Episode 72: Jon Dengler - Executive Director of The Well & CEO of WellBuilt Bikes

Today’s guest is Jon Dengler. Jon is the Executive Director of The Well, a Tampa, Florida based non-profit comprised of a community of people committed to living in direct relationship with the materially poor. They work to help people meet material needs such as food and clothing and do it in a way that provides opportunities to meet each other’s spiritual needs as well. The Well builds real, strong relationships with the people it serves and in that way they engage needs holistically. One of the key ways that The Well does this is through the WellBuilt Bikes initiative, a bike shop that provides access to affordable bikes and workshops, ranging from repairs to safety. By accessing bikes that would have been considered garbage, as well as donations from supportive neighbors, WellBuilt Bikes ensures that all people who need a bike are able to own one. Jon’s story of how he ultimately got to where he is today is also incredible – surviving a near fatal car accident and having a life changing, mind-altering experience through LSD. In this interview, we get into the important distinction between being kind and being nice, his near-fatal car accident and life-changing experience taking LSD, the relationship between the rich and the poor, and his WellBuilt Bikes non-profit.

Timestamps

00:02:26 Growing up and his love of Tampa, Florida

00:06:36 Compassionate work and actions

00:11:53 The distinction between being kind and being nice

00:20:56 What he wanted to do for a career growing up

00:25:34 His near fatal car accident and the life-changing LSD experience

00:34:40 Leaving the partying lifestyle

00:39:32 Renting a house to welcome in impoverished people

00:51:10 The Well and WellBuilt Bikes overview

00:57:59 The weekly group rides

01:00:10 Biggest challenges in running The Well

01:05:54 Thoughts on expanding WellBuilt Bikes and the idea behind it

01:10:14 What he wants to accomplish 5 years from now

01:17:51 His driving force