Through the Noise

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#210 The Stoop Laura Wexler Sep 15, 2016

Show notes

Laura Wexler has been in the storytelling business for a decade and is host of the popular live storytelling event "the Stoop" in Baltimore. The Stoop has an archive of nearly 1000 stories told by different people -- real life stories that don't revolve around a moral or a script -- and allow listeners and the storyteller to deeply connect with each other. Although live storytelling events are now common in most cities around the U.S., when Ms. Wexler started the Stoop, few people understood the concept, but now they sell out every time because people are clamoring to hear other people being real. The Stoop is now a podcast -- you should check it out!

Laura Wexler is the co-founder and co-producer of The Stoop Storytelling Series, a Baltimore-based live show and podcast that features "ordinary" people telling the extraordinary true stories of their lives. Laura frequently presents workshops and coaching sessions to nonprofits and businesses that want to harness the power of true, personal storytelling to communicate a larger story. The Stoop Storytelling Series is a popular live show and podcast that features the extraordinary true tales of "ordinary" people. Since its founding in 2006, The Stoop has sold out nearly every show, and recently expanded its listenership through a weekly podcast.

#209 Spark Influence Bryan Fratkin Sep 12, 2016

Show notes

Today we are excited to welcome back Bryan Fratkin who joined us last July on Episode 85 (can you believe that was a year ago? Listen to it here: http://throughthenoise.us/mediacast/85-whistle-stop-digital-bryan-fratkin/) as SparkInfluence was getting off the ground. SparkInfluence connects associations and advocacy organizations with marketing -- integrating all the different platforms typically used separately and simplifying the process. Many organizations adopt the non-policy of latching onto any new piece of technology without a plan and use only a fraction of its capacity -- wasting the time of their staff and supporters as well as financial resources. Don't miss this episode if you've ever been frustrated by the abundance of technology, trying to keep up, or getting your message across in a uniform way across all platforms.

Bryan is founder and Managing Partner of Whistle Stop Digital (WSD), leading a team in devising and implementing digital strategy for issue advocacy and PAC campaigns. The goal is always the same; Using a mix of both traditional and innovative tactics, the team works to bolster online communities, build trust in the campaign's efforts and empower stakeholders into action. Whistle Stop Digital (WSD) is a digital strategy and software firm founded on the idea that issue advocacy, politics and marketing are all converging. WSD's software platform gives organizations the tools they need to address this changing landscape, allowing them to quickly and easily identify influencers, empower stakeholders, reach decision makers and affect change.

#208 Sisarina Melanie Spring Sep 08, 2016

Show notes

Listening to today's 33 minute episode with Melanie Spring TODAY is probably one of the most valuable ways you could use half an hour. You'll probably want to take some notes too because during and after this show you will think differently about yourself, your coworkers, and your organization. Melanie Spring is the "Chief Inspiration Officer" of Sisarina, a branding agency in Washington, DC and she has a lot of questions! Join us today as we play the Inside Out Game and Blake and Ernesto assess themselves and each other to find out what they're good at and where they're failing. You can make this a participatory podcast and "workshop" yourself as well. Bonus -- come up with a unique and fun way to answer that often-dreaded question at parties "So, what do you do?"

Melanie Spring is the Chief Inspiration Officer at Sisarina, DC's brand strategy agency. She's an entrepreneur, international speaker, and approachable badass spreading the gospel of branding on purpose.

Sisarina is a brand strategy agency that starts a bigger discussion in order to create extraordinary marketing, motivated teams, and inspired brand promises - on purpose.

#207 VoiceTrainer Laura Purcell Verdun Sep 05, 2016

Show notes

Laura Verdun is today's guest and while she does not work with a nonprofit, those who are in the nonprofit world could benefit from her expertise as a speech pathologist. Regardless of our professional roles, almost all of us could stand to be a little more eloquent, to slow down our speech, and to breathe more. Ms. Verdun is a partner in a voice, speech and communication consulting business that addresses and treats a wide range of speech problems ranging from traumatic physical injury to the voice box or muscles to people trying to become better speakers before addressing Congress (since they are based in Washington, DC) or an important meeting or convention. Blake and Ernesto take the opportunity to apply some of her expertise to the world of podcasting and she emphasizes that even though listeners can't see the hosts or guests, they can hear a smile, they can hear engagement and enthusiasm and it's important to speak confidently but at a pace where people can understand you. Don't miss the opportunity to improve your own speech with some great tips from a speech pathologist.

Laura Purcell Verdun is a licensed and certified speech pathologist who has worked for more than 20 years in the clinical care of voice, airway, motor speech and swallowing disorders. Additionally, she specializes in the refinement of voice and speaking skills for professionals whose skills are not meeting their daily demands, or who are seeking to bring their skills to the next level, so they can present themselves and their message with confidence and clarity.

Voicetrainer, LLC provides customized training and therapy programs for professionals and patients, whether delivering a career-making presentation, discovering your ideal voice, speaking with more precision, impact and confidence, or rehabilitating a life-long or acquired speech, voice, or breathing disorder.

#206 Edison Research Tom Webster Sep 01, 2016

Show notes

Today we take the opportunity to talk to someone who is has excited about podcasts as we are. Tom Webster of Edison Research -- a firm based in New Jersey that specializes in polls, marketing, and research. In May they released a report "The Podcast Consumer 2016" which revealed the results of their decade of studying podcasts. Podcasting has grown exponentially in the past 12 months and traditional advertisers are scrambling to find ways to target the audiences that were once easily accessible on television and radio. We have been working with a number of clients to help develop their own podcasts and as Blake mentions -- everyone always wants a lot of quality (engaged) listeners immediately -- so on this episode we explore developing an audience. Want to know where podcasts are going in the future? Don't miss this episode!

#205 American Soy Association Patrick Delaney Aug 29, 2016

Show notes

Listeners of the show may recall that Blake has recently become a(n unlikely) vegan and a more frequent consumer of some items eschewed many -- like the soybean -- fundamental ingredient of the often misunderstood tofu. So today we chat with Patrick Delaney of the American Soybean Association who helps dispel some myths about soybeans. Have you ever wondered about the "man boob" rumor -- that soybeans are packed with estrogen and will make men less masculine? We'll address that issue before we dive into some of the other facets of the ASA which is a policy organization, like many associations we have on the show, and they face many of the same problems such as how to get your story heard "through the noise" (can you hear Blake ringing the bell and shouting "ding ding ding!"?). The ASA has 25,000 members in 30 states and has had a fascinating approach to holding their annual conference. Don't miss this episode to learn about the collaborations they're building to strengthen farmers across the board (and country).

Patrick Delaney is the director of policy communication for the American Soybean Association, where he directs the association's public messaging on a variety of federal policy issues impacting soybean farmers. Prior to his time with ASA, Patrick managed communication for the United Fresh Produce Association and has experience in the radio, print, sports, and agency public relations industries. The American Soybean Association represents all U.S. soybean farmers on domestic and international issues of importance to the soybean industry. ASA's advocacy efforts are made possible through voluntary farmer membership by farmers in 30 states where soybeans are grown.

#204 Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman - Jennifer Arminger, CPA and Consultance Accounting Services - Orin Schepps, CPA Aug 25, 2016

Show notes

We had some questions about the financial side of operating nonprofits and so we invited two people on the show to set our minds at ease. Orin Schepps is Founder & CEO of Consultance Accounting Services and Jennifer Arminger of Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman join us to talk about two sides of the nonprofit accounting coin. Consultance Accounting Services is an accounting firm that helps nonprofits streamline their accounting procedures and Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman have worked with over 500 nonprofit clients in the auditing capacity. We pick their brains for their favorite apps to boost time and financial management skills and they have some great suggestions for integrating these systems with your bookkeeping to keep the process as painless as possible.

Jennifer Arminger, CPA is an Audit Partner with Gelman, Rosenberg and Freedman, CPAs and specializes in auditing and accounting services for tax-exempt organizations, both domestically and nationally. Additionally, she has extensive expertise in compliance audits in accordance with uniform guidance (formerly A-133), and helps manage the employee benefit plan practice in the firm. Gelman, Rosenberg and Freedman, CPAs is a nationally and internationally recognized firm in the field of non-profit auditing and tax compliance, working with over 500 exempt organizations.

#203 JL Ayers Consulting - Jennifer Ayers Aug 22, 2016

Show notes

Jennifer Ayers runs J. L. Ayers Consulting, a management consulting firm that works exclusively with nonprofits to help them become more effectitve and efficient. We spend much of the episode talking about the Board of Directors -- how to pick them, how to train them, how much to involve them, how to keep them fundraising. Ms. Ayers is a proponent of the "State of the Union" address to hold annually for the board to make sure they are aware of the work of the association -- especially for the boards of larger, national nonprofits where the board may not know each other.

JL Ayers Consulting is an independent management consulting practice designed to help organizations determine how to understand where they are, where they want to go and how to get there. With good assessment, solid business practices and high quality back-office infrastructure, organizations may become more innovative, creative and prepared to realize goals.

Jennifer Ayers started her consulting practice after 15 years in the nonprofit industry. She now has nearly 20 years of experience working and serving nonprofits at an Executive level. She has worked for traditional 501c3, professional societies and others. Her clients and projects are normally experiencing some sort of change- they range from professional and trade groups to start up 501c3 to political organizations. Jennifer also serves as the secretary of the Board of Directors of PRS, Inc., and is the President of Living Legends of Alexandria.

#202 Center for Democracy and Technology - Abigail Goliber Aug 18, 2016

Show notes

Abigail Goliber of the Center for Democracy and Technology joins us today to talk about her role as Director of Development and some of the stratgeties she employs to effectively raise money. The Center for Democracy and Technology is a "policy shop" that focuses on keeping the internet "open, innovative, and free" for everyone. As Director of Development, she is usually not the person to do the Ask but does the preliminary work of determining who should be asked and cultivating those relationships -- then the CEO or another person will actually ask for the contribution sometimes doesn't happen for 1-2 years. In Ms. Goliber's fundraising research she uses a process called "LAI" to determine the top 10 people to approach to ask for money and then builds the relationship to make the Ask possible or likely. If you are responsible for fundraising for your organization, you can't afford to miss this episode!

Abigail Goliber is the Director of Development at the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), a champion of global online civil liberties and human rights. Prior to joining CDT, Abbie led the development efforts at 501cTECH, a local nonprofit supporting the technology of other nonprofits in the region, and honed her fundraising skills at two international human rights organizations, the RFK Center for Justice & Human Rights and Freedom House. She is fond of dusty vinyl, databases, and her two children.

#201 Wakeman Consulting Group - Dave Wakeman Aug 15, 2016

Show notes

Regular listeners of Through the Noise may remember today's guest, Dave Wakeman who joined us about 50 episodes ago to discuss why nonprofits should run like a business. Check it out after this episode. (http://throughthenoise.us/mediacast/151-david-wakeman/). His last appearance was so packed with valuable info, we just had to see what we secrets we could get him to spill this time. Principal of the Wakeman Consulting Group, he's known as the "Revenue Architect" and helps organizations -- nonprofits and for-profits -- become more effective and make more money. Sounds great, right? Today we'll talk about the importance of storytelling in conveying your mission. Through the lens of Bunnies for Bethesda, we'll figure out how to grow effectively and scale that growth in a way that makes sense for the mission. You'll also find out more about the new Non-profit Advisory Board Networking Group we've recently initiated. Dave Wakeman is known as "The Revenue Architect." His firm works with organizations to maximize their revenue structures. Dave writes a weekly newsletter all about value creation in your organization

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