Ecosystems For Change
Transforming communities is hard work. That may go without saying, but when your job is about helping your neighborhood, city or region thrive, talking about being underpaid, burnt out and frustrated with the slow pace of change is kind of frowned upon. As ecosystem builders, we amplify the work of local makers, doers and innovators by championing their efforts and rallying support around them. And maybe most importantly, we build a culture of trust and collaboration among all stakeholders, so that the doers and innovators among us have equal access to information, talent and resources when they need them. On Ecosystems for Change we'll explore how ecosystem building can help us unleash the full potential of the makers, doers, innovators and visionaries in our communities. And I’ll be talking with my guests about the tactics and practical skills they use in their everyday work and what they do to prevent burning the candle at both ends.
- Update frequency
- every 9 days
- Average duration
- 37 minutes
- Episodes
- 75
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
E 6.1 - The Power of Storytelling in Ecosystem Building
In season 6 of Ecosystems for Change, we are going to explore the art, craft, and science of telling meaningful stories that have the power to affect change in our communities.
I’ve always enjoyed hea…
Ecosystems For Change: Logbook #6
Welcome to my 6th logbook where I give a little insight into what’s happening behind and beyond the scenes of this show.
And I’m switching up the format a little bit! I’ve been meeting so many incredi…
E 5.8 - What We Learned: Knowing When and How to Move On as an Ecosystem Builder
Over the course of this season, quitting became a constant topic in my life.
One of my team members quit to take on a new role closer to home. A new friend talked to me about quitting her job to spend…
E 5.7 - Unlearning Systems, Sharing Power, and Stepping Back From Your Startup with Naomi Ryland
In our last conversation of this season, we’re traveling to Berlin, Germany. I’m sitting down with Naomi Ryland, systemic change maker, social entrepreneur, bestselling author and overall insightful …
E 5.6 - The Art of Quitting: Gracefully Navigating the Responsibility of Change with Lucas Lindsey
In today's episode, we're traveling to Phoenix, Arizona to chat with Lucas Lindsey.
Lucas is an ecosystem builder turned real estate developer. We talked about planning for succession and the importan…
E 5.5 - Start. Hand over. Repeat. The Cycles of Ecosystem Building with Larkin Garbee
In today's episode, I want to introduce you to my longtime friend and OG ecosystem builder, Larkin Garbee.
Larkin has put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into jumpstarting entrepreneurial support ini…
E 5.4 - Grief, Quitting, and Listening to the Your Heart with Annie Wood
In today’s episode, we’re making our way to Fargo, North Dakota to talk to Annie Wood.
I first met Annie through Startup Champions Network and was fortunate enough to visit her community during our Fa…
E 5.3 - Self-Trust and Curating Impactful Community with Julia Firestone
Today, I want you to meet Julia Firestone.
Julia is a transformational leadership and career coach who serves experienced social impact professionals to help them unleash their biggest positive impact…
E 5.2 - Recognizing Your Strengths and When It's Time to Sail On with Joe Maruschak
When Joe Maruschak left his home ecosystem of Eugene, Oregon, it sent ripples through our community of ecosystem builders.
In the public farewell letter that he wrote in July 2021, he voiced what so m…
E 5.1 - The Quitters: Quitting the Infinite Game of Ecosystem Building
In this season of Ecosystems for Change, I’m talking to my guests about their experience with quitting.
As much as I dislike quitting–I really do–I understand it is part of life. We evolve and so do t…
The Ecosystem Builders: Where Are They Now?
As I was wrapping up the first year of the show, I found myself wondering what had come of all those great plans and even greater unknowns that many of my guests had shared with me when they were on …
Federal Funding for Ecosystem Builders with Melissa Roberts Chapman
Before we kick off the next season, I have a very special episode for you today.
At the end of 2022, I found out that there are several federal funding opportunities for entrepreneurial ecosystem bui…
Ecosystems For Change: Logbook #5
Welcome to my fifth logbook, an in-between-seasons update on what’s happening in the field of entrepreneurial ecosystem building, what’s going on behind the scenes of the show, and what is happening …
E 4.9 - Season 04 Review: Conflict, Trust, and Social Capital
Throughout this season, we really traveled through the lowest valleys and highest mountaintops of ecosystem building.
My guests shared some of their hardest experiences of facing and trying to navigat…
E 4.8 - Succession Planning: Transferring Social Capital To The Next Generation with Rick Turoczy
For our last interview of the season, we’re headed to Portland, Oregon, to chat with Rick Turoczy.
As Silicon Florist and co-founder and general manager of the Portland Incubator Experiment, or PIE, R…
E 4.7 - The Know-How via Know-Who of Social Capital with Julie Heath
For today’s episode, we make our way to Indianapolis, Indiana, to talk to Julie Heath, Vice President of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
Julie was the first…
E 4.6 - Investing in the Lives of Founders with Todd Nuckols
If you listened to the very first episode of this show, the name Todd Nuckols and part of the following story might sound familiar.
When I first moved to the US eight years ago, Todd was one of the ve…
E 4.5 - Communities of Practice: Taking the Time to Build Trust with Margo Fliss
For today’s episode, we’re headed to Anchorage, Alaska to sit down with Margo Fliss.
Margo is a lifelong and proud Alaskan; when she’s not building the entrepreneurial ecosystem for the state of Alask…
E 4.4 - Dissent, Trust and Conflict with Cecilia Wessinger
Today, I want you to meet Cecilia Wessinger, who I’ve known for several years through her work as a community activator with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and her role at Startup Champions Net…
E 4.3 - The Power of Positive Social Capital with Jess Edwards
Today’s conversation did not take me far from home because my guest, Jess Edwards, is in the midst of wrapping up a project in Danville, VA.
Jess is a project-based ecosystem builder who has done this…