Best Nancy Bacon Podcasts (2025)

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Training Isn't a Cost: Here's How Nonprofits Actually Save Money through Learning and Development with Nancy Bacon 26:42

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12d ago26:42

26:42

Nonprofits often view training as a cost. I've heard it, and I'm sure you've heard it as well. However, it's actually an investment in the very thing that moves your mission forward: your people. That's why, in this episode, I'm sitting down with Nancy Bacon to debunk the idea that training is a cost and highlight all the value it brings when done…

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How to Assess Your Organization 16:35

14h ago16:35

16:35

Every so often, it’s important to pause and ask: How are we really doing? In this episode of the Nonprofit Radio Show, Nancy and Sarah explore practical ways nonprofit boards and staff can take stock of their organization’s health and direction. From classic tools like SWOT to strengths-based approaches like SOAR, and from balanced scorecards to si…

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416: Nazi Germany’s Bungled Operation Condor w/ Gavin Whitehead 57:52

2d ago57:52

57:52

In 1942, two Abwehr German agents, including Johannes Eppler, slipped into Cairo to gather intelligence for Rommel’s desert campaign, getting help from local allies like the famous dancer Hekmet Fahmy and Anwar Sadat. Despite their efforts to infiltrate British circles, the whole operation eventually fell apart once Allied intelligence caught on. M…

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From Burnout to Breakthrough: Tools to Restore Yourself in Times of Change and Disruption with Dr. Reggie Thomas 27:14

5d ago27:14

27:14

In times of change and disruption, burnout has become a major epidemic. In fact, according to statistics, over half of the workforce is burnt out, with the nonprofit sector being hit the hardest. Because we must address this issue, I have Dr. Reggie Thomas with me today. He is the founder of PeakePotential, Inc., and a professional speaker who giv…

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415: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald w/ John U. Bacon 55:04

9d ago55:04

55:04

November 10, 2025, marked the fiftieth anniversary of the sinking of the freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald during a vicious Lake Superior storm. All 29 crew members were lost, a tragedy later memorialized in Gordon Lightfoot’s iconic song. My guest is bestselling author John U. Bacon, who shares details from his new book, "The Gales of November: The U…

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414: The Martha Wise Murders w/ Rod Kackley 54:41

15d ago54:41

54:41

In the winter of 1924-1925, quiet Medina County, Ohio, was shaken to its core. Martha Wise, an ordinary farm widow with an extraordinary obsession, slipped arsenic into her family’s food and water. Three of her relatives were dead, dozens more gravely ill, and a rural community was gripped by fear. What followed was a murder investigation and trial…

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Budgeting for a New Year 17:23

16d ago17:23

17:23

Your budget is more than a spreadsheet. It's a map that guides your organization toward its goals and a mirror that reflects what you truly value. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah explore how to build a budget that aligns with your mission and sets you up for success in the coming year. They discuss why starting with values makes tough decisions ea…

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Build Teams that Don't Need Babysitting 10:27

19d ago10:27

10:27

Do you ever feel like you have to constantly babysit your team instead of focusing on your own job? It's like you can't take your eyes off them, so you always find yourself in their work and in their decisions, double-checking everything. If that's your case, then this episode is for nonprofit leaders like yourself. I'm bringing five lessons from p…

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MoNo Encore: The Murder of President James Garfield w/ Candice Millard 59:28

20d ago59:28

59:28

Original Pub Date: 1/14/19 On July 2nd, 1881, a disappointed and mentally unstable office-seeker named Charles Guiteau shot President James A. Garfield in a Washington D.C. train station. Over the next weeks, Garfield would linger, bedridden, as infection set in, caused by poor medical treatment, and America would wait with bated breath over whethe…

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413: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday & Tombstone w/ Mark Lee Gardner 1:20:10

23d ago1:20:10

1:20:10

Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday were two complicated men whose steadfast friendship became one of the legendary relationships of the American West. Both were flawed, and often on uncertain moral ground, yet their bond carried them through the violent world of frontier justice, culminating in a deadly conflict with the Clanton-McLaury gang in Tombstone,…

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Five Steps to Align Your People Development Efforts with Your Nonprofit Strategy 11:24

26d ago11:24

11:24

Your nonprofit has a strong 2026 strategy. But is your team ready to bring it to life? If your team isn't fully equipped to deliver on your goals, you could be missing the bridge between strategy and success. That's why, in this episode, I'm sharing a little of what it takes to align your L&D efforts and your nonprofit strategy by breaking down the…

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412: The Killing of William Woodward w/ Jerry Aylward 1:09:13

1M ago1:09:13

1:09:13

In the early hours on a rainy autumn night in 1955, on a lavish country estate in Oyster Bay Cove, esteemed New York socialite Ann Woodward fired both barrels of her custom-made shotgun into the head of her husband, multimillionaire William J. “Billy” Woodward Jr., killing him. She mistook him for a notorious prowler who preyed on the privileged cl…

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8 Ways to Engage Your Board in Year-End Fundraising 25:40

1M ago25:40

25:40

Your board has so much heart for your mission. With a little inspiration, they can play a big role in your year-end fundraising success. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah share eight ways to help your board members get involved in year-end fundraising. From writing thank-you notes to sharing stories online, you’ll hear how small, personal touches ca…

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How to Handle Stakeholder Conflict Without Burning Bridges 16:31

1M ago16:31

16:31

We have all disagreed with our nonprofit stakeholders at some point in our careers, but speaking up and sharing that disagreement can feel hard because we tend to want to avoid conflict and not burn any bridges. However, there are times when voicing your disagreement is necessary because it's what's best for the organization and the mission. That'…

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411: The Murder of Zoya Fyodorova w/ Chris Pouy 1:26:12

1M ago1:26:12

1:26:12

My guest is Chris Pouy, who shares an astonishing true story of love, betrayal, and murder on this latest episode of Most Notorious. His grandmother, Zoya Fyodorova, was a celebrated Russian actress who fell in love with an American naval officer, Jackson Tate, in 1945. It was a forbidden romance that led to the birth of Chris’s mother, Victoria. Z…

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How to Market Your Training So People Want to Take it with Hannah Clark 34:57

1M ago34:57

34:57

Have you ever created a training only to launch it into the world and be met with crickets? I see this happen often in learning and development. However, I know how hard you work, and I know you're doing good, meaningful work in the nonprofit sector, so I don't want you to release a learning experience and be met with silence. That's why, in this …

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The Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis - Southern Gothic 36:31

1M ago36:31

36:31

Just off the old Natchez Trace, in the quiet woods of Tennessee, stands a broken marble column marking the grave of Meriwether Lewis. The monument was meant to honor one of America’s greatest explorers, but its shattered form also reflects a life cut short under circumstances that remain unsolved more than two centuries later. In 1804, Lewis and Cl…

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Imposter Syndrome 20:00

1M ago20:00

20:00

Stepping into leadership takes courage—and you’re right where you belong. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about imposter syndrome—the voice that makes even the most capable leaders question themselves. They share why it shows up so often in nonprofit work and offer simple ways to quiet the doubt and lead with confidence. Question to consider:…

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410: The 1856 Dublin Railway Murder w/ Thomas Morris 1:13:12

1M ago1:13:12

1:13:12

In November 1856, Dublin was shaken by the murder of George Little, chief cashier at the Broadstone railway terminus. He was found in his office, beaten and with his throat cut, thousands of pounds worth of gold and silver left untouched and the door locked. The investigation gripped the public, filled with twists and unusual developments, includin…

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The Cost of Building the Wrong Training: How Nonprofits Can Avoid Wasting Resources 14:16

2M ago14:16

14:16

Creating impactful training programs for nonprofit teams takes more than good intentions; it takes strategy. In this episode of Learning for Good, we’re diving deep into the hidden and high costs of getting training wrong. From budget overruns to burnout, I’m breaking down what nonprofit leaders risk when they don’t start with the right diagnosis—a…

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MoNo Encore: The Car Barn Murders w/ Karen Smith 1:12:08

2M ago1:12:08

1:12:08

(Orig pub date 8/15/23) In the early morning of January 21st, 1935 two employees of the Capital Transit Company in Chevy Chase, Maryland were cold-bloodedly gunned down. One of the men murdered was my guest's great-great uncle Emory Smith. As the police investigated the list of compelling suspects grew, but a powerful cover-up appeared to be in pla…

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What Executives Really Want from L&D with Danika Mitcham 26:08

2M ago26:08

26:08

Sometimes, when we work with nonprofit executive leaders, it's easy to jump to an assumption about what they thought or what they wanted. The problem is that when we act on that, things don't turn out the way either of us expects. I don't want that to be you, so in this episode, I'm having a chat with Danika Mitcham, the Vice President of Supporter…

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The Lonely Executive Director 16:45

2M ago16:45

16:45

Leading a nonprofit can feel isolating at times—but it doesn’t have to stay that way. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah explore how Executive Directors can find connection, encouragement, and community in their work. From peer groups to healthy boundaries, you’ll discover practical ways to feel supported and re-energized in your role. Tune in for a …

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409: The Scientist & the Serial Killer w/ Lise Olsen 1:29:46

2M ago1:29:46

1:29:46

In "The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston’s Lost Boys", investigative journalist Lise Olsen tells the gripping true-crime story behind the “Lost Boys” murders in 1970s Houston, when more than two dozen teenage boys were murdered at the hands of Dean Corll, nicknamed the “Candy Man”, and his young accomplices. Through years of …

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Why So Many Trainings Fail 12:29

2M ago12:29

12:29

If you are a nonprofit L&D pro, you know how to design learning experiences. You've got the experience. Yet, sometimes the trainings we spend time and money creating don't work. And if you are a nonprofit leader, you want to ensure that what you spend valuable time and resources on works. Over the years, I've spent a lot of time thinking about thi…

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3 Design Thinking Principles for Learning & Development Pros with Sheryl Cababa 30:31

2M ago30:31

30:31

Empathy might be one of the most essential skills for learning designers, and there's no better place to learn it than design thinking. That's why, in this episode, I am joined by Sheryl Cababa, a design researcher and strategist, and the Chief Strategy Officer at Optimistic Design, to give us some insight into her process. She clarifies what desig…

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408: The Murder of Cecelia Gullivan w/ Jeffrey L. Amestoy 1:05:33

2M ago1:05:33

1:05:33

In November 1926, Cecelia Gullivan, treasurer of the Cone Automatic Machine company of Windsor, Vermont, was brutally killed in her home. Local police quickly arrested Cone Automatic machinist John Winters on suspicion of the crime, and the trial that followed was sensational and swift. Convicted of murder, Winters’ appeal brought in an unexpected …

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How to Engage Your Board 18:42

2M ago18:42

18:42

Engaged boards don’t just happen—they’re built with intention. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah explore why some board members drift while others lean in, and what you can do to shift the balance. They unpack the four cornerstones of engagement—people, lens, structure, and conversations—and show how aligning them can spark real momentum. Listen in …

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407: The Thames Torso Murders w/ Sarah Bax Horton 1:02:24

2M ago1:02:24

1:02:24

Victorian London is often remembered for the Ripper murders, yet at the same time another equally chilling series of slayings unfolded. Between 1887 and 1889, the dismembered bodies of four women appeared along the Thames. The river itself became the killer’s cover, its tides and hidden corners serving as a macabre dumping ground. Overshadowed by t…

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When Training Works and When It Doesn't 13:54

2M ago13:54

13:54

Training is often the go-to solution in our nonprofits. But what if I told you that training isn't always the right solution? In this episode, I discuss why jumping to solutions without first diagnosing the problem can be a bad idea, and I share some situations where training works well and others where a different solution is necessary. ▶️ When Tr…

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406: The Murder of Jujube Heiress Ruth Quinn w/ Taylor Kiland 57:10

3M ago57:10

57:10

The small Southern California island of Coronado rarely makes news for violent crime. But in the spring of 1975, World War II widow and retired librarian Ruth Quinn was murdered, execution-style, in her cottage. Her death sent a shock wave through the community. The granddaughter of Jujubes and Jujyfruits creator Henry Heide, Ruth was found fully c…

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Team Struggling to Meet Expectations? THIS is the Missing Piece with Ashley Cox 36:24

3M ago36:24

36:24

When we think of a high-performance team, we usually think of things like productivity, how much effort people are putting in, accountability, and higher outputs and profits. All that is important, but there is one other thing without which a team will never be high-performing. In this episode, I sit down with Ashley Cox, a leadership mentor who eq…

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MoNo Encore: The Murder of Dr. W.D. Broadhurst w/ Patrick Gallagher 1:15:56

3M ago1:15:56

1:15:56

(Orig pub date: 2/15/22) In October of 1946, a chiropractor and rancher named Willis "W.D." Broadhurst was beaten with a wrench and finished off with a shotgun on a lonely eastern Oregon road. Investigators would soon accuse his wife Gladys of plotting the doctor's murder with the help of his young cowhand and her lover, Alvin Williams. Stunning de…

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405: A History of Eugenics in America w/ Mark A. Torres 1:07:20

3M ago1:07:20

1:07:20

In the early twentieth century, eugenics captivated scientists and the public alike, giving researchers license to exploit the infirm, the mentally ill, prisoners, Native communities and many others considered "defective" or "feebleminded" under the guise of genetics. At its center stood the Eugenics Record Office in Cold Spring Harbor, directed by…

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Everyday Advocacy: Finding Your Voice to Influence Policy with Bethany Snyder 38:22

3M ago38:22

38:22

Advocacy isn’t just for experts—it’s for anyone who cares about their community and wants to make a difference. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk with advocacy expert Bethany Snyder about how every nonprofit—no matter its size—can build power and make change. You don't need to be in Washington, DC or hire a lobbyist to influence decisions. Advo…

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Celebrating the Valuable Nonprofit L&D Insights From 150 Episodes: Tasha Van Vlack Interviews Learning for Good Host Heather Burright 37:25

3M ago37:25

37:25

Welcome to episode 150 of the Learning For Good podcast! Thank you, dear listener. This podcast has grown so much since 2022, and it's all because of you. In this special episode, we are doing something a little different to celebrate: I'm going to be on the other side of the mic as my friend, fellow nonprofit consultant and community builder, Tas…

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404: Gunfighter Clay Allison w/ Donna Blake Birchell 1:04:47

3M ago1:04:47

1:04:47

Clay Allison was both liked and loathed in his lifetime, embodying the contradictions of the American frontier. He could show moments of kindness for the downtrodden, but also carried deep hatred for Northerners and Black people. Dangerously unpredictable, he was capable of generosity one moment and chilling violence the next, a quality that made h…

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Key Ingredients in a High-Performance Culture with Brett Myles 40:06

3M ago40:06

40:06

How can we create a high-performance culture that benefits not just the organization, but also the individuals in it? In this episode, I sit down with Brett Myles, leadership coach and Founder of LeadWell, and we dive deep into how to create a culture that will support all parts of the organization. By the end of this episode, you'll have new tools…

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403: The Madman of Crystal Beach w/ M.F. Gross 1:23:49

3M ago1:23:49

1:23:49

In the sultry summer of 1949, a sleepy Florida beach town was rocked to its core. A brutal home invasion, a shocking murder, and a desperate, month-long manhunt captivated and terrified an entire region. At the center of the storm was John Calvin “Rastus” Russell, a cunning ex-con and former asylum patient who unleashed a wave of fear unlike anythi…

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8 Major Accessibility Insights for Your Nonprofit Learning Strategy with Nicole L'Etoile 27:30

3M ago27:30

27:30

Designing a learning experience for the average learner is a thing of the past, we must now design for everyone. So, in this episode of Learning for Good, I am joined by accessibility expert Dr. Nicole L'Etoile. We're diving deep into how we can design learning strategies in our organizations that work for ALL learners. You'll understand why access…

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402: The Reno Redfield Heist w/ Gavin Schmitt 1:03:40

4M ago1:03:40

1:03:40

The 1952 burglary of eccentric multi-millionaire LaVere Redfield’s mansion in Reno, Nevada was the largest of its time, but also a comedy of errors. "Masterminded" by a French-Canadian woman with a questionable relationship to Redfield, it also included a failed safecracker and a crew of Italian-American hoodlums from the Milwaukee underworld. My g…

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Stretched Thin? Three Capacity Building Strategies Every Nonprofit Leader Can Use Today 8:56

4M ago8:56

8:56

In this episode of Learning for Good, we’re exploring how nonprofit leaders can take actionable steps to maintain performance and build capacity even during stressful seasons. If your team is feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or stuck in reactive mode, this episode offers timely advice rooted in real-world nonprofit experience. ▶️ Stretched Thin…

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401: The First Forensic Hanging w/ Summer Strevens 55:42

4M ago55:42

55:42

The First Forensic Hanging: The Toxic Truth That Killed Mary Blandy by Summer Strevens tells the story of Mary Blandy, executed in 1752 for poisoning her father Frances Blandy with arsenic. Her trial was the first in Britain to use toxicology as evidence in an arsenic poisoning case, marking a turning point in forensic history. Drawing on period ne…

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How to Design Realistic Training Scenarios that Actually Work with Srividya Kumar 30:46

4M ago30:46

30:46

Get ready to change the way you think about designing training scenarios in this episode of Learning for Good. I have used scenarios myself, and I really do think this is a skillset that we all need to get better at because scenarios are such a helpful tool in learning. That's why today I'm talking to Srividya Kumar, a learning design leader and co…

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MoNo Encore: The Bermondsey Horror w/ Gavin Whitehead 1:17:42

4M ago1:17:42

1:17:42

(Orig pub date: 2/3/24) On August 17th, 1849, London police officers made a grisly discovery at the home of George and Maria (born Marie de Roux) Manning. Her former beau, Patrick O'Connor, had been buried under the floor. A nationwide hunt for the couple would follow, and after that a trial and executions. The murder case would grip London so ferv…

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How to Make Learning Part of Your Nonprofit's DNA with Yogi Mueller 31:53

4M ago31:53

31:53

Creating a strong learning culture is no longer a luxury - it's a necessity for nonprofit leadership development and sustainable mission impact. In this episode, I sit down with leadership coach and author Yogi Mueller to explore how nonprofits can foster curiosity, promote vulnerability, and embed learning into their everyday operations. Whether y…

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400: The Legend of Belle Starr w/ Michael Wallis 1:08:39

4M ago1:08:39

1:08:39

Myra Maibelle Shirley, better known as Belle Starr, was one of the most notorious female outlaws of the Old West (if you believe period newspapers, anyway). My guest, bestselling and award-winning author Michael Wallis, made it his mission to tell the true story of Belle Starr, and in the process dispels many of the myths that surround her. He shar…

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From Manager to Leader: Nonprofit Leadership Development Strategies 16:24

4M ago16:24

16:24

Are your nonprofit’s people managers equipped to lead with clarity and confidence, or just left to figure it out on their own? In this episode, I take a deep dive into how to develop nonprofit people managers using proven learning and development strategies. With a focus on building leadership through competency models, coaching, enablement, and ac…

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399: The Life & Crimes of Robert Spears w/ Jerry Jamison 1:46:18

5M ago1:46:18

1:46:18

"Doctor" Robert Spears was arguably one of the greatest con artists of the twentieth century, and very likely a mass murderer. In thirty nine years of grift, he had 25 aliases, 28 arrests in 20 cities, and was imprisoned close to a dozen times. He performed, without any medical degree, abortions on countless women, and in 1959 tricked his best frie…

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Leading Across Borders? How to Build High-Performing Nonprofit Teams Anywhere in the World with Dr. Lori Beyar 34:08

5M ago34:08

34:08

In this episode of Learning for Good, we explore how nonprofit leaders can navigate the complexities of global teams with guest Dr. Lori Beyar, Global VP of Strategy & Organizational Development at Cru. If your nonprofit is scaling across borders, or even just managing diverse teams, you’ll want to hear this conversation on nonprofit leadership dev…