About Digital Comfort Zone: A Super not Scary Technology Podcast
When done right, technology holds huge potential to transform the work of charities. However, implementing that change can be messy, complicated, frustrating, the list goes on. But when done wrong, it has the potential to derail the important work that you do.
Join Aine McGlynn and Lizz Bryce, two seasoned veterans of the charitable sector and the two minds behind Charity Growth Academy, who have worked at the intersection of technology and the people who make charities work for more than two decades.
In each episode, you'll be left with specific ways to improve how you and your organization use technology.
So if you've been struggling on your journey of digital adoption, or if you're curious how you can take your digital work to the next level then you're in the right place
Answering Your Questions on Digital Transformation
In this special bonus episode of the 'Digital Comfort Zone' podcast, hosts Aine McGlynn and Lizz Bryce, alongside guest Naomi Barghiel, address common questions about digital enablement in the nonprofit sector. They emphasize the importance of leveraging technology to enhance organizational effectiveness and staff experience. The discussion includes practical advice on starting digital transformation, gaining leadership buy-in, making cost-effective tech investments, and avoiding shadow systems. The episode also provides a resourceful roadmap for small nonprofits to enhance their digital capabilities without overwhelming their limited resources.
01:23 Understanding Digital Enablement
04:12 Starting Your Digital Transformation Journey
07:53 Getting Leadership Buy-In
13:32 Cost and Resources for Digital Transformation
19:54 Rapid Fire Questions
27:42 Using Your Action Plan Effectively
Read the full transcript here
Start your digital transformation journey today
24 Oct 2024
Building Resilience with Olympian Silken Laumann
Content Note: This episode contains discussions of mental health and mentions of suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In this episode of Digital Comfort Zone, hosts Aine McGlynn and Lizz Bryce engage in a deep conversation with Canadian Olympian Silken Laumann. They explore resilience, mental health, and the transformative impact of technology. Silken shares her personal journey of overcoming a severe injury to win a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics, emphasizing the importance of physical intelligence and stress management. The episode delves into the pressures faced by leaders of charitable organizations, the significance of digital enablement, and the evolution of personal motivation and self-belief. Additionally, the conversation highlights the necessity of embracing multifaceted identities, especially in women, and discusses the role of technology in fostering human connections and delivering mental health support, particularly in the wake of the COVID pandemic. Silken also talks about her podcast, Inflection Time, and the potential of storytelling platforms like Unsinkable.
00:00 Introduction and Trigger Warning
00:47 Introducing Silken Laumann
02:50 Silken's Story of Resilience
06:45 The Athlete's Mindset
08:33 Stress and Mental Health
11:50 Personal Growth and Motivation
21:53 The Power of Vulnerability and Storytelling
23:54 The Birth of Unsinkable
25:06 Connecting Storytellers and Mental Health
26:08 Embracing Technology for Good
27:35 Hopeful and Helpful Stories
29:59 Navigating Technology and Social Media
37:42 Digital Skills in the Nonprofit Sector
39:48 Introducing Inflection Time Podcast
Read the full transcript here
Listen to Silken's new podcast: Inflection Time
Learn more about her charity: Unsinkable (https://www.weareunsinkable.com/)
8 Aug 2024
Learning about failure with Ashley Good of Fail Forward
Hosts Aine McGlynn and Lizz Bryce discuss the complexities of failure within nonprofit organizations, particularly in the context of technology. Guest Ashley Good, founder of Fail Forward, centers the conversation on the inevitability of failure and how it can be a powerful learning tool. Ashley shares personal anecdotes, professional insights, and practical exercises for nonprofits to practice healthy reactions to failure and cultivate a supportive organizational culture. Key topics include reframing failure as learning, practicing debriefs on successes, and the importance of compassion in overcoming failure's emotional impact.
00:30 Getting Vulnerable: Personal Failures
03:33 Transforming Failure into Learning
05:37 Introducing Ashley Good: The Failure Expert
06:28 What is a Failure Consultancy?
08:31 Ashley Good's Journey to Embracing Failure
10:32 A Powerful Story of Redemption
14:24 The Emotional Weight of Failure
20:51 Practicing Failure in Organizations
27:26 Tackling Challenges Head-On
27:44 Balancing Easy and Hard Tasks
28:51 Individual vs. Organizational Failures
32:01 The Role of Compassion in Failure
34:59 Practical Techniques for Embracing Failure
36:25 Final Thoughts and Reflections
41:45 Season Finale and Future Plans
Read the full transcript here (https://share.descript.com/view/PimrpjiA6mP)
Start your digital transformation today (https://charitygrowthacademy.org/)
29 Jul 2024
Where do I get money for this? Talking to a funder about investing in tech with Victor Cordon
In this episode, Aine McGlynn and Lizz Bryce are joined by Victor Cordon, Director of Social Impact at Okta, they discuss the challenges nonprofits face in securing ongoing funding for technology, the importance of technology governance, and the role of trust-based philanthropy in addressing these challenges. Victor emphasizes that technology is not just an administrative cost but essential to mission delivery while offering practical advice on how nonprofits can better articulate their tech needs to funders. The episode concludes with strategies on how to align tech investments with organizational goals and mission impact, making it a compelling discussion for anyone in the nonprofit sector looking to embrace digital transformation.
00:33 Challenges in Funding Digital Transformation
03:03 Introducing Victor Cordon from Okta
03:51 Okta's Approach to Philanthropy and Technology
06:24 Successful Tech Funding Strategies
09:15 The Importance of Technology in Nonprofits
15:36 Trust-Based Philanthropy and Technology
22:10 Encouraging Open Conversations About Tech Needs
26:05 Practical Tips for Nonprofits Seeking Tech Funding
Read the full transcript here (https://share.descript.com/view/mlt1wKOhMMP)
Start your digital transformation journey here (https://charitygrowthacademy.org/)
22 Jul 2024
What Rock Climbing can Teach us about Digital Transformation and Leadership with Aine McGlynn
In this episode of the Digital Comfort Zone podcast, hosts Aine McGlynn and Lizz Bryce break down how lessons from rock climbing can provide valuable insights into digital transformation. Aine shares her experiences as a climbing instructor, highlighting the importance of creating safe conditions, effective communication, and encouraging calculated risks. The episode emphasizes the role of leaders in setting up for their teams for success, drawing parallels between guiding climbers and navigating digital change in nonprofit organizations.
00:51 The Importance of Leadership in Digital Transformation
03:16 Connecting Leadership and Rock Climbing
05:15 Lessons from Climbing: Overcoming Fear
11:02 Guiding Teams Through Digital Transformation
18:00 The Role of Trust and Communication
25:22 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Read the full transcript here (https://share.descript.com/view/MdlcKgObIgR)
Start your digital transformation journey here (https://charitygrowthacademy.org/)
15 Jul 2024
Cultivating Possibility Thinking with Alisa Simon of Kids Help Phone
In this episode of Digital Comfort Zone, hosts Aine McGlynn and Lizz Bryce are joined by Alisa Simon, Executive Vice President at Kids Help Phone. In their conversation, they discuss how the organization adopted a mindset of possibility to radically shift how they support youth in crisis. They delve into distinguishing between invention and innovation, the effective use of digital tools and AI, and the necessity of a change-ready culture. The importance of leveraging data, involving the right leaders, and maintaining core mission values while exploring new technological avenues is also discussed.
01:24 Understanding Social Innovation
03:04 Case Study: Kids Help Phone
04:57 Possibility Thinking and Mindset Shifts
10:14 Implementing and Sustaining Innovation
17:42 The Role of Data and AI in Innovation
Read the full transcript here (https://share.descript.com/view/dk2LaWGYMxC)
Read this case study done with Kids Help Phone
8 Jul 2024
In it for the Long-Term: How to trigger action for long-term gain with Chi Nguyen and Amanda Munday
Description: In this episode of Digital Comfort Zone, hosts Aine McGlynn and Lizz Bryce discuss how small technological changes can significantly impact small charities and nonprofits. They are joined by Chi Nguyen from Equal Voice and Amanda Munday from New Majority, who share insights on improving youth civic engagement and gender diversity in politics. This episode has two big takeaways
How it’s important to form sustainable habits in both political participation and digital transformation and;
emphasizing that small actions can lead to substantial future benefits.
00:47 Addressing Common Tech Misconceptions in Small Charities
02:06 The Power of Small Digital Changes
04:13 Introducing Our Guests: Amanda Munday and Chi Nguyen
05:28 Insights on Civic Engagement and Political Participation
14:05 Challenges and Barriers to Voting
18:42 Motivations Behind Civic Actions
25:52 The Importance of Small Wins in Civic and Digital Engagement
Read the full transcript here (https://share.descript.com/view/G1LQRwwTlUG)
Start your digital transformation here (https://charitygrowthacademy.org/)
2 Jul 2024
Does anyone know how to do this? Cultivating a Learning mindset with Professor Nick Mount
In this episode of 'Digital Comfort Zone,' hosts Aine McGlynn and Lizz Bryce discuss the importance of maintaining a learning mindset in the age of digital transformation. Special guest Professor Nick Mount from the University of Toronto shares insights on fostering a learning culture, handling resistance to change, and the importance of new experiences in unlocking innovative thinking.
00:47 The Importance of a Learning Mindset
01:34 Personal Challenges with Learning
03:31 Research on Learning Behaviors
05:07 Interview with Professor Nick Mount
08:05 Teaching Strategies and Learning Environments
14:08 Adapting to New Learning Methods
26:13 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Read the full transcript here (https://share.descript.com/view/cxLTRG4INWE)
24 Jun 2024
The Art of Persuasion: Getting Buy-In for your Digital Transformation
In this episode of 'Digital Comfort Zone', hosts Aine McGlynn and Lizz Bryce dive deep into the art of persuasion and obtaining buy-in for digital transformation within nonprofits. To help them do this, Philip Haid, CEO of Public Inc., brings his valuable insights including
The role of emotions, trust, and authenticity in persuasion
Emphasizing the importance of meeting people where they are
And building trust slowly
00:00 Introduction to Digital Comfort Zone
00:48 Persuasion and Buy-In: Real-Life Examples
04:25 Challenges in Digital Transformation
06:37 Interview with Philip Haid: Mastering Persuasion
17:48 Emotional vs. Logical Persuasion
24:09 Conflict and Ego in Persuasion
29:11 Trust and Buy-In: Building Authentic Relationships
33:12 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Read the full transcript here (https://share.descript.com/view/ieOjbTj5ijL)
Start your digital transformation journey here (https://charitygrowthacademy.org/)
14 Jun 2024
Starting Big Projects: Key Lessons from Filmmaker Molly McGlynn
In this inaugural episode of Digital Comfort Zone, hosts Aine McGlynn and Lizz Bryce talk about how to overcome digital inertia within organizations. To better understand how to do that, they call on award-winning filmmaker Molly McGlynn to speak about
How to manage complex projects like filmmaking.
How to break down overwhelming tasks
The importance of planning and logistics
And the necessity of starting anywhere to gain momentum.
00:00 Introduction to Digital Comfort Zone
01:17 Challenges in Digital Transformation
03:28 Starting Small and Taking First Steps
04:59 Interview with Filmmaker Molly McGlynn
13:51 Lessons from Filmmaking for Charities
24:39 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
28:39 Closing Remarks and Credits
To start your own digital transformation journey you can visit: https://charitygrowthacademy.org/
Read the full transcript here (https://share.descript.com/view/6SpDxRBrtEg)
Bio for Molly McGlynn:
Molly McGlynn is a Montreal-born writer and director based in Los Angeles
Her first feature film, Mary Goes Round, starring Aya Cash and Sara Waisglass, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2017 and has screened at dozens of film festivals and won multiple awards, including the Panavision Independent Cinema Award at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, Best Feature Film at the Vail Film Festival and Best Narrative Feature at the Annapolis Film Festival.
The film was nominated by the Directors' Guild of Canada for awards in Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film and Best Editing in a Feature Film and won the Jay Scott Emerging Artist Award from the Toronto Film Critics Association.
Her second feature film, Fitting In, (fka Bloody Hell), starring Maddie Ziegler and Emily Hampshire, had its World Premiere at SXSW in the Narrative Spotlight section in March 2023. Its International Premiere was at the prestigious Deauville American Film Festival and had its Canadian premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film also won Best Canadian Feature Film at the Vancouver International Film Festival and was nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film by the Directors Guild of Canada.
In addition to her feature work, Molly has directed over thirty episodes of television (Grace and Frankie, Grownish, The Wonder Years, The Big Door Prize) and was a producing director on Season 2 of Bless This Mess.
31 May 2024
Introducing Digital Comfort Zone: A Super not Scary Technology Podcast
This is Digital Comfort Zone: a super not scary technology podcast. It’s hosted by Aine McGlynn and Lizz Bryce, the two minds behind Charity Growth Academy, who have worked at the intersection of technology and the people who make charities work for more than two decades.
Every episode, Aine and Lizz will help calm your fears, validate your frustrations and answer your questions when it comes to leveraging tech for good - and ultimately make your life easier
You will come away with specific ways that you can improve how you and your organization use technology. And our advice will always better than that random cousin’s who interned at a start-up in the 90's.
And, because Lizz and Aine aren’t techies either, you will never be patronized or made to feel dumb.
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Podcast Authority Score: 31 / 100
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