Best Marcomms Podcasts (2025)

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Financial Sustainability for Health Nonprofits: Rethinking Earned Revenue 38:32

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6d ago38:32

38:32

Many nonprofits feel stuck in a cycle of short-term funding and unpredictable grants. In this episode, Spencer Brooks talks with Stephanie Jacobs of Scale Collaborative about how nonprofits, especially those in the health space, can shift their mindset around money, explore earned revenue strategies, and use storytelling to strengthen financial sus…

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Ep. 41 - Changing Our Tune: Amplifying Chapter Success through National Support 29:11

20d ago29:11

29:11

In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Byrd, CAE, director of chapter relations at the American College of Emergency Physicians, for a conversation that’s as lively as it is insightful. Ryan shares her unique journey from chamber roots to chapter leadership and explains how ACEP’s national office operates like an AMC to support smaller, resource-st…

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Navigating the New Normal: Decline in Nonprofit Web Traffic 19:15

24d ago19:15

19:15

AI is rapidly changing how people search for and engage with information online, and that shift is already beginning to reshape the digital landscape for nonprofits. In this solo episode, Spencer unpacks what it means when platforms like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews start answering questions without sending users to your website. He explores h…

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Beyond “Making It Pretty”: Helping Non-Marcomm Leaders Work Smarter With Your Team 41:29

1M ago41:29

41:29

Nonprofit marcomm teams are often seen as the group that just "makes things look nice," but that perception seriously undervalues their strategic contributions. In this episode, Spencer Brooks is joined by marketing consultant Teri Wade to explore how marcomm leaders can educate and collaborate more effectively with non-marcomm colleagues. We talk …

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Ep. 40 - The Cluck Stops Here: Designing Intentional Member Experiences 29:20

2M ago29:20

29:20

In this episode, we sit down with Sherry Bagley, executive director of the Association for Experiential Education, for a conversation that’s equal parts insightful and unexpected. Sherry shares her winding path to experiential education. She breaks down the foundational principles of challenge, experience, and reflection, and how they’re used to bu…

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Does the European Accessibility Act Apply to Your Nonprofit’s Website? 17:48

2M ago17:48

17:48

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) officially took effect on June 28, 2025. While it’s EU legislation, it may have serious implications for health-focused nonprofits here in the U.S. and Canada. If your organization offers digital services or content online, especially if it’s accessible to EU users, this law might apply to you. In this episode, …

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From Passion to Programs: Scaling Founder-Led Nonprofits for Sustainable Growth 40:02

2M ago40:02

40:02

Many health-focused nonprofits start with a passionate founder but struggle to scale beyond a one-person operation. In this episode, host Spencer Brooks speaks with Dr. Kirk Adams, consultant and former CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind, about a proven model for turning founder-led organizations into sustainable, multi-staffed nonprofits…

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From 82 Videos a Day to AI Empire with John Gargiulo 40:46

2M ago40:46

40:46

In this engaging conversation, Bryan Karas speaks with John Gargiulo, founder of Airpost, about his journey from Airbnb to launching a successful AI video editing company. They discuss the evolution of video marketing, the challenges faced by direct-to-consumer brands, and the role of AI in enhancing video production quality. John shares insights o…

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The Real Reason Your Website Isn’t Working (And What to Do Instead) 19:43

3M ago19:43

19:43

If your nonprofit’s website feels out of sync or like it’s constantly lagging behind your mission, this episode is for you. In this solo episode, Spencer unpacks the real reason most nonprofit websites fall into disrepair (hint: it’s not your website backend or design), and paints a picture of what strong internal ownership actually looks like. You…

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Inside Waymo’s Growth Playbook 43:02

3M ago43:02

43:02

Waymo’s Ori Herschmann joins Bryan Karas to share his journey as a growth marketer behind some of the world’s most well-known brands. Ori unpacks what modern growth marketing really looks like by highlighting the role of creative, AI, personalization, and product-market fit. If you care about building sustainable growth, Ori Herschmann’s insights a…

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SEO that Pays: Driving Revenue, Not Just Traffic 39:34

3M ago39:34

39:34

Your website gets traffic but your brand isn’t seeing revenue. SEO expert Eli Schwartz reveals why most SEO strategies fail at making money and shares the product-led approach that transformed companies like Zillow into billion-dollar machines. Discover on this Catching Fire episode why branded searches convert like crazy, which technical tactics s…

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From Wall Street to Community Impact: Listening as a Growth Strategy at myFace 44:50

3M ago44:50

44:50

Nonprofits often know they need to “listen to their community,” but putting that into practice (especially at scale) can be challenging. In this episode, we talk with Bill Villafranco, Executive Director and former Board Chair at myFace, about his path from finance to nonprofit leadership and how community feedback is shaping programs like interdis…

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Ep 39 - Branding with Heart: Guiding Associations with Vision and Values 42:54

3M ago42:54

42:54

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting two inspiring leaders in the association world—Ellen and Walter Kim, the husband-and-wife team behind GRAPHEK, a creative agency dedicated to serving mission-driven organizations. In this episode, Ellen and Walter share their journey of bui…

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30-year MarComm veteran reveals why your brand is losing customers 51:58

3M ago51:58

51:58

Here’s a fiery discussion with the final boss of marketing that you must face, Scott Robertson. Scott is a Fractional CMO who has over 30 years experience in marketing, and has gone on to start his own PR & marketing agency RobertsonComm. He has also published his own magnum opus called - “Just Stop It:Your Survival Guide to Marketing Myths, Mistak…

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The Future of PPC: How Humans Win in an AI World with Fred Vallaeys 53:29

3M ago53:29

53:29

Before “PPC” was even a term, Fred Vallaeys was helping Google build it. Now, he is on a mission to help marketers make sense of the monster it’s become. Fred unpacks his journey from those early Google days to founding Optmyzr, revealing how marketing transformed from the simplicity of goto.com to our current maze of touchpoints. He mentions five …

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Spoonful of Laughter: Changing the Diabetes Narrative Through Comedy 45:34

4M ago45:34

45:34

What happens when you try to dismantle one of the most common and damaging forces in diabetes care with comedy? Diabetes stigma affects nearly 4 in 5 adults with diabetes. It impacts their mental, physical, and social well-being. Spoonful of Laughter is a national campaign that tackles this stigma head-on—not with lectures, but with laughter. In th…

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Problem, Product, Profit: How Jessica Turned Constipation into Cash 49:51

4M ago49:51

49:51

Jessica Postiglione couldn't find a fiber supplement that actually worked. So she made one. This chat reveals how Bonny grew from personal frustration to thriving brand by tackling an uncomfortable topic with humor and brutal honesty. Jessica spills the real secrets behind successful DTC brands while exposing why most fail miserably. You'll get pra…

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Ep 38 - The Assistant Will See You Now: AI's Role in Smarter Member Engagement 41:03

4M ago41:03

41:03

In this episode, we chat with Rob Barnes and Johanna Byrne from Betty.ai, a company that’s built an AI platform tailored specifically for associations. They explore how associations can strategically harness AI to boost efficiency, strengthen member engagement, and unlock the full value of their institutional knowledge. From advocacy wins to smarte…

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What Most Marketers Get Wrong About CAC—Northbeam’s CEO Explains 38:42

4M ago38:42

38:42

If you still trust your blended CAC, you might be burning cash. In this episode of Catching Fire, Bryan Karas sits down with Austin Harrison, CEO of Northbeam—our Partner of the Month and a quiet force behind some of the fastest-scaling brands in the game. They get real about what’s broken in attribution, why creative is more than just an accessory…

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Escaping the Redesign Trap: Rethinking How Nonprofits Manage Their Websites 12:53

4M ago12:53

12:53

Many nonprofit websites quietly fall out of step with the missions they were built to support. The result? A frustrating cycle of expensive redesigns that never quite fix the real problem. In this solo episode, Spencer breaks down why most nonprofits are caught in the “redesign trap,” how to reframe your website as a living program (not a one-time …

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Private Credit is the Next $1.7T Opportunity. Here’s How to Build for It 56:09

4M ago56:09

56:09

In this episode, Bryan sits down with serial entrepreneur Chris Tolles, co-founder of Transparency Analytics and advisor at Common Crawl, to talk about what really drives innovation, from the explosion of private credit to the invisible data powering AI. Chris shares wild stories from the trenches: selling a startup to Netscape in 6 weeks, building…

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Crypto Collapse, AI Ascent: How a Founder Ditched Web3 for AI’s Frontier 49:23

4M ago49:23

49:23

Karthik Kalyanaraman built his company on blockchain, only to see the market vanish beneath him. With the world moving on, the pressure was real. Sleepless nights, silence on Discord, and raw uncertainty forced him and his team to reinvent everything from scratch. In this episode, Karthik shares the gritty truth behind the creation of LangTrace and…

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How to Create More Content with Less Effort: A Nonprofit Marketing Guide 45:24

5M ago45:24

45:24

Nonprofit marketing teams are often strapped for time and resources, yet they’re expected to produce engaging content across multiple platforms. In this episode, Kevin Kleifgen from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand shares his expertise in media production and digital strategy to help small teams get the most out of their content. You’ll…

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From HBO to Apple: Industry Creative Director on Why Performance Needs Brand 43:16

5M ago43:16

43:16

What’s the difference between a $20 bottle of vodka and a $50 one? Nothing—except the story you’ve been told. In this episode, Bryan Karas sits down with award-winning creative director Christopher Donovan (Apple, Nike, HBO) for a conversation that throws out the marketing rulebook and replaces it with something more impactful: performance branding…

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Ep 37 - Knives Out: Cutting Through Tax Reform in the Association Space 39:16

5M ago39:16

39:16

In this episode, we sit down with Jarrod A. Clabaugh, CAE, president and CEO of the Ohio Society of Association Professionals, to unpack the complex world of tax reform and what it means for associations. Jarrod shares his nonprofit journey and offers a candid look at the challenges small and mid-sized associations are facing as proposed tax change…

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Why Most Startups Stall—and How to Reignite Revenue with Revenue Architecture 47:17

5M ago47:17

47:17

When referrals dry up and your calendar's still full, it’s time for a new kind of growth. In this episode of Catching Fire, fractional CMO and two-time CEO Maria Trysla shares her playbook for moving from founder-led to founder-inspired sales. With stories from her time at Sprint, SaaS startups, and private equity-backed companies, Maria breaks dow…

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Stop Spinning Your Wheels: How to Build a 12-Month Marketing Roadmap That Works 47:55

5M ago47:55

47:55

Nonprofit marketers wear too many hats and juggle endless priorities, often struggling to turn strategic plans into real-world execution. In this episode, Spencer Brooks sits down with Graeme Watt, Principal of Anthem Creative, to discuss a game-changing approach: Strategic Inevitability—a one-day sprint designed to help organizations ruthlessly pr…

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From NASDAQ to Venture Capital: The Power of Storytelling with Josh Machiz 49:12

5M ago49:12

49:12

Have you ever wondered how global brands like NASDAQ build massive followings online or what makes certain startups unforgettable? Join us for an insightful conversation on this week’s Catching Fire podcast, where we welcome Josh Matchiz, Partner at Redpoint Ventures and former Chief Digital Officer at NASDAQ. Josh dives deep into his journey of tr…

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From Mad Men to MVPs: Gary Stein on Reinventing Marketing for Startups 47:27

5M ago47:27

47:27

Is your marketing still stuck in the Mad Men era? In this episode of Catching Fire, we sit down with Gary Stein, founding partner & Chief Strategy Officer at 61Hawk, to talk about how startup founders and growth marketers can stop gambling with million-dollar launches—and start building smart, iterative campaigns that actually work. Gary spent deca…

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Demystifying Nonprofit Budgets: What Every Leader, Fundraiser, and Marketer Needs to Know 43:51

5M ago43:51

43:51

Budgeting is one of the most misunderstood and frustrating parts of nonprofit work, whether you're leading an organization, raising funds, or managing marketing and communications. In this episode, Spencer Brooks sits down with Jim Carroll, CEO of The diaTribe Foundation, to break down key budgeting misconceptions, explain how different revenue mod…

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From Zero to 200,000 Businesses: How Novo Is Rebuilding Banking for Entrepreneurs 50:01

6M ago50:01

50:01

Why do some startups win, while others stall? For Michael Rangel, Founder of Novo–the answer is clear: stay close to your customer and focus on real problems. In this episode of Catching Fire, Michael shares how he built Novo, a business banking platform now trusted by over 200,000 small businesses. What you’ll take away: 🔥Why hiring full-time lead…

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Ep 36 - March Madness: Full-Court Leadership in the Association Space 34:41

6M ago34:41

34:41

In this episode, we talk with Shasta Foy, executive director of the Association for Christian Fundraising, about her dedication to making a meaningful impact through association work. She shares insights from her career journey, including the challenges she navigated while earning her CAE credential. Shasta also discusses the vital role of diversit…

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The Power of Unscripted Storytelling 44:31

6M ago44:31

44:31

Nonprofits have incredible stories to tell, but many struggle with how to capture them effectively on video. In this episode, Spencer Brooks sits down with Pat Taggart, founder of SkyBlue Creative, to discuss why unscripted storytelling is the key to creating compelling nonprofit videos, how to overcome fears of being on camera, and how to produce …

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24 - From Cold Calls to Ben & Jerry’s: How Marlo Giudice Grew a CPG Powerhouse 44:35

6M ago44:35

44:35

How do you take a small, mission-driven food brand and land deals with giants like Ben & Jerry’s, JetBlue, and DoubleTree? In this episode of Catching Fire, we sit down with Marlo Giudice, a powerhouse entrepreneur and VP, Sales at Partake Foods from a startup idea to a national brand. Marlo shares the realities of launching a consumer product thro…

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23 - $6.5 Million Fund Closed - How Growth Marketing is Reshaping Women's VC with Jess Kamada 56:17

6M ago56:17

56:17

On this episode of Catching Fire, we sit down with Jess Kamada - Managing Partner of Swizzle Ventures, who recently closed a $6.6 million fund focused on advancing women's health and wealth. With 15+ years in growth marketing and experience working with 12 unicorn companies, Jess shares her journey from agency founder to VC, revealing the "Efficien…

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How Nonprofits Can Use AI Without Losing Their Authentic Voice 45:59

6M ago45:59

45:59

With AI-generated content flooding the internet, nonprofits are struggling to break through the noise and truly connect with their audiences. In this episode, Spencer Brooks sits down with Doug Darling, CEO of Tripwire Media, to explore how nonprofits can balance data and storytelling, leverage AI without losing authenticity, and craft messages tha…

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22 - Dark Humor & Million-Dollar Dreams: A Marine's Netflix for Veterans 1:13:47

6M ago1:13:47

1:13:47

In this raw and revealing conversation, discover how dark comedy became a powerful tool for a veteran's mental health, why authenticity trumps production value, and what it takes to build a community-driven business from scratch. Whether you're an entrepreneur, creator, or someone fascinated by the power of niche storytelling, this episode offers i…

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Ep 35 - A Membership Love Story: Valuing Human-to-Human Connections 45:26

7M ago45:26

45:26

In this episode, we sit down with Ginger Johnson, a dynamic speaker and champion of human connection, to explore the power of relationships in associations. Ginger shares her journey across various professions and how it led her to advocate for deeper, more purposeful connections. She discusses why retention matters more than recruitment, the role …

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21 - Inside Meta's War Room: From Election Safeguards to AI Revolution w/ Sakshi Chadha 1:08:03

7M ago1:08:03

1:08:03

In this week’s episode, former Meta executive Sakshi Chadha pulls back the curtain on Silicon Valley's most controversial moments. From managing Facebook's 2020 election integrity team to witnessing the platform's dramatic shift under recent political pressures, Sakshi shares unprecedented insights into how social media giants really operate. Join …

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Tackling Vaccine Hesitancy & Building Trust with Matt Lam of The American Association of Immunologists 38:36

7M ago38:36

38:36

Building public trust is critical for nonprofits, especially in health and science communication. In this episode, Matt Lam from The American Association of Immunologists shares how his organization is embracing new communications strategies—like leveraging partnerships and taking calculated risks—to expand their impact and combat misinformation ar…

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20 - What Brands Get Wrong About Content w/ Jared Blitz of Blitz Creative Studio 57:22

7M ago57:22

57:22

What happens when you treat talent as partners, focus on creative agility, and refuse to cut corners in production? You get Blitz Creative. After transitioning from entertainment to branding, founder Jared Blitz built his sports-focused content studio around these principles, crafting high-impact branded content while keeping production lean, talen…

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The Shifting Landscape of Philanthropy with Ryan Deckert of Morrison Child & Family Services 39:29

7M ago39:29

39:29

Philanthropy in America is undergoing a rapid transformation, reshaping the way nonprofit professionals approach fundraising and communications. In this episode, host Spencer Brooks sits down with Ryan Deckert from Morrison Child and Family Services to explore how these changes impact marketing and development strategies. If you’re a fundraiser or …

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Ep 34 - Don't 'Waste' New Opportunities: Rethinking NDR Strategies 35:15

8M ago35:15

35:15

In this episode, we chat with Amy Burke, MA, FASAE, CAE, executive director and CEO of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), about effective non-dues revenue strategies. Amy shares insights on aligning revenue initiatives with an association's mission and vision, leveraging successful partnerships, and creating impactful sponsorship…

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19 - Blockchain and the Future of Advertising w/ Peter Jonas of Thirdwave 1:00:21

8M ago1:00:21

1:00:21

Peter Jonas has had a fascinating journey through the tech world. A former executive at Facebook, Uber, and Compass, he went from launching Facebook’s mobile app install product to co-founding his own company, Thirdwave, which gives developers and businesses deep insight into user behavior with blockchain data. In this episode, you'll discover: Why…

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Empowering Marginalized Youth: STEM, Health Equity, and Self-Advocacy with Deena Pierott of iUrban Teen 44:24

8M ago44:24

44:24

Building programs that truly help underrepresented communities can feel overwhelming, but listening to people with real-life experience makes it much easier. In this episode, Spencer Brooks sits down with Deena Pierott, the award-winning founder of iUrban Teen, to explore how her groundbreaking programs empower Black and Brown youth through STEM ed…

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18-Investing in Brand Story w/ Kirk Nielson of Tap In Digital 51:21

8M ago51:21

51:21

There’s no bigger buzzword than “data-driven.” Tap In Digital co-founder Kirk Nielson actually earns the description – and he’s making one big bet based on data: The importance of investing in brand marketing. Kirk is in the business of solving one problem for clients: where to spend their next dollar for maximum impact. In this episode of Catching…

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2025 Nonprofit Trends: AI, Accessibility, and Team Well-Being 14:37

8M ago14:37

14:37

As nonprofits look to the future, staying ahead of trends can feel overwhelming. In this episode of Health Nonprofit Digital Marketing, Spencer Brooks shares lessons from the past year and explores three pivotal trends shaping the sector in 2025: the transformative role of AI in fostering audience connections, the critical importance of digital acc…

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17 - Performance Branding 101 with your host, Bryan Karas 23:06

9M ago23:06

23:06

Are click-based attribution models holding your marketing strategy back? In this special solo episode, Bryan introduces a new Playbook Media service called performance branding: a game-changing approach that shifts marketing dollars from traditional low-funnel spending to educating consumers earlier in the buying cycle. The end result? Higher conve…

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Ep 33 - Unwrapping Non-Dues Revenue Success 25:12

9M ago25:12

25:12

In this episode, we sit down with John Bacon, MBA, Vice President of Enterprise Sales at the American Society of Association Executives, to explore the art and science of growing non-dues revenue. John shares insights from his career journey in the association space, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, innovation, and leveraging both inter…

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Community-Led Marketing with Greg Harrell-Edge 44:33

9M ago44:33

44:33

Nonprofits know the power of connection, but how can they translate that to building vibrant online communities? In this episode of Health Nonprofit Digital Marketing, we’re joined by Greg Harrell-Edge, former Executive Director of CoachArt, to explore the creation of CoachArt Inspire, an online hub celebrating kids impacted by chronic illness. Dis…