The Smart Communications Podcast show

The Smart Communications Podcast

Summary: The Smart Communications Podcast helps busy nonprofit leaders build their communications skills and develop their organization’s voice. Every episode shares insights and practical tips to help you leverage strategic communications to advance your nonprofit’s mission.

Podcasts:

 Episode 32: What data really matters? | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 14:08

George Weiner, Founder and Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, a social impact tech company, sits down with us to discuss all things data—why it matters for nonprofits, what data to pay attention to, how to visualize and share it, and how to get started with Google Analytics. This is a must-listen if you’re a nonprofit communicator responsible for collecting and measuring data related to your mission, or a nonprofit leader looking to foster a more data-driven culture at your organization.

 Episode 31: Should you rename your nonprofit? | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 25:46

Farra Trompeter, Big Duck’s Vice President, and Dan Gunderman, Big Duck’s Creative Director, have successfully facilitated many nonprofit name changes throughout the years. In this episode, they discuss reasons why more nonprofits are changing their names, what it takes, and lessons they’ve learned that may help organizations thinking about evolving—or radically changing—their name.

 Episode 30: How do you structure a growing communications team? | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 17:24

Suzanne Shaw is Director of Communications at the Union of Concerned Scientists and has over three decades of expertise in nonprofit and private sector marketing and communications. She restructured her communications department with the intention to build in-house capacity, increase efficiency, bridge “channel-silos,” and measure marketing efforts more effectively. Tune in to hear how she did it and get tips for deciding what a nonprofit with a small communications team should take on in-house vs. outsource.

 Episode 29: Can you legally use that photo or song? | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 12:00

Marcus dePaula, co-founder of Mixtus Media and producer of this podcast, is an expert in online content creation. In this episode he breaks down creative commons licensing, explains the ethical (and credibility) issues in grabbing images from Google for fundraising appeals or marketing communications, and shares resources for great, free photography and music every organization can use.

 Episode 28: How can you facilitate better internal communications? | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 18:15

Nonprofit leaders must make their vision clear and get everyone—staff, board, and other stakeholders—aligned and motivated to work toward it together. For Wayne Ho, President and CEO of CPC (Chinese American Planning Council), this means communicating effectively with over 4,000 employees. In this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, Wayne shares three essential rules that guide all of his internal communications. Want to learn more about how Wayne encourages all 4,000 of his staff members to be effective brand ambassadors? Listen here.

 Episode 27: How can an executive director realize their vision? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13:27

Vince Warren reflects on his twelve years (and counting!) as Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. Over the course of his tenure, Vince has built the organization around its potential—and his vision of what it could become. Tune in to learn about his, and the Center for Constitutional Rights’, journey. Want more on the Center for Constitutional Rights? Read all about our branding work together in the case study, or listen to a conversation we shared with Chandra Hayslett, the Center for Constitutional Rights’ Communications Director.

 Episode 26: What is “strategy?” | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 12:18

In this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, two members of Big Duck’s strategy team, Laura Fisher and Gil Mejia, define strategy, unpack the differences between strategic goals, objectives, and tactics, and offer tips for nonprofit communicators looking to develop their strategic thinking. If you want more resources on strategy, download our free ebook, Achieve more: Putting strategy to work for your nonprofit.

 Episode 25: Should your nonprofit podcast? | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 19:12

Chandra Hayslett, Communications Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, sits down to share her experiences launching the podcast, The Activist Files, for her organization. She discusses why she started the podcast, results she’s seen so far, the nuts and bolts of production, and shares practical tips for starting a podcast for your nonprofit. Curious about the Center for Constitutional Rights’ rebrand? Read about our work together in the case study here.

 Episode 24: How can you communicate better with the board? | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 21:11

Craig Shelley, Managing Director of Orr Group, shares how nonprofit leadership and staff can foster stronger, more productive relationships with board members. He unpacks different board types and offers simple suggestions for executive directors looking to build trust and partnership with their board, and more.

 Episode 23: How can nonprofit communications leaders collaborate more effectively? | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 17:43

Elise Dowell is Vice Chancellor for Communications and External Affairs at The Jewish Theological Seminary. Since joining JTS in 2002, Elise has lead transformational communications efforts, upgraded their recruitment marketing program, and won two Emmy Awards. She sat down with us to share lessons she has learned over her illustrious career, focusing on how to collaborate more effectively and build organizational alignment around the value of communications.

 Episode 22: What are the ingredients of great storytelling? | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 17:08

Jenny Dyson, Ruler and Creative Director of Pencil, a creative agency specializing in brand storytelling in the UK, shares her experiences turning content from one conference into a rich, multi-channel story for her client, One Small Thing. She also shares practical advice for nonprofit communicators looking to translate their organization’s work into clear, compelling, and authentic stories.

 Episode 21: How can communications help development? | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 19:42

Sarah Durham and Farra Trompeter head to Fundraising Day to ask development professionals one question: “What can communications do to support development?” You’ll hear answers at the beginning of this episode from Samantha Coolidge, New York Area Director of Advancement at Moishe House, Margaret Fredrickson from Graham Pelton, Leslie Weber, Deputy Executive Director for External Relations at Hudson Guild, Gary Weinberg, President of DM Pros, Cathy J. Sharp, Director of Development and Communications at Care for the Homeless, Simone Joyaux, author and consultant, and Arik Thormahlen, Director of Development, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary at Mount Sinai Health System. Then, Farra and Sarah have a candid conversation about the relationship between development and communications, sharing tips for building stronger donor communications.

 Episode 20: How do you get affiliates to speak with one voice? | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 14:43

Stephanie Paul, Vice President of Marketing and Development at the American Parkinson Disease Association shares how the rebranding process helped APDA unite its 19 local chapters and ensure all had the tools to communicate with one clear voice.

 Episode 19: How can you get your new brand to stick? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 16:28

In this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, Ally Dommu, Big Duck’s Director of Strategy, shares the four core elements a nonprofit organization needs in place internally—culture, team, assets, and reflection—to ensure the hard work of a rebrand doesn’t go to waste.

 Episode 18: Should you fire that lousy board member? | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: 11:41

Simone Joyaux, author of “Firing Lousy Board Members,” and organizational management, development, and fundraising expert tackles what makes a great nonprofit board. She maps out the process of getting smarter about governance and shares the steps nonprofit boards can take right away to begin reflecting, discussing, and reaching consensus about what good governance looks like.

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