Peter Ellsworth is a longtime San Diegan, civic leader, and founding force in modern philanthropy. From his early days in law and healthcare to his visionary role at the helm of the Legler Benbough Foundation, Peter has lived a life steeped in service, humility, and quiet transformation. A member of the Prebys Foundation Board, he remains a guiding voice for how philanthropy can—and must—listen first.

This Episode:
What happens when a foundation listens before it leads?

Grant and Peter explore the evolution of philanthropy in San Diego and how Peter helped pioneer a relationship-driven, trust-based approach to giving. They discuss the opportunities of working in hyperlocal neighborhoods, the importance of humility in leadership, and why building genuine partnerships with community leaders creates lasting impact. From Southeast San Diego to Balboa Park, Peter’s story is a reminder that the best ideas come from the ground up.

Along the way, Peter shares personal reflections, including his father’s lasting advice: It’s not about you.

Key Moments:
[11:22] Peter's start in Philanthropy and why he did things differently
[13:31] The four words that shaped Peter’s leadership: “It’s not about me”
[23:24]The radical idea of trust-based philanthropy
[30:35] The teen center that designed by what teens actually wanted
[5:50] What San Diego needs to realize its boldest ideas

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Legler Benbough Foundation – A now-spent-down foundation that helped reshape civic life in San Diego through trust-based, community-rooted philanthropy
• Outdoor Outreach – Empowering young people through outdoor experiences and leadership development
• Forever Balboa Park – Supporting the preservation and enhancement of Balboa Park

Take Action:

• Practice Trust-Based Philanthropy – Start by building authentic relationships, not just reviewing proposals
• Listen to Community First – Let the people closest to the work guide the solutions
• Rethink Power in Philanthropy – As Peter reminds us, “Every good idea we came up with...came from somebody I had a relationship with"
• Support Local Leadership – Invest in the people and organizations already making a difference

Credits:
This is a production of the Prebys Foundation
Hosted by Grant Oliphant
Co-Hosted by Crystal Page
Co-produced by Crystal Page and Adam Greenfield
Engineered by Adam Greenfield
Production Coordination by Tess Karesky
Video Production by Edgar Ontiveros Medina

The Stop & Talk theme song was created by San Diego’s own Mr. Lyrical Groove.
Download episodes at your favorite podcatcher or visit us at StopAndTalkPodcast.org

Special thanks to the Prebys Foundation Team

Mark Cafferty is the President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC), where he leads with a mix of realism, resolve, and heart. In this conversation, he shares his experiences of how his values—shaped family, mentorship, and a belief in equity— continue to guide his leadership today. Under Mark’s direction, EDC has taken a bold stance: inclusive growth isn’t just good policy, it’s a business imperative for San Diego’s future.

This Episode:

What does it take to build an economy that works for everyone?

Mark and Grant dive deep into San Diego’s unique economic landscape, from its binational strengths to the increasing threats facing its innovation and research sectors. They explore how the EDC’s goals aim to create more skilled workers, quality jobs, and thriving households, especially for communities historically left behind. They also talk about the importance of values-driven leadership in a time of uncertainty. As diversity, equity and inclusion comes under fire nationally, Mark shares why staying the course is both a moral and economic necessity.

Through it all, Mark reminds us San Diego’s competitive advantage is in its people.

Note: Jennie Brooks is mentioned as the EDC Chair, which was accurate at the time of recording. The current EDC Chair is Tom Seidler.

Key Moments:

• [11:50] Who’s at the table at EDC and why that matters
• [21:35] The three 2030 goals: skilled workers, quality jobs, thriving households
• [29:32] Why diversity and equity are valuable to the economy
• [37:48] Why San Diego’s binational identity is a key strength
• [41:45] Resisting the “fire drills” and staying focused on long-term impact

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) – An economic development organization that mobilizes business, government, and civic leaders around an inclusive economic development strategy

Take Action:

• Learn More About EDC’s 2030 Goals – Explore how these targets aim to create a more just and prosperous regional economy.
• Support Small Businesses – Shop local, advocate for fair policies, and help strengthen San Diego’s economic backbone.
• Speak Up for Inclusion – Be a voice for equity in your workplace or community. As Mark says, “If you’re not for equity, what are you for?”
• Champion Regional Collaboration – We all have a role to play—business, government, philanthropy, and community alike.

Credits:

This is a production of the Prebys Foundation
Hosted by Grant Oliphant
Co-Hosted by Crystal Page
Co-produced by Crystal Page and Adam Greenfield
Engineered by Adam Greenfield
Production Coordination by Tess Karesky
Video Production by Edgar Ontiveros Medina

The Stop & Talk Theme song was created by San Diego’s own Mr. Lyrical Groove.
Download episodes at your favorite podcatcher or visit us at StopAndTalkPod​cast​.org

Special thanks to the Prebys Foundation Team

If you like this show, and we hope you do, the best way to support this show is to share, subscribe

Molly Puryear is the Executive Director of Malashock Dance and a lifelong believer in the healing, connective power of movement. With infectious joy and deep conviction, she champions dance not just as an art form but as a way to be more fully human. Under her leadership, Malashock is expanding the definition of what dance can do for the community. This is demonstrated through SD NeuroDance, a pioneering program blending movement, neuroscience, and care to support individuals living with ALS, Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy, and more.

This Episode:
How can the joy and vulnerability of dance bring us closer to ourselves and each other?

In this heartfelt conversation, Molly shares how Malashock Dance is helping SD NeuroDance participants and caregivers alike reconnect with joy, dignity, and embodiment through dance. The program shifts the focus from limitations to possibilities. Rooted in science and lived experience, SD NeuroDance creates a space where people can move, bond, and feel at home in their bodies. It’s also a story of listening: to staff, to community, and to the wisdom that healing can look like rhythm, music, and mirroring movement with a loved one.

Molly and Grant explore the deeper truth behind all of this—how dance, so often underfunded and undervalued, is core to who we are. From weddings to cultural traditions to spontaneous joy in the living room, dance is everywhere. And as Molly reminds us, in a world that teaches us to unlearn joy, movement can help us remember.

Key Moments:

[8:25] How dance can help people with different conditions connect with their body
[14:17] Bridging science and art: finding balance between therapy and dance
[18:45] How Malashock Dance evolved its mission through community feedback
[29:14] Why dance is essential to the human experience
[34:05] Federal arts funding cuts and their impact on dance's underrepresented artists and communities

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Malashock Dance – San Diego-based dance organization emphasizing community, education, and inclusive performance
• Dance for PD – A program using dance to support those living with Parkinson’s disease
• Prebys’ Healing Through Arts and Nature Initiative – Grants improving well-being through arts, culture, and nature

Take Action:

• Move Your Body – Try a dance class, stretch to music, or just let yourself move freely. Reconnect with what joy in motion feels like.
• Attend a Performance – Support local artists and discover the power of dance to inspire, challenge, and heal.
• Embrace Artful Living – As Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson reminds us, creativity is essential to well-being. Seek out everyday moments of artistic engagement.
• Stay Curious – Stay open and curious to trying new things, whether it's dance, healing, or new ways to connect and feel joy.
• Support Arts & Health Programs – Donate, volunteer, or spread the word about organizations using the arts to improve lives.