What Unites Us

We started this podcast to learn how other leaders develop, innovate, inspire, and lead to drive change. From our guests who are driving the for-profit sector, to the CEOs of nonprofits, and everything in between, this first season has taught us so much. Welcome to this episode of What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned. Today, we discuss what we’ve learned throughout this season, our favorite stories that our guests have shared, and how many seasons Esther hopes to host. We also ask that you leave us any feedback so we can continue to learn how to make our podcast better. We plan to be back for season 2!Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Episode Credits: Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us Original music by Starling Studios Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

Growing up, most Americans were taught that the best way to earn a liveable wage was to go to college. But is education really the best determiner of a good employee? Our guest today disagrees. Welcome to this episode of What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned. Today, we welcome Maurice Jones. Maurice is the former CEO of OneTen, a coalition of businesses that are aiming to employ one million African Americans by the end of the decade. He shares what the Rhodes Scholarship is, his career journey, and why OneTen is dedicated to changing the mindset of the workforce.Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Episode Credits: Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us Original music by Starling Studios Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

Growing up with the Kennedy last name, our guest today was no stranger to larger than life pressure and responsibility, and grief and addiction. Throughout his career, Patrick decided to use his famous moniker to highlight the changes that needed and still need to happen in healthcare in regards to mental health and addiction. Welcome to this episode of What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned. Today, we welcome Patrick Kennedy, politician and mental health and substance use advocate. Patrick talks to us about his start in politics, his familial background with addiction, and what he believes needs to change in substance use and mental health care. Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Episode Credits: Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us Original music by Starling Studios Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

If you grew up amidst a successful generational family business, would you continue with the family business, or strike out on your own? Our guest today did both and lived out the family motto of “create a better life for others.”Welcome to this episode of What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned.Today, we welcome Rachel Kohler, former CEO of NowPow, entrepreneur, and mentor. She tells us about her decision to leave her family’s business, why shared values are important when selling a business, and her thoughts on what creates longevity in a brand.Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Episode Credits: Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us Original music by Starling Studios Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

Do you think everyone can be a leader? What qualities do you think good leaders should possess? Courage? Work Ethic? Integrity? These, plus many more, help shape the leaders of today's business world, and in turn, shape the way businesses operate.Welcome to this episode of the What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned.Today, we're welcoming Sam Allen, a Veteran and Salesforce executive. Sam is sharing with us why courage is extremely important in leaders, why he worked on becoming more empathetic, the unconscious biases that many businesses have, and so much more. Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Episode Credits: Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us Original music by Starling Studios Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

What values can you learn in sports that transition well to adulthood and your career? And what role do professional sports organizations have in shaping the values of their communities and our society?Welcome to this episode of the What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned.Today, we are talking with Lindsay Barenz, President of Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul. Lindsay pivoted from being an attorney to working in politics then to working in sports. She shares with us the hardships that come from building a professional sports team, the potential women’s soccer has, and how to lead from a position of integrity, authenticity, and values. Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Episode Credits: Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us Original music by Starling Studios Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

Most of us know (or are) someone who has struggled. Those that struggle sometimes just need someone to show them the way out. Can a non-profit built on the idea that offering skills is that way out last for generations? Today’s guest says yes. Welcome to this episode of What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned. Today, we welcome Steven Preston, President and CEO of Goodwill. Steven shares with us his origin story, how his goals aligned with the mission of Goodwill, and the importance of technology for Goodwill’s vision.Let’s Connect:LinkedInTwitter InstagramFacebookWant to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Episode Credits: Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us Original music by Starling Studios Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

Health equity. It's a hot topic, in part because Covid-19 made people aware that there is so much disparity between different folks. But how can we do our part to change that and build a better society? One way is by gaining friends who don't look like you, which can help broaden your understanding of others.Welcome to this episode of What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned.Today, we welcome Pamela Garmon Johnson. She has been leading at  the American Heart Association for 25 years. She shares why she joined the American Heart Association, how it is changing the way it addresses heart disease, how she works with outside teams, and so much more.Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Episode Credits:Produced by Ginni Media and Unite UsOriginal music by Starling StudiosCopyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reservedAll opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Episode Credits: Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us Original music by Starling Studios Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

When life gets hard, do you get beat down, or do you pull yourself up by your bootstraps? If something stands in the way of your dreams, do you stop going forward, or do you trudge through the mud until you find a way?Welcome to this episode of the What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned.Today, we're welcoming Georgina Dukes, a social justice advocate and our own Senior Director of Social Care Impact. After she became a young single mom while still in college, Georgina realized her passion was in helping others who need assistance and making the process easier to navigate. She shares with us her professional journey, the struggles she has faced while working with community organizations, what her future goals with Unite Us are, and so much more. Episode CreditsProduced by Ginni Media and Unite UsOriginal music by Starling StudiosCopyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved - All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Episode Credits: Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us Original music by Starling Studios Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

There is no more complicated system than healthcare in the US. Is it too big to fix? Are there ideas, solutions, technology, and leaders bringing us toward a more effective and lower cost system.Welcome to this episode of the What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned.Today, we sit down with Seema Verma, former administrator for Medicare and Medicaid services under former President Trump. She shares what it was like working for the former President, how she handles backlash, her thoughts on technology in healthcare, and so much more. Episode Credits:Produced by Ginni Media and Unite UsOriginal music by Starling StudiosCopyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reservedAll opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.Want to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Episode Credits: Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us Original music by Starling Studios Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.

When it comes to confidence, what’s your mentality? Are you worried about failure, or do you have a ‘take the shot’ approach? Do you allow yourself to constantly evolve as a person, or are you stuck in limbo? Welcome to this episode of the What Unites Us, a podcast about building businesses meant to last. We aim to answer some of the toughest questions about branding, leadership, and success while talking to business trailblazers about their biggest lessons learned. Today, we sit down with Rob Dyrdek, entrepreneur, TV personality, and former professional skateboarder, to discuss how he has evolved, the preconceived notions people have about him, how to gain confidence, and so much more. Episode Credits:Produced by Ginni Media and Unite UsOriginal music by Starling StudiosWant to learn more about Unite Us? Our newsletter comes out the first Wednesday of every month. It includes our latest happenings, network news, announcements, and ways to get involved with our movement to connect health and social care. Sign up here. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and share your thoughts with us by emailing podcast@uniteus.com. Episode Credits: Produced by Ginni Media and Unite Us Original music by Starling Studios Copyright ©UniteUs2023 all rights reserved All opinions expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the guest and do not reflect the opinions of Unite Us.