Podcast thumbnail for Glad You Asked

Glad You Asked

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by Martha Schumacher

5.0(8 reviews)
8 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview

Welcome to Glad You Asked, a show about how active listening can help you build stronger connections with folks in your life, personally and professionally. I’m Martha Schumacher and I’ve spent my career asking leaders, funders, donors, and community members thoughtful questions to help find the real reasons behind why they do what they do. And when you pursue these deeper connections, you ultimately arrive at the heart of what really matters: establishing trust. On each episode of Glad You Asked, we’ll explore three questions, one from our guest, one from a listener, and one from me. During a conversation with mission-driven leaders, we’ll test how each question, each compelling prompt, makes active listening possible and deepens our relationships. Afterwards, we’ll take a look at how effective our questions were in guiding a meaningful conversation, and leave you with a call to action, so you can use these questions in your own work and life.

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

1/11/2026

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for Michelle Flores Vryn - How are you different than your peer organizations?

July 6, 2026

Michelle Flores Vryn - How are you different than your peer organizations?

<p>Most nonprofit leaders struggle to articulate what truly makes them distinct. In this episode, Michelle Flores Vryn reveals how differentiating your organization isn’t just branding jargon, it’s the key to standing out in a crowded sector while inspiring trust in your community and potential donors. This episode also dives into how leaders can foster a culture of authenticity and visibility, as well as methods to help clear the mind to prepare for important conversations in order to be more present during these interactions.</p><h2>Here are this episode’s questions:</h2><p><strong>Martha’s Q: </strong>Are you clearing your brain and deeply listening to the person across from you?</p><p><strong>Listener engagement Q from Cecelia Caspram:</strong> "How do we inspire others to prioritize leading with integrity, care, and compassion as essential - not soft - skills?"</p><p><strong>Guest Q from Michelle Flores Vryn:</strong> "How are you different than your peer organizations?"</p><h2>Action Item:</h2><p>Ask yourself, how am I different from my peers at my organization? Make a list of your skills and responsibilities. With this list, you'll be able to discover your own unique contributions to your organization. Once you've built this list, ask yourself: does this match your job description? If not, how have you shifted your role to better meet your organization's needs? And of course, is this how you want to represent yourself?</p><h2>Resources &amp; Links:</h2><p>Nonprofit Futures: <u><a href="https://www.nonprofitfutures.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nonprofitfutures.com/</a></u></p><p>Michelle’s substack: <u><a href="https://michellefloresvryn.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://michellefloresvryn.substack.com/</a></u></p><p>Social Impact Staff Retention Project: <u><a href="https://www.thenonprofiteers.com/sisr" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thenonprofiteers.com/sisr</a></u></p><p>Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn: <u><a href="https://linkedin.com/in/michellefloresvren" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linkedin.com/in/michellefloresvren</a></u></p><p>Cecelia Caspram: <u><a href="https://www.fortheloveofhumanity.community/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.fortheloveofhumanity.community/</a></u></p><p>Community Centric Fundraising: <u><a href="https://communitycentricfundraising.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://communitycentricfundraising.org/</a></u></p><p>For ongoing learning, check out the show’s Patreon: <u><a href="https://www.patreon.com/cw/GladYouAsked" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/cw/GladYouAsked</a></u></p>

Episode thumbnail for Willeke van Rijn - What is the world that we want to see?

June 1, 2026

Willeke van Rijn - What is the world that we want to see?

<p>Welcome to Glad You Asked, a show about how active listening can help you build stronger connections with folks in your life, personally and professionally.</p><h1>Episode Overview</h1><h2>This episode’s questions:</h2><p><strong>Guest question (Willeke): What is the world that we want to see?</strong></p><p><strong>Martha’s question: What are your personal leadership and management styles and why?</strong></p><p><strong>Listener question Bernard Ross of MC Consulting: What are two to three ways the social impact sector can help to build a more equitable society?</strong></p><h2>Action Item:</h2><p>Explore Martha’s question about leadership and management styles. What's your style and why? Reminder, if you don't manage another staffer, that doesn't mean you aren't a leader. Think about what you do daily, weekly, monthly to lead, and how you manage relationships with your colleagues, with your boss, with your donors, etc.</p><p>#6 Active Listening Key Element: Summarizing</p><p>Summarizing in active listening involves condensing the speaker's main points, core ideas, and underlying emotions into your own words. This technique verifies your understanding, makes the speaker feel validated, and naturally transitions the conversation toward resolution or the next topic.</p><p>#7 Active Listening Key Element: Empathy</p><p>Empathy is the cornerstone of active listening. It requires suspending judgment and setting aside personal biases to genuinely understand the speaker's emotions and perspective. Rather than simply waiting for your turn to speak, empathic listening builds trust, defuses conflict, and fosters deep emotional connection.</p><p>Martha’s 5 priorities as a leader:</p><p>Authenticity, accessibility, empathy, transparency, vulnerability</p><h2>Resources &amp; Links:</h2><p><u><a href="https://resource-alliance.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Resource Alliance</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.resource-alliance.org/event/ifc-2026/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Register for IFC 2026 before July and get the early bird discount!</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://resource-alliance.org/ifc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">International Fundraising Congress (IFC)</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://amazon.com/Calling-Heroes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Calling All Heroes by Tammy Zonker</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://pratham.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pratham in India </a></u>(Example of watchdog role)</p><h2>Connect with Willeke van Rijn:</h2><p><u><a href="https://linkedin.com/in/villica" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://twitter.com/villica" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a></u></p><h2>Credits:</h2><p>Glad You Asked is a Hazen Institute for Leadership Training podcast.</p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/GladYouAsked" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Join us on Patreon for more in-depth content.</a></p><p>If you have a question you’d like me to ask on our show, or you’ve used one of the questions from an episode in your life, send Martha Schumacher a message on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/marthaschumacher/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>, or send me an email at <a href="/s/group%3Ahello%40hazeninc.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hello@hazeninc.com</a>. Learn more at <a href="http://hazeninc.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hazeninc.com</a>.</p><p>Produced by Patrick and Benjamin Childers of <a href="https://www.oddconduitmedia.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Odd Conduit Media</a>.</p><p>Original music by Bassel &amp; The Supernaturals featuring Herbie Hunkele on trumpet.</p>

Episode thumbnail for Tammy Zonker - How do we create an organizational culture that is more human centered?

May 4, 2026

Tammy Zonker - How do we create an organizational culture that is more human centered?

<p>Join Martha Schumacher as she explores the power of active listening and human-centered organizational culture with her guest Tammy Zonker, founder of Fundraising Transformed. Discover practical insights and questions to deepen connections and foster trust in any setting and prioritize the important needs of our communities. Stay tuned until the end for a chance to win a copy of Tammy’s new book, Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact.</p><h2>Here are this episode’s questions:</h2><p><strong>Guest question (Tammy Zonker): </strong>How do we create an organizational culture that is more human centered?</p><p><strong>Martha’s question: </strong>What is the biggest challenge in your job day to day?</p><p><strong>Listener question (Lacey Slay): </strong>What is the number one trait leaders need to be successful?<strong> </strong></p><h2>Action Item: </h2><p>Talk with a colleague, friend, or even a stranger and ask: “What is the number one trait humans need to be successful?” You’ll be showing that you respect their opinion, and you’ll come away with new insights and maybe even some great advice! </p><h2>Tammy’s follow up questions:</h2><p>That's so interesting. Tell me more about that.</p><p>How did you come up with that idea? </p><p>What problem are we solving with that approach? </p><p>Help me understand. </p><p>I'm very interested in that. </p><p>How long have you felt that way?</p><p>Have you always felt that way?</p><h2>Tammy Zonker’s Links:</h2><p>LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/tammyzonker</p><p>Twitter - https://twitter.com/tammyzonker</p><p>Podcast - https://podcast.com/intentionalfundraiser</p><h2>Resources:</h2><p>Fundraising Transformed - https://fundraisingtransformed.com</p><p>Calling All Heroes (Book) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7F4X9X2</p><h2>Credits:</h2><p>Glad You Asked is a Hazen Institute for Leadership Training podcast.</p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/GladYouAsked" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Join us on Patreon for more in-depth content.</a></p><p>If you have a question you’d like me to ask on our show, or you’ve used one of the questions from an episode in your life, send Martha Schumacher a message on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/marthaschumacher/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>, or send me an email at <a href="/s/group%3Ahello%40hazeninc.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hello@hazeninc.com</a>. Learn more at <a href="http://hazeninc.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hazeninc.com</a>.</p><p>Produced by Patrick and Benjamin Childers of <a href="https://www.oddconduitmedia.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Odd Conduit Media</a>.</p><p>Original music by Bassel &amp; The Supernaturals featuring Herbie Hunkele on trumpet.</p>

8 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

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What is Glad You Asked?

Welcome to Glad You Asked, a show about how active listening can help you build stronger connections with folks in your life, personally and professionally. I’m Martha Schumacher and I’ve spent my career asking leaders, funders, donors, and community members thoughtful questions to help find the real reasons behind why they do what they do. And when you pursue these deeper connections, you ultimately arrive at the heart of what really matters: establishing trust.

On each episode of Glad You Asked, we’ll explore three questions, one from our guest, one from a listener, and one from me. During a conversation with mission-driven leaders, we’ll test how each question, each compelling prompt, makes active listening possible and deepens our relationships. Afterwards, we’ll take a look at how effective our questions were in guiding a meaningful conversation, and leave you with a call to action, so you can use these questions in your own work and life.

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates daily.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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