Catalysts for Change
Adam Lister
Publishing Details
About This Podcast
Catalysts for Change is a podcast about leaders who drive meaningful impact by balancing strategy, purpose, and action. Hosted by Adam Lister, each episode dives into the pivotal moments, values, and lessons that shape how change really happens in business, government, education, and beyond.
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Recent Episodes
S3E7 Generosity, Influence, and the Power of Proximity with Hal Cato
What does it take to create lasting change in a community?In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with Hal Cato, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Middle…
S3E6 Pipelines, People, and Leading Under Pressure with Meagan Flippin
In this episode, Adam Lister sits down with Meagan Flippin, CEO of Nashville's Center for Nonprofit Excellence, whose career spans the United Way network, the Musicians Hall of Fame, and 20 years of…
S3E5 ENCORE: From Grit to Grace: Sunny Bray on Purpose, Loss, and Leading Out Loud
Encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. In this episode, Adam Lister sits down with Sunny Bray, founder of Catalyst Collective and a champion for nonprofits and mission-driven…
S3E4 Institutions, Influence, and the Long Game with David McIntosh
David McIntosh has spent four decades at the center of the American conservative movement. First, co-founding the Federalist Society as a law student, then serving in the Reagan and Bush…
S3E3 Lead Like a Marine: Running Toward Challenges with John Warren
What does leadership look like when the stakes are at their highest?In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with former Marine infantry officer, entrepreneur, and author John…
S3E2 From the Inside Out: Stephanie Coleman on Growth, Grit, and Getting It Right
What does it look like to lead an organization you've spent nearly two decades growing inside of? In this episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister sits down with Stephanie Coleman, President…
S3E1 Arresting the Problem, Not the Person with Sheriff Daron Hall
Season 3 of Catalysts for Change launches with a powerful conversation between Adam Lister and Nashville Sheriff Daron Hall, a leader who has spent more than two decades rethinking what public safety…
S2E9 Lessons in Leadership from Tennessee’s First Female Speaker, Beth Harwell
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with Beth Harwell, Tennessee’s first female Speaker of the House and one of the state’s most influential political leaders. Over three…
S2E8 BONUS EPISODE: The Listener Mailbag
In this special bonus episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister addresses questions directly from listeners and community conversations—covering a range of topics, including politics,…
S2E7 No Act Too Small: Alex Nelson’s Journey of Healing and Advocacy
In this powerful episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister talks with Alex Nelson, a corporate leader and dedicated community advocate whose journey from trauma to healing has shaped her life and…
S2E6 Breaking Barriers in Higher Education with Krissy DeAlejandro
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister speaks with Krissy DeAlejandro, Executive Director of Tennessee Achieves, the nonprofit powering the Tennessee Promise scholarship program. From…
S2E5 Leading with Community: Lessons from Sam Davidson
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with Sam Davidson, CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, to explore what it means to choose purpose over comfort. Twice in his…
S2E4 Leading with Heart and Data: Tara Scarlett on Education, Equity, and Opportunity
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with Tara Scarlett, President & CEO of the Scarlett Family Foundation. Tara shares how becoming a Big Sister through Big Brothers…
S2E3 Lifting as You Climb: Lessons from Dr. Alfred Degrafinreid
From growing up in one of Memphis’s most under-resourced neighborhoods to leading a statewide network of change-makers, Dr. Alfred Degrafinreid’s story is one of resilience, purpose, and leadership.…
S2E2 From Grief to Action: The Birth of Voices for a Safer Tennessee | Part 2
In Part Two of our conversation with Katie Dieckhaus and Todd Cruse, we turn toward the future of Voices for a Safer Tennessee. Building on the emotional origins shared in the first part of this…
S2E1 From Grief to Action: The Birth of Voices for a Safer Tennessee | Part 1
In this powerful episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister talks with Katy Dieckhaus—mother of nine-year-old Evelyn, one of the six victims of the Covenant School shooting—and Todd Cruse,…
S1E5 From Grit to Grace: Sunny Bray on Purpose, Loss, and Leading Out Loud
In this episode, Adam Lister sits down with Sunny Bray, founder of Catalyst Collective and a champion for nonprofits and mission-driven organizations, from her early days in corporate sales to…
S1E4 Leading with Purpose: Harry Allen on Banking, Belmont, and Building Trust
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister welcomes Harry Allen—sixth-generation Nashvillian, co-founder of Studio Bank, and now Chief Financial Officer at Belmont University. Known…
S1E3 Leading Through Change: Ralph Schulz on Building a Better Nashville
Episode SummaryIn this episode of Catalysts For Change, host Adam Lister sits down with longtime Nashville civic leader Ralph Schulz, former CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. With…
S1E2 Building a Movement: David Mansouri on Education, Leadership, and Long-Term Change
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with David Mansouri, President and CEO of SCORE (State Collaborative on Reforming Education), to talk about the leadership lessons,…
Frequently Asked Questions
Catalysts for Change has published 21 episodes since May 2025, covering topics in Business, Entrepreneurship.
Catalysts for Change is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 52m.
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