Changemaker Q&A

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...

In this thought-provoking conversation, investigative author and wellness advocate Michael J. Dorfman reflects on more than five decades of critical inquiry into systems of power—from the Vietnam War and Big Tobacco to vaccine mandates and digital censorship. Now in his 80s, Dorfman shares insights into the role of independent thinking in an era of algorithmic control, the importance of whole-food...

In this episode, we explore the critical role of systems thinking in understanding and responding to some of Australia’s most pressing issues: youth crime, the housing crisis, bushfires, and mental health. These challenges are characterised by intricate interdependencies across social, economic, and environmental domains, defying simplistic solutions. Drawing on recent research and policy analysis...

What happens when a stand-up comedian, spiritual teacher, and musician turns his attention to the fractures in our political and emotional landscapes? In this moving and poetic episode, Scott Grace—also known as the Spiritual Dr. Seuss—joins us to explore how humour, creativity, and compassion can help us navigate increasingly polarised times. From rhymed wisdom and political poetry to musical imp...

In this episode, we honour the late Joanna Macy by exploring her influential body of work, The Work That Reconnects—a framework that weaves together deep ecology, systems thinking, spirituality, and social change. We delve into the three dominant cultural narratives she identified, the four-part spiral that guides transformative practice, and the five vows that support ongoing commitment to the Gr...

In this deeply reflective episode from the HCN archives, we speak with holistic health coach Francesca Bleckner about the invisible foundations of wellbeing in an age of burnout, disconnection, and digital overload. Drawing on her decades-long journey through fitness, fatigue, and transformation, Francesca shares how breathwork, spirituality, and a return to simplicity can unlock vitality and pres...

What if the problem with many social change efforts isn’t poor strategy, but flawed assumptions about how change actually happens? In this episode, we interrogate the limitations of linear causality in complex social systems. While logic models and strategic plans often rely on neat, input-output frameworks, real-world change is rarely so predictable. Social phenomena such as poverty, climate inju...

In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation from the HCN archives, Dr Pamela Gurley shares the compelling story of her journey from military medic to multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, author, academic and advocate. Speaking with honesty and clarity, Dr Gurley reflects on how trauma, identity, and purpose intersect across personal and professional realms. With practical wisdom for changemaker...

In a digital age marked by relentless information flows, viral content, and algorithmic influence, changemakers face a critical challenge: how to consume news and media in a way that is both mindful and analytically rigorous. This episode explores the profound transformation of the information ecosystem—where traditional journalistic gatekeepers have been replaced by decentralised, opaque, and oft...

In this evocative conversation from the HCN archives, author and spiritual teacher Wajid Hassan shares his extraordinary life journey—from working as a field service engineer in England to becoming a union actor in Hollywood, and eventually emerging as a spiritual guide and author of The Struggle for World Sanity . Through intimate recollections and reflections, Hassan discusses the intersection o...

How can research become a catalyst for social change? In this episode, we explore the multifaceted role of research as a tool not only for understanding the world but for transforming it. Far from being the exclusive domain of academics, research emerges as a form of praxis — a recursive cycle of inquiry, reflection, and action that can support changemakers across sectors. Whether you are an educa...

What does it truly mean to build peace? In this episode, we move beyond the narrow definition of peace as merely the absence of war, and explore the transformative vision of positive peace — a concept rooted in justice, inclusion, and systemic resilience. Drawing on the work of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), we unpack the Eight Pillars of Positive Peace and examine how they offer a d...