Moving the Needle

About Moving the Needle

Highlighting innovators doing needle moving sh!t to create generational wealth and inclusive competitiveness. Communities worldwide are at an inflection point. In the devastating wake of COVID, there are unparalleled opportunities to move the needle on realizing truly inclusive prosperity, fueled by dynamic economic growth. In this moment, communities can make bold, strategic, and equitable investments. Needle moving investments not only generate catalytic and sustained community impact, but also provide meaningful financial returns for the impact investors behind them. Moving the Needle is a podcast series featuring conversations with a globally curated mix of policymakers, philanthropists, private investors, and social innovators who are driving break-through investments that move the needle. Hosted by Christopher Gergen and Johnathan Holifield, an uncommon pairing who arrived at the common need for “doing needle moving sh#t” from very different lived experiences. Through the podcast, Gergen and Holifield invite guests to share their own lived experiences and what led them to their transformative investment theses. Designed to be highly interactive, energetic, and personal, the conversation will leave listeners with a deeper understanding of how investment can be channeled for the greater good, inspired by the stories behind the innovation, and excited to learn more about each guest.

Publisher

Christopher Gergen & Johnathan Holifield

Category

business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Sept 2022

Latest episode

14 Jul 2025

Latest episodes

25 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Jul 2025

   Leading Authentically in a Fractured World with Christopher & David Gergen

   What does authentic leadership look like in today’s divided world? In this intimate conversation, Moving the Needle co-host Christopher Gergen sits down with his father, legendary advisor and commentator David Gergen, to explore the values that shape courageous, service-driven leadership. From growing up in Durham to navigating the halls of power, the two reflect on trust, collaboration, intergenerational mentorship, and civic responsibility. This is a heartfelt dialogue on what it means to lead with purpose and how we pass that torch to the next generation. Moving the Needle is hosted by Christopher Gergen & Johnathan Holifield, and is produced by Earfluence (https://www.earfluence.com/). If you like our podcast, you'll also like our books: The Future Economy and Inclusive Competitiveness: How Demographic Trends and Innovation Can Create Economic Prosperity for All Americans (https://www.amazon.com/Future-Economy-Inclusive-Competitiveness-Demographic/dp/0692877703/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&keywords=holifield+paperback&qid=1492812122&s=books&sr=1-9), by Johnathan Holifield Life Entrepreneurs: Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Lives (https://www.amazon.com/Life-Entrepreneurs-Ordinary-Creating-Extraordinary/dp/0787988626), by Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek Thank you to our sponsors: Live Oak Bank (https://www.liveoakbank.com/) is on a mission to be America's small business bank and has the privilege of helping thousands of passionate, driven entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality. These small business owners aren’t in it for the fortune or the fame. They’re in it to make a difference, just like Live Oak. SHRM (https://www.shrm.org/) has created better workplaces by supporting diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the world of work and society. It’s why they developed the Together Forward@ Work (https://togetherforwardatwork.shrm.org/) initiative to drive racial inequity out of the workplace. It’s why SHRM made a capital commitment to support minority-owned business enterprises. If you like our podcast, you'll also like our books: The Future Economy and Inclusive Competitiveness: How Demographic Trends and Innovation Can Create Economic Prosperity for All Americans (https://www.amazon.com/Future-Economy-Inclusive-Competitiveness-Demographic/dp/0692877703), by Johnathan Holifield Life Entrepreneurs: Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Lives (https://www.amazon.com/Life-Entrepreneurs-Ordinary-Creating-Extraordinary/dp/0787988626), by Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek

2. 

   7 Jul 2025

   Debt, Dignity, and Disruption: Financing a New Future for Higher Ed with Dr. Mark Anthony Brown

   Tuskegee University President Dr. Mark Anthony Brown discusses innovative solutions for student debt, including income-contingent financing and reimagining higher education's role in driving equity, in this interview with Christopher Gergen and Johnathan Holifield.

3. 

   30 Jun 2025

   From Corporate Ladder to Capital Ownership: One Man’s Wealth-Building Journey with Robert Jones

   Robert Jones discusses his journey from corporate success to angel investing with Realm Capital Partners, focusing on strategies for building long-term wealth and closing the racial wealth gap in this interview.

Who has been a guest on Moving the Needle

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

• Dr Mark Anthony Brown
• Robert Jones
• Kwame Anku
• Bruce Katz
• Felecia Hatcher

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

677,514

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100

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

Quality

19

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

32

Contact Moving the Needle

Guest appearances

Books guests

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