Dot Org: How Nonprofits Tell Their Stories Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:16:04 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438145 en-us © 2026 Dot Org: How Nonprofits Tell Their Stories yes 200e90a1-8fb5-5c75-961b-49f3394b400f Pearl Impact Media episodic true For businesses and organizations with a purpose-driven mission, telling their own story can feel daunting. Dot Org is the podcast that helps nonprofit leaders master the foundations, techniques, and effectiveness of storytelling.

It's hosted by Matt Pearl, a nationally award-winning broadcast journalist who now runs Pearl Impact Media, providing meaningful, memorable video storytelling for nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Pearl Impact Media https://storage.buzzsprout.com/klylut7ktlwoglybm5mnvvw8f3ua?.jpg Dot Org: How Nonprofits Tell Their Stories EP 17: Building your nonprofit's storytelling culture, with Helene Prokesch EP 17: Building your nonprofit's storytelling culture, with Helene Prokesch I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

If you’re a loyal listener of this podcast, or if you’ve followed me in any context – social media, my workshops about nonprofit storytelling – you’ve probably heard me talk about Lekotek of Georgia. For nearly 15 years I have been on the board at this terrific nonprofit in the Atlanta area. In that time, we have built up a culture of storytelling that I always reference as a model for other nonprofits of a similar size: meaning, relatively small. It’s only fitting that I’d devote a full episode of DOT ORG to interviewing the woman at the heart of the organization, Helene Prokesch. She’s been the executive director of Lekotek ever since she founded it in 1983.

]]> I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

If you’re a loyal listener of this podcast, or if you’ve followed me in any context – social media, my workshops about nonprofit storytelling – you’ve probably heard me talk about Lekotek of Georgia. For nearly 15 years I have been on the board at this terrific nonprofit in the Atlanta area. In that time, we have built up a culture of storytelling that I always reference as a model for other nonprofits of a similar size: meaning, relatively small. It’s only fitting that I’d devote a full episode of DOT ORG to interviewing the woman at the heart of the organization, Helene Prokesch. She’s been the executive director of Lekotek ever since she founded it in 1983.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-19348853 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400 1892 1 17 full false EP 16: Ethical storytelling for nonprofits, with Magdalena Verdugo & Frank Velásquez EP 16: Ethical storytelling for nonprofits, with Magdalena Verdugo & Frank Velásquez I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

We’re 16 episodes in, and we’re breaking new ground: two guests! It's a special moment for a special subject: ethical storytelling, and how nonprofits protect our clients while advocating and fundraising for our organizations. My guests do exactly this through their work with YWCA Southern Arizona. Magdalena Verdugo is the Y's CEO. Frank Velásquez is the founder of 4 Da Hood. They join me on DOT ORG.

]]> I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

We’re 16 episodes in, and we’re breaking new ground: two guests! It's a special moment for a special subject: ethical storytelling, and how nonprofits protect our clients while advocating and fundraising for our organizations. My guests do exactly this through their work with YWCA Southern Arizona. Magdalena Verdugo is the Y's CEO. Frank Velásquez is the founder of 4 Da Hood. They join me on DOT ORG.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-19247461 Wed, 27 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2317 1 16 full false EP 15: Documentary storytelling for nonprofits, with Candice Jordan EP 15: Documentary storytelling for nonprofits, with Candice Jordan I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

This is an episode I’ve been anticipating for months, because it’s about a project I haven’t really said much about publicly. But it’s a project that means so much to me, and it’s a project that I think could be of such great use for nonprofits nationwide looking to, quite simply, change the conversation.

I was approached early last year by Candice Jordan, the Chief Development Officer for Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. She was interested in video beyond the ample video they already do. She was looking for a project of major scope that would change the conversation around affordable housing and place homeownership in the center of that. The result is a 15-minute documentary called Rooted that is rolling out publicly this spring.

Jordan is my guest for this episode of DOT ORG.

]]> I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

This is an episode I’ve been anticipating for months, because it’s about a project I haven’t really said much about publicly. But it’s a project that means so much to me, and it’s a project that I think could be of such great use for nonprofits nationwide looking to, quite simply, change the conversation.

I was approached early last year by Candice Jordan, the Chief Development Officer for Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. She was interested in video beyond the ample video they already do. She was looking for a project of major scope that would change the conversation around affordable housing and place homeownership in the center of that. The result is a 15-minute documentary called Rooted that is rolling out publicly this spring.

Jordan is my guest for this episode of DOT ORG.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-19087337 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400 2317 1 15 full false EP 14: Lessons in nonprofit storytelling from a nonprofit news outlet, with Lucas Grindley EP 14: Lessons in nonprofit storytelling from a nonprofit news outlet, with Lucas Grindley I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

Let me take you back almost five years. I had just accepted a job with Scripps Media to be a national correspondent. Scripps owns more than 60 local TV news stations. I would travel the country, putting together stories to air on all of those stations. The subject? The issues the news didn’t cover enough, and the people, groups, and communities bringing solutions. My first task was to become as well-read on as many issues as possible facing our towns and cities.

That’s when I discovered Next City, a nonprofit news outlet telling those very stories in print form.

Over the next few years, the perspective and insights I gathered from groups like Next City guided my own storytelling in so many ways. I’m a regular listener to their podcast. I’m happy to have their executive director, Lucas Grindley, on mine. He’s here to talk about storytelling from a nonprofit news model … and storytelling tips any nonprofit can use.

]]> I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

Let me take you back almost five years. I had just accepted a job with Scripps Media to be a national correspondent. Scripps owns more than 60 local TV news stations. I would travel the country, putting together stories to air on all of those stations. The subject? The issues the news didn’t cover enough, and the people, groups, and communities bringing solutions. My first task was to become as well-read on as many issues as possible facing our towns and cities.

That’s when I discovered Next City, a nonprofit news outlet telling those very stories in print form.

Over the next few years, the perspective and insights I gathered from groups like Next City guided my own storytelling in so many ways. I’m a regular listener to their podcast. I’m happy to have their executive director, Lucas Grindley, on mine. He’s here to talk about storytelling from a nonprofit news model … and storytelling tips any nonprofit can use.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-18902935 Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0400 2103 1 14 full false EP 13: infusing your brand into your storytelling, with Ana Maria Páramo EP 13: infusing your brand into your storytelling, with Ana Maria Páramo I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

This interview is not only going to be insightful for you; it’s a personal one for me. In fall 2025 I produced an impact video for Community Farmers Markets in Atlanta. It was a true pleasure, because I’ve been going to their different markets for years. Working on their video, I was so impressed with CFM’s approach, in a few ways that I think will be illuminating for your organization: (1) having a brand and brand strategy that informs your storytelling goals; and (2) trusting your community with the challenges you face. My guest is Ana Maria Páramo, co-executive director and creative director of Community Farmers Markets.

]]> I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

This interview is not only going to be insightful for you; it’s a personal one for me. In fall 2025 I produced an impact video for Community Farmers Markets in Atlanta. It was a true pleasure, because I’ve been going to their different markets for years. Working on their video, I was so impressed with CFM’s approach, in a few ways that I think will be illuminating for your organization: (1) having a brand and brand strategy that informs your storytelling goals; and (2) trusting your community with the challenges you face. My guest is Ana Maria Páramo, co-executive director and creative director of Community Farmers Markets.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-18743951 Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500 1987 1 13 full false EP 12: Your nonprofit's video storytelling game plan for 2026 EP 12: Your nonprofit's video storytelling game plan for 2026 I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

As I record this, it’s early January. If you work with or lead a nonprofit, you’re probably either figuring out and embarking on your strategic game plans for the year. If that plan includes video – and it absolutely should, because of all the ways video tells your story best – I want to provide a framework for how to determine your investment in 2026. This is your nonprofit's video game plan for 2026. We talk larger strategy, dive into the two paths for video storytelling, and for each you’ll leave with three questions/prompts to get yourself and your organization started with investing in video in the year ahead. 

]]> I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

As I record this, it’s early January. If you work with or lead a nonprofit, you’re probably either figuring out and embarking on your strategic game plans for the year. If that plan includes video – and it absolutely should, because of all the ways video tells your story best – I want to provide a framework for how to determine your investment in 2026. This is your nonprofit's video game plan for 2026. We talk larger strategy, dive into the two paths for video storytelling, and for each you’ll leave with three questions/prompts to get yourself and your organization started with investing in video in the year ahead. 

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-18500073 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500 1514 1 12 full false EP 11: successful video strategy for nonprofits, with Ashley Stewart of FreeRent.Org EP 11: successful video strategy for nonprofits, with Ashley Stewart of FreeRent.Org I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

As someone who spends my days making videos for nonprofits, I always admire the nonprofits that have a clearly defined strategy for video. And in Atlanta, a recent client of mine is a perfect example.

FreeRent.Org is a young nonprofit, but you wouldn’t know it by their video output. They post everywhere, from Instagram to LinkedIn. They use videos on their web site. And they recently brought me in for a video specifically geared at a major fundraising event. They do it on all fronts, and they do it well. My guest is Ashley Stewart, the executive director of FreeRent.Org, with a thoughtful look into how they thrive.

FREERENT.ORG IMPACT VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW8Y16ryv34

]]> I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast, DOT ORG, is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

As someone who spends my days making videos for nonprofits, I always admire the nonprofits that have a clearly defined strategy for video. And in Atlanta, a recent client of mine is a perfect example.

FreeRent.Org is a young nonprofit, but you wouldn’t know it by their video output. They post everywhere, from Instagram to LinkedIn. They use videos on their web site. And they recently brought me in for a video specifically geared at a major fundraising event. They do it on all fronts, and they do it well. My guest is Ashley Stewart, the executive director of FreeRent.Org, with a thoughtful look into how they thrive.

FREERENT.ORG IMPACT VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW8Y16ryv34

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-18324773 Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0500 1771 1 11 full false EP 10: Ten lessons on nonprofit video storytelling from ten episodes of Dot Org EP 10: Ten lessons on nonprofit video storytelling from ten episodes of Dot Org This is Episode 10. It’s a milestone episode. Double digits. And in each of the first nine, I can tell you how I feel when I finish listening. Invigorated. Ready to get out there and do what I love for this space. And thankful for all the nuggets of insight provided by our guest. 

I want to try to capture that in this episode by mining those insights, specifically those about video. We’re switching it up a bit. No guest today … it’s just me. And I’ll be going through ten lessons from ten episodes of Dot Org about nonprofit storytelling through video. We all know video can be complicated. It can be intimidating. It can challenging. And that’s just doing one video, let alone building a strategy around it. But not only is it possible to fundraise and raise awareness through video, I’d say it’s essential for long-term growth. 

]]> This is Episode 10. It’s a milestone episode. Double digits. And in each of the first nine, I can tell you how I feel when I finish listening. Invigorated. Ready to get out there and do what I love for this space. And thankful for all the nuggets of insight provided by our guest. 

I want to try to capture that in this episode by mining those insights, specifically those about video. We’re switching it up a bit. No guest today … it’s just me. And I’ll be going through ten lessons from ten episodes of Dot Org about nonprofit storytelling through video. We all know video can be complicated. It can be intimidating. It can challenging. And that’s just doing one video, let alone building a strategy around it. But not only is it possible to fundraise and raise awareness through video, I’d say it’s essential for long-term growth. 

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-18089949 Tue, 28 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0400 890 1 10 full false EP 9: the pillars of nonprofit storytelling, with Kacey Koeppel, The Pink Agenda EP 9: the pillars of nonprofit storytelling, with Kacey Koeppel, The Pink Agenda I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast. is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

Sometimes organic conversations just turn into a podcast, and that's what happened here. I was chatting on Google Meet with Kacey Koeppel, associate director of the Pink Agenda, and the discussion was so rich that I inquired, "Do you think we could continue this on my podcast?" In this episode, Koeppel speaks about the pillars of nonprofit storytelling and how to approach it, no matter your nonprofit's size. 

]]> I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast. is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

Sometimes organic conversations just turn into a podcast, and that's what happened here. I was chatting on Google Meet with Kacey Koeppel, associate director of the Pink Agenda, and the discussion was so rich that I inquired, "Do you think we could continue this on my podcast?" In this episode, Koeppel speaks about the pillars of nonprofit storytelling and how to approach it, no matter your nonprofit's size. 

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-17953446 Mon, 06 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400 1934 1 9 full false EP 8: empowering nonprofits to share their story, with Lasima Turmon, Community Foundation CSRA EP 8: empowering nonprofits to share their story, with Lasima Turmon, Community Foundation CSRA I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast. is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

For Episode 8, I'm excited to bring in Lasima Turmon, program director for the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area. I gave a workshop for her foundation last month, and it was a rich, rewarding conversation about video storytelling. The concerns and questions on the minds of those in the room are among the many things we discuss here.

]]> I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast. is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

For Episode 8, I'm excited to bring in Lasima Turmon, program director for the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area. I gave a workshop for her foundation last month, and it was a rich, rewarding conversation about video storytelling. The concerns and questions on the minds of those in the room are among the many things we discuss here.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-17820910 Wed, 10 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400 1925 1 8 full false EP 7: Ralph Jean, Resource Rural, on rural storytelling & tips for nonprofits EP 7: Ralph Jean, Resource Rural, on rural storytelling & tips for nonprofits I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast. is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

For Episode 7, I'm excited to bring in Ralph Jean of Resource Rural. When I give presentations on visual storytelling for nonprofits, I always discuss the importance of the overarching strategy. Creating videos and posting them on social media is great, but if you don’t know how that fits into your larger goals, you’re not using video to your best potential. As the communications manager for Resource Rural, Ralph Jean brings a unique perspective on this.

]]> I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast. is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

For Episode 7, I'm excited to bring in Ralph Jean of Resource Rural. When I give presentations on visual storytelling for nonprofits, I always discuss the importance of the overarching strategy. Creating videos and posting them on social media is great, but if you don’t know how that fits into your larger goals, you’re not using video to your best potential. As the communications manager for Resource Rural, Ralph Jean brings a unique perspective on this.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-17652430 Mon, 11 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0400 1875 1 7 full false EP 6: Zach Toombs, Evident Media, on storytelling tips any nonprofit can use EP 6: Zach Toombs, Evident Media, on storytelling tips any nonprofit can use At this time in 2024, I was a news reporter, working for the person who’s my guest today: Evident Media founder and executive director Zach Toombs.

Back in '24 we worked for a for-profit news company. Now Toombs runs a not-for-profit news organization, boldly taking on documentary storytelling from a nonprofit model. Not only has he overseen masterful long-form projects throughout his career, but in this role he also oversees how he tells the story of his own upstart organization. Through that, he shares insights that are valuable for nonprofits of any size with any level of background in storytelling.

]]> At this time in 2024, I was a news reporter, working for the person who’s my guest today: Evident Media founder and executive director Zach Toombs.

Back in '24 we worked for a for-profit news company. Now Toombs runs a not-for-profit news organization, boldly taking on documentary storytelling from a nonprofit model. Not only has he overseen masterful long-form projects throughout his career, but in this role he also oversees how he tells the story of his own upstart organization. Through that, he shares insights that are valuable for nonprofits of any size with any level of background in storytelling.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-17452341 Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400 1965 1 6 full false EP 5: Bethany Wiggin, My Climate Story, on embracing all forms of storytelling EP 5: Bethany Wiggin, My Climate Story, on embracing all forms of storytelling A few weeks back, I read about the Climate Storytellers Summit, bringing in fascinating individuals doing critical storytelling work on maybe the most critical issue of our lives. The summit platformed so many voices, and one of the leaders behind it is my guest on this episode: Bethany Wiggin, co-founder of the University of Pennsylvania’s Program in Environmental Humanities and the founder of Penn’s My Climate Story initiative.

]]> A few weeks back, I read about the Climate Storytellers Summit, bringing in fascinating individuals doing critical storytelling work on maybe the most critical issue of our lives. The summit platformed so many voices, and one of the leaders behind it is my guest on this episode: Bethany Wiggin, co-founder of the University of Pennsylvania’s Program in Environmental Humanities and the founder of Penn’s My Climate Story initiative.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-17232726 Tue, 27 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400 1672 1 5 full false EP 4: Lydia Storie, Caring Across Generations, on carving attention for your mission EP 4: Lydia Storie, Caring Across Generations, on carving attention for your mission Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

We are now into Episode 4, and unlike Episodes 1 thru 3, I had not met the person I was interviewing until a few minutes before our conversation. But I’d worked with her organization on one of the most important projects of my career as a journalist.

Back in the fall of 2022, I put together a documentary for Scripps Media called The Love of Care. I spent a day in the life with six individuals who serve as unpaid caregivers members of their families. Through that project I became familiar with Caring Across Generations, an advocacy group that doesn’t just speak up for caregivers. They teach caregivers how to speak up for themselves, how to tell their own stories.

The person who oversees that work, among other things, is the person I shared the screen with for this episode: Lydia Storie, the director of culture change for Caring Across Generations.

]]> Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

We are now into Episode 4, and unlike Episodes 1 thru 3, I had not met the person I was interviewing until a few minutes before our conversation. But I’d worked with her organization on one of the most important projects of my career as a journalist.

Back in the fall of 2022, I put together a documentary for Scripps Media called The Love of Care. I spent a day in the life with six individuals who serve as unpaid caregivers members of their families. Through that project I became familiar with Caring Across Generations, an advocacy group that doesn’t just speak up for caregivers. They teach caregivers how to speak up for themselves, how to tell their own stories.

The person who oversees that work, among other things, is the person I shared the screen with for this episode: Lydia Storie, the director of culture change for Caring Across Generations.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-17013800 Mon, 21 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400 1703 1 4 full false EP 3: Jeronica Harts, Purpose Built Schools Atlanta, on embracing authenticity in nonprofit storytelling EP 3: Jeronica Harts, Purpose Built Schools Atlanta, on embracing authenticity in nonprofit storytelling I got the chance to know this guest late last year when I collaborated with her and her organization on an impact video. We hit it off quickly over a shared love of a few select storytelling projects and a similar outlook on embracing authenticity when telling your own story.

That’s the topic for Episode 3 of DOT ORG.

And she is my guest: Jeronica Harts, Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships for Purpose Built Schools Atlanta.

]]> I got the chance to know this guest late last year when I collaborated with her and her organization on an impact video. We hit it off quickly over a shared love of a few select storytelling projects and a similar outlook on embracing authenticity when telling your own story.

That’s the topic for Episode 3 of DOT ORG.

And she is my guest: Jeronica Harts, Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships for Purpose Built Schools Atlanta.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-16801925 Sun, 16 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0400 1822 1 3 full false EP 2: Andreas Karelas, RE-volv, on storytelling as the mission EP 2: Andreas Karelas, RE-volv, on storytelling as the mission Recently I worked with a client that provides grants and guidance for nonprofits in the climate space, particularly solar and clean energy. They wanted a video that spotlighted several of their grantees, which – in one case – sent me on a cross-country trip to the Bay Area to meet a truly impressive nonprofit with an equally impressive leader. He is the founder and executive director of RE-volv, Andreas Karelas.

For more than a decade, RE-volv has made storytelling central to not just its marketing but its mission. It's listed as a climate justice nonprofit that helps nonprofits across the country go solar, while also raising awareness about solar's benefits. Video intertwines with that mission, and it's a non-negotiable investment for Karelas and his team.

Karelas is my guest on Episode 2 of DOT ORG.

]]> Recently I worked with a client that provides grants and guidance for nonprofits in the climate space, particularly solar and clean energy. They wanted a video that spotlighted several of their grantees, which – in one case – sent me on a cross-country trip to the Bay Area to meet a truly impressive nonprofit with an equally impressive leader. He is the founder and executive director of RE-volv, Andreas Karelas.

For more than a decade, RE-volv has made storytelling central to not just its marketing but its mission. It's listed as a climate justice nonprofit that helps nonprofits across the country go solar, while also raising awareness about solar's benefits. Video intertwines with that mission, and it's a non-negotiable investment for Karelas and his team.

Karelas is my guest on Episode 2 of DOT ORG.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-16595197 Mon, 10 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0500 1740 1 2 full false EP 1: Brent Pease, The Kyle Pease Foundation, on investing in visual storytelling EP 1: Brent Pease, The Kyle Pease Foundation, on investing in visual storytelling I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast. is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

For Episode 1, we’re not holding back. My guest is Brent Pease, someone I’ve known for nearly 14 years. I knew him when he was just planting the seeds of the nonprofit he now co-leads, the Kyle Pease Foundation. And I’ve watched him and his brother grow those seeds into something absolutely special and impactful. On this episode, Brent speaks about investing in visual storytelling and seeing the payoff a decade down the road.

]]> I was a broadcast journalist locally and nationally for 20 years. Now I run Pearl Impact Media. I help nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses raise money, raise awareness, and separate themselves from the rest through meaningful, memorable, and affordable video storytelling. That’s my mission. This podcast. is an offshoot of that mission. Each episode I chat with a nonprofit leader with a defined, thoughtful, and successful approach to telling their organization’s story.

For Episode 1, we’re not holding back. My guest is Brent Pease, someone I’ve known for nearly 14 years. I knew him when he was just planting the seeds of the nonprofit he now co-leads, the Kyle Pease Foundation. And I’ve watched him and his brother grow those seeds into something absolutely special and impactful. On this episode, Brent speaks about investing in visual storytelling and seeing the payoff a decade down the road.

]]> Pearl Impact Media Buzzsprout-16444139 Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0500 1756 nonprofit, storytelling, video, Kyle Pease Foundation 1 1 full false