In this insightful episode of the Storytelling for Social Impact Podcast, host Ravinol delves into the power and nuances of storytelling in driving social change.

Guest Liam Black, a seasoned social entrepreneur, shares his journey and the lessons learned from scaling Furniture Resource Center (FRC) into a profitable social enterprise, to now sitting on boards to share his experience, and mentoring others for success. Discussion topics include the importance of financial sustainability for impact-driven businesses, avoiding groupthink, the significance of authenticity in storytelling, and how to craft compelling narratives for diverse stakeholders, including investors, customers, and employees.

Liam also sheds light on the evolving landscape of social enterprises, the rise of the B Corporation movement, and the importance of addressing inequality.

Tune in to discover practical advice on leveraging storytelling to make meaningful societal impacts and hear personal anecdotes that highlight the trials and triumphs of purposeful entrepreneurship.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:36 Guest Introduction: Liam Black

01:17 The Power of Storytelling in Business

01:39 Catching Up with Liam

03:07 Liam's Journey in Social Enterprise

09:44 The Importance of Profit in Social Enterprises

17:29 The Cat's Pajamas Initiative

23:04 Challenges and Realities of Social Enterprises

32:29 The Role of Storytelling in Social Impact

33:14 Memorable Campaigns and Stories

35:14 The Power of Personal Storytelling

37:24 Phases of Life and Career

39:49 Authenticity in Storytelling

48:31 Challenges running a Social Enterprise

58:21 Liam's challenge to us all to think about our own impact story

01:00:58 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

• Ravinol's Linkedin profile
• Be Inspired Films Purpose Driven Video Production Agency
• Liam's Linkedin profile
• Barnardo's TV Advert - Excellent advert which never got televised due to the swearing. But it brilliantly captures the essence of their work.

In this episode of the Storytelling for Social Impact Podcast, host Ravinol Chambers sits down with Ala Ho, founder of design agency And Human, for a thoughtful, wide-ranging discussion about integrating the human touch into brand storytelling amidst the rise of AI or whatever new tech comes along.

Ala shares insights into successful and unsuccessful campaigns, including American Eagle and Kit Kat, highlighting the importance of brands knowing what they stand for in the face of criticism and learning to spot cultural trends in the sales data.

They also delve into the intricacies of marketing tactics, short vs. long-form content and discuss the power of brands to create meaningful connections and foster community.

The conversation wraps up with practical advice for organisations on creating spaces that facilitate genuine belonging.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:37 Guest Introduction: Ala Ho and And Human

00:53 The Importance of Human Element in Branding

01:59 Discussion on Cities and Homelessness

03:49 Branding and Personal Belonging

08:02 Short Form vs. Long Form Content

14:04 Polarization and Social Media

19:03 Brands and Sustainable Development Goals

20:53 Eras of Marketing and Branding

26:01 Campaigns: Successes and Failures

28:36 The Fear of Cancel Culture

29:45 Brand Authenticity and Credibility

30:41 The Wildfire of Outrage in Internet Content

31:58 The Reality Behind Social Media

35:46 The Importance of Email Lists

37:17 The Human Touch in Marketing

39:02 AI & Personalisation in Communication

42:18 Effective Messaging for NGOs

48:26 Creating Meaningful Brand Connections

51:35 Parting Nuggets and Final Thoughts

• American Eagle: Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans - Ala references this advert created by American Eagle, and the controversy surrounding it. In particular, what was interesting was how they responded confident in their own values.
• The reason KitKat took off in Japan - Ala references this interesting trend Kitkat noticed in their sales data that led KitKats to become the most popular good luck symbol for students taking big exams.
• Be Inspired Films website - We help organisations communicate clearly so people notice them, understand them and choose them, using our Impact Storytelling System™. We define your core story and link it to your strategy. We train your people to tell that story clearly and consistently across every channel. We create cinematic content that helps you win the moments that matter.
• Ravinol Chambers on Linkedin - I help purpose-led organisations use video to win the moments that matter across purpose, recruitment, growth, culture, events & impact. | Monk-turned-Moviemaker | Award Winning Founder | Certified B Corp 2015 |
• andhüman | Home - We build brands people can't stop talking about — using the BelongingOSTM to unite strategy, identity, and experience into growth systems that spark connection, loyalty and advocacy.
• Ala Ho on Linkedin - Founder of andhuman | Building brands people can’t stop talking about | Polymath advocate | Lecturer

12 EP12: Lighting Up Africa: Richard Turner's Journey with Solar Aid

In this episode of the Storytelling for Social Impact Podcast, Ravinol delves into the significance of storytelling in amplifying social impact.

Guest, Richard Turner, Fundraising Director at Solar-Aid, shares insights from his extensive experience in renewable energy fundraising. Richard shares Solar-Aid's mission to provide sustainable energy to every household in Africa, their innovative market-catalysing strategies, and the importance of adapting narratives to different stakeholders.

The episode highlights a landmark achievement in Malawi and explores the six-step approach to effective renewable fundraising, emphasising the power of enabling others to tell your story.

• Be Inspired Films - Purpose Driven Video Agency - Helping purpose-driven organisations turn video storytelling into measurable results through their Impact™ Storytelling System. Build Trust. Drive Growth. Create Impact Strategy consultancy Storytelling & video training Cinematic multi-channel content creation
• Today, 100% of Kasakula is connected to solar | SolarAid - SolarAid has successfully provided solar lamps to every home in the Kasakula community in Malawi through its "Light a Village" program, which began on August 26, 2025. This initiative, which included 8,813 households, schools, and a health clinic, uses an Energy-as-a-Service model where families pay a small daily fee for solar systems with maintenance included. The program aims to demonstrate that universal energy access is achievable and to strengthen local capacity by training local agents for installation and maintenance.
• Sticky Marketing book by Grant Leboff - Richard mentions Grant Leboff's book as an early inspiration for the emphasis they put on enabling others to tell your story for you at Solar Aid.

00:00 Introduction

00:37 Meet Richard Turner: CEO of Solar Aid

01:13 The Mission of Solar Aid

02:40 Challenges and Solutions in Renewable Energy

03:24 The Role of Philanthropy in Solar Aid's Success

05:09 Achieving 100% Energy Access in Malawi

06:52 The Broader Impact of Solar Energy

09:08 Sustainable Business Models for Solar Energy

11:07 Innovative Approaches to Solar Energy Distribution

21:44 Celebrating Milestones and Future Goals

23:29 Sponsor Message: Be Inspired Films

27:23 The Economic Model of Solar Aid

35:35 The Importance of Solar Energy in Africa

36:36 Challenges and Barriers to Solar Projects

37:39 Sustainable Business Models for Solar Solutions

38:35 Fundraising Strategies and Insights

39:51 The Role of Individual Philanthropists

41:06 Scaling Up Solar Projects

42:32 The Power of Storytelling in Fundraising

46:42 Renewable Fundraising Approach

56:04 Understanding and Engaging Your Audience

01:06:09 Future Vision and Expansion Plans

01:09:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The best story wins the capital.

In this episode of The Storytelling for Social Impact Podcast, Ravinol speaks with Audrey Selian, an experienced impact investor and connector for good.

Audrey shares her journey from corporate America into impact investing, the importance of storytelling in securing finance and the nuances of investing in developing regions like India.

Audrey also delves into her personal background, sharing how her Armenian heritage has influenced her approach to impact investing, and discusses various systemic challenges and potential solutions in the field of social impact finance.

Audrey Selian on Linkedin

Impact for Breakfast meetings

Artha Impact

00:00 Introduction

01:51 Audrey Selian's Early Career

05:01 Graduate School and Shift to Impact Work

09:40 Navigating the Impact Investment Space

18:17 Cultural Influences and Sensitivity in Impact Work

29:48 Reflecting on Corporate Storytelling Gone Wrong

30:19 Challenges in Impact Investment

31:19 The Success Story of Ajaita Shah and Frontier Markets

33:43 The Role of AI in Marketing

34:35 The Importance of Effective Storytelling

35:29 Navigating the Competitive Funding Landscape

39:04 The Fragmented Nature of Impact Finance

40:16 Choosing an SDG: Personal Reflections

41:08 The Critical Role of Partnerships

46:03 The Need for Leadership and Collaboration

54:39 Balancing Disruption and Tradition

59:35 Closing Thoughts and Contact Information

In Season 2 of the 'Storytelling for Social Impact' podcast, we delve into impactful storytelling techniques to drive social change.

This episode features an insightful conversation with Howard Lake, a pioneer in the fundraising space with a career spanning over 40 years. We discuss the role of emotion in impactful storytelling, the balance between professional and emotional communication, and the evolving landscape of digital and AI tools in the nonprofit sector.

Howard shares his experiences from pioneering digital fundraising to exploring AI's potential in today’s social impact initiatives, emphasising the importance of alignment, curiosity, and authentic narratives.

00:00 Introduction to Season Two

01:26 Meet Howard Lake: A Fundraising Pioneer

03:51 Howard's Early Career and Innovations

10:41 The Role of Emotion in Fundraising

16:22 Challenges and Changes in the Charity Sector

20:41 The Importance of Board Buy-In

26:31 Memorable Campaigns that stood out

28:07 The Power of 'Save Everyone'

28:41 Human Cost and Unexpected Stories

29:18 Making Others the Hero

31:02 The Importance of Storytelling in Charities

31:46 External Support and Fresh Perspectives

37:43 Challenges and Mental Health in Fundraising

47:56 The Role of AI in Fundraising

55:35 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Follow the podcast for new episodes and leave a review to keep us going

• Claire House [home of the story about Jack]
• Giving X Ltd | LinkedInGiving X Ltd - Linkedin
• Fundraising.AI - Building a Responsible and Beneficial AI Community for Fundraising - Check out the future of fundraising
• Howard Lake - Linkedin - Get in touch with Howard
• Revolutionise research - Leading source of fundraising research
• Great Fundraising Organizations [book] - Howard mentions this book by Alan Clayton a few times as a great resource

Hi listeners, I hope you are enjoying the lovely sunshine we have been blessed with and are appreciating the flowers in bloom in this lovely spring season.

We are taking a break after season one until September, but we have a small favour to ask you.

If you have been enjoying the podcast please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, it is very encouraging for us to hear your thoughts and also helps us to grow the podcast.

We are currently planning season two, please share any ideas or topics you have for us to cover and any great guests we should have on.

Until we see you next in September, have a wonderful summer!

Oh and to ake sure you know when we publish next, make sure you follow the show on your podcast platform.

Storytelling For Social Impact

8 E8: Relationship-Driven Impact: Building Communities and Connections with Vinay Parmar

In this episode of the Storytelling for Social Impact podcast, we welcome Vinay Palmer, a globally recognised thought leader in customer experience, to discuss the critical elements of fostering meaningful relationships between organisations and their customers.

Vinay and our host Ravinol Chambers delve into topics such as the evolving role of AI, the importance of consistency, and the principle of serving customers with genuine care.

Vinay shares personal anecdotes and professional insights, emphasising the value of trust, collaboration, and proactive communication.

The conversation extends to community dynamics, examining how modern changes impact traditional structures and the importance of maintaining social cohesion.

Practical tips for improving customer service and community engagement are shared, making this episode a comprehensive guide for organisations looking to build lasting connections with their customers.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:36 Reconnecting with Vinay Palmer

01:37 The Importance of Community and Relationships

04:32 AI and Technology in Customer Experience

07:10 Consistency and Customer Loyalty

10:30 Designing a Seamless Customer Journey

19:09 Building Trust and Authenticity

29:12 Leadership and Customer-Centric Culture

30:26 The Power of Customer Stories

33:55 Empowerment in Organisations

37:54 Community and Changing Dynamics

43:52 Faith, Tradition, and Personal Growth

51:35 Building Trust and Long-Term Relationships

59:33 A Touching Personal Story from Vinay to Conclude

Vinay Parmar

With over 30 years of hands-on expertise, Vinay has seen firsthand how unforgettable customer interactions can transform businesses and organisations from the inside out. He is an international speaker and trains organisations to turn everyday interactions into lasting, meaningful experiences that drive loyalty and growth. Vinay has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands, from National Express to Audi UK, and he knows that the secret to long lasting relationships is creating connection and community.

Vinay's Website

Storytelling For Social Impact

7 E7: The Art Of Making Your Voice A Force For Good with Andrea Pacini

Andrea Pacini

In this episode of the Storytelling for Social Impact Podcast, host Ravinol Chambers welcomes guest Andrea Pacini, an author, speaker, and presentation coach.

Andrea discusses his book, 'Confident Presenter,' and shares practical tips on overcoming the fear of public speaking, creating impactful presentations, and connecting with the audience.

They explore the importance of quality education and how Andrea's company sponsors underprivileged kids' education.

Andrea also emphasizes the significance of familiarity, structure, and compelling messaging in effective presentations, highlighting the use of visuals and the power of pacing and pauses.

Listeners will learn actionable strategies to improve their communication skills and make a positive impact through their presentations.

Andrea also shares a link to download his Confident Speaker Toolkit - https://bit.ly/PresentToolkit

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:19 Andrea's Background and Mission

01:33 Sustainable Development Goals Discussion

05:41 Challenges in Public Speaking

06:22 Building Confidence in Presenting

10:12 Effective Presentation Structure

15:04 The Curse of Knowledge in Communication

16:46 The Power of Silence and Pacing

22:13 Engaging Presentation Openings

24:18 Starting with a Promise

25:07 Effective Presentation Structures

27:55 Engaging Introductions

29:39 Rehearsing for Success

43:39 Visual Aids in Presentations

46:45 Final Thoughts and Resources

Andrea's Website

Andrea Pacini is the author of Confident Presenter, a presentation coach and Head of Ideas on Stage UK. He specialises in working with business owners, leaders and their teams who want to become more confident presenters. In 2024 he was awarded Best Virtual Speaker in The Speaker Awards. Andrea is on a mission to stop great ideas from failing just because of the way they are presented. His vision is to help hundreds of thousands of business leaders inspire their audiences, increase their influence, and make a positive impact in the world.

• Download The Confident Presenter Toolkit
• Presentation Skills Web Class - 3 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite
• Discover Your Presentation Score and become a more credible, confident and convincing presenter.
• Andrea's Book: 'Confident Presenter: Inspire your audience. Increase your influence. Make an impact.'
• Made To Stick Book: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die