Shows
Break Fake RulesFund Like You Want to Win with Ludovic Blain“It's only when you show your own courage that the performativeness of being inspired by others moves to allied-ness.”Ludovic Blain returns to Break Fake Rules, this time at a live recording at California Donor Table’s 20th anniversary convening and celebration! Last season, Ludovic delivered a master class in philanthropic giving across tax statuses. Now he’s back to urge us to play offense — by funding bold, long-term investments to counter the well-coordinated efforts of conservative groups and donors that harm our communities. How can donors fund initiatives that not only defend democracy but also create a better g...
2025-10-1538 min
Break Fake RulesOn Grantee, Not Grantmaker, Survival with Farhad EbrahimiFarhad Ebrahimi: “What utility is it for grantmakers to survive this political moment if none of the organizations we believe in survive?”In this episode, Farhad Ebrahimi—Philanthropic Transformation Strategist and co-founder at Solidaire Network—joins Break Fake Rules to deliver a total takedown of philanthropy’s most pernicious fake rules. And he comes with receipts! Hear why Farhad spent down the Chorus Foundation’s endowment in 2023 and what it really means to organize and mobilize funders to support a just transition to a regenerative economy that no longer feeds the philanthropic industrial compex. In a period when fear an...
2025-10-0243 min
Break Fake RulesOn Grantee, Not Grantmaker, Survival with Farhad EbrahimiFarhad Ebrahimi: “What utility is it for grantmakers to survive this political moment if none of the organizations we believe in survive?”In this episode, Farhad Ebrahimi—Philanthropic Transformation Strategist and co-founder at Solidaire Network—joins Break Fake Rules to deliver a total takedown of philanthropy’s most pernicious fake rules. And he comes with receipts! Hear why Farhad spent down the Chorus Foundation’s endowment in 2023 and what it really means to organize and mobilize funders to support a just transition to a regenerative economy that no longer feeds the philanthropic industrial compex. In a period when fear an...
2025-10-0143 min
Designing Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactHow to Sell a Vision Before It’s RealSocial impact leaders are visionaries — but getting others to see what you see isn’t easy. When your work hasn’t caught up to your ambitions, how do you win over funders, staff, and partners who need proof before they commit?In this episode, Eric and Jonathan explore what it really takes to sell a bold new vision — even when the work is still taking shape.➔ Why internal conviction is the first — and most underrated — step to building external trust. ➔ How to frame your future vision when your current reality doesn’t match it (yet). ➔ The po...
2025-05-1333 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactWhat to Do When Funders Say "No"Not all “no’s” are equal—and if you’re in fundraising, you know that firsthand.In this episode, Eric and Jonathan unpack the three types of objections every social impact leader will face: the silent no, the vague no, and the hard no. They explore why each shows up, what it’s really signaling, and how to respond in a way that transforms rejection into relationship. Whether you're navigating donor hesitancy or partner pushback, you'll walk away with practical tools to shift conversations from confusion and avoidance to clarity, trust, and—yes—sometimes even a yes.
2025-04-1527 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactThe Sector Is Shifting: Here's How to LeadSocial impact leaders are scaling back, funding streams are evaporating, and public trust is eroding. In this candid kickoff to Season 4, Eric and Jonathan hold space for what’s really happening in the field—and why this moment demands courageous communication, community resilience, and reimagined leadership. This isn’t a time to shrink. It’s a time to show up.The surprising parallels to early COVID-era chaos (and how that can inform today’s crisis response)Why you might need to ‘scale back’ strategically—and how to do it without losing your sense of purpose.The key to rallying donors...
2025-04-0825 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactSocial Impact in the Era of Misinformation & Media ChaosWe are living through the biggest shift in media and marketing of our lifetimes. Misinformation spreads faster than ever, trust in institutions is crumbling, and social impact leaders are left navigating a fractured, chaotic digital landscape.So how do you build credibility, mobilize communities, and create real impact when attention is scattered and trust is eroding?In this episode, Eric and Jonathan break down the new realities of marketing and media—the rise of digital tribalism, the fine line between authenticity and performance, and why the old marketing playbook no longer works.Ep...
2025-03-1128 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactThe Last Messaging Framework You’ll Ever NeedIf you’ve ever felt like your messaging isn’t quite landing — like people don’t get it or aren’t inspired to take action — you’re not alone. We hear it all the time: “We’re struggling to tell our story.”But here’s the thing: your story isn’t the story that matters most. The real question is: How do you craft messaging that actually moves people?In this episode of Designing Tomorrow, we’re breaking down the last messaging framework you’ll ever need.We cover:The biggest messaging mistake most nonprofits and...
2025-02-1133 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactThe Changing Work Culture in Social ImpactThe way we work is changing — fast. Remote work, shifting boundaries, and evolving expectations have reshaped what it means to work in the social impact sector. But are nonprofits keeping up?In this episode, Jonathan and Eric dive into the unique challenges mission-driven organizations face in building a sustainable, healthy work culture. From balancing remote flexibility with team cohesion to tackling burnout in a sector known for overwork, they explore what leaders must do to attract and retain top talent while staying true to their mission.Plus, Jonathan issues a challenge to nonprofit leaders: Can we...
2025-02-0437 min
GTM AI Podcast with Coach K and Jonathan MossHow AI Surveys are Revolutionizing Sales Pipeline Generationhttps://www.gtmaiacademy.com https://www.theysaid.io/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lihonghicken/
Here's a clean breakdown of the interview:
I spoke with Lihong Hicken, CEO and co-founder of Theysaid.io, about revolutionizing sales pipeline generation through AI-powered surveys. Lihong's journey from an intern building desks to becoming a CEO shapes her practical approach to sales technology.
The conversation centered on transforming traditional surveys into intelligent sales tools. Theysaid.io's platform creates natural, conversational experiences that simultaneously qualify leads and gather market insights. This...
2024-12-1034 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactWhen Your Purpose Becomes a ProblemIs your organization's purpose secretly undermining its impact?In our latest episode of Designing Tomorrow, Jonathan and Eric tackle a provocative question: When does your purpose become a problem?We explore the hidden mistakes that can trap even the most well-intentioned social impact organizations, including:• Relying on wishful thinking instead of hard facts• Letting processes become more important than outcomes • Falling into dogmatic, crusade-like thinking• Overvaluing passion at the expense of skills when hiringThese traps can slowly erode your effectiveness and relevance without you even real...
2024-10-2922 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactWhy Social Impact Brands Under Invest in Brand and MarketingSocial impact orgs aren’t known for being great at branding and marketing.But it's NOT just about limited resources — there's a deeper story here.There’s some big obstacles in the way, like:→ The "overhead myth" that just won't die (KILL IT WITH FIRE)→ A false dichotomy between choosing to invest in fundraising OR marketing (you need both)→ The "scrappiness fallacy" worn as a badge of honor (you don’t look more “authentic” because your brand sucks, sorry!)→ Challenges connecting the ROI to the mission (not always easy!)...
2024-10-0819 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactCosmetic vs. Strategic BrandingBranding is about far more than just slick, eye-catching aesthetics.What truly transforms an organization is a brand built on vision and strategy. Without a clear strategy, positioning, and messaging, the aesthetic elements like logos, fonts, and colors won’t do anything to create lasting impact.Branding goes beyond visuals. It’s about aligning every aspect of the organization with its purpose, values, and audience.A successful rebrand requires more than just a great logo—it demands a strategic mix of:→ Brand Strategy→ Positioning and differentiation→ Messaging→ And, of course, the...
2024-10-0123 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactHow to Get Your Social Impact Flywheel TurningDo you ever feel like you’re just STUCK?Like no matter what you try or how hard you work you just can’t seem to get traction?We’ve all been there before, and it’s NOT a fun space to be in. Here’s the thing: there are going to be sticking points in your social impact journey. That’s pretty much guaranteed. What worked on day 1 — or year 1 — won’t necessarily work for year 3, or year 5. What worked when you were brand new and had a $500k annual operating bud...
2024-09-2426 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactAre You Using Your Power or Giving it Away?Far too many social impact orgs are giving their power away — and they don’t even know they’re doing it. There’s a fundamental tension in the social impact space. A tension between the generosity that powers this sector and the need for social impact brands to leverage their power so they can make a true impact. But when this healthy tension strays out of balance — in either direction — the results can be disastrous. Relying solely on the generosity of your supporters leads to the common “hat in hand” position that leaves many inc...
2024-09-1721 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactCore Values That Actually WorkCore brand values aren’t just fluffy words you put on posters. But without the right approach, that’s all they’ll ever be. Core brand values — when done right — can be absolutely transformative for your organization’s culture, effectiveness, and impact. But you can’t just come up with 5 words that all start with the letter “R” and call it a day. So how do you create core values for your brand that ACTUALLY make a meaningful impact for your team? Jonathan and Eric have some ideas — and some things to watch out...
2024-09-1016 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactCore Values That Actually WorkCore brand values aren’t just fluffy words you put on posters. But without the right approach, that’s all they’ll ever be. Core brand values — when done right — can be absolutely transformative for your organization’s culture, effectiveness, and impact. But you can’t just come up with 5 words that all start with the letter “R” and call it a day. So how do you create core values for your brand that ACTUALLY make a meaningful impact for your team? Jonathan and Eric have some ideas — and some things to watch out...
2024-09-1035 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactWhat Makes a Great Social Impact Marketing Team?What makes an EXCEPTIONAL social impact marketing team?Often, when we get this question from clients, they are trying to determine what ROLES to hire for. But that’s putting the cart before the horse. Instead, it’s best to think about the QUALITIES and CULTURE of a successful marketing philosophy for your brand. Because you can build a highly-skilled marketing team and still totally flop if:↳ You don’t have vision as a brand↳ You don’t let them create BOLD, scroll-stopping content↳ You micro-manage and add arduous approval processes...
2024-09-0335 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactA HUGE Designing Tomorrow UpdateIn this bonus episode, we're kicking off Season 2 with a new co-host, Jonathan Hicken.Learn about Jonathan’s path to social impact, from being raised by peace corps parents in Venezuela to his current role as Executive Director at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, a marine science museum. You can also learn a bit more about Eric's journey from design school dropout to accidental entrepreneur and what sparked his decision to focus his work at Cosmic fiercely on social impact. Jonathan and Eric cover a lot of ground in this season, and we can’...
2024-08-0610 minDesigning Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social ImpactDesigning Tomorrow — Season 2 TrailerWe’re back with Season 2 of Designing Tomorrow, and we’ve got an exciting update. This season, we’re joined by our new cohost, Jonathan Hicken. Jonathan has extensive experience as a leader in the social impact sector, and brings a practitioner’s point of view to the show as he tests Eric’s ideas about brand building and marketing, and introduces ideas of his own. This season, we’ll continue to explore the question that frames our show: “Why do some social impact organizations thrive, while so many others fail to get traction and reach their true...
2024-08-0601 min
Silicon Curtain418. Robert Hicken - GPNow CrisisCare is an Essential Service Helping Ukrainian Families in 5 Continents.Ukrainian CrisisCare Telehealth Service
"It's infinitely easier to take a life, than save a life”
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ABOUT GPNOW UKRAINE
GPNow Ukrainian CrisisCare is helping Ukrainian families in 5 continents
- Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East, South America and Europe.
Today, we hear from Robert Hicken – President of the PII Foundation who
will provide an update on their GPNow Ukrainian CrisisCare “hospital in
the cloud” Telehealth Service which provides free medical advice,
comfort and care for thousands of Ukrainian citizens to provide FREE
medical advice, comfort care for thousands of Ukrainian families in
Ukraine (including occupied territory), across Europe & around the
world.
T...
2024-05-2031 min
Silicon Curtain272. Robert Hicken - “Hospital in the Cloud” Service Provides Free Medical Advice for 1000s of UkrainiansUkrainian CrisisCare Telehealth Service
"It's infinitely easier to take a life, than save a life”
---------
ABOUT GPNOW UKRAINE
Today, we hear from Robert Hicken – President of the PII Foundation who
will provide an update on their GPNow Ukrainian CrisisCare “hospital in
the cloud” Telehealth Service which provides free medical advice,
comfort and care for thousands of Ukrainian citizens to provide FREE
medical advice, comfort care for thousands of Ukrainian families in
Ukraine (including occupied territory), across Europe & around the
world.
Together with John Spiteri & Kirsty Macaulay who are about to
release a song “Party-Z” to raise awareness and funding to s...
2023-10-2549 min