The Social Change Pod
Explore the world of social change with The Social Change Pod, a platform for conversations that matter. From grassroots activism to innovative funding models, each episode delves into the trends, ideas, and stories shaping the future of community-driven movements. Join thought leaders, change-makers, and community builders as they share practical advice, discuss the latest in participatory grantmaking, and reflect on the power of collective action. Whether you're leading a social movement, working in the nonprofit sector, or just passionate about making a difference, this podcast offers inspiration and actionable insights. Podcast produced by The Social Change Nest and The Social Change Agency. Previously published under the name 'SCA Podcast'.
Episodes
November 13, 2025 • 33 mins
Join The Social Change Nest's CEO, Esther Foreman and Rachel Smith, Creative Director of Make/Shift, on the latest episode of The Social Change Pod as they unpack what it really looks like to pay people fairly for their time, energy, and expertise, exploring how Payment for Involvement works in practice when you’re navigating the “messy middle” between big institutions and grassroots communities. They also dive into how tools like ...
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October 8, 2024 • 23 mins
Today we are talking about the mammoth topic of Payment for Involvement, part of our Payment for Involvement podcast series that we’ve been running over the past couple of months since the launch of the payment for Involvement playbook.
In the previous episode, we explored why it’s so important for organisations to recognise and value lived experience and to pay people for their involvement.
In this episode we’re joined by three, abs...
In the previous episode, we explored why it’s so important for organisations to recognise and value lived experience and to pay people for their involvement.
In this episode we’re joined by three, abs...
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April 30, 2024 • 18 mins
What happens when you compensate people for their involvement, but doing so negatively impacts their eligibility for government benefits?
Together, we'll unpack why paying people for their lived experience is the right thing to do, but also explore the challenges of doing this effectively without disrupting people's benefits.
This is something we've been grappling with as an organisation for the last six months, and over the cour...
Together, we'll unpack why paying people for their lived experience is the right thing to do, but also explore the challenges of doing this effectively without disrupting people's benefits.
This is something we've been grappling with as an organisation for the last six months, and over the cour...
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April 5, 2023 • 13 mins
Are you a renegade anarchist who loves rules, compliance and risk management? We're looking for a new Non-Executive Director to join The Social Change Nest board.
In this episode Pete Treganna (Non-Executive Director) and Sapna Patel (Operations Director) discuss what the role involves and why we'd love for you to apply!
Interested in being on the board of The Social Change Nest?
Find out more and apply at https://thesocialchangenes...
In this episode Pete Treganna (Non-Executive Director) and Sapna Patel (Operations Director) discuss what the role involves and why we'd love for you to apply!
Interested in being on the board of The Social Change Nest?
Find out more and apply at https://thesocialchangenes...
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February 21, 2023 • 19 mins
Tactics employed by social movements are evolving, strikes are enjoying unprecedented levels of public support, and communities are increasingly taking matters into their own hands.
Anya Stern and Aggie Taylor discuss some of the movement trends they've been observing in 2023.
What trends have you been noticing? Share your thoughts by tagging us on Twitter @SocialChangeAg
Host: Anya Stern and Aggie Taylor, The Social Change Agency
Them...
Anya Stern and Aggie Taylor discuss some of the movement trends they've been observing in 2023.
What trends have you been noticing? Share your thoughts by tagging us on Twitter @SocialChangeAg
Host: Anya Stern and Aggie Taylor, The Social Change Agency
Them...
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October 31, 2022 • 24 mins
Esther Foreman and Rachel Krengel from The Social Change Agency meet up with James Ozden, Director at Social Change Lab to explore what it takes to build an effective protest movement.
Topics covered include:
- why some protest movements flourish (and some don't)
- whether disruptive tactics work
- the importance of shared identity and collaboration
- the need for more funding to be directed to towards social movements
- how to avoid vo...
Topics covered include:
- why some protest movements flourish (and some don't)
- whether disruptive tactics work
- the importance of shared identity and collaboration
- the need for more funding to be directed to towards social movements
- how to avoid vo...
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September 2, 2022 • 17 mins
Today we're speaking with the Head of Grants at the British Science Association, Chris Manion.
We'll be discussing The Ideas Fund, an innovative public engagement program that provides grants for community groups and researchers who have new ideas for addressing local challenges related to mental health and wellbeing. We'll also be looking at the role funders play in bringing about social change, the power imbalances that accompany...
We'll be discussing The Ideas Fund, an innovative public engagement program that provides grants for community groups and researchers who have new ideas for addressing local challenges related to mental health and wellbeing. We'll also be looking at the role funders play in bringing about social change, the power imbalances that accompany...
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February 8, 2022 • 27 mins
In this episode, we chat to Alice Sachrajda and Marzena Zukowska, authors of New Brave World: The power, opportunities and potential of pop culture for social change in the UK.
We explore the opportunities for leveraging pop culture for social change and share examples of where pop culture has already proven to be a powerful driver of social change.
You can read the full 'New Brave World' report at: unboundphilanthropy.org/new-brave-...
We explore the opportunities for leveraging pop culture for social change and share examples of where pop culture has already proven to be a powerful driver of social change.
You can read the full 'New Brave World' report at: unboundphilanthropy.org/new-brave-...
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April 21, 2021 • 26 mins
We check in with Hannah Paterson on the latest developments in participatory grantmaking and the Shift The Power movement. Plus, we discuss Hannah's new role as Senior Portfolio Manager – Innovation, Policy and Practice at the National Lottery Community Fund.
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December 3, 2020 • 30 mins
This episode is a conversation between our consultant Rachel Krengel and Michael Parsons, Portfolio Manager at Guy’s and St Thomas' Charity, which is a foundation dedicated to addressing health inequalities in urban areas.
We’ve been working with them on a project to support 20 communities in Southwark and Lambeth during the Covid-19 emergency and beyond. We are piloting ways to get direct financial support into these communities, ...
We’ve been working with them on a project to support 20 communities in Southwark and Lambeth during the Covid-19 emergency and beyond. We are piloting ways to get direct financial support into these communities, ...
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October 6, 2020 • 20 mins
In this episode, our consultant Rachel Krengel speaks to Lindon Rankin, who is an organiser at the African ‘n’ Caribbean Wellbeing Group based in Southwark. Lindon’s is one of the many community groups we at SCA support.
In this podcast, Rachel talks to Lindon about his journey into community organising, his experiences of organising during the pandemic and how he believes grassroots groups can structure and govern themselves for m...
In this podcast, Rachel talks to Lindon about his journey into community organising, his experiences of organising during the pandemic and how he believes grassroots groups can structure and govern themselves for m...
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September 2, 2020 • 32 mins
In this podcast, speak to Amy Hulme, Senior Consultancy Manager at The Social Change Agency and fair pay campaigner, who reflects on her time campaigning for the Living Wage.
She shares her journey into activism and discusses how to build a successful strategy, movement-building misconceptions and dealing with the slow pace of corporate behaviour change as a campaigner.
She shares her journey into activism and discusses how to build a successful strategy, movement-building misconceptions and dealing with the slow pace of corporate behaviour change as a campaigner.
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August 5, 2020 • 27 mins
In this podcast, speak to Mita Desai, programme manager for the Young Trustees Movement.
She shares her journey into activism and discusses how to build a successful strategy, movement-building misconceptions and balancing the need to lead with the need to let go of control.
She shares her journey into activism and discusses how to build a successful strategy, movement-building misconceptions and balancing the need to lead with the need to let go of control.
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March 31, 2020 • 14 mins
This is part 2 of a two-part interview featuring Brian Young, the Executive Director of Action Network in conversation with Betsy, our principal director.
Action Network is a non-profit dedicated to providing cutting edge technology to the progressive movement.
As we record this, we’re facing the corona pandemic induced lockdown and Betsy and Brian reflect on ways technology can bring communities together, asking how to foster connec...
Action Network is a non-profit dedicated to providing cutting edge technology to the progressive movement.
As we record this, we’re facing the corona pandemic induced lockdown and Betsy and Brian reflect on ways technology can bring communities together, asking how to foster connec...
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March 31, 2020 • 19 mins
This is part 1 of a two-part interview featuring Brian Young, the Executive Director of Action Network in conversation with Betsy, our principal director.
Action Network is a non-profit dedicated to providing cutting edge technology to the progressive movement.
Brian discusses how to build power between people, rather than their online profiles.
Visit us at www.thesocialchangeagency.org
Follow us on Twitter at @SocialChangeAg
Hosts: B...
Action Network is a non-profit dedicated to providing cutting edge technology to the progressive movement.
Brian discusses how to build power between people, rather than their online profiles.
Visit us at www.thesocialchangeagency.org
Follow us on Twitter at @SocialChangeAg
Hosts: B...
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February 24, 2020 • 18 mins
In this episode, we're sitting down with Hannah Paterson a Churchill Fellow exploring participatory grant-making.
Participatory grant-making (PGM) is a means of putting funding decisions into the hands of those affected by the decisions. Done right, it can fundamentally shift power blurring the traditional roles of ‘funder’ and ‘grantee’.
Hannah will be running a session on PGM at our ‘Losing Control in funding and commissioning ev...
Participatory grant-making (PGM) is a means of putting funding decisions into the hands of those affected by the decisions. Done right, it can fundamentally shift power blurring the traditional roles of ‘funder’ and ‘grantee’.
Hannah will be running a session on PGM at our ‘Losing Control in funding and commissioning ev...
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February 24, 2020 • 18 mins
In this episode, we chat with Uma Mishra-Newbery, Executive Director of Women’s March Global, to talk through some of the challenges inherent in the funding sector and the opportunities that lie in changing the traditional approach.
Uma is running a session at our ‘Losing Control in funding and commissioning event’ on the 4th March 2020. It will be a day of honest conversations with funders, grantmakers and grantees looking at how ...
Uma is running a session at our ‘Losing Control in funding and commissioning event’ on the 4th March 2020. It will be a day of honest conversations with funders, grantmakers and grantees looking at how ...
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December 2, 2019 • 14 mins
In this episode, we chat to Jason Foo, CEO of BBD Perfect Storm, a ‘brand and cultural transformation agency’ who have put purpose at the heart of the work they do.
Foo talks about appetite for social change in the business sector and the scope for social impact.
Visit us at www.thesocialchangeagency.org
Follow us on Twitter at @SocialChangeAg
Host: Kate Edwards
Guest: Jason Foo
Producer: Maria Mancuso
Theme music by Loyalty Freak Music
Foo talks about appetite for social change in the business sector and the scope for social impact.
Visit us at www.thesocialchangeagency.org
Follow us on Twitter at @SocialChangeAg
Host: Kate Edwards
Guest: Jason Foo
Producer: Maria Mancuso
Theme music by Loyalty Freak Music
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November 1, 2019 • 10 mins
In this episode, we caught up with Jo Wells, director of the Blagrave Trust and founding funder of the Young Trustees Movement, which brings together a number of organisations with the aim of doubling the number of young people serving on charity sector boards over the next five years.
Jo talks to us about her decision to get behind The Young Trustees Movement, why it is so necessary for the future of charity governance and what it ...
Jo talks to us about her decision to get behind The Young Trustees Movement, why it is so necessary for the future of charity governance and what it ...
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November 1, 2019 • 13 mins
In this episode, we speak with Tor Evans, the senior external relations manager for the Roundhouse who also sits on the Young Trustees Movement advisory board.
The Roundhouse has been a leading voice in the push to recruit young trustees. They are trailblazers who have had young trustees for over a decade and even created a guide to youth governance in collaboration with the Arts Council.
Tor shares some practical tips for how organ...
The Roundhouse has been a leading voice in the push to recruit young trustees. They are trailblazers who have had young trustees for over a decade and even created a guide to youth governance in collaboration with the Arts Council.
Tor shares some practical tips for how organ...
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