Shows
The Decision by EO NashvilleBuddy Teaster - How To Rebuild Trust, Culture, and Strategy After MismanagementBuddy Teaster is the President and CEO of Soles4Souls, a global nonprofit that creates opportunities for people through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing. As a thought leader, speaker, and author, he has written books on leadership and social impact and hosts a podcast about purpose-driven leadership. Before Soles4Souls, Buddy held executive roles in business and nonprofit organizations, including the National Association of Local Advertisers and Executive Business Services (EBS). In this episode… Major decisions often arise when the path forward is unclear — when the numbers don't add up, the pressure moun...
2026-02-0535 min
The Future Of Teamwork with Dane GroeneveldFrom Tailspin to Tailwind: Curiosity, Trust, and Teamwork with Buddy TeasterIn this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld chats with Buddy Teaster, CEO of Soles4Souls, about how purpose-driven leadership and curiosity fuel strong teams and resilient organizations. Dane and Buddy discuss Buddy’s new book, From Tailspin to Tailwind, which distills lessons learned from turning around Soles4Souls and leading it toward a bold goal of creating $1 billion in economic impact by 2030. The conversation looks at the ripple effect of partnerships, from global brands donating shoes to local entrepreneurs in Honduras, Haiti, and beyond who create jobs, opportunity, and dignity in their communities. If you’...
2025-09-0950 min
Everyday People, Extraordinary LivesE63. From Surviving To Thriving: Buddy Teaster And The Revival Of Soles4SoulsCEO Buddy Teaster joins Kerry to discuss his career at the helm of Soles4Souls. Buddy walks through the challenges he overcame and the victories he achieved to transform a non-profit struggling with finances and media backlash into the mission-fulfilling organization it is today. Buddy also talks about the inspiration and background for his new book, "From Tailspin to Tailwind: Leadership Lessons for Turning Crisis into Clarity." To learn more about Buddy or his work, visit buddyteaster.com; his book is available on Amazon. To discover more about Soles4Souls and how to contribute to its cause, visit soles4...
2025-08-1841 min
You Matter NashvilleSoles4Souls with Buddy TeasterFrom bankruptcy to billion-dollar impact: Nashville nonprofit leader Buddy Teaster shares how Soles4Souls transformed simple shoe donations into life-changing opportunities across 130 countries.When Buddy took over as CEO in 2012, Soles4Souls was losing $2.5 million annually and facing devastating press coverage. Today, they're on track to achieve one billion dollars in global economic impact by 2030. Their innovative model sells donated shoes and clothing to entrepreneurs in developing countries while providing new items to children experiencing homelessness.In this inspiring conversation, Buddy reveals the TEAM values framework that rebuilt their culture, explains their groundbreaking For Every...
2025-08-071h 00
The Authority CompanyHow Buddy Teaster and Soles4Souls Turned Crisis into Clarity—and Shoes into OpportunityJoe Pardavila sits down with Buddy Teaster, President and CEO of the global nonprofit Soles4Souls, which transforms lives through clothing and shoe donations. Buddy opens up about steering the organization through crisis, turning financial turmoil and reputational challenges into a thriving mission that serves millions. Discover how Soles4Souls balances philanthropy with earned revenue, using innovative programs like For the Planet, For Opportunity, For Relief, and For Every Kid to create lasting impact. Buddy shares hard-earned leadership lessons from his book From Tailspin to Tailwind, including the critical role of board governance, the emotional weight of succession planning, and...
2025-06-1132 min
The Donna Drake ShowSuccess Is Not How High You Have Climbed, But How You Make a Positive Difference To The World with Felicia Madison - #080Richard Martin and Andrew Cotto of Appetito magazine join the show!; Evan Hirsch attends the Image Awards CFDA, with interviews with Sasha Prendes, Sonya Keshwani, Buddy Teaster, Joe Preston CEO of New Balance,Nicholas Raefski, David Granados, Según Oduolowu, William McDonough, Brandon Blackwood, Gita Omri Brown; Felicia Madison is a mother of 3 who lives on the Upper East side, which makes for great material as a stand-up comedian. She shares the news of her upcoming hour long special that was filmed at West Side Comedy Club.; Award winning actress, Gisela Adisa, talks with Donna abo...
2023-07-3158 min
Purpose and Profit with Kathy Varol59. Buddy Teaster on Building Trust Through Transparency and Dignity Through ShoesBuddy is President & CEO at Soles4Souls, a not-for-profit social enterprise creating opportunity through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing around the world. Teaster’s experience at Soles4Souls, along with the organization’s global economic impact, is chronicled in his book, shoestrings: how your donated shoes and clothes help people pull themselves out of poverty. Previously, Buddy was President of StarKart and the National Association of Local Advertisers, and served as Chief Network Officer for the nonprofit Young Presidents’ Organization. In 2012 he joined Soles4Souls to rebuild the organization after a period of leadership turmoi...
2023-07-0557 min
C Suite and SourEP 17: Buddy TeasterGreat business leaders need drive and ambition on top of skills, but leading a nonprofit organization requires taking those traits to a whole new level.
This week, we sit down with Buddy Teaster, CEO of Soles4Souls and author of Shoestrings: How Your Donated Shoes and Clothes Help People Pull Themselves Out Of Poverty.
Buddy dives into the challenges nonprofits face and what really sets them apart from for-profit businesses, uncovering how team alignment and personal growth are huge drivers for organizational performance.
Get involved at soles4souls.org.
Shoestrings: How Yo...
2023-06-0250 min
The Courageous Podcast with Ryan BermanBuddy Teaster - CEO at Soles4Souls, IncBe clear on the ‘why’, flexible on the ‘how’. Let’s walk in the shoes of Buddy Teaster. Buddy is using shoes and clothing to create opportunities for millions as he runs Soles4Souls, where they collect and distribute shoes and clothing around the world. In his conversation with host Ryan Berman, Buddy gives listeners actionable advice to move towards a purposeful career, and also reminds us that you don’t necessarily need to switch jobs to start making an impact. Buddy also touches on how Soles4Souls has been able to help people through the power of shoes in places like...
2023-05-1743 min
Deep Dish ConversationsDDC S2: Buddy Teaster, President and CEO of Soles4SoulsAs CEO, Buddy uses a mix of entrepreneurship, C-level leadership skills and extensive non-profit experience to lead Soles4Souls, the largest not-for-profit shoe and apparel social enterprise in the US. In addition to the free distribution of new footwear and apparel, Soles4Souls distributes shoes and clothes through its micro-enterprise programs to create sustainable jobs in developing countries.
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2022-09-0742 minDeep Dish ConversationsDDC S2: Buddy Teaster, President and CEO of Soles4SoulsAs CEO, Buddy uses a mix of entrepreneurship, C-level leadership skills and extensive non-profit experience to lead Soles4Souls, the largest not-for-profit shoe and apparel social enterprise in the US. In addition to the free distribution of new footwear and apparel, Soles4Souls distributes shoes and clothes through its micro-enterprise programs to create sustainable jobs in developing countries.
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Website: https://www.deepdishconversations.com/
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2022-09-0742 min
Logistics with PurposeActing on Sole Purpose: Delivering Dignity and Agency with Soles4Souls CEO Buddy TeasterSo you want to help. Now how do you actually pull it off? Look no further than Soles4Souls CEO Buddy Teaster for answers on how to turn goodwill into on-the-ground impact. In this episode, he joins co-hosts Enrique and Kristi to talk about the behind-the-scenes realities of creating opportunity, delivering agency and preserving the dignity of those served. Learn more about the value of the micro enterprise, what a pair of shoes can really mean, the organization's recent Ukraine relief efforts in Moldova and what's next for this multifaceted leader and ultramarathoner (yes, you read that right!).
2022-03-3049 min
Ideagen RadioPresident & CEO of Soles4Souls discusses No PovertySend us Fan MailBuddy Teaster, President, and CEO of Soles4Souls sits down to discuss UN SDG #1, No Poverty with Soles 4 Souls Chief Business Development Officer, Nancy Youssef during Ideagen's 17 Days of Sustainability.
2021-10-0524 min
Clean & Green LivingEP 46: Turning The Unwanted into Opportunity with Buddy TeasterWhat if I told you the shoes and clothing that you no longer want don’t have to go to waste? What if those shoes could provide relief and create jobs? What if they could empower people to break the cycle of poverty? What if you could turn shoes and clothing into opportunity? That is the work of Soles4Souls and of today’s guest, Buddy Teaster. Since 2006, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 51 million pairs of shoes to 127 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Not only do they donate shoes to those in need, but t...
2021-09-2133 min
Clean & Green LivingTurning The Unwanted into Opportunity with Buddy TeasterWhat if I told you the shoes and clothing that you no longer want don’t have to go to waste? What if those shoes could provide relief and create jobs? What if they could empower people to break the cycle of poverty? What if you could turn shoes and clothing into opportunity? That is the work of Soles4Souls and of today’s guest, Buddy Teaster. Since 2006, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 51 million pairs of shoes to 127 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Not only do they donate shoes to those in need, but t...
2021-09-2133 min
Blueprint Creative Group - Do it the Tesla & Red Bull WayBuddy Teaster, Soles4SoulsBuddy Teaster started Soles4Souls as a non-profit collecting shoes for women and families across the globe that now helps women become more self sufficient by helping them making money by reselling donated shoes.
Blueprint Creative Group features 19 Nashville CEOs who each share their perspectives on the outlook for Nashville's continued economic growth, the region's tech infrastructure, and how they've had to pivot their businesses in response to COVID-19.
Featured Nashville CEOs on the podcast represent a range of industries from healthcare and technology to non-profit and consumer services, and includes the CEOs of Brookdale Senior Living, Reliant Bank, YWCA...
2020-07-1224 min
The Engage For Good Podcast with Alli MurphyDSW and Soles4Souls Help Consumers Donate Shoes, Support Micro-Entrepreneurs (Halo Winner)We're back with another special edition of Cause Talk Radio in which we feature a deep dive conversation with one of this year's Halo Award winners.This episode features the Gold Winner in the Consumer-Activated Corporate Donation category, a partnership between DSW & Soles4Souls.Megan is joined by Amy Stevenson, Chief Marketing Officer for DSW and Buddy Teaster, CEO of Soles4Souls. They discuss this 10-year partnership and how the partners really doubled down in 2019 to solve a unique business challenge for DSW: how to provide consumers with a way to donate their gently-used shoes...
2020-06-1733 min
Real Leaders PodcastEp. 93 Determining Your PathBuddy Teaster, CEO at Soles4Souls joins the podcast today to explain the impact a shoe can have on the soul, what motivated him to switch to the nonprofit sector, and how to determine a path that gives you the most juice.
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2020-05-1145 min
The Running4Soles PodcastAn Interview With Soles4Souls CEO Buddy TeasterBack in November of 2018, I interviewed Soles4Souls CEO, Buddy Teaster. It was one of the most influential interviews I've ever conducted. Listen to that conversation here: An Interview with Buddy Teaster.Our conversation impacted my running journey. Buddy is an ultra runner. Listening to him describe a running journey that went from a few miles here in the tiny town of Ashland, Virginia where I live, to 100 mile races all over the country, inspired me to want to run longer in my own journey. More importantly, though, Buddy inspired my love for his organization, S...
2020-04-2800 min
Sheer ClarityPutting Core Values Into PracticeEvery organization has or should have core values in place. However, just writing them down and displaying them on a poster isn’t enough. The hard part comes in living them. Today, I’m talking with Buddy Teaster, CEO of Soles4Souls. Buddy talks about his organization, what they do and how their core values have been integral to Soles4Souls’ success. We go in depth about what it means as a leader to put your core values into practice and how that benefits not only your organization’s bottom line, but also provides meaning to everyone...
2020-04-0153 min
The Beyond Capital PodcastStepping Out of Poverty: Buddy Teaster of Soles4Souls"As you work from home or shelter in place, if cleaning out your closet is one of the tasks you decide to tackle, folks can donate their used shoes and clothes to Soles4Souls and our amazing partner Zappos will pay for the shipping! Just visit this link to learn more and get a pre-printed shipping label. We believe generosity is good for the soul, especially if you’re social distancing!” -- Soles4Souls One in five children in developing countries survive on $1.90/day. That’s nearly 385 million girls and boys living in extreme poverty worldwide, who often...
2020-03-3137 min
kemba117William BBooks: Be Our Guest by Walt Disney Company, Michael D. Eisner, and Theodore Kinni Shoestrings by Buddy Teaster
2020-03-2934 min
Shoe-InWhat's new with Soles4Souls! - A Chat with President and CEO, Buddy TeasterOn this episode we check in with Buddy Teaster, President and CEO of Soles4Souls. The Shoe-In Show team learns all about the new happenings over at Soles4Souls, some of the hardships they face helping countries in need, entrepreneurs, and more.
2020-03-0923 min
The Running4Soles PodcastAn Interview with Ultra Runner and Soles 4 Souls CEO Buddy Teaster - Episode 71What you'll hear on this episode.
I recently had a chance to sit down with Sole for Souls CEO, Buddy Teaster. We talked a lot about ultra running, mainly Buddy's recent Grindstone 100 run, a race he ran after just 3 training runs in the year leading up to it. We talked about the Hard Rock Ultra - why Buddy loves that race enough to run a 100 mile race like the Grindstone with limited preparation, just to qualify for a lottery to get in the Hard Rock.
But we spent most of our time talking about Buddy's tr...
2018-11-1900 minShoe-InThe Ongoing Fight to Wear Out Poverty with Buddy Teaster of Soles4SoulsBuddy is back to outline the latest and greatest in the Soles4Souls mission and ways in which the impactful charity is meeting the needs to those less fortunate worldwide. From distribution trips to the opening of regional donation centers to Buddy's new book, Soles4Souls is focused on its mission to wear out poverty. Jasmine joins in for the World Famous Watcha Got? Whatcha Gettin'? segment.
2018-10-0835 min
Giving Back PodcastThe Simple Power of a Pair of Shoes — Buddy Teaster with Soles4SoulsBuddy Teaster, the CEO of Soles4Souls and the author of Shoestrings, is back for another episode of the Giving Back Podcast! Buddy has delivered over 30 million shoes to impoverished areas all over the world. Through Buddy's shoe program, he is helping impoverished people transform their lives in a sustainable way that carries over to the next generation. All from just a pair of shoes! Key Takeaways: [3:15] This is Buddy's second guest appearance! [5:00] Buddy gives a quick recap of what Soles4Souls does. [8:15] You might not know it yet, b...
2018-09-0355 min
In the Business of ChangeThe Power of Shoes: Buddy Teaster of Soles4SoulsHow one social enterprise is using new and used shoes to disrupt the cycle of poverty by offering short-term help to those in immediate need as well as long-term solutions for small business owners.
The post The Power of Shoes: Buddy Teaster of Soles4Souls appeared first on SEE Change Magazine.
2018-06-2527 min
Retail Gets RealEntrepreneurship’s role in social changeSoles4Souls was established as a way to help those affected by catastrophic natural disasters. Since 2006, the non-profit social enterprise has distributed over 30 million pairs of shoes in 127 countries and all 50 U.S. states. In this episode, CEO Buddy Teaster discusses how the organization serves communities in crisis, as well as entrepreneurs in developing countries.
2018-02-1220 minShoe-InWearing Out Poverty with Buddy Teaster & Soles4SoulsMatt and Andy are joined by Buddy Teaster, President and CEO of Soles4Souls, as they explore the critical mission of distributing shoes worldwide to those in need. After 10 years and 30 million pairs of shoes distributed, Soles4Souls is just getting started. Jasmine rocks the Shoe-In Show world as she unveils the Pizza Hut Pie Tops and the Rihanna Puma Satin Shoe.
2017-04-2436 min
The Engage For Good Podcast with Alli Murphy116: How Soles4Souls Raises Money with Stride Rite, PUMAToday on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Buddy Teaster, CEO of Soles4Souls.
Nashville-based Soles4Souls is a global not-for-profit focused on fighting the devastating impact and perpetuation of poverty.
Soles4Souls advances its anti-poverty mission by collecting new and used shoes and clothes from individuals, schools, faith-based institutions, civic organizations and corporate partners. They distribute those shoes and clothes both via direct donations to people in need and by provisioning qualified micro-enterprise programs designed to create jobs in poor and disadvantaged communities.
Soles4Souls is fortunate to have many co...
2015-03-1727 min