We Can Still Do This

This episode is brought to you by Stripe.

Alright — hey there, and welcome to We Can Do This. If you’ve forgotten, my name is Sean Pritzkau and I host this podcast. It’s been a while since we released an episode, so I’m excited to catch up and bring you up to speed.

This podcast is a space for makers working to build a better, more just world — from grassroots organizers to nonprofit leaders, to social entrepreneurs and anyone stepping up in their communities. It’s here to connect you with the tools, skills, and stories you need to keep going.

Now, a lot has happened since we last connected — in my life, your life, and the world around us. Even today, as I’m recording this, it comes after huge headlines in the news, and it's quite honestly making it difficult to even show up and hit record. I know I’m not alone in that. A lot of us do incredibly meaningful, purposeful work — but despite how much it matters, it can be really hard.

It’s an understatement to say how difficult it is to just show up day to day when the world around us feels out of control — and when the problems feel so big compared to the small part we play. But that doesn’t mean the work we do isn’t important.

A lot of it is just showing up. And I mean that — this podcast is here to encourage us to keep going.

Like I said, a lot has happened since we last connected. So to start, I’ll bring you up to speed on my own life — what I’ve been up to, what’s changed, and where my time and energy has gone these past few years.

First, my consulting business. As you probably know, my primary work is as a marketing strategist — a consultant and advisor — and I’ve been really head-down in client work, helping them grow and building my own marketing efforts along the way.

One of the projects I’m really excited about right now is in collaboration with Stripe. I’m hosting a livestream at the end of this month — or July 1st, really coming up soon — about how web designers can integrate Stripe into both their client projects and their own businesses to take payments online. I’m excited to have their support for this episode, and to be working closely with them this month.

Something only podcast hosts really understand is just how much work goes into making a podcast. Scheduling interviews, conducting the interviews, editing — it takes a ton of time or the ability to bring on a team. That’s been one of the hardest parts about keeping this podcast going: the sheer amount of effort behind each episode. Most podcasts aren’t making revenue, so you need to keep your client work going in order to keep the podcast going.

That’s why I’m really excited about this opportunity to invite like-minded sponsors and companies to support the show. I’m humbled that Stripe is one of the first to step in and do that.

My other business is my design studio, which I’ve been running for almost 10 years now. We focus on web design, development, and no-code automation — helping people streamline their operations and systems. That side of my work keeps me excited and curious — and, honestly, just busy.

I also spent the past year serving as President of the American Advertising Federation of Greater Rochester, which is part of a national organization. We have a local chapter here in the Northeast, and that work has been a great way to get involved in the local creative community — partnering with agencies, freelancers, and students. That wraps up July 1st, and I’ll stay on the board in more of an advisory role going forward.

I’ve also joined the marketing and communications committee at the Rochester Area Community Foundation, which supports great work throughout the region. So I haven’t been twiddling my thumbs — I’ve been busy doing work I care deeply about.

On the personal side, my wife just graduated with her MSW and landed her first job as a therapist, which we’re both really excited about and thankful for.

But beyond all of that, I’ve made time to reflect and recharge around this podcast — because We Can Do This is still one of my favorite things I’ve ever done. Over 30 episodes, I’ve had the chance to interview founders, experts, and amazing leaders. Some have become close friends. And I want more of those conversations. More of that exploration.

We’ve never even done an episode on AI yet — and that’s something that’s totally transformed our world since the last batch of episodes. New tools are coming out every week. It’s overwhelming. It’s exciting. It’s confusing. And I want to talk about that with you.

How do we think about the future of our work? How do we approach new technologies thoughtfully? How do we lean in — or pull back — as needed? These are the conversations I want to be having.

And honestly, with everything happening in the world, this just felt like the right time to pick this project back up. In the midst of real heartbreak, real violence, and constant media cycles, we need spaces for hope. We need reminders that what we’re building matters. That there are ways we can take action, grow, and communicate what we do in powerful ways.

This podcast isn’t just another podcast — it’s a place for us to come together. To grow together. To challenge each other and believe in a better future. I hope you're as excited as I am to dive back in.

Today's episode is brought to you by Stripe.

I’ve used Stripe since day one in my business. It’s been invaluable for processing payments and letting me focus on what matters: making a positive impact. Stripe makes it easy to accept donations, recurring payments, and sales from anywhere in the world — and it integrates seamlessly with your tech stack.

Stripe helps you streamline operations and increase your impact. For more, check out the link in the show notes. And don’t forget — I’m hosting a livestream July 1st at 7pm about how to use Stripe to take payments online. You can register using the link in the show notes. If it’s not for you, invite someone on your team who manages your website or online finances. I think they’ll be glad you did.

A little while ago, I released a listener survey asking for feedback on the show — what you liked, what you’d like to see more of, and what could change.

First, thank you. The love for this show came through loud and clear. It really pushed me to keep going.

Some of you asked for more rhythm and variety, some wanted deeper dives into specific topics. Others asked for more solo episodes — more of my behind-the-scenes thinking and frameworks, not just interviews. But you also said: don’t lose the stories.

So — good news. We’re going to do both.

What stood out most was just how thoughtful and curious this community is. You want frameworks. You want stories. You want to hear from funders and changemakers. And you want to connect — in private communities, cohort-based programs, and even in-person events.

As a certified extrovert — yes. I’d love to create more ways for us to meet, collaborate, and support each other in building a better future.

I’ve been noodling on those ideas and will share more soon.

I also looked at our analytics — not obsessively, but enough to see what episodes resonated most. Here are our top 5:

1. Leading Healthy High-Impact Teams with Molly Grisham. A powerful conversation about team relationships and leadership. “We don’t grow apart, we die apart” — that line still sticks with me.
2. Unlocking Your Brain for Empathy and Impact with Dr. Eugene Choi. Exploring how our brains shape behavior and purpose.
3. Scaling Nonprofit Operations with No-Code with Madeline Zaki. A hands-on look at building internal systems that let orgs go further, faster.
4. Designing a Theory of Change with Neil Malhotra from Stanford. Aligning business strategy with social impact.
5. How to Build a Marketplace with No-Code with Connor Finlayson. A practical example of bootstrapping and launching — without needing a dev team.

These episodes show that you — this audience — are builders. Some of you are scaling orgs with teams. Others are solo founders designing the strategy, building the site, and launching the thing — all yourself.

That’s who this season is for.

As I think about what's ahead, I’m planning a more structured approach — helping us move step-by-step through the process of building something meaningful and scalable. Something sustainable. Something that brings others along for the ride.

So thank you for bearing with me, for coming along this journey, and letting me experiment with the format. I’m so thrilled for what’s next.

If this episode resonated with you, share it. Maybe with someone just starting out. Maybe with someone feeling discouraged. Maybe with someone who needs to know they're not alone.

And again — reminder: the Stripe livestream is happening July 1st at 7pm. If you’re a web designer — or if someone on your team is — this is for you.

Subscribe, leave a review, or drop me a note. I always love hearing from you, and I always respond.

Thanks again — and until next time, bye for now.

‍