Episodes

Join us in the final episode of our six-year anniversary miniseries, where Anca Platon Trifan shares her deeply personal journey of overcoming immense challenges and rebuilding herself from the ground up. This chapter, Iron & Ashes, recounts her path from depletion and grief to becoming a competitive bodybuilder and redefining strength through discipline. Anca connects […]

Only 22% of nonprofit Executive Directors are women—yet 75% of nonprofit employees are. Why aren’t more women making it into leadership roles? In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with Shilpa Alva, Founder and Executive Director of Surge for Water, to talk about the challenges, opportunities, and long-term impact of

In this special anniversary episode of the Events Demystified podcast, host Anca Platon Trifan reflects on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the events industry, her personal journey through adversity, and the transformation that followed. The episode explores themes of resilience, self-discovery, and professional adaptation, highlighting how the sudden stillness brought by the pandemic

Greg sits down with Dacia Moore for an honest conversation about mental health in the nonprofit sector. Together, they explore the unique stressors nonprofit leaders face and share practical, compassionate strategies for preventing burnout, setting boundaries, and sustaining your impact over the long haul. Whether you’re an executive director, program manager, or board member, this episode

Key Takeaways: Energy shapes everything. Energy is the foundation of all outcomes—your energy affects your thoughts, words, and ultimately, your results. You broadcast what you carry. As a leader, your thoughts and emotions are felt by others. Your energy influences how people respond to you. Attention creates direction. Where you focus your attention determines what

Morgan Lerette didn’t grow up dreaming about being a private military contractor. Like a lot of veterans, one thing led to another. He got pulled into Blackwater during the height of the Iraq War, rolling through Baghdad with no real rules of engagement, no clear mission beyond keeping people alive, and making more money than

This episode holds particular significance to me for many reasons. I want to thank Evocati Public Relations (https://www.evocatillc.com/), a veteran-owned firm, for facilitating my conversation with Michael “Sully” Sullivan, a U.S. Army Ret. Green Beret Colonel and Incoming Executive Director for Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB). During our discussion, Michael shared insights into

Only 22% of nonprofit Executive Directors are women—yet 75% of nonprofit employees are. Why aren’t more women making it into leadership roles? In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with Shilpa Alva, Founder and Executive Director of Surge for Water, to talk about the challenges, opportunities, and long-term impact of

Strength doesn’t always look like what you think. For years, Adam Kasix wore the mask, the intense energy, the warrior mindset, the high-functioning chaos. But behind the scenes, his life was crumbling. Addiction. Divorce. Anger. PTSD. It all came crashing down. What changed? Adam stopped hiding behind the persona and started doing the real work.

Ever wondered why it’s so hard to get people to care about cybersecurity before disaster strikes? Joshua Wathen has a theory—and it might sound familiar to anyone who’s tried to convince someone to buy insurance. In this conversation with Cam and Otis (plus a surprise appearance from thunder rolling in the Houston sky), Joshua shares

Send us a text Join us on Average Joe Finances as our guest Brian Truman, a seasoned professional with an intriguing career trajectory. From starting as a sports broadcaster, transitioning to a 22-year-long career in government contracting, to owning the largest business brokerage in Nashville, Brian shares his journey. He emphasizes the importance of relationships

In today’s episode, we’re excited to share some updates, including the return of our webcomic series on Tapas, the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Podcast Awards, nominations for the Techs Rock Awards, and a call for listener stories. Tune in now to discover more! Vote for us from now until July 31st at

A song in dedication to the 4477th Red Eagles.

Key Takeaways: Fundraising begins with energy. Donors respond more to your emotional presence than your pitch, confidence, and authenticity attract, while desperation repels. Influence through presence, not perfection. Being grounded and emotionally attuned makes you more influential than having the “perfect” ask or script. Manage your energy intentionally. Simple practices like choosing a focus word,

Navy SEAL veteran Frank Larkin joins The Field Op Podcast for a raw, urgent conversation about the silent epidemic affecting our warriors: undiagnosed brain injuries from blast exposure. We unpack the truth behind veteran suicide stats, why so many go uncounted, and how Warrior Call is reconnecting veterans before it’s too late. This episode might

What happens when the mission ends but the war inside you doesn’t? Ryan Reichert opens up about life after nearly two decades in the Army, including leading troops in combat, battling chronic PTSD, and losing everything he thought defined him. After a hard fall from grace, broken marriage, lost job, and hitting rock bottom with

In episode 127 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton speaks with Cat Lazaroff. They talk about her work around engaging white-led and majority-white organizations in meaningful culture change to more inclusive, diverse and equitable cultures.  They explore: how nonprofit leaders, especially white leaders, can begin and sustain their own equity learning journeys.  Privilege, identity, conflict, organizational

In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, host Tosha Anderson talks with Courtney Johnson, the Founder and CEO of Culinary Care, a nonprofit that delivers meals and comfort to cancer patients undergoing treatment. Courtney shares what it’s really like to start a nonprofit from scratch at just 23 years old, and how advocacy—both for

After getting out of the Marine Corps, Rob Bracero found himself stuck, detached from purpose, struggling with chronic pain, and missing the community that used to push him forward. He’s not alone. A lot of veterans find that once the structure of military life disappears, it’s easy to fall into isolation and let their physical

Thank you to Kevin Tocci of Abington Community Access Media for making this conversation possible. His connection is a testament to the power of word of mouth and working alongside dedicated people. Thanks, Kevin! In this episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Brian Shortsleeve, a former U.S. Marine Corps officer and a

In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, host Tosha Anderson talks with Courtney Johnson, the Founder and CEO of Culinary Care, a nonprofit that delivers meals and comfort to cancer patients undergoing treatment. Courtney shares what it’s really like to start a nonprofit from scratch at just 23 years old, and how advocacy—both for

Ever worked somewhere that claimed “we’re a family” but treated you like anything but? Stephen Bump has seen both sides—and he’s building something different with Persperity. In this conversation with Cam and Otis, Stephen shares his journey from Air Force leadership to founding a consultancy that’s deliberately challenging the “always-on” culture of modern business. “They

Join Anca Platon Trifan in this special anniversary miniseries of the Events Demystified podcast as she reads from her forthcoming memoir. In this episode titled ‘California Dreams,’ Anca recounts her journey from Romania to the United States, navigating the challenges of adapting to a new culture while pursuing a career in event production.👉 Like and

Year Eight is closing out. I didn’t use video; instead, I had a graphic and some letters. I really enjoyed it. Yes, I love doing videos, but there was something about me, my microphone, and Audacity that connected me to what I was saying. I may do more of these as one-offs. I didn’t have

From goat-herding origins to field-grade sludge, this episode of The Field Op Podcast celebrates coffee as the military’s favorite unofficial battle buddy. Join us for stories of fire watch, MRE brews, and post-service cortado snobbery — because freedom isn’t free, but refills are. #MilitaryCoffee #VeteranFuel #CaffeineAndCourage #TheFieldOpPodcast #BrewedForBattle #OorahAndEspresso The Field Op LinksNowsite AIhttps://myainow.site?af=da80e9 The

In this special Independence Day episode of The Field Op Podcast, we dive into what July 4th means for veterans and service members. From hilarious base BBQs to the true cost of freedom, it’s a patriotic mix of humor, history, and heart. Because this day isn’t just about fireworks — it’s about remembering why we’re

Key Takeaways: Successful fundraising is more than just strategy—it begins with your internal world. Your mindset, emotional energy, and unconscious patterns play a major role in how you connect with others and inspire support. We all have sub-personalities—like the pleaser, perfectionist, or rebel—that try to protect us. These “parts” aren’t bad, but they can unintentionally

Blown up. Burned out. Ready to end it all. That’s where Sam Peterson found himself after his second deployment as an EOD tech. He nearly took his own life until one unexpected moment changed everything. What followed was a raw journey through trauma, healing, and finding purpose on the other side. In this episode, Sam

Ever wonder why that “perfect on paper” hire turned out to be a complete disaster? Dr. Reece Akhtar might just have the answer. In this episode, we dive deep with the CEO of Deeper Signals who’s spent his career figuring out the science behind personality and how it affects workplace performance. “Cut me off if

Is your nonprofit brand outdated—or just unclear? In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, branding expert Steven Picanza joins Tosha Anderson to explore what modern branding really means for nonprofits. Discover why your brand is more than a logo, how to simplify your messaging without losing impact, and why your website might be pushing