Catalysts for Change

Encore presentation of one of our most popular and moving conversations. 

In this powerful episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister talks with Katy Dieckhaus—mother of nine-year-old Evelyn, one of the six victims of the Covenant School shooting—and Todd Cruse, board chair of Voices for a Safer Tennessee.

Katy shares moving stories of Evelyn’s life and the ways her daughter’s spirit continues to guide her advocacy. Todd, a Republican gun owner and neighbor, reflects on how data and personal loss drew him into the movement for bipartisan, common-sense firearm safety. Together, they reveal how grief became a catalyst for action, building a coalition of 30,000 Tennesseans determined to create a safer future.

This is Part 1 of their story—an honest conversation about loss, resilience, and the power of listening to create lasting change.

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Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

In this special bonus episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister addresses questions directly from listeners and community conversations—covering a range of topics, including politics, leadership, strategy, and sustaining meaningful work.

Adam opens up about the myths around “buying politicians,” what frustrates him most about today’s political climate, and how he defines his work in strategy and advocacy. He also shares lessons on consistency, resilience, and the importance of staying mission-focused in a noisy, fast-changing world.

You’ll hear stories about the origins of One12 Strategies, the philosophy behind small actions that lead to big impact, and candid reflections on leadership, burnout, and authenticity.

If you enjoy this format, let us know! Comment on LinkedIn, send in your questions, and we’ll keep building future bonus episodes around the topics you care about most.

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Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

What happens when the moment you're most remembered for becomes only a small part of your story?

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with former Tennessee Titans wide receiver, educator, and school founder Kevin Dyson for a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the leadership lessons that emerge long after the spotlight fades.

For many fans, Kevin will forever be associated with two iconic NFL moments: the Music City Miracle and the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV, when the Titans came just one yard short of a championship. But this conversation goes far beyond football. Kevin reflects on the highs and lows of professional sports, the pressure of public success and failure, and how those experiences shaped his transition into education and community leadership.

Together, they explore the influence of Kevin's mother, the lessons sports teach about accountability and teamwork, and why he believes student engagement is one of the greatest challenges facing education today. Kevin also shares the vision behind Music City Academy, a new charter school designed to connect academics with the life-changing lessons found through athletics and competition.

From navigating disappointment and grief to leading through COVID, conversations about race, and the responsibility of shaping young lives, this episode offers a powerful perspective on what it means to lead with purpose and build a legacy that extends far beyond personal achievement.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why some of life's greatest leadership lessons come from moments of failure, not success.
• Why resilience, accountability, and teamwork remain essential skills for success in any field.
• How sports can serve as a powerful vehicle for education, engagement, and character development.
• What leaders can learn about navigating adversity, public criticism, and personal setbacks.
• Why the most important chapter of your story is often what comes after the moment everyone remembers.

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Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

What does it take to create meaningful change in a world where people increasingly distrust institutions, information, and one another?

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with Erin Hafkenschiel, President of ThinkTennessee, to explore the leadership lessons she has learned while working across philanthropy, city government, higher education, transportation policy, and statewide civic leadership.

Erin traces her passion for public policy back to a childhood lesson about how communities make decisions and why people often view the same issue through very different lenses. From studying urban development in China as a Fulbright Scholar to helping shape Nashville's transportation future, she shares how those experiences shaped her understanding of leadership, human behavior, and systems change.

The conversation dives deeply into Nashville's failed 2018 transit referendum and the lessons that emerged from one of the city's most visible public policy defeats. Erin reflects on the importance of humility, coalition building, and trust, and explains why every policy leader should experience a loss that challenges their assumptions.

What You'll Learn In This Episode: 

• The surprising leadership lessons hidden inside major public failures
• How Nashville's 2018 transit referendum defeat shaped future policy successes 
•  Why people are often social actors rather than rational decision-makers 
•  How effective leaders build coalitions without demanding complete agreement 
•  Why implementation is often harder than passing the policy itself 
•  The role social capital plays in strengthening communities and democracy 

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Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

What does it take to lead through uncertainty without losing sight of purpose?

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with Dr. Greg Jones, President of Belmont University, to explore the intersection of leadership, faith, innovation, and institutional transformation.

Drawing from a career that has spanned theology, higher education, and organizational leadership, Greg shares how the loss of his father shaped his understanding of character, why "moral imagination" may be one of the most important leadership skills of our time, and what it means to build institutions that prepare people not just for careers, but for lives of meaning and impact.

Together, they discuss the challenges facing higher education, the importance of balancing tradition and innovation, leading through cultural polarization, and why the best leaders focus on creating environments where others can flourish.

Greg also offers practical insights on sustaining leadership over the long term, the role of rest and play in avoiding burnout, and the books and ideas that continue to shape his thinking.

Whether you lead a university, a business, a nonprofit, or simply want to create positive change in your community, this conversation is a powerful reminder that leadership is ultimately about formation, hope, and helping others imagine a better future.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why character formation matters more than information acquisition
• How leaders can balance tradition and innovation without losing their core purpose
• What "moral imagination" is and why it matters for solving complex problems
• How to lead through disagreement while building a culture of trust
• Why rest, play, and Sabbath are essential leadership disciplines
• What gives Greg hope about the next generation of leaders

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Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

What does it take to create lasting change in a community?

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with Hal Cato, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, for a conversation about leadership, philanthropy, and the power of staying close to the people you serve.

Hal shares the experiences that shaped his leadership journey, from feeling like an underdog as a child to founding Hands On Nashville and eventually leading one of Tennessee’s most influential philanthropic organizations. Along the way, he reflects on the lessons he's learned from working alongside both billionaires and families struggling to pay their utility bills, and why proximity to people and problems remains one of the most powerful forces for meaningful change.

This conversation explores what effective philanthropy really looks like, why trust is a leader’s most valuable asset, and how organizations can balance urgent needs with long-term impact. Hal also offers a candid look at leading through some of Middle Tennessee’s most difficult moments, including natural disasters, community crises, and decisions that drew both praise and criticism.

From collaboration and influence to burnout and legacy, this episode is packed with wisdom for nonprofit leaders, business executives, public servants, and anyone seeking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why proximity to people and problems creates better leaders.
• How effective philanthropy is about purpose and relationships, not just dollars.
• The role trust plays in leadership, especially during moments of crisis.
• Why the biggest community challenges require collaboration, not competition.
• How to navigate difficult decisions while staying true to your mission and values.
• What nonprofit leaders can do to avoid burnout and sustain their impact over the long term.

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Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

In this episode, Adam Lister sits down with Meagan Flippin, CEO of Nashville's Center for Nonprofit Excellence, whose career spans the United Way network, the Musicians Hall of Fame, and 20 years of watching organizations say they develop leaders — and mostly fall short. With refreshing honesty, Meagan reflects on what she got wrong early, what actually builds a leadership pipeline, and why the best thing you can do for a high performer is prepare them to leave you better than they arrived.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 

• Why Meagan would rather have a "10 for two years than a two for ten" — and what that means for how you invest in your team. 
• How to lead through a crisis without passing your panic to the people around you.
• What a healthy leadership pipeline actually looks like inside a nonprofit — and the one sign that tells you an organization is getting it wrong.
• Why change management is as much about pacing and sequencing as it is about the change itself.
• How to own your professional development when no one's handing you a roadmap.

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Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

Encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. 

In this episode, Adam Lister sits down with Sunny Bray, founder of Catalyst Collective and a champion for nonprofits and mission-driven organizations, from her early days in corporate sales to launching a community-first consultancy. Sunny shares how grief, grit, and bold purpose shaped her path. With honesty and insight, she reflects on building a business rooted in values, relationships, and the belief that nonprofit work deserves abundance, not scarcity. 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 

• Why Sunny built a consultancy that puts nonprofit missions, not metrics, at the center of the work. 
• How grief, motherhood, and mentorship reshaped her approach to leadership and boundaries.
• Why nonprofits need trusted partners, not just service providers—and how to find the right support.
• How to lead authentically, say no with confidence, and prioritize what truly matters.

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Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

David McIntosh has spent four decades at the center of the American conservative movement. First, co-founding the Federalist Society as a law student, then serving in the Reagan and Bush administrations, authoring the Congressional Review Act as a freshman congressman, and leading the Club for Growth into one of the most influential political organizations in the country.

In this conversation, Adam and David explore the principles behind building institutions that outlast their founders, the role of networks as the true currency of influence, and how to balance principle with pragmatism when the political process is designed to slow you down.

David shares hard-won lessons from a loss in the Indiana governor's race that reshaped how he leads. He opens up about navigating the tension between free market orthodoxy and modern populism, when to take half a loaf and when to walk away, and why telling the truth, even when it's inconvenient, is the foundation of every lasting relationship in politics and in life.

This episode is for anyone building something bigger than themselves and who wants to understand how ideas actually become impact.

Catalysts for Change is brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit catalystsforchangepod.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

What does leadership look like when the stakes are at their highest?

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with former Marine infantry officer, entrepreneur, and author John Warren for a conversation on resilience, integrity, and leading through uncertainty. From leading more than 300 combat missions in Ramadi during the Iraq War to building one of the nation’s leading real estate investment lending companies, John shares the lessons that shaped his approach to leadership under pressure.

Together, they explore the importance of core values, leading from the front, building high-performing teams, political courage, and why trust is earned most in difficult moments. John also reflects on the transition from combat to business, his run for governor of South Carolina, and the leadership principles behind his bestselling book, Lead Like a Marine.

This episode is a candid and deeply practical conversation for leaders navigating pressure, responsibility, and the challenge of building mission-driven teams in uncertain environments.

Catalysts for Change is brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit catalystsforchangepod.com.

Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One 12 Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

Send us Fan Mail

Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative