Catalysts for Change

What happens when the moment you're most remembered for becomes only a small part of your story? In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with former Tennessee Titans wide receiver, educator, and school founder Kevin Dyson for a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the leadership lessons that emerge long after the spotlight fades. For many fans, Kevin will for...

What does it take to create meaningful change in a world where people increasingly distrust institutions, information, and one another? In this episode of Catalysts for Change , Adam Lister sits down with Erin Hafkenschiel, President of ThinkTennessee, to explore the leadership lessons she has learned while working across philanthropy, city government, higher education, transportation policy, and...

What does it take to lead through uncertainty without losing sight of purpose? In this episode of Catalysts for Change , Adam Lister sits down with Dr. Greg Jones, President of Belmont University, to explore the intersection of leadership, faith, innovation, and institutional transformation. Drawing from a career that has spanned theology, higher education, and organizational leadership, Greg shar...

What does it take to create lasting change in a community? In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with Hal Cato, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, for a conversation about leadership, philanthropy, and the power of staying close to the people you serve. Hal shares the experiences that shaped his leadership journey, from feeling like an under...

In this episode, Adam Lister sits down with Meagan Flippin, CEO of Nashville's Center for Nonprofit Excellence, whose career spans the United Way network, the Musicians Hall of Fame, and 20 years of watching organizations say they develop leaders — and mostly fall short. With refreshing honesty, Meagan reflects on what she got wrong early, what actually builds a leadership pipeline, and why t...

Encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes.  In this episode, Adam Lister sits down with Sunny Bray, founder of Catalyst Collective and a champion for nonprofits and mission-driven organizations, from her early days in corporate sales to launching a community-first consultancy. Sunny shares how grief, grit, and bold purpose shaped her path. With honesty and insight, she reflects on bu...

David McIntosh has spent four decades at the center of the American conservative movement. First, co-founding the Federalist Society as a law student, then serving in the Reagan and Bush administrations, authoring the Congressional Review Act as a freshman congressman, and leading the Club for Growth into one of the most influential political organizations in the country. In this conversation, Ada...

What does leadership look like when the stakes are at their highest? In this episode of Catalysts for Change , Adam Lister sits down with former Marine infantry officer, entrepreneur, and author John Warren for a conversation on resilience, integrity, and leading through uncertainty. From leading more than 300 combat missions in Ramadi during the Iraq War to building one of the nation’s leading re...

What does it look like to lead an organization you've spent nearly two decades growing inside of? In this episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister sits down with Stephanie Coleman, President and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, for a candid conversation about stepping into the top seat and everything that comes with it. Stephanie joined the Chamber in 2008 and served in...

Season 3 of Catalysts for Change launches with a powerful conversation between Adam Lister and Nashville Sheriff Daron Hall, a leader who has spent more than two decades rethinking what public safety can look like. Sheriff Hall shares the defining question that has guided his career: not who commits crimes - but why . That perspective has led him to challenge long-held assumptions about incarcerat...

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with Beth Harwell, Tennessee’s first female Speaker of the House and one of the state’s most influential political leaders. Over three decades in public service, Harwell helped shape landmark policy on education, welfare reform, taxation, and public health—often bridging deep divides through civility and pragmatic compromise. Harwell s...

In this special bonus episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister addresses questions directly from listeners and community conversations—covering a range of topics, including politics, leadership, burnout, advocacy, and AI. Adam opens up about the myths around “buying politicians,” what frustrates him most about today’s political climate, and how he defines his work in strategy and advocacy...

In this powerful episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister talks with Alex Nelson, a corporate leader and dedicated community advocate whose journey from trauma to healing has shaped her life and leadership. By day, Alex drives global supply chain strategy in Nashville’s tech industry. Beyond her corporate role, she serves on the board of the Nashville Sexual Assault Center, where she has becom...

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister speaks with Krissy DeAlejandro, Executive Director of Tennessee Achieves, the nonprofit powering the Tennessee Promise scholarship program. From growing up in rural McMinnville as a first-generation college student to leading one of the most ambitious college access programs in the country, Krissy’s journey is defined by resilience, humility, an...

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with Sam Davidson, CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, to explore what it means to choose purpose over comfort. Twice in his career, Sam walked away from stability; first from a promising corporate career and later from a thriving company he co-founded to follow a deeper calling. Sam shares his journey from launching Cool People...

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with Tara Scarlett, President & CEO of the Scarlett Family Foundation . Tara shares how becoming a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters transformed her perspective, leading her to reimagine what’s possible for students and families across Tennessee. Drawing from her career in both corporate marketing and philanthropy, Tara e...

From growing up in one of Memphis’s most under-resourced neighborhoods to leading a statewide network of change-makers, Dr. Alfred Degrafinreid’s story is one of resilience, purpose, and leadership. In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Alfred—now President & CEO of Leadership Tennessee—reflects on the lessons that shaped his journey through government, higher education, and nonprofit leade...

In Part Two of our conversation with Katie Dieckhaus and Todd Cruse, we turn toward the future of Voices for a Safer Tennessee. Building on the emotional origins shared in the first part of this conversation, Katy and Todd discuss how the organization is navigating disagreement, setting “rules of the road,” and creating sustainable strategies for long-term impact. They share lessons on intentional...

In this powerful episode of Catalysts for Change , host Adam Lister talks with Katy Dieckhaus—mother of nine-year-old Evelyn, one of the six victims of the Covenant School shooting—and Todd Cruse, board chair of Voices for a Safer Tennessee. Katy shares moving stories of Evelyn’s life and the ways her daughter’s spirit continues to guide her advocacy. Todd, a Republican gun owner and neighbor, ref...

In this episode, Adam Lister sits down with Sunny Bray, founder of Catalyst Collective and a champion for nonprofits and mission-driven organizations, from her early days in corporate sales to launching a community-first consultancy, Sunny shares how grief, grit, and bold purpose shaped her path. With honesty and insight, she reflects on building a business rooted in values, relationships, and the...

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister welcomes Harry Allen—sixth-generation Nashvillian, co-founder of Studio Bank, and now Chief Financial Officer at Belmont University. Known for his values-based leadership and belief in building relationship capital, Harry shares how intentionality, service, and clarity of mission have guided every step of his unconventional journey. From la...

Episode Summary In this episode of Catalysts For Change, host Adam Lister sits down with longtime Nashville civic leader Ralph Schulz, former CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. With decades of experience navigating growth, crisis, and transformation, Ralph shares what it takes to guide a city through massive change—without losing its soul. From economic development to situational leade...

In this episode of Catalysts for Change , Adam Lister sits down with David Mansouri, President and CEO of SCORE (State Collaborative on Reforming Education), to talk about the leadership lessons, policy wins, and long-view strategy behind Tennessee’s transformation in public education. David shares how a passion for politics and a background in music led him to a career in education policy—and how...

In this powerful kickoff episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister sits down with Randy Boyd — entrepreneur, education leader, and relentless change-maker — to unpack a career built on hustle, heart, and an unshakable mission to make things better. From starting college at 16 and launching a multi-million dollar business from the back of a van, to reshaping Tennessee’s higher education lan...