The Social Change Pod

Explore the world of social change with The Social Change Pod, a platform for conversations that matter. From grassroots activism to innovative funding models, each episode delves into the trends, ideas, and stories shaping the future of community-driven movements. Join thought leaders, change-makers, and community builders as they share practical advice, discuss the latest in participatory grantmaking, and reflect on the power of collective action. Whether you're leading a social movement, working in the nonprofit sector, or just passionate about making a difference, this podcast offers inspiration and actionable insights. Podcast produced by The Social Change Nest and The Social Change Agency. Previously published under the name 'SCA Podcast'.

The Social Change Pod is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 36 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Social Change Pod, a business show with 36 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #36

  036: Facing Fear with Trust: A Conversation on Funding & Community Resilience

  Aug 6, 202649 minS1

  What happens when the biggest risk isn't funding grassroots organisations, but failing to? In this episode, The Social Change Nest's own Ana Steiner is joined by Misbah Malik from Hope Not Hate , Oli Whittington from Our House UK and Veda Harrison from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to unpack what it really takes to build resilient communities in an age of fear, misinformation, and growing political division. Together, they explore why grassroots organisations are carrying more risk than ever, how long-term unrestricted funding can unlock creativity and lasting systems change, and why communities may be far less divided than the headlines suggest. From trust-based philanthropy to the power of local relationships, this conversation challenges what we think we know about risk and offers a hopeful vision for rebuilding stronger communities.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #35

  035: Funding Change: Why Movements Need Flexible and Long-Term Support

  Jun 24, 202652 minS1

  Why does traditional philanthropy rely so heavily on rigid, transactional controls, and how is that micro-management stifling real, systemic change? Join The Social Change Nest 's Kristen Woolf together with Claudia Giampietri from Healthy Food Healthy Planet and Sandra Kushrawi from Famtastisch Foundation as they unpack the urgent shift toward trust-based, flexible funding. Together, they explore why complex "wicked" problems, such as transforming our food systems, cannot be solved with short-term project grants or rigid KPIs. Instead, they share how rewriting the traditional philanthropic playbook through relational check-ins, shared risk, and innovative co-design models can shift power directly back to grassroots movements. They also dive into the critical role of infrastructure, discussing how partnering with a fiscal host like The Social Change Nest allows intermediaries and funders to be braver, de-risk radical collaboration, and make movement funding more human.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #34

  034: Rethinking Funding: Why Put Your Trust in Place-Based Groups

  May 19, 202648 minS0

  Join The Social Change Nest's Rufaro Mudavanho together with Elijah Williams from Brent Giving and Andy Crosbie and Rich Gibbons from Gateshead Community Bridgebuilders, on the latest episode of The Social Change Pod as they explore the power of place-based community work, highlighting how organisations like Gateshead Community Bridge Builders and Brent Giving empower local voices through participatory decision-making and funding.<br /><br />Together, they unpack what community-led decision-making looks like in practice, why funding needs to support capacity and relationships as well as projects, and how the ripple effects of place-based work can reach far beyond what is easy...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #33

  033: Paying People Fairly: Building Trust and Equity

  Nov 13, 202534 minS0

  Join The Social Change Nest's CEO, Esther Foreman and Rachel Smith, Creative Director of Make/Shift, on the latest episode of The Social Change Pod as they unpack what it really looks like to pay people fairly for their time, energy, and expertise, exploring how Payment for Involvement works in practice when you’re navigating the “messy middle” between big institutions and grassroots communities. They also dive into how tools like Open Collective can bridge that gap by making funding more transparent.<br /><br />This episode is packed with practical insights, honest reflections, and advice. So if you’re looking to make y...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #31

  032: Fair Pay for Lived Experience: Lessons from Bristol City Council

  Oct 8, 202424 minS0

  Today we are talking about the mammoth topic of Payment for Involvement, part of our Payment for Involvement podcast series that we’ve been running over the past couple of months since the launch of the payment for Involvement playbook.<br /><br />In the previous episode, we explored why it’s so important for organisations to recognise and value lived experience and to pay people for their involvement.<br /><br />In this episode we’re joined by three, absolutely brilliant guests from Bristol City Council.<br /><br />They share their journey of creating and implementing a payment for involvement policy in a loca...

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on The Social Change Pod. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.