Let’s Hear It
Business & Finance
About
Welcome to Let’s Hear It, a podcast about foundation and nonprofit communications (among other things), hosted by non-relatives Eric Brown and Kirk Brown.Let’s Hear It is sponsored through the generous support of the College Futures Foundation, the Lumina Foundation, the Prebys Foundation, and the Stupski Foundation. On Let’s Hear It, Kirk and Eric speak with leaders in the field about who they are, what makes them tick, and how they think about their work. These conversations are freewheeling and (we hope) fun. We’re serious – it’s not all serious.Together, Eric and Kirk have worked in and around hundreds of foundations, nonprofits and campaigns. For over a decade, Eric was Communications Director at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and now runs Brownbridge Strategies, a consulting firm that works with foundations and nonprofits on grantmaking, communications, and fundraising strategies. Kirk is the former President of Resource Media, a nonprofit organization that provide
Episodes
- Marc Moorghen of Lever for Change – the Elvis of the Nonprofit World
On the latest Let's Hear It , Eric sits down with Marc Moorghen, VP of Marketing and Communications at Lever for Change. Founded by the MacArthur Foundation, Lever for Change connects donors with bold ideas through massive open calls. In j…
- So You Wanna Be a Consultant? Going Independent with Regan Douglass
A lot of people who work in nonprofits and foundations eventually get the tickle. You know the one. What if I just... went out on my own? Regan Douglass did something about it. After years as a communications leader at PolicyLink, Californ…
- Glen Galaich on Why Big Giving Falls Short
Glen Galaich is the CEO of the Stupski Foundation — and he just wrote a book that bites the hand that feeds him and serves it up in a 236-page meal. Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short , out today, makes an argument as simple as it is expl…
- From Presence to Power: A Conversation with Rashad Robinson
There's a question Rashad Robinson wants every nonprofit and foundation leader to sit with right now: Are you building power — or just showing up? Rashad spent 13 years leading Color of Change, co-founded the Fight Back Table, forced over…
- A Sector in Crisis: CEP’s Elisha Smith Arrillaga Exposes the Dangerous Disconnect Between Foundations and Nonprofits
This might be the most important episode we've ever done, and we swear we’re not just saying that. If you work in or around philanthropy, stop what you're doing and listen. Nonprofits are facing record demand—higher than during COVID—and t…
- Making Meaning of the Madness With Kristen Grimm
Kristen Grimm is back—and she’s making Let’s Hear It history as the show’s first three-time guest. In this episode, Eric and Kirk dive into Kristen’s latest thinking on how people interpret what’s happening around them, why facts alone don…
- Dr. Sacoby Wilson on the Dirty Secret of AI—and the Communities That Are Fighting Back
AI needs power. A lot of power. But what happens when that power comes from 35 unpermitted gas turbines dropped into the middle of a historic Black neighborhood? In this episode, Eric sits down with Dr. Sacoby Wilson, award-winning environ…
- Amanda Renteria on Making Government Work for Everyone
On the latest Let’s Hear It , Eric sits down with the unstoppable Amanda Renteria, CEO of Code for America — and wow, is this one a shot of optimism for your civic soul. From growing up in California’s Central Valley to becoming the first…
- Nonprofit AF: Vu Le on Crappy Funding Practices, Hope, and Hard Truths
Nonprofits are essential, but are they getting what they need to succeed? And what happens when philanthropy clings to old habits while democracy teeters? In this episode, Eric sits down with writer, humorist, and nonprofit truth-teller Vu…
- The Public Interest Comms Textbook We Needed Yesterday - with Ann Christiano and Angela Bradbery
In this episode of Let's Hear It , Eric sits down with two public interest comms powerhouses—Ann Searight Christiano and Angela Bradbery—who’ve just dropped what might be the most anticipated textbook in our field: Public Interest Communic…
- A Playbook for Change — Rachael Kagan on Journalism, Philanthropy, and Ending Domestic Violence
Let’s Hear It is back after a brief break—and we’re diving into one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had yet. In this episode, Eric sits down with Rachael Kagan, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the Blue Shield of C…
- The Great Doug Hattaway on the Art and Science of Effective Communications
What makes an effective communicator in today’s chaotic political landscape? This week, Eric sits down with the legendary Doug Hattaway—founder of Hattaway Communications, political strategist, and storytelling expert—to find out. From his…
- The Politics of Beauty with John de Graaf
What’s the economy for , anyway? Shouldn’t time, happiness, and beauty be at the center of our lives? We know this sounds, er, quaint, given the times, but don’t we all need a bit of beauty right now? This week, Eric sits down with writer,…
- Transparency, Collaboration, and the Fight Against Misinformation with Wikimedia Foundation’s Anusha Alikhan
Is Wikipedia the last bastion of truth on the internet? Eric speaks with Anusha Alikhan, the Chief Communications Officer for the Wikimedia Foundation – the nonprofit behind Wikipedia , the internet's largest encyclopedia. Anusha shares in…
- We Kick Off Season Seven with Mister Mystery - Kirk Brown!
It’s a brand-new year, a new season, and… a brand-new low? Nah!! This week, Let’s Hear It flips the script as co-host Eric Brown interviews the mystery man himself, Kirk Brown. That’s right—our favorite interlocutor steps into the hot seat…
- Paper Bags and Patience: A Post-Election Pep Talk with Takema Robinson
Need a dose of hope and perspective after a tough election season? Join Let's Hear It co-host Eric Brown for a conversation with Takema Robinson, CEO and co-founder of Converge, a social justice communications consulting firm. Drawing on h…
- What’s Next for Climate Justice? – A Conversation with EPA Advisor Danielle Deane-Ryan
We know that these post-election blues are a thing, but here’s the deal – the need for climate justice isn’t changing. This week on Let’s Hear It , we’re diving deep into the work that’s pushing environmental justice to the forefront of ph…
- The Clean Energy Economy is Coming! – with Rachel Korberg of the Families and Workers Fund and David Etzwiler of the Siemens Foundation
Okay, folks, we know there’s an election happening and that you might be a bit, um, distracted. But one thing is sure, whatever happens this week, a clean energy economy is coming, and we need to do everything we can to make this transitio…
- Hey Philanthropy, You Can Fund Policy Work! No, Really! - A Conversation with Marc Solomon of Civitas Public Affairs and William Foster of the Bridgespan Group
Fans of Let’s Hear It (and there are oh-so many!) will acknowledge that Eric and Kirk get a little nutty about their guests sometimes. Well, this time, Marc Solomon of Civitas Public Affairs and William Foster of the Bridgespan Group drive…
- Grace Nicolette of the Center for Effective Philanthropy Unpacks the $17 Billion Bombshell - MacKenzie Scott's Philanthropy Revolution
In this dandy episode of Let's Hear It, Eric Brown sits down with Grace Nicolette from the Center for Effective Philanthropy to make sense of the phenomenon that is MacKenzie Scott's revolutionary approach to giving. Grace is the Vice Pres…
- Eloy Ortiz Oakley of the College Futures Foundation on the Power of Community Colleges
Hey folks, we’re back after a quick summer break. Hope you missed us! As many parents pack their kids off to college this month, it’s important to remember that almost two out of five college students in the U.S. attends a community colleg…
- Esteban Gast, Climate Comedian - Yes, You Read That Right
Sometimes it's okay to take a moment away from the massive challenges and simply laugh. Thanks to Esteban Gast and the organization he works for, Generation 180, we can even laugh about climate. Well, actually, Esteban helps us better unde…
- ComNet24 is Coming! - With Sean Gibbons, Carrie Clyne, and Tristan Mohabir
We are so excited about ComNet24 in Kansas City! When Sean Gibbons joined the Communications Network as its new leader a decade ago, he was tasked with leading an organization with 400 members and a staff of, um, himself and a ham sandwich…
- Suzanne Ehlers of USA for UNHCR Gives Us Hope on World Refugee Day
As we approach World Refugee Day, it’s so good to know that there are people like Suzanne Ehlers who are making an extraordinary difference and people’s lives and providing real hope for the future. Suzanne is the Executive Director and CE…
- Fatima Angeles of the Levi Strauss Foundation Challenges Foundations to Fund their Partners "Like We Want Them to Win"
A huge thank you to Fatima Angeles, the Executive Director of the Levi Strauss Foundation, for joining us on the latest episode of Let’s Hear It. Fatima talks with Eric about the Levi Strauss Foundation's groundbreaking work in areas like…
- Inside Philanthropy’s David Callahan Gets All Carrot-y Stick-y With It
Eleven years ago, David Callahan launched a most audacious project – a new publication that was going to get under the hood of philanthropy (to borrow from that great philosopher, Ross Perot) and expose the good, the bad, and the meh. Some…
- Heather McGhee Talks About the Amazing Future that the Multiracial Governing Coalition Will Bring
Join us for a truly extraordinary conversation with the amazing Heather McGhee, the author of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together . Heather exposes the lie of so-called zero-sum thinking—where one pers…
- Robert Pérez and the Genius of Upstairs, Downstairs
We’ve been doing this show for a while, and every so often the pieces just elegantly slide into place. In thirtyish minutes, Robert Pérez does this for us. Robert is the founder and Chief Exploration Officer of Wonder: Strategies for Good,…
- Kristen Grimm of Spitfire Strategies Takes on the Trust Challenge
Societies can’t thrive without sufficient levels of trust – trust in our elected officials, in our major institutions, the value of the dollar bill in our wallet, and even in our belief that our fellow motorists will abide by the traffic l…
- Chris DeCardy, the President of the Heinz Endowments, Convinces us that Pittsburgh is the Center of the Universe
When Chris DeCardy took the reins of the Heinz Endowments last year, he was one of the very few former foundation communications directors to ascend to the lofty heights of president. And Chris has dived in with the energy of a teenager. I…
- A Marriage Made in Heaven! - Elena Chavez Quezada of Gov. Newsom’s Office and Don Howard of the Irvine Foundation Talk Partnerships
Governments have money and foundations can take risks. Shouldn’t these be marriages made in heaven? Amazingly they’re not, but in California, we’re starting to see partnerships that are bucking the trend, which can be spectacularly good ex…
- Oscar Nominee John Hoffman Tackles the Racial Wealth Gap with his Amazing Film, “The Barber of Little Rock”
Academy Award season is here, but while the rest of the world may be debating which half of the Barbenheimer phenomenon will take home the most trophies, at Let’s Hear It we’re putting all our chips on Best Documentary Short nominee “The B…
- Ed Begley, Jr. and Eric Go Way Back
In this episode of Let’s Hear It, our guest is none other than one of Hollywood’s most passionate and entertaining environmentalists – the amazing Ed Begley, Jr. As it happens, Ed and Eric go way, way, back, having worked together in Holly…
- Anat Shenker-Osorio – The Magical Message Whisperer of Progressive Causes
We are so delighted to present the legendary Anat Shenker-Osorio. Yes, that’s right, that Anat Shenker-Osorio. Maybe you’ve heard her on Ezra Klein, MSNBC, on her excellent podcast Words to Win By , or read her work in the New York Times,…
- Don Chen of the Surdna Foundation Kicks off Season Six of Let’s Hear It
How many of us in the nonprofit world can track our interest in climate to nightmares we had about natural disasters at age ten? Anyone? Oh, right, just Don Chen, President of the Surdna Foundation, former director of the Cities and States…
- Holiday Re-Release - Shanelle Matthews of the Radical Communicators Network
Here is another one of our favorite interviews - Shanelle Matthews, founder of the Radical Communicators Network, former communications director for the Movement for Black Lives, and now Distinguished Lecturer at the Colin Powell School fo…
- Holiday re-release - the Great Jim Canales
Today, we offer another one of our favorite interviews - a blast from the past with the inimitable Jim Canales, President and Trustee of the Barr Foundation. Jim is charming, funny, and one of they absolute nicest people in philanthropy. I…
- Holiday re-release Trabian Shorters!
This holiday season we're re-releasing some of our favorite and most popular episodes. Today - Trabian Shorters, one of our leading thinkers on asset framing - defining people by what they're hopes and dreams and what they have to offer. H…
- Alison Smart is Changing How We Talk About Climate Change
In our latest episode, we offer a fascinating conversation with Alison Smart, the Executive Director of Probable Futures - a nonprofit climate literacy initiative. Alison shares her organization's approach to democratizing climate science,…
- Larry Kramer’s Hewlett Foundation Exit Interview
When Larry Kramer announced recently that he was leaving the Hewlett Foundation to run the London School of Economics, it marked the end of an extraordinarily productive tenure as the head of one of the world’s largest and most influential…
- Jen Carnig, the Brand-Spanking-New Head of Spitfire Strategies
As the new president of the groundbreaking consulting firm Spitfire Strategies, Jen Carnig, who succeeds the legendary Kristen Grimm, might feel a little like whoever takes Megan Rapinoe’s place. It might seem a little daunting and very ha…
- Ashwath Narayanan is Proof That There’s Hope for the Future
When our guest, Ashwath Narayanan, was 22, he launched Social Currant , a creative agency that is helping nonprofits and issue organizations use social media to reach audiences more effectively. By contrast, when co-host Eric was 22, he wa…
- Stacy Palmer of the Chronicle of Philanthropy Reflects on Thirty Five Years as a Watchdog and Cheerleader for the Field
On our latest episode of Let’s Hear It, we’ve snagged a giant in philanthropy. Our guest this week may well know more about philanthropy than any human walking the planet. Stacy Palmer created the Chronicle of Philanthropy thirty-five year…
- Dena Kimball and David Brotherton on the Kendeda Fund’s Epic Journey
Spending out, spending down, sunsetting – whatever you call it, it’s a tricky business. This year the Kendeda Fund will close its doors, having provided over one billion dollars in funding over the past thirty years. Their causes included…
- Going Commando with Nima Shirazi of Spitfire Strategies and Citations Needed
Going Commando with Nima Shirazi of Spitfire Strategies and Citations Needed This week on Let’s Hear It, cynical-ish and salty-tongued Nima Shirazi of Spitfire Strategies and the hit podcast Citations Needed endures a slightly arduous, min…
- Tony Proscio Deconstructs Word Salad in the Philanthropic Jargon Space
We have an impactful episode deep-diving into how Tony Proscio, a thought leader in this space, has moved the needle on the innovation of language in nonprofit and foundation work. He and Eric partner to get granular on staying transparent…
- Tara Dorabji on the Power of Art and the Art of Power
As long as there has been art, there have been artists using their creativity to try to transform society for the better. On the latest episode of Let’s Hear It, Eric speaks with Tara Dorabji, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at t…
- Making Reparations a Reality: Blazing a Trail to Racial Repair with Trevor Smith
Join us in this thought-provoking and inspiring episode as we welcome Trevor Smith, the Director of Narrative Change at Liberation Ventures, an organization helping to strengthen the movement for Black-led racial repair. Trevor is a writer…
- Designing the Office Space for the Aftertimes - Emily Krone Phillips of the Spencer Foundation and Francis Court of Wondersphere
Let’s face it, most of us will never work the way we did before COVID. The office is different, and how we learn, share, and connect are different. So what are we going to do about it? Emily Krone Phillips, the Communications Director at t…
- Alan Jenkins asks, “What if the 1/6 Insurrection Succeeded? – in a Comic Book
Harvard Law professor Alan Jenkins has argued cases before the Supreme Court, made grants at the Ford Foundation, co-founded a national narrative change nonprofit, and now has co-authored...a comic book. But not just any comic book. 1/6: T…