Humans of Purpose

My guest this week is Rachel Ball, CEO of the Reichstein Foundation, where she works at the forefront of social, economic, and environmental justice through collaborative philanthropy and systems-level change.

Rachel’s path into this work was shaped early. Growing up in Sydney in a family grounded in education, and later experiencing global inequality firsthand during a Rotary exchange in Brazil, she developed a deep commitment to justice and collective action. Those early experiences, combined with a strong community of peers engaged in activism continue to shape her leadership today.

In this episode of Humans of Purpose, we explore what it takes to create meaningful change in a complex and often fragmented world.

We discuss:

key themes from the Progress social change conference, including the need for unity across differences

why economic justice is foundational to solving broader social challenges

how philanthropy can move beyond grant-making to align investment with purpose

and the role of tax reform as a powerful (and often overlooked) lever for fairness and redistribution

Rachel also shares insights into the Reichstein Foundation’s approach, from funding long-term advocacy work to supporting First Nations-led organisations and treaty processes, and rethinking how over $50 billion in philanthropic capital can be used to drive systemic change.

This conversation is a thoughtful reflection on power, responsibility, and what it means to build an economy that works for people, not just markets.

It’s also a reminder that lasting change doesn’t happen overnight. It requires persistence, collaboration, and a willingness to work together, even when it feels uncomfortable.

🔗 Explore more from Rachel’s work here:
https://reichsteinfoundation.org.au/

My guest this week is Amanda Cahill, CEO of The Next Economy, where she works with regional communities across Australia to support a rapid, responsible, and fair transition away from fossil fuels.

Amanda has spent more than 15 years working at the intersection of community, climate, and economic development. Her work focuses on helping regions navigate complex change, ensuring that as industries shift, people and communities are not left behind.

Her commitment to this work is deeply personal. Growing up in regional Queensland, and later experiencing poverty firsthand during a Rotary exchange in Brazil, shaped her lifelong focus on justice, equity, and creating systems that allow everyone to thrive.

In this episode of Humans of Purpose, we explore what it really takes to transition toward a new kind of economy, one that is both sustainable and fair.

We discuss:

the tension between speed and fairness in the energy transition

what a “just transition” looks like in practice for workers and communities

how regional communities are leading the way in designing future-focused solutions

and why local, community-owned initiatives from renewable energy to food systems are key to long-term resilience

Amanda also shares a broader vision for “the economy we could have”, one where access to essentials like housing, food, education, and healthcare is not determined by circumstance, but treated as a foundation for a thriving society.

This is a thoughtful and grounded conversation about systems change, leadership, and the role of community in shaping a more equitable future.

🔗 Explore more from Amanda’s work here:
https://nexteconomy.com.au/

Growing Your Business and Impact
Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions — delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.

Learn more at humansofpurpose.com

Promotional Partnerships
Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.

Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.

Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch.

This week Melanie Greblo and Colleague Bella Borello,

Two purpose-driven leaders at Humans of Purpose, working at the intersection of storytelling, marketing, and social impact.

In this episode, Melanie and Bella step into a different format, a shared conversation rather than a traditional interview exploring what it really means for organisations to communicate purpose in a way that is honest, credible, and impactful.

Best known for their work supporting purpose-led organisations, they unpack how storytelling can move beyond polished messaging to something far more meaningful: the creation of community.

In this episode of Humans of Purpose, we explore:

what truly changes when organisations implement effective storytelling

how to distinguish real impact from “impact washing”, and why the “so what” question matters

what makes purpose in business lived and credible, rather than performative

and how brands can build trust by embracing honesty, tension, and imperfection in their stories.

The conversation also looks ahead to the future of storytelling in an AI-driven world, where content is becoming increasingly abundant, and authenticity may become the most valuable currency of all.

Melanie and Bella reflect on a potential shift away from traditional social platforms toward more human, connected ways of sharing stories from in-person spaces to deeper, more meaningful conversations.

This is a thoughtful and reflective episode for leaders, marketers, and purpose-driven organisations looking to build connection, credibility, and community in a rapidly changing landscape.

🔗 Explore more from Humans of Purpose here:
https://www.humansofpurpose.com/

Growing Your Business and Impact
Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions — delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.

Learn more at humansofpurpose.com

Promotional Partnerships
Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.

Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.

Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch.

My guest this week is Charlie Syme — a marketing strategist, founder of Pigface Marketing, and chair of the Common Ground Project, working at the intersection of marketing, creativity, and social impact.

Charlie’s work is grounded in a simple but powerful idea: marketing should be a force for good. Through Pigface Marketing, they partner with purpose-driven organisations, B Corps, and social enterprises to help them connect with the right audiences through authentic storytelling and clear strategy.

Charlie is also deeply involved in the Common Ground Project — a regenerative farming social enterprise that grows, cooks, and shares food while creating pathways into hospitality for migrant women and building connection within the community.

In this episode of Humans of Purpose, we explore what marketing looks like when it’s driven by purpose rather than growth for growth’s sake. Charlie challenges the idea of perpetual growth and instead advocates for finding your audience, building relationships, and using storytelling as a genuine tool for connection.

We also discuss:

why authenticity and conviction are essential in a content-saturated world

how leaders can build trust and cut through by standing for something specific

why CEOs should prioritise their personal profile and thought leadership

and how the concept of stakeholder primacy — central to the B Corp movement — is reshaping the role of business in society.

This is a thoughtful and practical conversation about how organisations can move beyond traditional CSR models and build deeper, more meaningful connections with the communities they serve.

🔗 Explore more from Charlie’s work here:
https://www.pigface.au/

Growing Your Business and Impact
Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions — delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.

Learn more at humansofpurpose.com

Promotional Partnerships
Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.

Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.

Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch.

Gold Membership
Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?

Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:

Premium dedicated podcast feed
Removal of all three ads per episode
Early access to all episodes
Full transcripts of all episodes
Brokered intros to all podcast guests
Ask me anything page access

To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today.

CREDITS
Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion.
Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

My guest this week is Meghal Shah — CEO of Action on Poverty, an Australian international development organisation focused on tackling global poverty through innovative, scalable solutions.

Meghal brings an unusual perspective to the social sector. Originally trained as a chartered accountant, he began his career in the corporate world at PwC and Commonwealth Bank before making a bold pivot into purpose-driven work. His hypothesis was simple but powerful: the non-profit sector often struggles to scale impact because it lacks the commercial thinking needed to build sustainable funding models.

That belief led Meghal to take a major risk early in his social sector career, stepping in as interim CEO of a struggling disability services organisation during the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. By focusing on financial sustainability and strategic growth, he helped turn the organisation around and secure an acquisition that expanded the entity by 150%.

Today at Action on Poverty, Meghal applies venture capital principles to global development challenges through a model known as venture philanthropy,  identifying high-potential solutions, supporting them through stages of growth, and ultimately helping them become self-sustaining systems that continue delivering impact long after philanthropic funding ends.

In this episode of Humans of Purpose, we explore:

Meghal’s journey from corporate finance to international development

why commerciality is essential for lasting social impact

how venture philanthropy helps scale solutions to global poverty

and the powerful stories behind initiatives tackling issues from clubfoot treatment in Bangladesh to dengue prevention through the World Mosquito Program.

This conversation is a thoughtful look at how bold ideas, strategic funding, and local leadership can come together to create solutions that don’t just help people today but transform systems for the future.

🔗 Explore more from Meghal’s work here:
https://actiononpoverty.org/

Growing Your Business and Impact
Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions — delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.

Learn more at humansofpurpose.com

Promotional Partnerships
Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.

Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.

Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch.

Gold Membership
Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?

Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:

Premium dedicated podcast feed
Removal of all three ads per episode
Early access to all episodes
Full transcripts of all episodes
Brokered intros to all podcast guests
Ask me anything page access

To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today.

CREDITS
Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion.
Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.