Appearance on the Ecoflix Podcast

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak with David Casselman, a philanthropist and retired trial lawyer who is the founder of Ecoflix.

Ecoflix is a video streaming platform dedicated to sharing uplifting and positive stories about nature and wildlife. With a focus on conservation and environmental awareness, it aims to inspire viewers to take action by highlighting the beauty of the natural world and showcasing efforts to protect it. Ecoflix donates its profits to conservation causes, aligning entertainment with impact.

Part of our conversation touched on the origin of Mongabay, which began as a passion project and is now a multinational nonprofit media organization. Here’s a brief recap:

The creation and evolution of Mongabay was not the result of a carefully laid master plan; the journey was a series of thoughtful, yet opportunistic, pivots and a lot of hard work.

I started Mongabay as what would be called a “side hustle” today. After a few years, I put ads to the site, which allowed it to move from a side project to a full-time pursuit. But even as the site grew in popularity, it became clear that achieving meaningful impact at scale required more than generating clicks.

This realization led to a significant shift in 2012 when I began transitioning Mongabay to a non-profit. I didn’t have a background in running a non-profit, access to philanthropic networks, or connections to wealth, but it was a leap I felt necessary to take. While some might think switching to a non-profit would curtail growth, it had the opposite effect. By embracing the flexibility of a mission-driven model, the organization expanded its reach, including launching an Indonesian-language service that quickly became the most popular environmental news source in the country. The key to success, as always, was resourcefulness, hiring the right people, and letting them lead.

Growth wasn’t forced but pursued where it made sense. Adaptability has been essential—there was no grand plan. Decisions were guided by the need to respond to trends and opportunities. This focus on impact, rather than traffic or ad metrics, became central to Mongabay’s ethos. The transition to a non-profit wasn’t just about funding; it was about rethinking the very nature of the work. Where once traffic drove decisions, the primary focus shifted to maximizing real-world outcomes, informing policy, and holding power to account.

Ultimately, the transition allowed Mongabay to become what it is today—a leading voice in environmental journalism with a global team of over 100 staff members. A lesson in serendipity and resilience, this evolution serves as a reminder that flexibility is just as important as carefully laid plans.

🎙 Ecoflix Podcast