How a Game-Changing Format Helped 4.0 Reignite Their Community and Inspire a Whole New Audience

Pitch Playground didn’t start as a marketing experiment — it started as a bet on the power of stories to spark hope and momentum in a space that needed both.

4.0 was looking to reconnect to their audience through a new medium. After 15 years of backing early-stage education entrepreneurs, they were at an inflection point. The mission hasn’t changed, but the moment has. The space feels uncertain. Nonprofits are closing all around. Funders are now quite hesitant.

 “I see the opportunity here to do something positive and to leave a mark. Our space right now feels hopeless. But I’ve been obsessed with the idea that we can be a place that people look at and feel positive and hopeful.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

Pitch Playground was built around that exact intention — and around a clear set of goals. 4.0 wanted to establish themselves as a leading voice in education innovation, and as a trusted hub for visionary thinking and impact. At the same time, they wanted to inspire and mobilize the next wave of changemakers — offering accessible, energizing narratives that help people imagine how they can drive meaningful change.

After all, they didn’t want to be another nonprofit podcast people feel like they should listen to. They wanted something people want to come back to.

To make that happen, 4.0 partnered with Lower Street to bring the show’s structure and sound to life. 

The Making of Pitch Playground

The idea wasn’t just to start a podcast. It was about energizing a community, building trust and leadership, and offering a new kind of storytelling in a space that needed hope.

4.0 had a rich network of alumni and changemakers doing powerful work — but no central channel for amplifying their stories. Nicole wanted to change that. 

“We wanted to be able to share these stories with a broader audience. It’s designed to reach more people and appeal to those who may not yet understand these issues that our space is facing.

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

At the heart of it were two clear goals:

1. Establish 4.0 as a leading voice for innovation in education by showcasing compelling, high-quality stories from their network.

2. Inspire and mobilize new and existing changemakers — especially those “change-curious” listeners — through accessible narratives and practical insight.

“We want people to listen and learn about these new ideas and these new people. And then sort of an outer ring of that is these folks who maybe they’re curious… how to make a difference, how to make an impact, how to learn more.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

Creating a Great Concept

While 4.0 brought their goals, Lower Street developed the concept that would turn those goals into a show people couldn’t stop listening to.

“We came in with the mission and the energy, but the shape of the show — that came together with Lower Street.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

Inspired by formats like Shark Tank and The Pitch, we proposed a hybrid structure: part inspiring storytelling, part live pitch, all tied together with expert feedback and real stakes. It was built to keep listeners hooked — and coming back for more.

Working closely with the Lower Street team, we translated big-picture goals into tight, intentional episodes.

“Every choice for this show has been intentional — from the length of time to who we’re choosing. All of it is designed to help listeners care, connect, and come back.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

Erin, the Executive Producer,  also became a trusted partner in the creative process, shaping scripts and guiding each episode from draft to final mix. 

“She’s been the perfect person to work with me, but also with our guests,” Nicole said. “She just gets the intent behind this show. She’s incredibly thoughtful about the audience and what we’re trying to do.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

Although Nicole had hosted a small podcast before, she was initially hesitant to step into the host role again. 

“But I think it was clear… that I was really passionate about these entrepreneurs and their stories.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

What Makes Pitch Playground Different

Pitch Playground was always meant to stand out. 

“If we couldn’t do something high quality and different, there wasn’t a point. We wanted to create a show that the space deserves — and that people actually want to listen to.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

What makes the show unique is how it blends daring ideas with real-time pressure, feedback, and stakes. Each episode brings listeners into the story of an entrepreneur with a bold vision to change education — then puts that idea to the test in front of expert mentors and funders. It’s not just for show. There’s $50,000 on the line.

The format brings listeners into the lives of real people building real solutions.

“You get to see them in different modes. Here’s who I am, here’s where I come from — and then here’s me advocating for my idea. That contrast makes it so much more engaging.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

The show hits a sweet spot between heart and rigor — giving the audience a reason to care and a reason to stay. These aren’t abstract concepts. They’re real ideas with real stakes, and one of them will receive funding to move their vision forward.

Outcomes 

The show may still be in its first season, but Pitch Playground is already making a real impact — especially with the people 4.0 most needed to reach.

“I think it's been really, really special to meet people who listen. Former board members, partners, funders — all reaching out about the episodes that they love.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

For a nonprofit in a rebuilding phase, that kind of re-engagement is essential.

“It's doing exactly what we hoped: helping people see us as the place to go for hopeful, innovative change.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

To support the show’s growth, 4.0 opted to invest in audience development with Lower Street — a move that paid off early. Our team pitched the podcast far and wide, leading to a string of high-visibility placements: a spot on Apple Podcasts’ New & Noteworthy, inclusion on Apple’s list of Top Education Podcasts, and a Women’s History Month feature on Castbox. Each one brought in new listeners and helped cement the show as a rising voice in the space.

“That was a really important moment. To see the podcast featured in that way next to these much bigger podcasts — and to watch it move up the charts a little bit — was just a very powerful thing.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

And it wasn’t just about visibility, it felt good.

“It was really cool personally, but I think professionally for the organization, it was a really interesting moment because it was like, we made a conscious investment in this and it is getting recognized, right? And that means something.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

That recognition helped spark meaningful conversations — and brought new people into 4.0’s orbit. 

“There's a whole new audience that was exposed to this work. And I hope some of them really love it and these stories. The podcast is really designed to reach a broader audience and be appealing to people who don’t understand some of these issues, have never thought about some of these issues — and to show that people are doing something positive in the face of those kinds of challenges.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

She even mentioned that they got a new founder through a guest on the show. They had funded this guest and once they saw them on our show, they reached out to support 4.0’s projects as well. 

The credibility and quality of the show have further helped it make an impact. 

“People say it sounds like it could be on NPR, or the radio. One guest said, ‘I wasn't going to do this if this was some janky podcast.’”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

And the benefits go beyond numbers. For 4.0, Pitch Playground is a long-term brand play — a strategic step toward becoming a louder, more hopeful voice in a crowded and often heavy space. 

“We want to rebrand the organization as one that’s about big ideas and the people behind them. This is really our first foray into making that strategic change — and the podcast helps do that.”

Nicole Jarbo, CEO of 4.0

Conclusion

Pitch Playground started as a way to share bold ideas — but it quickly became something more. It’s now a platform that re-engages a community, sparks new connections, and helps 4.0 lead with hope. As Nicole put it, “This has just been a really incredible experience.”

And it’s only just getting started.