Issue Space

About Issue Space

Working to make life better for humankind is both a privilege and a challenge, and no one knows this better than the folks who have made this work their day job. Issue Space is a podcast and community for professional changemakers of every kind. Through candid conversations about the lived experience of social change work, we hold space to process life in the unique — and uniquely needed — business of impact. Our mission is to give ambitious social impact professionals a sustaining sense of connection to their sector. Our vision is an impact workforce that grows and thrives — so that we all can.

Publisher

Issue Space Media

Category

business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Sept 2024

Latest episode

29 Jul 2025

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Jul 2025

   Off the Clock: How Impact Pros Live their Values At and Outside Work (Live Show)

   About the Episode There are so many ways to engage with the major issues of this world. There's looking away and tuning out - and then there's tuning *WAY* in. For folks working, creating, and side-hustling in social impact, life is all about the latter. While it can be heavy on the mind, heart, and soul to take on this work, it's also a way to guarantee that a good chunk of one's waking hours are devoted to fighting humanity's good fights and living one's values. But then - what does that really take? How are folks managing the competing needs of personal life, professional work, and the never-ending causes demanding our attention? In this live episode of the Issue Space podcast, we talk to three social impact advocates who approach their changemaking at work, their personal lives, or somewhere in between about where impact fits into our lives today. Host: Cat Addo https://www.cataddo.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineaddo/ Guests: Michele Lampach https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-lampach/ Matthew Chavez https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-chavez-40a84a82/ Bryant Silva https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryant-silva/ © Issue Space Media Inc. 2025 This episode of the Issue Space podcast was produced by July Third and published by Multitude https://multitude.productions> See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2. 

   3 Jun 2025

   Impact in Flux: Surviving a Chaotic Impact Era (Live Show)

   Host Cat Addo discusses how social impact professionals can navigate funding cuts and cultural shifts to maintain their professional impact with guests Kym Watson, Nagela Dales, and Omar Hakim in this interview episode.

3. 

   27 May 2025

   Who's Working in Impact? Snapshot of a Shaken Social Sector (Live Show)

   Robert Jay Ross discusses the current social impact job landscape after the 2024 election, revealing career opportunities and challenges for professionals seeking to drive positive change in a volatile political climate in an interview with Cat Addo.

4. 

   3 Dec 2024

   When the Good Fight Fights Us: Burnout in the Impact Space

   Social impact pros Brittany K. Barnett and Gabrielle Wyatt share their personal struggles with burnout, self-care, and resilience in the high-stakes world of social change work.

5. 

   19 Nov 2024

   Affinity & Beyond: The Identity Politics of Impact Work

   A social impact professional’s work often involves advocating for our most personal rights. It’s only natural, then, that one might bring their own affinity to bear in these efforts. But in a time when identity politics are framed as distracting, divisive, or just else done-to-death, how valuable is it for social changemakers to approach the work they do through the lenses of their own identities? And what challenges do they face as a result of the choice to lean in or out of approaching social change from the perspectives of their own communities? In this episode of the Issue Space podcast, we’ll hear three points of view on decisions to embrace or reject their personal identities as a path to impact, and explore what it really means to turn an intrinsic life experience into a job and a cause. About Working to make life better for humankind is both a privilege and a challenge, and no one knows this better than the folks who have made this work their day job. Issue Space is a  podcast and community for professional changemakers of every kind. Through candid conversations about the lived experience of social change work, we hold space to process life in the unique — and uniquely needed — business of impact. For more and to join our community, visit: www.issuespacemedia.com Host Cat Addo https://www.cataddo.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineaddo/ Guests Paola Mendoza https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paola_Mendoza Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg https://www.linkedin.com/in/wanjirukr/ Alistair Stephenson https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-stephenson/ © Issue Space Media Inc. 2024 The Issue Space podcast is produced by Multitude at https://multitude.productions

6. 

   12 Nov 2024

   From the Office to the Hill: Working Across Politics, Government, & Impact

   Anyone who’s worked in social impact knows that, just as political climate and administration shape our personal lives, so too do they affect our work, from what gets funded, to how our advocacy is framed in the zeitgeist, to everything in between. Some professionals toggle between working in politics and social impact to advance the change they’re fighting for, while others sit firmly in careers on one side or the other. How does that choice change your day-to-day experience in changemaking, and your efficacy? In this episode of the Issue Space podcast, we explore where politics and impact work intersect, and what that means for the folks who take on one or both in their careers. About Working to make life better for humankind is both a privilege and a challenge, and no one knows this better than the folks who have made this work their day job. Issue Space is a  podcast and community for professional changemakers of every kind. Through candid conversations about the lived experience of social change work, we hold space to process life in the unique — and uniquely needed — business of impact. For more and to join our community, visit: www.issuespacemedia.com Host Cat Addo https://www.cataddo.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineaddo/ Guests Natika Washington https://www.linkedin.com/in/natikawashington/ Jessy Tolkan https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessytolkan/ © Issue Space Media Inc. 2024 The Issue Space podcast is produced by Multitude at https://multitude.productions

7. 

   22 Oct 2024

   On & Off (the Ground): Finding Your Best Vantage Point for Change

   Every social impact pro has to find their own way. Will they focus on one issue, or work across many? Will they tie their efforts to a certain place or politician, or float across a range of movements and leaders? And, will they work to tackle change from the top-down (think: systems, media, politics) or from the bottom-up (in communities, working with the grassroots)? In this episode of the Issue Space podcast, we speak with three social impact professionals to explore how they found where they belong across the different tiers of changemaking. About Working to make life better for humankind is both a privilege and a challenge, and no one knows this better than the folks who have made this work their day job. Issue Space is a  podcast and community for professional changemakers of every kind. Through candid conversations about the lived experience of social change work, we hold space to process life in the unique — and uniquely needed — business of impact. For more, visit: www.issuespacemedia.com Host Cat Addo https://www.cataddo.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineaddo/ Guests Rachel Sumekh https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsumekh/ Jason Rzepka https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrzepka/ Carolyn Gilbert https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-gilbert-3614b267/ © Issue Space Media Inc. 2024 The Issue Space podcast is produced by Multitude https://multitude.productions>

8. 

   15 Oct 2024

   Equitable Expectations: How One Impact Pro Defines Her Worth Beyond DEI

   As a phrase and as a vision, ‘Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion’ has been on a rollercoaster, from sitting front and center in the zeitgeist, to getting defunded and deprioritized. In this era, people working in DEI find their work framed through the lenses of social justice and partisan fights, while folks working in social impact have seen their focus pulled toward what was once an HR-adjacent lane. How has this cultural and professional whirlwind changed the trajectory of people in social impact – and particularly, the trajectories of people of color who sit at the center of both storms? In this episode of the Issue Space podcast, we chat with an advocacy amplifier with an unapologetically inclusive lens about her journey through the social impact sector during its ‘DEI transformation.’ About Working to make life better for humankind is both a privilege and a challenge, and no one knows this better than the folks who have made this work their day job. Issue Space is a  podcast and community for professional changemakers of every kind. Through candid conversations about the lived experience of social change work, we hold space to process life in the unique — and uniquely needed — business of impact. For more, visit: www.issuespacemedia.com Host Cat Addo https://www.cataddo.com/ (https://www.cataddo.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineaddo/ Guest Janna Pea https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannapea/ Discussed references Five Facts to Know About Black Philanthropy https://www.tides.org/five-facts-to-know-about-black-philanthropy/#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20report%20by,totaling%20%2411%20billion%20each%20year. 3 steps to better connect with your fellow humans https://www.ted.com/talks/amber_cabral_3_steps_to_better_connect_with_your_fellow_humans?subtitle=en © Issue Space Media Inc. 2024 The Issue Space podcast is produced by Multitude at https://multitude.productions (https://multitude.productions)

9. 

   8 Oct 2024

   The Lighter Side of Change: Joy, Levity, and Imagination in Impact Work

   As a professional in social impact, it’s our job to lean into the heavy. But while the subject matter of this sector is often grim, does the work itself have to be? In the face of hardship, lightness – from joy, to humor, to childlike imagination – can be used to cultivate everything from social resistance to personal relief. In a time when society has never seemed to need levity more, could lightness be a secret weapon of the impact sector?  In this episode of the Issue Space podcast, we speak with two professional social change dreamers about wielding joy and imagination as tools of progress. About Working to make life better for humankind is both a privilege and a challenge, and no one knows this better than the folks who have made this work their day job. Issue Space is a  podcast and community for professional changemakers of every kind. Through candid conversations about the lived experience of social change work, we hold space to process life in the unique — and uniquely needed — business of impact. For more, visit: www.issuespacemedia.com Host Cat Addo https://www.cataddo.com/ (https://www.cataddo.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineaddo/ Guests Jess Weiner https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessweiner/ April Callen https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilcallen/ Discussed references: Comedy Can Help Change the World, Rutgers Researcher Says https://comminfo.rutgers.edu/news/comedy-can-help-change-world-rutgers-researcher-says The Black radical imagination: a space of hope and possible futures https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10557459/ New Surgeon General Advisory Raises Alarm about the Devastating Impact of the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation in the United States https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html © Issue Space Media Inc. 2024 The Issue Space podcast is produced by Multitude at https://multitude.productions (https://multitude.productions)

10. 

    1 Oct 2024

    The Change Department: Advancing Impact at Brands & Businesses

    Not every organization that’s committed to positive impact says so on the front door. Brands and businesses, with their particular ways of working, engaging consumers, and focusing on the bottom line, are a unique and undeniable part of culture and the social fabric. So what’s it like to pursue positive change from this side of the sector…and is there more in common with other settings of social impact work than we think? In this episode of the Issue Space podcast, we’ll talk with two experienced professionals about what it’s like to try to leverage what businesses do best for the sake of positive change. About Working to make life better for humankind is both a privilege and a challenge, and no one knows this better than the folks who have made this work their day job. Issue Space is a  podcast and community for professional changemakers of every kind. Through candid conversations about the lived experience of social change work, we hold space to process life in the unique — and uniquely needed — business of impact. For more, visit: www.issuespacemedia.com Host Cat Addo https://www.cataddo.com/ (https://www.cataddo.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineaddo/ Guests Erika Soto-Lam https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikasotolamb/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikasotolamb/) Ken Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethsmith1/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethsmith1/) Discussed references: 15 Eye-Opening Corporate Social Responsibility Statistics https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/corporate-social-responsibility-statistics#:~:text=A%20majority%20of%20American%20consumers,%2C%20environmental%2C%20and%20political%20issues The Rise of Purpose-Driven Brands: Why Consumers Care About Social Impact https://www.theimpactjob.com/blog/the-rise-of-purpose-driven-brands-why-consumers-care-about-social-impact Best Brands For Social Impact https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-brands-social-impact/ ‘Go Woke, Go Broke’ Review: The Worst Investments https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/go-woke-go-broke-review-the-worst-investments-634bdc39 © Issue Space Media Inc. 2024 The Issue Space podcast is produced by Multitude at https://multitude.productions (https://multitude.productions)

11. 

    24 Sept 2024

    Distance & Difference: Advocating for Communities Outside Your Own

    If you work in social change, it’s inevitable — you are going to be tapped to support a community you don’t identify with personally. And that’s kind of the point. So many social impact professionals want to get this dynamic right, balancing showing up with stepping back to let people with lived experience lead. In this episode of the Issue Space podcast, we talk to three professionals whose work involves passionately advocating for lives they don’t lead themselves, to hear what they’ve learned about this delicate dance. About Working to make life better for humankind is both a privilege and a challenge, and no one knows this better than the folks who have made this work their day job. Issue Space is a  podcast and community for professional changemakers of every kind. Through candid conversations about the lived experience of social change work, we hold space to process life in the unique — and uniquely needed — business of impact. Host Cat Addo https://www.cataddo.com/ (https://www.cataddo.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineaddo/ Guests Gissou Nia https://www.linkedin.com/in/gissou-nia-2005425/ Dr. Jocelyn Logan-Friend https://www.loganandfriends.community/ Katie Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiesmith/ © Issue Space Media Inc. 2024 The Issue Space podcast is produced by Multitude https://multitude.productions (https://multitude.productions)>

12. 

    17 Sept 2024

    Pain Into Purpose: Making Change from our Challenges

    For many social change professionals, the work comes on the heels of hardship. Exposure to society’s pain points can be a driving force for professional changemakers, who might opt to use their negative lived experiences as motivation to build a better world. How do these folks turn adversity into optimism and innovation? How do they find the fire to face what’s hurt them, every day – and with professional polish, no less? When do they foster their own healing and relief? In this episode of the Issue Space podcast, we talk with a professional advocate and storyteller about the beauty and complexity of serving society through personal perspective. About Working to make life better for humankind is both a privilege and a challenge, and no one knows this better than the folks who have made this work their day job. Issue Space is a  podcast and community for professional changemakers of every kind. Through candid conversations about the lived experience of social change work, we hold space to process life in the unique — and uniquely needed — business of impact. Host Cat Addo https://www.cataddo.com/ (https://www.cataddo.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineaddo/ Guest Adrianne Wright https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianneandangwright/ Discussed references: The Healing Power of Telling Your Trauma Story https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-act-be/201903/the-healing-power-telling-your-trauma-story#:~:text=Recounting%20the%20trauma%20begins%20to,time%20and%20in%20the%20aftermath. Content warnings: ●      20:31 - 21:21 - Anecdote involving pregnancy trauma and birth trauma ●      21:22 - 22:29 - Anecdote involving sexual assault in the workplace ●      28:00 - 29:40 -  Reference to sexual assault ●      32:08 - 35:01 - Anecdote involving sexual assault and abduction © Issue Space Media Inc. 2024 The Issue Space podcast is produced by Multitude https://multitude.productions (https://multitude.productions)>

13. 

    17 Sept 2024

    Identity & The Impact Pro: Where The Personal Meets Professional

    Does a certain ‘kind’ of person gravitate toward careers in social change? Is a sense of shared identity among folks in changemaking roles helpful to the work being done – or limiting? What’s partisanship got to do with it? In this episode of the Issue Space podcast, we talk with a social impact career development specialist and a journalist-turned-campaigner about the identity trends in this very personal professional scene, and what these patterns mean for the sector. About Working to make life better for humankind is both a privilege and a challenge, and no one knows this better than the folks who have made this work their day job. Issue Space is a  podcast and community for professional changemakers of every kind. Through candid conversations about the lived experience of social change work, we hold space to process life in the unique — and uniquely needed — business of impact. Host Cat Addo https://www.cataddo.com/ (https://www.cataddo.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineaddo/ Guests Robbie Ross https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjayross/ Marisa Kabas https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-kabas-bb054722/ Discussed references: How to Separate Your Work From Your Identity https://time.com/collection/time100-voices/6314042/oprah-arthur-brooks-happiness-at-work/ My Fight or Yours: Stereotypes of Activists From Advantaged and Disadvantaged Groups https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01461672211060124#:~:text=One%20key%20reason%20for%20this,aggressive%20emotionality%2C%20moral%20superiority%2C%20and The ironic impact of activists: Negative stereotypes reduce social change influence https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejsp.1983 © Issue Space Media Inc. 2024 The Issue Space podcast is produced by Multitude https://multitude.productions (https://multitude.productions)>

14. 

    2 Sept 2024

    Introducing Issue Space

    Working to make life better for humankind is both a privilege and a challenge, and no one knows this better than the folks who have made this work their day job. Issue Space is a  podcast and community for professional changemakers of every kind. Through candid conversations about the lived experience of social change work, we hold space to process life in the unique — and uniquely needed — business of impact. Our mission is to give ambitious social impact professionals a sustaining sense of connection to their sector. Our vision is an impact workforce that grows and thrives — so that we all can.

Who has been a guest on Issue Space

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

• Kym Watson
• Nagela Dales
• Omar Hakim

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

13 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 22 / 100

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

Quality

25

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact Issue Space

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

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