Changemakers Collective

We’re taking a little holiday break to rest, reset, and reflect – but in the meantime, we’re counting down your favorite episodes of 2025! This one took the top spot. Thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of the Changemakers Collective this year.

It’s no secret that many kids are slipping through the cracks of the education system, but with the right engagement, we can turn this ship around. In this episode, David Spellmon Jr. shares how his organization, Positive Archer Solutions, solves this problem through hip-hop music. Yes, you read that right: David connects with students through music to build social and emotional learning skills to set them up for success in school and in life. This episode is an incredible case study on turning your passion into purpose and using it to solve a problem and maximize impact.

David Spellmon Jr. is an education advocate and Founder of Positive Archer Solutions, which creates student success by focusing on the whole child by incorporating Hip Hop Pedagogy, social and emotional learning, service learning, and building social capital. Through speaking, program facilitation, and workshops, David brings an innovative approach to improving academic and behavioral outcomes for students and improving school climate. ​​

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• How David’s upbringing in a military family taught him the power of connection across cultures

• The lightbulb moment that cued him into using hip-hop as educational curriculum

• David’s mission to create more connection to our students in the educational system to boost literacy rates

• Behind the scenes of creating and monetizing your own educational framework

• Why it’s our job as entrepreneurs to challenge the status quo

You started your business to solve a problem and leave a lasting impact in the world, but now the inertia of your business has taken over and you’re too busy and burned out to serve your community. That’s where we come in! Hosted by Scott Woods and Steff Thomas, the team behind Silverback Ventures, the Changemakers Collective podcast is here to help impact-driven business owners like you accelerate growth and multiply impact through servant leadership.

Connect with Us: 

• Website

• Silverback Ventures LinkedIn

• Scott Woods LinkedIn

• Steff Thomas LinkedIn

• YouTube

We’re taking a little holiday break to rest, reset, and reflect – but in the meantime, we’re counting down your favorite episodes of 2025! This one took the top spot. Thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of the Changemakers Collective this year.

Anybody can point out problems and call out what’s not working, but fewer people actually take the time to meaningfully solve those problems. In this episode, we discuss the importance of being a problem solver, not a problem identifier. This includes the necessity of leadership humility, which involves listening to team members, embracing their ideas, and sharing decision-making authority. We also offer insights on effective hiring practices to build a dynamic team aligned with your organization’s values. If you’re ready to stop being the bottleneck in your business by empowering your team to solve problems as they see them, this episode is for you!

In this episode, we cover:

• How you as the business owner might be discouraging problem-solving

• Teaching your team how to take responsibility for problems they notice

• Coaching your team vs. consulting for your team

• Learning not to hold on too tightly to all the decision-making in your business

• Interview questions to help you build your problem-solving team

• Encouraging collaboration among team members to increase creative problem solving

You started your business to make an impact in the world, but now you’re too busy and burned out on the day-to-day operations to serve your community. That’s where we come in! Hosted by Scott Woods and Steff Thomas, the team behind Silverback Ventures, the Changemakers Collective podcast is here to help impact-driven business owners like you to accelerate their growth through servant leadership.

Connect with Us: 

• Website

• Silverback Ventures LinkedIn

• Scott Woods LinkedIn

• Steff Thomas LinkedIn

• YouTube
  

We’re taking a little holiday break to rest, reset, and reflect – but in the meantime, we’re counting down your favorite episodes of 2025! This one took the top spot. Thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of the Changemakers Collective this year.

What happens when your dream job isn’t hiring, AI’s doing half the work, and your degree feels outdated before your student loans kick in? In this episode, we sit down with recent college grad Kailyn Kelly to talk about the job hunt in the age of automation, and how today’s young professionals are making big choices in a fast-changing world. 

Kailyn Kelly is a digital content producer at Novice Studios who blends sharp marketing instincts with a Gen Z superpower: knowing how to make AI work for people, not the other way around. A Clemson grad and natural connector, she’s passionate about creating space for curiosity, creativity, and growth - in work and in life.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Career paths are not linear, and that is okay. 

• Informational interviews are underrated and invaluable.

• The environment you work in matters as much as (if not more than) the salary.

• You don’t have to have it all figured out… at 22 or at 42.

• AI is changing everything, but there’s power in learning how to work with it, not fear it.

You started your business to solve a problem and leave a lasting impact in the world, but now the inertia of your business has taken over and you’re too busy and burned out to serve your community. That’s where we come in! Hosted by Scott Woods and Steff Thomas, the team behind Silverback Ventures, the Changemakers Collective podcast is here to help impact-driven business owners like you accelerate growth and multiply impact through servant leadership.

Connect with Us: 

• Website

• Silverback Ventures LinkedIn

• Scott Woods LinkedIn

• Steff Thomas LinkedIn

• YouTube
  

Growth can be intoxicating… until it threatens the very thing that made your business meaningful in the first place. In this episode, we unpack what it looks like to scale without losing your identity, whether you’re transitioning leadership across generations, bringing in a partner or investor, or simply expanding your reach. We talk about impact thesis vs. revenue thesis, how to communicate culture shifts, and how to let how you go to market evolve without compromising why you’re in business at all.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Why identity loss happens when scaling (and how to avoid it)

• The difference between pivoting and losing your identity

• How a clear impact thesis protects culture during transitions

• Real‑world challenges of family business succession

• What to communicate (and when) to your team during big change
  

You started your business to solve a problem and leave a lasting impact in the world, but now the inertia of your business has taken over and you’re too busy and burned out to serve your community. That’s where we come in! Hosted by Scott Woods and Steff Thomas, the team behind Silverback Ventures, the Changemakers Collective podcast is here to help impact-driven business owners like you accelerate growth and multiply impact through servant leadership.

Connect with Us: 

• Website

• Silverback Ventures LinkedIn

• Scott Woods LinkedIn

• Steff Thomas LinkedIn

• YouTube
  

When you’re the leader, everyone’s looking to you – even when you’re barely holding it together. You can’t avoid the storm, but you can prepare for it. In this episode, we’re getting real about what happens when the pressure ramps up, the team’s looking at you for answers, and you feel like everything’s on fire. From stress-testing your business to slowing yourself down in the middle of chaos, we’re sharing how we’ve learned (the hard way) to stay strategic and grounded when things feel anything but calm.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Why “fighting fires” isn’t a strategy, and how real firefighters can teach you something

• The self-awareness shift that keeps leaders from spiraling under pressure

• How your calm (or chaos) sets the tone for your team’s trust

• Tactical ways to pressure-test your business and prepare your people

• What we’ve learned from real-life breakdown moments – and how to lead through them

You started your business to solve a problem and leave a lasting impact in the world, but now the inertia of your business has taken over and you’re too busy and burned out to serve your community. That’s where we come in! Hosted by Scott Woods and Steff Thomas, the team behind Silverback Ventures, the Changemakers Collective podcast is here to help impact-driven business owners like you accelerate growth and multiply impact through servant leadership.

Connect with Us: 

• Website

• Silverback Ventures LinkedIn

• Scott Woods LinkedIn

• Steff Thomas LinkedIn

• YouTube

You’re stuck -- too big to keep doing it all yourself, too small to afford full-time executive hires. So you Google a “fractional CFO” or lean on a buddy who used to consult… and still find yourself doing most of the heavy lifting.

That’s the trap of misfiring on your leadership gap. And in this episode, we’re naming it. Fractional doesn’t mean part-time advice. It means rolling up sleeves, sharing responsibility, and building a business that runs without burning you out. Let’s pull back the curtain on what real fractional leadership looks like -- and what it absolutely doesn’t.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Why most consultants fall short, and what makes a true fractional leader worth the investment

• How to vet a fractional hire beyond the resume: shared values, willingness to implement, and day-one team fit

• The mindset shift leaders must make: from telling people what to do to aligning around shared goals

• Why you must onboard fractional leaders like employees -- and still retain strategic and legal control

• The real goal: not just plugging a hole, but multiplying your capacity and preparing for a full-time hire

You started your business to solve a problem and leave a lasting impact in the world, but now the inertia of your business has taken over and you’re too busy and burned out to serve your community. That’s where we come in! Hosted by Scott Woods and Steff Thomas, the team behind Silverback Ventures, the Changemakers Collective podcast is here to help impact-driven business owners like you accelerate growth and multiply impact through servant leadership.

Connect with Us: 

• Website

• Silverback Ventures LinkedIn

• Scott Woods LinkedIn

• Steff Thomas LinkedIn

• YouTube
  

Fear doesn’t clock out. When fear enters the workplace, whether from immigration raids, racial tension, or political rhetoric, leaders face a choice: ignore it, or lead through it. In this episode, we’re sharing raw, personal insights on how the current immigration enforcement climate is impacting employees across industries, and what it looks like to lead with clarity, compassion, and courage when your team needs it most.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• How immigration enforcement is directly impacting employee wellbeing, safety, and attendance

• Why “just doing your job” isn’t enough when fear enters the workplace

• How to have hard conversations about politics, race, and religion with empathy and boundaries

• What it means to lead with compassion, even when your beliefs differ from your team’s

• The role of business leaders in standing up for dignity, safety, and humanity at work

You started your business to solve a problem and leave a lasting impact in the world, but now the inertia of your business has taken over and you’re too busy and burned out to serve your community. That’s where we come in! Hosted by Scott Woods and Steff Thomas, the team behind Silverback Ventures, the Changemakers Collective podcast is here to help impact-driven business owners like you accelerate growth and multiply impact through servant leadership.

Connect with Us: 

• Website

• Silverback Ventures LinkedIn

• Scott Woods LinkedIn

• Steff Thomas LinkedIn

• YouTube

Being your own boss sounds like freedom – until the burnout kicks in. You’re doing the work and finding the work. Managing invoices and building systems. Serving clients and planning the next move. There’s no room left to grow, much less rest. That’s the hidden trap of solopreneurship – and in this episode, we break down why collaboration is the only way to scale your mission sustainably. We unpack the mindset shift required to move from solo to syndicate and share actionable steps to find the right collaborators who can multiply your message and unlock new momentum. If you’ve hit a ceiling in your impact or income and know something’s got to change, this episode is your roadmap out. 

Links mentioned:

• Just Add a Zero by Chad Jenkins

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• The real reason most solopreneurs cap out at ~$200K/year

• How collaboration unlocks capacity and increases client reach

• Choosing the right partners based on values, audience, and aligned goals

• Turning competition into co-creation through shared problem-solving

• Why building in community makes you a better leader, faster

You started your business to solve a problem and leave a lasting impact in the world, but now the inertia of your business has taken over and you’re too busy and burned out to serve your community. That’s where we come in! Hosted by Scott Woods and Steff Thomas, the team behind Silverback Ventures, the Changemakers Collective podcast is here to help impact-driven business owners like you accelerate growth and multiply impact through servant leadership.

Connect with Us: 

• Website

• Silverback Ventures LinkedIn

• Scott Woods LinkedIn

• Steff Thomas LinkedIn

• YouTube
  

You’re showing up early, staying up late, and still feeling behind. What if the grind isn’t the answer, and never was? In this episode of Changemakers Collective, we call out hustle culture and make a bold case for a better strategy: wisdom. From time-blocking to team-building, we challenge the myth that being busy means being effective. A surprise guest appearance from Kristen Stegall of Novice Studios brings the conversation to life with a powerful real-time coaching moment that is full of real-world insights about burnout, business growth, and learning to lead with intention.

Kristen Stegall is the founder of Novice Studios, a podcast agency that helps business owners align their content efforts with broader brand and revenue goals. She’s known for making clients feel seen, heard, and confident on camera.

Connect with Kristen:

• LinkedIn

• Novice Studios’ Website

Episodes mentioned:

• 44. Escaping the Legacy Trap | What If You Only Had One Year Left?

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Why being busy isn’t the same as being effective

• How to stop measuring success by effort and start measuring it by impact

• The difference between hustling hard and hustling smart

• Why time-blocking and strategic thinking beat endless hours

• How growth without process breaks the business before it builds it

You started your business to solve a problem and leave a lasting impact in the world, but now the inertia of your business has taken over and you’re too busy and burned out to serve your community. That’s where we come in! Hosted by Scott Woods and Steff Thomas, the team behind Silverback Ventures, the Changemakers Collective podcast is here to help impact-driven business owners like you accelerate growth and multiply impact through servant leadership.

Connect with Us: 

• Website

• Silverback Ventures LinkedIn

• Scott Woods LinkedIn

• Steff Thomas LinkedIn

• YouTube

What if the scariest boss you ever had didn’t just haunt your memories, but quietly shaped how you lead today? In this special Halloween episode, we dive into our real leadership horror stories, from intimidation and gas‑lighting, to passive‑aggressive culture and fear‑driven control. What’s behind the fear? Lessons you need as a leader: how to read the room, lead with humility, build psychological safety, and stop letting ego or fear drive your decisions. This one’s part confessional, part gut‑check, and and 100% about how self‑aware leadership doesn’t have to be scary.

Episodes mentioned:

• 38. A Boomer, A Millennial, & A Gen Alpha Walk Into a Meeting… | Cross-Gen Leadership That Protects The Mission

• 44. Escaping the Legacy Trap | What If You Only Had One Year Left?

Books mentioned:

• The Carpenter by Jon Gordon

• Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks

• Just Add a Zero by Chad Jenkins

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• How the boss you hated taught you how not to lead

• Why self‑awareness is the first defense against leadership that scares instead of serves

• The difference between confidence and control, and why fear‑driven leadership kills innovation and trust

• What true psychological safety sounds like -- and how it’s the platform for growth

• The mindset shift that turns a one‑time volunteer into a lifelong advocate

You started your business to solve a problem and leave a lasting impact in the world, but now the inertia of your business has taken over and you’re too busy and burned out to serve your community. That’s where we come in! Hosted by Scott Woods and Steff Thomas, the team behind Silverback Ventures, the Changemakers Collective podcast is here to help impact-driven business owners like you accelerate growth and multiply impact through servant leadership.

Connect with Us: 

• Website

• Silverback Ventures LinkedIn

• Scott Woods LinkedIn

• Steff Thomas LinkedIn

• YouTube