Good Neighbor Podcast: Pittsburgh

What makes Kelly Hughes with Foster Love Project a good neighbor?  

Every child deserves dignity, especially those facing the trauma of foster care. Kelly Hughes, founder of Foster Love Project, transforms this belief into action every day for children across the Pittsburgh region.

Kelly's journey began in 2013 when she and her husband became foster parents. After welcoming eight children into their home, they identifi...

What makes Marita Garrett with Civically Inc. a good neighbor?  

Removing barriers isn't just a catchphrase for Marita Garrett and Civically Inc—it's a mission that's transformed Pittsburgh's East End for a decade.

When Marita founded Civically Inc as a councilwoman in Wilkinsburg, she recognized a fundamental truth: people facing immediate needs like hunger or lack of clothing couldn't meaningfully...

What makes Tim Maloney with Dirt Doctors Cleaning Services a good neighbor?  

What happens when life's setbacks become your greatest opportunity? Tim Maloney, founder of Dirt Doctors Cleaning Service, joins Leila Carter to share how being fired from his job in 1994 with a two-week-old baby at home became the catalyst for launching a successful business that's still thriving nearly 31 years later.

Tim takes us thro...

What makes Ryan-Louis McNeil with Amachi Pittsburgh a good neighbor?  

Breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma requires community support, especially for our most vulnerable young people. Ryan-Louis McNeil joins the Good Neighbor Podcast to share the powerful mission of Amachi Pittsburgh, a nonprofit organization that has been serving youth and families affected by parental incarceration since 2003.

Ryan-Louis reveals h...

What makes Joseph Rossi with Wildside Adventures a good neighbor?  

What happens when a lifelong outdoorsman with a knack for storytelling decides to share his global connections with fellow adventure seekers? Joe Rossi's Wildside Adventures emerges as the answer—a luxury hunting and fishing tour company born from passion rather than mere business opportunity.

Rossi's remarkable journey unfolds across this captiva...

What makes Stephanie Ciranni with Cancer Bridges a good neighbor?  

Finding community during a cancer journey can make all the difference—not just for those diagnosed, but for everyone affected by this life-altering disease. Cancer Bridges stands as a beacon of support in Pittsburgh, offering a remarkable safety net for individuals and families navigating the complex emotional terrain that comes with cancer.

Stephanie Ciran...

What makes Rachel Strader with Boss Hair Studio & Esthetics a good neighbor?  

Ever wondered why beauty and pain seem to go hand-in-hand? Rachel Strader, owner of Boss Hair Studio & Esthetics, is challenging that notion one client at a time. Born into the craft as the daughter of a hairstylist, Rachel was handling clients by age nine. Though she pursued higher education, graduating from Point Park University, her passion for...

What makes Monica Orluk with Operation Troop Appreciation a good neighbor?  

Monica Orluk's chance encounter on July 4th, 2004 led to a twenty-year journey supporting America's military members through Operation Troop Appreciation (OTA). What started as a mission to send care packages to deployed troops has evolved into a comprehensive support system addressing critical gaps in both active-duty and veteran assistance.
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What makes Mike Hitt with MCM Studios a good neighbor? 

The world of professional music recording often seems inaccessible to everyday people, but Mike Hitt of MCM Studios is working to change that perception. On this eye-opening episode, we dive into the colorful world (orange, specifically!) of a Pittsburgh recording studio that's been helping musicians of all levels bring their creative visions to life for sixteen years.

What makes Rick Mason with The Pittsburgh Project a good neighbor?  

Every child deserves to feel loved, safe, and valued – that's the driving philosophy behind The Pittsburgh Project, a remarkable nonprofit that's been serving youth on Pittsburgh's North Side for 40 years. 

Executive Director Rick Mason brings us inside this vital community organization that offers summer camps, after-school programs, and le...

What makes Kimberly Nussbaum with ASL Friends a good neighbor?  

Have you ever wondered about the profound impact of early language development on a child's future? When Kimberly Nussbaum took American Sign Language as a college requirement, she couldn't have imagined how it would transform not only her life but countless others in the Deaf community.

The remarkable journey of ASL Friends begins with a stroke of s...

What makes Maria Cohen with Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition a good neighbor?  

Looking for a master class in community building? Maria Cohen's journey from corporate America to leading the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition reveals powerful lessons about neighborhood vitality, collaboration, and finding purpose through service.

When Maria's friend told her "your neighbors need you," little did she know it would...

What makes Celina Nemec with Innate Origins Wellness a good neighbor?  

Ever wondered if there's more to gut health than just popping probiotics? Wellness coach Celina Nemec certainly thinks so. After facing her own devastating health crisis that left medical professionals stumped, Selena embarked on a journey of discovery that transformed not only her own life but now helps countless others reclaim their wellbeing.

Ce...

What makes Hannah Balash with Bridal Maven a good neighbor?  

Wedding gowns deserve more than one moment walking down the aisle. That's the philosophy driving Bridal Maven, Pittsburgh's answer to sustainable wedding fashion.

Hannah Balash, a veteran bridal stylist with over a decade of experience, founded Bridal Maven after questioning why gorgeous wedding dresses should only be worn for eight hours before being b...

What makes Tom Berna with Fishes and Loaves Cooperative Ministries a good neighbor?  

What does it take to feed a neighborhood? Tom Berna answers this question through action every single day as the leader of Fishes and Loaves Cooperative Ministries in Pittsburgh's Hazelwood district.

Tom's journey from retired chemical engineer to community food provider began in 2011 when, as a deacon in the Catholic Diocese, he...

What makes Terry Smith with M-PowerHouse of Greater Pittsburgh a good neighbor? 

Terry Smith has a vision for Pittsburgh's youth that extends far beyond traditional education. As founder of M-PowerHouse of Greater Pittsburgh, he's pioneering an approach that transforms how underrepresented young people engage with science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

What makes M-PowerHouse extraordinary is its...

What makes Rich Garland with The Blessing Board a good neighbor? 

Have you ever wondered what happens when families secure housing after homelessness, flee domestic violence, or transition from incarceration - but have nothing to sit on, sleep on, or eat from? The Blessing Board tackles this overlooked crisis of "furniture poverty" that affects thousands across Pittsburgh.

Rich Garland, Executive Director of this ...

What makes Cameron Glunt with La Papillon Salon a good neighbor?  

Have you ever wondered what makes a truly exceptional salon experience? Cameron Glunt, owner of La Papillon Salon, brings a refreshingly authentic approach to hair artistry that goes beyond simply following trends.

After purchasing and completely revamping her salon just one year ago, Cameron has created something special – a positive environment that defies...

What makes Katie Sweet with Energy Fitness Studio a good neighbor?  

The path to wellness isn't always straight—sometimes it requires taking an unexpected left turn. For Katie Sweet, founder of Energy Fitness Studio, that left turn was both literal and metaphorical. After being told she was infertile at age 12, Katie discovered the transformative power of holistic nutrition when simple dietary changes led to her first pregnancy...