Making Change Podcasts

From 2010 to 2014, Hildy Gottlieb hosted Making Change, a podcast series presented in partnership with the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Those interviews with over 40 prominent change leaders from around the world have significantly informed the Research & Development portion of Creating the Future’s mission, as each guest was asked the same question…

   “When you see significant change happening in communities, what are the factors that are making that change possible?”

Funders and Philanthropists

Rahul BhardwajRahul Bhardwaj, President and CEO of the Toronto Community Foundation, talks about the power of connection, trust and fun!


Brian Byrnes Brian Byrnes, former CEO of the Santa Fe Community Foundation, talks about the need for foundations to question dogma and to align their means with the community-focused ends they want to see.


Sonya CampionSonya Campion, co-founder of the Campion Foundation, talks about the power of focusing first and foremost on the community.


James CanalesJames Canales, President of the Barr Foundation and former CEO of the James Irvine Foundation, talks about effective leadership as a process of collaboration and learning.


Kathleen Enright Kathleen Enright, CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, talks about changing the power imbalance inherent in traditional philanthropy, and about weaving networks of people who care.


Sidney Hargro Sidney Hargro, CEO of the Community Foundation of South Jersey, talks about the power of using philanthropy as just one among many tools for building strong, vibrant communities.


Jacob HaroldJacob Harold, President and CEO of Guidestar, talks about the power of viewing issues through a variety of different lenses


Phil HendersonPhil Henderson, President of the Surdna Foundation and former vice president of the German Marshall Fund, talks about the importance of patience and a solid core of values.


Roger Hughes Roger Hughes, former CEO of the Phoenix-based St. Luke’s Health Initiatives, talks about the importance of embracing new ideas and following a compelling vision.


Alberto Ibargüen Alberto Ibargüen, President and CEO of the Knight Foundation, talks about the power of putting “discovery, vision, courage, know-how and tenacity” into practice in our daily work.


Debra JacobsDebra Jacobs, President and CEO of the Florida-based Patterson Foundation, talks about the power of partners all learning together, to create new realities in communities.


Tom Kelly Tom Kelly, Vice President-Knowledge, Evaluation & Learning at the Hawaii Community Foundation and former Associate Director for Evaluation at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, talks about the power of holding ourselves accountable for the change we want to see.


Albert RuesgaAlbert Ruesga, President & CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. In this special “5 Year Anniversary of Katrina” edition of Making Change, Albert talks about what it takes to rally momentum in the absence of a disaster.


Lori SeibelLori Seibel, CEO of the Community Health Endowment in Lincoln, Nebraska, talks about the power of relationship-building to create dramatic community change.


Brad SmithBradford Smith, President of the Foundation Center, talks about the seemingly conflicting traits that combine to create successful change efforts.


Sterling SpeirnSterling Speirn, ormer CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, talks about taking time, building trust, and getting to know people simply as people.


roberteggerKathleen EnrightMargaret Martin
1 Year Anniversary Show
Community change agents Robert Egger, Margaret Martin and Kathleen Enright enjoy a wide-ranging discussion about the factors that lead to community change.


On-the-Ground Changemakers

Andy Carvin Andy Carvin, Senior Strategist for National Public Radio, shares what he learned about social change from his deeply engaged reporting on the Arab Spring.


robertegger Robert Egger, Founder of the LA Kitchen and DC Central Kitchen, talks about the power of changing the conversation.


Nancy HuntNancy Hunt, co-founder and president of We Are Family Foundation, talks about what works in building communities around the world that are rooted in our common humanity.


Margaret Martin_Margaret Martin,founder of the Los Angeles-based Harmony Project, talks about fostering a culture of creativity and citizenship (vs. consumerism), and what it takes for individuals to have power over their own lives.


Christy McGillChristy McGill, Executive Director of the northern-Nevada-based Healthy Communities Coalition, talks about acceptance and love as tools for sweeping social change.


BrettMcNaught Brett McNaught, CEO at Educate Tomorrow and former Vice President of International Programs for BuildOn, talks about working WITH people in communities (vs. FOR them).


Craig NewmarkCraig Newmark, founder of Craigslist and CraigConnects, talks about building community systems upon the expectation that people will help each other out and give each other a break.


Bob OldfatherBob Oldfather, CEO of Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, shares what it looks like from the inside when businesses and organizations trust their communities.


Carol Rasco Carol Rasco, President/CEO at Reading Is Fundamental and former Domestic Policy Advisor to President Bill Clinton, talks about the factors that create common ground in seemingly divisive environments.


Alanna ShaikhAlanna Shaikh, Senior Public Health Specialist at USAID, talks about the critical importance of sharing stories and information to strengthen networks for change.


Darryl SmithDarryl Smith, former Deputy Mayor of the City of Seattle, talks about breaking down the barriers that keep people from taking part in their communities.


John Stansfield John Stansfield, former Director Advocacy and Campaigns for OxFam New Zealand and co-founder of the Graduate Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management at Unitec Institute of Technology, talks about sparking passion around shared values.


Daniel WehrenfennigDaniel Wehrenfennig, founder of the Olive Tree Initiative at University of California, Irvine, talks about constructive conversation in areas of global conflict.


roberteggerKathleen EnrightMargaret Martin
1 Year Anniversary Show
Community change agents Robert Egger, Margaret Martin and Kathleen Enright enjoy a wide-ranging discussion about the factors that lead to community change.


Capacity Builders / Teachers

Lori Seibel Jeanne Bell, CEO of CompassPoint, talks about the power of leadership across systems to create movements for change.


Peter BlockPeter Block, author and consultant, talks about the power of engaging and organizing community members to create the future they want for themselves.


Paul Born Paul Born, President of the Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement, talks about the power of getting citizens involved by finding the common intention beyond the labels that divide.


Martin BruecknerMartin Brueckner, Lecturer at the Institute for Social Sustainability at Murdoch University in Western Australia, talks about people moving from awareness (theory) to action (this is personal!).


Kathleen Enright Kathleen Enright, CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, talks about changing the power imbalance inherent in traditional philanthropy, and about weaving networks of people who care.


Jacob HaroldJacob Harold, President and CEO of Guidestar, talks about the power of viewing issues through a variety of different lenses


Rich HarwoodRich Harwood, President of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, talks about the power of focusing outward – putting the collective good ahead of an organization’s own well-being.


Allyson HewittAllyson Hewitt, Director of the Social Innovation Generator at the Toronto-based social enterprise engine “MaRS,” talks about the power of creating neutral safe spaces for exploration, where people are encouraged to open up to what is possible.


Aaron Hurst,Aaron Hurst – author, consultant and founder of the TapRoot Foundation – talks about the power of having every workplace be a place of purpose and meaning.


Jan Masaoka Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits and Editor in Chief of Blue Avocado, talks about the difference between focusing on excellent management vs. focusing on what community residents want organizations to accomplish in their community.


John McKnight John McKnight, founder of the Asset Based Community Development Institute, talks about helping ordinary citizens claim their power over the decisions that affect their lives.


Geoff MulganGeoff Mulgan, CEO of NESTA (Britain’s National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts), and former Director of Policy to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, talks about the nimble power of small, nimble organizations to create sweeping change.


Michelle Nunn Michelle Nunn, CEO of the Points of Light Institute, talks about the power each of us has to not only make a difference, but to find meaning in being part of something larger than themselves.


Michael Quinn PattonMichael Quinn Patton, program evaluation consultant and author, talks about the importance of learning how change leaders think vs. learning what they do.


Brad SmithBradford Smith, President of the Foundation Center, talks about the seemingly conflicting traits that combine to create successful change efforts.


Jonathan Spack Jonathan Spack, Executive Director of Third Sector New England, talks about the ongoing need to test the assumptions that underpin an organization’s work.


Tonya SurmanTonya Surman, founder and CEO of the Toronto-based Centre for Social Innovation, talks about the power of creating physical spaces where changemakers can work and learn together.


roberteggerKathleen EnrightMargaret Martin
1 Year Anniversary Show
Community change agents Robert Egger, Margaret Martin and Kathleen Enright enjoy a wide-ranging discussion about the factors that lead to community change.


Change the Questions, Change the World!