The Stand Together Podcast

In this season’s final episode, Executive Producer Obiekwe Okolo sits down with Evan, Ski, Jeff, and Ty to identify the insights and conversations that stuck with them the most. We hope that this season has given you a new perspective on how to tackle the country’s most pressing problems, that our changemakers breaking the cycle of poverty inspire you, and that you are excited by our vision for the future of the Stand Together Podcast. Hosts for this Episode: Evan Feinberg, Jeff Proctor, Ski ...

On Monday, November 9th, 2009, Dorris Walker-Taylor likes to say that she got her life back. That day, after almost three decades wrestling with addiction, abuse, and processing personal trauma, she joined the Thistle Farms community. In the years since, Dorris has embraced sobriety, cultivated a sense of her own worth, and become an ambassador of hope to fellow survivors across the country.Host for this Episode: Ty SpellsGuest: Dorris Walker-Taylor, Thistle FarmsProduced by Stand Together an...

What would the world look like if everyone had the opportunity to realize their full potential? In this episode, Ski and Jeff speak with Kirk Brown, the Founder and CEO of HANDY, which helps youth overcome the obstacles that prevent them from thriving. Together, they identify what the principle of self-actualization looks like in action: seeing the value and talent in every individual, so they live lives of meaning and continually discover, develop, and apply their gifts to benefit others.To ...

Evan talks with Dr. DeForest “Buster” Soaries, Jr., the chairman of dfree, and Antong Lucky, the president of Urban Specialists. Both leaders share their perspectives on transformative social change, including the importance of seeing potential in everyone. What if we started treating people as a part of the solution, rather than problems to solve? Host for this Episode: Evan FeinbergGuests: Dr. DeForest “Buster” Soaries, Jr., Chairman of dfree, and Antong Lucky, President of Urban Speci...

In this final chapter of A Brief History of Good, Evan and Becky discuss some of the best examples of transformative nonprofits around the country. They identify why focusing on individuals can get better results than centralized planning, and land on a key strategic idea: what if we pursued collective empowerment instead of collective impact? You can find Evan's Forbes Article here!Hosts for this Episode: Evan Feinberg and Becky EndicottProduced by Stand Together and BitterSweet CreativeExec...

JJ Velazquez spent more than 23 years incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit. Now, a year after his release, he is on staff with the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice, working to enhance the dignity of individuals in the criminal justice system. In this episode, JJ joins Ty Spells to discuss how he is turning his “trauma into triumph.”Host for this Episode: Ty SpellsGuest: JJ Velazquez, Frederick Douglass Project for JusticeProduced by Stand Together and BitterSweet CreativeExecutive ...

Ski and Jeff hear from Khali Sweeney, Founder and CEO of Downtown Boxing Gym, about his experience building a nonprofit that treats everyone with dignity. Khali designed Downtown Boxing Gym to provide others with the very thing he lacked in his own childhood in Detroit: people who believed in him and his potential. Now, the organization is transforming lives, one at a time, by listening well and giving young people the tools to chart their own path.Hosts for this Episode: Ski Ahmad and Jeff P...

Evan is joined by Dr. Todd Rose, an expert on the science of individuality. They discuss the immense impact that environment has on an individual’s ability to flourish, and consider the shortcomings of decisions that are based on averages. What if nonprofits and social sector institutions designed interventions around individual needs and environments rather than generalized metrics?Host for this Episode: Evan FeinbergGuest: Todd Rose, President of Populace. Former professor and director of t...

Evan and Becky continue their conversation by exploring how the industrial revolution influenced modern philanthropy. They consider the ways in which professionalization may have actually weakened the impact of nonprofit organizations, and identify how well-intentioned industry standards can actually stifle innovation.Hosts for this Episode: Evan Feinberg and Becky EndicottProduced by Stand Together and BitterSweet CreativeExecutive Producers: Obiekwe "Obi" Okolo and Robert WinshipEditing, En...

As a program manager at The Phoenix, Kaley Jones spends every day helping people in recovery rediscover their inherent value. She is also uniquely positioned for this role, as she celebrates more than a decade of sobriety. In this episode, Kaley talks to Ty Spells about her personal recovery journey and what it will take to reshape the national conversation around addiction. Host for this Episode: Ty SpellsGuest: Kaley Jones, The PhoenixProduced by Stand Together and BitterSweet CreativeExecu...