Track Two Podcast

In this special series, host Sarah Howard takes on bipartisan climate action in an election year. Regardless of the election results, one thing is clear: a bipartisan pathway is the only road to the necessary climate policies we all need for our collective future. This series highlights those on the frontlines, working to make that a reality for all of us. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Andrea Yodsampa, founder of DeployUS, peace negotiator, and leader with decades of experience in building bridges. Andrea shares how her background working in diplomacy and peace-building set the foundation for builidng an organization that cultivates the necessary ecosystem for bipartisan leadership on climate action. From trusted messengers, to bridging difference, to mapping the field, Andrea brings a deep understanding of how to find a path forward, even in divided US politics today, with a passionate vision for our collective future.The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Conservatives Care About the Climate, Too. Philanthropy Should Stop Ignoring ThemPOLITICO: How to Make Climate Change a Greater Bipartisan PriorityInside Philanthropy: In the Climate Fight, Who's Funding the Ecoright? More Big Names Than You Might Expect | Inside PhilanthropyThe Center for Effective Philanthropy: Philanthropy's Role in Making Climate Change a Greater Bipartisan Priority

In this special series, host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. Continuing the series from Davos, this time Sarah is on the ground in Egypt at COP27. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Melissa Kopolow, the VP of Sustainability at The Albright Stonebridge Group. Building on the conversations from Davos, Melissa brings a rich perspective on the similarities and differences between the established framework of the SDGs and the emerging framework of ESG. Set in the context of the annual UN Climate Summit, this conversation looks at the need for ESG to be more than a framework on climate and how philanthropy has the chance to lead on climate solutions if willing to take more bold action. 

In this special series, co-host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. It was a headline topic at the annual gathering, as climate change and social issues continue to rise on the agenda of leadership conversations everywhere.In this episode, Sarah sits down with Jacques-Philippe Piverger, founder and CEO of Good Light Capital.  This brings the series to one of the sectors driving much of the proliferation of ESG. They go a little deeper into understanding what ESG means, from the perspective of investment analysis. For example, in a survey done earlier this year, Gallup polled investors on their understanding of and attitudes toward ESG frameworks in their investment decisions. They found that nearly 50% of investors are interested in sustainable investing, although 1 in 4 admitted to knowing much about it. Jacques-Philippe understands where the market is headed and his firm is providing investors with opportunities to have the kind of impact they want. This is the final episode in this special Davos series. 

In this special series, co-host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. It was a headline topic at the annual gathering, as climate change and social issues continue to rise on the agenda of leadership conversations everywhere.In this episode, Sarah sits down with Gene Hoffman, COO & President of Chia Network, to bring in another big topic at Davos this year: web3. Their conversation covers a wide range of topics including, human rights, digital identity, blockchain energy efficiency, and the promise of blockchain for building the infrastructure needed for carbon markets. Gene brings a grounded perspective from the blockchain world and with some term definitions at the beginning of the episode, this conversation is accessible to anyone no matter your familiarity with the web3 world. 

In this special series, co-host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. It was a headline topic at the annual gathering, as climate change and social issues continue to rise on the agenda of leadership conversations everywhere. In this episode, Sarah speaks with Nisaa Jetha, a sought-after and leading expert in ESG and Impact. Nisaa brings a unique perspective with her career as a lawyer in private equity and a long-term advocate in public policy. In their conversation, Sarah and Nisaa bring the ESG series to this nexus of compliance and comms, with emphasis on the need for a common language and a common understanding that grace is needed in this rapid period of transition.  

In this special series, co-host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. It was a headline topic at the annual gathering, as climate change and social issues continue to rise in the agenda of leadership conversations everywhere. In this episode, Sarah speaks with Harald Neidhardt, the founder and CEO of Futur/io, a think tank and leadership learning institute based in Germany. Their conversation explores the leadership role of the EU when it comes to compliance and discloses for ESG reporting following the adaption of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which supports the EU Green Deal a set of policy measures intended to combat the climate crisis by transforming the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, with no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. The directive is part of the bigger Sustainable Finance package enabling the Green Deal by helping to channel private investment behind the transition to a climate-neutral economy. There are three primary takeaways from their conversation: First, the role of collaboration and cross-sector learning. The challenges we are facing in the world today and complex and intersectional. Bringing together a diversity of experience and perspective has the potential to unlock insights that otherwise we don't have access to when operating within silos. Second, the need for new narratives. As conveners, Sarah & Harald instinctively understand that the language we use is the foundation for building new shared narratives of what is possible. When it comes to the future, climate change, social stability, and digital lives, we all need more imagination to begin shaping what that future can look like. And finally, the policies being passed in Europe are on the front edge of what is coming to the rest of the world. We are in the early stages of systems change when it comes to how business is conducted. We are certainly not out of the woods yet, it will require commitment, vision and political will to bring forward the kind of transformation needed for a sustainable and just future for all. 

How do journalists navigate changing public perceptions of factual shared reality? How is political polarization influencing trust in the media, and the credibility of reporters? Accountability, transparency, and the power of investigative reporting are highlights of the conversation with reporter Liz Essley Whyte. Together, Joanne and Sarah talk with Liz about her work at the Center for Public Integrity, how quality information influences people's decision-making, and the role social media plays in the harassment of reporters.

Where do refugees come from and where do they go? In honor of World Refugee Day, this bonus episode explores the words we use to describe the human experience of active situations where people are forced to flee their home because of war, violence, or persecution.

What breeds public distrust in the media, and how does it impact journalists and society as a whole? Controversies, corruption, and the role of the free press in bringing truth to light and holding power accountable are highlights of "part two" with guest Kerry Paterson of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Together, Joanne and Sarah talk with Kerry about how CPJ offers journalists emergency response support for those who are injured, imprisoned, or forced to flee because of their work.

What does it mean to promote press freedom and defend the rights of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal? Join Joanne and Sarah in conversation with Kerry Paterson of the Committee to Protect Journalists as they discuss why freedom of the press is important to democracy, and why we should be concerned about the repressive global trend of jailing journalists as a result of their work.

How do freelance journalists build trust in places far from their home country of origin? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are joined by Nick St. Oegger, a documentary photographer and fellow native Californian. Together they explore how Nick followed his curiosity and found his higher purpose in photography and life aboard covering stories about cultural heritage in the Western Balkans. His work explores how the past and present influence the relationship between people and the places they call home.

How does photojournalism foster a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of the world? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Elodie Mailliet Storm exploring how access and intimacy can generate ‍iconic images that tell the story of a moment in time. From celebrity portraiture to the archives of tomorrow, and challenges of media coverage, Elodie shares her expertise and wisdom as CEO of Catchlight, a nonprofit media organization bringing resources and stakeholders together to support a thriving visual ecosystem and society.

What's missing in today's news? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Mikhael Simmonds of the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit media group training journalists to rigorously report on responses to social problems. Solutions based stories are highly effective ways to reach ordinary people and help them understand problems and challenges, along with potential ways to respond. Mikhael shares strategies and insights to rebalance the news by reporting on complexities and adaptive responses that set a higher bar for what citizens should expect from local institutions or governments.

How has the collapse of local journalism contributed to the erosion of civic engagement and trust in facts? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are joined by Kevin Grant of the GroundTruth Project. Together they reflect on the role of the press in a healthy democracy and explore journalism as a foundational building block for a healthy society. In his role as Chief Content Officer of Report for America and Report for the World, Kevin leads an innovative nonprofit national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. As a leader in nonprofit media, Kevin and his team strive to fundamentally transform local news business models.

How do societies manage imbalances and create responsive solutions to prolonged complex crises or large-scale social problems — especially ones amplified by social media? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Anna Bulkah, an expert in civil society resilience and synthetic media. Hear how Anna's research and experience in Estonia and Ukraine shaped her interest in the role of misinformation and disinformation. Learn why investing in community training, civic participation, and youth empowerment are vital to building and strengthening democracy and thriving societies.

For people who depend on gig apps to earn a living, how do the exponential technologies that power the gig economy shape culture, society, and life locally, and around the world? Gig workers have exposed its broader shortcomings, revealing a strain on the foundational conditions necessary for an equitable and just society. In this bonus episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Robbie Warin, producer and host of The Fairwork Podcast at Oxford. Together they explore the stories of gig workers highlighting instances of worker activism and new government policies. Learn how the Fairwork Project applies a framework to analyze the precarity of gig work and technology through the lens of five principles of fair work. Hear how Robbie aims to center the voices of gig workers to increase understanding of the challenges they face and the need for global solutions.

Our economies, government structures, and the cities we live in are all designed by people. The current reality of global inequality, where some people suffer for the benefit of others is something people can take action to change. What role do you have in giving and taking? How do you decide which actions to take to move toward a more equitable future where everyone can thrive?In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Raj Joshi, an economist, entrepreneur, and activist with two decades of leadership experience in transformation and social impact. Raj shares insights and wisdom from his life that have shaped his worldview and inspired him to create a bold, compelling, and strategic vision that connects people and ideas that can move society toward a just, peaceful and regenerative future.

When crisis strikes, what role do humanitarian aid organizations play in serving the most vulnerable members of society? What type of lived experiences influence a person’s desire to dedicate their career to this type of work? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Kathryn Bolles of Save the Children. Kathryn shares her unique journey into social justice work including stories of delivering emergency care and relief to the people of Haiti and Somalia, and inspiring lessons she has learned about giving and philanthropy. Save the Children operates in 120 countries and facilitates the rapid delivery of evidence-based and innovative health and nutrition interventions that address the major causes of illness and death among humanity’s most vulnerable members.

How do you lead, socialize, and compel change through community with community? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Ken Ikeda of the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR). Together they explore stories about the people and experiences that inspired Ken to become an advocate for a talent network of independent producers and media makers. Hear about Ken's vision for the future of the industry including equitable pay for independent audio professionals who lack the built-in institutional support or guaranteed job security of other professions.

What role do nonprofit leaders have in challenging racial and economic injustice, and protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society, and how does this relate to gun violence in urban cities? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Wayne Clarke of the Oakland Impact Center and the City of Oakland's Ceasefire Strategy. Hear Wayne's approach to violence intervention and the surprising outcomes that are possible when the right messenger leads the outreach.

How do the stories we write help us understand our world and make connections to others? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Grant Faulkner, author and Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo generates deep and meaningful engagement in writing communities to transform ideas into the written word. The interview explores how writing taps into our imagination to shape perceptions, values, and belief systems and deepen humanity's understanding of one another and our collective ability to shape the future.

How are generous private contributions from corporations, foundations, and individuals applied to a portfolio tackling the root causes of complex and interconnected global issues to create a better future for all? What type of public charity is entrusted with these contributions to social change leaders in local communities and around the globe? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Rachel D. Latimore of Echoing Green, a social innovation fund and leader in the social impact space for over 30 years. Rachel D.'s work centers on building a Fellow community and culture that is deeply collaborative, inclusive, and equitable for nearly 1,000 global Fellows across 86 countries. Echoing Green strives toward a collective pursuit of justice, with the belief that humanity will rectify imbalances of power, cease exploitation, and ensure the rights and dignity of all.Rachel D. is a Social Sector Leadership Development Fellow and doctoral student at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development pursuing an EdD in Leadership and Innovation where she is focusing her problem of practice and dissertation work on advancing social impact by creating a framework that centers racial, cultural, and geographical equity to support social innovation leaders.

How do relationships and trust play a role in activating people's desire to take bold action when faced with adversity? Who in your community has the social capital to efficiently organize and deploy disaster response resources, and keep hope alive? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah interview Nick Haley, a youth advocate and civic leader in the heart of California’s Wine Country. Through health and natural disaster crises and transitions, some community nonprofits are at the forefront of driving change, innovation, and progress. Nick’s story shows how people can turn trauma to triumph. Despite numerous challenges facing youth service organizations, many nonprofit leaders demonstrate leadership, resiliency, and flexibility in their efforts to support their communities and model a path forward toward a thriving society.

What is the responsibility of freedom? Which guiding principles of philanthropy can be applied to build the conditions necessary for a thriving society? As the world increasingly looks to philanthropists to put humanity on a path to progress, Sarah and Joanne explore the story of Jamia Jowers and her journey through the halls of power, often serving as a representative stakeholder on behalf of those whose voice is underrepresented at the table of global decision-makers.

Do you believe in your ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of strangers in distress? What role can you play in creating societal change, and rekindling a spirit of love and hope for humanity? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Kerry Rodgers, an artist, educator, activist, and social impact entrepreneur in San Francisco.Kerry talks about her work, influences, and inspirations, and how these experiences of getting "proximate" to suffering can deepen understanding and change lives.Together they grapple with complexities in a conversation that explores a person's willingness to use kindness to meet people where they are and describes how even small acts can change lives, shape culture, and restore a sense of vitality to communities.

What role does tax policy play in influencing the social, economic, and democratic power structure that philanthropy is built upon?In this episode Joanne and Sarah interview Will Fitzpatrick, a technology and business lawyer, about the changing nature of private philanthropy, how major donors determine the focus of the work they choose to fund, and its influence on society.Will shares insights from his unique experiences working with high net worth individuals, family offices, and foundations to accelerate their philanthropic impact.

Where does philanthropy end and public policy begin? What role can philanthropy play in bringing people together? Who is part of the design process? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are joined by Sarah Berger Gonzalez to explore ways cash transfers can strengthen communities, and contribute toward a society where everyone thrives.

How do we ignite healthy conversations to illuminate hope in complex issues? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah interview Fred Dust, author of Making Conversation. Fred is a champion of the arts and civil society, supporting the visionary work of independent artists as a board member of the Sundance Institute and National Public Radio (NPR). His thought leadership has led to new thinking and ways to shift societal narratives.“My legacy is to be out there relentlessly telling stories of people who get through the hardest conversations in their life, and do it successfully.”

What does it take for a society to thrive? Who and what contributes to this intricate and complex system? In the second season of the Track Two Podcast, we focus on philanthropy and turn to the voices of activists, academics, policy pros, and nonprofit thought leaders to hear their inspiring personal stories, ideas, and explorations aimed at solving big problems and contributing toward vibrant, healthy societies. 

Each of us has a role to play in making our communities better. Where do we begin? What can we contribute, and how can we be of service to colleagues, friends and family? How do we know what’s needed? What if finding a solution to an organization’s or community’s problem could be achieved by talking to peers and connecting through a systematic support program delivered through an app?These are the types of problems Kevin Kuchta excels at solving. Join Joanne and Sarah in conversation with Kevin about his unusual journey to entrepreneurship and learn more about how Kevin and his team are designing software services built on principles of human centered design with the potential to ignite transformational change in mental health outcomes for first responders, and other groups.

What if job performance were evaluated on results, not when or where you work? Flexible work, also known as flextime or flexwork, is an arrangement that allows an employee to alter the start and end times of their workday around the normal schedule of 8 a.m.–5 p.m. independent of location.In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Ana Lucia Cepeda Ferrara of Monterrey, Mexico. Ana is the Founder and CEO of Bolsa Rosa, a LATAM company that provides talent and flextime solutions, building human-centered organizations with workforce innovation practices through their courses and collaborative software, Life Beyond Work. Bolsa Rosa boosts commitment and productivity in the workplace by empowering and connecting women in flextime jobs inside companies through their online job board.Ana Lucia is ranked as a #1 HR influencer in Mexico, according to the LATAM ranking and by Forbes Mexico as one of 100 most influential women. She was a finalist in Cartier's Women's Initiative and a regional finalist in MIT's Inclusive Innovation Challenge for income growth and job creation.

Technology has redrawn the landscape of civil society, connecting local and regional groups across the world and shaping public life. In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Branka Anđelković, co-founder and Program Director of the Public Policy Research Center, a Belgrade based think tank. Together they explore the concept of dialogue as a form of innovation and a driving force with the potential to shape the arc of technological change toward the public good.We often think of entrepreneurs and innovators as people who introduce new tools and digital resources. Through a broader lens, we see the power of values and ethics in shaping and exchanging ideas that lead to something “new.” These forces combine, creating the infrastructure of the 21st Century, including entrepreneurial ecosystems, giving rise to significant and complex challenges for societal cohesion as people wade through an unprecedented digital flood of information.Learn about how Branka uses values to navigate ambiguity and uncertainty, and why she advocates for youth to be included in conversations about the future.

How do you manage uncertainty and the unknown? What does it mean to step into your bigness? How do we shift from a world dependent on specialized skills, driven by repetition and designed in a rigid hierarchy to a world of dynamic, disruptive change? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah join special guest, the Honorable Henry De Sio, Jr., for a meaningful conversation about origins, adaptation, and "The Changemaker Effect."Listeners can expect stories about Henry's time as Global Chair of Framework Change at Ashoka and how his early experiences in California's San Joaquin Valley shaped his character and perception of people. He talks about the importance of developing empathy as a child, growing a service heart, and learning around your passion – how these things led him to the role of COO of Obama for America in 2008 and later to serve as Deputy Assistant to President Barack Obama in the White House from 2009 - 2011.

The saying, “you can do anything if you keep an open mind and are willing” is a common affirmation among people striving for goals that seem out-of-reach. Achieving a willing state of mind is often easier said than done. In this episode, Joanne and Sarah dive into the journey of entrepreneurship with Robin McIntosh. Learn how Robin achieved deeper career satisfaction and meaningful success as an entrepreneur and founder of multiple companies in digital health and social impact. As Co-CEO of Workit Health, Robin combines her talent as a designer and proud woman in recovery. Workit Health offers telemedicine addiction treatment through partnerships with health plans and employers to provide patients with evidence-based addiction treatment, lowering the barrier to care in states and regions that lack options.Hear Robin’s perspective about the experiences that helped her recognize the “art-of-war” competitive culture and dehumanizing effects that thrive within some large organizations and how she learned to identify the internal and external conditions that work best for her. She shares the benefits of having a business partner, protecting personal “downtime” and the way freedom of movement and open space allows people with large emotional wingspans to fully express their creativity.

Internal and external forces can foil some of life's best-laid plans. How do courage, determination, and inner drive combine to create new unexpected career paths? In this conversation, Joanne and Sarah interview Justine Evirs to explore how a person's entrepreneurial mindset and perception of success and failure allow for growth and adaptation amid unexpected detours and setbacks. Hear how Justine has responded to tests of her character and inner strength, transforming obstacles into a creative catalyst for something new.As a Navy veteran, Navy spouse, and Stanford GSB Ignite Graduate, Justine is proud of the work she has accomplished within military communities across the nation ranging from higher education, social entrepreneurship, innovative program design, grassroots community organizing, digital environment design, behavior change strategies, to nonprofit leadership & management.Justine Evirs is the host of Protecting Courage, and President and Founder of The Paradigm Switch, based in Kyiv, Ukraine.

What is it like to be an architect, an academic, and an entrepreneur? Find out as Joanne and Sarah host Hooman Koliji, PhD. Together the three explore Hooman’s unique journey from Tehran to San Francisco; exchanging ideas about the role of imagination, society’s perceptions of success, the influence families have on shaping youth, and encouraging multi-dimensional thinking.As an accomplished architect, academic, and CEO, Hooman bridges the world of academia and entrepreneurship. He is a distinguished fellow at the Academy of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (AIE) at the University of Maryland, where he leads Ecological Design Thinking, a design research enterprise featuring courses and workshops across disciplines of design, environmental technology, and engineering. He is the founder and CEO of CREO, based in the San Francisco Bay Area.Hooman is the author of In-Between: Architectural Drawing and Imaginative Knowledge in Islamic and Western Traditions, and Sketches from Iranian Architecture. He has spoken nationally and internationally on the subject of architectural representation and imagination and was featured in Architectural Digest Magazine as an expert in Iranian architecture.

When Catracha Coffee founder Mayra Orellana-Powell left Alameda, California to return to her native Santa Elena, Honduras, she would have never imagined that someone would produce an award-winning documentary film about her and her work, and then seven years later that Forbes’ Magazine would name her as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Central America. Mayra describes her early experiences growing up in Honduras and how her grandmother’s lessons about economic choice and independence fueled her success as an entrepreneur in the billion-dollar coffee industry, and inspired her to apply her talents for the benefit of her community and country.

Our first guest is a person of unyielding determination. Born in Southeast Europe in 1982, in a country where entrepreneurship was illegal until 1993, he has dedicated the last decade to developing startups, entrepreneurs, and improving life and work with technology. From Belgrade, Serbia, Vukasin Stojkov and his team at SEE ICT (Startit) has established itself as a preeminent hub for youth entrepreneurship, education, social activism, and networking.Vukasin describes his early influences and family life tracing his determined temperament to his present leadership role at Startit. With a team of experienced staff, a network of more than 100 mentors, more than 500 events, and projects, they have reached more than 125,000 people. He and his team have many accomplishments, including being part of Google for Startups partner network and having achieved a major milestone as the longest-running startup accelerator in Serbia.Startit operates a tech hub providing knowledge, skills, networking, and employment opportunities to Serbian youth, entrepreneurs, and IT professionals, through various projects: eight hubs and co-working spaces (Startit Centers) in eight different towns and cities in Serbia. Events include courses, conferences, meetups festivals, hackathons, as well as the leading local tech entrepreneurship media - startit.rs. Despite a lot of external difficulty and the added challenges of starting something new in an emerging economy, Vukasin's story is one of great ambition, inspiration, and strength.

Social Entrepreneurs Sarah Gerber and Joanne Gouaux are on a mission to explore the drivers of change at the heart of civil society. Expect empowering stories throughout the series in conversation with entrepreneurs, philanthropists, journalists, civic activists, and more. The co-hosts offer listeners, friendly, thoughtful conversations with talented people aiming to create something of value with a positive impact on society. Season One debuts in September 2020.tracktwo.media