School of Social Impact

This past week marked the passing of Joanna Macy, a scholar and activist whose life’s work continues to shape how changemakers respond to the intertwined crises of our time. Macy, who died in her nineties, leaves behind a body of teachings known as The Work That Reconnects—a framework that blends ecology, spirituality, and social change […]

In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, the risk of burnout is no longer limited to corporate executives or overworked parents. Increasingly, changemakers—those dedicating their time and energy to social good—find themselves running on empty. Francesca Blechner, a holistic health coach and author, knows this story all too well. “I loved what I did, but I wasn’t

When it comes to driving social change, it’s tempting to think in straight lines. If you do X, you get Y. Implement a program, measure the outputs, track the outcomes. But what if this tidy, linear model of cause and effect is too simplistic for the messy realities of human societies? In the latest episode

When Dr. Pam Gurley introduces herself, she doesn’t start with the impressive list of professional hats she wears—author, CEO, professor, journalist. Instead, she begins with something much simpler: her love for people, food, and travel. It’s this grounded authenticity that has guided her through a career spanning psychology, government service, entrepreneurship, writing, and education. Speaking

When an anonymous listener recently asked whether they should stop reading or watching the news because it left them overwhelmed and uninspired, the question resonated far beyond a single podcast inbox. For many changemakers—activists, educators, policy advocates, or community leaders—staying informed is both a responsibility and a burden. In a recent episode of Changemaker Q&A,

In a world grappling with climate breakdown, political division, and widespread disillusionment, some changemakers are looking beyond policy, technology, and economics to find solutions. One such voice is Wajid Hassan, a Pakistan-born, UK-raised, and US-based author, actor, and spiritual teacher who joined me on Changemaker Q&A to discuss his journey and his book, The Struggle

When we think about social change, research might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Movements are often associated with protests, petitions, or grassroots organizing. But behind many of these efforts lies an often invisible engine: research. In the latest episode of Changemaker Q&A, I explore the role research plays in activism, policy,

When many people think about peace, they picture a world without war. But peace is more than the absence of violence. It is the presence of justice, resilience, and human flourishing. This richer understanding is captured in the concept of Positive Peace, a framework developed and popularized by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

In today’s political climate, the word justice is everywhere—splashed across campaign speeches, grassroots banners, and social media feeds. But what do we actually mean when we talk about justice? Is it about fairness in the courts, equality in schools, accountability in politics, or something broader still? In the latest episode of Change Maker Q&A, host

In the latest episode of Changemaker Q&A, host Tiyana J pulls back the curtain on a problem that too often goes unspoken: the systemic devaluation and commodification of care. While the conversation began with a listener’s question about burnout in the social change space, the discussion quickly broadened to the root causes of the crisis—why