Pipelines, People, and Leading Under Pressure with Meagan Flippin

Pipelines, People, and Leading Under Pressure with Meagan Flippin

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 the best thing you can do for a high performer is prepare them to leave you better than they arrived.   What You’ll Learn in This Episode:  * Why Meagan would rather have a "10 for two years than a two for ten" — and what that means for how you invest in your team.  * How to lead through a crisis without passing your panic to the people around you. * What a healthy leadership pipeline actually looks like inside a nonprofit — and the one sign that tells you an organization is getting it wrong. * Why change management is as much about pacing and sequencing as it is about the change itself. * How to own your professional development when no one's handing you a roadmap. Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies [https://www.one12strategies.com/podcast], brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

ENCORE: From Grit to Grace: Sunny Bray on Purpose, Loss, and Leading Out Loud

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 building a business rooted in values, relationships, and the belief that nonprofit work deserves abundance, not scarcity.    What You’ll Learn in This Episode:  * Why Sunny built a consultancy that puts nonprofit missions, not metrics, at the center of the work.  * How grief, motherhood, and mentorship reshaped her approach to leadership and boundaries. * Why nonprofits need trusted partners, not just service providers—and how to find the right support. * How to lead authentically, say no with confidence, and prioritize what truly matters. Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies [https://www.one12strategies.com/podcast], brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

Institutions, Influence, and the Long Game with David McIntosh

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, Adam and David explore the principles behind building institutions that outlast their founders, the role of networks as the true currency of influence, and how to balance principle with pragmatism when the political process is designed to slow you down. David shares hard-won lessons from a loss in the Indiana governor's race that reshaped how he leads. He opens up about navigating the tension between free market orthodoxy and modern populism, when to take half a loaf and when to walk away, and why telling the truth, even when it's inconvenient, is the foundation of every lasting relationship in politics and in life. This episode is for anyone building something bigger than themselves and who wants to understand how ideas actually become impact. Catalysts for Change is brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit catalystsforchangepod.com. Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies [https://www.one12strategies.com/podcast], brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

Lead Like a Marine: Running Toward Challenges with John Warren

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 real estate investment lending companies, John shares the lessons that shaped his approach to leadership under pressure. Together, they explore the importance of core values, leading from the front, building high-performing teams, political courage, and why trust is earned most in difficult moments. John also reflects on the transition from combat to business, his run for governor of South Carolina, and the leadership principles behind his bestselling book, Lead Like a Marine. This episode is a candid and deeply practical conversation for leaders navigating pressure, responsibility, and the challenge of building mission-driven teams in uncertain environments. Catalysts for Change is brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit catalystsforchangepod.com. Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One 12 Strategies [https://www.one12strategies.com/podcast], brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies [https://www.one12strategies.com/podcast], brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative

From the Inside Out: Stephanie Coleman on Growth, Grit, and Getting It Right

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 six different roles before being named CEO in 2025. She opens up about the real shift in mindset that comes with moving from deputy to chief, from executing plans to casting vision,  and why leading at a sustainable pace matters just as much as leading with urgency. Stephanie discusses the Chamber's Partnership 2030 economic development strategy and its three pillars: community vitality, mobility, and character, as well as bold goals, such as growing Chamber membership by 50% in five years.  The conversation also gets personal. Stephanie reflects on the hardest leadership lesson she's learned, how she stays grounded outside the office, and what she wishes she had known in her first year as CEO.  Thoughtful, honest, and full of practical wisdom, this episode is essential listening for anyone navigating a leadership transition or driving meaningful change in their community. Catalysts for Change is brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit catalystsforchangepod.com. Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One Twelve Strategies [https://www.one12strategies.com/podcast], brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative