The Social Change Diaries

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Glen Galaich from Stupski Foundation on Breaking Fake Rules Aug 25, 2026

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In this episode of the Social Change Diaries podcast, Glen Galaich, CEO of Stupski Foundation challenges us to reimagine philanthropy's role in protecting our democracy by breaking the fake rules that preserve a system, but not the people it was designed to serve. Glen shares details of Stupski's spend-down, what he and his team envision for philanthropy, and all of the ways fake rules are getting in the way of population level social change.

Richard Tate, President and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation on Building the Power to Be Well Aug 18, 2026

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Righting and Writing History: Episode 8, Vanessa is joined by Richard Tate, President and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation. Together, they explore why philanthropy must mobilize more than money, the role of voice, influence, and community power in advancing social change, and what it means to build the power to be well. They also discuss the importance of creating space not only to address urgent needs, but to imagine and build what comes next.

Angelique Power, President & CEO of The Skillman Foundation on Foundations as the Connective Tissue Aug 11, 2026

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Righting and Writing History: On Episode 7, Vanessa is joined by Angelique Power, President & CEO of The Skillman Foundation. Together they discuss the four pillars of community change, the role of foundations to serve as connective tissue for the future-building youth who are driving change in Detroit, why public schools should be at the center of policy change, and the strength that comes from Detroit's deeply loyal communities to fight for a better future.

Jen Ford Reedy of Bush Foundation on New Philanthropic Narratives Aug 04, 2026

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Righting and Writing History: Episode 6 Vanessa is joined by Jen Ford Reedy, President of the Bush Foundation. In conversation, they explore the importance of long-term thinking, strategic communications understood as programs work, and the way that multiple narratives enrich our understanding of our democracy.

Stephen Heintz of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund on A Fourth Democratic Founding, for Our Country's Future Jul 28, 2026

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What can philanthropy do to bolster the power of people to participate in our government for the people and by the people? What role has the information environment played in the deterioration of our democratic guardrails? What can we learn from periods like this before, or elsewhere, to map out how we can build a stronger democracy and economy that simultaneously advances human well-being?

This conversation is essential listening for anyone in the nonprofit sector or devoted to advancing philanthropic work and our civil society. In this episode, Vanessa is joined by Stephen Heintz, former President of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and originator of the term "acupuncture philanthropy." Together, they discuss why communications work is the pathway to advance nonprofit impact and strengthen our democracy and why this is the moment for organizations to take action. They delve into the need for a fourth founding of our democracy, what old assumptions we need to let go of, and why each of us should consider ourselves a founder of this future democracy.

Keenya Lambert from Chicago Foundation for Women on Movement Building is Long Term Jul 21, 2026

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Righting and Writing History: Episode 4, Vanessa is joined by Keenya Lambert, President and CEO at the Chicago Foundation for Women. Together they explore the incredible change that has been advanced to this moment through our democratic history, and what it will take to build the infrastructure for lasting change for women and gender expansive people.

Alesha Washington from Seattle Foundation on The Once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity for Foundations Jul 14, 2026

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In this episode, Vanessa is joined by Alesha Washington, President & CEO of the Seattle Foundation. At the foundation, Alesha leads efforts to inspire transformative philanthropy with the objective of fostering a joyful region of shared prosperity, belonging, and justice. With her leadership, the foundation has set a refreshed strategic direction, elevated its positioning on key issues like affordable housing, transit, and childcare access, and strengthened its operations for greater community impact. In this wide-ranging conversation, they discuss what community foundation work can do when it fixes joy as an objective, the immense opportunity that foundations have in this moment of profound change for the social sector, and the value of taking learnings from one region and considering how they might play out in a new place.

Kevin Walker from Northwest Area Foundation, on Philanthropy's Commitment to Democracy Jul 07, 2026

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In this discussion, Vanessa sits down with Kevin Walker, President of Northwest Area Foundation, who leads efforts to advance racial, social, and economic justice across eight states and 76 Native nations, including a longstanding commitment to Native-led organizations. Their conversation explores lessons learned in periods of crisis, and how foundations can contribute to a strong democracy. Examining the importance of foundations supporting grantee partners as a bulwark protecting the society we value, they talk about how the past must inform our present to build a durable and more equitable future.

Supriya Lopez Pillai from Libra Foundation, on Philanthropy's Role in Democracy Jun 30, 2026

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Vanessa kicks off season seven with Supriya Lopez Pillai, President of the Libra Foundation. As a philanthropic leader with nearly three decades in social movements and 20 years in institutional philanthropy, Supriya contributes to an inspiring discussion about how philanthropic leaders can meet the challenges we face today. Their conversation touches on the importance of reflection on the origins of wealth that is being deployed through philanthropic organizations, and the stories we tell ourselves about how it was generated. They discuss living and practicing the kind of social systems we want to exist in the future, remembering that our work today is one piece in a long line of people fighting for a better world.

Vanessa Wakeman & Camaro West do a Communications Pulse Check Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

In our final episode for season 6 of the Social Change Diaries Podcast, Communications Strategist and Wakeman Agency CEO, Vanessa Wakeman sits in the interviewee chair, sharing her latest insights. Joined by Camaro West, Executive Director of Peace is Loud, a nonprofit that uses the power of storytelling to advance gender justice, Vanessa dives into how nonprofits can surface narratives to prompt transformative social change. Together, they explore why it is essential to ask the question of who should be telling the story. Touching on funding dynamics, narrative resilience, and the needs present in our changing media and information ecosystem, this conversation is sure to get you thinking strategically about communications for your nonprofit in the new year and beyond.

See more information about this episode on our website.

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