Social Situation

Founder & CEO of Rising Kitchens Lauren A. Silverstein, Ph.D. joins Trevor and Erin to talk about building high-impact organizations, measuring what matters, and creating real opportunity in food entrepreneurship. Practical frameworks, no fluff.Booking note: Lauren also speaks and facilitates on impact strategy & measurement—connect with her on LinkedIn to inquire.Presented by Elevate Social Impact & Orgmatch • Hosts: Trevor Loke & Erin Mogel

In this inspiring episode of Social Situation, Trevor and Erin sit down with Walter Mendenhall — former NFL player, educator, and founder of the Male Mogul Initiative — to explore the power of mentorship and leadership in transforming young lives.Walter shares his journey from the football field to the frontlines of community leadership, and how he’s helping youth become heroes in their own neighborhoods. The conversation dives deep into what it takes to inspire purpose, resilience, and service in the next generation — and how we can all play a role in building stronger, more empowered communities.

In this episode of Social Situation, Trevor and Erin sit down with Catalina Parker of Relatable Nonprofit to unpack what it really means to ditch the traditional 9–5 in favor of building a consulting life on your own terms. From burnout in full-time roles to the joy (and chaos) of self-employment, Catalina shares her journey of turning frustration into freedom—and why so many nonprofit professionals are doing the same. We dive into practical strategies, identity shifts, imposter syndrome, and what makes consulting actually sustainable. Whether you're toying with the idea or already deep in the freelance hustle, this one’s for you.

In this episode of Social Situation, hosts Trevor and Erin reconnect after some time apart, sharing what’s new in their lives and reflecting on recent happenings in the world. From personal updates to social trends, they bring their signature mix of insight and authenticity to the mic.Joining the conversation is Emily Rasmussen, Founder & CEO of Grapevine, a platform that's transforming how people give together. Emily shares her journey building Grapevine, the power of giving circles, and how collective action is reshaping philanthropy. It’s a thoughtful and inspiring discussion about community, innovation, and leading with purpose.🎧 Tune in for a mix of real talk, reflection, and fresh perspective from one of the most dynamic voices in social impact.

Join Erin and Trevor for a special episode where they discuss what's happened over the last year of Social Situation and what's ahead.

Trevor and Erin are back to talk purpose following the winter break!After catching up on life and what's happening in the world, Erin and Trevor talk about connecting with purpose and how companies are making an effort to put purpose at their core.Meridian Credit Union is one of Canada's largest credit unions and has pursued a purpose-driven strategy for its brand. Sarah Saso, VP of ESG & Social Impact, and Ghazal Taheri, Director of Brand, join Trevor and Erin to discuss how they decided to lean into purpose and how it is connecting them to the communities that they work with.You won't want to miss this episode on how purposeful brands are using their impact to drive change in business.

Trevor and Erin are back in an episode all about inspiration and perseverance. Join our hosts as they chat about what they've been up to over the recent break, what's happening, and what's on the horizon. Carlos Terol, Founder & CEO of Good Ripple, joins Erin and Trevor for a conversation about what it takes to build toward a community of 300 million changemakers. Our hosts end the episode with tidbits on recent news and tips on how to stay organized. Take a listen! For more information on our podcast, episodes, and hosts, visit socialsituationpodcast.com Social Situation is a collaboration of Elevate Social Impact and Orgmatch. This episode was edited by Tristan Thomson, written and co-hosted by Erin Mogel and Trevor Loke.

Reflecting on careers working in international development, Erin and Trevor talk about their lessons from time abroad and how they apply it to their work at home. Joining our hosts are Daniel Nyirenda of Rural Development Partners and Liam Moise of Nexus Impacts. By working together, Daniel and Liam showcase how they can create powerful impact in Malawi by mobilizing resources from partners worldwide that want to help. In their own reflections, Erin and Trevor share takeaways of how to apply some of the lessons from their discussions. For more information on our podcast, episodes, and hosts, visit socialsituationpodcast.com Social Situation is a collaboration of Elevate Social Impact and Orgmatch. This episode was edited by Tristan Thomson, written and co-hosted by Erin Mogel and Trevor Loke.

Episode 7 is a journey. On this episode, Social Situation shows how impact is good for growth. Erin & Trevor catch up and invite special guest, Nina Rauch, to join them. Nina Rauch, is the Senior Social Impact Lead at Lemonade, an insurance company with purpose at its core. Nina shares how her impact journey as a volunteer brought her into a startup, leading a social impact role, and growing with Lemonade to their IPO. Closing out our episode, Erin and Trevor share activities and tips for social impact teams. For more information on our podcast, episodes, and hosts, visit socialsituationpodcast.com Social Situation is a collaboration of Elevate Social Impact and Orgmatch. This episode was edited by Tristan Thomson, written and co-hosted by Erin Mogel and Trevor Loke.

Episode 6 of Social Situation looks to the future and asks how innovations in technology are upending the impact sphere. Erin and Trevor share how AI shows up for their work before inviting our guest experts for an in-depth conversation on how AI is changing our lives and what's worth paying attention to. Craig Sanders, Founder and CEO of Helpen, talks about how startups and new organizations can leverage AI and other technologies to disrupt existing systems to bring about progressive change. Our other guest is Dr. George Tzanetakis, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Victoria, who shares his take on the advances of technology and how he introduces this complex topic to new audiences. George also shares his musical background and how AI can have impacts across a wide part of our lives - for better and worse. The conversation is riveting and thoughtful. Finally, Erin and Trevor share recommendations related to their thinking about the future and the role of technology in it. Step in the future by tuning in to this latest episode of Social Situation! For more information on our podcast, episodes, and hosts, visit socialsituationpodcast.com Social Situation is a collaboration of Elevate Social Impact and Orgmatch. This episode was edited by Tristan Thomson, written and co-hosted by Erin Mogel and Trevor Loke.

Trust matters and it matters a lot to the brands we know best. In this episode, Mike Hower of Hower Impact shares his stories advising major brands on living authentically, sustainably, and impactfully - so that they can win the trust of their stakeholders. Trevor and Erin share what trust means to them and share tips and ideas for how to incorporate trust into your work, including a book recommendation and suggestions for practicing trust-building. For more information on our podcast, episodes, and hosts, visit socialsituationpodcast.com Social Situation is a collaboration of Elevate Social Impact and Orgmatch. This episode was edited by Tristan Thomson, written and co-hosted by Erin Mogel and Trevor Loke.

Health care is the heart of this episode as Erin and Trevor discuss their passion for health care and how it got them started in philanthropy. Health is a complex topic, but the need to mobilize resources is constant throughout. Joining Erin and Trevor are experts in resource mobilization for the health care sector Scott Elliott and Kevin Sims. Scott Elliott is the CEO of the Dr. Peter Centre and was recently appointed to the board of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction. Scott shares his stories about working vulnerable, often ignored populations in a major urban centre on issues including mental health, addiction, and poverty. Kevin Sims is the Vice-President of Volunteer Field Relations & Engagement with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Kevin talks about how to grow a volunteer-based organization through relationship building. Erin and Trevor share suggestions for organizations to communicate their goals to attract volunteers and dollars - tips that any organization can apply. For more information on our podcast, episodes, and hosts, visit ⁠⁠socialsituationpodcast.com⁠⁠ Social Situation is a collaboration of ⁠⁠Elevate Social Impact⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Orgmatch⁠⁠. This episode was edited by Tristan Thomson, written and co-hosted by Erin Mogel and Trevor Loke.

Community is at the heart of Social Situation's third episode. Social impact professionals are often isolated and struggling - we'll talk about changing that dynamic through community building. Joining Erin and Trevor is Jenn Lishansky, Chief Engagement Officer and Career Coach at Be Social Change. Jenn shares her experience of growing a local community in New York City into a global community bringing people together. Jenn shares stories of uniting people in marriage, in uncommon partnerships that are making an impact, and what inclusive and supportive social impact communities look like. Jenn also gives a shoutout to the book ⁠Saving Time by Jenny Odell⁠ as she shares the advantages of social entrepreneurship in living a fulfilled life. At the end of our episode, there are two predictions that you won't want to miss! Trevor and Erin will share short and long-term outlooks for how social impact plays a role in the market - and how it relates to building sustainable supportive communities. For more information on our podcast, episodes, and hosts, visit ⁠socialsituationpodcast.com⁠ Social Situation is a collaboration of ⁠Elevate Social Impact⁠ and ⁠Orgmatch⁠. This episode was edited by Tristan Thomson, written and co-hosted by Erin Mogel and Trevor Loke.

In episode 2 Social Situation is diving into the world of major sports. Erin & Trevor share stories about why sports matter to them and how sport relates to giving back. Joining Erin and Trevor is Tony Croslin, Experiential/Field Marketing Manager with Excel Sports Management and a former community impact and event professional with teams and leagues including Major League Baseball, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Reds, and the New York Mets. Tony talks about his nine year career working in Major Sports and the evolution of how teams engage in impact. Tony talks about how he got started in building his dream career combining his passions - take notes if you've ever wanted to work in social impact for a major sports team! Closing out our episode, Erin talks about a recent move from New York City to Los Angeles while affirming the importance of community and doing good deeds. Trevor shares a recommendation for an Oscar-nominated documentary film that gives inspiration for those standing against corruption and oppression. For more information on our podcast, episodes, and hosts, visit socialsituationpodcast.com Social Situation is a collaboration of Elevate Social Impact and Orgmatch. This episode was edited by Tristan Thomson, written and co-hosted by Erin Mogel and Trevor Loke.

In this episode we meet Social Situation co-hosts Erin Mogel and Trevor Loke. We learn about their journeys navigating the social impact landscape and how it's led to the formation of Elevate Social Impact and Orgmatch respectively. Joining Erin and Trevor is Pooya Pourak, Co-Founder & CEO of Matchnice.com. Pooya discusses the commonalities of his journey along with the unique challenges he's faced starting a new digital social enterprise. He's also a seasoned podcaster, hosting The Nonprofit Lab Podcast. Erin and Trevor will share recommendations for a book that will help you ask better questions and gain new insights, and a store that's threading the needle on social impact. For more information on our podcast, episodes, and hosts, visit socialsituationpodcast.com Social Situation is a collaboration of Elevate Social Impact and Orgmatch. This episode was edited by Tristan Thomson and produced by Erin Mogel and Trevor Loke.

Welcome to Social Situation, a podcast where we dive into the game-changing world of social impact with industry leaders. We talk about the current and future state of social impact, bridging the gap between for-profits and nonprofits, and why taking values-informed risks is key to making a real difference. Social Situation is co-hosted by Erin Mogel and Trevor Loke. Editing, mixing, and sound design by Mark Rathgeber. Social Situation is presented by Elevate Social Impact and Orgmatch. Thank you for listening and subscribing wherever you get your podcasts.