How to Change the World

Catherine Alonzo
  • 4.9 (66)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to our podcast, How to Change the World, where we dive deep into the world of changemaking leadership! Whether you're leading an organization, a political campaign, or a community cause, this podcast is your go-to resource for creating impactful change. We'll bring you engaging stories and actionable tips from our team and inspiring guests who are making waves in their communities. Tune in for clear takeaways and practical advice to elevate your impact through powerful storytelling. Stories change the world - let's help you tell yours.

  1. Ep. 203 - The Power of Rebranding and How to Get It Right (From Leaders Who've Done It)

    Jun 3

    Ep. 203 - The Power of Rebranding and How to Get It Right (From Leaders Who've Done It)

    Rebranding can feel like a surface-level change. A new logo, a new color palette, maybe a refreshed website. But in practice, it goes much deeper than that. In this episode, Catherine brings together three social change leaders to share what it really looks like to go through a rebrand, why they chose to do it, and what powerful outcomes it created for their organizations. From community safety and youth development to conservation advocacy, each organization is working in a different space, but all are asking the same question: how do we tell our story in a way that actually connects? Through these conversations, a clear theme emerges. Rebranding isn't just about how you look, it's about how clearly you understand who you are, who you serve, and what you're trying to build. It's about aligning your visuals and messaging with the impact you're working toward, and being willing to do the deeper work to get there. They also talk about what makes the process challenging, how to bring a team along, and how to know when it's actually working. If you've been wondering whether it might be time to rethink your organization's brand story, or how to approach a rebrand in a way that truly supports your mission, this episode offers a grounded look at what that can involve. 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on changemaking. 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube now!

    1h 3m
  2. Ep. 202 - Why Isn't Our Marketing Working? (And How to Make It Work Without Doing More)

    May 20

    Ep. 202 - Why Isn't Our Marketing Working? (And How to Make It Work Without Doing More)

    If your marketing isn't working the way it used to, it's easy to assume the answer is to do more. More posts. More emails. More campaigns. More everything. In this episode, host Catherine breaks down why that instinct often leads to burnout instead of results and offers a clearer way to diagnose what's actually going on. She introduces the two root issues behind most marketing challenges: a brand clarity problem or a marketing reach problem, and explains how they can feel the same but require completely different solutions. Catherine walks through how to identify which problem you have, what it looks and feels like inside your organization, and what to do next. She also shares why more effort isn't always the answer, how to focus your time and energy more effectively, and why choosing what not to do is just as important as what you do. If your team is working harder than ever but not seeing the results you need, this episode will help you understand where to focus so your efforts actually move the needle. 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on changemaking. 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube now!

    17 min
  3. Ep. 201 - Write a Book That Changes the World: A Conversation with My Publisher, Jesse Finkelstein

    May 6

    Ep. 201 - Write a Book That Changes the World: A Conversation with My Publisher, Jesse Finkelstein

    Writing a book can feel overwhelming, with so many paths, so many unknowns, and no clear place to start.   In this episode, Jesse Finkelstein, co-founder of Page Two (the publisher of Catherine's new book) pulls back the curtain on the publishing process and what it really takes to create a book that matters. They explore the different publishing paths available today, why hybrid publishing is gaining traction, and how authors can think strategically about their goals, their audience, and the kind of impact they want their work to have.   They also talk about what makes a book effective, why clarity and audience focus matter more than length or complexity, and how books can be a powerful tool for shaping ideas and driving meaningful change. If you've ever thought about writing a book, or want to better understand how ideas move from concept to impact, this conversation is for you.   👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on changemaking. 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube now!

    55 min
  4. Ep. 200 - The Fight for Immigrant Rights: Then, Now, and What's Next with Luis Ávila

    Apr 15

    Ep. 200 - The Fight for Immigrant Rights: Then, Now, and What's Next with Luis Ávila

    If you've ever wondered what it takes to keep imagining a better world while everything around you feels on fire, this conversation is for you.   For the 200th episode of How to Change the World, Luis Ávila returns to the podcast to talk about immigration advocacy, power-building, and what this moment demands of changemakers. We explore the long arc of immigrant rights work in Arizona and across the country, what has shifted in the movement over the last two decades, and why Luis believes every major leap forward in human rights begins with someone imagining a world that does not exist yet and deciding to fight for it anyway. We also talk about what communities need right now, why being in community matters as much as strategy, and how leaders can hold both defense and vision at the same time. If you care about immigration, movement-building, and how to keep going when the work feels overwhelming, this episode is for you.   👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on changemaking. 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube now!

    48 min
  5. Ep. 199 - Ending Homelessness Starts with Housing: A Conversation with Mike Shore

    Apr 1

    Ep. 199 - Ending Homelessness Starts with Housing: A Conversation with Mike Shore

    Challenges related to housing and homelessness can feel too big, too complex, or too stuck to solve. This conversation offers a clearer view of what real progress can look like.   Mike Shore, President and CEO of HOM Inc., joins me to talk about what it takes to move one of our most urgent community challenges forward. We discuss why housing is the solution to homelessness, what people often misunderstand about the crisis today, and how HOM Inc.'s work helps thousands of families move into permanent housing across Arizona and Los Angeles. Mike also shares how Threshold, the initiative featured in Catherine's new book, The Changemaker's Toolkit, brings property owners into the solution through intentional partnership, targeted storytelling, and a clear focus on excellence at every level. If you care about housing, systems-level change, and what it looks like to bring your strengths to an issue you care deeply about, this episode is for you.   👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on changemaking. 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube now!

    52 min
  6. Ep. 198 - A Look Behind The Book: The Making of a Social Changemaker with Claire Louge

    Mar 18

    Ep. 198 - A Look Behind The Book: The Making of a Social Changemaker with Claire Louge

    If you've ever wondered how leaders keep going when the work never feels finished, this conversation offers a look behind the curtain.   Claire Louge, Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Arizona, joins me to talk about what it looks like to lead change today. In this movingly honest conversation, Claire shares her personal journey moving from chronic self-doubt to developing self-trust, and why transparency has become one of her core values. We explore how her personal journey shaped the way she leads and why she believes leadership should be more accessible, human, and honest. Claire also breaks down what prevention of child abuse actually looks like, including why "the root cause of child abuse and neglect is unsupported people" and how we shift from a culture of surveillance to a culture of support by getting families what they need, when they need it, in their own communities. If you care about building a world where families flourish and children can be who they are and offer their strengths to the world, this episode is for you.   👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on changemaking. 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube now!

    59 min
  7. Ep. 197 - Behind The Changemaker's Toolkit with Guest Host Veronica Aguilar

    Mar 4

    Ep. 197 - Behind The Changemaker's Toolkit with Guest Host Veronica Aguilar

    If the world has started to feel like it's falling apart—and you're wondering what change can realistically look like right now—this episode is for you.   Guest host Veronica Aguilar turns the mic on Catherine Alonzo, regular podcast host and author of The Changemaker's Toolkit, to talk about what led her to write a book "for the frustrated changemaker" and why it feels more timely than ever. Catherine shares the personal story that shaped her drive to make a difference, the three forces making this moment feel uniquely overwhelming (and why they also create unprecedented opportunity for change), and the four tools at the heart of her "toolkit": vision, systems, core values, and conviction. Along the way, she offers a grounded reframe for anyone feeling heavy or powerless: don't ask how to solve everything—ask, "What are my five yards?"   👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on changemaking. 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube now!

    40 min
  8. Ep. 196 - From Disaster to Dignity: Building a Luxury Fashion Brand in Haiti

    Feb 18

    Ep. 196 - From Disaster to Dignity: Building a Luxury Fashion Brand in Haiti

    If you care about ethical fashion, women's leadership, and what it looks like to build change that lasts, this episode is for you.   Julie Colombino-Billingham, founder of luxury fashion brand Deux Mains, joins me to share how a background in disaster response and a life-changing season in post-earthquake Haiti led her from short-term aid to focusing on long-term economic freedom for Haitian people through incredible craftsmanship. We talk about the moment a Haitian woman told her, "I don't need water, but I need a job," and how that single sentence reshaped her understanding of what people actually need to rebuild. Julie walks me through how Deux Mains grew from tire sandals made in a tent into a fair trade, women-led brand now selling in Nordstrom and creating stable jobs for Haitian artisans. We also unpack what  redefined "luxury" can mean when it's rooted in transparency, living wages, sustainable choices, and partnerships that adapt without compromising core values.   👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on changemaking. 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube now!

    44 min
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4.9
out of 5
66 Ratings

About

Welcome to our podcast, How to Change the World, where we dive deep into the world of changemaking leadership! Whether you're leading an organization, a political campaign, or a community cause, this podcast is your go-to resource for creating impactful change. We'll bring you engaging stories and actionable tips from our team and inspiring guests who are making waves in their communities. Tune in for clear takeaways and practical advice to elevate your impact through powerful storytelling. Stories change the world - let's help you tell yours.

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