RKD Group: Thinkers Podcast – Episode Summary

Title: Stacy Houston Shares Her Journey of Impact in Social Leadership
Host: Justin McCord
Guest: Stacy Houston, Executive Director of Six Degrees.org and CEO of Entertain Change
Release Date: August 7, 2025

Introduction

In this engaging episode of the RKD Group: Thinkers podcast, host Justin McCord welcomes Ronnie to discuss an off-camera mishap involving toppled Topo Chico bottles—humorous moments that add a relatable touch to the conversation. Despite the unexpected "clink gate" incident (00:00), the episode seamlessly transitions into a profound dialogue with Stacy Houston, a prominent leader in nonprofit marketing and social impact.

Meet the Guest: Stacy Houston

Stacy Houston serves as the Executive Director of Six Degrees.org and the CEO of Entertain Change. With a rich background in nonprofit leadership, she is also a renowned keynote speaker and has recently presented at the Bridge Conference. Ronnie highlights Stacy’s diverse career path, emphasizing her ability to connect various disciplines—from creative writing and religious studies to philanthropy and public speaking (02:36).

Early Life and Educational Journey

Stacy begins by recounting her early experiences with different faith groups, attending Presbyterian churches in her youth, and exploring her spiritual beliefs. Her curiosity led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in religious studies at the University of Redlands, where she developed a passion for understanding world religions and small religious movements (05:30).

Despite initial fears about pursuing a career in ministry, Stacy pivoted towards sales, influenced by her love for writing and storytelling. She humorously shares how a discouraging comment from a college professor caused her to distance herself from writing, only to rediscover her talent while coaching TEDx speakers (05:30; 08:30).

Navigating the World of Sales and Transitioning to Social Impact

Stacy’s extensive experience in sales spans various industries, including payroll, human resources, and even electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Her transition to EV sales was driven by a desire to sell something meaningful that could positively impact the world. She successfully expanded electric vehicle infrastructure across Virginia, contributing to the national portfolio of her then-company (16:16).

The Intersection of Faith and Philanthropy

A significant portion of the conversation delves into how Stacy’s Christian faith informs her approach to philanthropy and leadership. She emphasizes the importance of inclusive service, stating:

“Service is something that everyone should do and is capable of doing. Everyone has something to give. But I also think that every gift is a good gift, no matter how small, seemingly small or large.” (09:27)

Stacy discusses the challenges of balancing donor influence with organizational autonomy. She advocates for aligning with donors who share the nonprofit’s mission and values, ensuring that philanthropy drives societal change collaboratively rather than being dictated by major donors.

Embracing Diversity and Bridging Divides

Stacy highlights the current polarized state of society and the critical need for diverse perspectives in philanthropy. She remarks:

“It’s going to take a collective movement to bring about the societal changes that we need to improve our outcomes in this world. And that means it’s going to take everybody.” (09:27)

Her focus is on fostering dialogue and unity among individuals from varied backgrounds, encouraging nonprofits to create inclusive environments where different viewpoints can coexist and contribute to meaningful outcomes.

Involvement with TEDx and Public Speaking

Stacy details her journey with TEDx, from co-founding and executive producing TEDx Tysons in 2015 to overseeing approximately 50 TED Talks. Her love for creative writing and storytelling naturally aligned with the TEDx platform, allowing her to coach speakers to share authentic and impactful narratives. She explains how TEDx experiences profoundly shaped her personal and professional growth, igniting her passion for asking big questions and fostering curiosity (18:00).

Purpose Produce Campaign: Amplifying Grassroots Nonprofits

One of the standout initiatives discussed is the Purpose Produce campaign, a collaboration between Six Degrees.org and RKD Group. This campaign aims to bridge the gap between top-tier creative advertising agencies and grassroots nonprofits. Stacy outlines the campaign’s objective to empower small nonprofits by pairing them with creative agencies capable of crafting compelling, 360-degree storytelling campaigns.

Key elements of Purpose Produce include:

• Selection Process: Initially, 300 nonprofits applied, and six exceptional organizations were chosen based on specific pillars to receive comprehensive marketing support (28:37).
• Campaign Rollout: The selected nonprofits will benefit from radio, television, digital, and billboard campaigns, ensuring sustained visibility and impact through evergreen campaigns (28:37).
• Strategic Partnerships: Stacy emphasizes the mutual benefits for both corporations and nonprofits, highlighting how strategic givebacks enhance employee morale and retention while providing nonprofits with essential visibility (32:31).

Personal Reflections and Final Thoughts

Reflecting on her nine-year journey with Six Degrees.org, Stacy shares a heartfelt anecdote about her first interaction with celebrity Kevin Bacon. She notes how his genuine interest in her personal life made her comfortable in high-profile settings, contrasting with her initial discomfort in interacting with wealthy and influential individuals:

“Kevin has been very relational. Right. And it was the first celebrity I had worked with in this capacity... He's so relational.” (13:31)

Stacy concludes by expressing gratitude for partnerships like RKD Group, which amplify social good work and foster deeper, more meaningful connections among individuals and organizations striving for societal betterment (34:40).

Conclusion

This episode of RKD Group: Thinkers offers a comprehensive look into Stacy Houston’s impactful journey in social leadership. From her early interests in religious studies and creative writing to her successful navigation of the sales world and her current role in nonprofit leadership, Stacy embodies the essence of strategic philanthropy and inclusive service. Her insights into bridging divides, fostering collaborative philanthropy, and empowering grassroots organizations through innovative campaigns like Purpose Produce provide invaluable lessons for nonprofit marketers and social leaders alike.

Notable Quotes

• Stacy Houston (09:27): “When you receive funding from somewhere, it often can become something that you want to invite the person along with you, but you almost want the donor to select your organization because they already understand your mission, they're already connected to your ethos, how you see the world.”

• Stacy Houston (09:27): “Service is something that everyone should do and is capable of doing. Everyone has something to give. But I also think that every gift is a good gift, no matter how small, seemingly small or large.”

• Stacy Houston (16:16): “...I ended up kind of expanding electric vehicle infrastructure, high speed infrastructure across first the state of Virginia, but then helping to create the first national portfolio count of any electric vehicle infrastructure company nationwide...”

• Stacy Houston (32:31): “It's… encouraging employees, build employee morale, build retention, our attraction tools, engagement tools. It helps someone to say, I want to stay here. Like, I feel a part of something greater than myself.”

Timelines

• 00:00 – Introduction and introductory mishap with Topo Chico bottles.
• 02:36 – Introduction of Stacy Houston and her roles.
• 05:30 – Stacy discusses her early life and educational journey.
• 08:30 – Transition into Stacy’s sales career.
• 09:27 – Discussion on faith and philanthropy.
• 13:31 – Stacy reflects on working with Kevin Bacon.
• 16:16 – Stacy talks about her role in expanding EV infrastructure.
• 18:00 – Stacy’s involvement with TEDx and public speaking.
• 28:37 – Introduction to the Purpose Produce campaign.
• 32:31 – Mutual benefits of strategic partnerships in philanthropy.
• 34:40 – Closing remarks and final thoughts.

Final Notes

Stacy Houston’s narrative is a testament to the power of aligning personal passion with professional endeavors to create meaningful societal impact. Her strategic approach to philanthropy, emphasis on inclusive service, and innovative campaigns like Purpose Produce serve as a beacon for nonprofit marketers and social leaders striving to make a difference in their communities.

For more information on the Purpose Produce campaign and how RKD Group is contributing, listeners are encouraged to visit rkdgroup.com.