The saying, "Those who tell the stories rule the world," is such a core truth that it is both a quote from Plato and a Native American proverb - two entirely distinct societies coming to the same conclusion. We in water know that our inability to tell our story is one of the most frustrating aspects of the sector and one of, if not the most, negatively impactful. So what happens when you put water's story in the hands of two of the best storytellers and creators on the planet? Matt Fitzgerald is the campaign architect of #TEAMWATER, which, after #TEAMTREES and #TEAMSEAS, is the third major campaign from MrBeast, the world's largest YouTuber, and Mark Rober, the world's most prominent science YouTuber. #TEAMWATER's aim is to mobilize $40 million in one month in order to provide two million people with clean, safe, reliable drinking water for decades. It is one seriously entrepreneurial undertaking, and Matt is a remarkable guy. We thought it would be fascinating to sit down with him and find out how he thinks about pulling off something this audacious, and we were right - it was. Please enjoy my conversation with Matt Fitzgerald.

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For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205

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Campaign architect Matt Fitzgerald discusses the strategy behind #TEAMWATER, the $40M clean water initiative with creators MrBeast and Mark Rober. He shares his philosophy on building successful movements like #TEAMTREES and #TEAMSEAS, focusing on harnessing the "attention economy." Fitzgerald explains the importance of simple, emotionally resonant narratives that make complex issues universal and inspire mass participation, turning viewers into heroes and creating tangible change.

00:00 - Power of Storytelling in the Water Sector

02:28 - What Makes an Effective Campaign

05:39 - Building Narratives That Inspire Participation

08:12 - Inside the #TEAMWATER Mission and Impact

11:05 - Leveraging Massive Creator Reach for Change

13:29 - Lessons from #TEAMTREES and #TEAMSEAS

20:44 - Competing in the Attention Economy

25:25 - Messaging Strategies That Resonate

28:57 - Balancing Grassroots and Grasstops Influence

36:17 - Matt Fitzgerald’s Career and Campaign Insights

42:12 - Using Emotion to Drive Action

43:20 - Shaping Philanthropy for Water’s Future

47:20 - Call to Action for #TEAMWATER Support at https://teamwater.org/

49:18 - Matt’s advice for water entrepreneurs

Links:

Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/

Matt Fitzgerald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattfitzgerald/

Contribute to #TEAMWATER: https://teamwater.org/

SM Material

Key Takeaways:

"Water is where climate and people meet. You either have too much of it or too little."

"The best campaigns build relationships, activate them, and provide a next step… a cycle of engagement."

"#TEAMWATER is a $40 million crowdfunding campaign to bring clean water to 2 million people."

"Water is like the sun; everyone has a relationship to it. Yet it's stuck in conference rooms and reports."

"The greatest change you can make is the change that happens after you're gone."

"If you know your North Star, you can navigate the squiggly line of your journey."

“If you do one thing, go to teamwater.org and donate.”