The PM Podcast

Yamilée Toussaint is the founder and CEO of STEM From Dance, a trailblazing nonprofit that inspires girls from underrepresented communities to pursue STEM careers by merging the creativity of dance with the power of technology. An MIT graduate and former Teach for America educator, Yamilee has been recognized as a thought leader in reimagining STEM education and as one of the Top Five CNN Heroes of 2024. 

Bill Littlejohn is a nationally recognized leader in healthcare philanthropy. As Senior Vice President and CEO of the Foundations of Sharp HealthCare, he has driven initiatives raising more than $300 million and spearheaded Sharp's $2 billion ENVISION campaign to transform healthcare in San Diego. A former AHP Chair and Si Seymour Award recipient, Bill has advised healthcare systems worldwide and is widely celebrated for his visionary leadership and impact. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore his beginnings in the field, the work he and his colleagues have done over the years, the critical importance of continual innovation, and his personal commitment to philanthropy.

Stephen Knight is one of the top five CNN Heroes of 2024 and the founder of Dogs Matter, a nonprofit organization that has provided foster care for over 1,200 pets belonging to individuals in substance abuse recovery. Inspired by his journey of overcoming addiction and the transformative bond with his rescue dog Jayde, Knight has created a program that saves animals from shelters and offers hope and support to their owners during critical times in recovery.

Ron Davis Alvarez is Founder of the Dream Orchestra in Gothenburg, Sweden and one of 2024's Top Five CNN Heroes. Since 2016, Ron has brought together refugees, immigrants, and locals, speaking in over 20 languages, to create music and build community. His work shows how people can rebuild lives and connect across cultures. 

In this engaging conversation, Don Williams—a founder of Jumpstart, an organization dedicated to reducing recidivism in South Carolina—shares his inspiring journey from incarceration to becoming a leader in restorative justice. He discusses the alarming statistics around U.S. incarceration and highlights Jumpstart’s remarkable 4% recidivism rate. Williams emphasizes the importance of community support and emotional safety for successful reintegration, while reflecting on the transformative power of second chances and the need for sustainable financial models in support programs.

Devin Thorpe is a best-selling author, new media journalist, and champion of social good. His show, Superpowers for Good, has featured over 1,200 influential guests and his articles and books, including "Crowdfunding For Social Good," have reached millions of readers around the world. In this episode, we discuss his journey from high finance to social impact, beginning with his conversation with Bill Gates about the importance of patience.

Allison Fine is a successful entrepreneur, futurist, and author of several award-winning books, including Momentum, Matterness, The Networked Nonprofit, and The Smart Nonprofit. She founded and ran nonprofit organizations, led nonprofit boards, served in elective office, and recently ran for Congress. In this episode, we discuss her work in politics, philanthropy, civil society, technology, and leadership. 

Anthony Cernera is dedicated to understanding how humans learn, grow, heal, and change. A three-time living organ donor, public speaker, consultant, researcher, and psychotherapist, Anthony has also led high-performing development teams for over sixteen years, managing campaigns from $25 million to $600 million. When not helping others, he volunteers in hospice care, instructs meditation, and competes as a skydiver, holding gold and silver medals in the USPA National Skydiving Championships. We spoke with Anthony on the eve of the latest phase of his epic journey. 

In this episode, we speak with Paul Clolery, Vice President and Editorial Director of NPT Publishing Group and The Nonprofit Times, the leading publication for America's charitable sector. A lifelong journalist, Paul began his career on his high school and college papers, then worked at leading papers like the Fort Worth Star Telegram and later as an editor of publications including The Practical Accountant before taking the helm of The Nonprofit Times in 1994. Over the last three decades, he and his team have covered every conceivable story in the charitable sector. He has been recognized repeatedly for excellence in reporting, including an Associated Press Managing Editors Award and citations from the Society of Professional Journalists. We spoke with Paul about his journalistic journey, some of the most significant stories he has covered, and the challenges and opportunities that remain on the road ahead.

Ken Phillips was named Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2024, the organization's highest honor. Since his career began in 1961, ken has served in leadership roles at the Institute for International Education, Save the Children, and Plan International, where he revolutionized marketing and donor outreach, dramatically increasing public awareness and revenues. He founded his consultancy, NGO Futures, in 1995 and has since provided hundreds of training courses in 35 countries and his books and articles on fundraising, leadership, and strategic planning have reached audiences around the world. We spoke with Ken in April at AFP ICON in Toronto.