Shows
The Eric Ries ShowThe playbook for fixing toxic culture, pointless friction, and broken systems | Bob Sutton (Stanford, NYT bestselling author)In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Bob Sutton, organizational psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of several influential books on leadership, behavior, and workplace culture, including his latest: The Friction Project.We explore insights from across his body of work, including real-world examples of large organizations that have figured out how to operate more effectively and ethically—despite the inherent messiness of human systems.We discuss:• Ideas from The Knowing-Doing Gap, including the importance of psychological safety and a breakdown of “the smart talk trap”• Why ev...2025-06-051h 27
Breaking the Silence with Dr. Gregory WilliamsBreaking the Silence, November 18, 2024Breaking the Silence with host Dr. Gregory Williams
With Guest, Author of Impact With Integrity - Becky Margiotta
This week's Special Guest will be Becky Margiotta. Becky is the author of Impact with Integrity. Becky is also the Co-Founder of Billions Institute that helps social change leaders disrupt business as usual, maximize their impact, and fulfill their purpose. She is a graduate of West Point and A US Army Veteran.
You will NOT want to miss this important and informative program.
Becky Margiotta's Book - Impact With Integrity
Repair The World Without Breaking Yourself
The world is on fire and...2024-11-1958 min
All About ChangeBecky Margiotta - Housing 100,000 HouselessBecky Margiotta is an author, change-maker, leader, veteran, and host of the Unleashing Social Change Podcast. Becky is also the co-founder and owner of The Billions Institute which has trained thousands of leaders from every corner of the globe and from every sector of social change in designing and leading large-scale change. The 100,000 Homes Campaign for Community Solutions, where Becky served as director, mobilized 186 cities to permanently house more than 100,000 people who had previously been living on their streets in just under four years. Most recently, Becky authored Impact with Integrity: Repairing the World Without Breaking Yourself, a...2023-01-2341 min
Unleashing Social ChangeBonus Episode: High Tech High Unboxed- Improvement as a tool for our collective liberation, with Dr. Brandi Hinnant-Crawford Unleashing Social Change Podcast has a featured episode for you this week! High Tech High Unboxed, hosted by Alec Patton. In this Episode, Stacey interviews Brandi. Stacey Caillier talks to Dr. Brandi Hinnant-Crawford about what Improvement Science looks like when equity and liberation are embedded in the PROCESS, not just the hoped-for result. This interview is rooted in two things, how improvement science can be a tool for our collective liberation and what we do in the meantime before that liberation comes about. Hope you enjoy this week's Bonus episode. Show Resources: 2022-11-1659 min
My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and SuccessWest Point Graduate Becky Margiotta Thought She Would Get an A for Effort Instead of Managing OutcomesCofounder and owner of The Billions Institute, LLC
Episode page with video, transcript, and more
My guest for Episode #179 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Becky Margiotta. She is the author of the book, Impact with Integrity: Repairing the World Without Breaking Yourself, a cofounder and owner of The Billions Institute, LLC, and the host of the Unleashing Social Change Podcast.
In this episode, Becky tells her favorite mistake story about thinking she would get an “A” for effort when working toward a bold goal of getting 100,000 homeless people into homes. Why did...2022-08-2844 min
Entrepreneur StruggleStarting A Philanthropy - Becky MargiottaBecky Margiotta is the founder of The Social Change Agency, the host of “Unleashing Social Change Podcast”, and the author of “Impact with Integrity: Repairing the World Without Breaking Yourself”. Becky’s energy and passion as an activist are incredible, and I’m excited for you to hear our conversation about our shared passion for ending homelessness, how she balances the other forms of activism she wants to be a part of, how she was able to bounce back after a major work crisis, and how she’s able to balance her time and money.Support Beck...2022-06-2756 min
Unleashing Social ChangeUnpacking Mentorship; Humility, Authenticity, and Curiosity.Nicki Roth and I met back in 2003 working on the 100,000 homes campaign. She is currently heading the executive leadership coaching offered to all MBA students at MIT Sloan School of Management. She has published two books on leadership and is the co-founder of The Messy Truth Leadership. I am honored and SO grateful that Nicki listened to the entirety of Season Four and brought her wisdom and expertise to this debrief. Nicki is unafraid to call a spade a spade, or an asshole, and for that I love her. Unapologetic in her mission to develop leaders that a...2022-06-081h 02
Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher312: Becky Margiotta — Scaling Your Leadership SkillsToday’s guest has an array of life experiences that uniquely shaped her leadership skills. From parochial school to West Point, Special Ops to stockbroker, Becky Margiotta has powerful insights into the leadership skills that lead to success. Becky Margiotta is the cofounder and owner of The Billions Institute, LLC, the author of Impact with Integrity: Repairing the World Without Breaking Yourself, and the host of the Unleashing Social Change Podcast. Becky also directed the 100,000 Homes campaign for Community Solutions, working across 186 cities to permanently house more than 100,000 people. With her dive...2022-06-011h 02
Unleashing Social Change56: Sharon Kanis: A Profile in Interconnectedness of CommunionMy last mentor of the season is one who has known me since before I was born, my Aunt and Godmother, Sharon Kanis of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Taking her vows at the age of 19, Sharon has since gotten a degree in chemistry, a masters in applying Jungian theory to biblical archetypes, and a PhD in how people experience their spirituality in their bodies. When asked if I could introduce her as Doctor Sharon Kanis SSND she scoffed and said the phd was just a thing she did a while ago. Sharon is a...2022-05-241h 01
Unleashing Social Change55: Noah Winnick and Josue Barnes: A Profile in Fearless Community ActivismDescription: A few years ago I received advice that every leader should have a mentor who is 20 years younger than them. In the reckoning of June 2020, I found mine in Noah Winnick and Josue Barnes. The duo founded Claremont Change and have been representing the voices of marginalized people in the community since the inception of the organization. They are fearless advocates who are relentless in their commitment and vision in creating an antiracist Claremont and I will follow them, quite literally in peaceful protest, to the ends of the earth. The synergy be...2022-05-1857 min
A Joyful Pause PodcastA Joyful Pause with Becky MargiottaAuthor and well-being coach Nicole Taylor speaks with Becky Margiotta, founder of the Billions Institute and author of the new book "Impact with Integrity: Repair the World Without Breaking Yourself." Listen in as they talk about social change, joy, and how being in integrity can stop burnout.2022-05-1348 min
Unleashing Social Change54: Mark Lipton - A Profile in Vision, Genius, and Feeling FeelingsThis week I sat down with Mark Lipton who I met when he was the Department Chair of my graduate program in Organizational Change Management at The New School. He has since moved on to Professor Emeritus status, which has freed him up to consult with Fortune 500 companies and write awesome books, so be sure to check out Guiding Growth: How Vision Keeps Companies on Course and the award-winning Mean Men: The Perversion of America’s Self-Made Man. I learned that Mark and I had all kinds of things in common in this episode. For example, we bon...2022-05-101h 02
Listen With Your Imagination, Free Audiobook Are Your DestinationImpact with Integrity: Repair the World Without Breaking Yourself Audiobook by Becky MargiottaListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 581663
Title: Impact with Integrity: Repair the World Without Breaking Yourself
Author: Becky Margiotta
Narrator: Adele Adler
Format: Unabridged
Length: 07:36:42
Language: English
Release date: 05-10-22
Publisher: Findaway Voices
Genres: Business & Economics, Career Development, Management & Leadership
Summary:
The world is on fire and in desperate need of volunteer firefighters.If youve ever wondered if you have a purpose, if theres a place in the world in need of your unique genius, the answer is yes. And the right time to step into your purpose and explore the path of...2022-05-107h 36
Unleashing Social Change53: Rosanne Haggerty: A Profile in Disruption and Active ListeningIn this episode, you’ll meet Rosanne Haggerty, winner of the 2001 MacArthur “Genius Award.” Having worked for her for 11 years I can say with no doubt: she really is a genius, although she’d never tell you that herself. Super humble and one of the most relentless leaders I’ve ever known, Rosanne’s work speaks for itself. Last year the organization she founded, Community Solutions, was awarded the prestigious $100 & Change grant from the MacArthur Foundation, a global competition for a $100 million to fund a single proposal that promises “real and measurable progress in solving a critical problem of our...2022-05-041h 11
Together for ChangeImpact with IntegrityWhen we think about the audacious vision of a more equitable world and what it takes to get there, those of us in this sector can often lose sight of an important component of what it means to build something that lasts. Specifically, I’m talking about ourselves. Burnout is something that is all too common in helping roles so today, we’re going to focus on the role of resilient leadership in unleashing large-scale social change. Our guest is Becky Margiotta principal and owner of Billions Institute. Becky is also author of the new forthcoming book, Impact...2022-04-2750 min
Unleashing Social Change52: Holly Craig Silkman: A Profile in CandorHolly Craig Silkman, aka Adele Adler, aka my college roomie, joins us from her horse ranch in Montana to talk about her experience narrating the audio version of my book, Impact with Integrity, and her experience as a leader for more than three decades. Our time as roommates at West Point was much like this episode, a hoot and a half with tons of laughter. Holly was one of the first people I ever came out to and her compassion in that moment forged a friendship that changed both of our lives for the better. Th...2022-04-2153 min
Unleashing Social Change51: Howie Cohen - A Profile in Becoming a Leader's leaderJoin me this episode as I sit down with my mentor and friend, retired Colonel Howie Cohen, to discuss leadership, community, standards, and perseverance. We reminisce on the unconventional methods Howie used to instill cohesion in every one of the dozens of organizations he led, from being one of the first officers ever to sign into the Third Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment to commanding the White House Communications Agency. Woven throughout our conversation you will notice the profound joy of cameraderie forged by the shared experience of selfless service to something bigger than ourselves alongside t...2022-04-1957 min
Unleashing Social Change50: Jan Hicks: A Profile in Authenticity and KindnessToday Jan Hicks is living her best life as a farmer, mother, and doting grandmother. When she retired as a two-star Major General in 2005, she was serving as the Commanding General of the United States Army Signal Corps. I had the tremendous good fortune of serving under Jan when she was the Battalion Commander of the 125th Signal Battalion in Helemano, Hawaii. Leokani Okauwila - a Hawaiian phrase that translates into Voice of Lightning - was the motto of our unit that provided tactical communications support to the 25th Infantry Division. If you’ve read the first cha...2022-04-1255 min
Unleashing Social Change49: Jane Holl Lute: A Profile in Never Moving BackwardsThirty years ago I met Jane Hall Lute while she was my professor at West Point. Since our time together she has gone on to be the Assistant Secretary General for Peacebuilding Support at the United Nations, the former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security for the United States, and is now the Director at SIPCA. As she mentions,” Jane Hall does not move backward”. Her illustrious career is cornerstonesd with humility,curiosity, and a commitment to learn something new from every conversation. Jane has always been able to distill the most complicated processes and ideas into...2022-04-051h 00
Unleashing Social Change48: Jay Parker: A Profile in Empathy and Unconditional SupportIf you’re a frequent listener of this podcast you’ve probably heard the name Jay Parker. Jay is currently the distinguished professor and Major General Fox Conner Chair of International Security Studies in the College of International Security Affairs at the National Defense University. We met back in the 90’s when I was at West Point and he has been a trusted confidant ever since. When Jay Parker says to do something – you do it. From an impromptu trip around the world to working for Rosanne Haggerty to help end homelessness – I’ve heeded his advice and been bett...2022-03-2852 min
Unleashing Social Change47: Mimi Finch: A Profile in Becoming the Leader You Never HadJoin Becky as she interviews her Tactical Officer from West Point, Retired Army Officer and Defense Contractor Mimi Finch, and listen to their conversation about the seminal moments that molded Mimi into the leader and person she is today. A champion of the underdog in her decades-long career, Mimi Finch has consistently stood up to misogyny, racism, and homophobia in situations that required a whole heap of courage. Even when the backlash was harsh and jeopardized her personal safety, her career, or her social status, Mimi spoke up. Through some harrowing exp...2022-03-2154 min
Unleashing Social Change46: Brenda Sue Fulton, A Profile of Personal CourageLike many of Becky’s mentors, Army Veteran Brenda Sue Fulton’s list of accomplishments is longer than a CVS receipt and chock full of lasting impact. Weaving her activism with community building, she has been a key player in ending the military’s discriminatory “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and ending the military’s ban on openly serving transgender people. A graduate of West Point’s first class to admit women, Sue shares her insights on how to muster the personal courage to keep going in the face of massive resistance. Show Highlights: ...2022-03-1452 min
Unleashing Social ChangeNote About Veterans2022-03-1403 min
Unleashing Social Change45: Marie Connor-Glenfield, A Profile in the Healing Power of PresenceIn this episode, I sat down with one of my first mentors, Marie Connor-Glenfield, who I met when I was sixteen. In our first encounter, she held space for me to process profound loss. She identified my pain and didn’t try to push me through it, but rather sat with me as I sat with it. Since that first meeting, she has continued to be there for me in seminal moments of my life. When I was lost, when I was celebrating, and when I wasn't sure what my next move would be, Marie accompanied me. I h...2022-03-0851 min
Unleashing Social Change44: Susan Rivers Interviews Becky MargiottaMentorship is often thought of as unidirectional - flowing from the mentor to mentee. In this upcoming season, I interviewed a baker’s dozen of my mentors - people who were there to guide me through some of my biggest leadership challenges - to find out about their biggest leadership challenges. If my military mentors taught me anything, it was this: leaders don’t ask the people to do anything they aren’t willing to do themselves. That goes for cleaning toilets, answering the phones, or disclosing your biggest leadership challenges to your podcast listeners. So we’re launch...2022-03-011h 13Unleashing Social ChangeSeason 4 Teaser2022-02-2802 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 43: Elizabeth Cushing "Shift Aims to Scale Joy"Anyone who has attended our workshops on how to design large-scale change is familiar with Playworks, a nonprofit organization based in Oakland, CA. With their permission, we present a case study of their plans to go to scale as a way to teach people how to set compelling aims for spread/scale. So we thought we should check in on Playworks and their progress toward their truly ambitious aims. In this episode, we sit down with the CEO of Playworks, Elizabeth Cushing, and dive into the rollercoaster ride of leading an organization through an astonishing transformation and al...2022-02-101h 08
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 42: Nicole Hockley "Mission Doesn't Happen Without People"On this episode we welcome back Nicole Hockley, a dear friend and force of nature, for a conversation about how Sandy Hook Promise scaled their proven prevention programs through a pandemic. Nicole generously talks us through SHP's focus on scale, equity, and adaptating their programs and internal practices. We are deeply honored to get to spend some more time with this brilliant human and grateful for her insights as CEO of an immensely impactful organization. Enjoy the show and please share the below resources as far and wide as you can. Show Highlights: 2022-02-0353 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 41: Chris Lubbe - On Activism, Grief, and What He Learned from Nelson Mandela We did something a little different this time. We’re giving you an almost completely unedited podcast recording because you need to hear every single word Chris said, including those before and after the official "podcast" part of the podcast. This episode is everything to us. Chris has a profound ability to convey meaning and heart through story. We literally cried through half the interview. We learned. We grieved. We grew. We are better humans for listening to his story. And we want to share every moment of it with you. Chris is a gift to this world and we are so grateful h...2021-10-081h 16
The Biz Call20210518-BeckyMargiotta-TheBillionsInstituteIf you thought organizing and training for social and political causes was about passion and staying poor, you need to meet Becky Margiotta. Her Billions Institute works internationally with organizations who get grants and funding, but have no idea how to deploy their resources. This is a window into a world most of us assume doesn't exist. But it does. And there's good money in it.Subscribe to the podcast! Visit TheBizCall.com to become a guest on the show and plug your business!2021-07-2412 min
Life After The MilitaryCrossing The Line Of Departure: Life After The Military - Becky MargiottaU.S. Army Veteran Becky Margiotta joined the podcast to share how her time in the military shaped her; the transformational work she did with the 100,000 Homes Campaign; starting her own non-profit, The Billions Institute, to help other non-profits scale to change the world; and, how she strengthens her own mental fitness.2021-06-171h 04
Unleashing Social Change40: Dr. Christine Ortiz, “Equity is a Verb, not a Noun.”40: Dr. Christine Ortiz, “Equity is a Verb, not a Noun.” Listen in on this episode for an insightful and deeply personal conversation about why equity is a verb with our friend, Dr. Christine Ortiz, Founder of Equity Meets Design. Christine invites us to get curious about the ways philanthropy and the nonprofit sector can be overly focused on spreading solutions at the expense of actually solving problems. We at the Billions Institute are proud to be partnering with her and Equity Meets Design on a new course called Solutions Worth Scaling. Show Hi...2021-05-2749 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 39: Dr. Julia Colwell, “Shifting from Reactive Brain to Creative Brain”39: Dr. Julia Colwell, “Shifting from Reactive Brain to Creative Brain” In this episode, we talk with our friend, the brilliant and insightful psychologist Dr. Julia Colwell, about the physiological experience of shame and why it’s so important that we learn how to shift out of our reactive brains - and the hierarchy that comes with it - back into our creative brains where collaboration, connection, and creativity are possible. Join us for this fascinating conversation about how our brains work and how we can use our brains - and our bodies - to advance love an...2021-04-271h 21
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 38: Nancy Stubbs, “Aligning Team Talent to Maximize Impact”Episode 38: Nancy Stubbs, Kolbe Certified™ Consultant, Big Leap Coach and Founder of Hire Resonance - “Aligning Team Talent to Maximize Impact” In this episode we interview Nancy Stubbs who helps the Billions Institute make fantastic hiring decisions and optimize our genius as a team. We love her so much that we also bring her in to work with all of our Fellows. Bottom line: we think Nancy is genius at helping teams optimize genius! While most companies look for experience and education for hiring decisions, Nancy emphasizes the importance of motivation, intrinsic interests and how people actually get th...2021-03-301h 03
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 37: Mike Thompson, Billions Institute Faculty, “Finding Common Ground in Community”Episode 37: Mike Thompson, Billions Institute Faculty, “Finding Common Ground in Community” We kick off Season 4 with a candid discussion between Becky and her dear friend, Mike Thompson. Mike has been a nonprofit Executive Director several times over, and seven people who have worked for him have gone on to become exective directors themselves. In this candid conversation between two old friends, Mike shares his secrets for bringing out the best in each person he works with and each organization he leads. Mike is especially passionate about creating a context where people feel safe and supported to br...2021-02-1854 min
Unleashing Social ChangeSeason 4 TeaserSeason 4 Teaser2021-02-1602 min
Rebuilding AmericaHOOAH Award Panel w/ Mike Washington and Becky MargiottaThe regular series of Rebuilding America is over, but last month Ken was honored with the HOOAH Award from the National Conference on Citizenship. To celebrate this award, NCoC recorded a live Veteran’s Day panel conversation between Ken and two past winners of the HOOAH Award - Mike Washington and Becky Margiotta.
The George A. Smith HOOAH Award is presented annually to a veteran who defines citizenship through service.
Becky Margiotta is an Army veteran and principal and owner at the Billions Institute, helping teach and support foundations and non-profit executives leading large-scale social change initiatives.
Mike Washington is a...2020-12-0140 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 36: Meredith Shockley-Smith and Elizabeth Kelly, “Reducing Infant Mortality by Following the Lead of Black Women”36: Meredith Shockley-Smith and Elizabeth Kelly, “Reducing Infant Mortality by Following the Lead of Black Women” Over the past several years, Hamilton County has moved from having one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the United States to being in the lower 25 percentile. While there is still so much work to be done, this staggering improvement deserves our attention. In this episode we check in with Dr. Meredith Shockley-Smith and Dr. Elizabeth Kelly with Cradle Cincinnati who attribute their stunning progress on this progress to deliberately following the lead of Black women in the commu...2020-10-2052 min
Unleashing Social Change35: Melissa Rodgers, “Community Always Trumps Cruelty: Inside the New Americans Campaign to help 500,000 Green Card holders become US citizens.”35: Melissa Rodgers, “Community Always Trumps Cruelty: Inside the New Americans Campaign to help 500,000 Green Card holders become US citizens.” The goal of the New Americans Campaign is to help 500,000 - out of the 9 million Green Card holders who are eligible - become citizens by 2021, the Campaign’s 10th anniversary. There are many barriers and obstacles to meeting this ambitious aim, but Melissa Rodgers and her colleagues at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, together with the Campaign’s non-profit partners across the country, are forging ahead with courage, empathy, and wicked smarts! Join us for a conversat...2020-10-1347 min
Unleashing Social Change35: Melissa Rodgers, “Community Always Trumps Cruelty: Inside the New Americans Campaign to help 500,000 Green Card holders become US citizens.”35: Melissa Rodgers, “Community Always Trumps Cruelty: Inside the New Americans Campaign to help 500,000 Green Card holders become US citizens.” The goal of the New Americans Campaign is to help 500,000 - out of the 9 million Green Card holders who are eligible - become citizens by 2021, the Campaign’s 10th anniversary. There are many barriers and obstacles to meeting this ambitious aim, but Melissa Rodgers and her colleagues at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, together with the Campaign’s non-profit partners across the country, are forging ahead with courage, empathy, and wicked smarts! Join us for a conversat...2020-10-1352 min
Unleashing Social Change34: Peter Fitzgerald, “Honoring Our Elders: Providing Voice & Choice So People Can Grow Old at Home.” 34: Peter Fitzgerald, “Honoring Our Elders: Providing Voice & Choice So People Can Grow Old at Home.” As we grow older and our ability to live independently diminishes, we may find ourselves contemplating an assisted living facility or a nursing home. The thought of giving up your home, where all your memories live, can be heartbreaking. What if we could make it easier for people to grow old in their homes? Enter PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). PACE currently helps almost 55,000 older Americans stay in their homes by bringing the care to them. They have ambi...2020-10-061h 06
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 33: LaShawn Routé Chatmon and Kathleen Osta, “Rebel Leadership”LaShawn Routé Chatmon and Kathleen Osta, Executive Director and Managing Director of the National Equity Project, are unapologetic about advancing equity from a place of love. Join us for this inspiring and thought-provoking conversation as they discuss a unique form of leadership that is called for in these times, what Francesca Gino calls “Rebel Leadership.” This kind of leadership invites us to stand firmly in the midst of persistent injustice and racial reckoning without giving up on our collective humanity. This kind of leadership requires us to be courageous and humble at the same time. Becky has witnessed LaShawn and K...2020-09-291h 22
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 32: Kas Guillozet, “The Complexity of Living in Right Relationship with People and the Earth”Episode 32: Kas Guillozet, “The Complexity of Living in Right Relationship with People and the Earth” The wildfires that are devastating the West Coast are all the evidence we need that we cannot continue as we have been. Ecosystems cannot recover on their own without human beings seriously changing course. Listen in as Kas Guillozet, Program Director of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, shares her inner thoughts and her life’s work with Becky and together they explore how complex it can be to strive to live in ‘right relationship’ with people and the earth. Highlights: The inte...2020-09-2256 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 31: Katie Hong, “Re-Thinking Philanthropy”In this episode, we sit down with Katie Hong for a candid conversation about money, power and identity. Having worked in philanthropy for over 15 years, Katie knows the sector can be a significant catalyst for social change. She reflects on how essential it is for those working on the grant-making side of things to face into their own relationship to power and money. Katie and Becky also discuss what people working in philanthropy can do to be most helpful to non-profits in these times. Listen in to learn how those working to give away other people’s money can mo...2020-09-151h 07
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 30: Kevin Keenan, "Dismantling Mass Incarceration"Join us for an important and eye-opening conversation with Vera Institute Executive Vice President and Special Counsel, Kevin Keenan, as we peel the onion of mass incarceration - and learn what Vera is doing about it. Highlights: The extraordinary harm caused by our system of mass incarceration Facing into brutality and racism of our criminal justice system The importance of treating everybody with dignity The importance of proximity for really being able to tackle complex social problems What Vera Institute is doing to create a more just society Links: https://www.vera.org/ Twitter: @ve...2020-09-0858 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 29: Michelle Molitor, “Facing into our Collective Grief”Recorded shortly after the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, Michelle Molitor, Founder of the Equity Lab, joins Becky for a vulnerable and raw conversation about the double whammy of racism and the COVID-19 pandemic. Little did we know that soon after we recorded this interview, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd’s murders at the hands of police would spark one of the largest social movements in US history. Michelle reminds us that even through our grief - if we are brave enough - now is the time for us to transform the world forever. How we show...2020-09-0149 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 28: Eunice Lin Nichols, “The Power of Intergenerational Connections”If you are fortunate enough to live a long life, it is all too likely that you will experience ageism. Sadly, older adults are sometimes viewed as a liability versus the tremendous asset they are. In this episode, Eunice and Becky discuss the importance and power of intergenerational work and Encore’s bold reimagining of what it means to be an older adult. Show Highlights: How Eunice’s identity as an Asian American woman shapes her work How the Gen2Gen project is mobilizing 1 million older adults to show up for kids Why innovation is not...2020-08-251h 16
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 27: Joe McCannon, “Building a Fear Free Army”In this episode, listen in on an intimate conversation between Billions Institute Co-founders Becky Margiotta and Joe McCannon as they talk about the adventures along the way of their 11 year friendship. Joe will discuss his perspective on large-scale change and the power of inviting people to be part of something bigger than themselves. Becky and Joe will also talk about how non-profits can be more innovative and create environments that are exhilarating to work in. Imagine what kind of world can we create together when we believe we can share power and...2020-08-191h 13
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 26: Susan X Jane, “During These Pandemic Times, What Wants to be Unveiled?”Episode 26: Susan X Jane, “During These Pandemic Times, What Wants to be Unveiled?” Susan X Jane, Principal of Navigators Consulting In this fascinating episode, DEI expert and Billions Institute Coach Susan X. Jane shares her insights with Becky about the pandemics given her background in media, culture and apocalyptic studies. Apocalypse is often misconstrued as “end times” but is really about “unveiling.” All apocalyptic movies invite us to question, “What kind of person would you be in that situation?” So in times like today, given our dual pandemic crisis, Susa...2020-08-111h 11
Unleashing Social ChangeTEASER SEASON 32020-08-0405 min
Healthy ThinkingHow to Spread and Scale - The Billions Institute StoryIn the first of a two-part story, Cari-Anne Quinn tells the story of the Spread and Scale Academy; a groundbreaking, immersive programme geared to give innovators the tools they need to lead adoption at scale across their organisation, region or across Wales and beyond.In this episode, we hear from Joe McCannon and Becky Margiotta, founders of the US-based company, The Billions Institute, who led the Academy. Since 2015, their company has created transformational learning experiences for over 500 foundation and non-profit executives who are leading large-scale change efforts in the social sector. Joe McCannon says, “To do this big ch...2020-06-0426 minHealthy ThinkingHow to Spread and Scale - Attending the AcademyMore than 50 delegates from the NHS teams Wales and across the UK came to the Life Sciences Hub Wales in 2019 to attend the inaugural Spread and Scale Academy - a groundbreaking, immersive programme geared to give innovators the tools they need to lead adoption at scale across their organisation, region or across Wales and beyond.In the second of a two-part story, Chief Executive of Life Sciences Hub Wales, Cari-Anne Quinn meets the delegates who were learning how to ‘dig deep’ and ‘think big’ from the leaders of the Academy, Joe McCannon and Becky Margiotta, founders of the US-based...2020-06-0424 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 25: Christine Margiotta, SVP Los Angeles, “Shifting from Charity to Justice.”In this episode, Becky interviews her favorite person, her amazing wife Christine! They’ll discuss everything from how they met 10 years ago (working on homelessness) to learning more about Christine’s current work funding grassroots social justice efforts in Los Angeles. You’ll hear how Christine’s journey has led her to serve as the Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Los Angeles, where she is working on shifting philanthropy from a charity mindset to one deeply rooted in justice. Over the years, Christine has been working deep on systems change while Becky has been working broad on spread...2020-03-1055 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 24: Dimitry Anselme, Facing History, “Teaching Kids in the Midst of the Fragility of our Democracy”How do we help balance the desire for our kids to know the truth and yet also wanting to shield them from the pain and horrors embedded in history? Dimitry Anselme from Facing History opens this episode’s conversation with an interesting provocation that youth enter the conversation about history through moral and ethical terms. It is how we engage them in learning and help them locate themselves within the stories. When we start with, “Your ideas matter, your culture matters, whatever you are bringing into the classroom matters, and instead of trying to erase or assimilate it, we will...2020-03-0353 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 23: Jason Marsh, Greater Good Science Center, “Advancing Well-Being and Happiness through Research”Episode 23: Jason Marsh, Greater Good Science Center, “Advancing Well-Being and Happiness through Research” How do we advance and spread something that is so essential yet seemingly difficult to grasp as “happiness” and “well-being”? Jason Marsh joins us today for an engaging discussion about how The Greater Good Science Center at Berkeley is doing just that with their open source method of sharing their research. What they have found is building happiness and well-being is about the cultivation of relationships, how we expand our concept of the “in” group, how we make the distinction between empathy and compassion, and how we can i...2020-02-2547 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 22: Kate Hilton, Institute for Health Care Improvement, “Getting Out of Your Own Way as a Leader”What could we all accomplish if we could put relationships first and primacy in shared purpose? In this episode, Kate Hilton shares how her view of leadership has shifted over the years starting with her own experience of being told to get out of her own way. From discussing the shift from “power over” to “power with” and discovering that the joy in work comes from what matters to people. When you start with who people are vs. what you want to do and listen to what people’s biggest dreams and assets are, your strategy only gets better. Kate h...2020-02-1843 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 21: Helen Smith, Forensic Psychiatrist (NHS) – “Creative Solutions that Arise When You Take the Fear Out of the System”As co-founder of the Billions Institute, Joe McCannon says, when you invoke the John Cusack rule of taking the fear off the set, that’s when amazing things happen. In this episode, Helen Smith, a forensic psychiatrist, tells stories of some of the creative solutions that have arisen in her sector through freeing the front lines to improve the system and the joy that comes from experiencing these changes and sharing them with others. She also unpacks some of the language of “looking after” and walking alongside people vs. “treating” patients. We’ll also discuss how returning to curiosity...2020-02-1146 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 20: Gerry Balcazar and Hugo Ramirez, Vision y Compromiso, “The Movement is Built from the Community of Friends and Neighbors”In California, only about 30% of children are being taken care of by formal licensed daycare centers while their parents go to work. This means as many as 70% are being taken care of by informal options such as family, friends and neighbors. These FFNs as they are called are going above and beyond to be the “village” for the love of children and desire to build up this next generation. However, they often lack the support and respect that helps them to leverage the important role they have in society. How is Vision y Compromiso validating their critical place in our...2020-02-0437 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 19: Sasha Rabkin, Equal Opportunity Schools, “Working the Muscle to Change: Bringing Equity to AP/IB Classes”Episode 19: Sasha Rabkin, Equal Opportunity Schools, “Working the Muscle to Change: Bringing Equity to AP/IB Classes” All across the country, there has been a long history of students being overlooked due to race or economic factors for the classes that will get them into college, the AP and IB courses. Equal Opportunity Schools is working with schools to personally identify students and de-segregate access to these academic pathways. The way they do this is partnering with districts to look at new ways of identifying “readiness” because if this is the rung in the ladder to get to colle...2020-01-2853 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 18: Tema Okun, Duke University, “Facing Into Your Own Racism with Courage and Love”For over 30 years, Tema Okun has devoted her life to dismantling racism and oppression of all forms. In this episode, Tema discusses her own evolution as an anti-racist white person and some of the hard-earned lessons she’s learned along the way. As she mentions in the episode, racism is not something that can go away through a half day workshop, it is a long and winding road of facing into oneself and the systems and structures in the air that we breathe. Doing this work will inevitably activate guilt and shame, feelings we are all socialized to avoid. Bu...2020-01-211h 03
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 17: Parvathi Santhosh-Kumar, StriveTogether – “From Proof Points to Systems Transformation”Episode 17: Parvathi Santhosh-Kumar, StriveTogether – “From Proof Points to Systems Transformation” The myth is that systems are broken but every system is in fact perfectly designed to get the results it gets. So in order to get different results, and true equity, you’ve got to change the design. StriveTogether came to Skid Row School many years ago and met and even exceeded their goals, but then their second goal was not about growth but about changing more deeply and actually achieve systems transformation. Sometimes the numbers keep growing and they may look impressive, but are they refl...2020-01-1449 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 16: Dr. Arfon Williams, General Practitioner in Rural Wales, "When Crisis is the Mother of Invention"Episode 16: Arfon Williams, General Practitioner in Rural Wales – “When Crisis is the Mother of Invention” Around the world there has been a crisis shortage of rural doctors. How did Arfon completely transform his practice when he became the “last man standing” in his community of 4500 patients? At the time, the GP surgery was topping the charts for all the wrong reasons, such as being named as “most likely to fail in North Wales” by a senior Health Board member. Dr. Williams had a choice to either call it a day, risking bankruptcy and the jobs of his staff, or find...2020-01-0739 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEPISODE 15: Peter O’Driscoll, Equitable Food Initiative – “Getting a Win-Win-Win-Win-Win by Aligning Your Interests”In this episode, Peter O’Driscoll discusses the transformational change that can happen when the whole system is in the room. When you change one part of a system, it has a ripple effect on the whole, but if you if want it to be sustainable, you need everyone in the room. For centuries, getting food on the table meant slavery, share cropping and “disposable” labor where workers have not been compensated fairly for their skills and hard work. Cesar Chavez began the work with collective bargaining to protect these workers, but to make the changes long term, the Equita...2019-12-3137 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 14: Bruce Nilles, Rocky Mountain Institute – “Climate Change as a Profound Equity Issue”Bruce Nilles, Rocky Mountain Institute – “Climate Change as a Profound Equity Issue” Shortly after meeting Bruce through the Climate Breakthrough Project, the Margiottas were convinced and began making changes to their home to go all electric. In this episode, Bruce and Becky talk about the climate crisis, and that it is not just about what is happening outside, but what is happening inside our homes. And that in fact, one of the most dangerous places is the most sacred place for many of us, our kitchens. So we can avert climate catastrophe not just by waiting on the gov...2019-12-1741 min
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 13: Chris Chatmon from Kingmakers of Oakland - "When it is Time to Throw the Textbook Out the Window"In this episode, Christopher Chatmon, Founder and CEO of Kingmakers of Oakland shares his personal experiences growing up in the education system, having his desk relegated to the coat closet, to finally being acknowledged and apologized to by a coach and teacher in 11th grade. Inspired to become a teacher to change the experience for young Black men in America, Christopher became a teacher and in this time recognized that history and world history curriculum and textbooks only acknowledged the stories and contributions of white men. So he had his students throw their textbooks out the window. ...2019-12-101h 01
Unleashing Social ChangeEpisode 12: Jake Maguire from Community Solutions - "From 100K Homes to Built for Zero"12: Jake Maguire, Community Solutions – “From 100K Homes to Built for Zero” What happened after the 100K Homes Campaign? Becky reunites with Jake who was on the Community Solutions team to talk about what came after. Instead of counting up, it was time for some cities to count down. Now the Co-Director of “Built for Zero,” Community Solutions has partnered with 11 cities who have reached functional zero on chronic and veteran homelessness. This episode is full of wisdom about getting to the next aim, identifying leverage points, re-evaluating teams, and the importance of data...2019-12-021h 02Unleashing Social ChangeIntroduction to Season 2 GuestsIntroduction to Season 2 Guests2019-11-2604 min
Unleashing Social Change11: Angele Davenport – Grounding your Work in Racial and Social JusticeMany foundations and nonprofits aspire to address racial and social equity issues but few are able to navigate this complex challenge gracefully. Sometimes it gets so fraught that organizations are tempted to put band-aid (not really) solutions in place or they get so scared that they pull back from genuinely engaging in the healing and transformation work that is required to do this well. We speak from experience and we know this work is really hard. Today’s guest, Angele Davenport, is an equity consultant based in Denver, who we met at the Skid Row School. In this...2019-09-2456 min
Unleashing Social Change10: The Opposite of Founder’s Syndrome: What an Awesome Succession Plan Looks Like with Ellen Moir and Desmond Blackburn of the New Teacher CenterTransitioning from the founder to a new CEO is by far one of the most difficult transitions an organization can face. It’s incredibly rare to hear of that going well but we found an example of two people who did that with tremendous grace and skill. In today’s episode, we will hear from Ellen Moir, the founder and former CEO of the New Teacher Center and the CEO that followed her, Desmond Blackburn. The New Teacher Center works with districts to help retain you guessed it...new teachers. They’re in 27 states and over 400 school districts...2019-09-171h 15
National Institute for Civil DiscourseNICD Chat - Using Conversations to Bridge Any DivideThis is a special episode of NICD Chat, rebroadcasting an interview between Becky Margiotta of the Unleashing Social Change podcast and Cheryl Graeve of NICD.
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Racial, political, and generational division are not new concepts. We’ve been faced with the repercussions of division for as long as the human race has existed, but is it possible to bridge those divides?
Today’s guest, Cheryl Graeve, works hand-in-hand with the National Institute for Civil Discourse to actively encourage others to participate in creating a more respectful and understanding space by initiating conversation.
Cher...2019-09-121h 02
Unleashing Social ChangeDan Heath - A Primer on Behavior Change This week we are joined by bestselling author Dan Heath. Dan and his brother Chip wrote SWITCH, a book Dr. Kate Hurley referenced many times in last week’s episode so we thought we’d get his thoughts about what made Kate's Million Cats Campaign so successful. In this interview, Becky and Dan discuss the brilliance of Kate's campaign to prevent unnecessary euthanization of cats and how she creatively applied the principles of behavior change from SWITCH to catalyze massive change. (get it..."cat"-alyze?) Rapid transformation is possible when you direct the rider, motivate the elephant and s...2019-09-1044 min
Unleashing Social ChangeHow One Veterinarian Launched a Movement That Has Saved Over a Million Cats from Unnecessary Euthanization with Dr. Kate HurleyAre there aspects of your job that break your heart and drain your soul? Veterinarian Kate Hurley remembers feeling that way. Nobody becomes a vet to euthanize animals, but that’s exactly what used to happen in shelters across the country. Dr. Kate Hurley, founder the entire field of Public Health in Veterinary Medicine, is our guest and in this episode, she will tell us about how she was willing to question all her assumptions about her own profession. Then she’ll also walk us play-by-play through the key moments of what became the Million Cat Challenge – a successful campai...2019-09-031h 16
Unleashing Social ChangeUsing Equitable Classroom Practices to Reach All Students with Karen AhnThis week many as many families prepare to go back to school, we thought we’d shine a spotlight on some of the best teacher training work that’s going on in the US and why it matters for all of us that teachers are well prepared to support all their students. Today’s guest, Karen Ahn, is the Director of Partnerships for TeachingWorks. TeachingWorks partners with teacher training programs throughout the state of Michigan to make sure teachers learn 19 concrete behavior-based skills necessary to support all students in learning and growing. In this episode, we will talk ca...2019-08-2754 min
Unleashing Social ChangeCreating Inclusive Classrooms By Leveraging Diverse Strengths with Anne EidelmanTeachers have a profound influence over their students’ lives and through that the future of our society. Imagine how hard it is to nurture and develop each students’ unique strengths and potential in a classroom of twenty-plus kids. No small task and a lot to ask of one teacher. Today’s guest, Anne Eidelman, is the CEO of Blue Engine. Blue Engine is an organization focused on building teams of teachers who create inclusive classrooms that cater to students’ potential. Anne has led Blue Engine through significant organizational change and shares candidly what she’s learned along the way. T...2019-08-2049 min
Unleashing Social ChangeUsing Conversations to Bridge Any Divide with Cheryl GraeveRacial, political, and generational division are not new concepts. We’ve been faced with the repercussions of division for as long as the human race has existed, but is it possible to bridge those divides? Today’s guest, Cheryl Graeve, works hand-in-hand with the National Institute for Civil Discourse to actively encourage others to participate in creating a more respectful and understanding space by initiating conversation. Cheryl talks about the platforms in which they use to connect individuals and the process of integrating listening and dialogue skills. Join Becky Margiotta in this interview to hear more a...2019-08-1359 min
Unleashing Social ChangeCreating Inclusion Where It’s Least Likely to be Found with Nina Simon, Founder of Of, By, For AllThis episode’s guest, Nina Simon, Founder of Of/By/For All, knows that what looks like a “welcome” sign for some people can be a “keep out” sign for others, especially in civic and cultural spaces (think libraries, theaters, parks, & museums). Nina and her colleagues at Of/By/For All are turning cultural elitism upside down by changing the representation of stakeholders in cultural institutions and working with the people who have been most excluded to address systemic barriers and make real changes together. Nina Simon is deeply committed to the principles of inclusion and is working wit...2019-08-061h 08
Unleashing Social ChangeImproving the Learning Experience for Teachers and StudentsFinding unique and effective ways to get students involved and excited about their education is more important than ever. Today Mari and Michelle, co-directors of the Deeper Learning Hub and the Deeper Learning Hub's Share Your Learning campaign, discuss their tactics for spreading educational awareness and designing experiences for students to grow. Both are faculty members at the Graduate School of Education and are strategically working to improve the overall learning experience for teachers and students. To hear more about their work and the amazing campaigns they’re organizing, tune into this episode of Unleashing Social Change with Becky Ma...2019-07-3054 min
Unleashing Social Change02: Preventing Gun Violence with Nicole Hockley of Sandy Hook PromiseAfter all of the tragedies that have occurred throughout the past decade due to gun violence, there have been multitudes of communities, activists, and media platforms dedicated to spreading awareness and working to end senseless gun violence. One of these organizations is Sandy Hook Promise. Today’s guest, Nicole Hockley, is one of the founders and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise. In this episode, Nicole shares a behind the scenes look at the mission of the organization, the curriculum that’s being implemented in schools to identify red flags, and tangible actions people...2019-07-1857 min
Unleashing Social ChangeA Low Tech Solution to Combat High Tech Polarization with Andrew Hanauer of One America MovementThe importance of human connections tends to get overlooked, but the reality is that without community, we have nothing. Although, the solution to finding collective unison amongst diverse people throughout the United States and even globally is much more complex. Today’s guest, Andrew Hanauer, is the Director of the One America Movement and shares the motivation behind combating toxic polarization. We’re all prone to be entrenched in our own predispositions, but Andrew shares more insight on the neuroscience behind polarization and how to combat it. To learn more about what you can do to make an im...2019-07-1844 minUnleashing Social ChangeIntroducing Unleashing Social ChangeLarge scale social change doesn't happen by accident. It happens when you follow the formula - and Becky Margiotta has the formula. Join her as she introduces you to the world of driving social change!2019-07-1005 min
Old Grad PodcastEpisode 9 - Becky Kanis Margiotta (A2)Becky Kanis Margiotta served an 11 year career in the Army as a Signal Officer. During that time she was stationed in Ft Bragg and Schofield Barracks. She was the first female company commander of a special operations signal company supporting special forces.
In this episode we trace Becky's career back to her cadet experience and the conflict she faced as an "in the closet" gay service member. She describes the challenges she faced with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"; as well as her advocacy as a founding member of Knights Out. After a rocky transition out of the Army...2018-11-201h 30
Consciously SpeakingSocial Transformation Agent Becky Kanis Margiotta Talks About Possibility & ChangeToday’s guest is Becky Kanis Margiotta. Becky, with her friend Joe McCannon, founded The Billions Institute to answer one question: how do we unleash a billion people to solve the world’s biggest problems in the next 50 years? Prior to this venture, Becky led the 100,000 Homes Campaign for Community Solutions. Featured on 60 Minutes, the Campaign was a nationwide large-scale change effort to find and house 100,000 of the most long-term and medically vulnerable homeless people in America by July 2014. And as if that weren’t enough, before that, Becky commanded two Special Operations companies in the US...2015-04-2429 min