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by Martha Schumacher
Welcome to Glad You Asked, a show about how active listening can help you build stronger connections with folks in your life, personally and professionally. I’m Martha Schumacher and I’ve spent my career asking leaders, funders, donors, and community members thoughtful questions to help find the real reasons behind why they do what they do. And when you pursue these deeper connections, you ultimately arrive at the heart of what really matters: establishing trust. On each episode of Glad You Asked, we’ll explore three questions, one from our guest, one from a listener, and one from me. During a conversation with mission-driven leaders, we’ll test how each question, each compelling prompt, makes active listening possible and deepens our relationships. Afterwards, we’ll take a look at how effective our questions were in guiding a meaningful conversation, and leave you with a call to action, so you can use these questions in your own work and life.
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- Oct 5, 202651 min
Tycely Williams - How can I support you?
What does support truly look like? Martha and her guest, Tycely Williams, CEO for Liberty Fellowship, discuss the idea of support within the nonprofit sector as well as everyday life. The two also explore how self-awareness is essential for leaders and managers, especially knowing when to step up and when to step back. Throughout, you’ll learn how Active Listening has been key to Tycely’s work around building just and equitable communities, sustaining educational institutions, and being the leader that she wants to see in the world. Join us for a powerful episode about confidence, thoughtfulness, reciprocity, kindness, and of course, improving communications.Here are this episode’s questions:Guest Q from Tycely Williams: How can I support you?Martha’s Q: When do I step up, and when do I take a step back?Listener Q from Adrienne Taylor: How do you want to be contacted?Action Item:This week, reflecting back on Adrienne’s question, take a look at what way you most like to hear from someone. Ask yourself, “How would I like to be contacted?” Do you have lingering Whatsapp messages that you always forget to read? Do you have an inbox that’s so cluttered you don’t dare open it? Do you prefer talking on the phone to texting? Or is it a combination of multiple channels depending on the situation/circumstance? Take inventory of the many available contact methods and rank them based on what you find. Then, next time someone reaches out to you in your least favorite way for that particular situation, request that they pivot to one you prefer. They’ll be happy that they can get a hold of you easier, and you’ll be glad you asked.Resources and links:Liberty Fellowship: https://libertyfellowshipsc.org/Connect to Give: https://www.connecttogive.net/The Nonprofit Alliance: https://tnpa.org/RASCI Project Framework:ResponsibleAccountableSupportConsultedInformedThis is a tangible tool that helps us expand and evolve, being open minded and having a growth mindset.Also lightens our cognitive loads.Credits:Glad You Asked is a Hazen Institute for Leadership Training podcast.Join us on Patreon for more in-depth content.If you have a question you’d like me to ask on our show, or you’ve used one of the questions from an episode in your life, send Martha Schumacher a message on LinkedIn, or send me an email at hello@hazeninc.com. Learn more at hazeninc.com.Produced by Patrick and Benjamin Childers of Odd Conduit Media.Original music by Bassel & The Supernaturals featuring Herbie Hunkele on trumpet.
- Sep 7, 202652 min
Rusty Stahl - What is one thing I can do right now to help protect the nonprofit sector?
Welcome to Glad You Asked, a show about how active listening can help you build stronger connections with folks in your life, personally and professionally.Episode OverviewThis episode’s questions:Guest question Rusty Stahl: What is one thing I can do right now to help protect the nonprofit sector?Martha’s question: What self-care steps are you taking right now so that you can live to fight the good fight another day?Listener question Derek Mulhern, Executive Director of the Cultivating Change Foundation: How are you keeping staff - and keeping them inspired?Action Item:Think about one healthy change you can make in your work routine, such as changing one weekly meeting from Zoom to phone so that you can take that walk while you’re talking. Or perhaps it’s putting a time limit on your most toxic social media app, or not giving as much of your time to an acquaintance whose care isn’t reciprocal. Or maybe it’s actually turning your computer off at 6pm. Before you know it, you’ll have time to do something to help protect the nonprofit sector, or at a minimum to put on your oxygen mask so you can live to fight the good fight another day. Guest call-out area:Fund the People: fundthepeople.orgNational Council of Nonprofits: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/Fund the People Podcast Playlists: https://fundthepeople.org/podcast-collections/Staff Operating Support - https://nonprofitquarterly.org/nonprofits-need-funding-for-staff-operating-support/Meico Marquette Whitlock - What to do When Work Doesn’t Love You Back - https://mindfultechie.com/books Nonprofit Quartlerly - https://nonprofitquarterly.org/ Beth Canter - Happy, Healthy Nonprofit: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/the-happy-healthy/9781119251118/Credits:Glad You Asked is a Hazen Institute for Leadership Training podcast.Join us on Patreon for more in-depth content.If you have a question you’d like me to ask on our show, or you’ve used one of the questions from an episode in your life, send Martha Schumacher a message on LinkedIn, or send me an email at hello@hazeninc.com. Learn more at hazeninc.com.Produced by Patrick and Benjamin Childers of Odd Conduit Media.Original music by Bassel & The Supernaturals featuring Herbie Hunkele on trumpet.
- Aug 3, 202646 min
Nneka Allen - What is the nature of the love you carry?
Welcome to Glad You Asked, a show about how active listening can help you build stronger connections with folks in your life, personally and professionally.Join Martha Schumacher and this episode’s powerhouse guest Nneka Allen of The Empathy Agency for a conversation about accountability, trust, justice, and most of all, love. The ultimate goal of Active Listening is to build trust, and Nneka expertly explains how building trust is a stepping stone toward love. The two explore how understanding the way we each love, along with our core values, can help us to understand the different perspectives we each hold, to truly understand one another and build empathy. Here are this episode’s questions:Guest Q from Nneka: What is the nature of the love you carry?Martha’s Q: Am I showing up with empathy or apathy...or a little of both?Listener engagement Q from Birgit Smith Burton: Is my gift helping or hurting? Action Item:How would YOU answer the question, “What is the nature of the love you carry?” How would you share your answer with someone close to you who may not have the same values? Further, how would they answer, and are you ready to ask them? While it may not be true in every single case, their answers may surprise you - they’ll likely be very personal and, more often than not, bring up universal truths about human bonds and community.Nneka’s insightful follow-up question: How can we be more trustworthy?Resources & Links:Nneka’s substack: https://theempathyagency.substack.com/The Empathetic Nonprofit Leader Lab: https://courses.theempathyagency.ca/joinus-8b6e357a-8b8c-4d22-9c10-72fb0e83d75fThe Empathetic Power Checklist: https://courses.theempathyagency.ca/offers/q6Jzgya5/checkoutPrentice Hemphill’s book: What it Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World: https://prentishemphill.com/book Credits:Glad You Asked is a Hazen Institute for Leadership Training podcast.Join us on Patreon for more in-depth content.If you have a question you’d like me to ask on our show, or you’ve used one of the questions from an episode in your life, send Martha Schumacher a message on LinkedIn, or send me an email at hello@hazeninc.com. Learn more at hazeninc.com.Produced by Patrick and Benjamin Childers of Odd Conduit Media.Original music by Bassel & The Supernaturals featuring Herbie Hunkele on trumpet.
- Jul 6, 202649 min
Michelle Flores Vryn - How are you different than your peer organizations?
Most nonprofit leaders struggle to articulate what truly makes them distinct. In this episode, Michelle Flores Vryn reveals how differentiating your organization isn’t just branding jargon, it’s the key to standing out in a crowded sector while inspiring trust in your community and potential donors. This episode also dives into how leaders can foster a culture of authenticity and visibility, as well as methods to help clear the mind to prepare for important conversations in order to be more present during these interactions.Here are this episode’s questions:Martha’s Q: Are you clearing your brain and deeply listening to the person across from you?Listener engagement Q from Cecelia Caspram: "How do we inspire others to prioritize leading with integrity, care, and compassion as essential - not soft - skills?"Guest Q from Michelle Flores Vryn: "How are you different than your peer organizations?"Action Item:Ask yourself, how am I different from my peers at my organization? Make a list of your skills and responsibilities. With this list, you'll be able to discover your own unique contributions to your organization. Once you've built this list, ask yourself: does this match your job description? If not, how have you shifted your role to better meet your organization's needs? And of course, is this how you want to represent yourself?Resources & Links:Nonprofit Futures: https://www.nonprofitfutures.com/Michelle’s substack: https://michellefloresvryn.substack.com/Social Impact Staff Retention Project: https://www.thenonprofiteers.com/sisrConnect with Michelle on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/michellefloresvrenCecelia Caspram: https://www.fortheloveofhumanity.community/Community Centric Fundraising: https://communitycentricfundraising.org/For ongoing learning, check out the show’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/GladYouAsked
- Jun 1, 202644 min
Willeke van Rijn - What is the world that we want to see?
Welcome to Glad You Asked, a show about how active listening can help you build stronger connections with folks in your life, personally and professionally.Episode OverviewThis episode’s questions:Guest question (Willeke): What is the world that we want to see?Martha’s question: What are your personal leadership and management styles and why?Listener question Bernard Ross of MC Consulting: What are two to three ways the social impact sector can help to build a more equitable society?Action Item:Explore Martha’s question about leadership and management styles. What's your style and why? Reminder, if you don't manage another staffer, that doesn't mean you aren't a leader. Think about what you do daily, weekly, monthly to lead, and how you manage relationships with your colleagues, with your boss, with your donors, etc.#6 Active Listening Key Element: SummarizingSummarizing in active listening involves condensing the speaker's main points, core ideas, and underlying emotions into your own words. This technique verifies your understanding, makes the speaker feel validated, and naturally transitions the conversation toward resolution or the next topic.#7 Active Listening Key Element: EmpathyEmpathy is the cornerstone of active listening. It requires suspending judgment and setting aside personal biases to genuinely understand the speaker's emotions and perspective. Rather than simply waiting for your turn to speak, empathic listening builds trust, defuses conflict, and fosters deep emotional connection.Martha’s 5 priorities as a leader:Authenticity, accessibility, empathy, transparency, vulnerabilityResources & Links:Resource AllianceRegister for IFC 2026 before July and get the early bird discount!International Fundraising Congress (IFC)Calling All Heroes by Tammy ZonkerPratham in India (Example of watchdog role)Connect with Willeke van Rijn:LinkedInTwitterCredits:Glad You Asked is a Hazen Institute for Leadership Training podcast.Join us on Patreon for more in-depth content.If you have a question you’d like me to ask on our show, or you’ve used one of the questions from an episode in your life, send Martha Schumacher a message on LinkedIn, or send me an email at hello@hazeninc.com. Learn more at hazeninc.com.Produced by Patrick and Benjamin Childers of Odd Conduit Media.Original music by Bassel & The Supernaturals featuring Herbie Hunkele on trumpet.
- May 4, 202648 min
Tammy Zonker - How do we create an organizational culture that is more human centered?
Join Martha Schumacher as she explores the power of active listening and human-centered organizational culture with her guest Tammy Zonker, founder of Fundraising Transformed. Discover practical insights and questions to deepen connections and foster trust in any setting and prioritize the important needs of our communities. Stay tuned until the end for a chance to win a copy of Tammy’s new book, Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact.Here are this episode’s questions:Guest question (Tammy Zonker): How do we create an organizational culture that is more human centered?Martha’s question: What is the biggest challenge in your job day to day?Listener question (Lacey Slay): What is the number one trait leaders need to be successful? Action Item: Talk with a colleague, friend, or even a stranger and ask: “What is the number one trait humans need to be successful?” You’ll be showing that you respect their opinion, and you’ll come away with new insights and maybe even some great advice! Tammy’s follow up questions:That's so interesting. Tell me more about that.How did you come up with that idea? What problem are we solving with that approach? Help me understand. I'm very interested in that. How long have you felt that way?Have you always felt that way?Tammy Zonker’s Links:LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/tammyzonkerTwitter - https://twitter.com/tammyzonkerPodcast - https://podcast.com/intentionalfundraiserResources:Fundraising Transformed - https://fundraisingtransformed.comCalling All Heroes (Book) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7F4X9X2Credits:Glad You Asked is a Hazen Institute for Leadership Training podcast.Join us on Patreon for more in-depth content.If you have a question you’d like me to ask on our show, or you’ve used one of the questions from an episode in your life, send Martha Schumacher a message on LinkedIn, or send me an email at hello@hazeninc.com. Learn more at hazeninc.com.Produced by Patrick and Benjamin Childers of Odd Conduit Media.Original music by Bassel & The Supernaturals featuring Herbie Hunkele on trumpet.
- Apr 6, 202648 min
Vu Le - What Brings You Joy?
In this episode of ‘Glad You Asked’, Martha is joined by Vu Le, a two time executive director, one of the Founders of Community Centric Fundraising, and author of a wildly popular blog and creator of NonprofitAF. He also recently published his first book, Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy: Unlocking the Full Potential of a Vital and Complex Sector. The two discuss joy, overcoming toxic professional standards, rethinking leadership structures, and much more. Vu’s comfortable, thoughtful approach allows for a personable conversation as the two unpack many harmful unwritten rules in the social impact sector. Stay tuned until the end for a chance to win a free copy of Vu’s new book! Here are this episode’s questions.Vu’s Q: What brings you joy?Martha’s Q: What can I do to help make your experience here better?Cherian Koshy’s Q: If you were in-house today, which leadership model would you want to be a part of and why?Action item: Take a moment over the next week or so to ask a colleague, “What is bringing you joy right now?” It’s an easy one, and you’ll enjoy hearing the answer.Resources:Nonprofit AF: https://www.nonprofitaf.com/Buy a copy of Vu Le’s book, Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy: Unlocking the Full Potential of a Vital and Complex Sector: https://www.nonprofitaf.com/book/Philanthropy Active ListeningEmpathyNonProfitLeadership RolesLeadership Hierarchies
- Mar 9, 202650 min
AmickyCarol Akiwumi - How might we co-create the future you actually want?
In this episode of ‘Glad You Asked’, Martha is joined by AmickyCarol Akiwumi, CEO and founder of The Avocado Foundation and host of the World Changers Podcast, to discuss co-creation, the importance of exit strategies and evolving needs, economic justice in the social impact sector, and much more. Amicky Carol shares her personal journey and confronts the difficult but necessary task of understanding when you’re no longer needed in a space, and having faith that there is a calling for each of us.Here are this episode’s questions.Amicky’s Q: How might we co-create the future you actually want?Martha’s Q: How do you determine what board(s) you want to join?Michelle Flores Vryn’s Q: What part of your own story do you see in the story of our mission?Three questions that Amicky Carol asks herself when she’s considering whether or not to say yes to an invitation to join a particular Board:1. Do I really care about the mission and is it something I’ll give money to and/or volunteer for?2. Do I bring something distinctive that they actually need right now? Am I needed and if so, why?3. Will serving here accelerate my own growth in a way that serves my personal mission?Action item:Take a look at your own organization and ask yourself the question, “Is your organization co-creating the future your mission recipients actually want?” In other words, “Are your organization's leaders co-creating with their beneficiary partners or not?” And if the answer is no, what are possible ways you can approach your organization's leaders and ask this question?Resources:Avocado Foundation: avocadofoundation.orgResource Alliance - International Fundraising Congress: resource-alliance.orgArticle - Inequality Vs. Poverty: thisvsthat.io/inequality-vs-poverty
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About Glad You Asked
Welcome to Glad You Asked, a show about how active listening can help you build stronger connections with folks in your life, personally and professionally. I’m Martha Schumacher and I’ve spent my career asking leaders, funders, donors, and community members thoughtful questions to help find the real reasons behind why they do what they do. And when you pursue these deeper connections, you ultimately arrive at the heart of what really matters: establishing trust. On each episode of Glad You Asked, we’ll explore three questions, one from our guest, one from a listener, and one from me. During a conversation with mission-driven leaders, we’ll test how each question, each compelling prompt, makes active listening possible and deepens our relationships. Afterwards, we’ll take a look at how effective our questions were in guiding a meaningful conversation, and leave you with a call to action, so you can use these questions in your own work and life.
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