We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

541. Real Talk: How to Build Authentic Relationships with your Donors and Team + The Story of Thoughtful Human - Maya Enista Smith


Listen Later

Meet Maya. She’s a kindness champion, mental health advocate, and thoughtful human, and she’s obsessed with thank you cards💌She’s the president of Thoughtful Human, an eco-friendly greeting card company. These unique cards, founded by Ali O'Grady in 2017, plant seeds of empathy, offering genuine support during life's toughest moments. Tune in as we discuss the power of small acts of human connection and the ripple effect they create🫶

💡 Learn

  • The overwhelm humans are experiencing + what we can do about it
  • Thoughtful Human’s story 
  • Building Authentic Relationships


Today’s Guest
 Maya Smith, President, Thoughtful Human


Episode Highlights

  • Maya’s story and journey to where she is today (4:55)
  • The overwhelm humans are experiencing and the role of hope as an antidote (8:30)
  • Thoughtful Human’s origin story (14:50) 
  • The impact and ripple of Thoughtful Human cards (19:15)
  • Becky’s story of the impact of sending handwritten cards to donors year after year (23:15)
  • Maya’s experience creating cards (28:00)
  • Authentic relationships, empathy and stewardship in nonprofit work (32:45)
  • The duality of human emotions and experiences (37:00)
  • A powerful moment of philanthropy in Maya’s life (41:30)
  • Maya’s One Good Thing: If you're thinking of someone, tell them immediately. + Take more naps. (51:20)
  • How to connect with Thoughtful Human and Maya (55:37)


Thank you to our partners 🩵

Big gratitude to Givebutter, RKD Group, DonorDock, Feathr, Whiteboard and Sowen for their partnership in growing the Impact Uprising. If you’re searching for a new CRM, tech tool, brand partner, direct mail partner, or impact strategist— we’d love for you to start with our trusted recs. We’ve vetted them so you don’t have to. Head to weareforgood.com/recs to learn more.

Support the show

Become a Member and Get All-Access to Everything We Are For Good!
Experience the Impact Uprising Membership by We Are For Good: an ecosystem to learn, connect + grow in the power of a value-aligned community. Members gather monthly with Jon + Becky at exclusive members-only meetups + get video access to all new podcast episodes in an ad-free experience + so much more! Learn more + join us at weareforgood.com.

Say hi👇
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for NonprofitsBy We Are For Good

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

259 ratings


More shows like We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

View all
On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

On Being with Krista Tippett

10,331 Listeners

HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

HBR IdeaCast

197 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,337 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,581 Listeners

How I Built This with Guy Raz by Guy Raz | Wondery

How I Built This with Guy Raz

30,264 Listeners

The Marie Forleo Podcast by Marie Forleo

The Marie Forleo Podcast

1,648 Listeners

Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

Worklife with Adam Grant

9,168 Listeners

On Purpose with Jay Shetty by iHeartPodcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

26,964 Listeners

Powerhouse Women by Lindsey Schwartz

Powerhouse Women

840 Listeners

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques by Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

787 Listeners

A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

A Bit of Optimism

2,185 Listeners

Kelly Corrigan Wonders by Kelly Corrigan

Kelly Corrigan Wonders

3,314 Listeners

How to Be a Better Human by TED

How to Be a Better Human

1,369 Listeners

We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle and Audacy

We Can Do Hard Things

41,405 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

19,373 Listeners

Shortchanged by Little Bit of Good

Shortchanged

12 Listeners

The Habits of an Impactful Fundraiser by We Are For Good

The Habits of an Impactful Fundraiser

2 Listeners