Contagious Culture

#106 | Building Bridges That Change Lives: Raechelle Petteway on Corporate Philanthropy, Leadership, and Living with Intention

In this episode of The Contagious Culture Podcast, host Kyle King sits down with Raechelle Petteway, Chief Development Officer at Freedom School Partners, to unpack what it really takes to build meaningful partnerships that drive both social impact and business growth.
With over 15 years of experience in development, marketing, and corporate philanthropy, Raechelle has mastered the art of connecting purpose with performance. From her early days in corporate social responsibility to her current role leading fundraising and communications for one of Charlotte’s most impactful youth organizations, she’s learned that great leadership isn’t just about raising money, it’s about raising people, relationships, and awareness.
Together, Kyle and Raechelle explore:
How pivotal “slingshot” moments shape leadership and purpose
The difference between traditional fundraising and corporate philanthropy
How today’s political landscape is influencing philanthropy and giving trends
The importance of self-care, boundaries, and intentional living for high-impact leaders
What it really takes to navigate career transitions with courage and clarity
This conversation is a masterclass in authenticity, strategy, and service. Whether you work in nonprofit development, corporate giving, or leadership, Raechelle’s story will inspire you to lead with empathy and build bridges that last.

#105 | Connecting The Body Dots and Maximizing Your Leadership W/ Dr. Aissa McGuirl

As a leader, you’re responsible for driving culture, performance, and people forward, but what drives you? Too often, leaders sacrifice their own health in the name of productivity, pushing through fatigue, stress, and pain until burnout becomes the norm. In this powerful episode, Dr. Aissa McGuirl joins Kyle King to reveal how your physical health directly impacts your leadership capacity, decision-making, and emotional resilience.You’ll learn how to “connect the body dots” a holistic approach to aligning how you feel, function, and look, so you can show up as the best version of yourself. Dr. McGuirl breaks down the connection between movement, mobility, and mental clarity, and offers real strategies for reducing chronic pain, improving energy, restoring balance, and regaining confidence in your body.Because here’s the truth: you can’t pour from an empty cup, and you can’t lead from an unhealthy one.If you’re ready to lead with vitality, longevity, and presence, this episode will show you how to start.
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

#104 | Student Feature: How Brandi Barron Inspires Change Through Education and Community

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, we sit down with Brandi Barron, 2023 Salutatorian from Johnson C. Smith University, branding expert, and passionate advocate for social impact and youth empowerment. Brandi Barron shares her journey from student to professional, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and her insights on creating communities where belonging, purpose, and identity drive real impact.We dive into how education, community support, and personal initiative can help the next generation thrive, and how each of us can play a role in empowering young leaders. Whether you’re an educator, community leader, or someone committed to making a difference, this conversation is full of actionable insights and inspiration.
 
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

#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.
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

#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.
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