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The Discovery Pod

Douglas Nelson
Philanthropy
Fundraising
Non-Profit Sector
Climate Change
Canada
Artificial Intelligence
Board Governance
Leadership
Mental Health
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
The Discovery Group
Strategic Planning
Vancouver
Youth Climate Lab
Covenant House Vancouver
Housing
Board Engagement
British Columbia
Governance
Social Innovation

The Discovery Pod features conversations with leaders in non-profit/social sector. Join former CEO Douglas Nelson as he talks with CEOs, Board Chairs, Founders and other senior leaders about how they got started in the sector, how they work with their boards, and what remains to be done. As Managing Director of The Discovery Group, a philanthropy and governance consulting firm based in Vancouver, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes342Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Non-ProfitBusinessBusiness NewsNews

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Artwork for The Discovery Pod

Latest Episodes

How do we move from simple, transactional giving to creating real, lasting change in our communities? The answer lies in the shift toward relational philanthropy, a concept that is redefining how modern foundations operate and support their partners.... more

How can we shift the perception of the social profit sector from being seen as a charitable afterthought to essential civic infrastructure? At the forefront of this movement is the Nonprofit Chamber, which is driving groundbreaking research and partn... more

Building an impactful philanthropic strategy requires visionary leadership at the intersection of donor insights and data science. Selecting the right leader to drive research and prospect analytics is essential for elevating fundraising pipelines an... more

Stepping into a major leadership role is a thrilling milestone, but finding the right pace can be one of the greatest challenges for any incoming executive. Striking the balance between executing bold, decisive actions and taking the time to listen, ... more

Key Facts

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Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Trish Kelly
President and Vice Chancellor of Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Episode: AI, Creativity, And The Future Of Art Education: Dr. Trish Kelly, President + Vice-Chancellor, Emily Carr University Of Art And Design
Jo-Anne Ryan
Vice President of Philanthropy at TD Wealth; architect and executive director of the Private Giving Foundation
TD Wealth; Private Giving Foundation
Episode: Donor Advised Funds In Canada With Jo-Anne Ryan, VP, Philanthropic Advisory Services, TD Wealth
Andrea Seale
CEO of The Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Cancer Society
Episode: Building For The Future With Andrea Seale, CEO Of The Canadian Cancer Society
Elanna Giang
Director of Research & Analytics at The Discovery Group
The Discovery Group
Episode: Donor Research In The Age Of AI With Elanna Giang, Director Of Research & Analytics, The Discovery Group
Fadima Jiwa
CEO of Osteoporosis Canada
Osteoporosis Canada
Episode: Season 10 Reflections: 4 Themes That Will Shape The Year Ahead With Douglas Nelson, Host
Heather McDonald
Executive at United Way of Greater Toronto
United Way of Greater Toronto
Episode: Season 10 Reflections: 4 Themes That Will Shape The Year Ahead With Douglas Nelson, Host
Jessica Dinez
Leader at Breakthrough T1D
Breakthrough T1D
Episode: Season 10 Reflections: 4 Themes That Will Shape The Year Ahead With Douglas Nelson, Host
Jennifer Gillivan
President and CEO of the IWK Foundation
IWK Foundation
Episode: The Exceptional Series: Leadership And Learnings From Jennifer Gillivan, Sharon Avery, Michael McKnight, & Wendy Beauchesne
Sharon Avery
CEO of the Toronto Foundation
Toronto Foundation
Episode: The Exceptional Series: Leadership And Learnings From Jennifer Gillivan, Sharon Avery, Michael McKnight, & Wendy Beauchesne

Host

Douglas Nelson
Host of The Discovery Pod, The Discovery Group

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 63 ratings
  • Must listen for all nonprofit employees

    I recently heard about this podcast and I am so glad I did. The conversations are engaging and informative. I recommend it to anyone who is working or interested in nonprofits.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ajkwils
    Canada3 years ago
  • Very good

    This podcast gave me an insightful look into many different problems and difficulties of non profit sectors. It gives a great perspectives from many different leaders and gives non biased opinions on many different topics

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    daisybluesetch
    Canada3 years ago
  • Insightful deep dive into non-profit leaders and organisations

    Thank you Douglas, for providing a podcast that is both addresses important issues in the social profit sector, and showcases talented leaders in our midst

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Blythenelson
    Canada3 years ago
  • Excellent Podcast

    Appreciate the scope of the interviewees - great perspectives every week. Keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EdwardJohnElko
    Canada4 years ago
  • Effortless and Engaging Conversations

    Huge kudos to Doug for his empathetic curiosity to create the space for his guests to shine. He creates a safe space to explore ideas and discover new insights. Bravo!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lamass
    Canada5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality guests and thoughtful, actionable takeaways.
Shows breadth of perspectives across health, Indigenous philanthropy, and governance.
Empathetic interviewing style that draws out useful leadership lessons.
Engaging and informative conversations with nonprofit leaders.
Offers practical leadership insights applicable across the sector.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Donor Advised Funds In Canada With Jo-Anne Ryan, VP, Philanthropic Advisory Services, TD Wealth
Q: What is the potential of donor-advised funds in Canada going forward?
DAFs are gaining in popularity and have the potential to become a standard option for many Canadians, with charities needing to provide multiple giving channels (cards, securities) and educating advisors to integrate DAFs into broader fundraising.
The Exceptional Series: Leadership And Learnings From Jennifer Gillivan, Sharon Avery, Michael McKnight, & Wendy Beauchesne
Q: What is the best advice for a new CEO?
Wendy Beauchesne emphasizes prioritizing the CEO role over past functions, focusing on what the new job requires, and quickly engaging with stakeholders to articulate mandate and impact.
Preparing For Transformation: What It Takes To Get Big Things Done – The Discovery Dialogues Toronto With Kelly Cole, President & CEO, Sunnybrook Foundation, & Aaron Sanderson, CEO, Kids Help Phone Foundation
Q: How do you balance patience with urgency in transformation?
Set multi-year funding priorities, anchor targets in impact, and pace initiatives by what the organization's culture and resources can support, while maintaining clear, measurable milestones.
Preparing For Transformation: What It Takes To Get Big Things Done – The Discovery Dialogues Toronto With Kelly Cole, President & CEO, Sunnybrook Foundation, & Aaron Sanderson, CEO, Kids Help Phone Foundation
Q: Aaron, what are you looking forward to?
Excited about launching the new two-entity governance model, continuing to grow the foundation, and advancing Kids Help Phone's ability to respond rapidly to youth mental health needs while expanding governance and donor engagement.
Opportunity Spotlight: VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation With Katherine Pui, Associate Vice-President, Philanthropy
Q: What would success look like in the first six months?
Success would involve learning the organization, building cross-functional relationships, understanding the donor landscape, and identifying early opportunities where the new leader can add value, with a longer-term view toward multi-million-dollar opportunities within the campaign.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Discovery Pod

What is The Discovery Pod about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on leadership, governance, and transformative strategy within the nonprofit and social sector, often focusing on large health, education, and Indigenous-led foundations. Conversations cover governance modernization, board dynamics, fundraising transformation, and integrating technology and culture to scale impact. Notable threads include lessons from pandemic-era leadership, multi-year campaigns, and the role of philanthropy in building sustainable organizations. The format tends to feature senior executives, Chairs, and founders sharing practical frameworks, candid challenges, and how to align mission with institutional growth. This mix likely appeals to senior nonprofit leaders, funders, and governance professionals seeki... more

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How many listeners does The Discovery Pod get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Discovery Pod have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Discovery Pod?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Discovery Pod:

1. The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant
2. The Mel Robbins Podcast
3. Two Blocks from the White House
4. 32 Thoughts: The Podcast
5. At Issue

How many episodes of The Discovery Pod are there?

The Discovery Pod launched 7 years ago and published 342 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Discovery Pod?

Recent guests on The Discovery Pod include:

1. Trish Kelly
2. Jo-Anne Ryan
3. Andrea Seale
4. Elanna Giang
5. Fadima Jiwa
6. Heather McDonald
7. Jessica Dinez
8. Jennifer Gillivan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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