Can we talk about...? A podcast on leading for racial equity in philanthropy · Philanthropy Northwest

Susan Taylor Batten and Lyle Matthew Kan on Moving Beyond Fear Together to Take Action for Racial Equity

February 26, 2025·59 min·1 clip

You know, one way to deal with fear is to focus on what you can control. And tha

Katie Hong opens by asking how funders should shift or adapt their strategies to meet the moment. The conversation starts with fear. Lyle Matthew Kan says fear is natural, even when life is good. He points to ordinary examples, from buying a condo to the nerves that can come with exciting change. His point is plain. Fear should not get to make the decisions. Susan Taylor Batten widens that frame by saying fear is not new for people working in racial and social justice. She speaks to the strain carried by professionals of African descent working in foundations. The show treats that strain as structural, not personal weakness. From there, the guests move toward action. Kan argues that one thing funders can control is moving dollars rapidly. He specifically names civic engagement and organizing groups that build political power in communities of color and in gay, lesbian, bi communities. That recommendation gives the episode its practical center. The abstract language of equity becomes a question of where money goes. The discussion also points to a collaboration among APIP, AFI, Hip, and Nap. That collaboration serves as a concrete example of shared response. The hosts keep returning to the idea that racial equity work looks different depending on place, issue area, and community served. The conversation does not skate past complexity. It lets the stakes stay complicated and still insists on movement. The tone stays warm and steady throughout. There is room for vulnerability. There is also room for direct recommendation. The episode lands on a clear message: fear is understandable, but doing nothing is not an option.

As heard by us

Fear gives way to a plain case for directing money toward organizing and racial equity.

The conversation turns fear into a practical question about power: what can be controlled, and how quickly money can move. It argues that philanthropy should direct large amounts of money to civic engagement and organizing groups that build political power in communities of…

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Why you'd press play

You want a calm, serious nudge to move from fear to action.

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