Contagious Culture

#103 | The Hidden Currency of Leadership W/ Bea Sonnendecker

In this episode of The Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle S. King sits down with Bea Sonnendecker, founder of SuiteC and advisor to thousands of C-Suite leaders, to explore the unspoken truths of leadership at the top. Bea shares her experiences working with over 10,000 executives, revealing why the most successful leaders thrive not just because of effort or strategy, but because of trust, empathy, and the quality of their networks.
Bea dives into the concept of a personal Board of Directors, navigating imposter syndrome in high-stakes environments, and the unspoken rules that separate thriving leaders from the rest. She also shares practical strategies for building authentic connections, leveraging relationships, and creating a culture that multiplies impact.
This episode is for leaders ready to lead with heart, build lasting influence, and create a network and culture that support success long before it’s needed. Tune in to learn how relationships can truly become the leadership asset that multiplies all others.
Learn More about Suite C and how they're empowering leaders to build strategic relationships.
 

#102 | Driving Societal Change Through Education W/ Nima Farschi

In this episode, Kyle S. King sits down with Nima Farshchi, an innovative educator and changemaker dedicated to transforming how we think about learning and leadership. Together, they explore how education can be a true catalyst for societal change, not just within classrooms, but across communities and generations.Nima shares his journey and insights on building inclusive, purpose-driven learning environments, reimagining the role of schools in shaping values, and empowering the next generation to think critically, act boldly, and lead with empathy.This conversation challenges the status quo and invites every listener, whether you’re an educator, parent, or community leader, to reflect on the question: What if education was designed not just to inform, but to transform society?Tune in and discover how purposeful education can drive real-world impact and cultural evolution.
Learn more about Nima and his work here:
UMD Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/robert-h.-smith-school-of-business
CSVC LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/center-for-social-value-creation/
Nima’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nima-farshchi/
Bio: https://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/directory/nima-farshchi
 

#101 | How Leading With Excellence Helps Schools A.S.C.E.N.D. W/ NaTasha Grimes

What does it really take for schools to rise above challenges and lead with purpose, clarity, and excellence? In this inspiring episode, Kyle S. King sits down with NaTasha Grimes, founder of Ascension Solutions, to unpack how intentional leadership can transform not only classrooms, but entire school communities.
NaTasha shares her powerful A.S.C.E.N.D. framework, guiding leaders to build stronger systems, empower teachers, and create environments where both students and staff thrive. Together, Kyle and NaTasha explore what it means to lead with excellence, why culture starts at the top, and how schools can sustain growth even through uncertainty.
Whether you’re a school leader, nonprofit founder, or change-driven educator, this episode will challenge you to elevate how you lead, serve, and show up for others.
💡 Connect with NaTasha Grimes:
🔗 Learn more: ascension-solutions.com/about
📧 Join the email community: ascension-solutions.com/emailsubscriber
🎓 Register for her next webinar — Lead With Strengths: Empowering Teachers & Leaders to Build Stronger Schools (Thursday, November 6): ascension-solutions.com/leadwithstrengths
✉️ Email: info@ascensionsolutions.online

#100 | How Nonprofits Can Turn Impact Into Income Through Storytelling

Every nonprofit has a mission,  but not every mission becomes a movement. The difference is how you tell your story. In this episode of The Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King explores how nonprofit leaders can turn their message into a bridge that connects their mission with the right supporters.
Kyle walks you through defining your Soul Mate Donor, mapping the donor journey, and building engagement systems that turn one-time supporters into lifelong advocates. He also shares real-world strategies for turning impact stories into sustainable revenue while staying authentic to your mission.
If you’ve ever struggled to communicate your impact, connect with donors, or transform passion into progress, this episode will give you the tools and inspiration to tell the story that moves your mission forward.
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#99 | 11 Questions Every Non Profit Leader Should Ask Themselves

In this episode of The Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King unpacks eleven powerful questions that every nonprofit and school leader should be asking to realign their mission, strengthen their culture, and lead with greater clarity.
Leadership in the nonprofit world can easily become consumed by fundraising goals, board meetings, and day-to-day fires. But true impact begins with reflection. Kyle walks listeners through a framework of questions designed to reconnect leaders to their purpose, measure their effectiveness, and reimagine the future they’re building for their organizations and the communities they serve.
From rediscovering why you began this work to confronting what’s currently broken, each question challenges you to think beyond operations and into transformation. Kyle explores how clarity fuels confidence, how to identify the real problem you’re solving, and why the right people, aligned in vision and values are essential to sustaining meaningful change.
Whether you lead a school, nonprofit, or community organization, this episode will equip you with the tools and mindset to shift from surviving to thriving. It’s not just about doing more good, it’s about doing the right good, in the right way, for the right reasons.
Grab a notebook, tune in, and get ready to lead with contagious clarity.
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#98 | Your Non-Profit Isn’t Growing, Because You’re Not Doing This

Too many nonprofit leaders are working harder than ever, but not seeing the growth, funding, or impact they envisioned. In this episode of The Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King breaks down the one essential shift that separates thriving organizations from those that are simply surviving.
Kyle explores why culture and clarity are more powerful than strategy alone, and how leadership alignment directly affects fundraising, staff retention, and community trust. He also unpacks the common mistake that keeps organizations stuck in survival mode  and what it really takes to move beyond it.
You’ll walk away with practical steps to build momentum, mobilize your people, and sustain meaningful impact. Whether you’re leading a grassroots movement or a multimillion-dollar organization, this episode will challenge how you think about growth and equip you with the mindset to create a culture that attracts both people and resources.
Because at the end of the day, your nonprofit doesn’t grow by chance, it grows by culture.
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#97 | Educator's Edition: 6 Stages of Transforming School Culture

In this Educator’s Edition of The Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King breaks down the six essential stages every school must go through to truly transform its culture, from chaos to clarity, from compliance to commitment. Drawing from his work with schools across the country, Kyle reveals the patterns, pain points, and breakthroughs that define each stage of the journey.
Listeners will gain insight into how to assess where their team currently stands, identify the invisible barriers holding growth back, and take intentional steps toward creating a culture that inspires both staff and students to thrive. Whether you’re a teacher, principal, or district leader, this episode will give you a roadmap to lead meaningful, lasting change.
🎧 Tune in to learn how transformation happens, not overnight, but through consistent leadership, clear vision, and contagious culture.
Order Your Copy of Contagious Culture: Creating an Ecosystem of Academic Excellence
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📞 Schedule Your Call Here
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#96 | Educator's Edition: 5 Tips to Create More Culturally Relevant Classrooms

In this Educator’s Edition of The Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King dives into what it truly means to create a culturally relevant classroom, one where every student feels seen, valued, and empowered to succeed. In this episode, Kyle shares five practical tips that educators can use to connect learning to students’ lived experiences, celebrate diversity, and foster belonging without losing academic rigor.
From rethinking curriculum choices to building trust through authentic relationships, Kyle offers real examples and reflective questions that help teachers bring culture to life in meaningful ways. This episode is all about transforming classrooms into spaces where identity and intellect work hand in hand.
🎧 A must-listen for educators who want to move beyond buzzwords and intentionally create environments where all students thrive.
Order Your Copy of Contagious Culture: Creating an Ecosystem of Academic Excellence
Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast
Subscribe to Apple Podcasts
📞 Schedule Your Call Here
🖥️  Visit The Website
👉🏽 Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn