The Do Gooders Podcast

Christmas isn't only about the manger in Bethlehem. It's about the bigger story—one that stretches from Genesis to Revelation. The story of creation, fall, redemption and restoration. And at its center, the good news, as we read in John 1:14, is the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 

At Christmas, we celebrate that truth—the Word became flesh. In the middle of all the gift-giving and celebr...

Today, we're pulling back the curtain on one of the most familiar sights and sounds of Christmas: the Red Kettle.

You've probably walked past one outside your grocery store or shopping center—the bell ringing, the volunteers bundled up in scarves and mittens, and that iconic kettle inviting you to pause for just a moment and give.

This year, for the 135th year, The Salvation Army's iconic Red ...

The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that "God loves a cheerful giver." And we've seen that throughout this series—giving changes lives, both for those who receive and for those who give.

But here's something interesting: science agrees. Research shows that helping others doesn't just strengthen communities—it also transforms our health. Acts of kindness can boost our resilience, lower stress, an...

Alright, let's cut right to it today: the people behind the gifts—the donors, kids, families and partners who show us what it means to give with joy.

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

And when we hear "cheerful giver," it's easy to picture the act itse...

Both science and Scripture agree on something powerful: generosity is good for you.

The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley found that generosity leads to better health, longer life, stronger relationships and yes, greater happiness. And long before researchers confirmed it, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or unde...

In a world that glorifies busyness, what if rest is actually the most faithful thing you can do?

In this final episode of our Slowing Down series on The Do Gooders Podcast, Christin Thieme talks with Alyson Pryor—marriage and family therapist, spiritual director and author of the forthcoming book "Come Away and Rest: A Guide to Personal Spiritual Retreats."

With wisdom drawn from her own story...

What if slowing down isn't lazy, but holy?

Hear Jodi Grubbs—author of "Live Slowly: A Gentle Invitation to Exhale"—share why our bodies and souls weren't designed for hustle culture, and how embracing slower rhythms can help us live with presence, peace and purpose.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

JOIN THE HOPEFULS. Get ins...

What if the good life isn't about having it all, but about embracing our limits?

Dr. Ashley Hales, author of "A Spacious Life: Trading Hustle and Hurry for the Goodness of Limits," invites us to rethink freedom, not as endless choice, but as life within God's loving boundaries.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

JOIN THE HOPEF...

What if slowing down wasn't selfish—but essential?

In this episode, holistic nurse educator and author Tracie Braylock talks about her new book "Radical Relaxation: Releasing the Stress You Were Never Meant to Carry."

Drawing from her background as a surgical nurse and over 15 years in holistic wellness, Tracie shares how stress isn't just unpleasant—it makes us sick. She offers both scientifi...

Do you ever feel like busyness is running your life? What if slowing down could actually make you more effective in doing good?

Author and spiritual director Alan Fadling talks about living unhurried—not as laziness, but as faithful discipleship. Learn why presence matters more than productivity, how Jesus' rhythms of rest and work offer a better way and what it looks like to serve from overflow instead of...

What's the real state of the Church today—and how is The Salvation Army positioned within it?

Jim Sparks, Western Territorial Mission Strategist, joins Christin Thieme to unpack surprising new data about spiritual commitment in America, why Gen Z and Millennials are leading a revival, and how corps can connect with people who are open to Jesus but hesitant about organized religion.

EPISODE SHO...

For more than 30 years, Maria Rodriguez has been the heart of The Salvation Army Los Angeles Day Care Center—supporting children and families in LA's fashion, produce and flower districts.

In this episode, Christin Thieme talks with Maria about how she went from high school volunteer to director, why safe, affordable childcare matters more than ever, and how a parent committee has transformed the center in...

Discover how the Big Five personality traits shape the way you see the world—and your relationships. 

Dr. Jack Anderson joins Christin Thieme to share practical ways to bridge differences, build trust and bring out the best in others.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

JOIN THE HOPEFULS. Get inside the group.

WHAT...

Today, we're covering one of America's most pressing challenges: homelessness. But this isn't an episode drowning you in statistics. Instead, we're going to explore real solutions happening right now across the western United States—ways The Salvation Army is helping to truly change lives, one person at a time.

Of course, the numbers are sobering. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Developmen...

Lately, here on this show, we're exploring what happens when hope moves from feeling to doing, from possibility to practice. And today, we're continuing our journey inside one of The Salvation Army's recent transformations: Hope Markets.

As we covered in our recent "Hope in Action" issue of the magazine, these aren't your typical food pantries. In Hope Markets across the Northwest, people don't receive pre...

Today, we're heading to Long Beach, California, to talk to someone with a unique perspective on youth programming. Captain Jared Arnold runs The Salvation Army Red Shield Community Center, and he recently caught my attention when he said, "Summer is our Christmas."

Now, when most of us think about summer, we might think about vacations, beach days or maybe just trying to keep the kids entertained. But for ...

Want to hear some encouraging news that's emerging from communities across America? After years of declining volunteer participation—a trend that accelerated during the pandemic—researchers are documenting what they're calling a "volunteer rebound."

The numbers are striking. Nearly 30 percent of Americans formally volunteered from 2022 to 2023, contributing almost 5 billion hours of service. That's a retur...

It won't come as a surprise to you that hundreds of thousands of veterans across America are affected by trauma—some from their time in military service, though not all—and yet, their needs remain deeply misunderstood by many of us who haven't served.

Not all veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder, and yet many do—in fact, some 29 percent of veterans who served in Iraq experience it at some poi...

We're exploring not just what hope is, but how it's built, sustained and passed from person to person, community to community.

Today, I'm welcoming two leaders whose lives embody this multi-generational understanding of hope: Commissioners Doug and Colleen Riley, territorial leaders of The Salvation Army in the western U.S.

The pair met while working at a summer camp, married and in 1995 were ...