Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Good For Others Podcast

In this insightful episode of the Good For Others podcast, host John Valencia is joined by Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President at Jobs for the Future (JFF), to explore the rapidly evolving world of work. Together, they examine the challenges and opportunities emerging in today’s employment landscape, particularly in light of technological change, automation, and shifting workforce demands.

Parikh shares her expertise on how JFF is actively working to build equitable pathways to economic advancement. She highlights the importance of skills-based hiring, the transformation of education systems, and the role employers and community organizations must play in fostering inclusive economic mobility.

Throughout the episode, John and Parina emphasize:

• The need for adaptability and lifelong learning in modern careers
• Strategies to bridge the skills gap and prepare workers for in-demand roles
• How cross-sector collaboration can support underserved communities
• Why equity and access must remain central in workforce development initiatives

Whether you’re an employer, educator, policy advocate, or job seeker, this episode offers thoughtful perspectives on how to shape a more just and prepared workforce for the future.

In this episode, host John Valencia sits down with Tonya Torosian, Chief Executive Officer at Promises2Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting foster youth in San Diego County. Promises2Kids provides critical services like emergency shelter, college scholarships, and mentorship programs to help children heal from trauma and build a brighter future.

John discusses the organization's flagship initiatives:

• The Polinsky Children's Center, offering emergency shelter and protection.
• Guardian Scholars, providing scholarships and mentoring for foster youth pursuing higher education.
• Camp Connect, reuniting brothers and sisters separated in foster care through special events and overnight camping trips.
• Foster Funds, supplying basic needs and enrichment opportunities for foster youth.

The conversation explores the deep emotional needs of foster children, the importance of community support, and how Promises2Kids empowers youth to break the cycle of abuse and neglect. John also shares how listeners can get involved through volunteering, donations, and spreading awareness.

Sandra Joseph is a history-making Broadway star, a #1 international Amazon bestselling author, and a keynote speaker. Her legendary run as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera spanned ten years and more than 1,300 performances. She earned the record as the longest-running leading lady in the longest-running Broadway show of all time. She has been seen on numerous national broadcasts, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, The Today Show, Dateline, The Early Show, The View, and Oprah: Where Are They Now?

Sandra joins John Valencia on the Good For Others Podcast to empower people to use their voices. Sandra explains, that as a keynote speaker, she is able to inspire audiences to become world-class performers and unmask what matters most in their lives and careers.

Sandra is the author of Unmasking What Matters: 10 Life Lessons from 10 Years on Broadway. She is also the co-author, with five-time New York Times best-selling author Caroline Myss, of Your Creative Soul: Expressing Your Authentic Voice. Sandra is married to her costar from The Phantom of the Opera, actor Ron Bohmer. They currently reside in Southern California.

Take a leap, say "yes" and change your life! Good For Others Host John Valencia and special guest Kara DeFrias talk about finding the courage to say "yes" to life opportunities can lead to ultimate contentment. From the theatre, the Super Bowl, the Oscars, and even to the White House as an Obama Presidential Fellow, learn how Kara's decision to say "yes" in times of uncertainty has transformed her life and made it a fun, creative, and meaningful journey. 

Kara DeFrias' background is a mix of private and public sector experience, including Director of UX for Vice President Biden at the White House. She's currently Chief of Staff for QuickBooks Online Platform at Intuit. Prior, Kara spent 4 years at TurboTax and received an appointment to the first class of Presidential Innovation Fellows. In the latter, she served as an entrepreneur in residence, reimagining the relationship between the government and the people from a technology perspective. She was senior advisor to 18F's executive team, TEDxIntuit founder, and Oscars and Super Bowl staff.

Kara does pro-bono digital strategy for the likes of Team Rubicon; spent ten days in rural India teaching micro-entrepreneur women human-centered design; and guest lectures at the University of California San Diego STEM Academy for high school girls. She graduated summa cum laude from Penn State with a master's in instructional design and was a finalist for San Diego Woman of the Year.

Check out more of Kara's work on her website

Learn how building a culture of employee community engagement can increase morale, brand loyalty, and help the world.

Good For Others Host John Valencia and special guest Warren Ruis, chat about how the many ways employee community engagement can transform workplace culture and support nonprofits in the process. 

Warren Ruis is San Diego Gas & Electric's Director of Regional Public Affairs.  Hear how he became an advocate and leverages his professional role to help his hometown. Listen to best practices on how you can get your company involved in transformative and meaningful ways in your local community. 

Everyone deserves to work in a toxic-free workplace.  Good For Others Host John Valencia and special guest Catherine Mattice Zundel chat about how to maintain civility in the workforce and prevent a toxic environment to ensure reduced turnover, engaged and loyal employees, and better quality and quantity of work.

Catherine Mattice Zundel, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, founded Civility Partners in 2008 as a result of working in a toxic environment and has since served a huge array of clients with consulting, training, and coaching services. She’s written three books, one of which Ken Blanchard called, “the most comprehensive and valuable handbook on the topic” of workplace bullying. Catherine’s also been cited in such media outlets as Forbes.com, Inc Magazine, Entrepreneur, and USA Today, and appeared as a guest on such venues as NPR and CNN.

Listeners have asked, so we responded!  Our host and creator, John Valencia, shares his background and experiences that have led him to dedicate his career to the nonprofit sector. Our producer, Samantha Harrod, and John chat how our past influences our futures.

John Valencia is the CEO and President of Good For Others and serves as the host of the Good For Others Podcast.  For the last 20 years, John has served as the CEO of various nonprofit organizations and as a Vice Chancellor in higher education. Throughout his career, John has raised over $500M to support various nonprofit organizations. Prior to his work in the nonprofit sector, John was CEO of an international wholesale manufacturing company selling consumer goods to big-box retailers across the globe.

Hear about hiring best practices from the employer and candidate perspectives!  Good For Others host John Valencia and special guest Trevor Blair chat about tools everyone can use to help hire the right person for the job. 

Trevor is a workforce expert.  In 2016, Trevor launched Blair Search Partners which provides recruiting and executive search services for mission-driven organizations in San Diego and Orange Counties.  In addition to Trevor’s passion for service and workforce development, his firm also offers coaching services for San Diegans undergoing a career transition.

Learn how creating a meaningful donor experience transforms your impact.  Good For Others host John Valencia and special guest Martin Leifeld chat about successful tactics to improve and enhance the donor experience to be more genuine, transparent, and authentic.

Martin is an expert in fundraising where he has dedicated four decades in senior fundraising leadership and executive roles.  In 2018, Martin wrote a book called “Five Minutes for Fundraising” which includes wisdom from 26 other fundraising professionals to help readers learn about major gift solicitation, cultivating donor relations and how to make a big impact in fundraising efforts.

For more information on Martin Leifeld, check out his website.

Learn how to market your organization's "why" and make your mission the focal point in fun and unique ways! Our host John Valencia and special guest Darlene Cossio chat about various marketing efforts that have transformed Goodwill Industries of San Diego County.  Hear about the tools and ideas you can implement at your organization to increase awareness and drive engagement to those you serve.

Learn which leadership skills to focus on so you can boost your career! Our host John Valencia and special guest Nancy Batterman, chat about various skills which are necessary to climb the ladder and reach your desired role.  Hear how skills like empathy, humility, and resiliency can launch your career and set you up for long-term success!

Learn how an Information Manager role can improve your organization by increasing efficiency and effectiveness.  Our host John Valencia and special guest Naomi O'Connor chat about the crucial role most organizations are missing.  Listen to why an Information Manager can make your job easier and more fun in the process!

In this episode, John Valencia sits down with Gina Lee, Director of Staffing and Programs with Partnership for a Better San Diego—a trailblazing initiative connecting nonprofits, employers, and workers to build a more inclusive, equitable local economy.

💡 Hear how this powerful coalition is:

Tackling workforce barriers in underserved communities

Leveraging cross-sector collaboration for systems change

Creating accessible career pathways in healthcare and beyond

📢 If you're passionate about equity, workforce development, or community-driven change, this conversation is a must-listen!

Hear how to take a big idea and turn it into reality. John Valencia (host) and Melissa Slawson (guest) chat about ways to turn dreams into action. Melissa started with a desire to bring the March for Science to San Diego and made it happen. Now, Melissa is supporting the Women's March San Diego and helping to ensure it is a massive success with their next big event on January 18, 2020. Check it out!

Learn easy ways to integrate play into your work to enhance teamwork, reduce stress and inspire creativity. John Valencia and Breanna Baer share how they successfully add play into the workspace which increases productivity and builds meaningful relationships throughout an organization. 

Learn ways to build a culture of creativity in the workplace.  John Valencia and David Drazenovich chat about simple ways to design the conditions that allow creativity to flow. Learn how to inspire others by generating joy and supporting your team to be curious.

The Good For Others Podcast explores the power of relationship-building for nonprofit fundraising with special guest and fundraising extraordinaire, Kellye Buchanan. John Valencia and Kellye discuss the challenges and best practices when it comes to donor management and leveraging resources to serve the mission of nonprofit organizations.  

On this week’s Good For Others Show, host John Valencia sits down with Kellye Buchanan, Director of Philanthropy at Walden Family Services and a powerhouse in nonprofit fundraising. With over $25 million raised for causes in San Diego, Kellye shares the secrets behind building meaningful donor relationships and driving mission-focused impact. 💡

If you work in the nonprofit world—or just care about making a difference—this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. 💙

On this episode of The Good For Others Show, host John Valencia sits down with Darlene Cossio, Director of Marketing Communications at Goodwill Industries of San Diego, to uncover the incredible impact Goodwill has beyond just donation centers and thrift stores!

Tune in to hear how Goodwill is:

🔹 Empowering Careers by provides job training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and other barriers to work

🔹 Offering hands-on experience in retail, e-commerce, transportation, and more through their paid training programs

🔹 Focused on sustainability & recycling by keeping usable goods out of landfills while funding job programs

🔹 Creating real change through their community impact with 1,200+ employees (58% with disabilities or barriers to work)

If you're looking for a meaningful career, workforce training, or a way to support your community, this episode is a must-listen!

🌎 Learn more: sdgoodwill.org

On this episode of The Good for Others Show, we’re thrilled to welcome the one and only Eva Matthews, CEO of Mama’s Kitchen, to the podcast! Tune in as she shares her vision for sustainable growth at Mama’s Kitchen,  the power of collaboration in the nonprofit sector, earning national and California Food is Medicine accreditation, and how Mama’s Kitchen is truly woven into the fabric of our community.

On this episode of the Good For Others Show, we sit down with Chelsy Clark, Regional Corporate Relations Director at the American Cancer Society, to explore the power of partnerships in the nonprofit world. 

Tune in to hear her candidly discuss her mother's inspiring triumph over breast cancer and how it fueled her dedication to meaningful causes like the American Cancer Society. Through a lighthearted conversation filled with humor—like her fun preferences for tacos over pizza—Chelsy reveals the personal motivations that drive her work and her commitment to making a difference.

Networking and mentorship are cornerstones of Chelsy's success, and she shares how bringing one's authentic self to the table can lead to life-changing opportunities. From a creative partnership resulting in life-saving outcomes to the significance of mentorship, Chelsy talks about the power of networking in the nonprofit sector. We also explore the strategic initiatives of the American Cancer Society in Southern California, where patience and long-term planning are key to fostering successful community relationships. Join us for an enriching conversation that highlights the potential for impactful results in the world of nonprofits.

In this inspiring episode, Good For Others welcomes Lucy Eagleson, the Executive Director of A Reason to Survive (ARTS), to discuss how art and creativity can transform communities and empower individuals. With over 15 years of experience in impact-driven spaces, Lucy shares her journey from filmmaker to nonprofit leader, the values that guide her work, and the innovative programs at ARTS that are giving young people a platform to explore, create, and grow.

From lightning-round fun to deep dives into mentorship, equity, and creativity’s role in community development, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and heartwarming stories. Plus, Lucy shares her "Three Wishes" for the future of nonprofits and young creatives.

Tune in to discover how small acts of creativity can drive big change and why the best way to lead is by staying curious and authentic.

#PodcastEpisode #TheARTofImpact #CreativityInAction #NonprofitLeadership #GoodForOthers

Season 2 of The Good for Others Show continues with an inspiring conversation featuring Elsa Morales Roth, Executive Director of the Emilio Nares Foundation. Elsa shares her incredible journey as a binational leader passionate about equitable healthcare access and supporting families during their toughest times.

Learn how the Emilio Nares Foundation has driven over 1.5 million miles to provide free transportation for children undergoing cancer treatment and how their innovative programs, like snack bags and resource centers, are making a difference in Southern California. Elsa also highlights the power of collaboration, culturally responsive care, and the importance of uplifting nonprofit staff.

🎧 Don’t miss this episode filled with hope, resilience, and powerful insights on creating lasting change in our communities.

📲 Available now on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify.

#GoodForOthersShow #NonprofitLeadership #EmilioNaresFoundation #CommunityImpact #Season2

In this transformative episode of The Good For Others Show, we sit down with Tamara Craver, President and CEO of Reality Changers, an organization changing the game for first-generation college students in San Diego. Tamara shares the incredible journey of empowering students with less than a 2.0 GPA to become college-bound leaders and agents of change in their communities.

Discover how Reality Changers provides academic coaching, mentorship, family support, and even home-cooked meals to help students succeed—not just academically but holistically. From heartwarming success stories to the vision for breaking cycles and creating a future where every student has a seat at the table, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable insights.

🎧 Tune in to hear Tamara’s wishes for a world where “firsts” are no longer necessary, and nonprofits like hers can work themselves out of a job. You don’t want to miss these stories of resilience, equity, and transformation.

#RealityChangers #BreakingBarriers #GoodForOthers #EducationForAll #FirstGenSuccess