On this episode of Renegade Capital, Anna Smukowski joins us to honor the incredible impact of CDFIs and the people who make them thrive. She shares stories of their successes, the challenges they face, and how we can help strengthen these vital institutions that drive economic justice and community resilience nationwide.

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What happens when we start thinking about our organization’s end game—not as a failure, but as a strategy for lasting impact?

In this episode of Renegade Capital, we sit down with Sara Razavi to talk about mergers, acquisitions, and exit plans—not in the scary corporate way, but as powerful tools for sustainability and longevity. Sara breaks down why every mission-driven organization should know what comes after success, and how planning ahead can help your work—and your impact—live on for generations.

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In this episode of Renegade Capital, we talk with Julianne Zimmerman of Adasina Social Capital about what it means to keep moving forward in moments of uncertainty and fear. Together we explore how courage, curiosity, and a willingness to act despite discomfort can shape the path toward meaningful change. Julianne also shares how joining forces and working in partnership can amplify our impact and help create the larger outcomes we’re striving for.

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We’re hitting pause on our Starfish Stories to talk about what’s making headlines right now — the federal government shutdown. It’s not just political drama in DC; it’s already having real consequences. The staff of the CDFI Fund has been laid off, and that’s sending shockwaves through the community development finance world.

In this episode, we unpack what’s happening, what it means for CDFIs and the communities they serve, and how we can all respond when the systems we rely on stall.

Because when the government shuts down, the work doesn’t stop — and neither do we.

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We said we wanted to hear your starfish stories… but first, we’re sharing ours! 

In this fun, feel-good episode, Andrea, Leah, and Ebony open up about the everyday ways they’ve made a difference — at work, at home, and in their communities. From leadership moments to tiny acts of kindness, each story shows how small actions can spark real change.

Big or small, every ripple matters.

Listen in, get inspired — and then tell us your story at JOIN THE SHOW — Renegade Capital Podcast.

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We’re launching something new — and it’s all about you.

In this short episode, we introduce our new Starfish Stories series, inspired by the well-known parable of the person walking along the beach, tossing stranded starfish back into the sea — one by one. When told they couldn’t possibly save them all, they replied, “It made a difference to that one.”

That’s the heart of this series. We want to hear how you are making a difference — in your work, your community, your corner of the world. The acts may be small, but the impact is real.

Because change doesn’t always happen all at once. Sometimes, it happens one starfish at a time.

Share your story at JOIN THE SHOW — Renegade Capital Podcast and join the movement.

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This week, we sit down with Curtis Peterson who works closely with healthcare-focused foundations and startups. Curtis shares practical tools for navigating leadership priorities, making the business case for your work, and finding alignment in times of change.

From start-ups to nonprofits and beyond, Curtis’s tips apply across industries:

1. How to speak the language of impact—both human and financial.

2. Why “don’t let perfect be the enemy of good” is critical advice for mission-driven organizations.

3. Ways to frame your opportunities so they resonate with decision-makers today.

If you’re working to advance your mission while balancing competing priorities, this conversation will give you strategies to move forward with clarity and confidence.

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What does it mean to liberate wealth? In this episode, we chat with Lora Smith of Justice Funders about reimagining philanthropy, moving money with creativity and courage, and using capital as a force for justice. If you’re ready to think bigger about what your dollars can do, this one’s for you.

Justice Funders: Powering Philanthropic Transformation

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After four decades of transforming how America thinks about community investment, Donna Gambrell is entering a new chapter. As she prepares to step down as CEO of Appalachian Community Capital at year's end, we explore the remarkable legacy of the woman who rewrote the rules of community finance. From her groundbreaking tenure as the first African American woman to lead the Treasury's CDFI Fund to her transformative work in Appalachia, Gambrell didn't just witness the evolution of community development—she led it. As she calls it a "reorientation" rather than retirement, discover how her vision shaped an entire sector and what her next chapter might hold for communities nationwide.

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The activists are back for another season of asking the big questions that matter most. Renegade Capital Season 5 returns this fall with Andrea Longton, Ebony Perkins, and Leah Fremouw diving deeper into the intersection of finance, social justice, and community impact—at a moment when everything is on the line.

This is a defining moment for our communities, our economy, and our planet. The pressures are unprecedented, but so are the possibilities. When traditional systems are strained to their breaking point, innovation happens fastest. When the stakes are highest, communities dig deepest.

We're exploring the questions this moment demands: How do we build resilient community wealth when everything feels uncertain? What does environmental justice look like when the rules keep changing? How can community finance adapt and thrive under pressure? And why do the most powerful solutions often emerge from the most challenging times?

From community development under pressure to sustainable investing in uncertain times—Season 5 brings you the conversations, strategies, and solutions that are not just surviving this moment, but transforming it.

Join us this fall as we explore how communities are turning unprecedented challenges into unprecedented opportunities for a financial system that truly serves people and planet.

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