Impact Audio

About Impact Audio

The podcast for social impact practitioners looking to connect big ideas with real impact. Join host Sam Caplan as he curates practical advice and inspiring stories from the people changing how we think about social change.

Publisher

Submittable

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Jul 2021

Latest episode

28 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

4 of 68 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   28 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Dispatch from PEAK 2026: Courage + systems

   This episode of the Impact Audio podcast features Sam Caplan alongside PEAK Grantmaking managing director Sara Richman Sanders. They discuss their takeaways from the 2026 PEAK Grantmaking conference. They explore: • The evolving role of grant managers • How nonprofit leaders are leading with courage • What systems courageous leaders need

2. 

   20 Apr 2026

   Dispatch from NGMA 2026: The dust settles

   This episode of the Impact Audio podcast features Submittable colleagues Sam Caplan and Ian Witthoeft, who sat down to discuss their experience at the 2026 National Grant Management Association Conference. They cover: • The new compliance paradigm • What to expect for Uniform Guidance • How governments are closing the tech gap

3. 

   6 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   PhilanthroPunks: Why today’s philanthropy calls for an old-school DIY punk attitude

   This Impact Audio LIVE episode brings together five people who came up in the punk scene and now shape philanthropy and the nonprofit world. Together they’ll dig into the overlap between the punk ethos and purpose-driven work, including: • Honest takes on power and gatekeeping • Practical ideas for how the nonprofit sector can keep its edge while doing long-haul change work • How to prioritize real action over performative messaging Sam Caplan, VP of social impact at Submittable Sam Caplan is the Vice President of Social Impact at Submittable, a platform that foundations, governments, nonprofits, and other changemakers use to launch, manage, and measure impactful granting and CSR programs. Inspired by the amazing work performed by practitioners of all stripes, Sam strives to help them achieve their missions through better, more effective software. Sam formerly served as founder of New Spark Strategy, Chief Information Officer at the Walton Family Foundation, and head of technology at the Walmart Foundation. He consults, advises, and writes on social impact technology, strategy, and innovation. Connect with or follow Sam on Linkedin, listen to his podcast Impact Audio, and subscribe to his bi-weekly newsletter The Review. John Mohr, CIO of the MacArthur Foundation John Mohr is the Chief Information Officer at the MacArthur Foundation. He oversees Foundation-wide technology services and planning and is responsible for developing a strong and sustainable information technology infrastructure. Prior to joining the MacArthur Foundation in 2012, John was the Director of Academic Systems at the University of Chicago. The 20 enterprise applications he supported serve student, academic, and campus activities. He planned initiatives across the academic and student IT areas. In previous roles at the university, John was the Director of the Web Services department where he led the redesign of the university's website. He also led the Project Management office and the implementation of the Alumni Development system. Prior to that, John led IT teams at early stage technology companies in Seattle, Washington. He was a key member of the leadership teams and had responsibility for technical operations, product development, strategic planning, and key relationships with technology partners and investors. Jenny Toomey, former director at the Ford Foundation Jenny Toomey is the former director of the Ford Foundation’s Catalyst Fund, a $50 million, three-year investment to build the field of Public Interest Technology, and previously led efforts to expand access, transparency, innovation, and participation in the internet. Prior to Ford, Jenny co-founded the independent record label Simple Machines, and was a punk rock musician and composer performing on 12 albums, dozens of compilation records and singles, and a musical. Alex Daniels, senior reporter of the Chronicle of Philanthropy Before joining the Chronicle in 2013, Alex covered Congress and national politics for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He covered the 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns and reported extensively about Walmart Stores for the Little Rock paper.Alex was an American Political Science Association congressional fellow and also completed Paul Miller Washington Reporting and International Reporting Project fellowships. Aleda Gagarin, VP of influence at Candid As VP of Influence, Aleda leads Candid’s thought leadership, strategic coalitions, and campaigns to increase Candid’s collective impact and support a stronger social sector. She directs the Influence teams, including Communications and Brand Awareness, Development, Partnerships, and Partnership Operations. In close collaboration with the CEO and executive team, Aleda is responsible for creating and executing Candid’s influence strategy, defining how Candid shows up in the world—what we say, how we say it, and who we partner with. Aleda is passionate about making connections, solving problems, advocating for resources, and shifting power structures. She began her career in advocacy as a program assistant at the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in 2004, later served as sales and membership coordinator for Institutional Investor, and worked with North Star Planning and Evaluation Consultants as a researcher. Aleda joined Candid via the Foundation Center in 2013 as a development associate, and with the evolvement of her strong leadership skills, advanced to development manager, director, senior director of development, and associate vice president of development.

Inside a recent episode

Dispatch from PEAK 2026: Courage + systems

Published 28 Apr 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] And, you know, back in the day, like it was very focused on like kind of being a hundred percent, like, I don't know how to describe it. Like practitioner sort of like, this is, this is how you, you know, do expenditure responsibility. And, and there wasn't much conversation back then around like the role of the grants manager really being like a professional career oriented position in at a foundation or other grant making organization. And as it became, as the organization became peak, there was a lot of conversation around like how the grant professional impacts things like equity, how their bridge between the grant making organization and all of the incredible nonprofits that they support. […]

Who has been a guest on Impact Audio

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Andrea Bell
• David Callahan
• Kelly Fitzsimmons
• Sarah Di Troia
• Tip Tucker Kendall

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 49 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

68

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

77

Contact Impact Audio

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Impact Audio