Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen, shares her inspiring journey of transforming a personal promise into a powerful movement against breast cancer. She discusses the vital role of organization and strategy in social movements, illustrated by the successes of initiatives like Movember. The conversation explores how structured systems can enhance impact and empower individuals, particularly in supporting women in recovery. Listeners can expect to gain insights into building movements that are both effective and heartfelt.
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Movember's Humble Origins
Movember started as a mustache-themed birthday party among friends and quickly grew into a global health movement.
From 30 participants to millions, it raised $1.5 billion through simple, personal commitment and digital fundraising.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Use Toolkits to Organize
Provide a simple, clear toolkit to your community to make participation easy and consistent.
Equip supporters with branding, messaging, and storytelling assets that they can adapt and own.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Susan G. Komen's Starting Race
Nancy Brinker's promise to her sister led to the first Race for the Cure with just 800 people.
This grassroots event grew into thousands worldwide by organizing around a simple, repeatable race concept.
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Movements don’t just happen—they’re built with intention, structure, and a whole lot of heart.
In this episode of Making a Movement, Becky Endicott and Jon McCoy dive deep into what it really takes to turn mission into momentum. From designing systems that fuel impact to creating space for people to show up and thrive, this conversation is all about building movements that matter.
You’ll hear the powerful stories of:
Adam Garone, who helped launch Movember into a $1.5B global force for men’s health
Katelynn Whitaker, the brilliant mind behind the community toolkit that helped scale Movember
Nancy Brinker, whose promise to her sister ignited the Susan G. Komen movement
Kelly Lyndgaard, founder of Unshattered, creating jobs and dignity for women in recovery
We’re breaking down the barriers that hold people back and unpacking how to build systems that invite more people in—without losing the soul of your mission.
Whether you’re launching something new or leveling up your impact, this episode will leave you fired up, filled up, and ready to lead the kind of movement that changes everything. 💥
Episode Highlights
Organizing Principle: “An Uprising is Organized” (01:27)
Movember: From Mustaches to a Global Health Movement (02:56)
Movember's Toolkit: Branding, Community, and Storytelling (06:52)
Susan G. Komen: A Sister’s Promise Turned Global Force (09:56)
Unshattered: Empowering Women Through Recovery and Work (16:20)
Optimization Through Pattern Recognition (20:30)
Leaning Into Friction: Why Tension Drives Growth (23:31)
Tactical Tips: Organizing and Optimizing for Impact (26:14)
Next Up: Voice, Vision, and the Power of Storytelling (27:29)
Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free. Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com
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