During the pandemic, I dove headfirst into the great wide world of podcasts. Since then, I’ve listened to tens of thousands of hours across a variety of subjects. Here are 8 thought-provoking episodes I think would benefit anyone working in philanthropy. What are your favorite podcasts and podcast episodes? Please let us know in the comments!
How Philanthropy Clashes With Democracy
Gilded Rage (Future Perfect)
To put our new age of extreme inequality in perspective, Vox looks back at Andrew Carnegie, who gave America a huge number of libraries so they’d forgive him for his brutal steel mills. They ask: Is the same thing happening now?
Donors From Beyond the Grave (Future Perfect)
Billions of dollars are donated every year from the fortunes of people who’ve died but are using their wills to influence our world from beyond the grave. Some of these zombie donors left instructions that are racist, classist, or just silly. Vox asks: How do we free ourselves from the grip of the undead?
Move Fast and Break Schools (Future Perfect)
When Mark Zuckerberg gave $100 million to Newark’s schools, he raised a big question: Who will decide where this money goes? The answer: Not the people of Newark. Vox examines why the people of Newark turned against a gift that Zuckerberg and Cory Booker wanted them to celebrate.
E.S.G. Explainers
Are E.S.G. Investors Actually Helping the Environment? (Freakonomics Radio)
Probably not. The economist Kelly Shue argues that E.S.G. investing just gives more money to firms that are already green while depriving polluting firms of the financing they need to get greener. But she has a solution.
What Is E.S.G., and Why Are Republicans So Mad About It? (The Daily)
The principle behind E.S.G. is that investors should look beyond just whether a company can make a profit and take into account other factors, such as its environmental impact and action on social issues. But critics of that investment strategy, mostly Republicans, say that Wall Street has taken a sharp left turn, attacking what they term “woke capitalism.”
Racial Justice in Philanthropy
Vu Le, Nonprofit AF (What Donors Want)
Rachel Stephenson Sheff and Emily Collins-Ellis chat with Vu Le, founder of @NonprofitAF. They discuss: Self-care for non-profit professionals; Vu’s #CrappyFundingPractices campaign on Twitter; the ‘Tipping Points’ that can change bad donor behavior; the Community Centric Fundraising Movement; fundraiser and donor fragility; racial justice in the non-profit sector; and more.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words (The Catalytic Philanthropy Podcast)
Dan Ely, vice president and former board chair of the 1772 Foundation, shares the actions board and staff took as soon as they uncovered the connection between the foundation and profits made from the labor of African peoples enslaved in the late 18th century by the forebears of the benefactor, Stewart B. Kean.
For Your Next Generation
The Cult of Nonprofits (Sounds Like A Cult)
Amanda Montell and Isabela Medina-Maté Cults look into the language, background, and structure of the nonprofit industry to show how the business of big nonprofit can get really culty, really quickly, and in a really bad way.
About the Author
Hannah Smith is content marketing manager at Exponent Philanthropy. She’s responsible for managing editorial projects; working with staff and thought leaders to create and update content maintaining the voice of our CEO and organization; and upholding editorial quality and brand consistency.