How to Change the World

Our culture would have us believe that most any problem can be solved by working harder, longer, faster, more. But what are the limitations of hustle culture and how can we move beyond it?  

Brand and business strategist Quinn Tempest helps solopreneurs build businesses that change the world without pounding themselves into the ground. In this insightful episode, she shares what it looks like to build a li...

What if a 10-week, after-school program led by older students could move the needle on a statewide literacy crisis?

Sophie Allen Etchart, founder and CEO of Read Better Be Better (RBBB), shares how a simple, peer-led reading model — pairing middle school leaders with younger readers — is helping Arizona students beat the odds in a state where 61% of third graders aren't reading at grade level.

What if a 13-year-old could bring lawmakers from both parties to the same table… and win?

Parents, caregivers, and disability advocates flooded the Arizona Capitol this year to stop a funding crisis that threatened essential services for people with developmental disabilities. Two of the leaders in that fight — Brandi Coon, president of Raising Voices Coalition, and Amy Haley, advocate and mom to 13-year...

What if your morning coffee could strengthen entire communities?

Dr. Arisbe Mendoza, Director of Global Impact at Fairtrade International, shares how everyday purchases — your morning coffee, chocolate bar, or bottle of wine — can create ripple effects across communities worldwide.

From living-income pricing and climate-resilient farming to gender equity and co-ownership by 1.9 million farmers...

The Six Questions To Ask Before You Hire Marketing Support

How do you know what kind of marketing help your organization really needs? Too often, changemakers either ask for an outcome ("I need to raise more money") or something too broad ("I need help with social media") — and end up with the wrong fit.

In this solo Changemaker Chat, Catherine lays out six questions every leader should ask ...

How do you build a content strategy that actually works — without burning out or getting lost in the noise?

Do you ever feel like you're churning out content with knowing if it's truly working? In this episode, I sit down with Kristen Neuendorff, the content strategist behind many of Javelina's client projects, to talk about creating content with purpose. We cover how changemakers can align their content w...

How can we thrive in a rapidly changing world? Canadian entrepreneur, author, and social impact leader Scott Stirrett shares how to thrive in uncertainty—and why reinvention is the new career advantage.

From self-compassion over perfectionism to adaptable planning, anti-fragility, generalist "power skills," and building both weak and strong ties, Scott shares practical tools from his book The Uncertainty A...

Too often, marketing Return-on-Investment (ROI) gets reduced to dollars in and dollars out. In this solo episode, Catherine challenges that narrow view and explores why the impact of marketing is about so much more.

From building community and awareness to shifting culture and shaping long-term behavior, she reframes marketing as a powerful tool for changemakers that goes far beyond short-te...

In this episode of How to Change the World, host Catherine Alonzo sits down with innovation strategist and educator Dr. Steve Diasio to talk about how we rethink creativity, challenge outdated systems, and foster innovation that actually works for everyone.

From breaking down the myths of who gets to innovate to sharing tools for collaboration across teams and sectors, Steve brings clarity and energy to on...

How do we create real change in a world that feels stuck?

A powerful framework to define decision-making roles - especially when the stakes are high.

In this episode of How to Change the World, host Catherine Alonzo sits down with renowned facilitator, author, and systems change expert, Adam Kahane to talk about how we move forward when collaboration feels harder than ever.

With d...

Is the Democratic Party facing a messaging crisis — or something deeper?

This episode unpacks the post-election fallout and growing perception that Democrats are out of touch with working-class voters. In this episode of How to Change the World, host Catherine Alonzo sits down with Javelina's own David Waid — co-founder and VP of political campaigns — and political strategist Justin Plumb to dig into the l...

A powerful framework to define decision-making roles - especially when the stakes are high.

"It's one of the best ways to make sure your team is ready for whatever comes next."

In this episode of How to Change the World, host Catherine Alonzo breaks down one of the most essential tools for changemakers today: the decision tree. At a time when organizations are having to respond quickly in a ra...

How can local leadership truly make a difference in a world that needs hope?

In this episode of How to Change the World, host Catherine Alonzo sits down with Representative Sean Camacho, elected official for Colorado House District 6, covering East Denver, to unpack the disconnect between voters and politicians - and what we can do about it.

A lifelong public servant, Air Force Academy graduat...

When people see you everywhere, they start to believe in your legitimacy.

In this episode of How to Change the World, host Catherine Alonzo sits down with two PR powerhouse - Shanté Micah and Josh Moody, co-founders of visibility intelligence company Good News - to break down what it really takes to get your message in front of the media, and why visibility is essential for changemakers today.

What if the way we've been taught to make change is actually holding us back?

In this episode of How to Change the World, host Catherine Alonzo is joined by consultant, author, and systems-change strategist Heather Hiscox to explore what's broken in the way changemakers approach impact - and how we can do better. Heather is the founder of Pause for Change and author of No More Status Quo, a powerful call to action for leaders ready...

In this special rerun of our very first episode from February 2018, host Catherine Alonzo sits down with Jeannette Maré, the Founder of Ben's Bells Project. 

She shares the deeply moving story of her son Ben and how simple yet profound acts of kindness helped her navigate the darkest period of her life. Through Ben's Bells, Jeannette has built a nonprofit dedicated to spreading kindness, fostering connecti...

"That's how I think about adaptation, it's not assimilation. You're not giving up the best parts of yourself to fit in or so that people will like you. You're consciously choosing from an empowered place."

What does it mean to create change right where you are? In this episode of How to Change the World, host Catherine Alonzo sits down with Trystan Reese, author, storyteller, and longtime advocate for tran...

"The right story at the right time can change everything."

In this episode of How to Change the World, host Catherine Alonzo dives into one of the most essential topics for changemakers right now: storytelling in a crisis. With the Trump administration's attacks on marginalized and historically underrepresented communities, Catherine explains why storytelling is more important than ever in times like this....

"Remember that we are the majority - and we've got to start acting like it."

In this episode of How to Change the World, host Catherine Alonzo welcomes Mini Timmaraju, abortion access advocate and President of Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), to talk about how Mini is fighting back and moving reproductive rights forward in a time of great opposition. Mini shares with Cather...