Pro RoundUp: VolPro’s Top Nonprofit Podcasts of the Year
We’re big fans of podcasts here at VolunteerPro!
I mean…what’s not to love? The storytelling, the motivation and encouragement, the business smarts, not to mention the ease of instant access and portability on your favorite mobile device. Podcasts are awesome!
There is plenty of content out there (literally millions of podcasts to choose from!), so the VolPro team decided to help you cut through the clutter and potentially discover a new favorite by sharing our recommendations for top nonprofit podcasts of the year.
A quick note before we dive in: you can likely find and download these podcasts from your favorite streaming platform, but we’re linking to the homepage for each one to get you right to the source.
Also, look out for an asterisk by some podcast titles – these are highly entertaining, but do contain some salty language that is not appropriate for all audiences.
Now, without further ado, here are our podcast recommendations for your listening ear!
Top Nonprofit Podcasts: Business/Professional Development
Our Recommendation: The Mind Your Business Podcast with James Wedmore
Why We Love It: There’s solid business advice dished out each week, but the special sauce lies in the mindset reminders and the possibilities of what can happen when you practice exceptional mindset hygiene.
Our Recommendation: Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell
Why We Love It: Julia knows her stuff! If you’d like to improve your marketing and communications or boost your fundraising result, Julia’s podcast is the place to be. She combines strategic smarts with straight talk and great guests to bring you ideas and inspiration galore.
Our Recommendation: Nonprofits Are Messy Podcast with Joan Garry
Why We Love It: Each month, Joan helps the helpers by hosting guests that cover all aspects of nonprofit leadership with warmth and a dose of good humor. Her guests often challenge conventional thinking about what it takes to lead and offer practical tips for nonprofits of all sizes.
VolPro is proud to partner with Joan and the Nonprofit Leadership Lab as an affiliate to bring her great resources to our audience. VolPro may earn a commission if you sign up or make a purchase using our links but no worries – we love the Nonprofit Leadership Lab, and you will too! For instance, check out Joan’s fantastic free resource 5 Practices of an Outstanding Nonprofit HERE>>
Our Recommendation: Membership Geeks Podcast with Mike Moran and Callie Willows
Why We Love It: When you are ready to build a thriving community of volunteers online, this podcast can help. Each week, Mike and Callie cover the basics of running a thriving online membership community. While most of their audience run paid membership (like VolunteerPro!), the strategies and tactics they cover for engaging audiences using digital tools are rock solid and easy to follow. (Full disclosure: We are members of their membership – how meta is that?!)
Our Recommendation: Art of Newsletters-The Nathan Barry Show
Why We Love It: Nathan Barry is the founder of ConvertKit, an online email software that welcomes other founders and entrepreneurs on the podcast. The Podcast focuses on how people are using technology to grow audiences and evaluate audience-to-scale growth. It is an easy listen and has great tips on audience-building that would be very helpful for nonprofits growing newsletters and social media presence.
Our Recommendation: Ask a Manager
Why We Love It: Although the Ask a Manager podcast has been put on a permanent hiatus, there is so much content still available. All the advice shared by Alison Green is from real people asking questions. The questions can range from how to say no to what to do if someone smells. A good reference for leaders of volunteers or anyone working with people.
Our Recommendation: The Groupfinity Podcast
Why We Love It: Host Anthony Wilson is a seasoned volunteer and serial board member himself, so he knows about the challenges small nonprofits face. With humor and warmth, Anthony interviews leaders of small nonprofits around the country and shares their helpful tips and inspiration from the field.
Tobi was a recent guest on the Groupfinity podcast and shared some important things to consider before onboarding your next volunteers. Listen to that episode HERE>>
Top Nonprofit Podcasts: Motivational/Entrepreneurial
Our Recommendation: By the Book *
Why We Love It: By the Book is a comedy podcast that reviews the self-help genre of books. Two friends, Kristen and Jolenta read the books, boil down the advice into steps, and live by the book for two weeks. The podcast is the product of the two weeks living by the book. Each of the hosts gives a different take on the advice as they incorporate it into their lives, usually resulting in some laughs and/or opposing viewpoints. The hosts also point out societal disparages and privileges as well as how they use their platform to bring issues to light.
Our Recommendation: Smart Passive Income Podcast with Pat Flynn
Why We Love It: This podcast offers great advice to entrepreneurs looking to start, or grow, an online business. Pat’s advice is easy to understand and implement, his passion is infectious, and his expertise in email and affiliate marketing has helped propel this podcast to over 60 million downloads on ITunes.
Our Recommendation: Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield
Why We Love It: If you’ve struggled to incorporate digital marketing into your volunteer recruitment and communications strategy, this podcast can help. While the target market is budding entrepreneurs, Amy’s solid strategies can easily be translated into nonprofit communications tactics, as well. Check her podcast show notes for oodles of freebies that can help you implement what she teaches.
Our Recommendation: Authors Who Lead with Azul Terronez
Why We Love It: If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book to serve the field of volunteerism, this podcast can help you overcome your fears and get going. Azul interviews first-time and best-selling authors and takes us behind the scenes into the world of book publishing. (Full disclosure: Tobi has enrolled in Azul’s coaching program and has starting her book-writing journey – stay tuned for more!)
Top Nonprofit Podcasts: Just for Fun
Our Recommendation: After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe *
Why We Love It: If you are a Ted Lasso or soccer fan, and you need a break from work, you will love this cheeky and direct review of all the happening this World Cup 2023. It’s fun to see two entertainment professionals share the trials and tribulations of watching their favorite team (lose). What’s more, Lowe is one of the most successful female sports broadcasters in the world that most people don’t even know about – her work is a masterclass on how to cover the sporting news deep knowledge and with panache.
Our Recommendation: Dolly Parton’s America
Why We Love It: The storytelling in this short series is fantastic, and everyone loves Dolly Parton! She is a great unifier of people that are very different and this series dives into why. Dolly is welcoming to everyone and is always in on the joke. Beyond the sheer entertainment, it’s a great reminder of the importance of hospitality and not taking yourself so seriously when working with others.
Our Recommendation: Celebrity Book Club with Chelsea Devantez *
Why We Love It: Guilty pleasure! Chelsea and her guests read and dissect (the good, bad, and ugly) celebrity memoirs. There is smart, relevant, and funny commentary that goes with each book. It’s like listening to friends at a book club! The hosts often have opposing viewpoints and discuss the motivations of celebrities based on their pasts. It’s all about understanding where others are coming from and not taking everything at face value.
Our Recommendation: From The Chamber
Why We Love It: Tulsa, OK was an incubator for many music legends including Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, and Leon Russell, and is the birthplace of the “Tulsa Sound,” a singular mix of blues, rock, country, and swing. Tulsa entrepreneur and music lover Teresa Knox recently completed a historic restoration on Leon Russell’s Tulsa studio – now on the National Register of Historic Places – and has brought it back to life as both a museum and working recording studio. This podcast from the studio features an eclectic mix of up-and-coming musicians, veteran performers sharing colorful stories of the good old days, and lovers of music, history, art, and architecture.
Special Shout-Out: Our Own Podcasts!
Did you know: Tobi loves podcasts so much that she currently produces two of her own!
Our Recommendation: Volunteer Nation Podcast
Why We Love It: This podcast is infused with Tobi’s 25+ years of experience working in nonprofits, her “big hat” thinking, and straight talk about what it takes to achieve success in today’s world. With a mix of interviews and solo shows, Tobi covers the all the pressing topics for today’s volunteer-involving organizations.
Our Recommendation: Time+Talent Podcast
Why We Love It: Tobi co-hosts this podcast with Jennifer Bennett of VolunteerMatch, and each episode features a leader of volunteers making a difference in the sector. Every story is sure to touch your heart, inspire, and encourage you. Bonus: Tobi and Jen are old friends, so when they get together you know it’s going to be a great time!
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