From Passion to Purpose

Hello, friends. Welcome back to From Passion to Purpose. I’m your host, Shama Shams, and today’s episode is going to be a little different. It’s not an interview, and it’s not a leadership conversation. It’s a personal update, and it comes with a mixture of pride, gratitude, and a little tenderness.

When I launched this podcast in January of last year, my goal was simple:
to amplify the voices of nonprofit leaders who are doing the hard work in the trenches, those who are moving missions forward, fighting for justice, and building communities of hope.

Since then, this podcast has become so much more than I ever imagined.

• I have interviewed 60+ nonprofit executives from across the country, representing organizations working on homelessness, education, arts & culture, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare, workforce development, and so much more.
• We’ve shared conversations from California to Connecticut, from Texas to New York, from Washington State to Arizona—reminding us that passion-driven leadership is everywhere.
• And together, we have built a space where nonprofit leaders can speak openly about purpose, struggle, inequity, innovation, and the moments that keep them showing up.

This community—you—has been such a gift.
I genuinely believe we have created something meaningful in the sector.

And that’s why this next part feels both necessary and difficult.

I’ve decided to take a temporary break from the podcast.

Not because the work is any less important. Not because I’ve run out of stories to share. But because, like many of the leaders I interview, I believe deeply in honoring seasons. Some seasons call us to pour outward, and others call us to regroup, rebuild, and realign so we can continue showing up with integrity.

Over the past year, my life has expanded in beautiful ways—

I stepped into a major new role as the Senior Director of Development at the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association…

I’ve continued writing my next book, Dreamers…
 
I’ve been teaching, speaking, building my consulting practice, and supporting nonprofits across the country.

And as much as I love this podcast, I want to give it the time, creativity, and energy it deserves.

So I’m pressing pause—not goodbye, just pause.

During this break, I’ll be dreaming into what this next chapter of From Passion to Purpose looks like.
More storytelling.
More voices that deserve the microphone.

More conversations about reproductive justice, equity, belonging, and what it really takes to sustain impact in the nonprofit world.

To each of my guests—thank you.

To all of you who listened, shared, reached out, or found inspiration in these episodes—thank you.

And to every nonprofit leader who wakes up every day believing in the power of community, you are why this podcast exists.

Support the show

To learn more about Shama Shams, visit Case for Support Consulting.  Her new book, Nonprofit Fundraising - Lessons from the Trenches, can be found on Amazon, selected Barnes & Noble, or directly from her website.

Follow her on LinkedIn

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265641/subscribe

Join us for an inspiring and insightful journey into nonprofit leadership as we sit down with Katya Wojcik, Executive Director & Co-Founder for Project Be Free, a remarkable project dedicated to giving voice to unheard stories. In this engaging podcast, we delve deep into the life and experiences of a dynamic leader who has made it their life's mission to impact the world positively.

Our guest, Katya, discusses their unique path to the nonprofit sector and the driving forces behind their unshakable commitment to service.

Through this intimate conversation, we gain valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of nonprofit work. We learn about the inspiring projects and initiatives that have defined Project Be Free, and how they are making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities.
 
This podcast is a tribute to the dedicated individuals who pour their hearts and souls into the nonprofit sector. It serves as a source of motivation for those who aspire to make a positive impact in the world. 

Project Be Free

Support the show

To learn more about Shama Shams, visit Case for Support Consulting.  Her new book, Nonprofit Fundraising - Lessons from the Trenches, can be found on Amazon, selected Barnes & Noble, or directly from her website.

Follow her on LinkedIn

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265641/subscribe

Join us for an inspiring and insightful journey into nonprofit leadership as we sit down with Aiesha Edwards, Executive Director for Girls on the Run Triangle, a remarkable project dedicated to giving voice to unheard stories. In this engaging podcast, we delve deep into the life and experiences of a dynamic leader who has made it their life's mission to impact the world positively.

Our guest, Aiesha, discusses their unique path to the nonprofit sector and the driving forces behind their unshakable commitment to service.

Through this intimate conversation, we gain valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of nonprofit work. We learn about the inspiring projects and initiatives that have defined Girls on the Run, and how they are making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities.
 
This podcast is a tribute to the dedicated individuals who pour their hearts and souls into the nonprofit sector. It serves as a source of motivation for those who aspire to make a positive impact in the world. 

Girls on the Run Triangle

Support the show

To learn more about Shama Shams, visit Case for Support Consulting.  Her new book, Nonprofit Fundraising - Lessons from the Trenches, can be found on Amazon, selected Barnes & Noble, or directly from her website.

Follow her on LinkedIn

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265641/subscribe

Join us for an inspiring and insightful journey into nonprofit leadership as we sit down with Adriyanna R. Andrèus, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a remarkable project dedicated to giving voice to unheard stories. In this engaging podcast, we delve deep into the life and experiences of a dynamic leader who has made it their life's mission to impact the world positively.

Our guest, Adriyanna, discusses their unique path to the nonprofit sector and the driving forces behind their unshakable commitment to service.

Through this intimate conversation, we gain valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of nonprofit work. We learn about the inspiring projects and initiatives that have defined Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and how they are making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities.
 
This podcast is a tribute to the dedicated individuals who pour their hearts and souls into the nonprofit sector. It serves as a source of motivation for those who aspire to make a positive impact in the world. 

Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Support the show

To learn more about Shama Shams, visit Case for Support Consulting.  Her new book, Nonprofit Fundraising - Lessons from the Trenches, can be found on Amazon, selected Barnes & Noble, or directly from her website.

Follow her on LinkedIn

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265641/subscribe

Join us for an inspiring and insightful journey into nonprofit leadership as we sit down with Quentin Monden from Sibling Transformation Project, a remarkable project dedicated to giving voice to unheard stories. In this engaging podcast, we delve deep into the life and experiences of a dynamic leader who has made it their life's mission to impact the world positively.

Our guest, Quentin, discusses their unique path to the nonprofit sector and the driving forces behind their unshakable commitment to service.

Through this intimate conversation, we gain valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of nonprofit work. We learn about the inspiring projects and initiatives that have defined the Sibling Transformation Project and how they are making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities.
 
This podcast is a tribute to the dedicated individuals who pour their hearts and souls into the nonprofit sector. It serves as a source of motivation for those who aspire to make a positive impact in the world. 

Sibling Transformation Project

Support the show

To learn more about Shama Shams, visit Case for Support Consulting.  Her new book, Nonprofit Fundraising - Lessons from the Trenches, can be found on Amazon, selected Barnes & Noble, or directly from her website.

Follow her on LinkedIn

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265641/subscribe

Join us for an inspiring and insightful journey into nonprofit leadership as we sit down with Sahar Pirzada from HEART, a remarkable project dedicated to giving voice to unheard stories. In this engaging podcast, we delve deep into the life and experiences of a dynamic leader who has made it their life's mission to impact the world positively.

Our guest, Sahar, discusses their unique path to the nonprofit sector and the driving forces behind their unshakable commitment to service.

Through this intimate conversation, we gain valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of nonprofit work. We learn about the inspiring projects and initiatives that have defined HEART and how they are making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities.
 
This podcast is a tribute to the dedicated individuals who pour their hearts and souls into the nonprofit sector. It serves as a source of motivation for those who aspire to make a positive impact in the world. 

HEART

Support the show

To learn more about Shama Shams, visit Case for Support Consulting.  Her new book, Nonprofit Fundraising - Lessons from the Trenches, can be found on Amazon, selected Barnes & Noble, or directly from her website.

Follow her on LinkedIn

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265641/subscribe

Join us for an inspiring and insightful journey into nonprofit leadership as we sit down with James Lardner from the We Are Your Neighbors project, a remarkable project dedicated to giving voice to unheard stories. In this engaging podcast, we delve deep into the life and experiences of a dynamic leader who has made it their life's mission to impact the world positively.

Our guest, James, discusses their unique path to the nonprofit sector and the driving forces behind their unshakable commitment to service.

Through this intimate conversation, we gain valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of nonprofit work. We learn about the inspiring projects and initiatives that have defined We Are Your Neighbors and how they are making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities.
 
This podcast is a tribute to the dedicated individuals who pour their hearts and souls into the nonprofit sector. It serves as a source of motivation for those who aspire to make a positive impact in the world. 

We Are Your Neighbors

Support the show

To learn more about Shama Shams, visit Case for Support Consulting.  Her new book, Nonprofit Fundraising - Lessons from the Trenches, can be found on Amazon, selected Barnes & Noble, or directly from her website.

Follow her on LinkedIn

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265641/subscribe

Join us for an inspiring and insightful journey into nonprofit leadership as we sit down with Anne Petermann, co-founder of Global Justice Ecology Project, a remarkable organization dedicated to serving and empowering others. In this engaging podcast, we delve deep into the life and experiences of a dynamic leader who has made it their life's mission to impact the world positively.

Our guest, Anne, discusses their unique path to the nonprofit sector and the driving forces behind their unshakable commitment to service.

Through this intimate conversation, we gain valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of nonprofit work. We learn about the inspiring projects and initiatives that have defined the GHEP and how they are making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities.
 
This podcast is a tribute to the dedicated individuals who pour their hearts and souls into the nonprofit sector. It serves as a source of motivation for those who aspire to make a positive impact in the world. 

Global Justice Ecology Project

Support the show

To learn more about Shama Shams, visit Case for Support Consulting.  Her new book, Nonprofit Fundraising - Lessons from the Trenches, can be found on Amazon, selected Barnes & Noble, or directly from her website.

Follow her on LinkedIn

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265641/subscribe

Join us for an inspiring and insightful journey into nonprofit leadership as we sit down with Quynh Pham, Executive Director, for Friends of Little Saigon, a remarkable organization dedicated to serving and empowering others. In this engaging podcast, we delve deep into the life and experiences of a dynamic leader who has made it their life's mission to impact the world positively.

Our guest, Quynh, discusses their unique path to the nonprofit sector and the driving forces behind their unshakable commitment to service.

Through this intimate conversation, we gain valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of nonprofit work. We learn about the inspiring projects and initiatives that have defined the Friends of Little Saigon and how they are making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities.
 
This podcast is a tribute to the dedicated individuals who pour their hearts and souls into the nonprofit sector. It serves as a source of motivation for those who aspire to make a positive impact in the world. 

Friends of Little Saigon

Support the show

To learn more about Shama Shams, visit Case for Support Consulting.  Her new book, Nonprofit Fundraising - Lessons from the Trenches, can be found on Amazon, selected Barnes & Noble, or directly from her website.

Follow her on LinkedIn

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265641/subscribe

Join us for an inspiring and insightful journey into nonprofit leadership as we sit down with Haven Wilvich, Executive Director & Founder of Seattle Trans And Nonbinary Coral Ensemble (STANCE), a remarkable organization dedicated to serving and empowering others. In this engaging podcast, we delve deep into the life and experiences of a dynamic leader who has made it their life's mission to impact the world positively.

Our guest, Haven, discusses their unique path to the nonprofit sector and the driving forces behind their unshakable commitment to service.

Through this intimate conversation, we gain valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of nonprofit work. We learn about the inspiring projects and initiatives that have defined the STANCE and how they are making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities.
 
This podcast is a tribute to the dedicated individuals who pour their hearts and souls into the nonprofit sector. It serves as a source of motivation for those who aspire to make a positive impact in the world. 

STANCE

Support the show

To learn more about Shama Shams, visit Case for Support Consulting.  Her new book, Nonprofit Fundraising - Lessons from the Trenches, can be found on Amazon, selected Barnes & Noble, or directly from her website.

Follow her on LinkedIn

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265641/subscribe