What a year of changemaking books taught us about how to drive meaningful impact.

In this special second annual How to Change the World Book Club episode, Catherine is joined by book club regulars Maggie Bauer and Eric DeMarco to share the standout reads of the year, the themes that kept surfacing, and the "book awards" they handed out along the way. From most hopeful to most likely to shift your perspective, they dig into big topics like AI bias, climate resilience, disability justice, emotional labor, and the role of community in creating real change — and reflect on the surprising ways reading together can move you from awareness to action.

Here are the 12 books we read in 2025:

January - Atomic Habits by James Clear (personal growth)

February - Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau (disability/advocacy)

March - What the Wild Sea Can Be by Helen Scales (nature/environment)

April - Factfulness by Hans Rosling (society/economics)

May - Emotional Labor by Rose Hackman (workplace/gender)

June - Murder the Truth by David Enrich (government/politics)

July - Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (economics/technology)

August - Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman (society/change)

September - We All Want to Change the World by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (society/politics)

October - Unmasking AI by Joy Buolamwini (technology)

November - Medicine River by Mary Annette Pember (Native American history)

December - Hope Dies Last by Alan Weisman (environment)

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If it feels like corporations have more influence than elected officials right now… you're not imagining it.

Authors Seth Levine and Elizabeth MacBride join me to unpack their new book, Capital Evolution: The New American Economy — and the argument that we're living through a major transition in American capitalism. They break down how the last 50 years of "shareholder-first" thinking helped concentrate wealth and opportunity, why we're now in a messy in-between era, and what they believe could come next: a more "dynamic capitalism" that still values markets, but expands ownership and opportunity, encourages longer-term thinking, and redefines the relationship between business, government, and the public.

We also talk about what accountability looks like when business is a primary actor in society, where the line is between corporate values and politics, and why our fractured information environment (and AI) makes it harder to see what's actually real.

If you've been trying to make sense of the economy, power, and what's shifting beneath our feet — this conversation offers language, context, and a few reasons to stay clear-eyed (and hopeful).

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Our culture would have us believe that most any problem can be solved by working harder, longer, faster, more. But what are the limitations of hustle culture and how can we move beyond it?

Brand and business strategist Quinn Tempest helps solopreneurs build businesses that change the world without pounding themselves into the ground. In this insightful episode, she shares what it looks like to build a life-first business (versus lifestyle business), how to know when your "operating system" needs an upgrade, and practical ways to realign your why with your what across brand, offers, pricing, and marketing. We also talk about identity shifts, the power of community when you're a team of one, and why entrepreneurship can quietly reshape "business as usual."

If you've been stuck in busywork, this conversation is a nudge to zoom out, update, and take the next right step — one move at a time.

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What if a 10-week, after-school program led by older students could move the needle on a statewide literacy crisis?

Sophie Allen Etchart, founder and CEO of Read Better Be Better (RBBB), shares how a simple, peer-led reading model — pairing middle school leaders with younger readers — is helping Arizona students beat the odds in a state where 61% of third graders aren't reading at grade level.

Sophie shares how she built Read Better Be Better from testing the curriculum with a kid in her neighborhood to a recent study by an independent education group confirming that students in their programs outperform their peers on key literacy measures. Now, the program stands as a Tier II evidence-based option schools can include in their literacy plans.

If you care about focusing school boards on what works, championing the science of reading, and finding leadership by looking around — not up — this conversation offers a hopeful, practical roadmap for systems-level change.

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What if a 13-year-old could bring lawmakers from both parties to the same table… and win?

Parents, caregivers, and disability advocates flooded the Arizona Capitol this year to stop a funding crisis that threatened essential services for people with developmental disabilities. Two of the leaders in that fight — Brandi Coon, president of Raising Voices Coalition, and Amy Haley, advocate and mom to 13-year-old twins — share how an entire community organized, refused to be ignored, and forced change.

From budget battles and cross-party negotiations to policy wins that protect services families rely on every single day, Brandi and Amy break down how advocacy really works, and why storytelling, relentless persistence, and showing up (in whatever way you can) matter more than titles or money.

Whether you're a caregiver, a public policy nerd, or just someone who wants to believe change is still possible, this conversation is a blueprint for everyday people demanding dignity, stability, and respect — and getting it.

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What if your morning coffee could strengthen entire communities?

Dr. Arisbe Mendoza, Director of Global Impact at Fairtrade International, shares how everyday purchases — your morning coffee, chocolate bar, or bottle of wine — can create ripple effects across communities worldwide.

From living-income pricing and climate-resilient farming to gender equity and co-ownership by 1.9 million farmers and workers, Arisbe reveals how Fairtrade is redefining what ethical trade can achieve — and why October's Fair Trade Month is the perfect time to reflect on the impact of our everyday choices.

Whether you're leading a social impact organization, working toward sustainability goals, or just rethinking your weekly grocery list, this conversation shows how small, intentional actions can add up to systemic change.

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The Six Questions To Ask Before You Hire Marketing Support

How do you know what kind of marketing help your organization really needs? Too often, changemakers either ask for an outcome ("I need to raise more money") or something too broad ("I need help with social media") — and end up with the wrong fit.

In this solo Changemaker Chat, Catherine lays out six questions every leader should ask before hiring marketing support. From clarifying whether you need strategy or execution, to defining success, skills, scope, and budget, she shares a practical framework to help you find the right partner — and avoid wasted time, money, and morale.

Whether you're running a campaign, planning a big event, or growing your capacity, this episode will help you get clear on what you actually need — and set you up to hire the kind of support that frees you to focus on what matters most: driving real change.

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How do you build a content strategy that actually works — without burning out or getting lost in the noise?

Do you ever feel like you're churning out content with knowing if it's truly working? In this episode, I sit down with Kristen Neuendorff, the content strategist behind many of Javelina's client projects, to talk about creating content with purpose. We cover how changemakers can align their content with their mission and bigger goals, even when resources are limited.

Kristen shares simple frameworks, practical tools, and real examples from the field — including how we repurpose content, prioritize the right platforms, and use storytelling to create deeper connections. Whether you manage your organization's social media or want to refine your own personal strategy, this conversation will leave you with actionable ideas you can put into practice today.

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How can we thrive in a rapidly changing world? Canadian entrepreneur, author, and social impact leader Scott Stirrett shares how to thrive in uncertainty—and why reinvention is the new career advantage.

From self-compassion over perfectionism to adaptable planning, anti-fragility, generalist "power skills," and building both weak and strong ties, Scott shares practical tools from his book The Uncertainty Advantage to help you navigate fast change with confidence.

Whether you're leading a team, plotting your next move, or rebuilding after a setback, this conversation reframes uncertainty as fuel for growth — and shows how to act on opportunities as they emerge.

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Too often, marketing Return-on-Investment (ROI) gets reduced to dollars in and dollars out. In this solo episode, Catherine challenges that narrow view and explores why the impact of marketing is about so much more.

From building community and awareness to shifting culture and shaping long-term behavior, she reframes marketing as a powerful tool for changemakers that goes far beyond short-term revenue. Along the way, she shares client stories and a surprising lesson she picked up from a Swiss athletic brand — all pointing to the same truth: the best return on marketing is measured in relationships, not just transactions.

Whether you're leading a nonprofit, reporting to a board, or simply trying to prove the worth of your work, this conversation will help you expand the way you see ROI — and make the case for marketing as an essential driver of change.

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🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube now!