Best Jim Fruchterman Podcasts (2025)

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Helplines Reimagined, with Dee Luo and Nick Hurlburt of Tech Matter's Aselo 40:43

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4M ago40:43

40:43

In this special episode of the Tech Matters Podcast, we dive into the inspiring story of Aselo, a groundbreaking contact center platform designed to empower child helplines worldwide. Aselo is revolutionizing how organizations provide counseling, resources, and care through modern, purpose-built technology. Join us as we explore the journey of Dire…

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Season Two wrap-up: What We Heard and Where To Next 8:38

1y ago8:38

8:38

In wrapping up Season Two, Jim extends his heartfelt gratitude to our devoted listeners and the extraordinary tech nonprofit leaders who've shared their impactful stories. Furthermore, this season wouldn't have been possible without the generous support of our major donors, including the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Okta for Good, the Skoll Foun…

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The Balcony and the Dance Floor: Jim's Journey Towards a Better Deal for Data 36:32

1y ago36:32

36:32

For our final episode of season 2, this time it's Jim who sits on the other end. Our special guest host is his longtime mentee — and CEO of Nexleaf Analytics — Nithya Ramanathan. What led to the decision to prioritize social impact over the stereotypical Silicon Valley (attempt at) wealth for its own sake? Guided by Nithya's insightful questioning,…

1
Mapping the Global Supply Chain, with Natalie Grillon of Open Supply Hub 34:56

1+ y ago34:56

34:56

Open Supply Hub is more than just a database; it's a movement towards a more ethical and sustainable future. By crowdsourcing data and providing a unique identifier for facilities, they've created a system that benefits everyone from brands to auditors and even the workers themselves. Today's conversation covers the inception of Open Supply Hub and…

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Bridging the Education Gap: Talking Points' Heejae Lim on Tech-Driven Family Engagement 39:14

1+ y ago39:14

39:14

Dive into the heart of social tech innovation with Heejae Lim, the trailblazing founder and CEO of TalkingPoints. Heejae recounts the inception of her groundbreaking app, which stands out as a rare success story in a sea of well-intentioned but often ineffective educational apps. TalkingPoints isn't just another tool in the edtech arsenal; it's a g…

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Uniting Data Science and Social Good, with DataKind co-founder Jake Porway 37:05

1+ y ago37:05

37:05

"What could the nonprofit sector do if every nonprofit had Google's engineering team?" (J. P.) In this thought-provoking episode, we sat down with Jake Porway, the visionary co-founder of DataKind, to explore the transformative potential of harnessing data science for the nonprofit sector. Jake takes us through the journey of the organization from …

1
Exposing Global Corruption: Tech For Investigative Journalism, with Drew Sullivan of OCCRP 35:06

1+ y ago35:06

35:06

"It takes a network to fight a network" (D. S.) In the labyrinth of global corruption and organized crime, a beacon of truth shines through the data-driven work of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). This episode takes a deep dive with co-founder Drew Sullivan as he shares the story behind the most comprehensive database o…

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Fortifying Truth in the Age of Deepfakes: Lessons from Yvette Alberdingk Thijm, ex-Director of Witness 30:39

1+ y ago30:39

30:39

“Seeing is no longer believing. You need to fortify the truth.” (Y.A.T.) Generative AI, deepfakes… we’ve known the risks for a while, but the dangers feel ever closer given the amazing advancements of orgs like OpenAI. Meanwhile, human rights activists have faced these risks for years (think of doctored videos, misleading evidence, or the total abs…

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Part 2 - Overcoming the Market (Failure), with Owen Barder of PxD 27:46

1+ y ago27:46

27:46

Picking up where we left off with Owen Barder, Jim digs deeper into how tech enters the discussion, in particular what Precision Development has been doing to tackle major sustainable agriculture challenges in developing countries. Key topics: When to do AB testing (à la Facebook) vs. a full-blown Randomized Control Trial (the typical government ap…

1
Part 1 - Overcoming the Market (Failure), with Owen Barder of PxD 34:05

1+ y ago34:05

34:05

Throughout Owen's journey, one central question has been: How do you navigate market failure, especially when the stakes are sky-high? The typical choice between government intervention vs. private investment vs. third sector solutions often can't cut it. Owen and innovators like him don't have all the answers, but are able operate at the highest i…

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Coming Soon: Tech Matters Season 2, on the Power of Data! 1:51

1+ y ago1:51

1:51

As we learned from Nithya Ramanathan in Season 1, data = money = power. To understand what this means for our future, and what we can actually do about it, we're coming back strong with a whole new lineup of interviews in Season 2. You'll hear from Jake Porway, co-founder of Datakind, Yvette Alberdingk Thijm of Witness, Owen Barder of Precision Dev…

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Season One wrap-up: What's next for Tech For Good? With Jim Fruchterman 14:44

3+ y ago14:44

14:44

As we draw the curtain on Season 1, Jim takes us back through some of the most captivating insights shared by our remarkable guests. It's a reaffirmation of why technology serves as a catalyst for monumental social change and why it's equally crucial to grasp the boundaries of technology and its ethical development. Join us for a retrospective that…

1
Defending Indigenous Rights with Data, with Emily Jacobi of Digital Democracy 40:43

3+ y ago40:43

40:43

Get ready to meet Emily Jacobi, co-founder of Digital Democracy, a non-profit on a mission to harness the transformative power of technology for marginalized communities. Join us as we delve into their remarkable work, from empowering local partners in Haiti to Peru to track cultural and geographical data. This data, in turn, becomes compelling leg…

1
The amazing story of TechSoup Global, with CEO Rebecca Masisak 41:55

3+ y ago41:55

41:55

Join us in an insightful journey with Rebecca Masisak, the dynamic CEO of TechSoup Global, as she unravels the fascinating evolution of the organization's mission. Starting as CompuMentor, their initial focus was on providing tech volunteer services to nonprofits. Over time, they expanded their impact by offering donated software and hardware at st…

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Finding the Simple Things that Scale... Massively, with Sanjay Purohit of Societal Platform 41:05

4y ago41:05

41:05

Meet Sanjay Purohit, the visionary Chief Curator of Societal Platform, on a mission to orchestrate a vibrant ecosystem of changemakers, organizations, and initiatives committed to tackling grand-scale challenges head-on. In this episode, he takes us on an illuminating journey through the intricacies of his role. Uncover the secrets of designing, no…

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Mid-Season Recap: Overcoming Skepticism, with Jim Fruchterman 12:16

4y ago12:16

12:16

In this recap episode, Jim steps in to reflect on the insights we've gathered from our exceptional guests, Mike, Ana, and Nithya. He also shares the personal journey that brought him to becoming a social entrepreneur. Join us as Jim dives into the essence of human-centered design, the art of navigating skepticism on the path of social entrepreneurs…

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Using the Internet of Things to Save Lives, with Nithya Ramanathan of Nexleaf 37:09

4y ago37:09

37:09

As industries and governments forge ahead in the era of digital transformation, Nithya, the co-founder and CEO of Nexleaf, emerges as a champion of responsible data use. With a potent blend of data insights and profound engineering expertise, she's on a mission to ensure data serves a greater purpose with unwavering equity and meaningful impact. Di…

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Using Apps to Bring Financial Empowerment to Low-Income Women, with Ana Pantelic 36:24

4+ y ago36:24

36:24

Get ready to be inspired by Dr. Ana Pantelic, who is now Executive Director of MIT D-Lab. In this episode, she shares her remarkable journey, including her impactful tenure at Fundación Capital where she pioneered the LISTA initiative. LISTA introduced tablet-based financial education experiences to uplift low-income communities, with a special foc…

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Gamification That Actually Works (For Social Impact), with Michael Sani of Play Verto 27:17

4+ y ago27:17

27:17

Meet Michael Sani, the co-founder of Bite the Ballot, a groundbreaking UK voter registration app, and the visionary behind Play Verto, a Tinder-style platform where young voices meet policy. In this episode, we unravel the inspiring journey of how he and his team harnessed the power of data and social media to ignite a political spark among youth p…