Sep 6

E19 Has Sustainability Run Out of Steam? with John Elkington

John's Substack - Rewilding MarketsHome - CountercurrentVolans – The Business of Business is ChangeJohn Elkington – A world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development.Ravinol on LinkedinPurpose Driven Storytelling Agency & Video Production Company John Elkington has spent more than 50 years thinking about sustainability, business and how systems change. He coined the term Triple Bottom Line, has written more than 20 books and advises businesses and leaders around the world. But this conversation is much more about what comes next than what came before. John believes the next 10–15 years could bring more change than the previous 50. We talk about why the sustainability movement has become tired and overcomplicated, why the pushback against ESG may actually be useful, and why he believes we’re moving from an era of “soft sustainability” into something much harder. We get into Donald Trump and the breakdown of the old order, AI and the dangers of technological races, why individual action still matters but can’t deliver system change alone, who gets to shape the story of our future, and the kind of leadership we may need for what comes next. Most importantly, John explains why he’s optimistic, even while expecting the years ahead to be extremely challenging. In this episode00:01 — Curiosity as a way of life At 77, John says he feels like he’s only getting started. What keeps him curious, and why nature still gives him disproportionate joy. 00:12 — Has sustainability run out of steam? John thinks the movement has become tired, complacent and too complicated. And surprisingly, he sees the backlash against it as an opportunity. 00:17 — Why real system change rarely happens gradually We talk about the shocks that have transformed societies throughout history, and why John expects far greater change over the next 10–15 years than we’ve seen in the previous 50. 00:25 — The end of soft sustainability Being responsible, reporting progress and making voluntary commitments won’t be enough. John explains what he means by the shift from “soft” to “hard” sustainability. 00:34 — AI, technological races and running through the red lights What happens when everyone believes they have to win? We explore AI, the race for technological dominance and what history tells us about technologies developing faster than our ability to understand their consequences. 00:39 — Have we given people responsibility without power? From The Green Consumer Guide to today’s calls for system change: did asking millions of individuals to make better choices actually work? 00:43 — Why we’re addicted to magical solutions There is rarely one technology, policy or idea that suddenly fixes everything. John explains why meaningful change is much messier, slower and more experimental. 00:48 — Who gets to shape the future? How do we give nature, future generations and marginalised communities a genuine voice without simply telling their stories for them? 00:52 — Where are the leaders we need? Why strong leadership and good values so rarely appear together, what John sees in leaders such as Mark Carney, and why our political systems may need much deeper reinvention. 00:58 — The future isn’t waiting for us Climate impacts we once imagined our grandchildren dealing with are already arriving. John explains why time literacy matters and why leadership ultimately depends on telling people the truth while still giving them a believable way forward.

Season 3, Episode 18 Trailer

E18 Season Three: A Deeper Connection To Nature & Everything

Ravinol on LinkedinPurpose Driven Storytelling Agency & Video Production Company Welcome back to the Storytelling for Social Impact podcast. Next week, Sunday, 6th of September we'll be back with season three. If you're a purpose-driven leader, a change maker, an educator, investor, an entrepreneur, this is my free gift to you. I'm inviting you and your friends and colleagues to join me on the first Sunday of every month. I'll be diving into the science and the emotion of storytelling, but with a particular focus on social impact. We'll be sharing practical tools and strategies to help you cut through the noise, think differently, be bolder with your storytelling, and really unleash your creativity with more confidence. And also a monthly source of inspiration to just keep you going despite all the various challenges that you may face so you can tell stories that can change the world for the better, which I know all of you want to be doing in your own ways in the work that you're doing. The podcast is brought to you by my video production company, Be Inspired Films. We use the power of story to help ambitious, purpose-driven organisations make the impossible possible, so you can really magnify the positive impact that you're having in the world. I'm your host, in case you don't know me already. I'm Ravinol Chambers, founder of Be Inspired Films. My very first guest will be John Elkington, an incredible man. I had the pleasure of working with him just over 10 years ago to create an animation to bring to life his work around breakthrough capitalism, which is one of the things we talk about. Also, Charmian Love, who's working with Natura, one of the biggest companies in Brazil, around their work with the Amazon and the incredible ingredients which are coming from the Amazon and how they're making that available to companies around the world and how she sits on the board of different companies representing nature. Fascinating! I also have Lisa Witter, who's one of the co-founders of the Better Politics Foundation. So important, training the future politicians to think differently so they can lead us towards a better world. Amazing! Jackie Vanderbrug, an amazing finance strategist, thinking huge, raising billions towards gender lens investing and also now tech, AI and health. Incredible, incredibly big thinker! And also Sandhya Sabapathy, who I'm interviewing next week, who's doing incredible stuff around sustainability. So a real kind of nature and sustainability theme so far. I've also got Maya Mehta coming up, who is an incredible lawyer, who's been using law to try to create a more equitable world. So lots and lots coming up for you. I'd love for you to get behind this season and share it and engage with it. I am confident there's lots of rich content that can help you and inspire you in your own work. Thank you so much. I'm looking forward to sharing all of that with you and seeing you join us on the journey. Podcast available wherever you get your podcasts.

Apr 13

E17 There Are No Returns On a Broken Planet - Why Capital Needs a New Story with Sana Kapadia

In this episode of Storytelling for Social Impact, Ravinol Chambers sits down with Sana Kapadia, Chief Catalyst at Heading For Change and an investor working at the intersection of finance, gender and climate, for a conversation that goes far deeper than impact as a concept. They talk about what happens when you stop treating these issues as separate. Because gender, climate, inequality and finance - they’re not different conversations. They’re the same system, seen from different angles. And if we don’t start thinking that way, we’ll keep solving symptoms instead of causes. One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is around measurement. In impact, we often default to numbers, how many people reached, how much capital deployed. But Sana makes the case that without lived experience, those numbers can be misleading. Real impact isn’t just what we can count. It’s what actually changes in people’s lives. The conversation also goes somewhere more uncomfortable. What does this mean for us personally? It’s easy to talk about systems, capital, and change at a distance. It’s harder to ask: what is enough for me? What am I willing to change? Because until that question is faced honestly, progress will always be limited. There’s no shortage of solutions. Across the world, people are already building better models, more local, more inclusive, more connected. The challenge isn’t imagination. It’s whether we’re willing to shift how we think, measure and act before the cost of inaction becomes too high. This is a conversation about impact, yes. But more than that, it’s a conversation about responsibility and how the story needs to change to inspire us to take up that responsibility. 00:00 Welcome 02:02 Sana's Journey Into Impact 03:10 Intersectionality in Finance 05:28 Rethinking Luxury and Enough 08:08 SDGs Gender and Climate 11:08 Measuring Impact Better 16:12 Gender Climate Fund Examples 21:35 Unintended Consequences and Norms 23:52 Storytelling Campaigns That Work 27:46 Beyond the Bubble 28:22 Humour in Impact 30:17 Perfection and Burnout 31:37 Reporting Overload 34:49 Rethinking Risk Returns 38:18 Local Evidence and Nuance 41:13 Fixing the Plumbing 44:22 Cost of Inaction 45:56 Everyday Power to Act 48:43 Reconnect with Nature 53:55 Solutions and Storytelling 55:51 Final Reflections and Thanks Heading for Change | Accelerating proven climate and biodiversity solutions with women as agents of changeSana on LinkedinRavinol on LinkedinPurpose Driven Storytelling Agency & Video Production Company

Mar 9

E16 Doing Good by Doing What You Do Best with Zahid Torres-Rahman, OBE

In this episode of Storytelling for Social Impact, Ravinol Chambers speaks with Zahid Torres-Rahman OBE, co-founder of Business Fights Poverty, about a simple but powerful idea: the most effective way for organisations to contribute to social progress is often by doing what they already do best. Zahid has spent decades working at the intersection of business, development and social impact. Through Business Fights Poverty, he has helped connect thousands of leaders across companies, NGOs and institutions who are trying to tackle complex global problems together. What emerges from this conversation is a refreshing perspective on impact. Not a model driven by grand statements or corporate slogans. But one grounded in collaboration, humility and practical action. Ravinol and Zahid explore why the biggest barriers to solving social problems are rarely technical. More often, they are about relationships, trust and the ability to connect people across sectors who would not normally sit at the same table. They also discuss the role storytelling plays in this process. Stories help us see the human dimension behind abstract challenges. They help organisations communicate purpose in ways that feel real rather than performative. And they help leaders recognise where their work intersects with something larger than themselves. Some of the themes explored in this episode include: • Why business has a unique role to play in addressing social and environmental challenges • The idea that impact often comes from doing what you already do well, not trying to become something new • Why collaboration between businesses, NGOs and governments is essential, but often difficult • The importance of human relationships and trust in driving meaningful change • How storytelling can bring clarity, alignment and shared purpose to complex issues At its heart, this conversation is about a shift in mindset. Moving away from the idea that solving global problems belongs to one sector alone. And towards a recognition that real progress happens when people bring their different strengths together. As Zahid reflects in the episode, the goal is not perfection. It is progress, built through collaboration and grounded in the belief that each organisation can contribute something meaningful when it leans into what it does best. Whether you work in business, social impact, communications or leadership, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into how purpose, partnership and storytelling can come together to drive change. 00:00 Reconnecting After Covid 00:59 Human First Collaboration 03:40 Origin of Business Fights Poverty 05:00 From Finance to Impact 06:08 Do What You Do Best 08:16 B Corp and Mainstreaming Impact 12:49 Beyond Jargon to Kindness 14:13 Recapturing the Narrative 18:24 Stories With Agency 23:21 Comms That Cuts Through 31:56 Kindness and AI 34:10 Kindness Builds Trust 34:53 Self Acceptance And Growth 38:26 Come As Yourself 39:52 Choosing SDG 17 - Partnerships 42:50 Five Bridges To 2045 45:27 Peer Circles And Bridge Builders 50:22 Human-Centred Solutions 55:57 Trust Through Honest Storytelling 59:06 Campaigns That Cut Through 01:02:52 Unlearning Gender Norms 01:05:48 Where To Find Business Fights Poverty Ravinol on LinkedinPurpose Driven Storytelling Agency & Video Production CompanyZahid on LinkedinCollaborating for Social Impact - Business Fights Poverty

Feb 1

E15 The Alchemy of Storytelling: Reframing Risk as Opportunity in Innovative Finance with Rafia Qureshi

In this episode, host Ravinol Chambers engages in a compelling discussion with Rafia Qureshi, who shares her journey from venture capital to social impact investing. They reminisce about their shared history and delve into the dynamics of philanthropy, innovative finance, and gender equality in the context of global challenges. Rafia shares her passion for gender equality rooted in her personal experiences in Pakistan. The conversation underscores the transformative potential of storytelling in shifting perceptions of risk, bridging capital silos, and catalysing systemic change. Key themes include the necessity of collaborative capital, the importance of redefining risk in philanthropy, and the role of narratives in making complex issues relatable and investible. 00:00 Introduction and Reconnecting 00:39 Journey into Social Impact 02:16 The Shift to Corporate Philanthropy 05:16 Personal Connection to Gender Equality 07:52 Global Upbringing and Career Path 10:15 The Power of Storytelling in Philanthropy 15:09 Women in Social Impact and Climate Change 20:44 Rewriting Narratives in Global Finance 27:45 The Evolution of Philanthropy 28:27 The Power of Storytelling in Investment 29:08 Water Equity: A Success Story 29:58 Show and Tell: Building Trust 33:17 The Role of Narratives in Unlocking Capital 41:28 Embracing Failure in the Social Sector 48:30 The Importance of Storytelling Across Organisations 52:17 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections Lebec - Mainstreaming Innovative FinanceRafia's Linkedin profileBe Inspired Films - Purpose Driven Video Production AgencyRavinol's Linkedin profile

Jan 4

E14: The Contrarian's Guide to Social Impact: Liam Black's Journey

In this insightful episode of the Storytelling for Social Impact Podcast, host Ravinol delves into the power and nuances of storytelling in driving social change. Guest Liam Black, a seasoned social entrepreneur, shares his journey and the lessons learned from scaling Furniture Resource Center (FRC) into a profitable social enterprise, to now sitting on boards to share his experience, and mentoring others for success. Discussion topics include the importance of financial sustainability for impact-driven businesses, avoiding groupthink, the significance of authenticity in storytelling, and how to craft compelling narratives for diverse stakeholders, including investors, customers, and employees. Liam also sheds light on the evolving landscape of social enterprises, the rise of the B Corporation movement, and the importance of addressing inequality. Tune in to discover practical advice on leveraging storytelling to make meaningful societal impacts and hear personal anecdotes that highlight the trials and triumphs of purposeful entrepreneurship. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:36 Guest Introduction: Liam Black 01:17 The Power of Storytelling in Business 01:39 Catching Up with Liam 03:07 Liam's Journey in Social Enterprise 09:44 The Importance of Profit in Social Enterprises 17:29 The Cat's Pajamas Initiative 23:04 Challenges and Realities of Social Enterprises 32:29 The Role of Storytelling in Social Impact 33:14 Memorable Campaigns and Stories 35:14 The Power of Personal Storytelling 37:24 Phases of Life and Career 39:49 Authenticity in Storytelling 48:31 Challenges running a Social Enterprise 58:21 Liam's challenge to us all to think about our own impact story 01:00:58 Closing Remarks and Call to Action Ravinol's Linkedin profileBe Inspired Films Purpose Driven Video Production Agency Liam's Linkedin profileBarnardo's TV Advert - Excellent advert which never got televised due to the swearing. But it brilliantly captures the essence of their work.

12/07/2025

EP13: Beyond the Hook: Building Places of Belonging with Ala Ho

In this episode of the Storytelling for Social Impact Podcast, host Ravinol Chambers sits down with Ala Ho, founder of design agency And Human, for a thoughtful, wide-ranging discussion about integrating the human touch into brand storytelling amidst the rise of AI or whatever new tech comes along. Ala shares insights into successful and unsuccessful campaigns, including American Eagle and Kit Kat, highlighting the importance of brands knowing what they stand for in the face of criticism and learning to spot cultural trends in the sales data. They also delve into the intricacies of marketing tactics, short vs. long-form content and discuss the power of brands to create meaningful connections and foster community. The conversation wraps up with practical advice for organisations on creating spaces that facilitate genuine belonging. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:37 Guest Introduction: Ala Ho and And Human 00:53 The Importance of Human Element in Branding 01:59 Discussion on Cities and Homelessness 03:49 Branding and Personal Belonging 08:02 Short Form vs. Long Form Content 14:04 Polarization and Social Media 19:03 Brands and Sustainable Development Goals 20:53 Eras of Marketing and Branding 26:01 Campaigns: Successes and Failures 28:36 The Fear of Cancel Culture 29:45 Brand Authenticity and Credibility 30:41 The Wildfire of Outrage in Internet Content 31:58 The Reality Behind Social Media 35:46 The Importance of Email Lists 37:17 The Human Touch in Marketing 39:02 AI & Personalisation in Communication 42:18 Effective Messaging for NGOs 48:26 Creating Meaningful Brand Connections 51:35 Parting Nuggets and Final Thoughts American Eagle: Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans - Ala references this advert created by American Eagle, and the controversy surrounding it. In particular, what was interesting was how they responded confident in their own values.The reason KitKat took off in Japan - Ala references this interesting trend Kitkat noticed in their sales data that led KitKats to become the most popular good luck symbol for students taking big exams.Be Inspired Films website - We help organisations communicate clearly so people notice them, understand them and choose them, using our Impact Storytelling System™. We define your core story and link it to your strategy. We train your people to tell that story clearly and consistently across every channel. We create cinematic content that helps you win the moments that matter.Ravinol Chambers on Linkedin - I help purpose-led organisations use video to win the moments that matter across purpose, recruitment, growth, culture, events & impact. | Monk-turned-Moviemaker | Award Winning Founder | Certified B Corp 2015 |andhüman | Home - We build brands people can't stop talking about — using the BelongingOSTM to unite strategy, identity, and experience into growth systems that spark connection, loyalty and advocacy.Ala Ho on Linkedin - Founder of andhuman | Building brands people can’t stop talking about | Polymath advocate | Lecturer

11/02/2025

EP12: Lighting Up Africa: Richard Turner's Journey with Solar Aid

12 EP12: Lighting Up Africa: Richard Turner's Journey with Solar Aid In this episode of the Storytelling for Social Impact Podcast, Ravinol delves into the significance of storytelling in amplifying social impact. Guest, Richard Turner, Fundraising Director at Solar-Aid, shares insights from his extensive experience in renewable energy fundraising. Richard shares Solar-Aid's mission to provide sustainable energy to every household in Africa, their innovative market-catalysing strategies, and the importance of adapting narratives to different stakeholders. The episode highlights a landmark achievement in Malawi and explores the six-step approach to effective renewable fundraising, emphasising the power of enabling others to tell your story. Be Inspired Films - Purpose Driven Video Agency - Helping purpose-driven organisations turn video storytelling into measurable results through their Impact™ Storytelling System. Build Trust. Drive Growth. Create Impact Strategy consultancy Storytelling & video training Cinematic multi-channel content creationToday, 100% of Kasakula is connected to solar | SolarAid - SolarAid has successfully provided solar lamps to every home in the Kasakula community in Malawi through its "Light a Village" program, which began on August 26, 2025. This initiative, which included 8,813 households, schools, and a health clinic, uses an Energy-as-a-Service model where families pay a small daily fee for solar systems with maintenance included. The program aims to demonstrate that universal energy access is achievable and to strengthen local capacity by training local agents for installation and maintenance. Sticky Marketing book by Grant Leboff - Richard mentions Grant Leboff's book as an early inspiration for the emphasis they put on enabling others to tell your story for you at Solar Aid. 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Meet Richard Turner: CEO of Solar Aid 01:13 The Mission of Solar Aid 02:40 Challenges and Solutions in Renewable Energy 03:24 The Role of Philanthropy in Solar Aid's Success 05:09 Achieving 100% Energy Access in Malawi 06:52 The Broader Impact of Solar Energy 09:08 Sustainable Business Models for Solar Energy 11:07 Innovative Approaches to Solar Energy Distribution 21:44 Celebrating Milestones and Future Goals 23:29 Sponsor Message: Be Inspired Films 27:23 The Economic Model of Solar Aid 35:35 The Importance of Solar Energy in Africa 36:36 Challenges and Barriers to Solar Projects 37:39 Sustainable Business Models for Solar Solutions 38:35 Fundraising Strategies and Insights 39:51 The Role of Individual Philanthropists 41:06 Scaling Up Solar Projects 42:32 The Power of Storytelling in Fundraising 46:42 Renewable Fundraising Approach 56:04 Understanding and Engaging Your Audience 01:06:09 Future Vision and Expansion Plans 01:09:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Storytelling For Social Impact

E19 Has Sustainability Run Out of Steam? with John Elkington

E18 Season Three: A Deeper Connection To Nature & Everything

E17 There Are No Returns On a Broken Planet - Why Capital Needs a New Story with Sana Kapadia

E16 Doing Good by Doing What You Do Best with Zahid Torres-Rahman, OBE

E15 The Alchemy of Storytelling: Reframing Risk as Opportunity in Innovative Finance with Rafia Qureshi

E14: The Contrarian's Guide to Social Impact: Liam Black's Journey

EP13: Beyond the Hook: Building Places of Belonging with Ala Ho

EP12: Lighting Up Africa: Richard Turner's Journey with Solar Aid

Trailers

E18 Season Three: A Deeper Connection To Nature & Everything

Storytelling for Social Impact - Trailer

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Storytelling For Social Impact

Episodes

E19 Has Sustainability Run Out of Steam? with John Elkington

E18 Season Three: A Deeper Connection To Nature & Everything

E17 There Are No Returns On a Broken Planet - Why Capital Needs a New Story with Sana Kapadia

E16 Doing Good by Doing What You Do Best with Zahid Torres-Rahman, OBE

E15 The Alchemy of Storytelling: Reframing Risk as Opportunity in Innovative Finance with Rafia Qureshi

E14: The Contrarian's Guide to Social Impact: Liam Black's Journey

EP13: Beyond the Hook: Building Places of Belonging with Ala Ho

EP12: Lighting Up Africa: Richard Turner's Journey with Solar Aid

Trailers

About

Information