The PlayFull Podcast with Kristine Michie: Bringing Fun to the Serious Work of Changing the World

Kristine Michie
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The PlayFull Podcast with Kristine Michie: Bringing Fun to the Serious Work of Changing the World

Whether you’re ladling soup at a local shelter or attending a UN Peace Conference, those who devote their lives to the service of others are often exhausted and in need of a little break. Welcome to the PlayFull Podcast, bringing fun to the serious work of changing the world. I’m Kristine Michie, myself 5 decades into trying to make the world a better place. Join PlayFull as we meet movement builders from around the world and learn about the problems they’re solving, the systems they’re disrupting, and the ways they take breaks in the midst of it all.

  1. Ada Williams Prince: Imaging a More Inclusive Future Together

    6 DAYS AGO

    Ada Williams Prince: Imaging a More Inclusive Future Together

    On today's podcast, we explore the power of play, joy, and inclusive storytelling for driving transformative social change with Ada Williams Prince.  Known widely for her work with Melinda French Gates and Pivotal Ventures, our guest is a visionary nonprofit leader who has stepped out on her own, continuing to champion the voices and experiences of women and girls of color to build a more just and equitable world. She shares how protecting spaces for marginalized communities to dream, imagine and express their authentic selves is essential for unlocking innovative solutions to complex social issues.  We discuss the pivotal role of play in fostering creativity, flexibility and joy – key ingredients for envisioning alternative futures and reframing perceived weaknesses as strengths. Our guest opens up about how her mother's playful spirit inspired a lifelong commitment to community activism and engagement, and how a summer camp at the YMCA sparked her passion for policy and systems change.  She highlights the importance of embracing vulnerability, intersectionality and intergenerational collaboration to dismantle systemic barriers and drive meaningful structural change through initiatives focused on economic justice, women's rights, and transformative philanthropy. --- Key Takeaways • Vulnerability is a superpower • The “adultification” of girls of color robs them of the opportunity to fully explore joy and play • Therefore, designing spaces for girls of color to dream, play, and tap their full potential is the ultimate “curb cut” strategy – it benefits everyone • Scaling for impact without play leaves you at risk of “getting there,” but without the people, voices, and communities you need around the table • The only thing that future-proofs the world is imagination --- Key Quotes "If there's no joy in it, you're not changing anything." - Ada Williams Prince   "If you've ever been in a room of black women, there is no stopping them from building joy and being playful. There's no way, not, not ever, ever, ever, ever. So we never stop being joyful and playful in the midst of all kinds of darkness." - Ada Williams Prince  "Scale doesn't always mean linear and scale doesn't always mean up. I think scale can also mean broad. Scale can also mean digging deep." - Ada Williams Prince "The only thing that future proofs the world is imagination, and being able to explore that imagination for all of us." — Ada Williams Prince — About Ada Williams Prince: A creative leader at the cutting edge of global and domestic philanthropy. Ada has worked for two decades to advance the power and influence of women and girls of color around the world, She has conceived groundbreaking disruptions to philanthropic norms and scalable models to transform the field along the way. By championing the formation of the first 'Women and Girls of Color Design Council' within a premium philanthropic and venture organization, she has envisioned a future in philanthropy and investment built around silo-busting investment strategies and fundamental trust in women and girls at the intersection of gender, race/ethnicity and economics. Ada is leading a growing community of funders committed to transforming capital and decision-making. Connect with Ada:  Website: https://www.thehighlandproject.org/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ada-williams-prince-4690605/ Connect with Kristine: Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/  Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    36 min
  2. Ana Marie Argilagos: Building Common Ground and Fueling Change Across America

    NOV 7

    Ana Marie Argilagos: Building Common Ground and Fueling Change Across America

    This week’s episode was recorded six days before the 2024 Presidential election, and dropped two days after. As we chatted, Ana Marie and I tried to comfort and challenge our future selves as we moved into a week of unknowns. Listen in as Kristine and Ana Marie discuss: A broad and inclusive definition of philanthropy.How pluralism differs from seeking common ground.Playfully imagining possibilities without fear after the election.Amplifying rest, wellness, and healing always – and especially after the election.The mission of HIP to fuel philanthropy by amplifying community power.Her career affecting change from both the inside and outside the power structures.How intersectionality is more than a buzz word; it’s foundational to change work. Key Takeaways: The result of the election will have profound impacts on all of us and especially the people HIP serves. And yet, the work will continue regardless, because HIP is part of a movement that spans borders, cultures, generations.You can’t treat problems or consider solutions in a silo.Foundations are not philanthropy. People are philanthropy - all of us, giving to all of us.When done right, fun and joy should be central to making and funding change.We get nothing from panicking - it only makes people more stressed out.  "Play is also about a place of belonging and a place of healing, and that's important because that's how you build relationships, that's how you build movement moving forward." — Ana Marie Argilagos About Ana Marie Argilagos: Ana Marie Argilagos is President and CEO of Hispanics in Philanthropy — a vast network of people building, funding, and fueling Latine power across the Americas. She is guiding HIP with a bold vision: to usher in a new generation of democratized philanthropy that is for, by, and about the Latine community. Before joining HIP, Ana Marie was a senior advisor at the Ford Foundation and a senior program officer at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. In addition to her career spanning philanthropy, academia, and the nonprofit sectors, Ana Marie was appointed to serve in the federal government during two Presidential Administrations. Most recently, as Commissioner for the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics. Ana Marie has been recognized for her creativity and bold vision with numerous awards. She currently serves on the boards of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, CANDID, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Poder Latinx, and the Santa Fe Community Foundation. She received her master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University and her bachelor’s degree in international relations from American University. She divides her time between Santa Fe, NM, and Washington, DC. In her free time, you’ll often find her out hiking with her husband Rodger Boyd, hanging out with her daughter Alexia, or at the beach with her family in Puerto Rico. Connect with Ana Marie: Website: https://hipfunds.org/ Website: https://www.hipgive.org/en Connect with Kristine: Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    36 min
  3. Ronda Carnegie: We’re on the Cusp of Solving Climate Change

    OCT 31

    Ronda Carnegie: We’re on the Cusp of Solving Climate Change

    Listen in as Kristine and Ronda discuss: How to get people off the sidelines on climate–reaching those who are concerned but not activatedWhy women hold the key to an abundant climate future: They are the most impacted and the most impactful when it comes to this issueThe genesis of Project Dandelion and why the dandelion is the perfect and powerful symbol for a women-led climate justice movementPractices to counterbalance the fatigue of change work – birdwatching, reading and writing haikus, a dance-off to end the day, and anything by Pablo NerudaThe difference between an ecosystem and an echo-systemHow climate change is the ultimate “think global, act local” movementAnd listen through to the end to hear Ronda talk about working at TED before anyone knew what it was! Key Takeaways: Why dandelions inspire. They grow on every continent. They’re pollinators and a source of fuel for humans. They are resilient and regenerative. They have all the properties of what impact needs today.We are on the cusp of the just transition, and the cusp is the hardest part. If we focus on hope, not fear, we will get there faster.Learn from the matriarchy. Be radically open and generous in what you're doing. Be aware of how you hold space. Witness others and their lived experience.Don’t “mansplain” to Mary Robinson. The former President of Ireland is an inspired female leader who got an audience with the Sultan at COP28 climate conference, which made all the difference for the future of the planet. Ronda was there! "We want to really empower the next generation to be able to feel like they can own this and move it forward." — Ronda Carnegie Episode References: Project Dandelion: https://www.projectdandelion.com/Upworthy: https://www.upworthy.com/ Upworthy - GOOD PEOPLE: Stories From the Best of Humanity: https://bookshop.org/orders/R332222419/confirmation/Ue98xKOU_Fs2YGvA_bY9uQTEDWomen: https://www.ted.com/attend/conferences/tedwomen All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis by Katharine K. Wilkinson:https://bookshop.org/p/books/all-we-can-save-truth-courage-and-solutions-for-the-climate-crisis-ayana-elizabeth-johnson/18834354?ean=9780593237083 About Ronda Carnegie: Passionate about leading movements to inspire change. Ronda has built and transformed global brands from The New Yorker to TED among others. Her role as part of the original executive team at TED led to unprecedented growth in TED's history from a single conference to a media company. She founded the TED Institute during her tenure, which helps organizations unlock institutional knowledge and surface innovative thinking. She co-founded TEDWomen, both new ventures for TED, while building a portfolio of assets to drive the impact mission and revenue growth for the brand overall.   As the Co-Founder of Connected Women Leaders and Project Dandelion, Ronda has dedicated herself to the climate and gender movements. Eagar will contribute to dynamic working groups focused on world-changing ideas, and Ronda sits on the Board of GOOD/Upworthy, a media company.  She also serves on the advisory board of Giide, an interactive audio technology company. Connect with Ronda:  Website: https://www.projectdandelion.com/  Website: https://www.connectedwomenleaders.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projdandelion  Connect with Kristine: Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/  Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    41 min
  4. Joseph Scantlebury: The Unbelievable ROI of a More Abundant World View

    OCT 24

    Joseph Scantlebury: The Unbelievable ROI of a More Abundant World View

    Listen in as Kristine and Joseph discuss: How avocado toast proves the lasting and transformative effect of narrative changeWho’s worthy of investment and what we lose when we don’t realize itHow to center and insist on joySomersaulting as a management toolWhy work in cities is powerfulThe vision of Living Cities that everyone in an American city can live an abundant, economically sustainable, thriving, connected and healthy life  Key Takeaways: We need to have the means, the hope, and the will to see and invest in each other and our shared futureNarratives change all the time. It’s subtle, it’s powerful, and it’s our responsibility to see and affect the changeBy 2045, the US is going to be a “minority majority” country. Investing in different groups, people, communities is not charity, it’s not doing anyone a favor. It’s the only way we will realize the full potential of who we are as a country.Local stories matter. Language stories matter. The narratives of people in our communities matter, where they came from, where they’re at, and where they’re going in the future. "I find that when you bring people together around joy, when you bring people together around culture, food, the stories of our families, of our communities, those things that make us smile, those things that give us pride, those things that make us feel connected, very quickly we go beyond the barriers." — Joseph Scantlebury About Joseph Scantlebury: Joe Scantlebury is the President and CEO of Living Cities, a collaborative of prominent foundations and financial institutions working together to close racial income and wealth gaps in U.S. cities. In this role, Joe leads the design and execution of innovative solutions in homeownership and entrepreneurship as wealth-building strategies. Prior to joining Living Cities, Joe served as vice president for program strategy at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation where he designed, led and implemented strategic programming efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable children and families in the Foundation’s priority places. As senior program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Washington, D.C., he led state policy advocacy within a subset of priority Northeast and Mid-South states, as well as civil rights and equity work. He also served as a staff attorney at the Youth Law Center in Washington, where he advocated and litigated nationally to reduce disproportionate minority confinement and addressed conditions within the juvenile justice system. Joe received a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University’s New York State School of Industrial & Labor Relations. He holds a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law. Connect with Joseph:  Website: https://livingcities.org/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/living.cities/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/living-cities/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingCitiesInc  Twitter: https://x.com/Living_Cities Connect with Kristine: Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/  Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    44 min
  5. Eric Ward: What is Racism Matters More than Who is Racist

    OCT 17

    Eric Ward: What is Racism Matters More than Who is Racist

    Listen in as Kristine and Eric discuss: How to change the conversation from who is racist, to what is racismTheir shared but completely different experience living through school desegregation in California in the 1970sThe first time Eric tried to right a wrong – hint: at an amusement park when he was five years oldHow kids can transcend, resist, and connect even when the grown-ups do not. Or said another way, the power of the marching band, drama club, and ROTCThe power and magic of diversity to build social bonds based on valuesLife lessons learned from the punk and hip-hop music scenes in the 80s and 90sShould mint ice cream be green and the difference between “tastes like coffee” and coffee-flavored Key Takeaways:  Your brain can’t tell the difference between anxiety and excitement, but if you call it anxiety you freeze. Instead, call it what it is – excitement – and then let your imagination soarWe are on the cusp of realizing the multi-racial democracy we seekThis moment is not to be feared. So many gave so much to get us here, it’s our responsibility to take the baton and run this next lapWe must be the ones who take the risk and jump into the crowdWe’re also the ones who catch those who jump, making it safe to take risksLead with loveLabeling people racist stops the conversation; instead, let’s have conversations about what is racism "We can move forward together as a nation. We don't have to be in chaos, we don't have to live in hatred, and we can live in possibilities." — Eric Ward About Eric Ward: Eric K. Ward is a nationally recognized expert on the intersection of authoritarian movements, hate violence, and inclusive democracy. He received the 2021 Civil Courage Prize, the first American to do so, highlighting the rise of hate crimes and political violence in the U.S. With over 30 years of leadership in community organizing and philanthropy, Eric is the Executive Director of the Western States Center and Senior Fellow with the Southern Poverty Law Center and Race Forward. Under his leadership since 2017, Western States Center has become a national leader in combating white nationalism, antisemitism, and inequality. Eric is also Co-Chair of The Proteus Fund and a member of the Pop Culture Collaborative’s Pluralist Visionaries Program. A Peabody-Facebook Futures Media Award recipient, Eric is widely sought after as a speaker and media source. He authored "Skin in the Game: How Antisemitism Animates White Nationalism" and regularly contributed to major media outlets like The New Yorker, the New York Times, and NPR. Eric also explores the power of music to promote inclusive democracy, co-founding the Inclusive Democracy Culture Lab in 2020 to engage musicians in creating new narratives that challenge political and social divisions. Connect with Eric:  Race Forward: https://www.raceforward.org/  Southern Poverty Law Center: https://www.splcenter.org/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekwraceforward/ Connect with Kristine: Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/

    46 min
  6. Trabian Shorters: Narrative Change is Culture Change

    OCT 10

    Trabian Shorters: Narrative Change is Culture Change

    Listen in as Kristine and Trabian discuss: How cognitive science provides tools and evidence for moving from deficit-framing to asset-framingWhy it’s our choices that define us, not our circumstances – and this is the most powerful way to identify ourselves and othersWhy we act on what we perceive to be true, forgetting that perceptions are faulty, fleeting, and can be changed in an instantWhat we’ve got wrong about helping, generosity, and equityHow negative narratives blind us to the reports, research, and statistics that prove the positive role and contribution of black men in family, community, societyThe power of understanding how spirit drives us, unites us, and fuels joy Key Takeaways: Philanthropy won’t be seen as a true ally until it stops anchoring to problem and deficitLove is the reason to asset-frameEquity is not about being kind, generous, or helpful. It’s about giving people what they’ve earned and letting them solve their own problems and create their own futureNarrative change is culture change; it’s that simple and that profoundThe most powerful place to start is understanding people’s aspirations and contributionsPhilanthropy pays people to center with and stay in deficitWhether you intended harm or help, We need LOVE now = Live, Own, Vote & Excel is the formula for the Black community – and every community! "All of us, at any given time in our lives, could have been the bad guy. Only those of us who have agency are allowed to introduce ourselves the way we want to. Folks that we claim we want to help, we start by putting them down so that we can then lift them up - it’s a thoughtless, inherited practice we can reject." — Trabian Shorters About Trabian Shorters: Trabian Shorters is one of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs and the catalyst of a national movement to first define black people by their aspirations and contributions, then to secure their fundamental freedoms to Live, Own, Vote and Excel. He is a retired tech entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and former vice president of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation where he was responsible for $300M in active grants and endowments in 26 US cities.  His nonprofit social impact network, BMe Community, is award-winning for innovation, impact, and storytelling and boasts more than 400 black leaders plus institutional allies committed to building “equity without stigma.”  Shorters is the international authority on an award-winning cognitive framework called “Asset-Framing®” which is in high-demand by heads of influential philanthropic, journalism and social impact networks. Asset-Framing equips its practitioners to have far greater social impact, raise more money, engage broader populations, and make fundamentally stronger cases for equity and systems-change. Connect with Trabian:  BMe Community: https://bmecommunity.org/  Black LOVE Pledge: https://blacklovepledge.org/  Website: https://trabianshorters.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joinbme/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trabian-shorters-620596/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trabian  Twitter: https://x.com/joinbme  NYT Best-Selling Book: Reach: 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading, and Succeeding: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Reach/Ben-Jealous/9781476799834  Connect with Kristine: Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/  Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    44 min
  7. Charisse Conanan Johnson: Shared Prosperity and A Playful Approach to Addressing Racism

    OCT 3

    Charisse Conanan Johnson: Shared Prosperity and A Playful Approach to Addressing Racism

    Listen in as Kristine and Charisse discuss: Defining racism, why anti-racism is a core value at Next Street, and why it should be a core value for all of usThat black is a rainbow color and having deep conversations with kids through play and creativityRewriting the game, inviting others to play, and crafting new rules from an equity framingThe tangible and intangible things that lead to a beautiful, wholistic wealthy life Charting nontraditional paths, caring unconditionally, and the roles we all can play Key Takeaways: We have to resist the temptation to be silenced by fear. We cannot be silent about the things that matter. We have an obligation to reframe and change the narrativeWealth is not an individual goal - we are all working together and supporting one another to achieve our goalsMove forward with hope. Have faith in things you can’t see and move forward anyway with the mentality of achieving your goalsWe have the blessing to raise the next generation of carers. No matter the troubles that come, there will always be changemakers, bright lights, and caregivers "Racism exists, by definition, with these two components in our systems and institutions, and it can cause certain groups to have more money, more power, more privilege, which then flows into the institutions. It can lead to oppression and subjugation of entire groups of people, and that's not good for anyone in a collective society, the dominant or subjugated groups." — Charisse Conanan Johnson About Charisse Conanan Johnson:  Based in Charlotte, Charisse is Co-CEO and Board Member of Next Street. In her role, Charisse is responsible for stewarding the firm to deliver on its mission to help small businesses reach their potential. While Charisse has executive oversight of all Revenue-related and Corporate activities at the firm, she also works on a daily basis to ensure that Next Street hits its financial and impact metrics, attracts and retains the best talent, lives into its values, and represents the firm externally. Prior to serving as Co-CEO, Charisse was Head of the Advisory Practice, where she led the unit to provide consulting solutions for institutional clients nationwide. Charisse started at the firm in December of 2015, assuming a mandate to start and grow the firm’s Chicago office. Charisse leads by example and loves to bring authentic joy and a small business first mindset into everything she does at Next Street. Charisse is also a sought after public speaker and author of Wealthy Girl: 7 Steps to Prosperity, Peace & Personal Power. Connect with Charisse:  Website: https://nextstreet.com/  Website: https://www.charissesays.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charisseconanan  Twitter: https://x.com/charissesays Connect with Kristine: Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/  Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    47 min
  8. [V&D Rewind] Ali Noorani: Confronting America’s Identity Crisis

    SEP 26

    [V&D Rewind] Ali Noorani: Confronting America’s Identity Crisis

    Listen in as Kristine and Ali discuss: Creating a compelling narrative around why our institutions should serve everyoneMitigating the corrosive effects of polarizationBuilding national institutions that are strong enough to deliver on the needs of the American peopleThe Hewlett Foundation’s focus on trustworthy elections, democratic infrastructure, and dependable institutionsThe importance of assessing who are you not listening to – and then open your ears to them  Key Takeaways: Optimism fills the gaps between where we are today and our imagined futureUltimately, the purpose of our democratic experiment is to take care of one anotherWhen it comes to politics and the political system, nurturing culture and values is as important as tending to policy and structureDon’t let different language obscure shared aspirationsWe have to step outside our comfort zone to face America’s identity crisisThe world is serious enough. You can take the world seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously  "At the end of the day, what people want is to be heard. And if people feel like they're being heard, and they're being respected for what they're saying, they will listen to something that they may initially perceive as different." — Ali Noorani Episode References:  High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley - https://www.amazon.com/High-Conflict-Why-Get-Trapped/dp/1982128569  About Ali Noorani: Ali Noorani is the program director of U.S. democracy at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. He manages the grantmaking process to strengthen America’s electoral and governing institutions, ultimately building public trust in our democracy. Connect with Ali:  Website: https://hewlett.org/  Website: https://alinoorani.org/  Twitter: https://x.com/anoorani  Check out Ali’s books here:  Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants: https://alinoorani.org/crossing-borders/ There Goes the Neighborhood: How Communities Overcome Prejudice and Meet the Challenge of American Immigration: https://alinoorani.org/there-goes-the-neighborhood/  Connect with Kristine: Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/  Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    40 min
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Whether you’re ladling soup at a local shelter or attending a UN Peace Conference, those who devote their lives to the service of others are often exhausted and in need of a little break. Welcome to the PlayFull Podcast, bringing fun to the serious work of changing the world. I’m Kristine Michie, myself 5 decades into trying to make the world a better place. Join PlayFull as we meet movement builders from around the world and learn about the problems they’re solving, the systems they’re disrupting, and the ways they take breaks in the midst of it all.

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