Stanford Social Innovation Review Podcast

Social enterprise can both ease the terrible consequences of the insularity inherent in nationalism, and enhance the positive opportunities for social change within established heritage and cultural traditions. In this panel discussion, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, experts consider topics ranging from multiculturalism within countries to cross-national and international cultural challenges and opportunities. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/panel_discussion_-_skoll_world_forum_nationality_and_nationalism

Given current tax laws, $300 billion in charitable dollars can end up costing the U.S. Treasury $50 billion in lost income. Should taxable income exclude charitable contributions? In this audio lecture, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Stanford political philosopher Rob Reich asks some tough questions, ultimately proposing a new way of looking at tax incentives to support the nonprofit sector. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/rob_reich_-_tax_incentives_for_philanthropy

At its worst, program evaluation is a useless activity that generates lots of boring data and irrelevant conclusions. But at its best, argues Mark Kramer in a talk he gave at the 2008 Nonprofit Management Institute, it can be a strategic tool for the genuine improvement of a nonprofit. He offers exemplars of organizations that have used evaluation effectively to advance their missions. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/mark_kramer_-_moving_from_insight_to_action

To support environmental sustainability and reduce or even stop the threat of global warming, the first line of defense is to avoid using fossil fuels in the first place. In this university podcast followed by questions from the audience, John Podesta suggests that this can be done by focusing on greater energy efficiency—both at personal and policy levels. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/john_podesta_-_responding_to_climate_change

The threat of animal habitat loss is one of the major issues in the environmental sustainability arena. In this audio interview by Sheela Sethuraman, Laurie Marker of the Cheetah Conservation Fund talks about a multi-pronged effort including habitat restoration, resource management education, and job creation to address that threat to cheetahs, in particular. She describes the creative measures she has taken to save cheetahs and improve the lives of the people who live near them. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/laurie_marker_-_environmental_sustainability_for_the_cheetah

Nonprofit management faces one of its biggest challenges in the arena of disaster relief. In this audio interview, Neal Denton, senior VP of government relations and strategic partnerships at the American Red Cross discusses the value of his organization's relationship to the Partnership for Disaster Response. He discusses plans for strengthening this relationship and the role of the private sector in disaster response. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/neal_denton_-_nonprofit_collaborations_in_disaster_response

Biofuels offer an environmental sustainability substitute against petrol-based fuels such as gasoline, yet they are still expensive to produce and are causing a steep inflation in food prices the world over. This panel discussion of experts debates the root causes of the increase in food prices, and the need to tackle the economic and political side effects of biofuel production. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/panel_discussion_-_biofuels_for_environmental_sustainability

MySpace, Flicker, YouTube, and Facebook are big brands and major movers in the commercial, social networking world. In this audio lecture recorded at the 2008 Nonprofit Management Institute, an event convened by the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Jeff Patrick of Common Knowledge shares how nonprofits can use such tools—and customize their own—to capture constituencies and raise funds. He further shows where social networking is headed so that nonprofits can begin to incorporate it into their long-term horizons. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/jeff_patrick_-_social_networking_for_nonprofits

Research shows that spending time and money on others makes people happy—so why don't more people donate to or volunteer for nonprofits? In this audio lecture, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Stanford marketing professor Jennifer Aaker offers insights into the phenomenon. She then turns those insights into lessons in nonprofit management that organizations can use to create compelling ways for more people to give financially and personally to the causes they care about. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/jennifer_aaker_-_the_psychology_of_giving

The key to success in any team or enterprise is to develop good working relationships. In this talk, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, consultant Diana McLain Smith, author of Divide and Conquer: How Great Teams Turn Conflict into Strength, shows how those who care about performance and relationships can simultaneously nurture both. She offers tips for seeing work relationships in new ways, and practical suggestions for enhancing them. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/diana_mclain_smith_-_how_great_teams_turn_conflict_into_strength

Companies can indeed make money while operating in socially responsible and environmentally friendly ways. It just takes what supply chain expert Hau Lee calls the Triple-A approach—having agility, adaptability, and alignment. Closing the Stanford 2008 Responsible Supply Chains Conference, Lee describes how small to mid-sized companies in China, India, and Israel boosted profits while shrinking waste and pollution and providing a fair workplace for employees. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/hau_lee_-_boosting_profits_through_social_responsibility

If you had to design a system to improve the quality of education in distant underprivileged schools, where would you begin? You might first step away from the problem and ask: What is the simplest "system" that could work in the real world? In this audio interview with host Sheela Sethuraman, Randy Wang describes his motivation to create Digital StudyHall, a collection of mundane technologies that have dramatically improved long distance education. He also talks about his progress and goals. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/randy_wang_-_education_through_community_participation

A food crisis is upon us. Prices are rising, supply is shrinking, and petroleum prices are spiking, all leading to increasing demand and instability regarding food in countries the world over. In this panel discussion, Robert Hormats, Helene Gayle, and Jacqueline Novogratz discuss what the financial sector, NGOs, and small farmers must do to reverse this alarming situation. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/panel_discussion_-_strategies_to_end_hunger

Not a week goes by without a product safety incident splashed across the headlines. As companies face increasing layers of suppliers, the task of monitoring the many links in the chain becomes a formidable challenge. The situation is particularly troubling for social entrepreneurs, who are especially vulnerable. In this panel discussion from the 2008 Responsible Supply Chains Conference, executives who have experienced product safety challenges share what they have done to address these challenges head on. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/socially_and_environmentally_responsible_supply_chain_conference_-_strategi

Can environmental sustainability be supported by genetics? In this audio interview, Craig Venter, a pioneer in genetic research, discusses some of his key discoveries that are advancing the state of science in genomics and synthetic life. He shares how, in his current work on DNA programming and building synthetic organisms, he is using the building blocks of life to approach society's most pressing problems such as energy and food. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/craig_venter_-_genetics_and_environmental_sustainability

How can an innovative player in social entrepreneurship enable her exciting new idea to fulfill her dream of changing the world? This panel discussion of successful innovators examines the challenges of replicating and scaling ideas into massive realities of social change. Experts share their varied experience in identifying the important considerations that can grow a successful neighborhood social program into a global social venture. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/panel_discussion_-_skoll_world_forum_replication_and_scale1

The Gap monitors 2,000 garment factories in 50 countries and conducts about 4,000 inspections annually to make sure its suppliers are operating under ethical guidelines. Dan Henkle, the executive who oversees this inspection process, as well as the company's community investment and environmental affairs efforts, outlines The Gap's corporate responsibility programs in this audio lecture recorded at the 2008 Responsible Supply Chains Conference. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/dan_henkle_-_gaps_progress_on_corporate_social_responsibility

Four high-profile female political professionals discuss Hillary Clinton's candidacy for president in this panel discussion. They cover how her run for office affected the future of women in politics and the benefits and weaknesses of women in political leadership. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/panel_discussion_-_women_in_charge

How does an organization not only promote green and sustainable products but also conduct business in a socially responsible way? At the Stanford 2008 Responsible Supply Chains Conference, leaders of three pioneering enterprises talk in a panel discussion about how they integrate fair trade, sustainable design, green purchasing, and public/private partnerships into every aspect of their business. They offer advice for other organizations and share how they are working to promote social responsibility in their respective industries. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/making_supply_chains_socially_responsible_-_fresh_approaches_to_supply_chai

Fraser Nelson, a consultant to nonprofits, gives an entertaining lesson on the why and how of nonprofit lobbying. Most nonprofits do not lobby government for a variety of reasons, but Nelson explains that it is legal, effective, and powerful. In this Stanford Social Innovation Review sponsored audio lecture, Nelson concludes with ways to get the most out of your lobbying efforts and five rules to follow. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/fraser_nelson_-_learn_to_love_lobbying