Changemaker Q&A

Stepping into 2026 invites both uncertainty and opportunity, and this episode maps out the major social impact trends likely to shape the year ahead. Tiyana explores how digital influencers are increasingly functioning as de-facto political interpreters, why shifts in narrative strategy may strengthen the political right, and how anti-intellectual sentiment continues to gain visibility in public d...

What begins as a simple gesture of helping one person can spark a movement that reshapes communities. Sean shares his unexpected journey from preparing for a career in law enforcement to founding a grassroots homeless shelter that grew into multiple agencies. Along the way, he reflects on misconceptions about homelessness, systemic barriers that keep people on the streets, and the urgent need for...

Change rarely happens all at once — and in this reflective episode, Tiyana explores why social transformation is, and must be, a slow process. Drawing on the metaphor of a forest ecosystem, she examines how enduring change depends on deep-rooted, structural shifts as well as quick, visible wins that sustain our energy and hope. Tiyana discusses why it can feel like progress is stalling, how to sta...

How do we raise children in the midst of the climate crisis without being overwhelmed by fear or guilt? Bridget shares her story of growing up close to food systems, becoming a climate journalist, and navigating the decision to become a parent in an uncertain world. She offers practical strategies for helping children process eco-anxiety, cultivating curiosity as a lifelong skill, and balancing pe...

Many changemakers struggle with how to have meaningful conversations about social issues — especially when others just don’t seem to see things the same way. In this episode, Tiyana explores how we can approach dialogue in a way that builds understanding rather than deepens division. Drawing inspiration from the ancient Socratic method , she shares practical tools and mindsets that can help you en...

Karen Knight is a volunteer engagement specialist with a fascinating career journey from cabinet maker to consultant. In this episode, Karen shares her insights on how volunteering has shifted over the years, from traditional long-term commitments to today’s demand for flexibility and project-based opportunities. We discuss strategies for attracting and retaining volunteers, how to avoid saviouris...

Clarity doesn’t come from waiting for a lightning-bolt moment — it emerges through learning, doing, and reflecting. In this episode, Tiyana explores one of the most common questions for changemakers: How do I find clarity about my niche or purpose? Drawing on her own experience in academia and social impact practice, she unpacks two essential foundations of changemaking — knowledge and skills — an...

Dr Sheldon, author of The Guerrilla Scholar’s Handbook , shares how learning and scholarship can thrive beyond the walls of universities. From training intelligence professionals to co-founding a university and even building amateur rockets, his career exemplifies the unconventional pursuit of knowledge. This conversation explores the core skills and habits that support guerrilla scholarship, prac...

What truly defines a movement—and how does it differ from a protest or campaign? This episode unpacks the anatomy of social movements and explores how lasting transformation happens when individuals, organisations, and communities align around shared visions for change. From the abolition of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement to modern climate justice movements like Fridays for Future, we explo...

Social entrepreneur Greg Daley, founder of SeaBar, shares his journey from a career in high-end hairstyling to creating an innovative, eco-conscious haircare brand. Frustrated by the wastefulness of traditional shampoo and conditioner bottles, Greg developed bar shampoos in reusable applicators, designed to minimise plastic waste while also funding ocean cleanups with every purchase. He discusses...

Many changemakers and practitioners use the terms systematic, systemic, and systems change interchangeably, yet these words describe very different approaches to transformation. This episode explores how each concept operates within the context of social change, policy, and community development. Using practical examples such as homelessness, we explore how systematic change refers to methodical,...

In this episode I sit down with Jim Marshall, polymath, engineer, and author of Septemics: Hierarchies of Human Phenomena. Jim shares the remarkable story of how decades of working as a human development engineer led him to uncover 35 natural scales of human behaviour, each structured in seven levels. Together, we explore how these scales can help us understand ourselves, improve our relationships...

Philanthropy is often seen as synonymous with money, but funding is only one part of a much bigger picture. In this episode, we explore the five Ts of philanthropy—time, talent, ties, testimony, and treasure—and how each plays a critical role in shaping social change. From volunteering and sharing skills, to building networks, amplifying stories, and providing financial resources, this framework o...

In this episode, I sit down with journalist, author, and independent scholar Manny Faces to explore how hip hop is more than just a genre of music. Rooted in storytelling, creativity, and resilience, hip hop has become a cultural framework that inspires activism, shapes education, and builds community. From classrooms in New York to grassroots political movements in Alabama, Manny explains how hip...

What really drives social change—policy or culture? In this episode, we unpack a persistent misconception in the world of activism and advocacy: that visible policy wins are the ultimate measure of transformation. While mass demonstrations may not always lead to immediate legislative reform, they often signal deeper cultural currents at work. Drawing on sociology, anthropology, and systems thinkin...

It's no secret I love gardening, so I'm thrilled to be chatting with Matthieu, a regenerative garden designer whose journey began on his family farm and has taken him from early experiments with radishes, to academic study in landscape architecture, to transformative experiences in the Amazon Rainforest. Matthieu shares how permaculture principles reshaped his understanding of nature, why...

After six weeks of full-time work, launching the School of Social Impact’s first paid program, continuing to run the Humanitarian Changemakers Network, and preparing for a major conference, I came out of one of the busiest seasons of my life without burning out. In this episode, I share the five key strategies that helped me stay energised, avoid exhaustion, and keep momentum going. These lessons...

What is the point of life? In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Alex, author of The Philosophy, to explore what it truly means to question the status quo and reimagine how we live. From rethinking success and human connection to challenging capitalism and discussing transformative ideas like universal basic income, Alex invites us to consider whether the world we’ve built is the one...

In this episode of Changemaker Q&A, we dive into a core question at the heart of social impact work: how should we understand change itself? Drawing on research presented at the Research for Development Impact Conference in Sydney, we explore why linear models of growth and progress fall short, and how a more holistic, non-linear lens can transform the way changemakers design strategies and in...

What does it take to show up as a leader in a changing world? In this insightful episode, I spoke with author and leadership strategist Dave Chauhan about his groundbreaking concept of nautical leadership—a model designed for navigating uncertainty with purpose, adaptability, and courage. Drawing from his corporate experience, personal fears, and historical analogies, Dave explores why leadership...

I recently asked our community which 'story of our time' they believed in, and I was surprised by the responses. It got me thinking, do we have a moral imagination problem? Moral imagination is the ability to envision alternatives to the world as it currently exists. Drawing on Joanna Macy’s Work That Reconnects and her “three stories of our time”—business as usual, the great unravelling,...

Have you ever wondered how small business can build stronger communities? In this episode, we sit down with Janneh Wright, founder and CEO of Primus Business Management, to explore how small businesses can create meaningful social impact while staying financially sustainable. Janneh shares his journey from immigrating to the United States to building a 23-year-old back-office management firm suppo...

This episode explores the essential but often misunderstood distinction between Change Theory and Theory of Change. Change Theory offers general, research-informed explanations of how change occurs, drawing on decades of scholarship from psychology, sociology, organisational studies, economics, and environmental science. Theory of Change, on the other hand, is a context-specific framework that set...

In this episode, I speak with Jeff Hardy, founder of Care for Peace , whose life journey has taken him from serving as a U.S. Coast Guard Hospital Corpsman during the Vietnam War to building health and community development centres in Myanmar. Jeff shares how the simple act of caregiving revealed to him a profound relationship between care and peace, and how this insight has grown into a philosoph...

In this episode, we explore the power of shared vision in driving systems change—shifting from reactive responses to proactive, values-aligned transformation. Drawing on real-world applications of the VISION Framework developed during my PhD, I discuss how changemaking is less about fixing what’s broken and more about working together to realise what could be. When we co-create visions that reflec...