The Relational Podcast
The Relational Podcast
Podcast Description
Because behind every system, movement, and meaningful change… lies a relationship. What if the most transformative tool at our disposal isn’t a strategy, a policy, or new technology—but a conversation?Welcome to The Relational Podcast, a series of authentic dialogues exploring how our connections—human to human, human to planet—shape the way we think, work, and create impact. Each episode is a living experiment in reciprocity and deep listening. Members of the Wasan community step into two powerful roles: interviewer and interviewee. Together, we explore personal stories, deep insights, and practical experiences of how relationality can reshape systems and unlock new possibilities for collective transformation.🎧 Tune in and discover:Stories of meaningful change from facilitators, researchers, and community builders.Insights into the invisible forces of connection and trust that sustain change.Real conversations that invite us to slow down, reflect, and reconnect—with ourselves, with each other, and with the systems we seek to shift.This podcast is more than conversations—it’s an invitation to listen deeply and discover the profound impact of relationships.Because when we transform our relationships, we transform our world.Content by members of the Wasan community:David Jay · Jane Wei · Sonja Betschart · Christine Lai · Ese Emerhi · Lily James Olds · Ana Amrein Esnaola · Catherine Dempsey · Melanie Kahl · Georgie Nightingall · Sumitra Pasupathy · Fabian Pfortmüller · Meg Busse · Avani Parekh · Rachel SinhaProduction by Efecto Colibrí: Efecto Colibrí blends storytelling, social innovation, and the power of relationships to produce and distribute original and partner podcasts that bridge communities and sectors, shift mindsets, and spark action toward a more just, diverse, and regenerative future. https://efectocolibri.com/en/
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast centers on themes of relationality, social change, and community dynamics, with episodes exploring personal stories and insights from facilitators, researchers, and community builders. Specific examples include discussions on the importance of deep listening, the role of relationships in crisis situations, and the shift from action-oriented leadership to relational strategies that yield sustainable results.
Because behind every system, movement, and meaningful change… lies a relationship.
What if the most transformative tool at our disposal isn’t a strategy, a policy, or new technology—but a conversation?
Welcome to The Relational Podcast, a series of authentic dialogues exploring how our connections—human to human, human to planet—shape the way we think, work, and create impact.
Each episode is a living experiment in reciprocity and deep listening. Members of the Wasan community step into two powerful roles: interviewer and interviewee. Together, we explore personal stories, deep insights, and practical experiences of how relationality can reshape systems and unlock new possibilities for collective transformation.
🎧 Tune in and discover:
- Stories of meaningful change from facilitators, researchers, and community builders.
- Insights into the invisible forces of connection and trust that sustain change.
- Real conversations that invite us to slow down, reflect, and reconnect—with ourselves, with each other, and with the systems we seek to shift.
This podcast is more than conversations—it’s an invitation to listen deeply and discover the profound impact of relationships.
Because when we transform our relationships, we transform our world.
Content by members of the Wasan community:
David Jay · Jane Wei · Sonja Betschart · Christine Lai · Ese Emerhi · Lily James Olds · Ana Amrein Esnaola · Catherine Dempsey · Melanie Kahl · Georgie Nightingall · Sumitra Pasupathy · Fabian Pfortmüller · Meg Busse · Avani Parekh · Rachel Sinha
Production by Efecto Colibrí: Efecto Colibrí blends storytelling, social innovation, and the power of relationships to produce and distribute original and partner podcasts that bridge communities and sectors, shift mindsets, and spark action toward a more just, diverse, and regenerative future. https://efectocolibri.com/en/
Host Ana Amrein Esnaola talks with Catherine Dempsey about why interdependent relationships—not transactions—drive social change.
We explore participatory grantmaking, trust-based funding, and consensus decision-making, plus practical first steps (beginning with deep listening). Learn how centering community and connection builds resilience, improves funding decisions, and powers systemic impact.
- 00:59 — Meet Catherine: Collaborative development & social value
- 02:31 — Birds, sky, connection: Everyday cues for interdependence
- 09:25 — Participatory grantmaking: Community power in funding
- 13:09 — Relational approaches at work: From silos to ecosystems
- 27:02 — Governance & consensus: What inclusive decisions look like
- 30:44 — Why now: Democracy, resilience, and trust-based practice
- 31:57 — Start here: Deep listening as a daily discipline
A big shout-out to the Wasan community for bringing us together – especially Meg Busse, Rachel Sinha, Christine Lai and Melanie Kahl, facilitators of the “Making the Case for Relationality” huddle.
We appreciate your role in fostering this conversation.Thank you for tuning in!By sharing this episode and letting others know what inspired you, you help expand the community of co-creators building a more compassionate world. Dive deeper into our work at efectocolibri.com and join us in sparking the collective change we all envision.
We value your voice—together, we can empower social innovation.
Conceived and co-created during a Wasan Network small group in partnership with Huddlecraft. Wasan is a global network of social impact and philanthropy practitioners who believe that relationships sit at the center of social change. Learn more: https://www.wasan-network.org/
Production and dissemination by Efecto Colibrí: Efecto Colibrí blends storytelling, social innovation, and the power of relationships to produce and distribute original and partner podcasts that bridge communities and sectors, shift mindsets, and spark action toward a more just, diverse, and regenerative future. Learn more https://efectocolibri.com/en/
Artwork by Anjali Chandrashekar. https://anjalic.com/About
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