Making a Ruckus

What if the most important impacts of volunteering can't be counted?In this episode of Making a Ruckus, Tracey is joined by volunteerism researcher, writer, and thought leader Sue Carter Kahl, whose work has challenged volunteer engagement professionals around the world to rethink how we understand and talk about impact.Sue shares insights from more than 30 years in the sector, including the research behind her doctoral dissertation, Making the Invisible Visible, and her ongoing work exploring the multidimensional value of volunteering.Together, Tracey and Sue unpack why so many organisations remain stuck reporting volunteer numbers, hours, and dollar values — and why, even when we do get more creative with data, it often still doesn't shift minds or unlock resources. Because the real barrier might not be the data at all. It might be the unexamined beliefs about volunteering that are unintentionally shaping decisions at every level of our organisations.They explore:Why hours and wage replacement rarely tell the full story of volunteeringHow to uncover and articulate the outcomes that matter mostPractical ways to move beyond counting activities and start capturing impactThe role of stories, relationships, and "witnessing" in understanding changeWhy leaders of volunteer engagement shouldn't wait for permission to tell better storiesThe hidden beliefs about volunteering that may be blocking change — and how to surface themThis conversation is about more than impact reporting. It's about what's at stake when we reduce volunteering to economic value — and what we risk losing if we start to commodify community. It's about the future of volunteer engagement itself: the stories we tell, the assumptions we challenge, and the role volunteering can play in building stronger, more connected communities.If you've ever felt frustrated that volunteer reports don't capture what you know is happening in your community, this conversation will give you practical ideas, fresh language, and permission to think differently.Because not everything that matters can be counted. And not everything that can be counted is what matters most.Want to hear more? Sign up for my newsletter at ⁠www.traceyoneillconsulting.com.au⁠ for weekly thinking on volunteer engagement, impact, and making a ruckus.Be Bold. Stay Curious. Keep making a Ruckus.Mentioned:Sue Carter Kahl Volunteer Commons websiteConnect with Sue on LinkedIn: @sue-carter-kahlSue's article "I Love Tracking My Volunteer Hours! - No Volunteer Ever"Sue's article "Trading Measurement for Witnessing"IAVE's Call to Action for the Future of VolunteeringConnect:Learn more: ⁠traceyoneill.com.au⁠Join the conversation on LinkedIn: ⁠@traceyoneillcva⁠Follow on Instagram: ⁠@tracey.volunteerengagement⁠Follow on Facebook: ⁠Tracey O’Neill Consulting

Season 3 of Making a Ruckus opens with a question that came out mid-sentence in a workshop, surprised the room, and hasn't left Tracey since.What if the real work of volunteer engagement is the work we keep putting off?Drawing on two stories from her own career, Tracey reflects on what happens when relationship-building gets squeezed out by operational demands, why the most important impacts of volunteering stay invisible to the leaders who most need to see them, and what it costs when nobody notices.Whether you're a leader of volunteer engagement, CEO, board member, or someone passionate about creating meaningful volunteer experiences, this episode will challenge you to think differently about what volunteering makes possible.Because if we can't see the value volunteering creates, we can't protect it, resource it, or make the case for it.Want more? Sign up for my newsletter at www.traceyoneillconsulting.com.au for weekly thinking on volunteer engagement, impact, and making a ruckus.Be Bold. Stay Curious. Keep making a Ruckus.Connect:Join the conversation on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@traceyoneillcva⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tracey.volunteerengagement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tracey O'Neill Consulting⁠⁠

Over the past couple of months on Making a Ruckus, I’ve been exploring volunteer engagement through the lens of Volunteer Love Languages. Not to label people. But to notice something that doesn’t always get talked about. That people don’t just volunteer in different ways — they experience volunteering differently. And that shapes what keeps them there. Some people stay because they can contribute.Some stay because they feel seen.Some stay because of the connection.Some stay because they have something that reminds them of what they’ve done.Some stay because the space feels warm, human… like they belong. In this final episode, I bring all five love languages together and explore what they reveal about the volunteer experience — and why paying attention to this can help you create environments where more people feel connected, valued and able to stay. If you’ve been listening along, this episode will help you see the full picture. If you’re new, it’s a great place to start — and then go back and explore each episode in the series.Be Bold. Stay Curious. Keep making a Ruckus.Connect:Learn more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.traceyoneillconsulting.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the conversation on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@traceyoneillcva⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tracey.volunteerengagement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tracey O'Neill Consulting⁠⁠

Physical touch is one of the most misunderstood — and often avoided — aspects of volunteer engagement.In professional settings, it raises important questions about boundaries, safety, and risk.So many organisations respond by removing it altogether.But what gets lost when we do that?In this episode, Tracey explores the love language of Physical Touch — not as something to apply, but as a way of understanding how some volunteers express care, offer reassurance, and create a sense of safety for others.This conversation moves beyond touch itself, and into something deeper:presence, human connection, and care that is experienced — not just delivered.We’ll explore:• Why physical touch can feel uncomfortable in volunteer settings• What science tells us about touch, connection, and the nervous system• The difference between physical touch and embodied presence• How trauma-informed practice and consent shape safe interactions• How to recognise volunteers who bring warmth and emotional awareness• The hidden emotional labour of presence-based roles• How to create environments that balance connection with clear boundariesThis episode invites leaders to reconsider what professionalism looks like — and what might be lost when warmth and connection is removed in the name of safety.Because sometimes the most powerful thing a volunteer offers…is simply being there.Be Bold. Stay Curious. Keep making a Ruckus.Connect:Learn more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.traceyoneillconsulting.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the conversation on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@traceyoneillcva⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tracey.volunteerengagement⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tracey O'Neill Consulting⁠⁠

Receiving Gifts is often the volunteer love language that makes organisations the most uncomfortable.Volunteering is frequently framed as altruistic — something people do without expecting anything in return. Because of this, tangible gestures of appreciation can feel unnecessary, or they become standardised tokens given to everyone.But what if gifts aren’t really about the object at all?In this episode of Making a Ruckus, Tracey explores Receiving Gifts as a volunteer love language — and how tangible symbols can help people hold onto moments of contribution, recognition and belonging.Drawing on stories from practice, including a powerful moment with a volunteer named Rae, this episode explores:why gifts can feel complicated in volunteer cultureshow tangible gestures anchor memories of contributionthe difference between generic recognition and meaningful symbolshow policies and fairness can unintentionally make appreciation feel impersonalways leaders can design recognition that reinforces belonging rather than brandingBecause sometimes the most meaningful gift isn’t what it costs.It’s what it represents.Be Bold. Stay Curious. Keep making a Ruckus.Connect:Learn more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.traceyoneillconsulting.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the conversation on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@traceyoneillcva⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tracey.volunteerengagement⁠⁠⁠Follow on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tracey O'Neill Consulting⁠