Contagious Culture

By Kyle S. KingBusiness Education How To Non-Profit

Contagious Culture episodes

October 05#215 | Mission Matters Series: Why The Cure For Burnout is Each Other
We're more connected than ever, and lonelier than ever. In this episode, Kyle makes the case that community isn't a perk; it's medicine. He explores why isolation hits leaders and mission-driven teams especially hard, why a network can't heal you the way a community can, and the five ingredients that make community work like a prescription.
In this episode:
Why so much of what we call burnout is really isolation
The difference between a network (access) and a community (belonging)
Five ingredients of healing community: regularity, belonging before productivity, being known, permission to not be okay, and mutual care
Practical ways leaders can build community into meetings, teams, and everyday rhythms
Why leaders have to protect their own "dose" of community first
Episode History:
0:00 When was the last time someone checked on you?
2:00 Welcome and episode overview
5:00 The quiet epidemic of loneliness
15:00 Network vs. community
27:00 Five ingredients of community as medicine
42:00 How leaders prescribe community
54:00 Your prescription for this week
This week's challenge: Reach out to one person you haven't checked on in a while. No agenda. Just ask, "How are you really doing?" and listen.
Resources mentioned:
U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 advisory on loneliness and isolation
Contagious Culture Podcastathon, Community edition: livestreaming October 29
Kyle's weekly newsletter: an episode, a tool, and a word of encouragement every week
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34 min
October 02#214 | Mission Matters Series: What I'm Leaving Behind in Q3 and You Should Too
You can't pour into a big season with a full cup. As Q4 kicks off, Kyle turns the mic on himself and shares the three things he's intentionally leaving behind: a habit, a yes, and a story he's been telling himself. He explains why subtraction comes before growth, how organizations collect "cultural clutter," and how to let go without carrying guilt. Then he walks you through a 10-minute reflection so you head into the last 90 days of the year lighter than you arrived.
In this episode:
Why most of us don't have a capacity problem, we have a clutter problem
The three reasons letting go is so hard: sunk cost, identity, and fear of disappointing people
The three things Kyle is leaving in Q3: grabbing his phone the second he wakes up, saying yes to every coffee meeting, and the story that "if I'm not busy, I'm falling behind"
Five types of cultural clutter hiding in your organization, from zombie meetings to outdated stories
Four ways to let go without guilt, including the "trial, not a tattoo" approach
A guided two-column reflection you can do in 10 minutes
Episode History:
0:00 Cold open
1:00 Why I'm doing this out loud
4:00 Why subtraction comes first
8:00 The three things I'm leaving in Q3
16:00 What I'm making room for
18:00 Cultural clutter for teams and organizations
22:30 How to let go without guilt
25:30 Guided reflection: your two columns
28:30 Challenge and close
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36 min
September 17 #213 | From Raising Money to Raising People: Building Courageous Nonprofits with Jonathon Roe
In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle sits down with Jonathon Roe, Founder and CEO of Venture 1:9, for a conversation on courageous nonprofit leadership, sustainable growth, fundraising, organizational strategy, and creating nonprofits that actually move the needle.
Jonathon shares his journey from nearly two decades of church and ministry leadership into nonprofit coaching, training, and development. He explains why Venture 1:9 believes the world doesn't need more nonprofits, it needs more courageous nonprofits and why effective leadership, clear strategic direction, and sustainable funding are essential to creating lasting impact.
This episode is a powerful reminder that nonprofit leadership isn't simply about keeping an organization busy. It's about building the leadership, strategy, relationships, and resources necessary to create meaningful and sustainable change.
Key Topics
• Building courageous nonprofit organizations
• The three pillars of a healthy nonprofit
• Effective leadership and organizational assessment
• Creating clear strategic direction
• Building sustainable funding models
• Fundraising as relationship building
• Moving beyond transactional fundraising
• Raising people instead of simply raising money
Key Takeaways
• The world doesn't need more nonprofits, it needs more courageous nonprofits.
• A healthy nonprofit requires effective leadership, clear strategic direction, and sustainable funding.
• Fundraising is not simply about raising money; it's about raising up people.
• Donors want to understand why their involvement matters and what their support makes possible.
• Strong fundraising starts with genuine relationships, not an immediate ask.
• Nonprofit leaders should know the stories and motivations behind their strongest supporters.
• Be specific when communicating opportunities for people to get involved.
• Before asking supporters for another gift, show them the impact of their previous one.
• Leaders have to honestly assess where their organization is strong and where it needs help.
• Sustainable nonprofit growth requires more than passion, it requires leadership, strategy, and infrastructure.
• The goal isn't simply to stay busy; it's to move the needle.
• Courageous leadership means being willing to take the next step even when you don't have every piece of the puzzle.
Episode History
00:00 — Kyle introduces Jonathon and Venture 1:9
02:00 — Jonathon's journey into nonprofit leadership and coaching
06:00 — Taking a leap of faith and moving to Arizona
10:00 — The story and mission behind Venture 1:9
14:00 — Why the world needs courageous nonprofits
18:00 — The three pillars of a healthy nonprofit
22:00 — Assessing leadership, strategy, and funding
26:00 — Venture 1:9's training, coaching, and granting model
30:00 — Why fundraising is about more than raising money
34:00 — Building authentic relationships with donors
38:00 — Three practical things nonprofit leaders can do
42:00 — Getting to know the stories behind your supporters
46:00 — Creating specific opportunities for people to give
50:00 — Reporting impact and closing the loop with donors
54:00 — Leading with courage and creating sustainable impact
58:00 — Jonathon's final encouragement for nonprofit leaders
01:00:00 — Kyle closes the conversation
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35 min
September 10#212 | Healing Through Movement, Connection, and Purpose W/ Shanea Calhoun
What if therapy didn't require sitting still? In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, host Kyle King sits down with Shanea Calhoun, founder of Therapy and Motion, an organization built on purposeful movement, human connection, and inclusive wellness. A Division I triathlete turned entrepreneur, Shanea shares how her love of movement became a model for meeting people exactly where they are — serving individuals with autism, Down syndrome, TBIs, and dementia through adaptive, creative, connection-first care.
The conversation goes beyond the work itself. Shanea opens up about the moment she went from being the resource to needing one, why healing is a slow and personal staircase, and how her own therapy is watching the people she serves thrive. It's a candid look at purpose, resilience, and taking care of yourself with the same rigor you pour into everyone else.
In this episode
The origin of Therapy and Motion and why it looks beyond traditional therapy
What makes the program unique: serving lower-functioning populations from age three to dementia care
Behavior as communication — learning to listen to what someone can't say in words
The early challenge of standing out, and the current challenge of finding staff with the heart for the work
Shanae's background as a University of Pittsburgh triathlete and how sport shaped her leadership
The story that keeps her going: moving to North Carolina and becoming the one in need of a resource
Advice for entrepreneurs running low on passion — prayer, mentorship, and remembering your "why"
How Shanea defines healing, and why it looks different for everyone
Why the work is her own therapy
What she's running toward vs. running from as a leader
What's next: the nonprofit arm, Sports Motion in Learning
Key takeaways
Meet people where they are — don't make them fit your program.
Everyone can move, everyone can communicate something, and everyone needs connection.
At any moment, the person serving can become the person in need. Lead with that awareness.
Healing is a continual, step-by-step journey, not a quick fix.
Take care of yourself with the same care you give others — you deserve it, and it's possible.
Memorable moment
"Life is a staircase… eventually you'll get to the top — not society's top, but their top."
About the guest
Shanea Calhoun is the founder of Therapy and Motion, which delivers therapeutic recreation, movement, cognitive activities, and purposeful connection for individuals with diverse needs. She is also building the organization's nonprofit arm, Sports Motion in Learning, aimed at expanding inclusive, adaptive wellness into sports and community settings.
Connect with Shanea
Instagram: @therapyinmotion_LLC
Facebook: Therapy in Motion
Personal: Shanea Calhoun
Follow the show
If this episode moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it. And go support Therapy in Motion — be a supporter, not just a watcher.
The energy you bring is the culture you create.
30 min
September 03 #211 | From Group Chat to Global Impact W/ Nick Kalenichenko
In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle sits down with Nick Kalanichenko, founder of Kingdom Kickbacks, for a conversation on community, leadership, volunteer engagement, nonprofit growth, and building organizations that can sustain their mission.
Nick shares how Kingdom Kickbacks started as a simple group chat between friends across churches and grew into a thriving community serving thousands of young adults in Charlotte. He opens up about the challenges that come when a mission grows faster than the systems supporting it, the decision to bring on an Executive Director, and why sustainable growth requires leaders to learn how to delegate, empower others, and build a team around the mission.
This episode is a reminder that growth is both a gift and a responsibility. When the mission outgrows the capacity of the founders, leaders have to be willing to evolve, build systems, trust others, and create a structure that allows the mission to keep moving forward.
Key Topics
• Building community from the ground up
• Growing a mission-driven organization organically
• Volunteer leadership and engagement
• Delegation and empowering others
• Knowing when to hire your first executive leader
• Transitioning from founder-led to team-led leadership
• Building sustainable nonprofit infrastructure
• Identifying and responding to real community needs
• Networking and learning from other leaders
• Scaling a nonprofit without losing the mission
• Building a repeatable organizational playbook
• Expanding impact into new communities
Episode History
00:00 — Kyle introduces Nick and the story behind Kingdom Kickbacks
02:00 — How a simple group chat became a growing community
06:00 — Creating consistent community for young adults in Charlotte
10:00 — Growing through worship, service, and relationships
14:00 — The challenges of leading a rapidly growing organization
18:00 — Learning to delegate and empower volunteers
22:00 — Recognizing when the mission has outgrown the founders' capacity
26:00 — The decision to hire an Executive Director
30:00 — Finding the right leader from within the volunteer community
34:00 — Building sustainable systems and nonprofit infrastructure
38:00 — What Mission Charlotte revealed about the organization's capacity
42:00 — Why networking and learning from other leaders matters
46:00 — The importance of identifying a real community need
50:00 — Nick's vision for expanding Kingdom Kickbacks into new cities
54:00 — Final leadership lessons and closing
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28 min
August 13#210 | When Purpose Meets Process with Heather Shafter
In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle sits down with Heather Shafter, COO, keynote speaker, author, and operations consultant, for a conversation on purpose, process, leadership, and healthy organizational culture.
Heather shares how purpose-driven organizations can move from big vision to clear execution, why leaders need curiosity in difficult conversations, and how strong processes help teams avoid burnout, confusion, and mission drift.
This episode is a reminder that passion alone is not enough. To build something sustainable, leaders need clarity, communication, accountability, and systems that support the mission.
Key Topics
Purpose-driven leadership
Difficult conversations and curiosity
Bias, identity, and respectful dialogue
People problems vs. process problems
Role clarity and accountability
Healthy organizational culture
Mission alignment
Strategic planning and execution
The Entrepreneurial Operating System and Traction
Building sustainable teams and organizations
Key Takeaways
Difficult conversations become easier when leaders stay curious.
Many “people problems” are actually process problems.
Healthy culture shows up in how people communicate, help one another, and make decisions.
Purpose-driven organizations need systems to sustain their mission.
A strategic plan only works when it is used consistently.
Leaders must identify the work that creates the greatest mission impact.
Culture is what people consistently experience, not just what leaders say.
Episode History
00:00 — Kyle introduces Heather and the focus of the conversation
02:00 — Heather shares what is inspiring her right now
04:00 — Difficult conversations, curiosity, and respectful disagreement
08:00 — Bias, humanity, and learning from people with different views
12:00 — Leadership lessons from mentorship and operations
15:00 — People problems vs. process problems
18:00 — What healthy culture looks like behind the scenes
22:00 — Aligning daily work with mission
26:00 — Strategic planning and choosing quarterly priorities
30:00 — Heather shares why justice and purpose drive her work
34:00 — Final leadership challenge and closing
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34 min
July 10#209 | You Can’t Scale Culture If You’re Losing Yourself W/ Kyle S. King
In this solo episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle S. King reflects on leadership, burnout, capacity, and the hidden cost of building something that matters.
Kyle shares why many leaders are not struggling because they lack ability, but because they are carrying too much. He opens up about moving the Contagious Culture Conference to 2027, simplifying organizational priorities, and learning to build a company that fits within his life instead of consuming it.
This episode challenges leaders to stop adding more and start asking what needs to be removed, realigned, or rebuilt.
Key Takeaways
Leaders often break because they are carrying too much.
Growth sometimes requires removing, not adding.
You cannot scale culture if you are losing yourself.
Alignment matters more than activity.
Teams should be built around needed skills, not comfort.
Strong leaders tell the truth, even when decisions are hard.
Your organization should fit inside your life, not become your life.
Episode History
00:00 — Welcome and Episode #209 milestone
01:50 — Leaders are carrying too much
03:45 — Success, wholeness, and unbecoming
06:00 — Why the conference moved to 2027
08:00 — Leaders default under pressure
10:30 — Combining Growth Lab and Growth Alliance
11:00 — Capacity challenges and founder limits
12:45 — Identifying team skill gaps
14:30 — Aligning podcast, community, and offers
15:30 — Playing defense through processes, personnel, and systems
19:10 — You cannot scale culture if you are losing yourself
21:30 — Let the company fit inside your life
22:50 — Final challenge and closing
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26 min
July 09#208 | The Power of Shrimp to Change Lives W/ Maxie Gluckman, Ph.D.
In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle S. King sits down with Maxie Gluckman, executive director of Friends of Fundesur, to explore leadership, global service, education, migration, and the power of listening.
Maxie shares how her journey as a teacher, researcher, and global citizen led her to support communities in southern Honduras through a foundation connected to the shrimp industry.
They discuss how environmental and economic changes affect families, why storytelling must center dignity instead of trauma, and how leadership often begins with one small act of courage and kindness.
The message is simple: you do not have to change the entire world at once. You can listen, take action, and create meaningful change one person at a time.
Episode History
00:00 — Introduction
01:00 — Maxie’s walkout song and educational journey
02:30 — Growing up as a first-generation American
03:30 — Teaching and learning from immigrant families
04:50 — The work of Friends of Fundesur
05:45 — Why shrimp farming has become more difficult
07:00 — How supply-chain changes affect children and families
07:30 — Why this work became Maxie’s calling
08:45 — Leadership through action
09:15 — A small act of kindness after a fundraiser
11:00 — Stories from migrant families
13:15 — Identity beyond professional titles
14:30 — Running toward motherhood and greater equity
16:30 — How listeners can support the mission
17:30 — Maxie’s slingshot moments
18:30 — Identity, allyship, and community work
19:30 — Reconnecting a mother and daughter
21:30 — Advice for sustaining meaningful work
22:30 — Where to connect with Friends of Fundesur
Key Takeaways
Listening to communities should come before designing solutions for them.
Leadership is choosing to act when doing nothing would be easier.
Small moments of kindness can hold as much meaning as large-scale initiatives.
Stories should highlight resilience, learning, and dignity, not only trauma.
Access and privilege create a responsibility to build bridges for others.
Community work requires humility, self-awareness, and a willingness to question your role.
Caring for yourself is necessary if you want to continue caring for others.
Relationships and introductions can be just as valuable as financial donations.
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Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference
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28 min
July 08#207 | From Boardroom Ideas to Meaningful Action W/ Kelly Beeland
In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with nonprofit strategy and execution advisor Kelly Beeland to explore why so many strategic plans stall after they are approved.
Kelly shares how boards and executive directors can create clarity, assess capacity, define roles, strengthen governance, and move from endless conversation to meaningful execution.
The message is clear: strategy only creates impact when people understand the plan, know their responsibilities, and have the capacity to act.
Episode History
00:00 — Introduction
02:30 — Kelly’s journey into change management
04:00 — Lessons from large-scale transformation
06:00 — Governance and nonprofit board leadership
09:00 — Seeing both systems and people
10:30 — Where struggling boards should begin
12:30 — Getting everyone on the same page
14:30 — Creating a culture of execution
17:00 — Capacity, alignment, and role clarity
19:30 — Building the right board
22:00 — The value of serving on an emerging board
24:00 — Developing high-performing boards
25:30 — Planning board development across the year
28:00 — What is next for Kelly
31:00 — Supporting burned-out executive directors
Key Takeaways
A strategic plan is only useful when it includes clear ownership, timing, and execution.
Boards often struggle because members do not understand their role or expectations.
Alignment and role clarity are different from capacity, but all three affect performance.
Boards should plan for the full year instead of moving from one meeting agenda to the next.
Committees need defined responsibilities, deadlines, and reporting structures.
Executive directors must honestly assess what their organization can accomplish with its current resources.
A strong relationship between the board chair and executive director is essential.
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Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference
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40 min
July 07#206 | Reclaim Your Story and Lead Unapologetically W/ Frank Velásquez Jr.
In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Frank Velásquez Jr. for a powerful conversation about authenticity, courage, joy, and reclaiming the stories that shape who we are.
Frank shares how values-aligned leadership can help people become more confident, lead with greater intention, and create environments where others feel seen, supported, and empowered.
The message is clear: meaningful leadership begins when you stop hiding, own your story, and give yourself permission to lead unapologetically.
Episode History
00:00 — Introduction
01:15 — Meet Frank Velásquez Jr.
03:30 — Frank’s origin story and leadership journey
06:45 — Reclaiming your personal story
10:00 — Authenticity and values-aligned leadership
14:30 — Leading with courage
18:00 — Practicing joy unapologetically
22:00 — Creating spaces where people can show up fully
26:00 — The leadership program and its impact
30:00 — Why Frank is determined to restart the program
33:00 — Advice for leaders who are hiding parts of themselves
36:00 — How to connect with and support Frank
38:00 — Final reflections
Key Takeaways
Authentic leadership requires the courage to be fully seen.
Your values should shape the way you lead.
Joy is not separate from serious leadership. It can strengthen your impact.
Your story can become a source of connection, purpose, and confidence.
Transformational programs give people space to discover who they are and how they want to lead.
Reclaiming your story allows you to lead without apology.
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Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference
Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast
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📞 Schedule Your Call Here
🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers
👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance
👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King
33 min

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