The Purpose Brief
The Purpose Brief

The Purpose Brief

James Johnston

Overview
Episodes

Details

The Purpose Brief explores social good and how we can make the systems and people surrounding it work better.This isn’t surface-level debate, the podcast creates space for deeper, thoughtful conversations with practitioners, funders, trustees, and public leaders who are tackling complex social challenges in the real world. Every month James Johnston focuses on practicalities, proven approaches, and the connections that help scale impact.If you’re a civic-minded person who wants to understand how social good really happens and how you can make a difference, then The Purpose Brief is for you.

Recent Episodes

The Rowntrees: York's great philanthropists and what we can all still learn from them
MAR 17, 2026
The Rowntrees: York's great philanthropists and what we can all still learn from them
<p>How did a small family of Quaker confectioners in York change the way we think about business forever?</p><p>James explores the fascinating history of the <strong>Rowntree family with Nick Smith from the Rowntree Society</strong>. From Joseph Rowntree’s pioneering "Living Wage" experiments to the complex colonial history of the cocoa trade, we explore how a legacy of faith-led social responsibility evolved into a global blueprint for modern social justice and corporate purpose.</p><p><strong>What You’ll Learn:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>The Quaker Root:</strong> How the Rowntree family’s faith drove their radical views on worker welfare and poverty.</li><li><strong>More Than Chocolate:</strong> Joseph Rowntree’s role in creating the foundations for modern philanthropy.</li><li><strong>The Ethical Conflict:</strong> Navigating the "bitter" side of the confectionery industry’s colonial past.</li><li><strong>York’s DNA:</strong> How the Rowntree influence still shapes community development and social policy in the UK today.</li></ul><p><strong>LINKS</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.rowntreesociety.org.uk/">https://www.rowntreesociety.org.uk/</a></p><p><strong>Facebook</strong>: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/therowntreesociety">https://www.facebook.com/therowntreesociety</a></p><p><strong>Instagram</strong>: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/rowntreesociety/">https://www.instagram.com/rowntreesociety/</a></p><p><strong>TikTok</strong>: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@rowntreesociety">https://www.tiktok.com/@rowntreesociety</a></p><p><strong>YouTube</strong>: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@therowntreesociety">https://www.youtube.com/@therowntreesociety</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.resolutepurpose.co.uk/">Find out more about The Purpose Brief: https://www.resolutepurpose.co.uk/</a></p><p><strong>Keywords &amp; Tags:</strong> #Rowntree #YorkHistory #QuakerValues #SocialJustice #EthicalBusiness #Philanthropy #CorporatePurpose #HistoryShorts #JosephRowntree #SocialResponsibility</p><p></p>
play-circle icon
52 MIN
Philanthropy, Identity, and the Role of Fundraisers with Professor Beth Breeze OBE
FEB 17, 2026
Philanthropy, Identity, and the Role of Fundraisers with Professor Beth Breeze OBE
<p>In this episode of <em>The Purpose Brief</em>, James Johnston chats to Professor Beth Breeze OBE, and they explore how philanthropy really works and how it’s changing.</p><p>Drawing on decades of research, Beth reflects on generosity among the wealthy, and why giving is rarely just about money.</p><p>Instead, philanthropy often sits at the intersection of identity, influence, responsibility, and a desire to make a difference, sometimes in ways that can spark controversy and debate. The conversation explores what happens when wealth and goodwill meet in the real world, and how ideas of responsible business and responsible wealth are shaping modern philanthropy.</p><p>They also touch upon the identity of donors, the critical role fundraisers play in building relationships and trust, and why public perception and collaboration matter for sustaining a healthy culture of giving. It’s a grounded, thoughtful conversation about philanthropy as a force for good and the responsibilities that come with it.</p><p>LINKS</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.dsc.org.uk/publication/rich-expectations-why-rich-people-give/">Order 'Rich Expectations' Now from the Directory for Social Change </a></p><p>More about Harris Manchester College: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.hmc.ox.ac.uk/">https://www.hmc.ox.ac.uk/</a></p><p>More about James: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.resolutepurpose.co.uk/">https://www.resolutepurpose.co.uk/</a></p>
play-circle icon
32 MIN