why unrestricted and open-call funding is finally going mainstream, and what it looks like when a foundation actually invites the unsolicited big idea. Also: a hearty plug for Stuart Ewen's PR!: A Social History of Spin — the book that put Marc on this path in the first place. (Kirk has thoughts.) Listen now — and please follow, rate, and review Let's Hear It wherever you get your podcasts. And listen for the opportunity to win a prize!

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So You Wanna Be a Consultant? Going Independent with Regan Douglass

A lot of people who work in nonprofits and foundations eventually get the tickle. You know the one. What if I just... went out on my own? Regan Douglass did something about it. After years as a communications leader at PolicyLink, California Humanities, and the College Futures Foundation, she pulled the ripcord and launched Sparkwise Communications. Two years in, no regrets. In this episode, Eric sits down with Regan to discuss what it actually takes to go independent — how thick your stomach lining needs to be, how to structure your business, how to smell the tuna fish sandwich wrapped in a red flag before you sign the contract, and how to hold onto your own voice when you've spent years inhabiting someone else's. This one's for everyone who's been sitting on the egg. It's time to let it hatch. Follow Let's Hear It, leave a rating, and help more people find the show.

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Glen Galaich on Why Big Giving Falls Short

Glen Galaich is the CEO of the Stupski Foundation — and he just wrote a book that bites the hand that feeds him and serves it up in a 236-page meal. Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short, out today, makes an argument as simple as it is explosive: when a donor takes a tax deduction to give money away, they've made a deal with the public. That money isn't theirs anymore. But the system we've built lets donors park billions in foundations and donor-advised funds indefinitely — dribbling out 5 cents on the dollar while the rest sits on Wall Street going absolutely nowhere. Glen isn't an outside critic. He's a sitting foundation CEO who spent years reinforcing every rule he's now trying to break. Eric read an early draft, argued with him about it, and told him his central framing was too polite. Glen ignored him. They pick up that conversation here. Follow Let's Hear It and leave a rating so more people can find the show.

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From Presence to Power: A Conversation with Rashad Robinson

There's a question Rashad Robinson wants every nonprofit and foundation leader to sit with right now: Are you building power — or just showing up? Rashad spent 13 years leading Color of Change, co-founded the Fight Back Table, forced over 100 corporations to leave ALEC — the American Legislative Exchange Council, a powerful corporate-backed group that shapes conservative state legislation — and took on Facebook in one of the largest boycotts in American history. Now he's channeling all of that hard-won wisdom into a newsletter, a new show on News One, work alongside Jane Fonda defending the First Amendment — and a book, From Presence to Power: How to Take on the Fights That Matter and Win, dropping July 28th from One World/Penguin Random House. Eric sits down with Rashad for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually takes to win: the difference between a dialogue and a negotiation, why visibility is only the beginning, what Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance means for the movement, and how to fight fatigue when you're running on empty but can't stop. This one's got joy, strategy, and only a few references to the New York Mets. Listen now — and if Rashad's clarity and energy give you something to hold onto, please follow, rate, and review Let's Hear It wherever you get your podcasts.

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A Sector in Crisis: CEP’s Elisha Smith Arrillaga Exposes the Dangerous Disconnect Between Foundations and Nonprofits

This might be the most important episode we've ever done, and we swear we’re not just saying that. If you work in or around philanthropy, stop what you're doing and listen. Nonprofits are facing record demand—higher than during COVID—and they're getting less funding. Not just from government. From foundations too. The sector is in freefall, and many of the people with the resources to help don't even see a problem. Eric sits down with Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Vice President at the Center for Effective Philanthropy, to unpack their devastating new report, A Sector in Crisis: How US Nonprofits and Foundations Are Responding to Threats. The findings reveal a staggering disconnect: 40% of nonprofits say that funders have shifted priorities in ways that are less helpful at this dire moment. And get this - 20% of foundations say they don't have much responsibility to help nonprofits navigate this moment at all!! This isn't a wake-up call. It's a five-alarm fire. And if foundations don't start closing the gap between what they think they're doing and what nonprofits actually need, organizations will close. Communities will suffer. And philanthropy will have failed the very moment it was built for. Unless philanthropy as we know it is just no longer useful. Listen now. Share it with your board. Share it with your program officers. Share it with anyone who still believes philanthropy can rise to meet this moment—because that moment is now. Follow Let's Hear It and leave a rating so more people can find the show.

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Making Meaning of the Madness With Kristen Grimm

Kristen Grimm is back—and she’s making Let’s Hear It history as the show’s first three-time guest. In this episode, Eric and Kirk dive into Kristen’s latest thinking on how people interpret what’s happening around them, why facts alone don’t change minds, and what this moment of chaos means for nonprofits, philanthropy, and public-interest communicators. Drawing from her travels, her work at Spitfire Strategies, and plenty of hard-won perspective, Kristen challenges us to stop “fixing” broken systems and start imagining what we actually want to build next. It’s a thoughtful, candid, and often funny conversation about trust, power, government, and how to create messages—and futures—that resonate beyond the bubble. Follow Let’s Hear It, leave a rating, and help more people find the show.

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Dr. Sacoby Wilson on the Dirty Secret of AI—and the Communities That Are Fighting Back

AI needs power. A lot of power. But what happens when that power comes from 35 unpermitted gas turbines dropped into the middle of a historic Black neighborhood? In this episode, Eric sits down with Dr. Sacoby Wilson, award-winning environmental health scientist and recent Heinz Award for the Environment honoree, who’s helping Boxtown in Memphis push back against Elon Musk’s xAI “Colossus” data center. Dr. Wilson breaks down how data centers are becoming the newest front in environmental and energy justice, why the pollution burden keeps landing on the same communities, and what they're doing about it. We talk about “IMpowerment Science,” community air monitoring, climate redlining, regenerative agriculture, and what it really takes to turn data into power for frontline communities. Then Eric and Kirk reconnect to unpack what this fight says about philanthropy, technology, and who gets left out of our big, shiny visions of the future. If this conversation hits home for you, follow Let’s Hear It and leave a quick rating or review—it helps more people find these stories and the people behind them.

Amanda Renteria on Making Government Work for Everyone

On the latest Let’s Hear It, Eric sits down with the unstoppable Amanda Renteria, CEO of Code for America — and wow, is this one a shot of optimism for your civic soul. From growing up in California’s Central Valley to becoming the first Latina Chief of Staff in the U.S. Senate, to running Hillary Clinton’s 2016 political operation, Amanda has seen power from every angle. Now she’s using all that experience to reimagine how government can actually work for people — with systems that are simple, fair, and human. Amanda and Eric dig into how Code for America is helping states modernize public services, why good government is built in everyday interactions, and what gives her hope even in turbulent times. A must-listen for anyone who still believes democracy works best when it works for everyone. 🎧 Listen now — and if Amanda’s optimism gives you a lift, don’t forget to follow, rate, and review Let’s Hear It wherever you get your podcasts.

Nonprofit AF: Vu Le on Crappy Funding Practices, Hope, and Hard Truths

Nonprofits are essential, but are they getting what they need to succeed? And what happens when philanthropy clings to old habits while democracy teeters? In this episode, Eric sits down with writer, humorist, and nonprofit truth-teller Vu Le, creator of Nonprofit AF. With his trademark mix of sharp wit and blunt honesty, Vu pulls no punches on everything from “crappy funding practices” to the SkyMall-style whims of foundations, to the urgent need for philanthropy to get serious in defending democracy and the most vulnerable communities. It’s not all fire and brimstone—Vu reminds us why joy itself is resistance, shares what keeps him hopeful (spoiler: snakes and the 3.5% rule), and even previews the joke-turned-fan-demanded one-man show you never knew you needed. If you’ve ever wondered how nonprofits can thrive in spite of their funding structures this conversation is just what you’ve been waiting for. 💡 Vu’s new book Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy comes out October 14, and Nonprofit AF returns to Substack on August 19.

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The Public Interest Comms Textbook We Needed Yesterday - with Ann Christiano and Angela Bradbery

In this episode of Let's Hear It, Eric sits down with two public interest comms powerhouses—Ann Searight Christiano and Angela Bradbery—who’ve just dropped what might be the most anticipated textbook in our field: Public Interest Communications Strategy for Change Makers. Ann and Angela share how their years in the trenches at places like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Public Citizen shaped this groundbreaking resource—and why storytelling, systems thinking, and listening (really listening) are the keys to actually making change. They discuss their “six spheres of influence,” the “back-of-the-envelope” strategy tool, and why being strategic isn’t the same as shouting into the void (no offense to your latest TikTok brainstorm). It’s a lively, insightful conversation filled with warmth, humility, and a generous dose of “finally, someone wrote this down.” If you’ve ever had a boss say, “just make it go viral,” this one’s for you. Enjoy the episode—and if you love it, don’t forget to follow, rate, and review. Your support helps others find the show (and helps keep us off TikTok, which we would suck at).

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A Playbook for Change — Rachael Kagan on Journalism, Philanthropy, and Ending Domestic Violence

Let’s Hear It is back after a brief break—and we’re diving into one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had yet. In this episode, Eric sits down with Rachael Kagan, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the Blue Shield of California Foundation. With a background in journalism and public health, Rachael has channeled her experience into creating The Journalist Playbook—a practical, compassionate, and groundbreaking tool for improving how domestic violence is covered in the media. Together, they unpack the why and how of this innovative resource, the effect it’s already having across California newsrooms, and what it means to truly shift the narrative around domestic violence. This isn’t just a tool for reporters—it’s a model for how philanthropy, journalism, and advocacy can work together to drive lasting change. You’ll also hear candid reflections on Rachael’s journey from the frontlines of health communications to the strategic heights of philanthropy, plus a moving reminder that domestic violence affects far more people than we may realize—58% of Californians, to be exact. Find the playbook at LetsEndDV.org and the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. We’re thrilled to be back—thanks for welcoming us into your ears. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review!

The Great Doug Hattaway on the Art and Science of Effective Communications

What makes an effective communicator in today’s chaotic political landscape? This week, Eric sits down with the legendary Doug Hattaway—founder of Hattaway Communications, political strategist, and storytelling expert—to find out. From his early days in journalism and politics to helping shape the way nonprofits, foundations, and campaigns communicate, Doug shares the lessons he’s learned along the way. Together, they dive into why voting is expressive, not transactional, the role of AI in strategic messaging, and how we can bridge political divides through effective communication. Plus, Kirk and Eric unpack why the failure to build meaningful engagement infrastructure has led us to where we are today—and what needs to happen next. If you care about messaging that actually moves people, don’t miss this. Tune in, get inspired, and if you like what you hear, don’t forget to rate and review!

The Politics of Beauty with John de Graaf

What’s the economy for, anyway? Shouldn’t time, happiness, and beauty be at the center of our lives? We know this sounds, er, quaint, given the times, but don’t we all need a bit of beauty right now? This week, Eric sits down with writer, filmmaker, and activist John de Graaf, whose decades-long career has been dedicated to challenging the culture of overwork, overconsumption, and environmental neglect. From his groundbreaking PBS documentary Affluenza to his advocacy for shorter workweeks and his latest film project on the progressive, activist roots of America the Beautiful, John has consistently asked the big questions about what makes life truly worth living. In this thoughtful and engaging conversation, he shares his perspective on the bipartisan politics of beauty, how nature and shared public spaces can bring people together, and why he’s spent his life working his butt off so we don’t have to. It’s a rich discussion full of humor, history, and a call to rethink what progress really means. And we really mean it. Find John and his work at johndegraaf.com. Loved this episode? Follow, rate, and review Let’s Hear It so more people can find these conversations.

Transparency, Collaboration, and the Fight Against Misinformation with Wikimedia Foundation’s Anusha Alikhan

Is Wikipedia the last bastion of truth on the internet? Eric speaks with Anusha Alikhan, the Chief Communications Officer for the Wikimedia Foundation – the nonprofit behind Wikipedia, the internet's largest encyclopedia. Anusha shares insights into how Wikipedia grew from a scrappy experiment into a trusted global resource with 50 billion monthly views and over 60 million articles in 334 languages. They discuss Wikipedia’s unique consensus-driven model, its fight against bias and misinformation, and the existential challenges posed by AI tools like ChatGPT, which heavily rely on Wikimedia’s vast trove of data. Curious about the quirky side of Wikipedia? Anusha reveals some of her favorite fun facts, like professional ironing (yes, it’s a sport!) and "cute aggression." And for those worried about the future of truth in a world driven by algorithms, Anusha shares why she's optimistic, and why human editors will always be essential. Eric and Kirk also explore the deeper question: What can philanthropy and society learn from Wikipedia’s transparent, collaborative model? From the importance of trust and knowledge equity to the challenges of surveillance capitalism, this conversation hits all the big questions about the internet’s past, present, and future. Don’t miss this engaging and thought-provoking episode with one of the most insightful voices in nonprofit tech! Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe so more people can discover Let's Hear It. See you next time!