Social Change Leaders Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

The Social Change Leaders Podcast is back! Host Traci Warnberg-Lemm returns with fresh insights on the intersection of leadership, civic engagement, and coaching. In this episode, she explores how coaching skills can enhance civic dialogue, and what practical tools leaders can use to strengthen their impact. Plus, Traci shares reflections from listeners on how their passions contribute to social change and provides free resources to help leaders navigate complex times with resilience and clarity.

🎧 Tune in to:

✅ Hear listener insights on skills they have that contribute to solving our biggest challenges

✅ Explore self-care, joy and nervous system regulation needed for resilient leadership

✅ Learn why leadership and civic engagement need a coaching approach

✅ Discover how deep listening and meaningful questions can bridge differences, foster collaboration and transform all types of conversations

✅ Gain practical coaching tools to engage more effectively in civic life

✅Hear how practicing better communication and inquiry can improve personal and professional relationships.

Resources & Links:

👉 Grab your FREE download, Civic Action without the Burnout - HERE

👉 Quiz: Should You Consider Hiring a Coach – Link to 5 minute quiz HERE

👉 1:1 Coaching with Traci - Link HERE for more information

👉Learn more about Civic Remix Conversations (in March 2025) – HERE

🌎 Connect with Traci Warnberg-Lemm → www.socialmotion.co

Episode Summary:

The Social Change Leaders Podcast is back! After a hiatus, host Traci Warnberg-Lemm returns with renewed purpose, fresh insights, and a deep commitment to supporting social impact leaders like you. In this episode, Traci shares personal and professional updates, reflects on the challenges shaping our world today, and offers a powerful coaching question to help you clarify your impact. Plus, she extends an invitation to build a thriving community of change makers as we navigate 2025 together.

🎧 Tune in to:
✅ Discover the evolution of the Social Change Leaders Podcast over the past five years and its exciting future
✅ Gain insights from Traci’s personal and professional journey—stories of loss, travel, and transformation
✅ Understand the biggest leadership and social impact challenges emerging today
✅ Explore how a strong community of equipped, empowered change leaders can shape the future
✅ Reflect on a powerful coaching question designed to help you refine your purpose and contribution
✅ Learn how to get involved in a growing network of like-minded leaders ready to make a difference

🔥 Ready to step into your full potential as a leader in social change? This episode is for you.

Resources & Links: 🌎 Connect with Traci Warnberg-Lemm → www.socialmotion.co
Listen to the Spark Good Podcast by Stephanie Malon-Rufi → www.sparkgood.net

If you call and no one answers, go anyway.

- Rabindranath Tagore

More information can be found at www.socialchangeleaders.net

Trafficking of women for sexual exploitation is an international human rights crisis. How do girls and women that have been exploited overcome the trauma and create a livelihood? Today we talk with Sarah Symons, Founder and Executive Director of Her Future Coalition, an international non-profit and social enterprise fighting human trafficking and other severe gender violence with shelter, education and employment. In our conversation we:

• Learn about Sarah Symons had a career as a songwriter for TV and film and how seeing the film, The Day My God Died, became her inspiration to support women and girls that had been involved in human trafficking
• Discuss the work of the nonprofit, Her Future Coalition, and it current work in India and Nepal - the epicenter of the sex trafficking
• Learn about the long-term intensive programs that help individuals overcome trauma, address health issues and mental health challenges, secure housing and create a livelihood 
• Hear about how Her Future Coalition partners with local-based organizations such as rescue shelters and ‘red-light’ areas where children are at high risk for sexual assault and exploitation
• Become inspired by success stories of girls and women who are have become leaders in their communities
• Learn about how poverty is one of the primary risk factors for trafficked children and young adults and solutions require systemic solutions
• Hear Sarah describe how she got her start in an imperfect and messy way, but believed that the perfect is the enemy of the good
• Understand how Sarah came to embrace storytelling as method of raising money and how Her Future Coalition is supported primarily through jewelry proceeds and individual giving
• Learn how Sarah has built a global team for this work including hiring women who were former participants in the program that lived the experience of being trafficked
• Hear Sarah’s lessons learned and advice for others wanting to make a contribution
• Get inspired by Sarah’s philosophy of ‘let’s see what love can do’

In this episode we reference: 

• Film, The Day My God Died
• Her Future Coalition
• Ted Talk, Living Heroically - from slavery to success
• Book, Standing In the Way 

More about Dr. Sarah Symons:

Sarah Symons is the Founder and Executive Director of Her Future Coalition, an international non-profit and social enterprise fighting human trafficking and other severe gender violence with shelter, education and employment. Over the past 15 years, Her Future Coalition has helped over 5000 women and children in India, Nepal, Cambodia and Thailand to get out of slavery and exploitation, and to build safe, independent and successful lives.

Here’s the truth about racial injustice: It is not just a Black America problem or a people-of-color problem. It is a problem for every American. It is keeping us from fulfilling the promise of liberty and justice for all. And it is holding our nation back from realizing our full potential. We are all a part of George Floyd’s legacy. And our job now is to honor it and to honor him.

-Vice President Harris

The  Podcast is based in the Twin Cities and we wanted to take this episode and acknowledge the events of the week with the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.

Black Lives Matter

“The best way to have social impact and generate revenue, is to strategize, collaborate, break some rules, and operationalize your passion.”

-Traci Warnberg-Lemm and Stephanie Malon-Rufi

More information can be found at www.socialchangeleaders.net 

Have you wondered how you can create social change and make money? Can you really do both?  The corporate world of making money and the nonprofit, charity and government world of social change are coming together in unique ways. There is a lot of room for creativity in the emerging social business and social enterprise field. On today’s episode, Stephanie and Traci discuss four first steps you can take to do this.  In our conversation we discuss:

• Learn about some of the current options and paths open for social enterprise and social business models and the role pricing plays in them
• Understand how the nonprofit model can also be a revenue generating model
• Hear common types of social business / social enterprise models that people launch and examples of each:
• • Opportunity Employment: Organizations that employ people who have significant barriers to mainstream employment.
  • Transformative Products or Services: organizations that create social or environmental impact through innovative products and services.
  • Donate Back: businesses that contribute a portion of their profits (or even 100%) to nonprofits that address basic unmet needs.  Or it can be donating a product such as the one-for-one model. 
• Learn about the 4 ways to get started including: 
• • Learn what others have done / get inspired 
  • Give some thought to your ‘why’ or your vision 
  • Share Your ideas with others 
  • Get support 
• Hear about the Turn Your Passion Into Impact Course if you are ready to take the next steps

In this episode we reference:

• Turn Your Passion into Impact Course
• Podcast Episode #035: Can You Really Make Money Doing Good?

• Podcast Episode #03: What is a Social Enterprise and Social Entrepreneurship? 
• Stephanie website - Genuine Impact
• Traci website - Social Motion 

Be the Change You Want to See in the World. 

• Gandhi

More information can be found at www.socialchangeleaders.net

The city of Minneapolis is going through a challenging time as the trial of Derek Chauvin, the officer charged in the killing of George Floyd, is underway. Community members are grieving, hoping, and many are fearful and anxious.  Today, we hear from Don Samuels about the founding of the ‘Healing our City’ initiative and Don’s thoughts on what social change leaders should be aware of, think about during this time and do. In this episode, you will:

• Hear about Don’s extensive background in the public, private, nonprofit and faith sectors and how that has informed his work
• Learn about the ‘Heal Our City’ effort started after the killing of George Floyd
• Hear how individuals came to the gathering space / prayer tent to meditate, pray  and bear witness with other community members 
• Hear about the reprisal of the prayer tent when the Derek Chauvin trial was started with a virtual multi-faith meditation, reflection and 9 minutes and 39 seconds of silence
• Learn a bit about the history of North Minneapolis and the multi-layered elements to this community
• Hear Don’s reflections on how a sustainable way forward is to collaborate and conspire together across differences
• Be challenged to be the change you wish to see in the world

In this episode:

Healing Our City

More about Don:

Don immigrated to the US from Jamaica in 1970 to study Industrial Design. He resigned from executive R&D leadership, at Hasbro Toys, for a partnership in Red Racer Studio, inventing toys for major manufacturers. Don and his wife Sondra concluded that White Flight and Black Middle-Class Flight were the major contributors to the concentration of poverty and its repercussions, in Urban America. 24 years ago, they moved to the challenged Jordan neighborhood, in North Minneapolis. They quickly became strong voices for peace and leaders for unity and collaboration. With their urging and support, Don was first elected to the Minneapolis City Council in February 2003.

As a Council Member, he directed unprecedented levels of funding to his North Minneapolis community, ensuring remarkable recovery from a devastating tornado and the Great Recession. Don co-sponsored the Ban the Box resolution, which later became state law, giving ex-offenders a greater chance at careers. Don ran for mayor of Minneapolis in 2013.

Don cofounded the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), where his wife Sondra now serves as CEO. He graduated, in 2001, from the Luther Seminary and is an ordained minister. He currently serves on the boards of Luther Seminary, Twin Cities Rise, Center for Action and Contemplation and Trust for Public Land- Minnesota. He is CEO of MicroGrants, making grants to low-income individuals to start and boost their businesses and careers, and the Lights On! program: Now, when a driver is pulled over for a broken light in the state of Minnesota, instead of a ticket or lecture, they receive a voucher for free repairs up to $250.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

– Benjamin Franklin

More information can be found at www.socialchangeleaders.net 

Many of us are creating trainings or learning events for colleagues, coworkers or even for clients. Are you engaging the correct people prior to planning?  Have you identified why you are doing the training? Do you know how much planning goes into a learning event?  In today’s episode, co-host Traci Warnberg-Lemm walks us through 3 important considerations to make before you develop a course, training or learning event. In this episode, you will: 

• Learn how often training is not necessarily the answer to our challenges
• Hear about the importance of understanding and identifying the behavior changes desired from a learning event
• Learn one of the best ways to move your learners to implement what they learned and to change behavior
• Understand the types of people that should be engaged prior to attending a learning event
• Recognize how much time goes into developing a training event
• Hear about what needs to happen after the event

In this episode, we reference:

• For more information on Traci, you can visit Social Motion
• To take the short Quiz, ‘Are your learning activities designed for results and impact?’ LINK HERE
• For more information on the course, LINK HERE

Podcast Episode #77 Learning as a Tool for Social Transformation, LINK HERE

Leaders must build ecosystems that support learning and ones that create safe places for trial and error during the implementation of learning. 

- Traci Warnberg-Lemm

More information can be found at www.socialchangeleaders.net 

Are you confident that your learning efforts help you achieve your organizational goals? Are you as a leader supporting ongoing learning for colleagues and team?  In today’s episode, Traci walks us through why and how leaders can build ecosystems and cultures for learning. We discuss why leaders need to think bigger about how they can support learning beyond the training. In this episode, you will: 

• Learn about what organizational culture is and how it impacts you and your team
• Hear about some of the benefits that come from organizations with a positive learning culture / ecosystem
• Learn about 7 ways leaders can build an ecosystem for learning 

In this episode, we reference:

• For more information on Traci Warnberg-Lemm, you can visit Social Motion
• For more information on Stephanie Malon-Rufi, Genuine Impact
• To take the quiz, Are Your Learning Activities Designed for Results and Impact?   LINK HERE
• To register for the March 29 webinar, ‘Top Tips to Design Learning for Impact’ LINK HERE
• For more information on the course, Collaborative Integrated Learning Academy, LINK HERE
• Podcast Episode #023: The Importance of Coaching for Social Innovators LINK HERE

What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.

-Dwight Eisenhower

More information can be found at www.socialchangeleaders.net

Do you run around putting out fires each day?  Do you feel like you are on the hamster wheel and not sure when you will get off?   When you are letting the days run you, instead of you running the day, you most likely are not getting to the important work.  The important work is what is going to get you ahead and keep your organization or business sustainable.  In this episode, co-host Stephanie Malon-Rufi leads us through the Eisenhower Matrix framework to help you categorize your work, set priorities and determine what actions to take. 

• Hear about the origins of the Eisenhower matrix and how it has been adapted over time
• Learn the difference between importance and urgency
• Understand why it is helpful to go through this exercise as you prioritize your activities and plan your time
• Learn how to determine  which tasks you should eliminate, confine or delegate, focus on and make time for doing
• Hear about how you can use time management tips to help with some tasks you need to confine or minimize

In this episode, we reference:

• Social Enterprise Check-up Download
• Episode #74: Social Enterprise Check-Up: A 6-part framework to increase sustainability
• Episode #46: Top 10 Time Management Tips for Social Innovators
• Episode #43: Taking Time to Work ‘On not In’ Your Social Enterprise
• Stephanie Malon-Rufi, Genuine Impact

More about Stephanie Malon-Rufi

Stephanie works with visionary founders who have created a valuable purpose to their work.  Entrepreneurs who have a social mission at the heart of what they do but also need to have a sustainable business model. She helps them  move past feeling overwhelmed or stuck.  Together, she helps social entrepreneurs  make sure they:

• have a sound foundation
• are poised for the growth you want
• develop the roadmap to get there

Her services are designed to help you move forward with making a difference – making an impact. To help you go from feeling stuck to energized while getting crystal clear on what steps to take next.  The work is real – it is genuine.  Stephanie created this 6-part framework based on her personal knowledge and experience having been involved with start-ups as well as operating social enterprises for years.  She also works with many social entrepreneurs  (especially over the past year when COVID hit) and was able to see what was most helpful for those leaders to pivot and remain sustainable.

We all do better when we all do better.

- Paul Wellstone 

More information can be found at www.socialchangeleaders.net

Are you taking some of the important steps needed to support diversity, equity and inclusion goals in your organization?  Do you review & actively live into your organizational mission, vision and values? Are you leading by example and doing your own deep work to effectively lead and build a culture of equity?  Today, our guest is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant Felecia Boone. Felecia shares poignant stories from her upbringing and describes how those shaped the work she does today. In our conversation we:

• Hear how crucial it is to have a mission statement and values that are used within an organization as living documents
• Learn about the importance of social change leaders doing their own self care when engaged in anti-racism work
• Understand how social change leaders need to learn the art of “turning up the heat, but not too hot” when supporting equitable practices
• Learn about the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and other assessments that will support 
• Understand the importance of getting out of our heads and getting into our hearts while making embodied anti-racist practices a habit
• Discuss the importance of recognizing when individuals are hitting the wall and need a bit of space / support
• Hear about the importance of leveraging the skills, expertise and assets within your organization to best [ be better allies, co-conspirators and activists] build diversity, equity and inclusion practices
• Hear about the importance of leveraging the skills, expertise and assets within your organization so everyone can be better allies, co-conspirators and activists while build diversity, equity and inclusion practices

More about Felecia:

Felecia A. Boone is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant in local government, where she is also the administrator of a Diversity Leadership Mentoring Program. Outside of work, she serves as vice-president of the Minneapolis Area Synod in the ELCA; is chair of the nonprofit Crossroads Community Organization board; is a member of the Board of Regents at Wartburg College; serves on the board of several other equity-focused community organizations; and leads and collaborates on a range of committees at her home church, Calvary Lutheran, always through a racial equity lens. Felecia is also a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI).

To connect further with Felecia:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/feleciaboone/

https://www.facebook.com/felecia.boone