In this episode of Nonprofits in the News, Nadia Tchoumi sits down with nonprofit leader Carmen Rempel for a powerful conversation about courage, thought leadership, and what it means to use your voice during high-stakes moments.

At a time when many nonprofit organizations are navigating funding instability, rising demand, political polarization, and increasing public scrutiny, this episode asks an important question: What does it look like for nonprofit leaders to cultivate courage through thought leadership?

Drawing from her experience leading Kelowna Gospel Mission during the overlapping crises of COVID-19, the housing crisis, and the opioid epidemic in British Columbia, Carmen reflects on how she used LinkedIn, storytelling, and public engagement to shift conversations around homelessness, build empathy, and strengthen community relationships.

Together, Nadia and Carmen explore:

• How nonprofit leaders can show up publicly during volatile social and political moments
• Why thought leadership became a strategic communication tool during multiple crises
• How to decide what issues to speak about publicly — and what should remain behind closed doors
• The risks and rewards of public advocacy and leadership visibility
• Why LinkedIn became Carmen’s platform of choice for nonprofit thought leadership
• How leaders can navigate criticism, public pressure, and fear of getting it wrong
• The importance of protecting dignity while telling stories about vulnerable communities
• What civil discourse can still look like in a polarized online environment

This episode is an honest and deeply practical conversation for nonprofit executives, communications professionals, fundraisers, social impact leaders, and anyone wrestling with whether they should stay silent or speak up.

Carmen shares how she learned to separate fear from responsibility, why she believes leaders should “reserve the right to change their mind,” and how courageous communication can create new opportunities for connection, understanding, and impact.

By the end of this conversation, listeners will be challenged to rethink the issues they’ve decided they can never speak about publicly — and to consider what might happen if they replaced fear with courage.

If you’re interested in nonprofit communications, leadership visibility, crisis communications, advocacy, LinkedIn strategy, social impact storytelling, public relations for nonprofits, and --espeically -- thought leadership for mission-driven organizations, this episode offers valuable insight into how leaders can show up with clarity, humanity, and courage.

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Ready to get your organization’s stories told consistently and strategically? Book a Discovery Call

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Here's how you can connect with Nadia:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiastewart

Instagram - @NHMediaCanada

Threads - https://www.threads.com/@nhmediacanada

If this episode resonated with you, please:

• Share it with a friend in the nonprofit sector

• Give this podcast a follow by clicking that button on your podcast app

• Leave us a review! We'd appreciate that so much.

Are you staying quiet because you're afraid of saying the wrong thing? In this episode of Nonprofits in the News, Nadia Tchoumi breaks down why fear is keeping too many nonprofit leaders silent — and why that silence can hurt your organization, your advocacy, and the people you serve.

If you've ever worried about what to say, how to say it, or what could happen if you speak up, this episode is for you. Nadia shares practical nonprofit communications advice and four simple ways leaders can start building confidence and thought leadership right now.

You'll learn how to:

• Talk about the issues your organization advocates for

• Share the biggest pain points affecting your community

• Speak about solutions and policy change

• Highlight the real impact your organization is making

This episode also explores how nonprofit leaders can use social media, blogs, and thought leadership to build confidence, attract speaking opportunities, strengthen media relations, and connect with funders, supporters, and the public.

Whether you work in nonprofit leadership, communications, fundraising, advocacy, or media relations, this episode will help you find your voice and start speaking with more confidence.

Topics covered: nonprofit leadership, nonprofit communications, thought leadership, advocacy, media relations, public speaking, storytelling, social media strategy, nonprofit marketing, community impact, policy change, fundraising, nonprofit visibility

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Ready to get your organization’s stories told consistently and strategically? Book a Discovery Call

Sign up for the ‘Nonprofits in the News’ newsletter

Here's how you can connect with Nadia:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiastewart

Instagram - @NHMediaCanada

Threads - https://www.threads.com/@nhmediacanada

If this episode resonated with you, please:

• Share it with a friend in the nonprofit sector

• Give this podcast a follow by clicking that button on your podcast app

• Leave a review! Let others know about this podcast.

  
  

If you’re a nonprofit leader feeling discouraged after funding cuts or slow progress on advocacy goals, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Nonprofits in the News, Nadia shares a powerful real-world example of long-term advocacy paying off—highlighting a major legal victory holding Big Tech accountable for harm to children. But more importantly, she breaks down what nonprofit organizations can do right now when change feels slow, invisible, or out of reach.

With many Canadian nonprofits—especially in British Columbia—facing funding uncertainty and program cuts, this conversation focuses on how to stay visible, strategic, and effective through your communications.

You’ll learn a simple but powerful 3-part nonprofit communications strategy to help you:

• Build a year-round storytelling rhythm that keeps your issue in the public eye
• Use budget seasons as strategic PR opportunities
• Continue telling impactful stories—even when funding disappears

Nadia also shares how to measure success beyond vanity metrics, including:

• Tracking systemic change
• Measuring resonance over reach

If you’re working in nonprofit communications, advocacy, or leadership, this episode will help you rethink your media strategy and stay committed to long-term impact—even when the wins take time.

By the end of this episode, you will know how to:

• Develop a year-round storytelling rhythm to maintain engagement.
• Use budget seasons to humanize your messaging and share both successes and challenges.
• Continue telling stories even when funding is cut to highlight ongoing needs.

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Ready to get your organization’s stories told consistently and strategically? Book a Discovery Call

Sign up for the ‘Nonprofits in the News’ newsletter

Here's how you can connect with Nadia:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiastewart

Instagram - @NHMediaCanada

Threads - https://www.threads.com/@nhmediacanada

If this episode resonated with you, please:

• Share it with a friend in the nonprofit sector

• Give this podcast a follow by clicking that button on your podcast app

• Leave us a review! We'd appreciate that so much.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Advocacy and Change in Nonprofits

03:09 Big Wins: Accountability in Big Tech

05:58 Strategic Storytelling: The Key to Sustained Advocacy

08:52 Using Budget Seasons: Making Messaging Human

12:09 Telling Stories from the Gap: The Importance of Continued Advocacy

14:55 Metrics for Success: Measuring Change and Resonance