Purpose & Profit Podcast

Dave Raley & Carly Berna

What do nonprofits and brands have in common? A lot more than you might think! Purpose & Profit is a show dedicated to uncovering the surprising ideas at the intersection of causes and brands. We’ll take trends that are transforming fundraising and marketing, and ask the question... what might nonprofits learn from these trends, and what might brands learn from nonprofits? Each episode, hosts Dave Raley and Carly Berna unpack a topic or a trend that matters to nonprofit and business leaders, and explore what each can learn from the other.

  1. 10/07/2025

    The Purpose & Profit Finale: Insights, Highlights, and Lessons Learned

    After six seasons, four years, and 64 episodes, co-hosts Dave Raley and Carly Berna close this chapter of the Purpose & Profit Podcast. In this finale, they reflect on the journey, share personal highlights, and revisit the lessons that have shaped the show. Together, Dave and Carly highlight six key themes that surfaced across conversations with nonprofit and business leaders. From cultivating strong leadership and building a culture of learning to adapting models, embracing recurring support, and encouraging entrepreneurial spirit, this episode distills the insights that have defined Purpose & Profit. They also share favorite memories and what the podcast has meant to them. Thank you for listening, supporting, and sharing Purpose & Profit over the years. Discover more episodes of Purpose & Profit Podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠VIRTUOUS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IMAGO CONSULTING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AVID AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DICKERSONBAKKER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SHARE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SYNERGY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Scott Holthaus.

    37 min

  2. 09/30/2025

    From Exploitation to Empowerment: Rebuilding Communities Through Ethical Enterprise

    What if solving trafficking and poverty required more than aid projects or skills training? What if the key was access to markets, to choices, to dignity? In this episode of the Purpose & Profit Podcast, hosts Dave Raley and Carly Berna sit down with Erik Olson, CEO of Dignity Made. With two decades in international development and social enterprise, Erik has built a redemptive business that transforms the coconut supply chain in the Philippines. By addressing exploitative debt practices and creating dignified jobs, Dignity Made is breaking cycles of poverty and providing choice to families long denied it. From nonprofit projects that hit a ceiling to building a sustainable enterprise, Erik shares lessons on economic solutions, ethical supply chains, and the ripple effects of dignified work. Key Topics They Cover: • Why economic problems demand economic solutions. • The role of choice and dignity in breaking exploitation cycles. • How asset-based community development guides sustainable enterprise building. • Balancing mission-driven storytelling with product credibility in the market. • The meaning of redemptive business and why it requires sacrifice. • The ripple effect of job creation on local economies and infrastructure. Discover more episodes of Purpose & Profit Podcast ⁠here⁠. Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠VIRTUOUS⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠IMAGO CONSULTING⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠AVID AI⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠DICKERSONBAKKER⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠SHARE⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠SYNERGY⁠⁠⁠⁠ Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Scott Holthaus.

    40 min

  3. 09/23/2025

    Purpose & Profit: Special Update from Dave and Carly

    After six seasons, four years, and 64 episodes exploring the intersection of purpose and profit, co-hosts ⁠Dave Raley⁠ and ⁠Carly Berna⁠ share a big update: the Purpose & Profit Podcast is ending (for now!). This episode explains why the show is taking a step back, what to expect in the coming weeks, and what is next for the hosts. Stay tuned for: • An inspiring conversation with Eric Olson of Dignity Made. • A finale episode where Dave and Carly share favorite stories, biggest lessons, and insights from four years of podcasting. Thank you for listening, supporting, and sharing the Purpose & Profit Podcast. Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS IMAGO CONSULTING AVID AI DICKERSONBAKKER SHARE SYNERGY Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Scott Holthaus.

    3 min

  4. 07/15/2025

    Your Model is Not Your Mission

    Is your organization stuck in its ways, or evolving with purpose? In this special Season 6 finale of the Purpose & Profit Podcast, co-hosts ⁠⁠Dave Raley⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Carly Berna⁠⁠ return to the mic — just the two of them — for a deep, candid conversation about one of the most important (and misunderstood) dynamics in any mission-driven organization: the difference between your mission and your model. Whether you're leading a nonprofit, scaling a startup, or rethinking your business strategy, this episode is a must-listen. Dave and Carly unpack why confusing your mission with your model can lead to stagnation, and how the most innovative leaders learn to pivot without losing purpose. Key Topics Include: Mission vs. Model: Why your mission should be timeless, while your model must evolve. Using examples like Subway, Krispy Kreme, and Apple, the hosts explore how outdated models can undermine even the best intentions. The S-Curve of Innovation: Dave explains the S-curve lifecycle and how organizations must continually create new curves to avoid decline, and ultimately, irrelevance. Blockbuster’s Big Miss (and Other Cautionary Tales): What leaders can learn from once-dominant brands that failed to adapt, and why even beloved nonprofit models may be overdue for reinvention. Barriers to Change: From founders clinging to “what used to work” to sacred cows and organizational blind spots, they reveal the most common reasons leaders resist necessary change. How to Know When It’s Time to Shift: It’s not just about revenue decline. Learn the key internal and external signals that it's time to rethink your model before it's too late. Practical Innovation Frameworks: Dave shares a four-step method — Identify, Prototype, Launch, Scale — to help organizations test and implement new models with confidence. This is a powerful conversation for leaders who want to future-proof their mission and spark new growth. Don’t miss it! Discover more at purposeandprofitpodcast.com/podcast. And stay tuned for Season 7, coming soon with something new: video! We’re adding a visual layer to the podcast, so you'll be able to watch conversations with guests on YouTube. We can’t wait to share what’s coming next! Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: ⁠⁠⁠VIRTUOUS⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠IMAGO CONSULTING⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AVID AI⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠DICKERSONBAKKER⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SHARE⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SYNERGY⁠⁠⁠ Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

    36 min

  5. 06/24/2025

    Out of Survival Mode: How Innovation Can Transform Nonprofits

    What if the key to nonprofit success isn’t just more funding, but better systems, leadership, and innovation? In this episode, hosts Dave Raley and Carly Berna sit down with Dan Bentley, Managing Director of Impacto Consulting and host of the Innovate for Impact podcast.  Dan’s work helps nonprofits break free from “survival mode” and become high-performing, impact-driven organizations. Drawing from both his for-profit background and nearly a decade of consulting in the social sector, Dan shares practical strategies for building resilient, innovative, and empowered teams, especially in the face of limited resources. Together with Dave and Carly, Dan outlines the critical mindset shifts and organizational changes required to create meaningful, scalable impact. Key Topics They Cover: What “survival mode” looks like in nonprofit organizations,and how to break out of it Why resource constraints actually fuel innovation in the nonprofit sector The four pillars of innovative organizations: Ambition Focused Creative Leadership Client Centricity Empowered People Why “Empowered People” is often the weakest link, and what to do about it Lessons nonprofits can teach the for-profit world about adaptability, systems, and solving real-world problems The power of systematized innovation and frontline empowerment, with examples from organizations like the Starlight Children’s Foundation Dan’s personal journey – from corporate insurance to international travel to founding Impacto Consulting Plus, don’t miss the lightning round, where Dan shares the most random item on his bucket list, his surprising past in Australian hip hop, and the one cause he’d donate a million dollars to. Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: ⁠⁠VIRTUOUS⁠⁠ ⁠⁠FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS⁠⁠ ⁠⁠IMAGO CONSULTING⁠⁠ ⁠⁠AVID AI⁠⁠ ⁠⁠DICKERSONBAKKER⁠⁠ ⁠⁠SHARE⁠⁠ ⁠⁠SYNERGY⁠⁠ Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

    41 min

  6. 06/10/2025

    From Somalia to the TV Studio: How to Shine a Light on Stories that Matter

    What does it take to tell stories that truly move people and move them to action?  In an era flooded with misinformation and short attention spans, how do brands and causes break through the noise with truth, authenticity, and impact? In this episode of Purpose & Profit Podcast, we explore those questions and more with a journalist who’s spent her life on the front lines of global storytelling. Dave Raley and Carly Berna welcome to the show award-winning journalist and host of Big [If True], Molly Thomas. Known for her fearless reporting on humanitarian crises and her drive to expose disinformation, Molly brings deep wisdom on what it means to tell authentic stories that resonate across cultures, causes, and contexts. From refugee camps to misinformation rabbit holes, Molly shares her experiences bringing attention to stories the world too often forgets. This conversation is a masterclass in how brands and causes can build trust, communicate with emotional intelligence, and inspire action without manipulation. Key Topics They Cover:  1. Purpose Over Trends: Why brands should align with causes that reflect their deepest convictions, not fleeting headlines. 2. Building Trust in an Age of Misinformation: Practical ways for organizations to maintain credibility and clarity. 3. Emotional Entry Points: How to help audiences connect personally to distant or difficult issues. 4. Spotting the Fake: Lessons from Big [If True] on navigating scams, hoaxes, and disinformation, and how this shapes public trust in brands and causes. 5. Discovering Your "Holy Discontent": How to identify the issue that keeps you up at night, and use it as a compass for impact. 6. The Role of Sensory Storytelling: Using sounds, smells, and context to craft immersive, relatable stories. 7. Empowering vs. Exploiting: How to avoid manipulative storytelling by highlighting agency and dignity. 8. Why Being Present Matters: The value of slowing down, observing deeply, and leaving room for unexpected human stories. 9. Repurposing Powerful Narratives: How to get long-term value from emotionally rich stories without overexposure. 10. Music & Messaging: How background music shapes emotional response, and the ethical weight that carries. Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: ⁠VIRTUOUS⁠ ⁠FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS⁠ ⁠IMAGO CONSULTING⁠ ⁠AVID AI⁠ ⁠DICKERSONBAKKER⁠ ⁠SHARE⁠ ⁠SYNERGY⁠ Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

    39 min

  7. 05/27/2025

    The Intersection of Funding, Purpose, and Leadership

    What does it look like to build a company—and a life—rooted in both purpose and profit?  In this episode of Purpose & Profit Podcast, we sit down with William Norvell, a top 1% podcaster, investor, and trusted advisor to faith-driven entrepreneurs. William brings a wealth of experience, from co-founding Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor, to his current work with Forte, a company on a mission to democratize mental health in the workplace. With an MBA from Stanford and a unique journey that spans investment banking, private equity, and startup leadership, William offers a candid, wisdom-filled conversation about faith, business, and the complex human decisions leaders must make. Whether you're a mission-minded entrepreneur or nonprofit leader looking to create sustainable impact, this episode is full of practical insights and vision for a better future. You’ll Learn: How William’s journey—from Alabama to Stanford—shaped his views on leadership, purpose, and wealth. Why values-based investing is more than a trend, and how to align your portfolio with your convictions. The origin story of Faith Driven Entrepreneur and the gap it sought to fill in the faith and business world. Why William believes nonprofit CEOs have one of the toughest jobs, and how financial sustainability can shift the paradigm. What it means to run a Public Benefit Corporation and how that changes decisions from the boardroom to the break room. A raw take on early team dynamics and how to handle tough leadership decisions with both grace and clarity. A bold vision for the future, where businesses are inherently purposeful and nonprofits are free from constant fundraising. Discover more episodes of Purpose & Profit Podcast here. Get to know your co-hosts, Dave Raley and Carly Berna. Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS IMAGO CONSULTING AVID AI DICKERSONBAKKER SHARE SYNERGY Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

    44 min

  8. 05/13/2025

    Charity: Water On How to Be Disruptive with a Purpose

    ¥In this episode of Purpose & Profit, co-hosts Dave Raley and Carly Berna sit down with Brady Josephson, VP of Marketing & Growth at charity: water, to explore what it really takes to be disruptive—not just in marketing, but within an organization’s culture and strategy. Brady shares behind-the-scenes stories from the bold and sometimes controversial Dreamers campaign, as well as the inspiration and vision behind The Experience Lab—a multi-year, high-investment initiative designed to transform donor engagement.  He also discusses how charity: water is reducing friction in decision-making, empowering “doers,” and embracing internal disruption to stay agile as they grow. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to cut through the noise and define meaningful disruption. What happens when bold campaigns spark internal pushback, and why that’s not always a bad thing. The mindset and structure needed to keep a growing nonprofit flexible and innovative. Why elevating execution and empowering teams can be just as disruptive as any marketing campaign. Learn more about Brady at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradyjosephson/ Meanwhile, dive deeper into charity: water’s misison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradyjosephson/ Discover more episodes of Purpose & Profit Podcast at: purposeandprofitpodcast.com Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS: Virtuous.org FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS: FaithSearchPartners.com IMAGO CONSULTING: Imago.Consulting AVID AI: AvidAI.com DICKERSONBAKKER: DickersonBakker.com SHARE ShareTalent.co SYNERGY: SynergyDMS.com Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

    39 min
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4.7
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

What do nonprofits and brands have in common? A lot more than you might think! Purpose & Profit is a show dedicated to uncovering the surprising ideas at the intersection of causes and brands. We’ll take trends that are transforming fundraising and marketing, and ask the question... what might nonprofits learn from these trends, and what might brands learn from nonprofits? Each episode, hosts Dave Raley and Carly Berna unpack a topic or a trend that matters to nonprofit and business leaders, and explore what each can learn from the other.

Information

  • Creator
    Dave Raley & Carly Berna
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dave Raley & Carly Berna
  • Show Website
    Purpose & Profit Podcast