Changemaker Podcast

We sell something everyday.  Asking someone to go to a movie, offering advice to a friend, listing a product on our website.  We’re trying to move people to take action and we do this through the messages we send – the text on our website, conversations, videos, etc.
But messages aren’t a one-size-fits all – what makes sense to us may leave someone else confused.
Are you looking to connect with your audience?  Listen to this episode to learn how to tailor your message.

Gavin Armstrong is the CEO of Lucky Iron Fish.  A company fighting iron deficiency with cute, smiley fish.  They have helped over 1/2 a million people reach their daily iron intake. Gavin shares stories about connecting with his audience early on.
Alexie Seller is the CEO of Pollinate Energy.  Their mission is to provide life-changing products to people who need them most.  She and her team are fighting energy poverty in some of India’s poorest communities.  Alexie tells us how to use emotion and technical info to ask for donations.
Justin Desrosiers and Andrew Cousins manage investments at Investors’ Circle, the world’s largest early-stage impact investing network.  They have a unique perspective – getting over 1000 pitches a year, they share what it’s like to be in the audience.
Credits:

* Josh Harlan – Intro Jingle
* Josh Woodward – CC BY 4.0

* Frannie
* The Mission
* Saturday
* Border Blaster (Instrumental)
* Let Me Talk Carol
* Water in the Creek


* Lee Rosevere – CC BY 4.0

* Keeping Stuff Together


* jahzzar – CC BY-SA 4.0

* Where it Goes
* Fire Ahead



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Vulnerability – it’s where it gets real.  It’s where we’re open to whatever happens – taking the bad with the good.  On today’s episode, listen to Christen Brandt, co-founder of She’s the First and Jared Yazzie, founder of OXDX share their stories about vulnerability.

Christen Brandt is the co-founder of She’s the First.  She’s also a feminist, teaches self defense, and loves cheese 🙂  Learn more about her here.
Jared Yazzie is the founder of OXDX a clothing line sharing the beauty of Native culture and creating awareness for issues facing Native Americans.
 

Learn more about tie-dye cupcakes, get the recipe, and #BakeAChange. 100% of individual donations go to help scholars be the first in their families to graduate from high school!
 
Credits:

* Josh Harlan – Intro Jingle
* Weed Rat (one of Jared’s favorite bands)

* Magic 8 Ball


* Josh Woodward – CC BY 4.0

* Private Hurricane (Instrumental)
* Evolution (Instrumental)
* I’m Letting Go (Instrumental)
* Shadows in the Moonlight (Instrumental)
* Border Blaster (Instrumental)
* She Dreams in Blue (Instrumental)


* Lee Rosevere – CC BY 4.0

* Southside


* jahzzar – CC BY-SA 4.0

* Mr Bleach
* Sometimes


* She’s the First photo credit: Kate Lord

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Your favorite comedian wasn’t born funny.   Their best jokes came after a ton of awful ones.
Every joke starts as an idea.  And it’s risky to try out ideas.   You could fail, embarrass yourself, and lose out on time and money.
But the bigger risk may be that your idea could help someone, but without trying, it never will.
In this episode, learn how to reduce some of the risk and find places where it’s Safe to Try.

Toby Arsalan is an up-and-coming comedian in Berlin.   He’s tried out a lot of ideas and has great advice – good ideas don’t matter, it’s executions that do.  Oh, and he’s funny!
Zack Bazzi is a co-founder of TentED, helping to advance the education of children displaced by war.  Zack is a veteran of the US Army and Army National Guard and was deployed to Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.  He works as a consultant in Iraq and while there, he supports organizations that are helping kids to earn an education.
Anne Kjær Riechert is CEO and co-founder of the ReDI School of Digital Integration.  Anne’s goal is to create connections.  She’s doing this by helping refugees learn coding skills and connecting them with companies that need great tech employees.
Credits:

* Josh Harlan – Intro Jingle
* jahzzar – CC BY-SA 4.0

* Dancing
* Wild Ones


* Jason Shaw – CC BY 3.0 US

* MARATHON MAN
* THINGAMAJIG


* Broke for Free – CC BY 3.0

* The Great


* Josh Woodward – CC BY 4.0

* Spirit World (Instrumental Version)
* Release (Instrumental Version)
* Orbit (Instrumental Version)
* Show Me (Instrumental Version)


* Revolution Void – CC BY 3.0

* Someone Else’s Memories


* Chris Zabriskie – CC BY 4.0

* Prelude No. 13



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Whether we want to admit it or not, there’s a lot we don’t know.
As a leader, it might be tempting to keep this to yourself.  You don’t want to appear like you don’t know the answers.
By relying on ourselves, we’re limited by what we know.
But once we know what we don’t know, we can do something about it that can lead us to something better.

Gaya Datar is the co-founder of Earth Enable.  She’s on a mission to eliminate dirt floors.
80% of Rwandans live in homes with dirt floors.  This increases health issues like asthma, malnutrition, parasitic infections, and diarrhea – one of the leading causes of childhood death in Rwanda.
Listen to Gaya’s story about how she started Earth Enable and how she learned the power of humility.
 
Sarah Cronk is the president and founder of The Sparkle Effect.  After seeing how difficult it is for students with disabilities to fit in, she launched an inclusive cheer squad for kids with all abilities.  The idea that started in high school has grown into an organization helping over 200 schools and thousands of kids across the US.
In this episode, Sarah shares how asking for help was the key to partnerships, marketing, and ultimately reaching more students.
Problem Solving (Finding) Tools:
Before you can solve a problem,  you need to find it.
There’s something that Gaya does that is used by major corporations around the world – asking WHY.
In Lean, a methodology for continuous improvement, there’s a tool called the 5 Whys.  Put simply, ask “why?” 5 times.
By doing this, you’re able to get to the root cause of an issue.  Here’s an example:
Let’s say you got caught speeding.

* WHY? Because you were late for work.
* WHY? Because you slept in.
* WHY? Because your alarm didn’t go off.
* WHY? Because your phone’s battery is dead.
* WHY? Because you forgot to plug it in.

Another tool to help with problem solving is the Ishikawa diagram, Fishbone diagram, or Cause and Effect diagram (I think that’s all the names!).
Put the issue or the effect that you see at the head of the fish and then look into reasons why this might be happening.  So as with Gaya’s case, if you see kids with bug bites on their legs, you would be able to use this chart to come up with ideas as to why.

Image by Daniel Penfield
 
Resources on Asking for Help
Watch this video:


And learn about 5 Ways to Get Better at Asking for Help in this HBR article by Wayne Baker, founder of the Reciprocity Ring.
 
Credits:

* Josh Harlan – Intro Jingle
* Josh Woodward – CC BY 4.0

* I’m Letting Go (Instrumental)
* Frannie (Instrumental)
* The Bottom (Instrumental)
* Saturday (Instrumental)
*

To really know ourselves is hard.  We mix who we wish we were or who other people think we should be with who we actually are. Looking at our strengths, weaknesses, goals and fears – we might not like what we see.  But once we know who we are, we can be our best.

Rachel Faller is the founder of zero-waste fashion company Tonle.
Norma Bastidas is an ultra-athlete and record holder for the world’s longest triathlon.
Trafficking is in our cities, the country, suburbs. If someone you know needs help, there are resources.  In the US text a message to BEFREE (233733).
Credits:

* Josh Harlan – Intro Jingle
* Lee Rosevere – CC BY 4.0

* As I was Saying
* Late Night Tales
* Old Regrets
* Love Wins


* jahzzar – CC BY-SA 4.0

* Polaroid
* Winter Sky
* Two Days
* Part I
* Yesterday


* Little Glass Men – CC BY-SA 4.0

* The Magic Bullet
* Kelp Grooves
* Bright Night
* Golden



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Belonging may seem like an abstract concept for business, but look at brands like Harley and Apple.  People wait in lines for the newest products, have meetups, swap stories, and even have special hand signals when they see each other on the road (for Harley riders only).
They are part of communities.
This is important because a change isn’t driven by a product or service, but by people.  And people support ideas where they belong.

Katie Clark is a professor of Transcultural Nursing at Augsburg University and works with student nurses to run the Augsburg Central and Cedar-Riverside Health Commons.  Katie can literally talk with anyone and make fast friends – she’s great at connecting with people.
Charlie Rounds is one of the most passionate people I’ve ever spoken with!  Talking with him made me want to do something – take action. He’s fighting for equality around the world.  Most recently, he founded the Mossier Social Action Innovation Center, supporting LGBT social entrepreneurs.
Matt Scott is a digital storyteller for Second Muse.  He uses marketing to amplify social impact, which all starts with listening… Matt recently launched this awesome project called 180 Degrees of Impact – celebrating 180 people in 2017 that are changing the world – check it out!
Credits:

* Josh Harlan – Intro Jingle
* jahzzar – CC BY-SA 4.0

*  So Far So Close


* Broke for Free – CC BY 3.0

* Our Ego [Featuring Different Visitor]


* Kevin MacLeod – CC BY 3.0

* Isolated
* Hustle


* Josh Woodward – CC BY 4.0

* Symmetry and the Pocket of Angels – Instrumental




* Chris Zabriskie – CC BY 4.0

* The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan
* Is That You or Are You You?


* Lee Rosevere – CC BY 4.0

* Puzzle Pieces
* And So Then


* Sunsearcher – CC BY-SA 3.0

* Latin Rhythm



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Sometimes a good cause isn’t enough.  In this episode we’ll hear stories from two social entrepreneurs – Laura D’Asaro, co-founder of Chirps and Jenny Costa, founder of Rubies in the Rubble – who built brands that offered more than a mission.

Credits:

* Josh Harlan – Intro Jingle
* jahzzar – CC BY-SA 4.0

*  What 2
* Scenes From the Zoo
* Fireworks
* Kintsugi
* Jardins du Luxembourg
* Slave
* Circus
* Europa
* Green Lights
* Luxe
* Ulyses
* Sometimes


* Sound Effects from Noise Cuisine and klankbeeld

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Do something that matters.
Dare to dream big and make a change.
Are you a changemaker?

Want to help?  Good intentions aren’t enough. 
Hear stories about people that learned through struggles and successes what it means to help.
This one’s from the archive – my second pilot episode (and second attempt at this whole podcasting thing)!  Hans and Tania have great stories to tell and lessons to share – enjoy!

Show Notes
Hans Johnson
Shortly after high school, Hans Johnson travelled to Kenya with a recorder and a backpack to preserve the music of the Maasai people.  This initial trip would be the start of something bigger where Hans would find himself helping with community projects like building a school.
Download the CD that Hans produced – Rhythm of the Maasai  Most of the music from this episode is from this CD. It’s beautiful.  Proceeds from sales support future projects with the Maasai people.
Tania Laden
In Kenya, 70% of the young working class are unemployed.  Tania Laden co-founded Livelyhoods, a social enterprise that creates jobs for youth and women in the urban slums of Kenya.
But when the organization started, jobs weren’t even on the radar.
By collecting and listening to feedback from the people she’s serving, Tania has helped to expand Livelyhoods into 11 slums and employs over 130 sales agents.
Learn more about Tania and Livelyhoods here: livelyhoods.org
Follow the Livelyhoods team on Twitter.
Music From the Episode:
Rhythm of the Maasai (Maasai People of East Africa and Hans Johnson)
Sub Rosa (Remote) / CC BY-SA 3.0
Perspectives (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0
Memorized (Josh Woodward) / CC BY 4.0
Thoughtful (Lee Rosevere) / CC BY-SA 4.0
Modulation of the Spirit (Little Glass Men) / CC BY 3.0
Storyteller (Jahzzar) / CC BY-SA 3.0
Before & After (Jahzzar) / CC BY-SA 3.0
Subdivision of the Masses (Philipp Weigl) / CC BY 4.0

Take a listen to the very first pilot episode of Changemaker.  This was when I was testing out this idea… Could stories and lessons from social entrepreneurs help make it easier for listeners to make a difference and inspire people with good news? 
I am so honored to share the stories from Ashley and Maria. They are solving huge problems by taking what others consider as waste and turning it into something valuable. 

Ashley Muspratt
Ashley Muspratt is a waste-to-energy entrepreneur focused on using business to solve human waste management challenges in developing cities.  She is the founder of Pivot, building factories to convert human waste to solid fuel.
Learn more about Ashley and Pivot here: www.pivotworks.co
Follow the Pivot team on Twitter.
Maria Rodriguez
Maria Rodriguez is empowering women in Guatemala to fight against hunger and poverty by teaching them skills to support their families.  She is the founder of Byoearth, a producer of organic fertilizer through a process called vermicomposting – using worms to turn waste into nutrient-rich compost.
Learn more about Maria and Byoearth here: www.byoearth.com.
Watch A Recycled Life to learn more about the Guatemalan City Dump.
Follow the Byoearth team on Twitter.
Credits:

* Josh Harlan – Intro Jingle
* These Fair Hands (Nick Jaina) / CC BY-NC 3.0
* Strings And Blips (Adam Selzer) / CC BY-NC 3.0
* Gold Sunset (Cory Gray) / CC BY-NC 3.0
* Pensacola Twilight (Lee Rosevere) / CC BY-NC 3.0
* Spit Off The Bridge (Cory Gray) / CC BY-NC 3.0
* Wrecking Ball (Cory Gray) / CC BY-NC 3.0
* Air Hockey Saloon (Chris Zabriskie) / CC BY 4.0
* Pre-Vertex (Limited Functionality Is My New Jam) (Lee Rosevere) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
* There’s Probably No Time (Chris Zabriskie) / CC BY 4.0
* Pivot truck sound effects – Matt Muspratt  

 
If you liked this episode, please share it with one friend.  By getting these stories and ideas to more people, we can make a greater impact!