Brandon Steppe left a corporate career to start a recording studio in his garage—never imagining that a few persistent neighborhood kids would change his life. Those early studio sessions grew into the David’s Harp Foundation, a nonprofit where justice-involved and opportunity youth in San Diego discover their voices and chart a path forward through music, media, and mentorship.

This Episode

Can rhythm and relationship change a young person’s life?

Brandon shares how vulnerability and honesty became cornerstones of his organization’s culture, starting with a simple practice he calls flashlight first: mentors shine the light on themselves before asking youth to open up. From those early lessons grew a creative community that helps youth connect to support, record songs behind detention walls, and build micro-enterprises that pay real wages and teach real skills.

Together with Grant, Brandon explores how art heals, how relationships transform justice, and how community-rooted workforce programs can help young people thrive.

Key Moments:

• [4:05] How one determined teenager changed Brandon’s path
• [8:28] “Flashlight first”—earning trust through vulnerability
• [22:54] The importance of relational support
• [32:52] Creating access and opportunity in the creative economy
• [43:35] Turning a $1M gift into transformational community-based housing

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• David’s Harp Foundation – Empowering youth through music, media, and mentorship
• Brandon Steppe TEDx Talk – On honesty and human connection
• Prebys Foundation Workforce Initiative – Supporting career pathways for youth

Take Action:

• Listen First – Practice “flashlight first” in your own conversations.
• Invest in Creativity – Support programs that give young people tools to tell their stories.
• See Youth as Talent – Hire, mentor, or collaborate with local young creators.
• Value Relationship – Support programs that center relational care, not control.

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

Richard Tate is the President and CEO of the California Wellness Foundation, where he leads with clarity, courage, and hope. A communications strategist turned first-time CEO, Richard embraces the power of philanthropy not just to fund change, but to stand up for values. Under his leadership, Cal Wellness has become a bold voice for health and racial justice at a time when those commitments are under attack.

This Episode:

What does it mean for foundations to step out from behind the desk and lead with courage?

Grant and Richard explore why this moment calls for philanthropy to mobilize more than just dollars—to use its voice, influence, and resources in defense of equity and community well-being. Richard shares what it’s like to lead through fear, why Cal Wellness is “spending up” in response to urgent need, and how hope remains a discipline for leaders navigating turbulent times. Along the way, he reflects on lessons from his parents, the Civil Rights Movement, and peers who inspire him to push beyond comfort zones.

From navigating attacks on diversity and equity to reimagining healthcare in California, this conversation is a call to speak out, act boldly, and build a healthier, more just future together.

Key Moments:

• [5:18] Why leadership in philanthropy requires courage in polarized times
• [10:01] Using influence and access: how CEOs can open doors for community voices
• [24:36] Lessons from past movements that fuel courage today
• [42:08] Why civic engagement and democracy are health issues
• [47:38] What community organizations are teaching foundations about resilience and rebuilding

Resources Mentioned:

• California Wellness Foundation – Advancing health and racial justice for Californians
• #UniteInAdvance – A collaborative of foundations defending philanthropic freedom and equity
• Dr. Richard Besser – President and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Take Action:

• Spend Up and Speak Out – Push beyond the minimum in both giving and voice
• Stand With Partners – Protect and amplify grantees when they are targeted
• Invest in Democracy – Support civic engagement and organizing as core to health
• Choose Courage – Step out from behind the desk when communities cannot hide

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
Special thanks to the Prebys Foundation Team

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

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

Scott Lewis is CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Voice of San Diego, the pioneering nonprofit newsroom he helped build nearly two decades ago. What began as an experiment in funding professional journalism outside of the old newspaper model is now a national template, proving that communities can sustain independent, fact-driven reporting. Scott is known for his candid, conversational style and his conviction that journalism is about creating a shared story that helps communities face hard truths and imagine better futures.

This Episode:

What role does local journalism play in sustaining democracy and helping communities rise to their challenges?

In this thought-provoking conversation, Scott and Grant trace the story of Voice of San Diego from its early days as a bold experiment to its present role covering the region’s toughest issues—from homelessness and housing to infrastructure, schools, and civic leadership. They explore how journalism can cut through partisanship and apathy by telling stories that matter, how San Diego’s unique civic culture shapes progress (and stalls it), and why shared stories are essential to purpose and belonging.

Scott also reflects on the responsibility of local media in a time when national trust is fractured and public funding for journalism is under attack. For him, it comes down to optimism: believing that communities are strong enough to face their biggest problems when they have the facts and the courage to talk about them.

Key Moments:

• [4:28] How San Diego became a model for nonprofit local journalism
• [9:08] Why Voice chose a candid, conversational style over traditional news “voice”
• [13:00] The impact of federal cuts to public media and what it means for NPR, KPBS, and local outlets
• [23:00] The challenges San Diego faces—housing, schools, homelessness—and why naming problems is an act of optimism
• [38:18] Why journalism is a “tiny investment” with massive community returns

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Voice of San Diego – Nonprofit newsroom pioneering new models for community-supported journalism
• Politifest – Annual public affairs summit hosted by Voice of San Diego
• Prebys Foundation Nonprofit News Support – $2 Million to San Diego nonprofit news outlets to strengthen local journalism and civic engagement

Take Action:

• Support Local Journalism – Subscribe, donate, or become a member of a nonprofit news outlet near you.
• Join the Conversation – Attend events like Politifest to engage directly with civic leaders and ideas.
• Seek Shared Stories – Talk with neighbors, attend community forums, and stay curious about San Diego’s future.
• Believe in Solutions – Remember that naming problems is the first step toward solving them.

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
Special thanks to the Prebys Foundation Team

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

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