WAHNcast

Beyond the Numbers: Leading with Kindness with Glenn Hopps

In the Huddle: How WAHN Allies Move the Ball Forward

In this episode of WAHNcast, host Angie Truitt takes the field with some of our WAHN Allies to talk about what allyship looks like in affordable housing today. Joined by Ally Committee co-chairs Abe Kruger and Ben Goates, Mike Duffy (WAHN’s 2025 Ally of the Year), and Brian Philps of Indiana WAHN, the conversation explores how allies are helping women’s voices lead the industry.

From the origins of the Ally Committee to the new Ally Community initiative, the group shares stories of mentorship, practical support, and showing up on the front lines, from running the mic at Summit sessions to reshaping who sits on industry panels. Along the way, they highlight the Ally Pledge, the importance of visibility, and the teamwork it takes to move the ball down the field.

Whether you’re new to the concept of allyship or already signed the pledge, this episode will give you a clear playbook for building an affordable housing industry that works for everyone.

From Campus to the Capitol: Students Confront Housing Costs and Homelessness Through Policy with Kate Rodgers

In this episode of WAHNcast, Angie Truitt teams up with co-hosts Megan Goyer and Britney Watson, Co-Chairs of the UNC Chapel Hill WAHN U Chapter, for a powerful conversation with Kate Rodgers, Co-Chair of the Student HOMES Coalition and recent UCLA graduate.

Kate shares how she helped launch a statewide student coalition after realizing that conversations around college affordability were leaving out one of the biggest costs students face: housing. She talks about leading advocacy campaigns as a student, building bridges across 16+ campuses, and why she believes student housing is not just a policy issue but a basic need and a human right.

Listeners will hear:

• Why housing costs are often the biggest barrier to higher education in California

• How students are driving real legislative change at the state level

• What it takes to build trust and collaboration across diverse groups—from student leaders to labor unions to universities

• Kate’s advice for emerging leaders: “If something feels a little scary or makes you feel out of your depth, that’s probably a sign you should go that direction—because that’s where you’ll learn the most.”

This is an energizing conversation about advocacy, leadership, and the next generation of housing changemakers.

A World of Good: A Conversation with WAHNderful Woman of the Year Beth Baar

In this inspiring episode, Ashley Northcutt, President & CEO of WAHN, sits down with Beth Baar, Vice President of Asset Management, Construction & Stabilized Assets at Cinnaire and our 2025 WAHNderful Woman of the Year.

Beth shares her journey from volunteering at a small community nonprofit in rural Wisconsin to leading asset management across multiple states. She reflects on how a single moment helping a senior apply for affordable housing showed her the life-changing impact of this work, and why she’s committed to creating what she calls “a world of good.”

Turning Vacant Spaces into Vibrant Places with Kathleen J. Guillaume-Delemar

In this inspiring episode of WAHNcast, WAHN President & CEO Ashley Northcutt sits down with Kathleen Guillaume-Delemar, President and CEO of the Center for Community Progress. Kat shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Brooklyn in the shadow of entrenched poverty and systemic inequities, to becoming a nationally recognized leader in community revitalization.

With candor and passion, Kat discusses how her lived experience informs her leadership, why she believes in “daring to dream,” and how vacant and abandoned properties can be transformed into community assets. She also unpacks the role of policy, philanthropy, and unlikely allies in creating dignified, affordable housing—and makes a powerful case against the criminalization of poverty.

This is a conversation about resilience, justice, and the possibility of building communities where everyone belongs.  

The Power of a Personal Board of Directors and How to Build One

In this WAHNcast replay from their hit session at the 2025 National Summit, four incredible women from Indiana WAHN, Danielle Smith, Scarlett Andrews, Jennifer Green, and Janine Betsey, share how building a “Personal Board of Directors” can shape not only your career, but your life.

What started as professional networking evolved into a trusted circle of mentors, cheerleaders, and truth-tellers who challenge, support, and advocate for one another—on the job and beyond. Along the way, these women became close friends, navigating leadership roles, career pivots, and life’s big moments together.

Tune in for stories, laughter, and practical tips for creating your own personal board, finding the right mix of voices at your table, and building relationships that last. Whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned leader, you’ll leave inspired to find your people and keep them close.

Supportive Housing Insights: Bridging Health and Home with Simmone Ruff

In this episode of WAHNcast, Lakeysha Sowunmi, founding president of the San Diego Women's Affordable Housing Network, chats with Simmone Ruff, Director at CSH Housing Solutions in San Diego. Discover the vital role of supportive housing, from its deep affordability to its essential wraparound services, and how it differs from traditional affordable housing models. Learn how policies like Cal AIM and collaborations with healthcare systems are transforming the landscape, providing sustainable funding, and fostering community health through housing. Tune in for an insightful discussion on overcoming barriers, building partnerships, and driving impactful change in the affordable housing sector.

The Heartbeat of a Neighborhood: Teara Harris & The Rail District

When you meet Teara Harris, you know instantly—this woman is a force. In this episode of WAHNcast, she shares her powerful journey: from overcoming childhood adversity and learning to read in 7th grade, to becoming a preacher, HR pro, nonprofit founder, and real estate developer transforming her hometown.  As the Founder and CEO of Communities of Tomorrow, Teara is on a mission to close the affordable housing gap in rural and small-town communities across Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. Her work at The Rail District is reshaping Lagrange, GA—turning neglected spaces into inclusive, mixed-income neighborhoods with affordable luxury homes, homebuyer assistance programs, and spaces that bring people together.  Teara reminds us that leadership isn’t about popularity—it’s about purpose, persistence, and showing up for your community, especially when it’s hard.  You’ll laugh and you’ll be reminded why home matters.