Conversations with those who make a difference. Host Larry C Johnson invites humanitarian leaders and changemakers to share where they’ve been, where they’re going and what drives them forward. When you meet them, you recognize their spark and vision immediately. There’s no mistaking the positive, lasting difference they’re making in the world—their world. These leaders—trailblazers all—know where they’re going. And they invite us along on the journey. Each week, Larry Johnson, Founder of The Eight Principles, interviews leaders and change makers from across the globe. Podcasts are available here, distributed to our Eight Principles family, and on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube. If there's a particular person you'd like us to interview, let us know. Email info@TheEightPrinciples.com.
Listen to episodes
60 recent
August 9, 202654 min
Collaboration Done Differently
Brian Sarrazin is Co-Founder & CEO of Synanim, a startup that offers an online system for collaboration and connection. A longtime business and technology strategist, Brian has worked with emerging technology companies for over forty years, first as an employee of UNISYS and in various startups and later as a management consultant with clients including PBS/KQED and Apple. Brian invented Synanim based on research into cognitive science and social constructivist learning theory.
August 2, 202646 min
Thank God for Being Unreasonable
What if the skills forged in chaos aren’t flaws to fix, but the strengths our brittle systems need? Art Wilson knows chaos intimately. He’s lived through homelessness, addiction, and incarceration—and discovered something most leaders miss: excellence doesn’t live in the safe center. It’s born at the edge of chaos, where complexity scientists say we're most adaptive. Through raw, lived stories, Art reveals how chaos trains the skills most organizations and communities desperately need: rapid trust-building, instant threat assessment, and finding resources where others see nothing. He explores the “edge of chaos”, that fertile zone between order and disorder where innovation and resilience emerge. Wilson brings lived experience from both sides of this edge, from years of homelessness, addiction and incarceration to an MBA and leadership in nonprofits and business. Drawing on work in shelters, prisons and reentry programs, he offers a clear systems lens for staying adaptive without losing structure. He is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan.
July 26, 20261 hr 7 min
Helping Philanthropists be Philanthropic
Chris Gabriel brings more than 30 years of experience across philanthropy, finance, nonprofit leadership, and charitable giving. His perspective has been shaped from nearly every side of generosity, including as a donor, development professional, board member, consultant, and financial advisor. A Yale graduate with a master’s degree from Oxford, Chris leads a successful wealth management practice and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation. His work helps individuals, families, and institutions align their resources with the goals and values that matter most. Chris is also the creator of WISEgenerosity, a framework designed to help people experience the full potential of giving. He believes generosity is most powerful when it is Well-grounded, Inspired, Satisfying, and Effective. His book, WISEgenerosity , was released in 2024, extending his mission to help people approach philanthropy with greater purpose, clarity, and long-term impact. Chris has served numerous nonprofit organizations as a board member, volunteer, teacher, and advisor. In 2025, he received the Georgia Planned Giving Council’s Greater Good Award for his commitment to philanthropy and charitable leadership.
July 19, 202641 min
Helping Donors Manage Nonprofits
Mr. Mueller founded Excellence in Giving in 2002 after 20 years of providing investment advice to major institutions and wealthy families. During his career at Morgan Stanley and UBS, Mr. Mueller evaluated investments in virtually every asset class. His clients relied on his ability to evaluate risk and reward of the investments in their portfolio. Mr. Mueller used his investment background to launch excellence in Giving with a desire to help clients achieve high-performing philanthropic portfolios. The world-class team that Mr. Mueller assembled has been acknowledged as the premier provider of advice for values-based giving. Since 2001, Mr. Mueller and his team have advised their retained clients on over $1 billion of charitable gifts. The Excellence in Giving clients give with great confidence and are able to celebrate the results of their gifts. Al’s proven service and advice to families makes him one of the most respected and sought-after thought leaders in philanthropy today. Mr. Mueller played football at Brown University, graduated from the University of Arizona, and holds an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA. He and his wife, Susan, have three adult children and four adorable grandchildren. Al and Susan appreciate the challenging game of golf, mountain adventures, and ski slopes that the Rocky Mountains provide.
July 12, 202646 min
When Technology Meets Faith
Nathan Crankfield is a husband and father of two beautiful children. Upon graduation from Mount St. Mary's University, Nathan became an active duty Infantry Officer in the US Army. He now serves as a Sales Manager at Hallow, the #1 prayer app in the world. He is also the host of the Seeking Excellence podcast, a motivational speaker, and runs a coaching program for men and women who want to live an excellent life.
July 5, 202645 min
AI Comes to the Church
Preston Pope is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of TAPOS, where he oversees the development of its AI-powered faith technology platform. He is also the founder of Splinter Glass Solutions, a consulting and app development firm that delivers custom software solutions and strategic digital operations. Preston lives in Jefferson, Texas, with his wife and two sons, where they enjoy ranching together as a family. Nick Smith serves as Pastor of Bulverde Chapel and as the Chief Product Officer and co-founder of TAPOS, where he unites his passion for ministry and technology to help churches disciple in the digital age. He lives in the Texas Hill Country with his wife and two sons, where they love playing sports together — and Nick continues to prayerfully explore his “calling” as a golfer.
June 21, 202635 min
Listening then Doing
Brittany Dunn is a nationally recognized leader in the fight against human trafficking, leveraging extensive expertise in both the public and private sectors to advance survivor-centered solutions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and English from Wellesley College and earned her MBA with distinction from Thunderbird School of Global Management. Before co-founding Safe House Project, Dunn spent a decade in mergers and acquisitions, leading CareerBuilder.com's international business development across Europe and Southeast Asia. Her corporate experience sharpened her skills in strategic planning, as well as fostering both cross-sector and cross-cultural collaboration - expertise that now drives her impactful work in combating human trafficking. In 2017, Dunn co-founded Safe House Project, a nonprofit organization that has redefined the national response to human trafficking, addressing both sex and labor trafficking. Under her leadership, the organization has built a pioneering network of safe housing and holistic care services for survivors while driving systemic change at the local, state, and federal levels. Recognized for her expertise, she was appointed by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to serve on the Governor’s Commission on Human Trafficking Prevention and Survivor Support. In this role, Dunn has shaped forward-thinking policy frameworks, enhanced protections for survivors, and championed increased accountability for traffickers. Her advocacy has also influenced legislation and fostered partnerships between government and industry, emphasizing scalable and sustainable solutions. At the federal level, Dunn collaborates with policymakers to design responsive, data-driven initiatives that improve survivor identification and access to care. As a military spouse and wife of a commanding officer in the U.S. Navy, Dunn embodies the values of service, resilience, and leadership. These principles inform her work in creating impactful collaborations between the public and private sectors, driving innovative solutions to complex challenges and inspiring systemic change. Her ability to bridge the gaps between advocacy, policy, and survivor care has positioned Safe House Project as a trusted partner for governments, businesses and communities across the country. Dunn's influence extends to the national stage, where she has been featured in Forbes, The Hill, and CBN for her insights into combating human trafficking. In 2024, she coauthored Eradicating Human Trafficking: A Transformative Approach through Collective Impact, a seminal work offering practical strategies to unite diverse sectors in addressing trafficking. Her leadership has inspired systemic change, from building safe housing infrastructure to mobilizing communities and influencing policy. An active member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Pi Sigma Alpha, and the Wellesley Alumnae Association, Dunn exemplifies a life of service and action. As a proud mother of two, she finds daily inspiration in her children's character and potential. Their resilience and curiosity drive her vision for a world where all children can grow up free from the threat of exploitation. Balancing her personal and professional commitments, Dunn channels her dedication to protecting the vulnerable into meaningful, systemic change. Her career reflects a deep understanding of both government and corporate systems, making her a driving force in advancing sustainable solutions to combat trafficking.
June 14, 202648 min
Unconventional Methods Get Outsize Results
Eduardo Regal is Executive Director of Christ in the City, a Catholic nonprofit dedicated to forming young adults and communities to know, love, and serve those experiencing homelessness. For more than two decades, Eduardo has led organizations through periods of growth, transformation, and cultural change. His leadership combines strategic vision with a deep commitment to human dignity, helping organizations align mission, people, and long-term impact. At Christ in the City, he helped advance a distinctive approach to homelessness centered on friendship, trust, and human encounter. Under his leadership, the organization has become a leading voice in promoting a relational response to homelessness, one that recognizes loneliness, isolation, and broken relationships as some of the deepest challenges faced by those living on the streets. Through direct outreach and service, volunteer engagement, and community partnerships, he works to help communities see people experiencing homelessness not as problems to be solved, but as neighbors to be known and loved. This emphasis on encounter, dignity, and long-term relationships reflects the core mission and vision of Christ in the City. Eduardo is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian and holds executive certificates from Wharton and the University of Michigan. He is passionate about developing leaders, strengthening organizational culture, and helping others discover that lasting transformation begins with authentic human relationships.
June 7, 202650 min
Where Governance and Excellence Converge
Dennis is a passionate and recognized national expert on nonprofit leadership and board governance with over four decades of experience. He founded and chaired DCM Associates Inc., from 2007 to 2024, a highly successful and nationally recognized executive search firm for nonprofit CEOs and C-Suite leaders. As the former president and chief executive officer of Somerset Medical Center and Foundation in New Jersey from 1999 to 2004, his reputation as a respected healthcare executive resulted in numerous honors including becoming the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Center for Health Affairs, Inc. in Princeton, and served in a leadership capacity on many other nonprofit boards. Dennis earned his Fellowship in the American College of Healthcare Executives – ACHE – was recognized by the Somerset County Business Partnership as the Business Leader of the Year, awarded by the Boy Scouts as Citizen of the Year, inducted into the Hall of Fame by St. Joseph Regional High School where he chaired their first ever capital campaign and became Chairman of the Board, and many other honors and awards from business trade associations. Dennis obtained his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University graduating Phi Beta Kappa and master’s degree in public health administration from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. Passionate about leadership and governance, Dennis was the Founder of the Center for Excellence in Leadership, Governance and Philanthropy at Fairleigh Dickinson University, the largest private university in New Jersey. Dennis is the author of five books on nonprofit organization success: A Guide to Achieving New Heights : The Four Pillars of Successful Nonprofit Leadership; The Nonprofit Board Therapist : A Guide to Unlocking Your Organization’s True Potential; The Power of Strategic Alignment : A Guide to Energizing Leadership and Maximizing Potential in Today’s Nonprofit Organizations; A Guide to Recruiting Your Next CEO : The Executive Search Handbook for Nonprofit Boards; and The Importance of Nonprofit Board Leadership : A Guide to Creating a Highly Successful Nonprofit Board. Dennis is also a regular columnist for many of America’s leading nonprofit business publication and blogs. In his compelling autobiography, Moppin’ Floors to CEO : From Hopelessness and Failure to Happiness and Success, Dennis mixes together the right ingredients for an engaging, illuminating and inspiring, gut-honest recount of his highly eventful life; lots of engaging stories; and some valuable life lessons.
May 31, 20261 hr 0 min
Successful Change Requires Strong Leadership
Jake Ibbetson serves as Head of School at Veritas Christian Academy in O'Fallon, Missouri. He has been at Veritas since 2012, serving first as a middle school teacher then principal before stepping into his current role. Originally from Australia, Jake has been involved in Christian education for two decades on two continents. He lives in St. Louis with his wife Amy and their young son Oliver.
Is this your show?
Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.
