Giving Back Podcast

We’ve spent the last three years at the Giving Back Podcast highlighting hometown heroes serving every need imaginable. Our guests for the final episode are true servant leaders in every sense, dedicated to building their community and lending a hand up to those in need. Thank you for tuning in, getting inspired, and taking action. The Giving Back Podcast has been a wonderful journey, a real blessing in my life. I look forward to the next chapter of bringing you stories about good people all around us doing amazing things to help others in need and making our world a better place. Key Takeaways: Maggie Kane is the Founder and Executive Director of A Place at the Table, the first pay-what-you-can cafe in downtown Raleigh. Through her work with people on the streets, she realized the power of community, the importance of dignity, and the beauty in bringing people together over incredible food. A Place at the Table was birthed in February 2015 and in January 2018 opened, providing people with money and people without money a place where they can sit together, share in good conversation, and grow their village together. Where good food meets community, all are welcome at the table. Danny Rosin is the Co-Founder and Co-President of Brand Fuel a free-spirited, full-service merchandising agency that sits at the top 1% of the $23 billion promotional products industry. A tireless connector, community leader and entrepreneur, he is the active Co-Founder of Band Together, a volunteer-driven nonprofit that uses live music as a platform for social change. Band Together is the Southeast’s largest annual charitable music event and has donated over $9 million to a different cause each year since the twin towers came down on 9/11. Rob, Maggie, and Danny recall their recent memories of getting together at Raleigh, NC. How did A Place At The Table build a strong community? Danny shares a beautiful story of a person who was immediately inspired by the activity of A Place At The Table and become a volunteer and start donating. What is the magic works behind A Place At The Table build? How did Band Together get started? Why did Danny start Band Together? What led Danny from Band Together to join Maggie from A Place At The Table? According to Maggie, 99% of people want to help if they are invited and asked for help. Maggie Kane shares how she wants to see the changes in A Place At The Table in the coming years. Danny Rosin shares how he wants to see the changes in Band Together in the coming years. Danny shares his vision to spread the impact of Band together in multiple cities and both Rob and Maggie appreciate him. Just like brand ambassadors for brands, Rob wants to see community ambassadors for communities. Danny thinks most people don’t care about the cause rather they care they are working together. Because working together is fun. Rob talks about reframing of Giving Back Podcast. Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness Love & Gratitude, Rob Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Band Together NC  A Place At The Table  The Green Chair Project   Angel Oak Creative  

Rose Morris is the Founder of Abram’s Nation, a manufacturer of products that are designed specifically for the special needs community. Rose is also the Co-Founder of Fund It Forward, a nonprofit that helps families obtain special needs equipment that is not covered by insurance. Rose’s son, Abram, is an active and curious special needs child who would always find a way to get out of his crib. Because of this, Rose had many sleepless nights worrying that Abram would get hurt trying to escape until she created and developed the Safety Sleeper, a product that would help protect him.    Key Takeaways: [2:20] Who is Rose, and why did she start Abram’s Nation?  [3:35] Rose shares why her son, Abram, was struggling with sleep. [10:30] A whole weight came off of Rose’s shoulders when she and her friends were able to develop something that would keep curious Abram safe in bed.  [13:45] Rose is grateful she had neighbors and a community that was familiar with autism and could provide support and resources for her family. [15:35] How did people find out about The Safety Sleeper?  [19:30] Rose hires special needs adults to help her with her business.  [23:25] Rose shares why, and how, she started Fund It Forward. [27:25] Fund It Forward needs a new Executive Director!  [30:00] Rose shares the process of how Abram’s Nation went international. [33:00] Rose doesn’t just work with autism. There’s a huge community of people in need and she’s open to learning about it.  [35:55] What kind of feedback has Rose received so far? [39:10] What advice does Rose have for other social entrepreneurs?    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Abram’s Nation Fund It Forward Rose Morris on LinkedIn  

Jaya Manjunath is the Founder of Seniors With Skills, a non-profit organization that aims to improve the overall quality of life for seniors through social engagement. The organization originally started in Toronto, but has since moved to many different states in the US. On this week’s episode, Jaya shares how her organization helps seniors get out of isolation and find a new purpose as they reach a new stage in their life.    Key Takeaways: [3:25] Who is Jaya, and what is Seniors With Skills all about?  [9:15] Why is it important for seniors to get active and volunteer?  [12:30] Why is this cause so important for Jaya? [15:15] When Jaya started working with seniors, what was the initial reaction to that?  [21:20] Jaya explains how she and her team are growing her nonprofit and bringing it to other cities in the U.S.. [23:30] What types of activities can the seniors do? [26:15] Seniors from all over want to volunteer because of the fun activities Seniors With Skills has for them.  [28:00] Jaya shares a story about Barbara and the awesome work she’s doing.  [32:00] If you want to start a volunteer project, just do it! Jaya started doing this work for years before it made sense to create a nonprofit.  [35:35] Jaya talks about some of the seniors she’s worked with and how volunteer work  has made a difference in their lives.  [43:00] Becoming a Seniors With Skills volunteer is life-changing!  [46:00] What’s next for Jaya?    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Seniors With Skills Email: Volunteering@SeniorsWithSkills.org Jaya Manjunath on LinkedIn

Michelle Pagtakhan is the Founder & Executive Director of You Run This Town Foundation (YRTTF). YRTTF provides enrichment programs to underserved youth, work-study internships, scholarships, and community partner engagement programs. Michelle is committed to developing the next generation of leaders,and actually first began her work five years prior to formally starting her organization in 2016. Find out more about Michelle and the fantastic work she’s doing in the greater Los Angeles area.    Key Takeaways: [3:15] Who is Michelle and what is YRTTF about?  [7:50] Right after Michelle had her first child, she knew she wanted to do more for her community.  [9:10] What is YRTTF’s mission?  [13:35] Michelle explains the types of workshops and programs the kids can attend. [16:45] How did Michelle first come up with the YRTTF name? [21:15] Michelle has worked with a number of different non-profits and even been an advocate against human trafficking. How did she first get started in all of this?  [25:20] How does the Foundation raise funds?  [29:10] What’s the difference between the Community Engagement program and the Flower Empower program?  [36:25] How many schools is the Flower Empower program in?  [39:00] What kind of feedback has Michelle received so far?  [45:35] Successful people hang out with successful people.  [47:45] What’s next for the Foundation?    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast You Run This Town Foundation  

Monisha Bajaj is the Founder of Ruam Chuay, a non-profit organization based in Thailand. Monisha and her team host workshops at local schools to discuss interpersonal violence, sexual consent, and so much more!  On today’s episode, Monisha shares how Ruam Chuay first got started, how their workshops create a dialogue among students, and the differences between U.S. and Thai culture.    Key Takeaways: [4:00] Who is Monisha and how did Ruam Chuay first get started?  [8:55] Monisha compares the differences between the U.S. and Thailand when it comes to the conversation around sexual violence.  [10:25] How does Monisha define interpersonal violence?  [12:00] Monisha shares the types of workshops she hosts for the community. [16:40] It took time for Thai culture to understand the importance of having these open talks about sexual harassment and interpersonal violence.  [19:00] What kind of feedback has Monisha received from male students vs. female students?  [24:20] Monisha wished she had had this type of education when she was in school. Knowing what she knows now, what difference would it have made in her life?  [30:35] What is restorative justice about?  [33:40] How does Monisha measure or track the metrics on her workshops? [38:15] It’s important to give someone an ‘out’ when you ask them a question that could potentially lead to rejection. [41:25] What kind of impact has this work had on Monisha?  [43:15] When it comes to sexual expectations, how does the U.S. differ from Thailand?  [49:55] What’s next for Ruam Chuay?    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Ruam Chuay Monisha Bajaj Monisha Bajaj on LinkedIn Monisha Bajaj on Instagram

Chip Conley has disrupted the hospitality industry twice. First, at age 26 when he took an inner city motel and turned it into the second-largest boutique hotel brand in America, and second, when he joined Airbnb as a ‘Modern Elder’. Through his work at Airbnb, he noticed the increasing need to include more age diversity in the workforce. Modern Elders often feel less and less relevant, but there’s a lot of unique and untapped value their life experiences can bring to an organization. Find out more about Chip’s work and how he has incorporated social causes throughout his entire career.     Key Takeaways: [4:20] How did The Phoenix Hotel get started?  [6:25] How did Chip become an ‘accidental intern’ at Airbnb?  [10:45] Chip explains the backstory of how he has always incorporated giving back to local communities with each of his hotels.  [15:20] What is Chip’s latest book, Wisdom at Work, all about? [23:10] Chip believes it is important to have diversity, not just in gender or race, but in age as well. There’s a lot of value the younger and older generations can get from each other if they just mingled. [28:55] What’s the Modern Elder Academy all about?  [33:55] Modern Elder Academy gives over $1 million a year in scholarships to students. [39:35] Chip shares his thoughts about Burning Man.   Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Chip Conley Modern Elder Academy Chip Conley on LinkedIn Wisdom at Work, by Chip Conley The Phoenix Hotel Airbnb.com

David Shultz is a member of the Big Slick Organizers Community and is involved in everything from digital marketing to the weekend karaoke events. He is also involved with Promo Cares, an organization focused on helping distributors find suppliers with a purpose-driven mission.  Mandi Rudd is the sister of one of the Big Slick’s hosts, Paul Rudd, and is a key member of the family of volunteers at Big Slick. She is also the Owner of Brand Energy Marketing, a firm that specializes in marketing strategies and promotional products.   As Big Slick hits its tenth year as a charity event, they’ve raised $8.5 million dollars for the Pediatric Cancer Center at the Kansas City Children’s Mercy Hospital. Find out more about this special weekend event (coming to you this June 7th & 8th)!    Key Takeaways: [4:15] How did Big Slick first get started? [9:45] How did David get involved with Big Slick? [13:50] David and Mandi share why they feel so connected with the Kansas City Children’s Mercy Hospital.  [18:20] What does a typical Big Slick schedule look like?  [23:00] 100% of the proceeds go to the hospital.  [31:15] What is the Promotion Products Association International (PPAI) all about and why is Promo Cares different?  [34:45] The marketing/ promotional industry can get a bad rep.  [38:15] As a distributor, Mandi shares what it’s like working with David and his products and being able to offer new services to her clients. [40:05] Consumers would switch brands to a company that has some sort of giving back component in it.  [43:25] Tickets for Big Slick are on sale now!    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Big Slick David Shultz on LinkedIn Mandi Rudd on LinkedIn Brand Energy Marketing Promo Cares Promotion Products Association International (PPAI)

Douglas Tsoi is the Founder of School of Financial Freedom and the Founder of Portland Underground Grad School (PUGS). Douglas has a diverse background and achieved financial freedom at the age of 42 after living on $20,000 a year. As a lifelong learner and StartingBloc Fellow, Douglas believes it’s a human right to learn and to do so debt-free! Find out more about his amazing school in Portland!    Key Takeaways: [4:05] How did Rob and Douglas first meet? [6:05] As a StartingBloc Fellow, what was Douglas’s experience like with StartingBloc?  [8:55] What is PUGS all about?  [11:35] PUGS has grown to 75 courses and teaches about 900 students a year.  [17:25] How did Douglas manage to retire at age 42? What does financial freedom mean to him?  [19:35] You expend your life energy for money and vice versa. [27:45] Why did StartingBloc choose Douglas’s project?  [37:25] Douglas shares a bit of his background and how he ended up at StartingBloc. [44:20] Everyone deserves to learn.    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Giving Back Podcast Episode 310: Developing Purposeful Leadership for Our Community — Kristine Sloan with StartingBloc School of Financial Freedom Portland Underground Grad School (PUGS) Douglas Tsoi on LinkedIn

Greg Warner is the CEO and Founder of MarketSmart, a marketing software specifically catered to nonprofits seeking to raise more money for their charity. Greg takes a unique approach to how you can engage your donors in a meaningful and impactful way.  After feeling frustrated himself from giving to nonprofits and feeling like just a dollar sign, Greg created this software to help nonprofits really understand the best ways to make a connection.    Key Takeaways: [2:45] Who is Greg and why did he start MarketSmart? [4:20] Greg has seen organizations get as much as 300 to 1 ROI. Greg and his team personally aim for 100 to 1 ROI. [8:20] It’s important to create a collaborative atmosphere so that everyone can prosper.  [15:55] The reason why we’re here is to try and live with purpose and intent. [18:50] Greg explains his process and how he helps nonprofits. [24:35] What’s Greg’s book, Engagement Fundraising, all about? [35:30] You will always need fundraisers/ facilitators to help walk donors through your process. [42:55] How does a brand new charity work with Greg? [46:15] Why is donor retention so low? [52:55] The way you engage your donors sucks! There’s a much better way to do it.  [58:00] Greg himself was a mistreated donor who was fed up about being mistreated, which is why he created his company - to show nonprofits how to do it right!  [1:04:30] For every dollar amount Greg’s staff gives, Greg will match it.  [1:11:25] You have to know what it’s like to personally be a donor at your own charity.    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast MarketSmart Greg Warner on LinkedIn Engagement Fundraising, by Greg Warner Fundraising Report Card

Tanesha Smelser is the Executive Director of The Forrest Initiative, an organization she started when her son, Forrest, was diagnosed with epilepsy. When she first tried CBD for her young child, she was amazed by its impact and became an advocate.   Travis Mckenzie started TJ's Gardens in 2006 because his wife, Cham, was suffering from a very traumatic brain injury. They had exhausted all of their traditional options for healing when their doctor recommended cannabis as a last resort. They were amazed by its healing effects. Dave Villalobos is the owner of SolRevolt and is one of the first marijuana growers to have an emphasis on helping children. His organization helps bridge the gap between philanthropy and sustainability. Dave has a personal story of watching his father go to prison due to him being in the illegal marijuana trade at the time.  Together, these three individuals are seeking to normalize the cannabis industry and promote the health benefits it has for those with medical illnesses and conditions. Find out more on this week’s episode on how they help children!    Key Takeaways: [3:15] How did TJ's Gardens first get started?  [10:35] How did SolRevolt get started?  [18:55] Dave shares his thoughts on why he’s reaching out to faith-based leaders.  [23:05] When did The Forrest Initiative get started?  [30:00] What kind of surprising comments did Tanesha get when she started advocating for the use of cannabis for children with medical illnesses?  [33:15] What kind of research is out there about the benefits of cannabis?  [36:25] How do Dave and his team measure the right doses?  [44:15] What types kind of feedback and stories have Tanesha, Travis and Dave gotten so far?  [47:40] What’s next for these three organizations? [59:45] This plant is not a magic pill that will cure all illnesses, but by combining it with a wellness approach, it has a lot to offer.    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast TJ’s Gardens The Forrest Initiative SolRevolt SolRevolt on LinkedIn

Cathy Standiford is a retired City Manager and Local Government Consultant, a volunteer mentor for Write Girl, and a 30-year member of Soroptimist International. As a woman of faith, Cathy believes it is her purpose to serve, mentor, and empower young women. On today’s show, Cathy discusses the two organizations that are close to her heart and how it inspires her every day post-retirement!    Key Takeaways: [3:40] Who is Cathy and how did she get started in non-profit work?  [5:25] Cathy has been part of Soroptimist for the last 30 years!  [14:55] What kind of work does Soroptimist do?  [21:00] Cathy explains why Soroptimist keeps her inspired.  [26:55] Cathy shares the story of a homeless student living out of her car.  [30:00] So many young people today have been told ‘no’ and that their dreams simply are not possible.  [33:05] Over the years, how has Cathy’s talents and service to the nonprofit sector evolved? [39:00] How does Cathy effectively manage challenges that come up?  [42:20] Work-life balance is a myth!  [48:25] Cathy is in a period of her post-retirement life where she’s focused on doing significant and meaningful work.  [50:45] Cathy describes what her connection to God and her faith means to her.   Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast LiveYourDream.org Soroptimist WriteGirl Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance, by Bob Buford  

Emily Wazlak is the Founder of Shine Registry, a platform for female founders to ask for startup help, similar to the way you would on a wedding registry! Emily wanted to create something that would support fellow women in their professional careers just as they are supported in their personal lives. Find out more about Shine Registry and how you can help startup founders from all over get a head start in their business.    Key Takeaways: [3:10] Who is Emily, and what is  Shine Registry all about?  [8:35] What are some of the common things people ask for on Shine Registry?  [10:55] You’re so much more likely to get what you ask for...if you ask for it! The problem is a lot of us just don’t ask.  [14:50] What kind of feedback has Emily heard about people trying to ask for help?  [21:40] Why did Emily decide to focus solely on women entrepreneurs and founders? [27:00] How did Emily get started in non-profit work?  [30:00] Emily shares some memorable ‘asks’ that have happened on the website. [33:45] Emily also highlights some community initiatives that have been growing.  [43:00] What’s next for Shine Registry?    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Shine Registry.com Emily Wazlak on LinkedIn The StartingBloc Fellowship Prototype PGH Wing on Wo & Co  

Boomer Perrault started 1 a Week on an idea to encourage people to do a good and purposeful deed once a week. His organization is very grassroots and only a year old, but he shares his story about how he has grown his following and found sponsors to support his mission. Don’t let rejection stop you from making this world a better place!    Key Takeaways: [3:20] Who is Boomer and how did 1 a Week get started?  [6:10] A year later, over 3,400 posts related to kindness and doing good once a week have been posted on Instagram! [8:45] Boomer shares how he and Derek teamed up to create this.  [11:40] 1 a Week is very grassroots. How did Boomer first get the challenge started on social media with no following?  [13:45] The idea is to do at least one conscious and purposeful deed a week.  [16:35] Who are Boomer’s sponsors?  [20:25] How does Boomer deal with rejection, and what does he do when a sponsor says no? [22:35] Boomer shares his favorite act of kindness thus far!  [29:45]  Now that Boomer is in his second year, what’s next for him? [32:15] Boomer recently started a mental health podcast as well!  [35:35] What kind of feedback has Boomer received so far from his social media pages? [41:05] Boomer shares some final thoughts and words of wisdom!    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Boomer Perrault on LinkedIn 1a Week 1 a Week on Instagram 1 a Week on Facebook  

Welcome to the 119th and the final episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about our journey with Giving Back Podcast! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: Welcome to the very last Giving Back Insight show :) So when you hear today’s intro, you get kinda amazed, right? The host of Giving Back Podcast changed?!? No, the host is still Rob Lowe. We just get a guest host today and she is amazing Ayn. Ayn is a listener from the day 1 of Giving Back Podcast and she is very well known with Rob’s voice. Now, Today she will take Rob’s interview. Life transitions are usually life-changing events that cause us to re-examine our present sense of being. Some time changes are hard and we have to declutter or reorganize our life. But at the same time, we have a better future ahead, Rob thanks Ayn for guest hosting!. Why Rob is closing the popular insight series? What are Ayn’s top 3+ favorite interviews in GBP show? 284: When a Christmas Tree Lights up a Community — Alex Gramling with Christmas Tree Santas Christmas Tree Santas, a non-profit organization that spreads hope and joy by giving Christmas trees to families in need during the holidays. With slightly over 8 years under his belt, Alex has seen the organization grow from just his local community into 18 cities. 274: Move Mountains with Just One Quarter a Day — Ariel Sterman, Jeff Dobrinsky, and Joe Benun with Good Street Don’t want to choose between the two charities of the day? You can roll over your quarter and donate 50 cents instead to tomorrow’s charity. If you really, really like a particular charity, you can even give more than 25 cents a day. 150: Transitioning out of the Military Is Incredibly Scary — Joe Musselman with the Honor Foundation Everybody has fear, Everyone is battling. THF is the first-ever career transition institute for the US Navy SEAL & Special Operation Forces (SOF) communities with campuses across the country. Joe and THF have achieved an incredible amount of success in a short period of time since the organization was founded. 250: Finding Purpose Through Generosity — Blake Canterbury with Purposity Rob shares his favorite ones too.. 014: The Family That Made the Ice Bucket Challenge Go Viral – Nancy Frates The majority of people in this world are GOOD people. Don’t believe what’s on your TV. As a mother or even as a parent, you really don’t know how you’re going to face something until it hits you. 034: Aligning Our Passion With What We Do – Generosity Feeds with Ron Klabunde Ron Klabunde and Rob are good friends. Ron showed us Life just works so much better when you work in a field that you’re passionate about. 024: Take a Moment and Listen to Someone Else – #DoSomethingForNothing with Josh Coombes You can make the world as decent as you want it to be. You do have the power to create change. for nothing. In turn, Josh has inspired people all over the world to give back for absolutely nothing. 055: Clean Clothes and Conversations — Orange Sky Laundry with Nick Marchesi We take things for granted like having a nice conversation. The homeless often don’t have access to that on a weekly basis. They are regularly ignored by the community. Orange Sky Laundry doesn’t just wash clothes, but they also help connect their homeless friends back into the community. 175: Amazing Young Leaders- part 5 with guest Riley Joy Gantt with Rainbow Pack Everyone can do something for someone in need. Everyone has the capacity to tell people, There’s no need to be special. 059: What Is Your Gift to The World? — The Petaluma Fabulous Women with Krista Gawronski (Part 1) The magic happens outside of your comfort zone. 060: What Is Your Gift to The World? Part 2 — The Petaluma Fabulous Women with Krista Gawronski People have to believe in themselves first before they can fully give back to their community. 037: Helping Breast Cancer Survivors in a Unique Way — P.ink Series with Noel Franus (Part 1 of 3) There’s a difference between being cured and being healed. Mastectomy tattoos help women heal. Rob mentioned Courageous Communications workshop, “Attracting Dream Donors”.   Thank you so much, Maryanne Dersch, for you sharing your wisdom with us! A remarkable gift. 308: Courageous Communication Workshop: 7 Steps to Attracting Your Dream Donors — Maryanne Dersch (Part 4) 306: Courageous Communication Workshop: 7 Steps to Attracting Your Dream Donors — Maryanne Dersch (Part 3) 304: Courageous Communication Workshop: 7 Steps to Attracting Your Dream Donors — Maryanne Dersch (Part 2) 302: Courageous Communication Workshop: 7 Steps to Attracting Your Dream Donors — Maryanne Dersch (Part 1) What was rob’s memorable lessons /take away from this show? What are the next steps for GivingBackPodcast? If you want more and more interviews and good news shared feel free to reach Rob at GivingBackPodcast@gmail.com Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness Love & Gratitude, Rob   Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast

Kristine Sloan is the CEO at StartingBloc, an institute that believes there’s a better way to develop leadership, and there’s a better way to help people find their passion and meaning in life. Since 2003, their programs have reached over 3000 change leaders in 56 countries! Kristine shares how StartingBloc is building a culture of maturity, self-awareness, and connection among their leaders on today’s episode!    Key Takeaways: [2:25] Who is Kristine and how did StartingBloc get started?  [5:55] How does Kristine keep the community at StartingBloc thriving? [10:55] Kristine shares why self-awareness is so important for their organization.  [14:45] Asking good questions is a great sign of quality leadership. [19:40] Kristine and her team have worked really hard to include a diverse set of people into StartingBloc. [25:35] What are some goals and objectives for StartingBloc? [31:05] Are the organizations that Kristine works with also onboard about the importance of self-awareness?  [38:05] StartingBloc’s goals for 2022 are autonomy and agency. What do they mean by that?  [40:50] When fellows first start working with StartingBloc, what kind of skills do they learn?  [48:05] There are so many possibilities to choose from to create a meaningful and purposeful life, so how do you just take one step? [51:40] On Kristine’s LinkedIn, it says, “Plus one for destroying the patriarchy.” Kristine describes what that means to her.  [55:25] What message does Kristine have for her fellows?    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast StartingBloc Kristine Sloan on LinkedIn

Welcome to the 118th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about Ho’oponopono! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: Ho’oponopono is an ancient practice of forgiveness and reconciliation.  Traditionally Ho’oponopono is a ritual performed by the eldest member of the family or a healer of the community to bring harmony back to the relations within the family.  If a person has wronged someone, or there are hurt feelings within the family than this practice is performed to reunite the family, to reconcile the situation, to make right what is out of harmony. Ho’oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian huna, a secret to facilitating forgiveness within; or simply, the art of forgiveness. Four healing phrases are employed in a harmonic mantra to help “make things right” or “correct the errors”. It works to cleanse hurt feelings and relieve suffering from being in an unforgiving or unforgiven state. According to the Babylon online dictionary, Ho’oponopono is used to release problems and blocks that cause imbalance, unease and stress in the self; bring peace and balance through physical, mental and spiritual cleansing that involves repentance and transmutation; and create balance, freedom, love, peace and wisdom within individuals, social entities, the world and the universe.   Ho’oponopono Forgiveness Mantra I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you. These four forgiveness phrases, both individually and collectively, help heal us and our relationships with others, especially loved ones. Each one melts hearts and heals souls. Going deeper, we can voice this mantra in communing with the divine and see the effect both within and without. I am sorry for participating in this erroneous memory data. Please forgive me for not seeing the perfection in this moment, and playing back a universal memory I have received within me that is riddled with wrongs and errors. Thank you for cleansing me, others, the world and the universe. I love you. Loving the sweet divine is the greatest power or energy there is in all space. I am now loving everyone involved and affected. I know that my perceptions of them are within me, where this error first occurred and where it can be eradicated. Like planting a seed in soil that grows into nothing of our making, the divine does the work as we allow it to work through us. As we come to consistently use the Ho’oponopono mantra, we may elect to select a special word as a substitute for the whole mantra to use as a touchstone, so that when we say or think this word, we are immediately clear and clean of all the pain associated with any erroneous memory data presented. Our heart is healed and family or friends will return to relationships with a lighter heart. We do not need to understand how it works, only that it does. My friend Swami told me an amazing story of a man knowns as Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, who cured every patient in the criminally insane ward of a Hawaii`i State Hospital — without ever seeing a single patient. Now this may seem a little “insane,” but upon having a closer look, the story speaks for itself. Dr. Len set up an office within the hospital to review his patients’ files. While he looked at these files, he would work on himself, and over four years, the patients all healed. In addition, the staff who had been calling in, eventually loved coming to work. He used the legendary Hawaiian healing and cleansing method Ho’oponopono to accomplish all of this.  It is based on healing through loving oneself. Dr. Len repeated the words “I love you” and “I am sorry” over and over again while reviewing each file individually. After a few months, the patients who were shackled were allowed to walk freely, patients were taken off medications, and even the hopeless cases were eventually released back into society. Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len PhD, a Hawaiian psychologist and shamanic practitioner. “No one wanted the job I did with the criminally insane. They were averaging about one psychologist a month. But I got asked. We had about 25-30 people. Half of them would be in shackles at the ankles or the wrists because they were dangerous. They could either kick you or slam you. Everyone would walk with their back toward the wall so that they wouldn’t get struck. They had no family visits. No one could leave the building. A year and a half later there was none of that. There were people going out on bus rides. Nobody in shackles. The level of medication dropped. What did I do?  I worked on myself. I took 100% responsibility.” Recently I have gone through with some very distracting situation. Swami made a simple but profound comment, He said “prayers for her” Because he wanted her to heal. Then I thought about “Ho’oponopono” which was relatively a new practice to me and I started taking the 100%. Responsibility. This is a wonderful practice and I hope you all will engage when you are in distress. Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness Love & Gratitude, Rob Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast

This podcast episode is the final show in the series! Maryanne Dersch has shared valuable resources over the last few weeks on how nonprofits like you can start attracting loyal donors! Listen to part one, two, and three before hearing this one! Who is Maryanne? She is a non-profit speaker, author, and coach. She’s starting a revolution within human investment companies so that they are always filled with abundance, joy, and energy.  Let’s get started!   Key Takeaways: [1:25] Who is Maryanne? [2:00] Maryanne gives a brief summary of steps  five and six that they covered in part three.  [3:45] Step 7: Sharing your story.  [5:20] Your website is the foundation for communication. [8:25] What is a story bank? [10:25] Don’t put PDFs on your website! It’s not search-engine friendly. [11:40] How can we share our content on other websites? [16:00] Likes and shares are nice, but your true friends are on your email list. [21:55] What content should you include in an email?  [29:35] Print is back! When should you use it?  [37:25] Let’s put everything we learned together and attract those donors of our dreams!  [37:45] Bonus step: Creating a culture that supports an attraction-based brand.  [48:45] Feeling stuck in your plan? Maryanne shares how you can get unstuck. [52:50] Maryanne does a quick recap of all the steps that were covered in this workshop series!    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Maryanne Dersch FindDonorDollars.com Courageous Communication, by Maryanne Dersch 

Welcome to the 117th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about focussing on your tailwinds! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: 033 - 3 Steps to use Gratitude to Bust Your Funky Attitude - Two Disabled Dudes Podcast https://twodisableddudes.com/use-gratitude-bust-funky-attitude/ There's more to life than circumstance Insightful, authentic and humorous conversations about living beyond our circumstances, no matter what those may be. Sean and Kyle are both affected by a rare disease called Friedreich’s ataxia (FA).  FA affects their balance and coordination, significantly limiting their physical abilities.   However, both dudes have completed several long distance bike rides including “The World’s Toughest Bike Race” - Race Across America (RAAM).  Their RAAM journey is the subject of an award-winning documentary called The Ataxian. Kyle rode his trike to the top of the highest paved road in North America and Sean ran with the Olympic Torch. Their guests include leaders in the Rare Disease community, Paralympic athletes, notable Psychologists and accomplished public speakers and authors. This podcast is about setting sights beyond the challenges in life and dreaming big, making a plan, and then executing like mad.     To use gratitude to bust your funk, they’ve come up with 3 simple steps. Be thankful- Think about it, be aware (acknowledging both the positives and negatives of the state you find yourself in) and reflect on what you are grateful for Write. It. Down. Take action. Rose Morris from Abram’s Nation and Fund It Forward Unique solutions for special families Abram’s Nation is recognized locally and nationally for our outstanding business practices. We strive for excellence in every aspect of commerce and manufacturing. We are thrilled to have the “stamp of approval” from such distinguished organizations as the US Small Business Administration, The Western Pennsylvania District Export Council and the Pittsburgh Business Times. Founder and President Rose Morris, has also been honored for her strong visionary leadership of the company. Fund It Forwards’ mission is to ease the burdens of families with children with special needs by raising money for adaptive equipment not covered by health insurance. She shared something that is really moving. When she talked about the feedbacks of families about Abram’s Nation, they are not only thankful they have very positive feedback about the products. Koedi Nealy from Graced Ministry As a 7-year-old, she wanted the homeless she saw to feel loved like she felt loved by her Mom and Dad. She started collecting pennies when he was 7. Now she is 16. Why Koedi Nealy wanted to help the homeless? Koedi wanted to feel homeless loves as the way she felt loved by the people around him. Stephanie Jones, aka the Giving Gal, I’m thinking of you! https://givinggal.com/books/ Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it BTW, I hope you’re enjoying the Courageous Communications workshop, “Attracting Dream Donors”.  Thank you so much Maryanne Dersch for you sharing your wisdom with us! Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness Love & Gratitude, Rob Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Giving Gal  The Ataxian Two Disabled Dudes Podcast Abram’s Nation Fund It Forward Graced Ministry

This podcast is part three of a four-part workshop series with Maryanne Dersch. Maryanne breaks down how you can grab the attention of and attract long-term, loyal donors in this workshop series. Listen to part one and two before hearing this one! Who is Maryanne? She is a non-profit speaker, author, and coach. She’s starting a revolution within human investment companies so that they are always filled with abundance, joy, and energy.  Let’s get started!   Key Takeaways: [1:25] Who is Maryanne? [2:20] Maryanne gives a brief summary of steps three and four that they covered in part two.  [4:30] Step 5: Delivering the message. [6:30] How do you fundraise without fear?  [9:05] It’s going to be okay, no matter what they say.  [10:25] Maryanne shares an exercise you can go through to help put you in the right mindset.  [13:35] Host a Lunch & Learn!  [16:25] What is a strategy session? [19:25] How is a strategy session structured? [25:55] The end goal is to decide how to continue the relationship.  [28:50] How do you create value for your donors? [36:20] Step 6: Social media. [42:00] When creating this plan, you’re not doing this alone.  [43:15] What does a social media plan need to have?  [45:35] An editorial calendar is your commitment to action.  [48:10] The goal isn’t ‘likes’ on your social media page; the goal is to create engagement!  [50:05] How do you create a social media policy? [56:55] Maryanne shares an example of what it looks like to stand up in a time of crisis or controversy. [1:00:10] By showing authenticity and vulnerability during a crisis, you gain respect from your donors.  [1:04:30] Maryanne does a quick review of step 5 and step 6.    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Maryanne Dersch Courageous Communication, by Maryanne Dersch  Step 5: Strategy Sessions Step 5: How to Host a Lunch & Learn Step 6: Social Media Plan Abundant.is Michelle Villalobos - The Superstar Activator

Welcome to the 116th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about Ikigai (生き甲斐)! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: I had a conversation with a remarkable young lady named Monisha Bajaj who is committed to sparking conversations about healthy relationships in Thailand.  We touched on what our guests share, besides the experience of serving their community. Spiritual philosophy, life philosophy, perspective on the world and people in it. I told Monisha that sometimes I feel like people miss the best part of the show, where guests dive deeper because there’s great knowledge they’re sharing.  Finding purpose and meaning by making a difference in people’s lives. We’re wired to connect and engage, and by lifting others we lift ourselves. In fact, we’ve been wrestling about the meaning of life AND self-actualization since we’ve had the luxury of writing and developing arts and culture.  Well before Rumi and Tony Robbins and Pico Della Mirandola. Before the Bible and the Torah and the Koran. Before I knew it, I’m talking with this USC grad halfway around the world about Ikigai. Ikigai (生き甲斐, pronounced [ikiɡai]) is a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being." The word "ikigai" is usually used to indicate the source of value in one's life or the things that make one's life worthwhile. The word translated to English roughly means "thing that you live for" or "the reason for which you wake up in the morning." Each individual's ikigai is personal to them and specific to their lives, values and beliefs. It reflects the inner self of an individual and expresses that faithfully, while simultaneously creating a mental state in which the individual feels at ease. Activities that allow one to feel ikigai are never forced on an individual; they are often spontaneous, and always undertaken willingly, giving individual satisfaction and a sense of meaning to life. The Ikigai diagram for today’s cover illustrates where we operate.  The four areas of what we love to do, what we’re good at, what we get paid to do, and what the world needs, and the sense of being when 3 out of 4 overlaps, plus Ikigai right in the middle.  I think the important thing to remember is that it’s not always easy. We have 24 hours in a day, 1,440 minutes. We have to CHOOSE to live our lives in pursuit of Ikigai, or purpose, or significance, or awesomeness, or whatever you call it, in order to make progress towards that goal. It won’t always be one life.  Monisha works full time and her passion is to create a full-time job preventing sexual violence.  Nothing wrong with a job that puts food on the table and filling your life with service to others.  It’s where you start, and how you move forward that counts. John P. Weiss draws cartoons, paints landscapes, and writes about life.  He wrote an article in Medium.com called “How to Radically Improve Your Life with just three words” and talks about choices, including the courage to change.  One person’s advice that helped put him on the right path for him was “Try things until something comes easily” That falls in line with things you’re good at and things you love, or what I call things in your wheelhouse.  The perspective John adds is this: “Do hard things.” See, it’s not enough to just slide in.  There will always be an inherent tension to keep moving forward to even stay in Ikigai, that sense of value.  Trying new things, moving out of old things even if they’re working, learning, growing, applying new knowledge, overcoming obstacles.  If I have a perspective to add to Ikigai, I would say that it’s not a goal. Ikigai is a pursuit. Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness Love & Gratitude, Rob Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast

This podcast is part two of a four-part workshop series with Maryanne Dersch. Over the next few weeks, you’ll be hearing Maryanne break down how you can grab the attention and attract long-term, loyal donors. Who is Maryanne? She is a non-profit speaker, author, and coach. She’s starting a revolution within human investment companies so that they are always filled with abundance, joy, and energy.  Let’s get started!    Key Takeaways: [1:25] Who is Maryanne? [2:30] Maryanne gives a brief summary of the first two steps they covered in part one.  [5:35] Step 3: Communication goals.  [9:40] Create a plan and use it as a roadmap. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Plans change! [11:40] Think big and get creative! Don’t worry about editing it (for now).  [17:00] In order to grow, you have to do things differently!  [18:10] Maryanne breaks down a vision exercise you can do to help see your future self.  [22:50] If you don’t meet this goal, what’s the worst that can happen?  [26:45] Maryanne shares an example of what step 3 looks like when you apply it.  [30:55] Step 4: Messaging.  [36:15] How do you create your own ‘ideal donor’ avatar? [41:15] Should you have more than one avatar?  [45:20] How do you structure a brand pyramid?  [52:00] What questions should you be asking yourself?  [59:35] Maryanne explains why it’s so, so important to have belief statements in your company.  [1:02:45] Belief statements let you know when you and your organization need to speak up.  [1:10:20] Step 4 is all about understanding who you’re talking to, and developing a system to talk to those people!    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Maryanne Dersch Courageous Communication, by Maryanne Dersch  Step 4: Avatar Step 4: Belief Statements Step 4: Messaging Brand Pyramid

Welcome to the 115th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about Advice versus Insight! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: There is a very thin line between advice and insights. They both are well intentioned and the difference may be that insight is simply sharing where advice is pretty specific because there is a expectation or atleast hope that the person advice is given to will follow that. I am reading a lot now a days from Medium. So today I want to share "The Mind-Blowingly Simple And Positive Advice That Changed My Entire Life" By Nicolas Cole that I recently read on his medium blog. It's a kind of advice from himself to himself. The Mind-Blowingly Simple And Positive Advice That Changed My Entire Life By Nicolas Cole on Medium.com I was sitting in the middle of the forest with nothing but a tent, a small bag of fruits and nuts, a shovel, and a roll of toilet paper. Each of us was given a space in this forest to spend 3 days by ourselves. It was the afternoon, and for miles I saw trees and trees. There were no sounds other than the crackling of leaves under my shoes when I would pace my space back and forth. Every once in a while, I would test the silence and let out a scream, wanting to see how long it would echo. “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” It carried into the distance for a moment and then faded. Just like many of my thoughts of home. I had arrived on this trip with a lot of anger. I was 19, feeling all the things you feel when you’re 19. I felt like my parents didn’t understand me. I felt like everything I did was wrong. I felt like no matter how hard I tried, I would never be the person they wanted me to be. I felt lost and didn’t know what I wanted to be in life. I enjoyed music. I enjoyed writing. But other than that, I didn’t enjoy much else. Most days, I just felt stuck. But that day in the forest wasn’t like most days. Finally, I had a moment to hear those thoughts — the ones that played the victim’s song. With 3 entire days to myself, that song became clearer and clearer, to the point where the words no longer seemed like my own. They were just lyrics I’d memorized and repeated to myself, endlessly. On the 3rd day (“He rose again…jk”) one of the counselors came by my tent. We sat on a small patch of grass. “How was it?” she asked. “Unbelievable,” I said, playing with a stick in my hand. I’d never felt so calm. “Really? Learn anything special about yourself?” she said. The way she said it, I could tell she was expecting a cliche response. I started to nod. I hadn’t put my conclusion quite into words yet. “Nothing in my life is going to change unless I make it so.” She flickered her eyes, staring, not saying anything. “And how did you learn that?” she asked. I looked out at the vastness and the trees. The entire forest hadn’t changed at all in 3 days, and yet I felt like an entirely different person. “Because all the things I want to change in my life, I keep waiting for other people to change them. But I don’t have control over other people. The only thing I have control over is myself. So, if I want anything to change, I have to be the one to do it.” She tilted her head a bit and looked at me skeptically. “Are you saying this just because you think it’s what I want to hear?” she asked. I was on a 30-day canoe trip for troubled teens, after all. I shook my head, slowly and without defense. “Nope,” I said softly. “I understand that anything I want in this world, I have to be the one to make it happen.” I’ve been living by my own advice ever since. Thanks for reading :) I shared with this with my son who is under lot of pressure. So I thought I would share because this guy is really young too and same age like him. So I wanted to make him understand that, whatever he wants is upto him, not that he is alone just to understand that he has very little control over everything and 100% contol over himself. Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness Love & Gratitude, Rob Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast The Mind-Blowingly Simple And Positive Advice That Changed My Entire Life

Welcome! This podcast is part one of a four-part workshop series with Maryanne Dersch. Over the next few weeks, you’ll be hearing Maryanne break down what you need to do to get the attention you need to attract long-term, loyal donors. Who is Maryanne? She is a non-profit speaker, author, and coach. She’s starting a revolution within human investment companies so that they are always filled with abundance, joy, and energy.  Let’s get started!    Key Takeaways: [1:30] Who is Maryanne? [2:35] Maryanne provides an overview of the 7 steps.  [4:50] What results can listeners expect by the end of the workshop? [6:15] Step 1: Create a vision. [11:20] Why did Maryanne develop Courageous Communication? [15:00] Do you feel isolated? It’s time to change your mindset. [16:15] Maryanne shares an example of what Courageous Communication can do for you.  [22:25] Your organization can’t afford not to communicate effectively.  [25:25] Step 2: Communications Assessment.  [28:50] What’s the value of your time in your nonprofit?  [32:00] Grown-up organizations pay for their work.  [37:10] Do your current marketing materials reflect who you are as a brand?  [40:10] What are the benefits of a discovery session?  [44:25] Gather as much feedback as you can from your staff.  [48:40] Host lunch-and-learn events to connect with others!  [51:55] Stay tuned to next week’s episode to find out how to get over your fear of asking.  [55:55] We have worksheets for you! The links are below.    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Maryanne Dersch Courageous Communication, by Maryanne Dersch  Step 2: Communications Assessment Step 2: Discovery Session

Welcome to the 114th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about Banter, timing, and serendipity! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: Kominsky Method: Sandy & Norman Two old curmudgeons and lifelong friends As a portrait of aging masculinity and friendship, it’s wonderful. The two leads are fantastic apart, reveling in intelligently written parts that give them plenty of laughs to play, in addition to well-earned emotional highs as flawed, believable, fully rounded human beings. Marvelous Mrs Maisel: Midge & Susie On the road with an abundance of sharpness. First time watching, saw only 15 minutes and I’m addicted! Susie is the best! When you are with the right person and you have the right attitude, it results pretty great. In the course of being snowed in and the road being closed, We had a conversation with our host about Bantering and we had a conversation with lot of funny things. WinterHaus: Rick & Rob 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman International Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and promote multilingualism. Wikipedia Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance, and dialogue. This reminds us how to be in the conversation, pay attention, full of meaning and that’s how you banter, you have the contacts, You have meaning and in that meaning, there is a great value. Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness Love & Gratitude, Rob Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

John and Angi Busick discovered their first son, Jack, was born with Down syndrome. After volunteering in local special needs groups and fundraising for them, John and Angi realized there was a bigger need than they thought. And so, the Down Syndrome Association North Bay was born. Every year, John and Angi throw a gala to raise funds and support their community. Find out more about John and Angi, why they’re so passionate about this cause, and the positive changes they’ve seen in the community since starting their nonprofit on this week’s episode!    Key Takeaways: [3:25] How did Down Syndrome Association North Bay (DSANB) first get started? [6:55] Today, perfection is the expectation in families and our kids. [8:45] How did John and Angi approach having a second child after Jack?  [12:00] Rob, as a father himself, had an OMG moment when he realized he was going to be a father soon. [15:00] John wanted to find a way to impact Jack’s life for the better. [20:15] How did the Local Employer of the Year award get started? [25:40] What is the purpose of the Voices 4 Down Syndrome gala? [32:45] John and Angi share why they are such a great team and how they can pull these events off.  [37:30] Angi wants to grow, but doesn’t want to grow too big and lose what makes this event special in the first place - knowing your community and the people who attend it.  [43:00] What has been the feedback from the parents that DSANB has helped? [44:25] A lot of positive change has happened in the last few years to help kids with Down syndrome become part of the community.  [49:20] It really does take a village!    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Down Syndrome Association North Bay (DSANB) Voices 4 Down Syndrome Gala Miracle League North Bay

Welcome to the 113th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about Halftime - moving from success to significance! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: I had two extraordinary conversations this week.  Two people, both retired, both doing the most important work of their lives.  Two authors, Bob Buford and Marc Freedman, both talk about “Halftime”, or the period after 50 and before decrepit.   Cathy Standiford, who you’ll hear from in an upcoming episode, is retired and a nonstop ball of energy working to empower women and girls with economic opportunity, particularly through education.  She is in her 30th year volunteering with Soroptomist, her 2nd year with WriteGirl, and shows no sign of slowing down. Bill and I started working together on ShelterBox USA’s PR committee.   My comment to Hannah after our conversation was simple: you’ve got a person at Halftime who’s chosen ShelterBox to do his most important work. Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness Love & Gratitude, Rob Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast

Roman is a young six-year-old boy with a dream and a mission to give shelter dogs new homes. On his fourth birthday, he wanted donations for his birthday so he could help a local dog shelter. Since then, it sparked something magical and he and his mom, Jennifer, started Project Freedom Ride, where they take dogs out of kill-shelters in Texas and place them in loving homes. Find out more about Roman and how it all got started on today’s episode!    Key Takeaways: [2:45] How did Roman and Jennifer get started with Project Freedom Ride? [6:40] Roman saved 31 dogs from a Texas kill-shelter in his first transport.  [8:45] How did Roman and Jennifer get into adopting and fostering dogs? [12:15] What’s the best part about being a part of Project Freedom Ride? [16:45] How are people finding out about Project Freedom Ride? [18:55] Roman shares two stories about two special dogs that got rescued. [23:25] How does Jennifer manage the logistics of transporting the dogs out of kill-shelters? [27:45] $1 dollar a month can make a huge impact in Roman’s mission and cause. [29:24] What’s next for Roman and Project Freedom Ride? [32:15] Jennifer feels she got so lucky by having Roman. He is a doer and is actively making the world a better place.    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Project Freedom Ride on Facebook Project Freedom Ride on Instagram

Welcome to the 112th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about The power of quotes! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming.   Key Takeaways: I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy --- Rabindranath Tagore Douglas Tsoi conversation Attention is the purest form of generosity --- Simone Weil Cheryl Strayed’s best-selling book-turned Reese Witherspoon-starring movie Wild hit home with millions of people. At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State—and she would do it alone. Now Strayed, who “thinks of quotes as mini-instruction manuals for the soul,” shares some of her favorites in her new book, Brave Enough.   “Quotes, at their core, almost always shout Yes!” she says. The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention --- Deguet The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet --- Frederick Buechner You are the average of the five people spend the most time with --- Jim Rohn The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why --- Mark Twain Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear --- George Addair You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take --- Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness --- Pastor Steve Stone, Sr Love & Gratitude, Rob Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast

Achille Massoma is the Co-Founder of Kinshapes, a creative incubator that introduces coding and programming, 2D and 3D illustration, virtual reality, and so much more to children in underserved communities. Kinshapes started nearly two years ago and has had nearly 300 students go through both their introductory and/or cohort workshops. Find out more about Achille and his vision for Kinshapes on today’s show!    Key Takeaways: [3:00] What is Kinshapes all about? [6:45] Achille shares what makes Kinshapes so sustainable.  [11:30] How are the workshops at Kinshapes structured?  [18:10] The students develop a product by the end of the 6-8 week cohort workshop.  [19:45] How do the students know when a project is done?  [22:55] Kinshapes has a big interest in teaching children virtual reality. How did that first begin? [29:35] It’s important to move from being a consumer to being a producer. This way you can acquire skills that will help support you, your family, and your community. [30:45] What kind of products and services have the students brought to market? [33:05] How does Kinshapes find its students? [35:40] Kinshapes plans to launch a virtual reality club. What is the goal of this club?  [40:45] What’s next for Kinshapes?    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Kinshapes Achille Massoma on LinkedIn

Welcome to the 111th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about the Changes! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: "Changes" by David Bowie was the last song he performed live on stage before his retirement from live performances at the end of 2006. The song ranked number 128 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and reminds me of how he adapted so brilliantly to the changes around him.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMQ0Ryy01yE We have more artist whether they are the singer, painter or artist in the scientific and mathematical field who are also adapted to changes and taking advantages and always moving forward and always doing something that reflects the best of themselves. There are so many examples, Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci besides on the business side there are Steve Jobs, Bill Gates who are reinventing themselves by charity works. I’ve seen a lot of changes here in Giving Back Podcast in the past few years. I am recently listening to a solocast of Jason Havey’s Spinning Logic podcast where he was talking about changes and wanted to focus on fun for him. I am thinking about service as always, how to serve better to people around me and people who I want to reach. There will be some changes to Giving back podcast. It’s a little bit too early to talk about them specifically but I certainly think you are going to enjoy it. We will have a very cool 4 part series. “Courageous Communication: Seven Steps to Attracting the Donors of Your Dreams”. Maryanne Dersch will be taking us through the workshop series. you can learn how to create the reality for your nonprofit. Maryanne Dersch will teach you to create a brand of attraction to connect with long-term, loyal donors and raise more money. That will be a great show, I hope you’ll tune in for that. To get the most out of the series, listen to each one in order because the information builds each time. Maryanne is holding nothing back. She’s sharing 20 plus years of incredible information to help you connect with like-minded donors and raise more money. I also love to mention that I just had an amazing interview with John and Angie Busick about Down Syndrome Association North Bay. They support new and expectant parents; expand parent support group activities; sponsor parent training; facilitate skill-building opportunities; provide medical outreach and advocacy information to enhance the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and their families. It is amazing to see couples working together with the things they love. You know I got changes. It’s been almost 3 years. Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness. Love & Gratitude, Rob Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast dsanb.org  www.maryannedersch.com jasonhavey.com

inspiring communities to bring dignity and hope to youth in foster care. In the second part of this interview, Rob shares some stories from his new book, A Forever Family. The book is raw, emotional, and, in some parts, difficult to read. Rob represents just one of several common foster cases, and we as a community need to do better for our future children.     Key Takeaways: [2:20] In his book, A Forever Family, Rob reveals a lot of very hard and difficult childhood experiences.  [5:25] Our system is not designed for the well-being of our children. [9:15] What’s inside a Comfort Case package?  [14:00] Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with them?” ask, “What happened to them?” [14:40] Rob shares the origin of his last name. [19:35] Who is Mr. Rogers? [23:35] Your life is about the choices you make.  [26:20] Despite being so raw and vulnerable in his book, Rob has no regrets. [28:10] You can go out there and do good work. You don’t need money to do. [30:20] We don’t talk enough about foster care. So many people are unaware of what really goes on. [34:30] Only 54% of foster children graduate from high school. 11% of those apply to college, and only 2% graduate from college. [38:45] Rob is where he is today because of the people in his life, like his husband, his kids, and his team at Comfort Cases.   Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Comfort Cases A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time by Rob Scheer

A bias is a tendency, inclination, or prejudice toward or against something or someone. Welcome to the 110th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about the bias towards abundance! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: Bias is disproportionate weight in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses. People display this bias when they gather or remember information selectively, or when they interpret it in a biased way. The effect is stronger for emotionally charged issues and for deeply entrenched beliefs. A cognitive bias is a systematic pattern of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment.[1] Individuals create their own "subjective social reality" from their perception of the input. An individual's construction of social reality, not the objective input, may dictate their behaviour in the social world.[2] Thus, cognitive biases may sometimes lead to perceptual distortion, inaccurate judgment, illogical interpretation, or what is broadly called irrationality. Needless to say, I look for evidence that proves I’m on the right path about giving back and the cycle of abundance. Marc Freedman is the President and CEO of Encore.org, which pioneers innovative programs and sparked a growing movement in the United States and beyond to tap the talent and experience of people past midlife as a human resource for solving our most vexing social problems.  I’m reading his most recent book, “How to Live Forever” Besides its provocative title, his book got me thinking on a variety of topics. One was some research on the outcomes of Big Brother/Big Sister.  The impact over just a year is startling: a drop of 46% in drug use, absenteeism cut by 52%, and a reduction of 33% in violent behaviors.  That’s negative behaviors. On the plus side, academic measures were all up significantly over those who were not paired with a mentor. Maria Keller with Read Indeed: AZ projects its incarcerated population by 4th grade reading Marc raised an interesting point about these results that also resonated with me: 90% of mentors who came to hang out, to have fun, to listen, were still meeting 9 months later.  Only 30% of mentors who came to “transform lives” were still in the program. The importance of being present, consistently and persistently, are so clear. Josh Coombes, DoSomethingForNothing Orange Sky: the most measure of our impact is the number of conversations we facilitate John Evoy, Men’s Sheds: the most important tool in the shed is the tea kettle Mentoring also carried unexpected upside for the mentors: a sense of worth, lower use of pain meds, greater independence.   Clearly giving is a two-way street. Giving as a “Centerpiece” of their lives (vs “Legacy”) Which led me somehow to a conversation with Pastor Steve Stone on “anonymity”, or giving anonymously, and the concept of “highest love” So, yeah, I seek the evidence of the cycle of abundance.  The concept of receiving more than I give is uplifting, it’s aspirational as well as inspirational.  The people we surround ourselves with are the biggest influence on our behavior, attitudes, and results. I choose to create my world of abundance and fill it with all the evidence I need. In the words of motivational speaker Jim Rohn: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with,” Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness. Love & Gratitude, Rob Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/rob.lowe.50999405/videos/485889945148358/ Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast

Rob Scheer is the Founder of Comfort Cases, a nonprofit dedicated towards inspiring communities to bring dignity and hope to youth in foster care. As a foster kid himself, Rob knows the difficult challenges children in the system face. He has recently released a new book, A Forever Family, detailing some of the horrible experiences he had as a child and how life on the other side really does get better! Find out more about Rob in this two-part interview.    Key Takeaways: [3:00] This is Rob’s second guest appearance on the show! [4:15] Despite being on Ellen, CNN, and the Today Show, Rob does not have any corporate sponsors. [6:00] Rob was talking to his 14-year-old daughter and the topic of seeing her birth mom came up.   [11:50] Rob’s kids are growing up fast!!  [19:45] No matter what their background is, people have common good in them.  [21:15] There’s a lot of science behind ‘doing good’ and helping out your fellow man. [26:40] What can you do to help the foster children in your area? [27:40] Don’t have money? There are other ways to support a child. [28:35] Foster kids are ‘bad’ kids. Wrong! [31:10] No matter how bad of a day you had today, tomorrow is a new day.  [32:45] Please check out Rob’s new book, A Forever Family.  [34:25] What’s Rob’s favorite chapter?  [38:00] What’s wrong with a trash bag? It’s degrading to our children!  [40:35] Stay tuned for Part Two!    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Comfort Cases A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time by Rob Scheer

Welcome to the 109th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about the burden of expectations! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: Meeting with my brother Tom for our first breakfast of 2019, we talked about re-connecting and how to best move forward. On the ride home from Lodi after I connected him and Mom on Christmas, she asked me“Did Tom tell you why he left?” He and I have never discussed that. I wanted to sort through my opinions and I thought about the best way I could serve her before I answered.  This is what I told her: Before he left, even before our father died, I thought that he felt: Expectations and disappointment from himself Expectations and disappointment expressed by others Expectations and disappointment of others that he perceives I sensed he needed to get away from the burden of those expectations and disappointments. He looked at me and wrapped his arm around me at the counter in a big hug.  When I asked him if I was close, he said I’d nailed it. I told Tom something I shared with a friend recently: When I let go of a thing, my hands are open to receive When I let go of expectations, my head & my heart are open to receive “How can I help?” is a well-meaning question that presumes that the other person needs anything.  “How can I serve?” is a better question, IMO. Our job is not to save him. Our job is to love him.  That’s all he and each of us really needs and wants. We’re family. Remember that if any of us is going to offer anyone anything, then it’s fully from the heart when we give without attachment to an outcome.  Sharing without expectations to the response. And let go of everything that’s holding you back, because then you’ll be open to all the gifts and opportunities the Universe has to share with YOU. Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness. Love & Gratitude, Rob Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/rob.lowe.50999405/videos/482308642173155 Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast

Leslie Juvin-Acker is a speaker, coach, and the author of the new book, The Money Formula. She is part of the Blue Ribbon Gala Committee for Home Start Inc., a nonprofit that provides community services for families in San Diego. On today’s episode, Leslie discusses the idea that we don’t just have financial debt, but we also have emotional debt in our lives (as well as self-limiting beliefs). The moment we can unblock these, then anything is possible!    Key Takeaways: [3:15] Who is Leslie and what does she do?  [7:25] Leslie’s clients are financially rich, but feel spiritually poor because they’ve neglected themselves.  [10:40] How did it all start for Leslie? [15:10] Who is typically defined as a ‘Work in Poverty’? [17:55] What kind of limiting beliefs did Leslie have and how did she break through that?  [20:15] There’s no amount of money in the world that can fix the way you feel.  [23:00] Leslie shares why she is so passionate about Home Start. [28:10] What does Leslie do for Home Start? [29:05] Leslie shares a success story about one of the women who went through Home Start. [31:40] Leslie’s mother was a child prostitute in the Philippines. It was the only way for her to survive.  [38:45] We can have both financial and emotional debt in our lives. [42:35] Leslie shares what it means to give back, especially to Home Start.    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Leslie Inc. Leslie Juvin-Acker on LinkedIn Home Start Inc.

Welcome to the 108th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about Colorful characters and reconciling doing well & doing good! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: The handsome fella on today’s cover is Chris Stafford, a really nice guy AND one of the most successful real estate agents in the entire San Francisco Bay Area.  In addition to his own real estate activities, Chris also advises other agents to build their business. A cornerstone of his success is integrity, always working with his clients’ best interests at the forefront.  You can check him out at: https://epiclistingagent.com/about-me/ I have the honor and privilege of working with Chris on the non profit I founded in 2018, Strong Communities.  Strong Communities harnesses the power of real estate to strengthen and rebuild communities across America. Our mission is to help nonprofits build their capacity to serve so they can do MORE amazing work in their communities. To fund Strong Communities and invest in nonprofits we work with, we turn vacant and underperforming real estate into working capital for nonprofits to build a stronger organization.  America has a nationwide inventory of vacant, abandoned, underperforming, and unwanted real estate. Strong Communities’ 5-year goal is to transform $10 Billion in real estate towards solving problems in our communities.   This, ladies & gentlemen and is a BHAG --- a big, hairy, audacious goal.  And not only is Chris a right person to make this happen, he’s a great FIRST person, to make this happen.   I subscribe to this fun daily service called TUT, “The Universe Talks.”  Each day, I get a fun and uplifting quote from Mike Dooley and the TUT team about my place in the world around me.  It’s surprising how good I feel about these silly little emails, I do look forward to them like others eagerly anticipate a positive horoscope. https://www.tut.com/ Anyway, I received one on December 20th that I kept and it went like this: “The world is filled with many colorful characters, Rob, one or many of whom would be absolutely thrilled to play along in any drama you'd care to create - romantically, socially, financially, comically - any. You just have to let me do the casting - have to. Truly thrilled, The Universe” Chris is one of those colorful characters.  It’s not just his success in real estate, his ability to see the “big picture”, or his desire to make a difference in people’s lives that makes him a perfect fit.  Nor is it Chris’ sense of humor, his high energy, or his willingness to take a risk. There’s this aspect of being in alignment between what he does and who he is that makes Chris special. I really got a sense of that earlier today.  Yesterday, we talked about Strong Communities and some of the work we each have to do and I was feeling super jazzed.  He texted me this morning to discuss “a philosophical question” The philosophical question was essentially this: Rob, this is going to take off and we’re gonna do a lot of real estate business.  I know this is going to help a lot of people, but how do we explain ourselves making a lot of money on this work? Isn’t that beautiful?  I mean, behind those dreamy eyes of his lies the soul of human kindness.  To even think, let alone be a little troubled by how to reconcile doing good and doing well says a lot about Chris. It just so happens that after Chris and I talked yesterday, I wrote in my journal about doing well and doing good. I told him about The Universe Talks, and I shared with him the TUT email I got on December 12th: “The entire world will be a richer place, Rob, once you help millions of people every day and have your beautiful vacation home. We knew this when we helped you pick your dreams. So let's get cracking, The Universe I explained to him that the reason I picked a beautiful vacation home as a material goal along with my life’s purpose of helping millions of people is that I’m so bleeping cheap, I’d have to have a LOT of money to buy a vacation home.  And as long as my wealth comes from being of service to others, I can feel good about it. Literally, the more people we help with Strong Communities, the more money we make. So let’s be proud and transparent about our business model, and know that it fits in perfectly with helping nonprofits develop their own sustainable revenue streams. I hope 2019 has gotten off to a great start for each of you.  If 2019 is still evolving, go out and find one of the colorful characters waiting to join you on your journey of progress and purpose. Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness. Love & Gratitude, Rob Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/rob.lowe.50999405/videos/479149775822375/ Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast https://www.tut.com/ https://epiclistingagent.com/about-me/ 

Maryanne Dersch is the Founder of Courageous Communication and has over 30 years of advertising and communication experience. She is also the author of the new book, Courageous Communication! Maryanne helps nonprofits realize their true potential by showing them how to build meaningful relationships with their donors and how to show up in an authentic way.  Find out more about Maryanne and the work she does on today’s episode!    Key Takeaways: [3:05] Who is Maryanne and how did she first get involved with nonprofits? [4:35] What is Courageous Communication all about?  [10:30] Nonprofits often feel very dependent on their donors and they feel like they have to make choices to please these donors instead of doing what’s right for the organization.  [13:35] Your nonprofit is a leader, and so are your volunteers and donors. When you approach it this way, you end up having a more balanced relationship with everyone. [15:25] It’s important to think in terms of value when you’re working with others in your nonprofit. [22:25] When you understand someone else’s needs first, you’re able to respond in an honest and authentic way. [23:55] Maryanne shares two success stories of what ‘Courageous Communication’ looks like.  [32:55] We do not track time as seriously as money, and we should!  [42:40] No one wants to get ‘sold’ on why they should join your organization. There are so many better ways to approach relationships.  [48:00] Building relationships is a long-term approach. [50:35] It all starts with a conversation! Feel free to reach out to Maryanne!   Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Maryanne Dersch Maryanne Dersch on LinkedIn Courageous Communications, by Maryanne Dersch Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition

Welcome to the 106th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about Celebrating Happy New Year! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: Happy, happy New Year!  I started 2019 out right with a little bit of ritual and a lot of optimism & gratitude. I was looking for some sage to smudge, which is burning the sage and waving the smoke over a space or your body.  It’s like taking an energetic shower or doing a deep metaphysical cleansing and it felt like a perfect way to start the New Year.  Poof! A bundle of sage from Barbara Wittman and Don Morse, my Vision Quest guides, arrived on the 30th. www.SageSeeker.org And just as I was thinking of the right tone to ring in 2019, the post office serves up cards from Project 1875.  I met Heather Swensen Kimber in LA at a Freedym Mastermind with Ryan Lee and when she shared her project, it just left everyone speechless.  She was with her own mother for 1,875 days, and when she reached that milestone for her oldest daughter, she made a commitment to be more expressive to the people she loves.  She created these beautiful cards that say “You Are Wonderful” and not only can you hand them out, I found for me that they also sparked a thought of a person dear to me. www.Project1875.com #URWonderful Swami Tirtha, the first call of the year! “Leave everyone better than you found them.” Tim Combs, Carol Newton, Bennie Jean Muliere, Danny Rosin, Maggie Kane, DC Goliath, Nancy Erhard I hope you had a wonderful new years eve and January 1st! Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness. Love & Gratitude, Rob Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/rob.lowe.50999405/videos/477274919343194/ Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Bright Smiles AFIL Miracle Messages A Place At the Table Raleigh Brand Fuel Marketing Band Together NC

The Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation (JAJF) is an organization led by Jon Albert to help parents diagnosed with late-stage cancer to celebrate and build timeless family memories with their children and spouse. Every family walks away with an incredible experience and a photobook filled with smiles. Find out more about Jon’s non-profit on today’s show!   Key Takeaways: [3:15] What does Jon do for JAJF?  [5:20] Jon lost his wife, Jill, to cancer 12 years ago. [6:00] Jill faced three very strong emotions while battling cancer.  [11:25] It was amazing to see the different faces and ages of people who were in chemotherapy with Jill. [16:20] The real wish families have is not to see famous musicians or actors, but to have more time with their loved ones. [23:25] Jon believes in transparency, and you can view all of his numbers on his website. [30:20] It’s about making an impact on one person, one family, at a time. [37:15] Don’t just write a check. Include your children or grandchildren in the process! [40:20] What is Share The Wow all about?  [47:35] Every family gets their own personalized photo book. [48:50] Jon shows Rob their annual reports which are named ‘The Smile Book’. [50:55] It’s so important to thank the supporters and donors. Jon spends a huge amount of time just saying ‘thank you’. [53:00] So many just need to slow down and celebrate family while everyone is still healthy.   Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation (JAJF) Remember the families: https://jajf.org/families/

Welcome to the 106th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about Christmas joy! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: Merry Christmas! Those costumed mischief makers on today’s cover are part of the OakLuv crew, bringing Christmas joy to kids and families in the Fruitvale District of my hometown, Oakland, California. OakLuv Foundation was created by Knucklehead Santa (aka Alex Cox ), Chaz the Elf (aka Alan Smith) and Hot Toddy (aka Todd Marshburn) pretty much on a whim. With an initial intention of "Just having some fun by surprising people with stuff, they might need," the guys stumbled upon the incredible joy of giving. Now in their 10th year, OakLuv stepped up its game in 2018 with a 3 block Posada, a Christmas celebration in Mexico with an Oaktown twist. A block party with slides, snow, and Santa, a Christmas tree lot was a much welcome last-minute addition thanks to Alex Gramling and the Christmas Tree Santas who were featured on our Christmas episode earlier this week (insert link). The seed for the Christmas Tree Santas was planted in 2010 when founder Alex Gramling gave a tree to a struggling family during the holidays. He was so moved by their joy and gratitude that he decided to help other deserving families meet this seasonal need. With help from enthusiastic friends and supporters, Christmas Tree Santas was launched in 2011. Their mission is to spread hope and joy by giving Christmas trees to families in need. In their first year, the Santas distributed over 300 free Christmas trees at two locations. Since then, Christmas Tree Santas have given away over 6,500 trees nationwide --- including Oaktown! Two amazing, all volunteer-driven nonprofits. Two Alex’ who I had the pleasure of connecting in November and joined missions to spread MORE Christmas joy and fun this year. Ho Ho Ho, indeed. On top of that last minute bit of Christmas magic, I had the chance to make some of my own and seized the opportunity. Me, my bro and my Mom, hanging out at Starbucks in Lodi. Cheers! Alex Cox, OakLuv Foundation: www.OakLuv.org Alex Gramling, Christmas Tree Santas: https://www.christmastreesantas.org/ Little girl whacking the snot out of a Christmas tree ornament pinata: https://bit.ly/2PW5Twb 2108 Fruitvale Posada pics: https://bit.ly/2BDtnRo Reunion picture: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-wgBsnfRzjrRy01SkN3XzNuUGNvX1czYUs3VWh4ZE9naVFZ Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness. Love & Gratitude, Rob Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/rob.lowe.50999405/videos/473492999721386  Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast www.OakLuv.org https://www.christmastreesantas.org/ 

Alex Gramling is a marketing executive and the founder of the Christmas Tree Santas, a non-profit organization that spreads hope and joy by giving Christmas trees to families in need during the holidays. With slightly over 8 years under his belt, Alex has seen the organization grow from just his local community into 18 cities. Find out more about how you can join in this holiday season and spread the gift of giving with a Christmas tree!     Key Takeaways: [2:35] What is Christmas Tree Santas all about? [4:45] Alex was inspired by a  family who needed a tree and that’s what lead to the creation of this charity. [10:50] Who else is involved with Christmas Tree Santas? [16:30] Christmas Tree Santas are currently in 18 cities!  [17:20] Alex shares an amazing story about one of his donors from Texas!  [21:20] Moving live Christmas trees is a very challenging thing to do logistically. [27:30] Volunteers love giving back in this way and will often say that these events are some of their favorite days of the year.  [29:10] Alex sees some of the same families who come back year after year for their tree. [34:00] How did Alex find and partner with Home Depot? [41:40] Alex shares some of his favorite stories of families that have received a tree.   Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Christmas Tree Santas Healthcare IT Leaders Alex Gramling on LinkedIn Crazy Good Turns Podcast Episode: Christmas Tree Santas Holiday Heroes: Christmas with the Christmas Tree Santas, on AOL Home Depot

Welcome to the 105th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about The Company We Keep! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: Jim Rohn, “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with” Danny Rosin, Brand Fuel https://www.brandfuel.com/?team=danny-rosin-2 Danny’s favourite quote “I hopelessly fall in love with a lot of people I meet. The homeless man playing saxophone tirelessly in 96-degree heat for a few bucks. The checkout lady at Whole Foods who has purple hair, 14 nose rings and smells like 4 days ago who smiles invitingly and asks me to donate $1 to a local cause that seems to really matter to her. The friendly elder-gentleman who has swept the floors of The Berkeley for 29 years and takes the time to tell me about his upbringing. That his grandma, “Mimo,” taught him about true work ethic. And how he thinks today’s parents just leave their kids in front of smartphones. And that he is inspired to do something about that cultural perversion. When I ask him if I can shake his hand, to thank him for sharing his wisdom, he almost instantaneously replies, “Go.” Join me on life’s roller-coaster. Through community. Business. Music. I hope we can connect and help each other out in some way.” Nuci’s Space https://www.nuci.org/ Our mission is to prevent suicide. With a focus on musicians, Nuçi’s Space advocates for and helps to alleviate the suffering for those living with a brain illness and fights to end the stigma of mental illness. To accomplish our mission, Nuçi’s Space maintains a health and resource center for musicians as a safe space to seek support and guidance, provides access to affordable, obstacle-free professional care, actively participates in treatment and educates about awareness, prevention and the risk factors of brain illnesses. Drive-by Truckers https://www.drivebytruckers.com/ The Company We Keep book https://thecompanywekeepbook.com/ Band Together on June 1st at the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh https://www.bandtogethernc.org/ Band Together is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses live music as a platform for social change.  We have been a force of positive change and impact in the Triangle community for 17 years. Following the tragic events on 9/11, our founders decided to be the change they wanted to see in the world. They co-founded what has become, to date, a philanthropic machine in the Triangle. Maggie Kane, A Place At The Table https://tableraleigh.org/ A Place at the Table provides community and healthy food for all regardless of means. Robert Fiveash, President and co-Founder of Brand Fuel.  This is what I told Danny when I first looked at what the book was about: “Yo, WTH?  Just took a peek at the book website, Robert is a freak.  What a perfect, beautiful expression of love. Fan-fu*cking-tabulous, I cannot wait to read about the band, Homecoming, and the fans. Tell Robert my favorite song is "Late For Church"  Best line: Reverend Bob is preachin' out thunder Mom and Dad follow every last word All this hollerin' makes me wonder Does a whispered prayer get heard? Great company, indeed.  Thank you, Robert, and the whole Drive-by Truckers family! Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness. Love & Gratitude, Rob Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast www.brandfuel.com www.nuci.org www.drivebytruckers.com thecompanywekeepbook.com www.bandtogethernc.org  

Keith McLane is the owner of KLM Auctions, an organization that houses some of the most dynamic benefit charity auctioneers in the industry. Their fundraising auctioneers are certified by the National Auctioneer Association and have extensive experience raising money for important charities all over the nation. Discover how auction charities work and what goes on behind the scenes to get it all done on this week’s episode!    Key Takeaways: [3:05] Keith explains what he does and how auctions are beneficial to charities. [8:40] What kind of results has Keith seen at event auctions? [14:00] The last thing you want is for someone to feel tricked or manipulated that they won something, even if it’s in the name of charity.  [18:00] How are these auction events typically structured?  [19:15] Before hosting an event, it’s very important to determine where the money will be going in the organization. [20:05] Keith shares a story about one of his favorite events, Women’s Empowerment in Sacramento. [21:55] Some people have the wrong idea of what an auction is. [25:35] Keith shares a couple of really memorable stories of how auctions have made an impact. [36:15] What types of unusual things has Keith auctioned off?  [45:50] Keith has been working on developing software for KLM.  [51:20] It’s important auctioneers are Prepared, Caring, and have Humility (PCH).    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast KLM Auctions Keith McClane on LinkedIn Women’s Empowerment

Welcome to the 104th episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about Love Notes! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: There’s a single text from my brother Tom on today’s cover.  It says, “Hey BabyBro...The fog has rolled in up here so drive careful on your way up in the morning”  He sent that to me the night before I went to have breakfast with him When tule fog rolls in, visibility can be cut to yards and driving is hazardous. A great pleasure of getting older is observing what people say and do with a little more insight and context.  Someone else may not know it, but that’s a love note from him. Noticing something happening, thinking about the possible impact, and sharing that with me to keep me safe.   After being separated for over 20 years, his note carries a deeper meaning for me than if we had always been around each other.  As his younger brother, I might feel a little irritated that he thinks he knows best and I wouldn’t see that on my own. Maybe even snap at him, in text or voice.  Seeing Tom’s note even a few days later, my heart fills with recognition of what it means and I smile. Despite best intentions, love notes can lead to hurt feelings and misunderstanding.  My wife and I got into a bit of a dustup over a compliment I sent her. I noticed that she didn’t respond after a day and when I mentioned that, she said she didn’t know how to respond.  Wow. I was feeling some heartache, and avoiding her for several days made the situation worse. Needless to say, there’s more there than meets the eye, and we can choose to look at what’s happening openly and address it together, or we can ignore it and most likely something similar will happen again, probably with stronger feelings on both sides.  Knowing that now, it’s probably a good idea to talk about the “I appreciate you” cards I wrote her every day for a year. Didn’t hear a peep from her about those, either. I’ve also taken to including notes with my kids’ lunches and snacks when I get them ready for school.  That includes the big one who’s 19. Sometimes I write a quote I find for them, sometimes it’s “Good luck” on a test or an event.  I write them for my wife when I make her lunch, too, which is kind of funny now that I think of it. I hope they know these also love notes, no strings attached.  That’s the best kind of love, in my opinion. In the reality that I call my life, I see and receive love notes all the time and it sure feels good.  It’s simply a matter of keeping my eyes and my heart open. What’s a love note you’ve received recently? Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness. Love & Gratitude, Rob Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast

Adam Capes is the President and  Chief Idea Officer at Getaway2Give, an organization that helps charities raise money while giving their charity auction winners an experience of a lifetime. Adam shares how you can be more effective at raising money,  ways to really make a donor feel special, loved, and cared for, and so much more on today’s episode!    Key Takeaways: [3:15] What is Getaway2Give all about?   [7:55] Adam didn’t want to wait until he was in his 70s or 80s to try to make a lot of money.  [12:25] Families can combine their bids to give to charity and then go to an exotic place together because these getaway locations sometimes have 5+ bedrooms to stay in. [16:45] Adam gives a shout out to the Jack & Jill Foundation.  [23:00] We’re all terminal; we just don't know when yet. [26:00] What kind of charity auctions and events seem to get the most engagement?  [33:00] If non-profit organizations want to survive and thrive, it’s important to think more like businesses.  [34:50] Adam believes it’s important to have a full-time employee that focuses on wowing and thanking their donors.  [39:55] 410 billion dollars were given to nonprofits last year!    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Getaway2Give Getaway2give.net/giving Adam Capes on LinkedIn Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation Bert’s Big Adventure

Welcome to the 103rd episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about Capacity to serve! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming.   Key Takeaways: When I started the Giving Back Podcast, I had no desire to start a nonprofit.  Every guest is doing amazing things and I had no desire to replicate their work or compete for funding.  Besides, it was too much fun talking to all these cool people to pick a single problem. Fast forward a couple of years, and I was thinking about how I could do some good.  I know that providing a platform for social impact leaders to share their mission is a step in the right direction, and I thought that I wanted to do more.  And I wanted to do something that would help the people who give so much and make such a big difference to others and their communities. Every guest, whether they lead, volunteer or donate, talked about nonprofits need for resources to make their organizations better.  Think about it for a second: they bust their asses working to help those in need when no one else will. They get lousy pay or sometimes they don’t get paid at all.  And they want to make their organization better so they can do MORE work. Sounds like there’s a need right there.  Since they’re already strapped for cash helping people, I had to find a way to fund all this do-gooding I had in mind, and I found an opportunity. One that matched the size of the scope of need.  So I started Strong Communities with the belief that people doing amazing things for their community should have the resources to make their organizations better. Our Mission:  Strong Communities exists to help nonprofits build their capacity to serve. Problem: nonprofits work on social issues that are critical to the strength of a community but struggle financially. What we do: we invest in people and organizations doing amazing things for others.  We provide them resources to build a stronger organization and develop sustainable funding that powers their mission. How we do it: we turn vacant and underperforming real estate into working capital to serve communities across America.  We work directly with property owners to identify the nonprofits that are solving problems they care most deeply about. About Us: The Giving Back Podcast launched on July 4, 2016, shining the spotlight on people and organizations doing amazing things for others.  Since then, hundreds of guests have shared stories how giving back has made a difference in people’s lives, including their own. Serving needs ranging from Veterans and Animal Welfare to Domestic Violence and Cancer treatment, each show is a reminder that making an impact starts one person at a time, and that everyone has something to give. Strong Communities was created to serve these incredibly dedicated servant leaders and their supporters.  A recurring theme is that despite incredible results and life-transforming efforts, nonprofits continue to struggle financially.  In order to grow, they need new sources of funding that are sustainable and reflect the value they hold to their communities. To help them grow, Strong Communities connects nonprofits to people and resources to build their human, financial, and organizational strength.  All with the goal of increasing their ability to fulfill their mission. In other words, we help them build their capacity to serve. How to fund such a venture?  As the host of the Giving Back Podcast, I connect with social impact leaders, purpose-minded individuals, and companies who seek to serve their communities in ways that last beyond the next fundraiser.  As it turns out, America has a nationwide inventory of vacant, abandoned, and underperforming real estate that is ripe to transform into capital directed towards solving problems in our communities. My friend Ryan Lee is a moderately intelligent guy with a lot of integrity who has a knack for not only creating successful businesses but also helping other people create successful businesses.  He once said, “Just imagine who you’d want to hang out with all day --- and build your business around solving their problems.” Well, I know that I love to hang out with people like my guests all day.  And I know what their biggest problems are. Keeping in mind the problem that we are working to solve, I’ve gathered some of the brightest business, real estate and tax people I know to harness the power of real estate to strengthen and rebuild communities across America.  Our five-year goal is to transform $10 Billion in real estate into ongoing community service. So that’s the start!  We’d love to have you join us and make a difference for the community you care most about. Check us out at http://strongcommunities.us/ and let us know where you want to be a hero. Dan Pallotta, TED 2013: “The way we think about charity is dead wrong” https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong?language=en Simon Sinek: Start With Why, the Golden Circle clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPYeCltXpxw Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness. Love & Gratitude, Rob Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast StrongCommunities.us

Kathryn Guylay has spent more than 25 years in business and non-profit management. She founded Nurture more than 10 years ago and it has changed the food dynamics of families all over. This non-profit strives to provide health and wellness solutions as well as healthy eating choices for children and their families so that they avoid a whole host of illnesses (like diabetes). Find out more about Kathryn and her mission on today’s show.    Key Takeaways: [3:10] Who is Kathryn and why did she start Nurture?  [8:45] A lot of Nurture’s materials are in Spanish to help low-income populations. Does Kathryn speak Spanish? [11:15] Now that Nurture has been born, what is Nurture meant to do? What’s Nurture’s purpose? [12:50] When you’re in the middle of creating something amazing, write it down!!! [14:35] The universe truly provides when you speak out and declare your intentions. [17:05] However, obstacles will show up in your path from time to time because the universe truly wants to knows if you’re 100% committed. [19:55] What kind of work does Nurture do?  [21:10] When it comes to food, people can get very defensive. Kathryn wanted to create a no-judgement zone.  [24:55] It’s important to add new habits instead of trying to take away bad habits right off the bat. [34:10] By getting the whole family involved (not just the kids), you really begin to change a whole community and help them build fantastic, healthy habits.  [37:25] How does Kathryn measure her results? [39:35] All the families are making more home-cooked meals and 78% of them had much more energy.  [43:40] Not only were the adults learning how to cook, but the kids were learning how to do kid-friendly meals with a babysitter as well.  [48:15] Kathryn shares why her website is an excellent resource to get easy, cheap, and healthy meals.  [52:45] How does Kathryn raise funds for her charity as well as get sponsorships? [57:30] Kathryn discusses how she gets grant money to help fund her organization.   Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Nurture Make Everything Fun Make Wellness Fun Kathryn Guylay on LinkedIn Rev.com Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success, by Adam Grant

Welcome to the 102nd episode of Giving Back Insights! Insights are our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about The Purpose of Life! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: A few days ago I was talking with Winnie Huang, a teammate and friend.  She’s a hard worker, very smart, and a delightful personality. She is also a deeply spiritual person of the Christian faith, and when I shared my favorite passage from the bible, Matthew 25:34-40, our conversation veered to what it takes to transform to our best selves.   The central theme of that passage is living a life of service, which I am clearly interested in.  For my money, Matthew 25:34-40 is essentially the guiding principle to live a fulfilling life, whether you call our Creator “God”, “Jehovah”, “Allah”, “the Light”, or “the Universe”.  The question of transformation came up because for Winnie, although she WANTS to serve freely and joyfully, without thought of recompense or acknowledgement, the mindset of service seems to be in contradiction to our human nature.  How do we get there? We talked about how our bodies respond to doing good for others, the feel-good rush of endorphins, dopamine and serotonin.  We talked about the virtuous cycle of Abundance versus the prevailing zero-sum, “I win, you lose/You win, I lose” attitude in most countries.  We talked about needing a guiding example (in her case, Jesus Christ) or having what we need in our hearts to live a life of service without a divine figure. What we were talking about is Choice.   Choosing to respond versus react.  Choosing a midlife awakening instead of a midlife crisis.  Choosing to be around those who lift you up. Choosing purpose and meaning versus distraction.  Choosing behaviors that reflect your intentions and moving forward, open to the outcomes. Yeah, choice is what it takes to transform into the best version of yourself.  Pretty cool to walk away from a conversation immensely satisfied, like a long, cool drink of water on a hot summer day.  Zat Rana wrote a great article about choice called “The Purpose of Life Is Right In Front of You” and I’m going to read the juicy bits right now. Carl Sagan asked us to briefly pause for a moment to look at the image on today’s cover: “Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every “superstar,” every “supreme leader,” every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there–on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.” The purpose of life is right in front of us: It’s to create a reality we want to inhabit — to reach towards the better end of our conscious experience. At each moment, in every second of life, we are given a choice about how we want to conduct ourselves in this world, and though it might not always seem like it, each of these choices are of consequence. They each interact with culture to give it a new form; a form that we are responsible for creating by either doing what is right or doing what is wrong in that specific moment. A grandfather telling stories to a young boy may just nudge that boy to one day write his own stories, ones that help ease the burden on all our minds. An especially caring teacher may infect a little girl with an engineering passion that later gives her the vitality to make the breakthrough that permanently changes our relationship to outer space. And of course, both that boy and that girl may just inspire millions of other people, who may inspire many millions more, in a long, unbroken chain of interactions until perhaps, one day, the ideas of war and hate and poverty will be foreign to us — or at least take a different form, one that is, again, a little kinder, a little gentler.” Let’s create the reality we choose to live in, Winnie. Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness. Love & Gratitude, Rob The Purpose of Life Is Right In Front of You – Zat Rana – Medium Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/givingbackpodcast/videos/1150638741760805 Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast

Christina Noel wanted to be doing more with her time, with her life, and find true meaning. A friend asked,  “What would you do with your life if you didn't have to worry about money?” This is what sparked the creation of Arc Benders, a place to inspire and equip people who are using their unique talents to change the world. Christina is also the co-founder of the NC B Corps, a group of business leaders dedicated to using business as a force for good. Find out how Christina works with other social entrepreneurs on today’s show!  Key Takeaways: [4:45] How did Arc Benders get started? [5:55] Seven years ago, Christina had her ‘ah-ha’ moment. [6:45] You can change the world in so many different ways.  [9:10] Christina was afraid that she would keep putting her dreams on hold. [10:55] Why did Christina decide to hit the road and interview these amazing social entrepreneurs face-to-face? [15:05] Christina is halfway through her goal of interviewing 100 people! [23:30] Real change and important work take time.  [29:25] What kind of stories has made the most impact on Christina so far? [33:25] What is NC B Corp about? [42:35] Christina only took this leap 5 months ago!  [43:30] How can we help more B corps succeed?  [46:20] Christina gives a shoutout to some of her favorite organizations.    Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast Arc Benders Christina Noel on LinkedIn NC B Corp on Facebook Unity Digital Agency MassChallenge StartingBlock Madison Protopia BandTogetherNC

Welcome to the 101st episode of Giving Back Insights!  Insights is our solo show to celebrate how our guests and their charities serve others, explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and connect. Today we’re talking about the impact and importance of Thanks Giving day in our life! Enjoy today’s episode and keep your comments and feedback coming. Key Takeaways: Happy Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving.  It’s my favorite holiday, a day to give thanks, to say thank you, to express gratitude.  What an awesome, optimistic idea. How do you get more American than that? Jon Carroll was a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle who retired a few years ago.  While he was not as well known as Herb Caen and his three-dot journalism, I enjoyed infrequently reading Jon’s funny, empathetic, and oftentimes insightful columns.  His very best writing was about his granddaughter Lauren, which was primarily about his own self-discovery. Every year Jon would reprint a slightly updated version of a Thanksgiving column he wrote many years ago.  The first time I read it, I felt he captured the spirit of the holiday so well in his own quirky way that I made it part of my own annual celebration.  I’ve always wanted to share it with a group of friends so that’s exactly what I’m going to do today. Before I read Jon’s column, I’m gonna count me some blessings.  I say some because I have an absurdly abundant life and I’ve forgotten more awesomeness from the last year alone than most people have in a decade.  So I’m gonna give thanks for some big stuff from 2018, especially the people who made it magic. First off is my awesome family.  Ursula, Carson, Tyler and Rachel, you made my heart sing and the sun shine.  I am extraordinarily blessed that you are in my life and I love you with everything I have and am.  Thank you for being patient with me when I fall short of being the best version of myself, and know that I will always love you, I will always be here for you, and I will always tell you the truth. Mom, thanks for being a part of our lives.  I appreciate everything you do for me and our family.  I treasure our time together and I’ll keep doing things that show you how I feel. Tom, thank you for choosing to come back into my life.  I cherish the time we spend together and I look forward to growing old side by side with you.  Kevin Adler, Nancy Erhard and Miracle Messages, thank you for giving me back my brother. Bill Verity, thank you for sharing your family story and encouraging me in just the right way to take the extra step that Tom and I needed.  Midori, thanks for being your genuine, one of a kind self. My dear friend Swami said that I had a life defining time around May, just about the time I went to New Mexico and met Sherry Watson.  She opened my eyes to the possibilities of working in my natural role as a connector in the non profit space. The Freedym Mastermind in Los Angeles, led by the all-out 80’s man Ryan Lee was remarkably painful and powerful.  30 people, none of whom I’d met in person before, recognizing my energy and encouraging me to play in a space big enough for the impact.  And of course, the lovely Alannah Avelin and Jamie Moran, two very deep souls who are always pushing me to get to my biggest space. Teresa deGrosBois, Cecilia Thomas and Ricky Goodall, thank you for reframing giving, receiving, and asking.  Nicola, Chris and the Podfly crew, thanks for keeping the podcast going. Callum Crowe, thank you for your work on our book in progress, we’ll get there!  Krista Gawronski and Lynne Moquete, thank you for your friendship and example. Looking back at my guests for 2018 and seeing the roll call of amazing people doing incredible things for their community, I’m blown away by their powerful compassion.  Think about it: it starts with a feeling that something’s wrong. Then an idea to DO something. Then action to help someone, one person. And after time, with consistent, persistent effort, they’ve made a difference in many lives directly and multiples of that in the ripple effect.  I’m honored, and in awe, and I appreciate all of our listeners who’ve chosen to make the Giving Back Podcast part of your life. Mahalo. To finish off, I’ll go back to the start.  Ursula, Carson, Tyler and Rachel, thank you for making my life wonderful.  You’re the first thing I think of in the morning, and the last thing in my heart when I go to sleep. And now, without further ado: “A Song of Thanks” by Jon Carroll A while back I wrote a Thanksgiving column that everyone seemed to like, so I’ve reprinted it annually ever since. A few years ago, I wrote another Thanksgiving column, but this ain’t it. This is the original, slightly updated: Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. It is comfortably free of the strident religious and/or militaristic overtones that give the other holidays their soft emanations of uneasiness. At Christmas, for instance, we are required to deal with the divinity of Christ — I know some of you folks have made up your minds about that one, but not me — and on the Fourth of July we must wrestle with the question of whether all those simulated aerial bombardments represent the most useful form of nationalism available. At Thanksgiving, all we have to worry about is whether we can wholeheartedly support (A) roasted turkey, (B) friends and (C) gratitude. My opinions on these matters are unambiguous; I am in favor of them all. The Squanto-give-corn stuff has been blessedly eliminated from the iconography, so the thrill of Thanksgiving is undiminished by caveats, codicils or carps. That alone is something to be thankful for. Thanksgiving provides a formal context in which to consider the instances of kindness that have enlightened our lives, the moments of grace that have gotten us through when all seemed lost. These are fine and sentimental subjects for contemplation. Let us start this year by remembering the members of the media who travel to distant lands to bring back the story. They cover wars and famines and deadly disease outbreaks, all at considerable risk to themselves. They do what is necessary, not what is popular. They’re almost unknown until one of them gets beheaded. I am grateful for their courage and their commitment to truth. And I am grateful for the teachers, the men and women who took the time to fire a passion for the abstract, to give us each a visceral sense of the continuity of history and the adventure of the future. Our society seems determined to denigrate its teachers — at its peril, and at ours. This is their day as well. Even closer. Companions. We all learned about good sex from somebody, and that person deserves a moment. Somebody taught us some hard lesson of life, told us something for our own good, and that willingness to risk conflict for friendship is worth a pause this day. And somebody sat with us through one long night, and listened to our crazy talk and turned it toward sanity; that person has earned this moment too. And a moment for old friends now estranged, victims of the flux of alliances and changing perceptions. There was something there once, and that something is worth honoring as well. Our parents, of course, and our children; our grandparents and our grandchildren. We are caught in the dance of life with them and, however tedious that dance can sometimes seem, it is the music of our lives. To deny it is to deny our heritage and our legacy. And thanks, too, for all the past Thanksgivings, and for all the people we shared them with. Thanks for the time the turkey fell on the floor during the carving process; for the time Uncle Benny was persuaded to sing “Peg o’ My Heart”; for the time two strangers fell in love, and two lovers fell asleep, in front of the fire, even before the pumpkin pie. And the final bead on the string is for this very Thanksgiving, this particular Thursday, and the people with whom we will be sharing it. Whoever they are and whatever the circumstances that have brought us together, we will today be celebrating with them the gift of life and the persistence of charity in a world that seems bent on ending one and denying the other. Thanks. A lot. Thanks, Jon.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness. Love & Gratitude, Rob   Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/rob.lowe.50999405/videos/456933774710642   Mentioned in This Episode: Giving Back Podcast