222. Volunteer Leadership Stories with Catherine Huckaby Artwork

Volunteer Nation

Nonprofit leadership author, coach, and expert Tobi Johnson shares weekly tips to help charities build, grow, and scale exceptional volunteer teams. Discover how your nonprofit can effectively coordinate volunteers who are reliable, equipped, and ready to help you bring about BIG change for the better. Rather than continuing to “do more with less,” achieve abundance for your organization by engaging community talent that helps you do more with more. Society is evolving and so, too, is volunteerism. With over 25 years of experience working in nonprofits, public sector agencies, and grassroots campaigns Tobi is known for her modern “big hat” thinking and straight talk about what it takes to achieve success in today’s world. You will learn how to coordinate volunteers, improve the volunteer experience, recruit volunteers, appreciate volunteers, and do it all more efficiently with the right volunteer management software and digital tools. It’s a mix of interviews and solo shows you’re not going to want to miss. So, if you’re ready to ditch the stress and harness the power of people to fuel your good work, you’re in exactly the right place. Hit subscribe and let’s DO this!

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Volunteer Nation

222. Volunteer Leadership Stories with Catherine Huckaby

July 09, 2026 • Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA • Episode 222

0:00 | 1:03:12

Most people don't volunteer because they don't feel ready. But what if that's the myth holding your organization back?

In this episode, Tobi Johnson interviews Catherine Huckaby, author of Nobody Starts Ready, about the power of volunteer leadership stories. Catherine shares real examples of volunteers who started with self-doubt and grew into community leaders—and how their stories can inspire others to get involved.

You'll learn why lowering participation barriers is essential, how storytelling can transform your volunteer recruitment, and practical strategies for attracting and retaining volunteers—including investing in young people aged 15-25. If you're ready to build a volunteer culture where ordinary people become extraordinary leaders, this episode is for you.

Volunteer Leadership Stories – Episode Highlights

[00:00] Welcome and introduction to volunteer leadership stories
[04:51] How Catherine’s journey led her into community engagement
[11:39] The inspiration behind Catherine’s book and key themes
[22:45] Overcoming confidence barriers among volunteers
[38:46] Inspiring volunteer stories demonstrating real-life positive change
[44:02] Strategies for expanding volunteer ambassador programs
[50:17] Addressing generational differences and encouraging young volunteers
[56:38] Practical steps organizations can take immediately to boost volunteer engagement
[58:09] Catherine’s outlook on future conversations and impact

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Thanks for listening to this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast. If you enjoyed it, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review so we can reach more people like you who want to improve the impact of their good cause.

For more tips and notes from the show, check us out at TobiJohnson.com. For any comments or questions, email us at WeCare@VolPro.net.

Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA

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