The Social Leader

"As we invest in organizations like Thelma's Kitchen, that's paying a dividend back to our shareholders – the community we serve,” shares J.R. Buckner, President & CEO of First Federal Bank of Kansas City. “That's building up the community so that everyone can thrive, not just a handful of people." J.R. and his team at First Federal were the lead sponsor in Thelma's Kitchen's recent birthday giving challenge, which ultimately netted over $44,000 for KC's first donate-what-you-can cafe and more than 1,400 pay it forward tokens for those experiencing poverty and food insecurity. J.R. joins Fr. Justin Mathews on The Social Leader podcast today to discuss values-based leadership and organizational culture, stewarding your blessings, being an inclusive and faith-inspired leader, hiring “we” and not “I” people, and much more.

"It's a new day in terms of leadership." That's Megan Hyatt Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer at Michael Hyatt & Company and the co-host of the popular business podcast, Lead to Win. During the pandemic, Megan led Michael Hyatt & Company, a leadership development firm, to exceed revenue expectations by 50% while placing an increased emphasis on her employees' mental health. At the same time, the company set a goal to increase the diversity of their staff to 30% people of color throughout the organization in 3 years, and 50% people of color in 5 years. Why did she decide to incorporate her social priorities so deeply into her organization? (You may be surprised to learn that there's a business case for it.) And how did she do it, all while finding greater satisfaction as a wife and mother of five kids? Listen to today's episode to find out. Megan is also the co-author of "Win at Work & Succeed at Life: 5 Principles to Free Yourself from the Cult of Overwork," a must-read as you figure out your own work/life balance. Today's episode is brought to you by Dan Stalp and Sandler Training, your local leadership, sales, sales management training, and development firm. Thank you to Dan & the team for their support.

Today on The Social Leader podcast, Fr. Justin Mathews interviews Ann Mei Chang, author of "LEAN IMPACT: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good." If you have ever wondered how to go from helping a few people in need to actually making a big dent in the societal problem you care about most... this episode is for you. Ann Mei started her career in the private sector with more than 20 years executive leadership at companies such as Google, Apple, and Intuit. Inspired to make a dent in global poverty, Ann Mei stepped into the public sector as a Senior Advisor for Women and Technology in the US Department of State and ultimately served as the Chief Innovation Officer at USAID.Reaching ambitious social impact goals starts with understanding the principles of social leadership that Ann Mei shares in today's episode. From setting your intention and getting to know a societal problem with a humble spirit, to leading from the head and the heart, to processes for maximizing value, growth, and impact – Ann Mei will inspire you to be a force for good in our ever-evolving world. Learn more about Ann Mei Chang and check out "LEAN IMPACT: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good" at www.leanimpact.org

Today's Social Leader podcast is for people who have a love/hate relationship with their corporate job. You love that you're able to provide for your family and the sense of achievement that comes from working on a high performance team, but you hate that somedays your work feels a little selfish, a little cushy, and a lot disconnected from the bigger social and environmental issues that are happening all around you. Before you change course completely, tune in for today's conversation between Chase Wagner, Director of Corporate Responsibility at H&R Block, and Fr. Justin Mathews, your host. There are several nuggets of wisdom in here that you'll want to consider during your season of discernment. From the humble principals of kindness and compassionate listening, to the bigger calling of servant leadership over obligatory volunteering – today's Social Leader podcast may be just what you need to go from corporate drone to well-positioned changemaker.

The Integrated Priorities Framework is a four-step, simple guide that helps you to figure out how to integrate your desire for social good into every aspect of your daily life and work.Download your personalized Integrated Priorities Framework and Social Fluency Inventory here and get started today.

“When you study poverty, you realize unemployment is the root of all evil.” That's Brian D. McLaren: author, speaker, activist, theologian, and guest on today's Social Leader podcast. He reflects on how his eyes were opened while getting a tour through the slums of El Salvador. “Wherever you have high unemployment you have domestic violence, you have drug abuse… petty crimes, organized crime, gangs… To be able to provide people with good jobs is holy work, it's great work, it's important work.” In this far-ranging and story-rich conversation, Brian D. McLaren and Fr. Justin Mathews uncover several ways that business owners can enrich their work life with purpose and can become more just, joyful, generous, and regenerative as leaders.

After the events of 2020, leaders were moved to act. In the wake of our evolving corporate consciousness another problem has become evident - a leadership gap. In this episode, Fr. Justin Mathews unpacks how we can begin the journey to close the gap between our passion and our social action by uncovering a hidden false assumption in our leadership worldview and becoming social leaders.

In this short podcast, Fr. Justin Mathews reflects on the challenges and opportunities 2020 presented and how we can learn to lead with greater social impact as we begin anew in 2021.

"I have done a lot of work in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, bias and other things that to me line up directly with the Gospel. But I am still learning,” shares Fr. Justin Mathews. “I am still trying to listen and to hear the lived experience of my neighbors who have suffered greatly and continue to suffer." On today's episode of The Social Leader podcast, the tables are turned and Fr. Justin Mathews is in the hot seat being interviewed by his alma mater St. Vladimir's Seminary, where he earned his Masters in Divinity. In this interview, he unpacks the theory of change behind the work we do here at Reconciliation Services and synthesizes decades of learning, laboring, and co-suffering into an action-oriented conversation that will inspire you to find more opportunities for compassion and growth in your life.

Every leadership journey is unique. Jeremy's started after he watched the Twin Towers fall on 9/11 from his startup office just blocks away. He decided to set aside his tech entrepreneurship dreams and pursue a life dedicated to serving others. Today, he is the Founding CEO of RISE in Nebraska, where his team helps men and women start their leadership journey in prison, and then helps them get home and stay home.Jeremy is a passionate social leader and has 19 years of leadership experience in higher education and non-profit organizations in New York City, Baltimore and Omaha. He also holds a Masters of Science in Leadership from Creighton University.

On today's episode, Fr. Justin interviews Emmy Award winning storyteller and public historian, Nathaniel Bozarth. They discuss how to unlearn your implicit biases, then how to relearn a new way to see the world around you.Nathaniel specializes in anti-racist work that centers around the history of residential segregation, especially in Kansas City. In 2018, Nathaniel co-created an app-based tour (Dividing Lines) of the history of segregation in KC.

On today's episode, Fr. Justin interviews Dr. Rodney D. Smith, newly appointed VP of Access & Engagement at William Jewell College, about "radical inclusivity" and operationalizing diversity efforts on a college campus. Rodney is also co-founder and managing partner with his wife, Stephenie, at Sophic Solutions Group. On the podcast Rodney shares his story and discusses truth telling as the first step toward racial reconciliation, race as a social construct and pseudo-science, becoming a "hope-monger" and much more.

On today's episode, Fr. Justin interviews Kathryn Evans Madden, founder of Rooted Strategy. Kathryn is a Board member of Reconciliation Services, a Nonprofit Strategist, System Builder, and Culture Shaper. They cover a lot, including: movement building, organizing, racial equity, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, relationships, accountability, entrepreneurship… even their favorite day planners!

The Grooming Project is an initiative of Empowering the Parent to Empower the Child (EPEC), a 501c3 organization dedicated to reducing generational poverty in Kansas City. Through their state-certified grooming school and grooming salon, they train struggling parents to be pet groomers and salon managers, both in-demand, living-wage trades.On today's episode, Fr. Justin Mathews interviews Jarrod Sanderson, Director of Housing & Program Design for EPEC. They discuss The Grooming Project's journey from an idea to one of KC's most influential social enterprises, what it really takes to help a family break the cycle of poverty, and why up and coming entrepreneurs should seriously consider starting mission-led businesses.

Long before 31st and Troost was home to Reconciliation Services and other great nonprofits... before Troost Avenue became infamous as Kansas City's racial and economic dividing line due to redlining and block busting... before Troost was a thriving economic hub for KC's Black community... even before this area was a slave plantation established by the Reverend James Porter in 1834... this area was home to the Osage Nation. On today's episode of the Social Leader Podcast, Fr. Justin interviews Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Principal Chief of the Osage Nation. He is the great- grandson of Osage Principal Chief Fred Lookout. Now in his second term as Osage Nation Principal Chief, he continues the work of protecting and enhancing the Osage culture, language, and lands.Here are Chief Standing Bear's Social Leadership lessons from Osage Elders:1. Be good to one another2. Try hard - with tears3. We are pitiful, turn to prayer

The Chiefs started another season 4-0, something just about all of us can get behind, at least in KC. But outside of rooting for our favorite sports teams, it feels like right now there's not much else Americans can unite around. When everything becomes us versus them, neither side wins in the long run. On this week's episode of The Social Leader Podcast, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II about what he believes it will take to regain civil discourse in the US and many other important topics facing our nation, including: re-engineering the police force, the virtue of nonviolent protests, and keeping the faith during tumultuous times.

In this episode of The Social Leader Podcast, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Dan Smith, co-founder of The Porter House KC (PHKC) and Reconciliation Services board member. PHKC supports entrepreneurs from the urban core, serving primarily minority individuals seeking the knowledge, support and skillset to start, grow, or transition their businesses to the next level. Dan is a passionate entrepreneur himself and a powerful social leader in KC. He and Fr. Justin discuss the importance of learning the rules and sometimes breaking the rules, leading by example, and expanding social networks.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin interviews Kyle J. Smith, executive director of Determination, Incorporated and team member at Reconciliation Services. Determination, Inc. hosts entrepreneurship workshops for currently and formerly incarcerated people. (www.determinationincorporated.com)They discuss building community in times of crisis, finding your own path as a social entrepreneur, tactical advice for starting a business, stories of formerly incarcerated business owners, and much more.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Mike Meyer, Chairman of Band of Angels & Manager of Meyer Music. Band of Angels (www.bandofangels.org) is a charity that addresses financial barriers students face by providing band and orchestra instruments and music camp scholarships to children in need. They discuss scaling a family business in Kansas City, integrating technology into a legacy business, the healing power of music on a personal, familial, and communal level, building social priorities into your business processes, employee retention, purposeful work, and much more.

In this episode, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Mark Donovan, president of the Kansas City Chiefs. They discuss his path to the NFL, recruiting top talent, organizational culture, the organization's response to Black Lives Matters and some calls to change the name, how to make tough decisions when it matters most, finding your leadership style, and much more.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Nika Cotton, KC poet, entrepreneur, and founder of SoulCentricitea - a tea room with soul (Soulcentricitea.com). Nika is also a former Case Manager with Reconciliation Services. They discuss the challenge of launching a company during Covid-19, Nika's passion for social justice, how her leadership journey is one focussed on her own growth, and how she has turned her love of tea into a tool for building relationships and spreading joy.

In this week's episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Artis Grigsby (cook) and Randi Hobbs (Thelma's Kitchen Program Manager), the team behind Thelma's Kitchen, a social venture of Reconciliation Services and Kansas City's first donate-what-you-can cafe. They discuss harnessing your personal passions for social good (& an interesting family recipe: cow tongue sandwiches), how to build a community across socioeconomic boundaries through food, how to be a leader no matter your role in an organization, and much more.

In this week's episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Fr. Alexii Altschul, Co-Founder of Reconciliation Services and Orthodox Christian priest-monk. They discuss the intimate history of Reconciliation Services and its humble beginnings as a personal mission of Thelma Altschul to serve her neighbors with what little she had; the difficulties of prioritizing relationships over efficiency in American culture and why we must de-politicize the healing of the human heart; why it's essential to acknowledge past societal trauma (including everything that's happened along Troost Avenue in the past 200 years) in order to build a new kind of community seeking racial and economic reconciliation in KC; and so much more.

In this week's episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Nicole Jacobs Silvey, President & Founder of Connection Coach KC. They discuss bridging the opportunity gap across socioeconomic boundaries, learning about other cultures as a youngster, the power of intersectionality, and how to savor even small progress.

On Episode #19 of The Social Leader podcast, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Darron Story, community advocate and radio personality, about his growing up in the urban core of Kansas City amidst white flight, his success in the music industry and reinventing himself after that, treating violence as a public health crisis, and helping our community heal through individual acts of kindness.

In this episode of The Social Leader Podcast, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Myron McCant, RS Social Ventures Board Member, Co-Founder of The Kiddie Depot Learning Centers, KC entrepreneur and member of the Prospect Business Association. They discuss Myron's personal leadership journey, the different racial and economic realities facing Black and White leaders, his work developing high-quality 24-hour childcare for low-income families, and the importance of building relationships in the community and in business.

In Episode #17 of The Social Leader podcast, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Isaac Collins, a successful KC entrepreneur and owner of two Yogurtini franchises. They discuss, what it was like for Isaac owning a business on the Plaza during the Black Lives Matter Protests, his heartfelt participation as a protester and a black entrepreneur, and his social leadership in the community. They'll also talk about how Isaac gives back to the Kansas City community by sharing his passion for mindfulness with young people teaching "Superhero Yoga", a trauma-informed yoga class bringing yoga to 800 students weekly at three Kansas City elementary schools.

In this episode of The Social Leader podcast, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Terry Bassham, CEO of Evergy energy company. They discuss how Terry's personal life informs his values as CEO, the importance of seeing the community reflected in the company, how puting people first is good for business, and the need for Social Leaders to admit when they are wrong and to not be afraid to change.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Rev. Adam Hamilton, founding and Senior Pastor at the The Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS, with campuses across the KC metro and a membership of over 20,000.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Bill Brandmeyer of 810 Sports Radio and the new ShareWaves Foundation. They discuss the potential for youth sports to advance racial reconciliation in the region—as it has in other countries—and make a positive impact on kids. They also discuss Bill's thoughts on social leadership and making non-profits self-sustaining.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Murray Woodard II, Program Officer in Education for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. They talk about the importance of seeing the need or issue right in front of you and how compassionate leadership looks like listening and acting right away.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Kansas City, Missouri, Third District Councilwoman Melissa Robinson. They discuss the intersection of place, policy, and people and unpack Councilwoman Robinson's "Righteous Agenda", the importance of embedding reconciliation into our systems and structures, and the role of leaders to work for change.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Collen Hernandez, former CEO of the Homeowners Preservation Foundation and life-long advocate for Affordable Housing. They discuss the affordable housing crisis, the potential tidal-wave of evictions facing poor communities due to the economic hardship brought on by COVID 19, and the necessity of leaders to really listening to people who are actually affected by this issue and so many others.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Tom Esselman, CEO of Connecting For Good, a nonprofit providing access, tools, training, and partnerships to promote digital citizenship in low income communities. Fr. Justin and Tom discuss the economic and systemic factors affecting access to training and technology, promoting self-advocacy, and the importance of increased connectivity—technologically and relationally.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Gwendolyn Grant, President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City. They discuss about how self awareness can lead to social awareness, the importance of evaluating the data to understand disparities facing people of color, how to lead without "positional power," and the necessity of leaders to lean into discomfort.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Valerie Nicholson-Watson, President & CEO of Harvesters - The Community Food Network, about food insecurity, leadership accountability in times of need, and the role of innovation and inspiration when facing growing community need.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Qiana Thomason, CEO of the Health Forward Foundation. They discuss the importance of understanding the social, environmental, and economic determinants of health and the need to intentionally build equity into our structures and systems.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Brenda Sharpe, President and CEO of the Reach Healthcare Foundation. Brenda talks about the hard realities facing the uninsured and underinsured in our country and the importance of leaders to be informed about the issues and to be authentic and consistent—on and off the clock.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin talks with Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas, about leading in unity in times of crisis and always looking for the common ground.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Megan Hyatt Miller, Chief Operating Officer at Michael Hyatt & Co., leading strategic direction, brand management, growth initiatives, and general operations for the leadership coaching company. Megan joined us to talk about leading in the face of uncertainty, staying focused while working from home with her five children, seeing opportunities to grow in leadership right now, and the responsibility of leaders to "go first" even in their vulnerability.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Dr. Tom Curan, Senior VP, Executive Director, and Chief Scientific Officer at Children's Mercy Research Institute. Dr. Tom highlights the importance of checking your assumption at the door and doing the “right thing” for the “right reason” when it comes to leading.

In this episode, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with former Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Sly James, co-founder of Wickham James Strategies and Solutions. Mayor Sly talks about the importance of mental toughness and recognizing how a good leader responds when their back is against the wall.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin Mathews interviews Steve Gardner, co-owner of SEJ Services, a medical supply company. Steve shares about how he learned the importance of empathy in leadership when he was forced to face the pain and uncertainty of having a son with severe health problems. Leading his family taught him some valuable lessons about leading at work.