Better Good with Scott M. Curran

Disasters happen. Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, pandemics. There's little we can do about them. But what happens after the headlines fade and after the cameras leave is something we do have control over. The hardest part of a disaster isn't always the disaster itself. It's the weeks, months, and years of recovery and rebuilding that make the biggest difference. And most of the help, it turns out, doesn't help in all the ways it should.On this episode of BETTER GOOD, Scott M. Curran (https://www.scottmcurran.com/) is joined by Ann Lee, co-founder and CEO of CORE, for a conversation about disaster recovery, humanitarian response, and what it actually takes to rebuild communities the right way. CORE began in the rubble of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, when Ann met co-founder Sean Penn and built a new model for crisis response rooted in local leadership, demand-driven relief, and long-term commitment. Ann traces her path from surviving domestic violence as a child in Los Angeles, to witnessing 9/11 in New York, to clearing rubble in Port-au-Prince with heavy equipment days after the earthquake. She explains how CORE scaled from a single displacement camp in Haiti to operating on five continents—responding to hurricanes, the war in Ukraine, COVID-19, and the 2025 Los Angeles fires—and why the organizations that parachute in with outside solutions often do more harm than good. This episode explores themes of disaster recovery, community-first development, humanitarian leadership, and climate resilience.You can pre-order Scott’s forthcoming book, Better Good, here: https://www.bettergoodbook.com/Guest: Ann LeeHost: Scott M. CurranExecutive Producers: Aaron Shulman & Kieron BanerjiProduction by Echo Studios- Check out our Podcast: ➡️ https://www.linktr.ee/scottmcurran- Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:03:09 Early Memories of Doing Good00:07:49 From 9/11 to Foreign Service Dreams00:10:25 Living in Haiti Before the Earthquake00:12:22 The Haiti Earthquake and Early Response00:19:17 Meeting Sean Pen

There are at least 1.4 billion people on this planet with no connection to the financial system, and no way to turn a good idea into a livelihood. Not because they lack talent, drive, or ambition, but because the system simply wasn't built to include them. This massive divide between talent and opportunity is what today's guest is building a bridge across.On this episode of BETTER GOOD, Scott M. Curran (https://www.scottmcurran.com/) is joined by Vishal Ghotge, CEO of Kiva, for a conversation about financial inclusion, microfinance, and what happens when you bet on people the traditional banking system ignores. Kiva has delivered nearly $2.5 billion in loans to over 5 million entrepreneurs in 80 countries, often just $25 at a time,  with a 96% repayment rate. Vishal explains how the platform connects everyday lenders with women entrepreneurs, refugees, small business owners in the US, and communities on the front lines of climate change. He traces his own path from Mumbai to Silicon Valley to leading one of the most innovative organizations in global development, and makes a powerful case that talent is universal but opportunity is not. And that closing that gap is one of the most important investments any of us can make. This episode explores themes of financial inclusion, women's empowerment, and refugee entrepreneurship.You can pre-order Scott’s forthcoming book, Better Good, here: https://www.bettergoodbook.com/Guest: Vishal GhotgeHost: Scott M. CurranExecutive Producers: Aaron Shulman & Kieron BanerjiProduction by Echo StudiosCheck out our Podcast: ➡️ https://www.linktr.ee/scottmcurran- Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:04:22 Early Memories of Doing Good00:06:16 Growing Up with Inequality in Mumbai00:08:32 From Mumbai to Microsoft00:10:49 Groupon and Helping the Little Guy00:15:31 PayScale, Remitly, and Finding Personal Connection00:18:49 The Kiva Model and Financial Inclusion00:27:29 The Power of Transparency and Connection00:32:02 Four Strategic Verticals: Refugees, Women, Climate, and US00:44:30 Stories of Dignity and Transformation00:48:08 Hope in Humanity and Career Advice00:55:59 Take

Most people think power always looks the same—loud, demanding, aggressive, and increasingly in your face. But actually, not always. Penny Abeywardena has spent her life mastering another kind of power: soft power. Something we can all use to help change the world if we become more familiar with it, and better at using it in our lives and in our work.On this episode of BETTER GOOD, Scott M. Curran (https://www.scottmcurran.com/) is joined by Penny Abeywardena—former Commissioner for International Affairs for New York City, Clinton Foundation leader, and founder of Soft Power Strategies—for a conversation about influence, leadership, and how to create change when you don't have the title, the budget, or the permission to demand it. Penny traces her path from surviving domestic violence as a child in Los Angeles to becoming effectively the Secretary of State for the most diplomatically complex city in the world. She explains how she built a coalition of 350 local governments around the sustainable development goals when Washington walked away from the climate table, and how she secured half a million pieces of PPE directly from the UN's own stockpile when New York was told it was on its own during COVID. She makes the case that in a moment when too many people are choosing to check out, soft power is more urgent than ever. This episode explores themes of soft power, leadership, diplomacy, women's empowerment, and vulnerability.Guest: Penny AbeywardenaHost: Scott M. CurranExecutive Producers: Aaron Shulman & Kieron BanerjiProduction by Echo Studios- Check out our Podcast: ➡️ https://linktr.ee/scottmcurran- Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:05:26 Early Memories of Doing Good00:07:35 From Human Rights Watch to Finding Her Path00:10:00 Building Skills Behind the Scenes00:12:43 Joining the Clinton Global Initiative00:14:44 Becoming NYC Commissioner for International Affairs00:19:20 Reimagining Diplomacy in New York City00:22:18 The Voluntary Local Review and Climate Leadership00:25:41 COVID Crisis and the Power of Relationships00:29:53 Launching Soft

What if a bottle of salad dressing could change the world? In 1982, Paul Newman—movie star, race car driver, and American icon—bottled a homemade salad dressing with a friend, put his face on the label, and made one simple decision: every cent of profit would go to charity. Forever. Newman's Own has now generated more than 600 million dollars for charitable causes—and the "Newman's Own exception," an act of Congress that followed, made it possible for other foundations to fully own mission-driven businesses that give their profits away.On this episode of BETTER GOOD, Scott M. Curran (https://www.scottmcurran.com/) is joined by Alex Amouyel (https://www.yourimpactlife.com/about), President and CEO of the Newman's Own Foundation, for a conversation about purpose-driven business, child hunger in America, and one of the most revolutionary models in philanthropy. Alex explains how a for-profit food company fully owned by a charitable foundation gives 100% of its profits away—and why Newman had to fight Congress just to make it legal. She unpacks the foundation's work on child nutrition, school meals, and indigenous food justice at a time when one in five American children live in food-insecure households. And she introduces 100% for Purpose, a movement inspired by Newman's Own and Patagonia to help the next generation of businesses put their profits toward good causes. This episode explores themes of philanthropy, corporate responsibility, and food justice.Guest: Alex AmouyelHost: Scott M. CurranExecutive Producers: Aaron Shulman & Kieron BanerjiProduction by Echo Studios- Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:04:06 Early Memories of Doing Good00:05:30 From BCG to Save the Children00:08:02 Restructuring a Global NGO00:10:15 The Clinton Global Initiative Years00:12:17 MIT Solve and Opening Innovation00:22:09 Paul Newman's Legacy and the Hole in the Wall Gang00:26:32 Nourishing Children Who Face Adversity00:28:08 The Newman's Own Exception and Tax Law00:36:59 100% For Purpose Movement- Better Good is a podcast series where you’ll meet the visionaries and doers tackling the toughest challenges of our time. With moving stories and practical takeaways, Scott M. Curran brings listeners into the art and science of doing good—through conversations with the social-impact leader

"Chief Impact Officer" wasn't a job twenty years ago. But a decade ago, it became one of the fastest-growing roles in business. Today, it's complicated because the idea that companies should “do good” has been dragged into the culture wars. So what does it look like when a company actually takes that responsibility seriously and builds purpose into its operations?On this episode of BETTER GOOD, Scott M. Curran (https://www.scottmcurran.com/) is joined by Nishant Roy, Chief Impact Officer of Chobani, for a candid conversation about purpose-driven business, corporate responsibility, and what it really means when a company says profit and purpose can coexist. Nishant traces his path from his immigrant family's roots and service in the U.S. Air Force—including deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq—through Goldman Sachs, USAID, and a fateful LinkedIn message that led him to Chobani's founder, Hamdi Ulukaya. He explains how Chobani went from an SBA loan and a shuttered factory in upstate New York to the number one yogurt brand in America, and why how a company makes its products matters as much as what's on the shelf. From cutting sugar across an entire food category, to hiring refugees in rural New York, to building a sustainable supply chain that pays farmers for imperfect fruit, Nishant makes the case that corporate impact isn't marketing—it's operations. This episode explores themes of purpose-driven leadership, career reinvention, food systems, refugee inclusion, and why the work of doing good doesn't stop just because the acronyms change.-Guest: Nishant RoyHost: Scott M. CurranExecutive Producers: Aaron Shulman & Kieron BanerjiProduction by Echo Studios- Check out our Podcast: ➡️ https://www.linktr.ee/scottmcurran- Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:04:46 Early Memories of Doing Good00:08:41 From the Air Force to Wall Street00:11:57 Government Service and Global Development00:13:52 The LinkedIn Message That Changed Everything00:17:50 Making Career Pivots with Purpose00:28:54 The Chobani Story and Food Revolution00:34:10 Supply Chain Innovation for Impact00:40:55 Building a Melting Pot Workforce00:47:47

What does it look like when a politician actually does their job? Not the culture warring. Not cable news. Not pitting you against your neighbor to score political points. But the actual work of public service: showing up every day for all the people you serve, bridging divides instead of deepening them, and measuring success by outcomes, not optics. Almost sounds quaint, doesn't it? We're living through a moment when the question of what real civic leadership is feels harder to answer than it should. So we're going to Oklahoma City to find out.On this episode of BETTER GOOD, Scott M. Curran (https://www.scottmcurran.com/) is joined by Mayor David Holt of Oklahoma City (https://www.okc.gov/Government/Elected-Officials/Mayor)—who is also the 83rd President of the United States Conference of Mayors—for a refreshing conversation about public service, civic leadership, and bridging political divides in one of America's most dynamic cities. David traces his path from a service-oriented Oklahoma family to working in Washington, D.C., and back home to lead what he calls a purple city in a deep red state. He breaks down how Oklahoma City went from economic depression and post-bombing devastation to becoming America's 20th largest city—a story built on pragmatic, nonpartisan leadership and a civic model that keeps winning voter approval by margins most politicians can only dream of. He explains why the 70% of Americans in the middle can still find common ground and get things done when the system lets them, and why mayors may be the most important class of leaders in the country right now. This episode explores themes of bridging divides, nonpartisan governance, civic investment, community building, pluralism, and what it means to lead by the power of your example rather than the example of your power.Guest: Mayor David HoltHost: Scott M. CurranExecutive Producers: Aaron Shulman & Kieron BanerjiProduction by Echo Studios- Check out our Podcast: https://www.linktr.ee/scottmcurran-Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:03:26 Early Memories of Doing Good00:08:40 From Capitol Hill to the White House00:13:25 Returning Home and Finding Purpose in City Hall00:23:18 The Oklahoma City Turnar

Menstrual equity. There’s a good chance you’ve never really thought about what that means. But you should. Because it affects women, men, families, workplaces, and entire economies. If talking about menstruation feels uncomfortable, good. Growth usually starts there. Let’s start with some simple facts:Half the world’s population is women.Every single one of us was born from a woman.And every one of those births began with a missed period.Menstruation isn’t a niche issue. It’s biology. It’s economics. It’s education. It’s dignity. It’s opportunity. This week we celebrate International Women’s day, which is also an opportunity—to talk about women’s health, cultural stigmas, economic growth, and human dignity.On this episode of Better Good, Scott M. Curran is joined by Megha Desai, the President of the Desai Foundation, for a perspective-shifting conversation about menstrual equity. She talks about her family’s attitudes toward menstruation as she was growing up, and what this taught her about the challenges women face. She explains what period poverty is, why menstrual equity is important for every society, and the impact of over-regulating women’s bodies. She traces her swerving career that took her from branding and social impact, showing how they connect. This episode explores themes of equality, women’s rights, politics, and storytelling.Guest: Megha DesaiHost: Scott M. CurranExecutive Producers: Aaron Shulman & Kieron BanerjiProduction by Echo StudiosCheck out our Podcast: linktr.ee/scottmcurranChapters00:00:00 Introduction00:03:35 Early Memories of Doing Good00:05:18 International Exposure and Perspective00:07:24 From Advertising to Nonprofit Leadership00:10:21 Taking Over the Desai Foundation00:13:28 The Mission: Health, Livelihood, and Menstrual Equity00:15:33 Why Women's Work Matters for GDP</l

There are only two ways to run the world. Guns or lawyers. That's it. It's either the threat of force or the rule of law. Everything we call civil society, from the contracts that govern business to rights that protect our privacy and freedom itself, depend on that second path. And lawyers are the custodians of that path. Yet we too often forget this. We joke about lawyers, but they protect civil society so each of us can achieve our version of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.On this episode of BETTER GOOD, Scott M. Curran (https://www.scottmcurran.com/) is joined by Skye Perryman (https://www.instagram.com/skyeperryman/?hl=en), the President and CEO of Democracy Forward (https://democracyforward.org/), for an urgent conversation about how to preserve democracy. Skye traces her trajectory from her childhood in Texas, to a career in private practice, to her current role on the front lines of some of the most critical legal battles of our time. She unpacks why the rule of law must be protected, how autocratic tactics deliberately weaponize overwhelm and exhaustion, and why courage is the most valuable currency of this period in American history. Skye discusses the many legal causes Democracy Forward has taken on during the second Trump administration, and she reminds us of the power of being present in our communities and the importance of listening to the stories of other people’s experiences. And for all the lawyers out there, she explains why this is a do-or-die moment for the legal procession, and why it’s time to go back to the basics and defend the Constitution. This episode explores themes of the law, rights, democracy, purpose, autocracy, justice, community, and courage.Guest: Skye PerrymanHost: Scott M. CurranExecutive Producers: Aaron Shulman & Kieron BanerjiProduction by Echo Studios- Check out our Podcast: https://www.linktr.ee/scottmcurran- Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:03:59 Early Memories of Doing Good00:06:28 From Private Practice to Publi

When the world’s on fire, who shows up? Nonprofits. Yet few people know exactly how deeply embedded they are in daily life. They make our communities the special places they are, from animal rescues to food banks, schools to places of worship. But how can they survive, much less thrive, especially when the world around us is so chaotic and adversarial? There is perhaps no better person to answer this question than Joan Garry (https://joangarry.com/). On this episode of BETTER GOOD, Scott M. Curran (https://www.scottmcurran.com/) is joined by Nonprofit Leadership Lab (https://nonprofitleadershiplab.com/) founder Joan Garry for a candid and insightful conversation about why some organizations succeed, so many fail, and how all leaders and nonprofits can enjoy more success. Joan reconstructs her delightfully twisty career arc from working at MTV in the early 1980s to leading GLAAD in the late 1990s, to later realizing that her highest and best purpose was helping other nonprofit leaders succeed. She shares how she fell into activism by simply wanting to protect her young family from laws that weren’t inclusive of them, and how her membership-based business grew out of a decision to devote herself more fully to her family. She breaks down the common pitfalls that hold leaders from accomplishing their worthiest goals, and reveals hidden secrets to nonprofit success (hint: better board relations and better marketing!). This episode explores themes of leadership, purpose, scarcity, legacy, growth, and transformation.Guest: Joan GarryHost: Scott M. CurranExecutive Producers: Aaron Shulman & Kieron BanerjiProduction by Echo StudiosChapters: Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:01:53 Early Memories of Doing Good00:05:46 From MTV to Don King00:08:12 Taking the Leap to GLAAD00:09:58 Turning Around a Failing Organization00:13:19 Why Nonprofits Are Messy00:14:54 Building the Nonprofit Leadership Lab00:18:45 The Biggest Challenges Nonprofits Face00:21:00 The Vision for Scaling Impact00:32:51 Advice for Nonprofit Leaders and Board Members00:47:40 Legacy and Making Your Mark<p cla

Imagine you’re a healthy young adult with your entire life ahead of you. Then one day, doctors tell you you’re going to die. Not someday. Now. That happened to David Fajgenbaum (https://davidfajgenbaum.com/). But he survived. And now he’s pushing the frontiers of medical research to help save others.In the debut episode of BETTER GOOD, Scott M. Curran (https://www.scottmcurran.com/) is joined by doctor, scientist, and nonprofit founder Dr. David Fajgenbaum for a powerful and inspiring conversation about how nearly dying from Castleman disease while in med school led him to found his nonprofit, Every Cure (https://everycure.org/). David traces his mother’s positive influence on him as a child to the impact her death from cancer had on his future. He shares how the love of his family brought him back from the edge of death, and how this led to the breakthrough research he is now pioneering on the frontlines of fighting disease. He reflects on how Every Cure went from an idea with zero dollars to a nine-figure mission in just a few years, and reveals practices that other organizations can follow. With vulnerability and insight, David demonstrates how personal struggles can become a force that changes the world. This episode explores themes of family, grief, resilience, vision, teamwork, and the preciousness of life itself.Guest: Dr. David FajgenbaumHost: Scott M. CurranExecutive Producers: Aaron Shulman and Kieron BanerjiProduction by Echo Studios

Host Scott M. Curran takes listeners inside the playbook of the world’s top social impact leaders—so anyone can learn to do more good, better.As CEO of Beyond Advisers, a consultancy advising world-leading foundations, brands, and changemakers, Scott has spent more than two decades guiding transformative initiatives tackling humanity's hardest challenges. He previously served as General Counsel of the Clinton Foundation and teaches one of the nation’s first law school courses on Social Impact Law.On this podcast, he sits down with the innovators reimagining how the world does good—bringing you conversations you won’t hear anywhere else: candid stories, proven strategies, and actionable insights listeners can use in their lives, careers, and missions.