We here at Nonprofits Now have loved joining the vibrant community of philanthropy podcasters. We'd like to introduce you to our friends at Becoming The Vision, a podcast that believes we must change ourselves to change the world. Join hosts Dr. Chera Reid, Efraín Gutiérrez, and Dr. Trinel Torian as they interview visionaries inside and outside of philanthropy.

In this episode, Chera, Efraín, and Trinel discuss resiliency — both individual and organizational — during times of profound change with ⁠Jim Canales⁠, President and Trustee at ⁠Barr Foundation.⁠

Jim reflects on resiliency in the context of his upcoming transition from president to board chair at Barr, noting that it’s not just about weathering the winds of change, but about learning from past experiences, mistakes, and challenges — and using those lessons to guide how we lead into the future. Among those lessons for senior leadership: knowing when to step forward and when to step back.

Jim and the hosts speak candidly about the dynamics between executives and boards, and the missed opportunities for alignment that arise when boards become an impediment rather than a partner in leadership. For Jim, resiliency means maintaining clarity and continuity around core values, while leaving room for fresh perspectives and new approaches. In fact, Jim and the hosts suggest that organizations can — and must — balance bold, new leadership with a deep commitment to their founding values. It’s a delicate dance, and one that truly resilient institutions are capable of performing.

As both solution and testimony, Jim brings humility and intentionality to the conversation — offering insight into how senior leaders can create the enabling conditions that empower new leadership to thrive, encourage collaboration, and invite meaningful change.

We hope you enjoy this episode.

We love introducing you to meaningful conversations and powerful ideas, and today, we're thrilled to bring you something a little different — a bonus episode from our friends at the Mission Forward podcast. If you haven’t tuned in yet, Mission Forward is all about the people and stories driving social change, and we think you’ll find a lot to love.

In this special episode, host Carrie Fox sits down with Leonard Burton to explore his powerful journey from a Detroit stage play to national leadership in justice, tracing the mentors, moments, and moral clarity that shaped his vision for a more equitable future. It’s a conversation packed with insight, strategy, and heart — just the kind of content we know you value. So settle in and enjoy this special episode of Mission Forward.

Why are urban and rural America so at odds?

Author Barbara Kingsolver has answers as she joins the second episode of our sister podcast from the Chronicle of Philanthropy: The Commons in Conversation.

The Pulitzer Prize winner frequently writes and talks about the origins of — and cure for — what she calls "urban-rural antipathy." Her most recent novel, Demon Copperhead, aims to dismantle stereotypes of her native Appalachia that she says infect politics and contribute to a mutual loathing between urban and rural Americans.

Kingsolver talks with Chronicle of Philanthropy deputy opinion editor Nandita Raghuram about her writing and philanthropy's role in rural parts of the country. She also shares a bit about Higher Ground, a home she and her husband established for women recovering from addiction.

Visit The Commons, a Chronicle special project exploring how Americans can come together, strengthen communities, and repair our torn social fabric. And sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Watch this interview on the Chronicle's YouTube channel.

Go Deeper

• Read an excerpt from Demon Copperhead.
• Read a New York Times story about the home that Kingsolver and her husband established for women recovering from addiction.
• Listen to a 2023 interview with Kingsolver about Demon Copperhead as "the great Appalachian novel."