Volunteer Plain Talk

By Meridian Swift

What's Volunteer Plain Talk about?

Designed for today's leaders of volunteers, Volunteer Plain Talk's Meridian Swift discusses trends and best practices in volunteer engagement and impact. Guests, who come from all sectors and all parts of the world, share innovative ideas and tips for engaging today's volunteers and defining volunteer impact.

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Volunteer Plain Talk episodes:

10.11.2022
Episode 22: Part 2: An Interview with Wes Richardson, Manager of Volunteer Services
In the conclusion to part 1, Wes, who began his new job as manager of volunteer services in December 2019 and as the new head of volunteer services, had to almost immediately send volunteers, ones he didn't get to know...
08.30.2022
Episode 21: A New Job and Covid hits: An Interview with Wes Richardson, Manager of Volunteer Services Part 1
Wes began his new job as manager of volunteer services in December 2019 and as the new head of volunteer services, had to almost immediately send volunteers, ones he didn't get to know well, home. In part 1 of this...
05.31.2022
Episode 20: Catching Up with Laura Rundell a Year Later Part 2
In this second part of my conversation with Laura Rundell, we chat about:Inspirational volunteers who support people knowing they cannot change circumstances.Volunteer appreciation-do we need a luncheon or even a week? Where should our focus be?Evolving volunteer recognition.Team nomination vs....
05.17.2022
Episode 19: Laura Rundell, One Year Later, Part 1
Laura Rundell and I chatted last year about resilience in episode 15. In this episode, Laura and I get back together and chat about today's volunteering landscape. What has changed? What is the same? Laura discusses: Are volunteers returning?Change means an...
06.22.2021
Episode 18: Volunteers as Essential Workers, Part 2, an Interview with Dr. Paul Falkowski, PHD
In part 2, Paul Falkowski, PHD discusses his vision for designating volunteers as essential workers. He touches on:The workloads of nursing home activity directorsHow family members are pushing to be designated essentialThe toll isolation takes on nursing home residents and...
06.08.2021
Episode 17: Volunteers as Essential Workers, Part 1, the Beginning, an Interview with Dr. Paul Falkowski, PHD
In part 1, Paul discusses how he began his journey to designate volunteers as essential workers. Paul shares how he became a champion for volunteers in nursing homes through a nonprofit he built from the ground up. Paul discusses the...
04.27.2021
Episode 16: Untapped Volunteer Resources: An Interview with Summer Neiss, K Kids Student Coordinator
Do we assume that engaging kids 9-12 is too much effort for the return on our investment? Are we missing an untapped volunteer potential? In this episode, Summer Neiss, student coordinator for the K Kids program at Mabel Rush Elementary...
03.02.2021
Episode 15: Resilience: Volunteer and Leaders of Volunteers, a Chat with Laura Rundell, a resilient volunteer engagement specialist with 20+ years experience
In this episode, Laura Rundell chats about resilience, a timely topic during the Covid pandemic: Laura shares her experiences on these subjects: What exactly is resilience? The filled up cope-o-meter Examples of resilient volunteers What resilience is not Volunteer motivation Do we confuse volunteers not being resilient...
01.18.2021
Episode 14: Where do we go from here? Brittany McGarry, Volunteer Engagement Specialist MS Society shares how forced opportunities move us forward
In this episode, January 2021, Brittany McGarry shares her thoughts and suggestions for: Where do we go from 2020? How are volunteer managers viewed? How to engage volunteers quickly. How forced opportunities can help us navigate the future. How a simple coffee hour changed everything. What...
10.20.2020
Episode 13: Elisa Kosarin of Twenty Hats chats about strategic planning, achieving buy-in, aiming higher and her favorite "hat."
In this episode, Elisa Kosarin, CVA shares her insights on:strategic planning and how fun fits inhow volunteer managers should aspire to move up into senior managementachieving buy-in and the seven kinds of powerthe future of virtual volunteeringhow volunteer managers are...
09.22.2020
Episode 12: Corina Sadler, Volunteer Resources Supervisor, Plano, Texas
In this episode, Corina Sadler shares her thoughts on volunteer managers' personal and professional development. Listen in as Corina talks about:Looking outside the box for training to skillsetDeveloping a professional storyUsing social media to recruit by not recruitingCreating your own...
08.04.2020
Episode 11: Interview with Samantha and Sydney, high school students who founded Balance Boxes
In this episode, Samantha and Sydney talk about starting their own organization and share their insights on:making volunteering social through packing parties innovative ways to procure in-kind donationshow to use meaningful stats verses volunteer hoursusing social media effectivelythe importance of testimonialsutilizing...
06.13.2020
Episode 10: Interview with Dr. Corinne Devin, volunteer and accomplished leader
Listen in as Dr. Corinne Devin, Navy officer, accomplished leader and passionate volunteer speaks about her experience volunteering overseas and gives timely tips for elevating volunteer manager leadership. In this episode, Corinne chats about:· The challenge in stepping...
05.19.2020
Episode 9: Interview with Jaylen Christie, Super Volunteer and Director of Public Relations for Moxē
Jaylen Christie, the Director of Public Relations for Moxē, an integrated marketing agency in Orlando and former volunteer manager, chats about: volunteer contingency plans volunteer impact volunteer ROI showing impact to volunteers who don't work directly with clientsfamilies and groups that volunteer togetherPR for...
04.21.2020
Episode 8: Interview with Adam Janes, CVA
Volunteer vigilante? Balderdash? In this episode, Adam Janes, CVA shares his thoughts on volunteer management during the Covid 19 pandemic. Adam discusses care mongerers, changes in policies, virtual volunteer roles, how to help volunteers utilize video, and what comes next...
03.24.2020
Episode 7: Rob Jackson and Meridian chat about coping in uncertain times 3/23/20
In this special episode of Volunteer Plain Talk Podcast, Rob Jackson of Rob Jackson Consulting Ltd. located in the UK, and Meridian chat about coping, challenges and opportunities in uncertain times. Rob offers his thoughts and advice including:· ...
03.04.2020
Episode 6: Interview with Bo Goliber, who heads up philanthropy at Fingerpaint, a health and wellness marketing agency
Bo Goliber, who heads up philanthropy at Fingerpaint, a health and wellness marketing agency, shares the keys to a successful relationship between nonprofits and corporate partners. Bo assures us that corporate partners do not want to overwhelm volunteer agencies, but...
02.04.2020
Episode 5: Interview with Tracey O’Neill, Manager of Volunteer Engagement at Austin Health in Melbourne, Australia
Helping to create a positive culture of volunteering in many organisations can be tough work for leaders of volunteer engagement. How do you ensure that volunteers feel valued by everyone, from the CEO and board down to the front-line staff?...
12.31.2019
Episode 4: Interview with Sam Clift, Volunteer Resource Manager, London Transport Museum
How do you evolve your volunteer program for the volunteers of tomorrow whilst meeting the needs of your volunteers today? Sam Clift, Volunteer Resource Manager at London Transport Museum talks through achieving senior management buy-in, involving volunteers in strategy planning,...
11.19.2019
Episode 3: Interview with Dr. Jesse Bolinger
Dr. Jesse Bolinger, author of the new book, "Calling All Volunteers," shares his research into volunteering and the future of volunteer management. He adds mental health, work and education to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, calls on us to change the...
10.22.2019
Episode 2: Interview with Elizabeth Robinson, volunteer and advocate.
What happens when a volunteer leaves an organization to create an advocacy group? In this episode, Elizabeth Robinson, founder of Community Cats of Palm Coast talks about her journey into advocacy and teaches us why passionate volunteers are our most...
09.23.2019
Episode 1: Interview with Mark W. Smith, CVA
In this episode, Mark and Meridian discuss staff buy-in, advice for new volunteer managers, working with challenging volunteers, burnout, credentialing and volunteers with dementia. Mark offers an innovative way to show volunteer value and a great way to transform retiring...

What's Volunteer Plain Talk about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Volunteer Plain Talk episodes:

Episode 22: Part 2: An Interview with Wes Richardson, Manager of Volunteer Services

Episode 21: A New Job and Covid hits: An Interview with Wes Richardson, Manager of Volunteer Services Part 1

Episode 20: Catching Up with Laura Rundell a Year Later Part 2

Episode 19: Laura Rundell, One Year Later, Part 1

Episode 18: Volunteers as Essential Workers, Part 2, an Interview with Dr. Paul Falkowski, PHD

Episode 17: Volunteers as Essential Workers, Part 1, the Beginning, an Interview with Dr. Paul Falkowski, PHD

Episode 16: Untapped Volunteer Resources: An Interview with Summer Neiss, K Kids Student Coordinator

Episode 15: Resilience: Volunteer and Leaders of Volunteers, a Chat with Laura Rundell, a resilient volunteer engagement specialist with 20+ years experience

Episode 14: Where do we go from here? Brittany McGarry, Volunteer Engagement Specialist MS Society shares how forced opportunities move us forward

Episode 13: Elisa Kosarin of Twenty Hats chats about strategic planning, achieving buy-in, aiming higher and her favorite "hat."

Episode 12: Corina Sadler, Volunteer Resources Supervisor, Plano, Texas

Episode 11: Interview with Samantha and Sydney, high school students who founded Balance Boxes

Episode 10: Interview with Dr. Corinne Devin, volunteer and accomplished leader

Episode 9: Interview with Jaylen Christie, Super Volunteer and Director of Public Relations for Moxē

Episode 8: Interview with Adam Janes, CVA

Episode 7: Rob Jackson and Meridian chat about coping in uncertain times 3/23/20

Episode 6: Interview with Bo Goliber, who heads up philanthropy at Fingerpaint, a health and wellness marketing agency

Episode 5: Interview with Tracey O’Neill, Manager of Volunteer Engagement at Austin Health in Melbourne, Australia

Episode 4: Interview with Sam Clift, Volunteer Resource Manager, London Transport Museum

Episode 3: Interview with Dr. Jesse Bolinger

Episode 2: Interview with Elizabeth Robinson, volunteer and advocate.

Episode 1: Interview with Mark W. Smith, CVA