Shows
The Association Insights PodcastMember Value Reimagined: How Associations Are Evolving to Meet Modern ExpectationsA Virtual Roundtable ReplayIn this holiday-week episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we’re re-airing our December LinkedIn Live roundtable, Member Value Reimagined—How Associations Are Evolving to Meet Modern Expectations.As member expectations continue to evolve, associations are rethinking what value truly means—beyond benefits to belonging, relevance, and impact. Hosted by Colleen Gallagher, President & CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd and publisher of Association Insights, this candid conversation features Stephanie Denvir of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, Kerri McGovern of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and Brian Peters of The Adhesive & Sealan...
2025-12-2359 minThe Association Insights PodcastRaising the Bar: Celebrating the 2025 Association Insights CommImpact Award WinnersIn this special year-end episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we’re re-airing the live broadcast of the 2025 Association Insights CommImpact Awards, originally streamed on YouTube. Hosted by Colleen Gallagher, President and CEO and Meghan Henning, Senior PR Strategist of OnWrd & UpWrd, the ceremony celebrated associations across North America whose communications, storytelling, and engagement efforts are setting new standards of excellence.The Association Insights CommImpact Awards recognize outstanding work across eight core categories, spotlighting campaigns that elevate industries, strengthen member communities, and demonstrate the power of strategic, human-centered communication.Key Highlights:Advocacy Excellence: Am...
2025-12-1711 minThe Association Insights PodcastThe Association PR Toolkit—Smart, Strategic, and Actually DoableThe Association PR Toolkit—Smart, Strategic, and Actually DoableIn this solo episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher, CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd, walks through the essential tools every association needs in their PR playbook. From mapping out the right stories to building the right press list—and pitching them to the right people—this is your tactical, honest, and refreshingly practical guide to PR that works.Whether you're new to PR or looking to tighten your approach, Colleen lays out a clear framework for how associations can stop playing defense and start leading with strategy.🎧...
2025-09-2410 minThe Association Insights PodcastMaking Awareness Days Work: A Smart Strategy for AssociationsIn this solo episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher, CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd, breaks down one of the most debated tactics in association PR: awareness days. While some call them overdone or ineffective, Colleen makes the case that, done right, awareness days can unlock real visibility, credibility, and media wins—especially for associations.With real client examples and a clear, strategic framework, this episode is packed with practical advice on how to tap into awareness days in a way that’s smart, localized, and aligned with your mission.Key Highlights:Why...
2025-09-1712 minThe Association Insights PodcastCommunicating What Matters: A Roundtable ReplayIn this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we’re bringing you a special replay of our summer LinkedIn Live panel: Communicating What Matters—How Associations Can Lead with Strategic Storytelling.Originally hosted by OnWrd & UpWrd CEO Colleen Gallagher, this roundtable features two communications leaders navigating some of the most complex issues facing associations today:Tim Ebner, Senior Director of Communications at the Can Manufacturers InstituteSean Luechtefeld, Ph.D., Senior Director of Communications at ANCOR🎧 From politicized narratives and media scrutiny to member trust and message discipline, this conversation offers honest, experience-driven advice for ass...
2025-09-0357 minThe Association Insights PodcastCommunicating What Matters: Strategic Communications for Association LeadersIn this solocast episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher, CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd, dives into one of the most essential, and often most underleveraged, tools in any association’s toolbox: communication.From navigating complex topics to telling stories that resonate, Colleen shares how associations can move beyond the buzzwords and show up with clarity, courage, and strategy in their communications.🎧 If you’ve ever struggled to get the right message to the right people—or felt stuck between saying something and saying nothing—this episode is for you.Key Highlights: What S...
2025-06-0407 minThe Association Insights PodcastDesigning with Intention: Gen Z on Web Strategy, Creativity & BelongingIn this bonus episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we wrap up our Gen Z Insights Series—spotlighting rising professionals shaping the future of associations from the inside out. This special series is made possible by our partners at Highland.Host Keaveny Hewitt from OnWrd & UpWrd sits down with Alyssa Garcia, Web Project Manager, Master Juggler, and Cat Herder at Matrix Group International, whose journey from audio engineer to association tech partner is anything but traditional. Alyssa brings a refreshing blend of creative storytelling, strategic thinking, and deep curiosity to the conversation—offering insights on everything from webs...
2025-05-3035 minThe Association Insights PodcastShaping the Future: Gen Z on Communication, Community & ConfidenceIn this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we continue our Gen Z Insights Series—spotlighting rising professionals shaping the future of associations from the inside out. This special series is made possible by our partners at Highland.Host Keaveny Hewitt from OnWrd & UpWrd welcomes two dynamic Gen Z/young Millennial leaders to the mic: Anastacia Barbosa-McBride, Content Marketing Manager at Bostrom, and Taylor Barnett, Events Coordinator at NIRSA. Together, they dive into what it means to work—and lead—as early-career professionals in a multigenerational industry.From digital engagement and workplace culture to intergenerational dynami...
2025-05-281h 10The Association Insights PodcastFrom Legal Lens to Lasting Impact: A Gen Z Perspective on Purpose, Balance, & BelongingIn this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we continue our Gen Z Insights Series—spotlighting rising professionals shaping the future of associations from the inside out. This special series is made possible by our partners at Highland.Host Keaveny Hewitt from OnWrd & UpWrd sits down with Rachel Grace Leman, Specialist, Program Development at the Association of Corporate Counsel. With honesty, energy, and thoughtfulness, Rachel shares how her Gen Z perspective is helping reshape the way associations think about meaning, engagement, and professional growth—from mission alignment to mental health to making room for vulnerability at work.
2025-05-2154 minThe Association Insights PodcastPurpose Over Paycheck: Workforce, Values, & Gen Z EngagementIn this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we continue our Gen Z Insights Series—spotlighting rising professionals shaping the future of associations from the inside out. This special series is made possible by our partners at Highland.Host Keaveny Hewitt from OnWrd & UpWrd sits down with Laiya Rollins, Manager of Membership & Workforce Initiatives at LeadingAge Virginia. Laiya shares her journey from temp to leader in aging services, offering candid insight into what makes Gen Z stay, what drives real workforce engagement, and why culture and purpose matter more than ever.If you care about wo...
2025-05-1427 minThe Association Insights PodcastThe Future of Association Events: A Roundtable ReplayIn this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we’re bringing you a special replay of one of our most engaging LinkedIn Live panels: The Future of Association Events. Originally hosted by OnWrd & UpWrd CEO Colleen Gallagher, this roundtable brings together an all-star lineup of association leaders, event strategists, and production experts to explore the biggest shifts shaping events in 2025 and beyond.From immersive tech and content strategy to data-driven decision-making and reimagining hybrid, this candid conversation is packed with actionable ideas for making your next event smarter, more inclusive, and more impactful.Panelists include:...
2025-04-2359 minThe Association Insights PodcastRaising the Bar: Celebrating the 2024 A100 CommImpact Award WinnersIn this special year-end episode of The A100 Podcast, we’re re-airing the live broadcast of the 2024 A100 CommImpact Awards ceremony, originally streamed on YouTube Live. Hosted by Colleen Gallagher, CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd, and Meghan Henning, Senior PR Strategist and Founding Partner, this event celebrated the exceptional achievements of associations in communications and engagement.
Key Highlights:
Best Media Relations Campaign: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy’s impactful mental health campaign garnered over 100 high-profile media placements.
Outstanding Internal Communications: Tennessee Concrete Association’s creative board engage...
2024-12-2519 minThe Association Insights PodcastLeading with Agility: Thriving Amidst Rapid Industry ShiftsIn this insightful A100 video interview, Bennie F. Johnson, CEO of the American Marketing Association, shares his dynamic vision for the future of marketing. Bennie discusses how AMA serves as a global hub for marketing professionals, supporting everyone from students to executives. He explores key topics like AI, data-driven decision making, and the critical role of community in shaping the marketing profession.
Key Highlights:
Embracing Disruptive Change: Bennie emphasizes the importance of welcoming innovation and leveraging marketing’s evolving tools to drive productive change, especially in an AI-driven landscape.
Fostering Co...
2024-10-0936 minThe Association Insights PodcastTransforming Member Engagement with Technology and InnovationIn this insightful episode of The A100 Podcast, recorded live at ASAE's 2024 Annual Conference, host Meghan Henning sits down with Kerri McGovern, Senior Director of Membership at the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC). Kerri shares how ACC is revolutionizing member engagement through innovative tools like the ACC 365 app, a standout success that has significantly improved communication and networking for ACC’s 46,000 members worldwide.
Key Highlights:
The ACC 365 App: Kerri explains how the award-winning app has transformed member interaction by providing seamless access to newsfeeds, online communities and job board services—all at the members’ fingertips. The ap...
2024-10-0219 minThe Association Insights PodcastReimagining Leadership in AssociationsIn this insightful episode of The Association 100 Podcast, recorded live at ASAE's 2024 Annual Conference, host Meghan Henning sits down with Margaret Vitullo, PhD, CAE, Executive Director of the Linguistic Society of America (LSA). With over 16 months at the helm of LSA, Margaret discusses the challenges and opportunities facing scholarly societies and how they can adapt to the shifting association landscape.
Key Highlights:
The Evolution of Scholarly Societies: Margaret outlines how traditional revenue models for academic associations—membership, meetings, and publications—are under pressure. She explains how the LSA is navigating these challenges while still advancing the...
2024-09-2520 minThe Association Insights PodcastUnlocking the Power of Play: Advocacy and Innovation in the Video Game IndustryWelcome to another episode of The A100 Podcast, where we’re joined by Stanley Pierre-Louis, President & CEO of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). In this insightful conversation, Stan takes us through the dynamic world of video games and shares how ESA serves as the voice for the U.S. video game industry.
Key Highlights:
Stan’s Career Journey: Stan traces his unique career path, from working in media and intellectual property law to leading ESA. He shares how his passion for media, technology, and the arts has shaped his leadership in the vide...
2024-09-1833 minThe Association Insights PodcastStanding Out in a Sea of Sameness: The Power of Brand StrategyIn this episode of The A100 Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher is joined by Karley Cunningham, big thinker, creative strategist and founder of Big Bold Brand. Karley shares her unique journey from professional athlete to brand strategist and explains how her team helps purpose-driven organizations develop executable strategies that position them as leaders in their industry.
Key Highlights:
The Athlete’s Mindset in Business: Karley discusses how her competitive athletic background, including being a former professional mountain biker, has shaped her structured, goal-driven approach to business and branding.
Branding vs. Marketing: Karley emphasizes the di...
2024-09-1149 minThe Association Insights PodcastElevating Tech Strategy in AssociationsIn this episode of The A100 Podcast, recorded live at ASAE’s Annual Conference, O&U’s Meghan Henning sits down with Lou Centrella, CAE, Senior Director of Technology Services at ISSA - The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. Lou shares valuable insights on how ISSA is enhancing its technology strategy to better serve its members and support the entire organization.
Key Highlights:
Building Strong Cross-Departmental Partnerships: Lou discusses the importance of IT being a collaborative partner with all departments. He emphasizes that the technology team’s role isn’t just abo...
2024-09-0415 minThe Association Insights PodcastListening and Leading: Effective Comms, Advocacy, and Membership StrategiesWelcome back to The A100 podcast! In this episode, host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Sean Luechtefeld, Ph.D., CAE, Vice President of Membership & Communications at ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources). Sean returns to the podcast to share valuable insights into the unique challenges and strategies in the world of association management, particularly in the areas of membership and communications.
Key Highlights:
Balancing Dual Roles: Sean discusses the complexities of balancing his dual roles in membership and communications, offering practical advice on how to prioritize tasks and manage a...
2024-08-2835 minThe Association Insights PodcastElevating Member Experience with Personalization and TechnologyIn this engaging episode of The A100 podcast, recorded live at ASAE’s Annual Conference in Cleveland, host Meghan Henning sits down with Stephanie Denvir, MS, CAE, Chief Member Experience Officer at the American Society for Quality (ASQ). Stephanie shares her strategies for enhancing the member experience through personalization, community engagement and innovative technology.
Key Highlights:
Segmentation and Personalization: Stephanie discusses how ASQ is using segmentation to tailor messaging and provide personalized member experiences. By focusing on the unique needs of their diverse, global membership, ASQ is delivering targeted value to each me...
2024-08-2114 minThe Association Insights PodcastTop Insights from Association LeadersWelcome back to another exciting episode of The A100 podcast! As we gear up for the ASAE Annual Conference in Cleveland, we’re thrilled to bring you a special compilation of clips from previous A100 interviews with some of the brightest minds and leaders in the association world. These leaders have shared invaluable advice and insights that we believe will inspire and guide you. Be sure to go back and check out their full episodes for more!
Key Highlights:
Chris Michaels, CEO, AAMFT: Chris discusses the inclusion of family therapists as Medicare pr...
2024-08-0712 minThe Association Insights PodcastThe Year-Round Approach to Sponsorships in AssociationsWelcome back to another episode of The A100 podcast! In this insightful discussion, we dive into the world of sponsorships with two experts in the field: Dana Johnston, the Vice President of Client Partnerships and Trade Show Marketing for EMC Outdoor, and Bruce Rosenthal, a Corporate Partnership & Sponsorship Consultant and Founder & Convener of the Partnership Professionals Network.
Key Highlights:
Transforming Sponsorships from Transactional to Transformational:
Discover how sponsorships can be a year-round responsibility, involving all departments within an association.
Learn about the importance of moving...
2024-07-3139 minThe Association Insights PodcastExpert Email Marketing Tips for AssociationsWelcome back to another insightful episode of The A100 podcast! Today, we’re joined by Amber Worthen, Founder and CEO of Email Maven. With years of experience in communication strategy, project management and email marketing, Amber shares her expertise in revolutionizing email marketing for associations.
Key Highlights:
Addressing Common Email Challenges: Amber identifies key issues such as inconsistent email design and email fatigue. She emphasizes the importance of applying best practices in email design and segmenting audiences to enhance engagement and avoid overwhelming members.
Optimizing Open Rates and Engagement: Practical tips on segmenting em...
2024-07-2427 minThe Association Insights PodcastEngaging Storytelling and Sustainability in AssociationsWelcome back to another episode of The A100 podcast! Today we’re thrilled to have Ben H. Rome, Director of Communications for the American Bus Association (ABA), joining us. With nearly 30 years in storytelling and strategic communications, Ben shares his insights on the evolving role of storytelling in the association world and how ABA is tackling sustainability.
Key Highlights:
The Power of Storytelling:
Ben discusses how storytelling in associations has evolved from simple slogans and stats to creating resonant narratives that engage members on a personal level.
He em...
2024-07-1737 minThe Association Insights PodcastUnlocking AI's Potential in PR: Navigating Crises and Engaging InfluencersWelcome back to another episode of The A100 Podcast! In this week’s episode, Colleen Gallagher concludes our special three-part series on AI in PR with an insightful solo cast. Today, we explore two critical areas where AI can enhance your PR efforts: crisis management and influencer identification and engagement.
These topics are part of the five areas we cover in our newly released AI ebook, "Five Ways to Use AI in Your Association's PR Efforts." Email cgallagher@onwrdupwrd.com to get your copy or download it here: https://onwrdupwrd.com/ebook-5-ways-to-use-ai-in-your-pr-efforts/
Key Highlights:
...
2024-07-1014 minThe Association Insights PodcastUnlocking AI's Potential in PR: Transforming Your Pitching EffortsWelcome back to another episode of The A100 Podcast! In this week’s episode, Colleen Gallagher goes solo for the second installment of our special three-part series on AI in PR. Today, we dive into the power of AI to transform your pitching efforts, including creating press lists and writing customized pitches. These topics are part of our soon-to-be-released AI ebook, and if you want an early copy, feel free to email Colleen at cgallagher@onwrdupwrd.com.
Key Highlights:
Building Targeted Press Lists:
Learn how AI tools can help you build highly targeted pr...
2024-07-0320 minThe Association Insights PodcastUnlocking AI's Potential in PR: Press Release Optimization and Predictive AnalyticsWelcome back to another episode of The A100 Podcast! In this week’s episode, Colleen Gallagher goes solo to kick off a special three-part series on AI in PR. In this first installment, we dive into two transformative areas: optimizing press releases for SEO and leveraging predictive analytics to refine your PR strategy. These topics are part of our soon-to-be-released AI ebook, and if you want an early copy, feel free to email Colleen at cgallagher@onwrdupwrd.com.
Key Highlights:
Press Release Optimization for SEO:
Learn how AI tools can suggest effective keywords, of...
2024-06-2619 minThe Association Insights PodcastAdvancing DEI and Disability Inclusion in AssociationsWelcome to another impactful episode of The Association 100 podcast. Today, we're joined by Samyuktha Neeraja, State Associations Relations Manager II at the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and a passionate advocate for DEI and disability inclusion. Samyuktha shares her inspiring journey and offers valuable insights on promoting inclusivity within associations.
Key Highlights:
Career Journey: Samyuktha traces her path in the association management industry, describing her fall into the association world as a happy accident and emphasizing her role in providing governance and leadership support to state associations.
Personal Advocacy: As a South Asian...
2024-06-1935 minThe Association Insights PodcastRevolutionizing Licensure: NCARB’s Innovative ApproachesWelcome to another insightful episode of The Association 100 podcast. Today, we are joined by Mike Armstrong, CEO of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Mike shares NCARB's innovative initiatives aimed at modernizing the architectural licensure process, focusing on inclusivity and technological advancements.
Key Highlights:
Leadership Philosophy: Mike discusses his approach to balancing regulatory rigor with user-centric policies, ensuring licensure protects public health and safety while being accessible and inclusive.
Data-Driven Decisions: Learn how NCARB uses demographic data to identify and address unconscious bias in their examination and licensure processes, leading to...
2024-06-1238 minThe Association Insights PodcastLeading Tech Innovation: Kinsey Fabrizio's Vision at CTAWelcome back to The Association 100 podcast. In this episode, your hosts Colleen Gallagher and Christine Stay are joined by Kinsey Fabrizio, President of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). With a career that has blossomed within CTA, Kinsey shares her journey from joining the team in 2008 to leading the organization known for producing CES—the most influential tech event globally.
Key Highlights:
Career Evolution at CTA: Kinsey recounts her path from the membership team to becoming President, highlighting key projects and leadership roles that shaped her career.
Mentorship and Career Growth: Sh...
2024-06-0526 minThe Association Insights PodcastMental Health in the Workplace: A Critical Look with The Association 100 PodcastWelcome back to The Association 100 podcast. In this episode, timed with Mental Health Awareness Month, OnWrd & UpWrd co-hosts Colleen Gallagher, Meghan Henning and Christine Stay delve deep into mental health in the workplace, especially within associations.
Key Highlights:
Mental Health Awareness: The team discusses the historical context and evolving perceptions of mental health since Mental Health Awareness Month began in 1949. This segment highlights the critical role workplaces play in shaping mental health landscapes and fostering cultures of empathy and resilience.
Staggering Statistics: Christine presents alarming statistics from the National Alliance of Mental Illness...
2024-05-2929 minThe Association Insights PodcastBuilding Stronger Communities Through Strategic StorytellingWelcome to another enlightening edition of The Association 100 podcast. In this episode, your hosts Colleen Gallagher and Christine Stay, engage in a captivating discussion with Allegra Tasaki, a storyteller, brand evangelist and content strategist. Allegra brings her extensive experience in weaving storytelling into strategic marketing for mission-driven organizations. She also plays a crucial role in ASAE's Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Advisory Group, championing DEIA initiatives.
Today, we delve into how Allegra harnesses technology to amplify her marketing strategies and the importance of crafting resonant messages for diverse stakeholders. We explore her innovative approaches...
2024-05-2246 minThe Association Insights PodcastFrom Crisis to Community: Supporting the SupportersWelcome to a special Mental Health Awareness Month edition of The Association 100 podcast. In today's episode, we're joined by Earl Franks, Executive Director at the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). Earl returns to share the latest initiatives NAESP is spearheading, including their upcoming joint conference focused on comprehensive school leadership from pre-K through grade 12.
Key Highlights:
Joint Efforts in Leadership Conferences: Learn about the NAESP's collaborative conference efforts with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, highlighting themes like leadership capacity and inclusivity in school climates.
Mental Health Crisis in Schools...
2024-05-1529 minThe Association Insights PodcastLeading Change in Mental Health: Association Strategies for a Global ImpactWelcome to another insightful episode of The Association 100 podcast. Today, we're honored to have Chris Michaels, CEO of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), join us. With over 34 years of experience in association management, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge in leading strategic initiatives across various operational domains.
Key Highlights:
Strategic Leadership and Organizational Impact: Chris shares insights into her leadership journey at AAMFT, emphasizing strategic planning, innovative membership benefits and fostering a supportive work culture. Her efforts have significantly enhanced operational effectiveness and staff retention.
Systemic Ethics Textbook: Explore...
2024-05-0836 minThe Association Insights PodcastNavigating Tech Partnerships: Harnessing Strategy and Insight with Sharon PareWelcome to another episode of The Association 100 podcast. Today, we're delighted to host Sharon Pare, Senior Partnership Program Manager at HighRoad Solutions. With a wealth of experience in MarTech and business development within the association space, Sharon brings insightful perspectives on building successful vendor partnerships and driving innovation through technology.
Key Highlights:
About HighRoad Solutions: Sharon introduces HighRoad Solutions, highlighting its evolution from email marketing to a robust MarTech leader, emphasizing its role in integrating cutting-edge marketing technologies with association management systems.
Keys to Successful Partnerships: Drawing on her extensive...
2024-05-0122 minThe Association Insights PodcastCrafting the Future: Next-Level Event Content StrategiesWelcome to another engaging episode of The Association 100 podcast. Today, we are thrilled to host Kara Dickerson, Founder and Principal of Content With Impact LLC, and former head of CES Keynote Stage and Conference. Drawing from her extensive experience, Kara shares invaluable strategies for enhancing event content to captivate new audiences and unlock new revenue streams.
Key Highlights:
Content Strategy Insights: Kara delves into how data-driven strategies can reshape event content, tailoring experiences to engage diverse industries and expand audience bases.
Championing Diversity: Reflecting on her leadership...
2024-04-2432 minThe Association Insights PodcastLeadership Development and Succession Planning: Essential Strategies for Association SustainabilityWelcome back to another engaging episode of The Association 100 podcast. Today, O&U co-hosts, Colleen Gallagher, Meghan Henning and Christine Stay delve into the crucial topics of leadership development and succession planning. This episode is vital for any association aiming to ensure long-term success and sustainability through effective leadership transition strategies.
Key Highlights:
The Importance of Leadership Development: We kick off the discussion by exploring why leadership development is essential for associations. Leadership isn't just about managing current challenges but preparing to thrive in the future. Effective leaders inspire, motivate, and foster innovation, which is...
2024-04-1734 minThe Association Insights PodcastUnlocking PR and Media Relations Mastery for AssociationsWelcome back to The A100 podcast. In this week’s episode, host Colleen Gallagher goes solo to dive deep into the essential world of PR and media relations tailored for associations. She peels back the layers on how to elevate your association's PR and media game to not just amplify your voice but to ensure it echoes through the corridors of your industry and beyond.
Key Highlights:
Demystifying Media Relations: Colleen breaks down what makes content compelling enough to be considered newsworthy, focusing on timeliness, relevance, significance and uniqueness. This segment is all about crafting me...
2024-04-1021 minThe Association Insights PodcastBoard Buy-In: Making the Case for Strategic CommsWelcome to an enlightening episode of The Association 100 podcast. Today's discussion is unique as we dive into a crucial topic with our very own O&U team – Colleen Gallagher, Meghan Henning and Christine Stay. We tackle the vital role of communications within associations and share strategies to not only get your board to prioritize communications, but also to leave a lasting impression through your media efforts.
Key Highlights:
The Critical Role of Communications: Colleen opens the conversation with a deep dive into why effective communications and PR are indispensable for associations. From building trust and ma...
2024-04-0330 minThe Association Insights PodcastDemystifying PR Investment: Insights for AssociationsWelcome to a pivotal episode of The Association 100 podcast, where we delve into the essence of association impact and innovation. Join us as co-hosts Colleen Gallagher and Meghan Henning embark on a mission to demystify PR services for associations, a topic shrouded in mystery for many.
This discussion is more than just an exploration; it's an invitation to reimagine the potential of your association through strategic PR investment. As leaders in the association space, Colleen and Meghan bring to light the real costs and substantial benefits of investing in PR. This episode aims to shed light on...
2024-03-0819 minThe Association Insights PodcastBeyond the Basics: Cultivating Talent and Innovation in AssociationsIn this episode of The Association 100 podcast, Colleen Gallagher, Meghan Henning, and Christine Stay from OnWrd & UpWrd delve into the critical role of professional development within associations. They explore how continuing education not only serves as a top priority for members, but has also become crucial for employee development, recruitment and retention.
Drawing from various studies, they highlight that a significant percentage of professionals would prefer working for organizations that invest in their education and professional growth.
Key Highlights:
The necessity of professional development for both member services and employee engagement.
I...
2024-02-2334 minThe Association Insights PodcastUncovering New Revenue Streams with Out of Home AdvertisingWelcome to another episode of The Association 100 podcast, where we dive into the world of associations to bring you the best practices, top trends and smart strategies that make a difference. Today, hosts Colleen Gallagher and Meghan Henning of OnWrd & UpWrd are joined by Song Heo, the SVP of Media Strategy and Client Partnerships at EMC Outdoor, to explore the transformative power of Out of Home (OOH) advertising for associations.
Song brings over 24 years of experience at EMC Outdoor, a certified woman-owned business dedicated to driving business growth through strategic OOH media use. She shares insights into...
2024-02-1227 minThe Association Insights PodcastEmpowering Accessibility in Associations[View the full transcript here.]
Welcome to a compelling new episode of The Association 100 podcast, where we're kicking off 2024 with a focus on enhancing accessibility within the association community. Our guest, Rosemarie Rossetti, PhD, a renowned accessibility expert and consultant, joins co-hosts Colleen Gallagher and Meghan Henning of OnWrd & UpWrd to share invaluable insights on accommodating people with disabilities at meetings and events.
In this episode, Rosemarie delves into her personal journey to becoming an advocate for disability inclusion, sparked by her own life-changing accident in 1998. With a career spanning over 27 years, she explains how her...
2024-02-1219 minThe Association Insights PodcastResilience and Reinvention: A Journey from Career Break to Professional SuccessThe latest episode of The A100 podcast features Lisa Sands of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing alongside show co-hosts, OnWrd & UpWrd’s Colleen Gallagher and Keaveny Hewitt. Broadcast live from the ASAE annual conference, Lisa shared her story of taking a break from the work force and reentering it stronger than ever.
Feeling burnt out at her job, Lisa decided it was time for a reset. Her initial plan was to take a few months off, but not feeling ready to go back after a few months, she found the months turning into years. Lisa...
2023-12-0812 minThe Association Insights PodcastThe Impact of Advocacy and Storytelling in Biomedical ResearchIn the latest episode of The A100 Podcast, we sit down with Carter Alleman, the Director of Government Affairs & Science Policy at the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). Show co-hosts, OnWrd & UpWrd’s Meghan Henning and Keaveny Hewitt dive into the intersection of advocacy and storytelling with Carter, exploring its profound impact on scientific progress.
ASPET, a renowned association with approximately 6,000 dedicated members, occupies a prominent position in research. Their primary focus centers on unraveling the intricate interactions between drug compounds and the human body. Their work serves as the vital first steps in pi...
2023-11-1019 minThe Association Insights PodcastBreaking Barriers and Making Science Accessible to AllJoin OnWrd & UpWrd co-hosts Meghan Henning and Keaveny Hewitt as they talk retention, open access to research, and effective engagement strategies with Shannon Reed, Director of Community Engagement at The Electrochemical Society (ECS). The organization plays a critical role in powering the sustainability of the future by publishing foundational research around things like corrosion and lithium ion batteries.
Shannon discusses their groundbreaking “Free the Science” program initiated in 2014. The program has a simple mission: make published research freely accessible to everyone since having open access to science contributes to the advancement of the field. ECS has fully embra...
2023-10-2012 minThe Association Insights PodcastWhere the Rubber Meets the Road – Bridging Gaps and Building FuturesOn this episode of the A100, OnWrd & UpWrd host Colleen Gallagher talks with Lakisha Barclay, Executive Director & CEO of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS). With over a century of history, the Rubber Division, ACS is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of their membership and the industry.
Lakisha explains that the Division’s key to success is actively listening to its members and the industry as a whole. By understanding what their community needs and desires, they can develop and provide relevant initiatives and programs. The pair emphasize the importance of creating a s...
2023-10-2014 minThe Association Insights PodcastMobilizing Members to Engage in Advocacy EffortsIntroducing the latest episode of the A100 Podcast with your OnWrd & UpWrd host Meghan Henning. Broadcast live from the ASAE conference in Atlanta this August, Meghan is joined by Sean Luechtefeld, the Vice President of Membership and Communication at ANCOR.
ANCOR is a community of over 2,100 organizations dedicated to delivering services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, empowering them to live independently. From providing virtual program services to job and employment training, ANCOR’s members operate a wide range of services united by a common goal: community inclusion for people with disabilities.
In this epis...
2023-10-0627 minThe Association Insights PodcastThe Power of Mission – Navigating Change and AI in Legacy OrganizationsThe latest episode of The A100 podcast features Barb Jones, CEO of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), alongside OnWrd & UpWrd’s Meghan Henning. Broadcast live from the ASAE annual conference, the two discuss artificial intelligence and how to manage change within a well-established organization.
CLSI boasts a history that spans five decades, with only three CEOs in charge throughout its existence. Barb says that navigating change within this legacy organization has been remarkably easy. When your mission is deeply ingrained, well-structured and widely understood, change is natural. It’s a testament to the power of a str...
2023-09-2519 minThe Association Insights PodcastResilience in Action – Making Education and Collaboration the Cornerstones of Membership SuccessOn the latest episode of The A100, OnWrd & UpWrd co-hosts Colleen Gallagher and Christine Stay talk with Suzanne Bohle, executive vice president for the Council of State Restaurant Associations. Suzanne shares the challenges that state restaurant associations have faced in recent years as the pandemic had a massive impact on the restaurant industry, and talks about how it forced them to become more nimble and innovative.
She talks about the prominent role government affairs plays in their efforts at the national, state and local levels, and highlights the power of storytelling when they bring the restaurant operators th...
2023-09-1122 minThe Association Insights PodcastCommunicating with Purpose: Expert Advice from a National SpokespersonOn the latest episode of The A100, OnWrd & UpWrd co-hosts Colleen Gallagher and Christine Stay talk with Frank Caliva, national spokesperson for the Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA). Frank is also the president of P.R. Quinlan, a B2B consulting firm focused on retail energy policy.
“How can you communicate the most important messages and do it the most effective way possible,” Frank shares. “That’s what our job is and that’s what we’re trying to do is make people care about something in the right way, for the right moment, to do the thing we need...
2023-08-0342 minThe Association Insights PodcastFrom Member Stories to AI Integration: Association Video Tips and Success StoriesOn the latest episode of The A100, OnWrd & UpWrd co-hosts Colleen Gallagher and Christine Stay talk all things video with Jim Wacksman of Association Studios.
“Video truly is king. It’s multi-sensory, it’s very cost effective. It’s just important for any organization,” Jim shares.
The conversation centers on how much change has taken place in this space over the last decade as well as how associations can use video to communicate with their members, to market their events, to advocate for their key issues, to onboard their staff and so much more. Jim says he’s s...
2023-07-2133 minThe Association Insights PodcastBuilding a High-Performing Team: Strategies for Recruiting, Developing and Fostering a Culture of Dedication in Your AssociationOn the latest episode of The A100 podcast, OnWrd & UpWrd’s Colleen Gallagher, Meghan Henning and Christine Stay talk about the key strategies for building high-performing teams and cultivating dedicated employees.
Many associations have job roles in place because that’s the way they’ve always done it. It’s important, however, to regularly reassess what roles your team needs to succeed.
The three discuss four touch points to ensure you are building high-performing teams: redefining the hiring process, onboarding and professional development, creating a culture of dedication and overcoming challenges to sustain dedication.
The impor...
2023-07-1034 minThe Association Insights PodcastEconomy, Recessions and Associations: What You Need to KnowOn the latest episode of The A100 podcast, OnWrd & UpWrd’s Colleen Gallagher and Meghan Henning welcomed Bill Conerly, an economist specializing in economic trends and writer for Forbes Magazine. They discuss how trade associations can survive tough times and how seriously they should take the threat of a looming recession.
A pressing question on every association executive’s mind should be: “can my association survive a recession?” The answer is yes, but it will take some planning. Bill recommends that associations should look back to 2008 and see how they weathered that recession or look at how they perfo...
2023-06-2636 minThe Association Insights PodcastLights, Camera, Action: The Power of Video for Leveraging Your Association’s Greatest AssetThe latest episode of the A100 podcast features Rusty Willams, Co-Founder of AnswerStage alongside podcast co-hosts, OnWrd & UpWrd’s Colleen Gallagher and Meghan Henning. He shares valuable insights around the role of video in association marketing from member recruitment and retention to event marketing.
Rusty’s philosophy around video when it comes to associations starts with the thought that your most valuable marketing asset as an association is your members – you need to leverage the people who attend your events and really participate in your community.
The conversation turns to the importance of storytelling, especially when thin...
2023-06-1234 min
The Association Insights PodcastThe Hybrid Workforce Dilemma: How to Keep Your Company Culture AliveChristine Stay, Meghan Henning, and Colleen Gallagher of the OnWrd & UpWrd team take over the A100 podcast to talk about how to manage a hybrid workforce and how to keep your company culture alive. Their valuable insights cover a range of topics, including effective ways to keep your team connected, staying organized with project management tools, and ensuring that all team members understand their roles and responsibilities.
From there, the discussion moves on to ways of creating a comfortable working environment for employees. The conversation covers the significance of conducting regular check-ins with staff, organizing in person...
2023-03-1126 min
The Association Insights PodcastReflections and trends: what’s to come in 2023On the latest episode of The A100, OnWrd & UpWrd co-founders Colleen Gallagher and Meghan Henning look back on 2022, discussing some of the most exciting and innovative association client projects over this past year. Highlights included a workforce campaign addressing a major membership challenge, a full rebrand, a multi-faceted year-long PR and digital campaign to promote a special journal issue and a recognition program focused on everyday people doing good things.
From there they shift gears to communications and marketing trends association professionals need to be thinking about in 2023. We hit on messaging, AI, pitching and the return...
2022-12-0916 minThe Association Insights PodcastEvent Planning: Exposure, Recruitment and RetentionChrisitine Stay, Marketing Project Manager for OnWrd & UpWrd, joined the A100 podcast to share her insights on what association professionals need to know to improve their event planning. She brings a different perspective than anything we’ve previously discussed around events by highlighting why associations should exhibit at a conference that isn’t their own – and also talks through the planning process.
She shares the three reasons why associations should participate in an expo at a conference: exposure, recruitment and retention. She also provides advice she has for associations when it comes to booth design, leave behinds and de...
2022-11-2819 minThe Association Insights PodcastIntern Takeover Episode!In this episode, OnWrd & UpWrd’s summer interns, Keaveny Hewitt and Grant Cragg, take over the A100 podcast to discuss all things internships– what makes good ones, what employers need to know about young professionals and what associations should keep in mind when developing their own internship programs.
Together, they discuss their experience as summer interns, sharing key takeaways, insights and reflections on the internship thus far. They provide perspective on how associations can maximize the potential of their own internship programs by focusing on networking, professional development and variety. Keaveny and Grant take their own experiences into...
2022-08-0921 minThe Association Insights PodcastHow will abortion laws impact event planning and decision making for associations?In this episode, Colleen Gallagher and Meghan Henning of OnWrd & UpWrd Marketing & Communications discuss how the overturning of Roe v. Wade will impact event planning and decision making for associations.
Together, they discuss the role of politics within the association world, and how canceling/keeping events for political reasons brings up membership, legal and financial concerns. Gallagher and Henning share how associations can navigate these issues and they reflect on how social and political events have impacted their own work in the past by looking at data, articles and expert opinions. They pose some questions for associations...
2022-07-1215 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 40 - Scaling Renewable Energy with Aviv Shalgi of SolarSimplifiedIn this conversation, we connect with Aviv Shalgi, founder of Solar Simplified, an exciting example of win-win-win thinking applied to the energy industry. By matching renters, homeowners, and small businesses who care about the environment and want to save money on their electricity bill with local solar farms through an easy and transparent signup process, Solar Simplified is making renewable energy accessible to all.
It’s entrepreneurs like Aviv who are creating the “new normal” we’ve all been talking about for the last year. This type of win-win-win system design should inform how we approach the myriad o...
2021-03-1643 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.39 - On Currency & Governance Design with Grace RachmanyAs we race into the greater recession, or depression, and the rules and tools we have taken as constant disintegrate, we are presented with an amazing opportunity - to invent systems that are stronger, more just - to shift our understanding of what value is and how it is transferred and to reimagine what governance means in a global, and digital context.
Today’s guest lives on the vanguard of community, currency and governance. Through her work and life, she forwards possibilities of a more liberated future and helps leaders bring their audacious visions to life. In th...
2020-05-2642 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.37 - On Incentivizing Healthy Financial Habits with Leighton Cusack of PoolTogetherBy intentionally designing our processes and systems to reward the behaviors we want, we can more quickly create the outcomes we seek. Times are changing, and the time is ripe to re-establish, reinvent and rejigger the processes we rely on to move the world forward.
Today we connect with Pool Together, a decentralized finance protocol that is creating healthy savings habits, and breaking bad fiscal management by providing upfront incentives and removing psychological and technological barriers to good, longterm individual financial hygiene.
Pool Together is one exciting example that serves as a model of how simple...
2020-05-1324 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.38 - On Improving The Housing Supply Chain with Amy Appleton of SHARE CaliforniaWhen it comes to housing, the challenge we face is not an imbalance of housing supply and demand, but a gross misallocation of our housing resources. How many homes do you have? How many empty rooms are in your home(s)? On your street? In your city?
Map this fact on top of a growing elderly population, with low to high needs for support - everything from grocery shopping, to companionship, to homecare sertvices. Many times, our seniors find themselves land rich and cash poor.
Between the abundance of rooms and the growing needs of...
2020-05-0739 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 36 - On Hip-Hop For Mental Health with Jonah Scott & Max Kline of Rhythmic MindBefore we were mandated to stay isolated, many of us struggled with a lack a connection - to self, our culture, our families, our friends, our purpose and environments. This lack of connection is at the root of many of our mental health challenges, that present as anxiety, cutting, bullying, school shootings, depression, obsession, addiction, suicide and the myriad of other mental health challenges me, you and our neighbors battle daily.
As the mental health conversation becomes more important, psychologists, therapists and self-care practitioners are beginning to understand the importance of cultural compatible interventions to better serve...
2020-04-061h 00
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.35 - On Digital Ownership with Devin Finzer of OpenSea.ioWhat does ownership mean in a digital age? As our lives move more virtual, answering this question becomes very important. Questions of authenticity, of history, and of piracy.
Blockchain technologies inherent transparency, veracity, and decentralized, baked into the infrastructure, make it uniquely applicable to the facilitation of managing, transferring and interacting with your digital possessions. And, of course, you guessed it, someone is out there making that possible right now.
These blockchain projects support a growing universe of something called NTF’s, and I quote, “Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are unique, digital items with blockchain-managed ownership. Exam...
2020-03-2039 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.34 - On Peer-to-Peer Lending with Sidney Powell of Maple.FinanceAt the root of many social problems communities face the world over, at any scale, lay finances. Our financial services are inefficient, obfuscated and inaccessible. To respond to the pains and constraints we face regarding accessing and using money, a growing cohort of social innovators are building more accessible, fair and transparent financial services.
Today, we learn about a completely decentralized capital market, built on the Ethereum blockchain, called "Maple Finance." Maple lays the groundwork for crypto banks by giving DeFi users access to bond funding fast at low cost, and creating a flexible suite of...
2020-03-1828 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 33 - On Spendless Giving with Victor Rortvedt of rTreesThere is a rising suit of tools that allow people the world over to begin doing things with their money that has previously been impossible. As blockchain tools begin to grow up, we are seeing a creative explosion of possibilities as people begin to program money.
One tools that we have mentioned a few times in recent episodes is DAI. D.A.I. DAI is a tool from the company, Maker. DAI is a dollar backed token that lets holders of this token make steady and passive gains. rDAI, an offshoot of DAI, was built to give...
2020-03-1833 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 28 - On How We Work with John Gieryn of Enspiral NetworkGreat work places inspire hope, foment change and are fertile grounds for creative thinking. Great work places and organizations are too far and few in between. Enspiral is changing that by ensuring their clients and partners are practicing effective patterns of collaboration.
As we start this next decade, societies around the world seem to be at an inflection point, and new solutions are needed to the new challenges we face. Old tools and tricks are no longer sufficient.
That is why Enspiral, a network of people working on stuff that matters, with the mission to...
2020-03-1844 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.32 - On Real-time Payments for Work with Paul Berg of Sablier.FinanceThe economy is rapidly evolving - we just had the highest highs, followed by unprecedented volatility. This combined with the fact that we enjoy a global workforce, interconnected by interdependent central banking systems, makes all of us vulnerable to the ebbs and flows of economic whims, worries and wonders. In this new economy, workers are more mobile, transitory, have more options and incur more risk than we have become accustomed to. this means we need new tools to support the workers, consultants, freelancers, distributed teams, service providers and vendors who make the important work we do possible. Luckily, a...
2020-03-1827 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 31 - On Making Web3 Accessible with Jonny Zerah of StatusMarshall McLuhan once wrote, "We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us.”
Consider how the internet has shaped reality in less than a quarter century. While human’s are great at creating tools, we have a shockingly poor ability to understand the implication of our tools when the world takes hold of them. I share all this as context as we enter the unknown and race to build tools to solve today’s problems. I continue to find hope and inspiration in the burgeoning blockchain space. People unconstrained by borders, regulations, and technological barriers - buildi...
2020-03-1629 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 30 - Improving Charitable Giving with Lucas KohorstSustaining the important work of non-profits is vital to solving the challenges society faces that the "free market" is not incentivized to solve. Innovative solutions that lower the threshold for who can be a philanthropist, and that provide a dependable source of funding for our non-profit partners can fundamentally change how non-profits operate and help them focus on impact, increase their risk tolerance and avoid spending so much damn time throwing fundraisers and justifying their overhead expenses!
To solve the problems our communities face, we need non-profits to innovate, and the current financial and regulatory infrastructure hinders...
2020-03-1129 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.29 - Decentralizing Financial Services With Zer0 CollateralIn the face of this, a new bread of entrepreneur is emerging with the aims of decentralizing financial services and increasing the transparency, autonomy and validity of economic systems. The movement goes by the name, DeFi (as in decentralized finance).
To realize this vision of decentralizing central banks and their bevvy of obfuscated services, a new relationship with data is required. The new relationship with data finds its foundation in blockchains, and it is now time to begin taking this technology serious. In the coming weeks, I am taking a deep dive into the exciting world of...
2020-03-1136 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 27 - Elevating The Voice Of The Vulnerable with Law at the MarginsMedia has always played a pivotal role in shifting the patterns we seek to change. New stories help cultures shift behaviors, patterns and potentially bring about long-sought-after changes.
So how can we shift the narratives around some of our most entrenched social ills? Two innovators are working on that. In this episode, we meet Eric Ortiz, a journalist, and Chaumtoli Huq, a lawyer and much more. These two have created a newsroom unlike any other and are striving to elevate the stories of the most marginalized. In this conversation, we hear the how, why and what of...
2020-02-2839 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.26 - Home As Health with Dr. Bamberger of UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing InitiativeOver 80% of our health outcomes are determined by things doctors can't fix. In this episode, we meet a doctor has dedicated his life to to addressing the health needs of some of our most in need and vulnerable by taking a unique approach to healthcare. Through his journey, this doctor has improved health outcomes for his patients, and many more, by securing funding and implemented much of SF’s housing for the homeless. In this episode, we learn Dr. Bamberger's holistic approach to serving his patients, and about how he is making an impact in his role as Assistant Di...
2020-02-2231 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.25 - Community Land Trusts with Cassandra Ferrera of CommonSpaceCommunities around the globe are experiencing unprecedented challenges in housing their residents, and social innovators are applying their creativity to solving the challenge. In this episode, we explore one potential solution that is elegant and complex: community land trusts.
Helping us unpack CLT's is Cassandra Ferrera, a radical real estate professional who is applying her passion and prowess to implementing housing equity solutions in Northern California. She is a board member of the CommonSpace CLT and a force to be reckoned with!
Learn more about Cassandra & CLTs below:
Cassandra - cassandraferrera.net
CommonSpace...
2019-11-2744 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 24 - With John McAfeeJohn McAfee is a visionary, mogul, fugitive, presidential candidate, entrepreneur, a true one of a kind. In this episode John and I discuss why he is running for President of the USA in 2020, love, literature, arrest records and more.
Twitter: twitter.com/officialmcafee
---
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/onwrd/support
2019-11-0735 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.23 - On Device Addiction with Alex Simmons of YondrCell phone ubiquity is inhibiting us all from communicating and connecting in the ways we strive to be with one another. It has reached a fever pitch and I am more aware of their negative effects now more than ever. Leaving aside the impact of these devices on our youth (e.g. cyber bullying), our cultural addiction to these devices is getting in the way of our ability to have our basic needs met - feeling acknowledged by others and being connected to something larger than ourselves.
Luckily, an emerging cadre of social innovators is working to...
2019-04-1640 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.21 - Building A Better Monetary System with Ryan of PirateChainIn a world of increasing decentralization (think Social Media, WikiPedia, AirBnB, Lyft, #MeToo) one arena has not yet been decentralized - finance. That being said, citizens the world over are all too aware of the negative impact of the current financial system, driven by centralize banks.
Thus, social innovators the world over are working furiously to build a better built financial system - one imbued with transparency, security and opportunity for all to access.
In this episode I sit down with Ryan, a.k.a. Fishy Guts...
2019-04-0944 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 22 - Industrial Scale 3D Printing with Samantha Snabes, Co-founder of re:3DCreativity, autonomy, localism, and customization are just a few of the dominant trends of the 21st Century, so it is no surprise that we are seeing the rise of 3D printing.
As more maker spaces, teen centers, science clubs and libraries getting a hold of these relatively inexpensive home-based custom manufacturing machines, we are seeing more and more creative and impactful applications of these small devices. But these small tools, trinkets, and toys being printed have their limitations due to the size of the printers. Not for long.
In this episode, I sit down with...
2019-04-0940 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.20 - The Future of Governance with Paola Santana of Social GlassAcross the globe, liberal democracies are facing grave challenges. And should some of these nations fall, what will replace their democratic institutions? If we are not actively creating what comes next, we are likely to revert to one of the governing systems the 20th Century has already proven faulty (e.g. Socialism and Authoritarianism). This is the problem Paola Santana and her team at Social Glass are attacking in an extremely innovative and realistic way.
Social Glass is building the tools to help governments evolve to a more effective, efficient and responsive version of themselves. In...
2019-03-091h 26
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 19 - Improving Online Communication with Anthony Law, Founder of GaugrWe have more communication tools than ever before, yet our ability to communicate with one another seems to be deteriorating. Is it the medium or the message that is becoming harder to navigate?
Communication is the most powerful tool we have to solve and resolve our problems. But look around, there is a pandemic of toxic communication, inhibiting productive communication.
In the eye of this worrisome storm, I sit down with Anthony Law, the founder of Gaugr. Anthony and his team are working to evolve our ability to communicate beyond the binary, past the troll...
2019-02-2725 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 18 - Water with Ryan Pedrotti of Sonoma Water & Tyler Judson of Weeks Drilling & Pump“Water is fluid, soft and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.” – Lau Tzu
No doubt, water is a powerful force...but, Mr. Tzu, how do we ensure we continue to have good water?!
Globally and locally, water issues are on the rise. Whether our community faces issues related to drought, pollution, or conservation, we all rely on this resource for our daily personal and pr...
2019-02-2544 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 17 - Sustainable Disaster Relief with Will Heegaard of The Footprint ProjectAs natural disasters and their impacts grow by the year, the rebuild efforts become more complex and important. Many times, natural disasters set the stage for opportunists to come in and perpetuate the most unsavory aspect of capitalism. Luckily, many social innovators are dedicated to changing the disaster aide paradigm to one that leverages the opportunities presented in post-disaster contexts to increase community resiliency, not corporate subservience. In this episode, I talk to Will Heegaard, Founder and Director of The Footprint Project - a social venture dedicating to helping disaster-ravaged communities leapfrog the existing energy infrastructure by leveraging developments in...
2019-02-1435 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep. 16 - Food Is Medicine with Cathryn Couch of Ceres Community ProjectOur health system tends to focus on drugs, diseases, doctors, and disorders, yet it is our daily habits and community that have a far greater impact on our health outcomes than the healthcare conversation tends to acknowledge. In this episode, I sit down with a revolutionary non-profit who is changing how health and community can connect to create better outcomes for all - insurers, individuals, those battling illnesses and those interested in food.
We discuss inspiring trends, developments, and initiatives that can shift the US' healthcare model and improving health outcomes, today.
Learn more about...
2019-02-0435 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.15 - Entrepreneurship with Elizabeth Gore of AliceEntrepreneurship is at an all-time high. More creative risk-takers are bucking traditional employment and creating their own jobs, pursuing their passions and solving major problems at every scale, on every continent. But, becoming an entrepreneur is tough, and even tougher for those who the economy has historically left behind.
Luckily, there are business savvy leaders with giants hearts, big visions, and enormous commitments leading efforts to ensure everyone has the opportunity to change the world, make a living and create good jobs. In this episode, we talk to Elizabeth Gore and learn how she and her colleagues...
2019-01-2832 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.14 - Education with Give.si & Jen KloseOur educational systems are out of date and in dire need of an upgrade. Luckily, there are many people working hard to shift the educational paradigm. In this episode, we meet two innovators who are changing the how education is delivered now, and for years to come.
We discuss inspiring trends, barriers to shifting educational outcomes and the existing initiatives and models that are improving educational outcomes globally and locally.
Learn more about these two and support their work by clicking the links below:
> Arnaud St. Paul - give.si
> Jen Klose - twitter.com/CRAjklose
---
Support this podcast...
2018-12-1946 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.13 - Beauty & Fashion with Style By Malia & Kreyol EssenceIn this episode, I sit down with two entrepreneurs who are changing the fashion and beauty space business model - shifting from a culture that monetizes exploitation to one that is capitalizing off empowering. We discuss the state of the industry, inspiring trends, barriers to shifting culture and the existing products and business models that Malia and Stephane are forwarding.
Learn more about these two and support their work by clicking the links below:
> Style By Malia: http://stylebymalia.com/
> Kreyol Essence: https://www.instagram.com/kreyolessence/
---
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/onwrd/support
2018-11-2741 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.12 - Housing The Homeless with Akash Kalia of The Palms InnPoverty in the USA has been stuck at 12% for the last 40 years. In recent years, cities have been dedicating more and more resource to fighting homelessness, yet the problem is only getting worse.
While there are a lot of mysteries about homelessness, one things is clear, it is on the rise. And this flies in the face of the dramatic increase in money being spent in the private, public and social sectors trying to solve this problem.
In this episode, I sit down with Akash Kalia, a social innovator that has taken an innovative approach to solving his communities homelessness...
2018-09-0543 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.9 - Impact Investing with Casey Johnson of RSF Social FinanceWhile the social sector and private sector operate on different playing fields, they impact our shared reality. So how can we bridge this divide to ensure the great work of social innovators has the same opportunities to scale as the next Pepsi, Facebook or GoPro?
A breed of financial services firms have risen to the challenge. Through their innovative approaches, they are forwarding the future of sustainable capitalism. Join Casey Johnson of https://rsfsocialfinance.org and I as we explore the state and future of impact investing.
---
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/onwrd/support
2018-08-3043 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.11 - On Diversity, Equity & Inclusion with Juan Lopez of Amistad AssociatesDiversity is innovation. Innovation requires creativity, and creativity is bore from the alchemy of blending of multiple perspectives, possibilities and individual people. While individuality is powerful, it is even more impactful when mixed with the individualities of others. But how can we learn to embrace our differences?
DE&I (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiatives are being conducted at organizations of all sizes around the world to address just this. In this episode, I talk with Juan Lopez, a national DE&I thought leader, and explore how he is fostering innovation through his DE&I efforts.
Juan is the founder of...
2018-08-2757 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.10 - Secure Elections with Jeffrey Stern of VotemDemocracy could use a reboot. A systems upgrade. We are in the middle of the 21st Century, and many basic democratic structures are way out of date. Voting is one of the most obvious examples. In today’s episode, I talk to Jeffrey Stern of Votem, a mobile voting platform designed to securely cast votes in elections across the globe.
Votem is one of many social innovators helping shift our democratic institutions into the digital age by improving the accessibility and security of the sacred right to vote. Learn more about Votem at https://votem.com.
For more information, connect wi...
2018-08-2538 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.8 - On Workforce Development with Letitia Hanke of ARS RoofingWhen was the last time you fixed a leaky sink? Built a fence? Rewired your lighting? If you are like me, the answer is “Never!” We rely on skilled tradesmen and women to fix-it and make our cars, homes, offices and vital infrastructure all better. But it’s becoming more difficult to find this skilled labor. Letitia Hanke, CEO of www.arsroofing.com, was struggling to find talent to service her clients until she found an innovative solution to solving her labor-shortage problem. Listen to Letitia's story of innovating in the trades and impacting the lives of tomorrow's entrepreneurs and social...
2018-08-1442 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.7 - On Realtime Payments with Euros Evans of EtchWhat if you didn't have to wait two weeks, or in some countries, a month to receive your paycheck? What if you could show up to work on Monday morning without a dime, and have enough money to buy lunch by 12pm? Payday advances/loans have been a long-time scourage on wage workers, but in the age of digital money, ubiquitous tracking and a rapidly evolving workforce, why are we still stuck in the payment paradigm from the Industrial Ages? Euros Evans, CEO of www.Etch.Work discusses his audacious effort to bring real-time payments to an empoyer near you.
...
2018-08-1435 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.6 - On Philanthropy with Dolores Estrada of CalEndowMany problems our communities face are massive in scale, and the organizations fighting them are tiny in comparison. That being true, there are some behemoths out there. Large Philanthropic foundations who give millions upon millions of dollars away every year to remedy social issues. In this episode, I sit down with Dolores Estrada, the Director of Grants Management at the www.CalEndow.org, and discuss where and how this enormous foundation is funding social innovation and reaping a big ROI.
---
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/onwrd/support
2018-08-0544 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.5 - On Distributed Ledger Technology with Piers Ridyard of RadixThe largest hotel company owns no real estate. The largest taxi companies own no taxis. The trend of decentralizing systems is creating a more resilient and flexible world. In this episode, I sit down with Piers Ridyard, CEO of www.RadixDLT.com, who is creating a platform for anyone to build decentralized tools to solve big problems and provide better services as we race towards an ever-shifting future.
---
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/onwrd/support
2018-07-2836 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.4 - On Law & Power with Vinay Gupta of MattereumThe scope of our rigid regulations and the diverse constituents occupying dynamic, radically changing societies are currently in painful juxtaposition. Luckily, Vinay Gupta, founder of Mattereum, Hexayurt Capital, and Ethereum, is working on making legal structures more flexible, enforceable and scalable to the VUCA times we live in. Learn more about Vinay at https://medium.com/@leashless.
---
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/onwrd/support
2018-07-2844 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.3 - On Global Health with Dr. Alex CahanaAI, E-health records, telemedicine, the list goes on. So much innovation in the health space, so many exciting developments...but what is the problem health innovators are trying to solve? Dr. Cahana is a global health expert and practitioner with a systemic solution to the fissures of our global health systems.
---
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/onwrd/support
2018-07-2739 min
OnwrdOnwrd Ep.2 - On Personal Data with David Siegel of The Pillar ProjectData breach after data breach, hack after hack, our personal data is all over the internet, and is at risk of being compromised. What can we do to change how our digital identities and information is accessed, used and abused by organizations who rely on our data to provide services? David Siegel, a web pioneer, futurist, writer, thought leader and CEO of The Pillar Project (www.pillarproject.io), is working tirelessly to change the personal data paradigm.
---
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/onwrd/support
2018-07-2732 min
OnwrdOnwrd | On Social Innovation with Daniel WeinzvegThe "why" and "what" of the Onwrd podcast. I am your host, Daniel Weinzveg. Please join me on an inspiring journey as we talk to the humans working hard on the innovative projects and that are improving our global community.
---
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/onwrd/support
2018-06-2911 min