Best Gemma Kerr Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 5 - The Longest Night 13:12

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4y ago13:12

13:12

The Longest Night - Winter Solstice In this mini episode we explore some of the Yule stories behind Christmas - meeting characters from Pagan, Wiccan, and Norse Mythology. In the astronomy section of the show, we'll find out what the winter solstice is and why it happens. Happy Holidays everybody! Research Survey The Celestial Tales is part of a re…

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Episode 4 - Constant as the Northern Star 28:10

4y ago28:10

28:10

Constant as the Northern Star - Polaris This time we explore the North Star, Polaris, through a story from Hinduism. We'll meet Dhruva, a young boy whose family troubles will lead him to discover his own power. We'll learn that sometimes the best thing you can do is stay right where you are. In the astronomy section of the show, we'll find out what…

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Episode 3 - Tricks and Treats 31:16

4y ago31:16

31:16

Tricks and Treats - Atoq In a bit of a Halloween special, we explore a 'dark constellation' called Atoq, through a collection of Andean myths surrounding the fox. We'll meet Fox and watch him try to be taken seriously after a pretty unlucky start. There will be tricks played and treats given, though they might not all work out as expected. In the a…

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Episode 2 - Swan Song 29:56

4+ y ago29:56

29:56

Swan Song - Cygnus In episode 2 of The Celestial Tales, we explore the recognisable constellation of Cygnus through the tale of Orpheus, from Ancient Greek mythology. We'll join Orpheus on two of his quests as he discovers the power of music and learns that, when a god is giving you instructions that your life depends on, you really should be liste…

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Episode 1 - Master of All Trades 22:24

4+ y ago22:24

22:24

Master of All Trades - Orion In episode 1 of The Celestial Tales, we explore the well-known constellation of Orion through a character from Irish Mythology. Lugh is a young Irish god ready to find his place in the world - and prove that he has a skill or two up his sleeve. We talk about some of Orion's most famous features, and begin to explain wha…

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Welcome to The Celestial Tales 1:04

4+ y ago1:04

1:04

An introduction to The Celestial Tales podcast. Listen to this first to find out what it's all about! Music: Skye Cuillin by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4371-skye-cuillin License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseBy Gemma Kerr

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Next Gen Philanthropy, with Sharna Goldseker & Michael Moody 56:32

4+ y ago56:32

56:32

In this episode we talk to Sharna Goldseker and Michael Moody about their book Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors are Revolutionizing Giving, which is now available in an updated and expanded 2nd edition. Including: In what ways are Next Gen donors genuinely different from previous generations? Do Next Gen donors give to significantly different…

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Philanthropy, Domestic Violence & Partnering with the Public Sector, with Stelio Stefanou 47:44

4+ y ago47:44

47:44

In this episode we talk to Stelio Stefanou OBE, philanthropist and Founder of the For Baby's Sake Trust (FBST) - a charity which focuses on working with parents to address the impact of domestic violence on the early years development of children. In a wide-ranging conversation, we discussed: Is "philanthropist" a helpful or unhelpful word? How doe…

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Modern Grantmaking, with Gemma Bull & Tom Steinberg 1:01:47

4+ y ago1:01:47

1:01:47

In this episode Rhod sat down with Gemma Bull and Tom Steinberg, authors of new book "Modern Grantmaking: A Guide for Funders Who Believe Better is Possible". In a wide-ranging conversation, we discussed: Humility & Funder Ego Why is humility such a key part of Modern Grantmaking? Is part of the problem that traditionally our idea of what it means …

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Philanthropy, Racial Justice & Funding Grassroots Organizing, with Lori Bezahler 55:10

4+ y ago55:10

55:10

In this episode we're joined by Lori Bezahler, President of the Edward W. Hazen Foundation, to discuss the role of philanthropy in supporting racial justice and funding grassroots organizing or social movements. Including: Racial Justice Is racial injustice such a big/cross-cutting issues that it should not be seen as a cause area, but rather as so…

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Poverty, Participation & The Pandemic, with Jo Kerr & Sonya Ruparel 53:27

4+ y ago53:27

53:27

In this episode we talk to Jo Kerr and Sonya Ruparel, from UK charity Turn2Us, about poverty, participation and the impact of the pandemic. Including: Impact of Covid Pandemic How has the Covid 19 pandemic affected Turn 2 Us, and the people and communities the charity serves? What are the biggest challenges for the organisation over the coming mont…

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Participatory grantmaking, with Meg Massey & Hannah Paterson 57:18

4+ y ago57:18

57:18

In this episode we talk participatory approaches in philanthropy and social investment, with Meg Massey, co-author of "Letting Go: How Philanthropists and Impact Investors Can Do More Good by Giving Up Control" and Hannah Paterson, Senior Portfolio Manager at the National Lottery Community Fund. Including: There is a growing amount of focus on part…

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Silicon Valley, Billionaires & Philanthropy, with Teddy Schleifer 51:12

4+ y ago51:12

51:12

On this episode we talk to Teddy Schleifer, Senior Reporter, Money & Influence at Recode (part of the Vox Media group), about billionaires, Silicon Valley and philanthropy. Including: Silicon Valley Philanthropy Do most tech billionaires see their wealth as "self-made", or do they recognise any sense of societal debt, luck etc? How does this shape …

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Philanthropy in Brazil during the pandemic, with Denis Mizne 41:38

4+ y ago41:38

41:38

In this episode we talk to Denis Mizne, CEO of Lemann Foundation - Brazil's largest educational funder – about philanthropy in Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic and the Lemann Foundation's pivot to supporting vaccine trials in the country. Including: Vaccination How and why did Lemann Foundation get involved in Covid vaccine trials? How does this…

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Why Civil Society Matters More Than Ever, with Andy Haldane (and Neil Heslop) 58:53

4+ y ago58:53

58:53

In this episode we talk to Andy Haldane, Chief Economist of the Bank of England about his long-standing interest in civil society, why he thinks it is so important yet undervalued, and what sort of challenges and opportunities the coming years may bring. We also have some analysis and additional insight from CAF CEO Neil Heslop. Including: The econ…

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Technology, Philanthropy & Civil Society, with Nanjira Sambuli 50:11

4+ y ago50:11

50:11

In this episode we talk to Nanjira Sambuli about technology, philanthropy and civil society. Nanjira is a researcher, policy analyst and advocacy strategist based in Nairobi, Kenya and in a fascinating and wide-ranging discussion we touched on: Digital civil society Is there any meaningful distinction between "civil society" and "digital civil soci…

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Reinventing Social Change, with Nell Edgington 44:16

5y ago44:16

44:16

In this episode we talk to Nell Edgington, President of non-profit consultancy Social Velocity, about her new book "Reinventing Social Change: Embrace Abundance to Create a Healthier and More Equitable World". We discuss: What is the book about, who should read it and what should they do as a result? Why does a scarcity mind-set affect so many dono…

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History & Philanthropy, with Professor Sir David Cannadine 55:14

5y ago55:14

55:14

In this episode we talk to Professor Sir David Cannadine about history, philanthropy and his forthcoming book on the history of the Ford Foundation. Among David's many public roles he is Dodge Professor of History at Princeton University, President of the British Academy, Chair of Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery and a Trustee of the Wolfs…

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Sport, Philanthropy & Civil Society 1:03:38

5y ago1:03:38

1:03:38

In this episode we look at the relationship between sport, philanthropy and civil society through history and up to the present day. Including: Sportspeople as donors Big name examples of sportspeople who give generously: David Beckham, Roger Federer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi What drives this high-profile giving? Altruism, o…

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Mutual Aid, Charity & Philanthropy 39:20

5y ago39:20

39:20

In this episode we explore mutual aid: what is it, why is there so much interest in it right now and how does it relate to charity and philanthropy? Including: Defining the distinction between mutual aid and charity William Beveridge's thoughts on mutual aid Peter Kropotkin and mutual aid as a fundamental element of human nature How does mutual aid…

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MacKenzie Scott & the Reimagining of Philanthropy 47:46

5y ago47:46

47:46

In this episode we take a look at the philanthropic giving of MacKenzie Scott (former wife of Jeff Bezos), who has garnered a great deal of attention and praise for the scale, pace and approach of her philanthropy. We ask: what are the key aspects of received wisdom about giving that she is rejecting? And will this lead to wider changes in how big …

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Philanthropy & Democracy 56:41

5y ago56:41

56:41

In this episode we unpick the complex relationship between philanthropy and democracy. Does philanthropy undermine democracy, or strengthen it? Do we need to make philanthropy itself more democratic? And if so, how? Including: Does philanthropy automatically introduce a "plutocratic bias" into public discourse and policy? Is lack of transparency a …

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2021 Predictions for Philanthropy & Civil Society 55:08

5y ago55:08

55:08

In this episode, at the end of a tumultuous and unpredictable year, we attempt (wisely or not!) to give some predictions for what 2021 might bring... ECONOMIC DOWNTURN Impact of Pandemic & Brexit: more demand, charity finances hit, less giving? Charity closures/mergers? Reimagining resilience? Political Division Ongoing division Ongoing politicisat…

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Islamic Giving in a Digital World, with Iqbal Nasim 55:15

5y ago55:15

55:15

In this episode we talk to Iqbal Nasim, CEO of the National Zakat Foundation, about Islamic giving and using technology to transform the way Zakat works. Including: What is Zakat and how does it fit within Islamic teaching? What does Islamic teaching say about how Zakat is to be given? (i.e. are there specific causes, should it be anonymous etc?) I…

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Distributed Leadership, Movement Building & Mass Giving, with Asha Curran 1:03:17

5y ago1:03:17

1:03:17

In this episode we talk to Asha Curran, CEO of Giving Tuesday - ahead of this year's event on Tuesday 2nd December -about distributed leadership, movement building and the importance of mass giving. Including: Decentralisation & Social Movements What is the key appeal of networked movements? Do people believe they are more effective (particularly w…

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Philanthropy from Aristotle to Zuckerberg, with Paul Vallely 1:12:09

5y ago1:12:09

1:12:09

In this episode we talk to Paul Vallely, author of Philanthropy: From Aristotle to Zuckerberg about his new book and what we can learn from history that can help inform our understanding of modern philanthropy and our thinking about where it should go in the future. Including: What value does a historical perspective bring? Would people working in …

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DVD Extra: Louise Pulford from SIX poses some questions to Rhod 19:46

5y ago19:46

19:46

In this bonus DVD extra mini-episode, Louise Pulford - CEO of the Social Innovation Exchange (SIX) - turns the table on our host, Rhod Davies, and asks him for his thoughts on key trends affecting philanthropy now and post-pandemic.

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The Current and Future State of Philanthropy, with Louise Pulford, Josiane Smith & Dame Julia Unwin 1:19:09

5y ago1:19:09

1:19:09

In this episode, we talk to Louise Pulford, Josiane Smith and Dame Julia Unwin about the findings from a new global horizon scan by the Social Innovation Exchange (SIX), looking at the challenges and opportunities facing philanthropy post-Covid. In a wide-ranging conversation we discussed: How many trends in philanthropic funding we are seeing duri…

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New Restrictions on Philanthropy & Civil Society in India: the FCRA 2020, with Ingrid Srinath 57:27

5y ago57:27

57:27

In this episode we talk to Ingrid Srinath, Director of the Centre for Social Impact & Philanthropy at Ashoka University about philanthropy and civil society in India and the impact of new restrictions have come in as part of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act 2020 (FCRA 2020). (Disclaimer: the views expressed are Ingrid's own and do not neces…

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Digital Civil Society: Challenges & Opportunties, with Lucy Bernholz 1:15:11

5+ y ago1:15:11

1:15:11

In this episode we talk to Lucy Bernholz, Director of the Digital Civil Society Lab at Stanford University's Center on Philanthropy & Civil Society (Stanford PACS) about how technology is reshaping civil society and the challenges and opportunities this will bring. Including: Digital civil society Is there any meaningful distinction between "civil …

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Funding Social Movements, with Regan Ralph 1:06:28

5+ y ago1:06:28

1:06:28

In this episode we talk to Regan Ralph, President and CEO of the Fund for Global Human Rights, about her experience of funding right-based movements around the world and what she has learned about the challenges and opportunities of funding social movements through philanthropy. Including: What does philanthropic funding for social movements look l…

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Charitable Legacy Giving, with Rob Cope 53:03

5+ y ago53:03

53:03

In this episode we chat to Rob Cope, Director of Remember A Charity, about charitable legacy gifts and legacy fundraising: what they are, what role they play in the overall charity landscape and how they have changed during the COVID pandemic. Including How big a part of the landscape for charitable giving in the UK are legacies? How has this chang…

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European Philanthropy during & after COVID Part 4 - Carola Carazzone 48:59

5+ y ago48:59

48:59

In this episode - the fourth in our mini-series on "European philanthropy during and after COVID" – we speak to Carola Carazzone, Secretary General of Assifero, about philanthropy in Italy and beyond. Including What is the history and current context for philanthropy in Italy? How does this differ from the cultures, histories and legal/policy envir…

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European Philanthropy during & after COVID Part 3 - Julie Broome 53:23

5+ y ago53:23

53:23

In this episode - the third in our mini-series on "European philanthropy during and after COVID" – we talk to Julie Broome, Director of the Ariadne network about philanthropic funding for social change and rights issues now and in the future. Including: What is social change funding? What are its particular features? Is it limited to a niche subset…

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European Philanthropy during and after COVID Part 2: James Magowan 42:02

5+ y ago42:02

42:02

In this episode - the second in our mini-series on "European philanthropy during and after COVID" – we talk to James Magowan from The European Community Foundation Initiative about the unique role of Community Foundations (CF) in the pandemic response and beyond. Including What is ECFI and what does it do? What is the history and current landscape …

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European Philanthropy during & after COVID Part 1: Max von Abendroth & Rosa Gallego 1:01:55

5+ y ago1:01:55

1:01:55

This episode kicks off a mini-series on European philanthropy during and after COVID-19 pandemic, exploring how philanthropic funders have responded to the crisis and how it might affect philanthropy longer term. Our first conversation is with Max von Abendroth, Director of DAFNE, and Rosa Gallego, Director of International Relations at the Spanish…

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Developing the UK's culture of philanthropy, with Matthew Bowcock & Cath Dovey 49:30

5+ y ago49:30

49:30

In this episode we talk to Matthew Bowcock and Cath Dovey, founders of the Beacon Collaborative, about developing the UK's culture of philanthropy both pre- and post-Covid. Including What is the Beacon Collaborative? What was the UK culture of philanthropy like pre-Covid? How does this perhaps differ from the culture in other countries (e.g. the US…

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Using film to tell charity stories, with Simon Burton 45:15

5+ y ago45:15

45:15

In this episode we talk to Simon Burton, founder and CEO of the Charity Film Awards, about how charities can use film to portray and amplify their work. Including: -What is the aim of the Charity Film Awards and how did it come about? -In what interesting ways have charity entrants to the competition been using video? -Why is storytelling important…

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The Symbolic and Social Power of Charity - with Jon Dean 57:55

5+ y ago57:55

57:55

In episode 77 we talk to Jon Dean, Senior Lecturer in Politics & Sociology at Sheffield Hallam University, about his new book The Good Glow: Charity and the Symbolic Power of Doing Good. Including: What role does the way in which our charitable actions are viewed by others play in shaping our giving? Is the "warm glow" of giving always dependent on…

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Delusional Altruism, with Kris Putnam-Walkerly 47:54

5+ y ago47:54

47:54

In episode 76 we talk to global philanthropy expert Kris Putnam-Walkerly about her new book "Delusional Altruism", and about how philanthropists and funders are being affected by - and responding to - the COVID-19 pandemic. Including: What is "delusional altruism"? Why does a scarcity mind-set affect so many donors and funders? Is this particular t…

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Philanthropy, Civil Society & Covid-19: What now, what next? 36:11

5+ y ago36:11

36:11

In episode 75 we take a look at the key issues facing civil society and philanthropy during the covid-19 pandemic crisis and beyond. We explore the benefits of historical insight, highlight some of the main challenges civil society organisations face right now, and consider the most important questions to ask as we look ahead to the future. Includi…

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Cassie Robinson - philanthropy & civil society during the covid-19 pandemic & beyond 48:21

5+ y ago48:21

48:21

In episode 74, we talk to Cassie Robinson, Senior Head of the UK Portfolio at the National Lottery Community Fund, and a prominent writer and thinker about the intersection of tech, civil society and philanthropy. I a wide-ranging conversation against the backdrop of the covid-19 pandemic, we discussed: How is the Covid 19 pandemic affecting Nation…

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The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - David Ainsworth, Catalyst 16:34

5+ y ago16:34

16:34

This is a conversation with David Ainsworth, from Catalyst.

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The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Dan Fluskey, Institute of Fundraising 24:21

5+ y ago24:21

24:21

This is a conversation with Dan Fluskey, Head of Policy at the Institute of Fundraising.

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The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Dan Sutch, CAST 22:39

5+ y ago22:39

22:39

This is a conversation with Dan Sutch, Director of CAST (Centre for Accelerating Social Technology)

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The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society 5 1:03:52

5+ y ago1:03:52

1:03:52

In the fifth compilation episode in our series of conversation with leading voices across civil society during the covid-19 pandemic crisis, we talk to: Dan Sutch - Director of CAST (Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology) Dan Fluskey, Head of Policy, Chartered Institute of Fundraising David Ainsworth, Catalyst…