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Artwork for Volunteer Nation

Volunteer Nation

Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA
Volunteer Engagement
Volunteer Management
Volunteerism
Community Engagement
Volunteer Recruitment
Volunteer Experience
Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofit Leadership
Nonprofit Sector
Nonprofit Management
Community Building
Volunteer Management Progress Report
Volunteers
Volunteer Retention
Nonprofits
Volunteering
Volunteer Websites
Experience Economy
Volunteer Events
Digital Marketing

Nonprofit leadership author, coach, and expert Tobi Johnson shares weekly tips to help charities build, grow, and scale exceptional volunteer teams. Discover how your nonprofit can effectively coordinate volunteers who are reliable, equipped, and ready to help you bring about BIG change for the better. Rather than continuing to “do more with less,” achieve abundance for your organization by engagi... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes218Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessNon-Profit

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Artwork for Volunteer Nation

Latest Episodes

Most volunteer leaders learn on the job, through trial and error, and sometimes burnout. But what if you could start with the skills that really matter?

In this episode, Tobi Johnson draws on 25+ years of experience to share the essential skills she... more

Most organizations see volunteers as free labor. That narrow view hides their true value.

In this episode, Tobi Johnson explains why redefining volunteer roles unlocks hidden assets: relational capital, advocacy reach, donor pipelines, and community... more

A generic “thanks” isn’t enough. Personalized thank-you notes can transform volunteer retention.

In this episode, Tobi Johnson shares a simple four‑step framework to write meaningful appreciation: specific actions, impact, acknowledgment, and gratit... more

A volunteer program without joy can lead to burnout and turnover. But adding fun doesn't mean being less professional; it means building a genuine community.

In this episode, Tobi Johnson explains why shared experiences and fun are essential for ret... more

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Recent Guests

Kaira Esgate
CEO of America's Service Commissions (ASC)
America's Service Commissions (ASC)
Episode: 214. Defending National Service & Community Resilience with Kaira Esgate
Kristi Sebald
Volunteer Services and Events Manager at Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity
Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity
Episode: 213. Impact Lab POV - Community-based Volunteer Networks with Kristi Sebald
Dana Litwin
Founder of Dana Litwin Consulting; longtime volunteer engagement expert
Dana Litwin Consulting
Episode: 212. Impact Lab POV - Volunteer Training Programs Made Easy with Dana Litwin
Marg McLachlan
Communications Manager, Volunteering New Zealand
Volunteering New Zealand
Episode: 211. Best Practices & Community Spirit with Volunteering New Zealand
Megan Vixie
Volunteer engagement and leadership expert; Chief Engagement Officer, Beach City's Health District
Arrive Circa Now; Beach City's Health District
Episode: 209. Impact Lab POV: Leadership and Influence with Megan Vixie
Lisa Lopez
Director of College Access at ScholarMatch
ScholarMatch
Episode: 204. Transforming Your Volunteer Strategy: A Case Study with ScholarMatch
Paola Gonzalez
Volunteer Manager at ScholarMatch
ScholarMatch
Episode: 204. Transforming Your Volunteer Strategy: A Case Study with ScholarMatch
Paul Clarke
Performance coach, Leaders Coach; leadership development specialist and consultant
Leaders Coach
Episode: 203. Preventing Volunteer Burnout - New Research with Paul Clarke
Allison Russell
Assistant professor of public and nonprofit management at the University of Texas at Dallas.
University of Texas at Dallas
Episode: 197. Behind the Scenes of 10 Years of Industry Research with Allison Russell – Part 2

Host

Tobi Johnson
Host with extensive nonprofit volunteer management experience, focusing on strategy, training, and software-enabled execution.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 49 ratings
  • A cut above the rest!

    The Volunteer Nation podcast is truly in a lane of its own. There are so few quality podcasts, websites, and communities for leaders of volunteers, and Tobi Johnson leads the best of these, probably in the world. I listen to the Volunteer Nation podcast for timely, industry leading, and actionable information. I hope that Tobi has many more years of podcast ideas up her sleeve because this is one of my favourite podcasts!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    terakristen8888
    Canada5 months ago
  • Amazing content, well presented

    I’m trying to improve my Membership community. I thought I’d give this podcast a try. I just can’t stop listening. Every episode provides tips, guidance and insights that I can immediately apply. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alice’ adventures
    United States10 months ago
  • I

    Iii

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Swim Karim's twin Skip Karim
    United States3 years ago
  • Thank you for putting this out there!

    I like what I’ve heard so far! I am a director of volunteering with an RSVP program in Wisconsin. I love the social science behind volunteering and often feel I am alone in that. Nice to hear from fellow nerds trying to understand how to make the field better. Thanks for putting this out there

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ghuff09808
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the practical, actionable guidance and real-world case studies.
Praise for clear, step-by-step frameworks and tools that can be applied immediately.
Fans note high-quality interviews that connect theory to everyday nonprofit work.
Appreciation for community and expert guests who bring depth and actionable insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

214. Defending National Service & Community Resilience with Kaira Esgate
Q: What can everyday citizens and nonprofit leaders do to move forward?
Engage continuously with elected representatives, build long-term relationships with policymakers, educate audiences about the impact of funding, participate in coalitions such as States for Service, share positive outcomes publicly, and view service as a pathway to leadership and workforce development that can be integrated into election conversations and policy agendas.
214. Defending National Service & Community Resilience with Kaira Esgate
Q: How did you all respond? How did you mobilize?
The field rallied with heightened public awareness, bipartisan congressional support, and coordinated legal actions. States and attorneys general sued the agency, and advocates urged Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, and other stakeholders to release and restore funds; a national member emergency fund was also created to support affected members.
214. Defending National Service & Community Resilience with Kaira Esgate
Q: Tell us what happened when the beep hit the fan.
There was an abrupt funding crisis in April 2025: the AmeriCorps agency faced a drastic staff reduction, the National Civilian Community Corps had members pulled from assignments, and on a Friday late in the month, hundreds of millions in grants were terminated, leaving thousands of members unable to serve and throwing local programs into chaos; advocacy and legal actions began almost immediately to restore funding.
212. Impact Lab POV - Volunteer Training Programs Made Easy with Dana Litwin
Q: What is a practical step for organizations feeling overwhelmed by revamping training?
Start with a quick pulse check: list what works and what doesn't, run a small pilot, and use a plan-do-check-act cycle every few months to iteratively improve the program.
212. Impact Lab POV - Volunteer Training Programs Made Easy with Dana Litwin
Q: What's a belief you hold about volunteer training that many in the field get wrong?
Volunteer training should not be treated as something fundamentally different from staff training; it needs to be integrated into a unified, organizational approach with consistent standards and shared buy-in across departments.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Volunteer Nation

What is Volunteer Nation about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical show focused on volunteer management, engagement, and leadership within nonprofits. Episodes blend solo tactics and expert interviews to help organizations recruit, train, retain, and empower volunteers, often tying efforts to broader organizational strategy, governance, and fundraising. Noteworthy attributes include a strong emphasis on turning volunteering into a strategic asset, actionable frameworks (e.g., streamlined processes, blended learning, offboarding with care), and active promotion of community collaboration and volunteer-centric guidelines. Listeners could expect concrete how-tos, real-world case studies, and resources from a network of nonprofit practitioners, funders, and policymakers. The format tends to spotlig... more

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How many listeners does Volunteer Nation get?

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What are the audience demographics for Volunteer Nation?

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How many subscribers and views does Volunteer Nation have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Volunteer Nation has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Volunteer Nation?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Volunteer Nation:

1. The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant
2. My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
3. The Lazy Genius Podcast
4. ReThinking
5. Criminal

How many episodes of Volunteer Nation are there?

Volunteer Nation launched 4 years ago and published 218 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Volunteer Nation?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Volunteer Nation?

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What guests have appeared on Volunteer Nation?

Recent guests on Volunteer Nation include:

1. Kaira Esgate
2. Kristi Sebald
3. Dana Litwin
4. Marg McLachlan
5. Megan Vixie
6. Lisa Lopez
7. Paola Gonzalez
8. Paul Clarke

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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