Goodniks

Goodniks

Goodniks is an audio project exploring the journey and meaning of doing good in the world — for people who do good or are just thinking about it. As we follow along the journey of these Goodniks, we dig into who and what inspired them, what keeps them up at night, their sacrifices, their rewards, their failures, and what it means for their relationships. What does it really mean to do good over the course of a life, or a moment, or a season?

Episodes

July 5, 2022 2 mins
A thank you for listening to Goodniks from creator, Jeff Leitner.
Mark as Played
In our finale episode we ask our Goodniks two questions that feel impossible to answer, yet they are uniquely qualified to speak to them. One, does the work you do make you a good person? Two…you’ll just have to listen to find out. Listen in podcast form wherever you listen to podcasts: https://pod.link/1615577319 For more information visit goodniks.org
Mark as Played
June 7, 2022 17 mins
In Episode 9, we talk to our Goodniks about what they might have told their younger selves. What did their younger selves need to know about doing good work in the world? For more information visit goodniks.org
Mark as Played
May 31, 2022 27 mins
In Episode 8, we hear how our Goodniks convert the worst moments in their lives into good work in the world. When faced with tragedy and trauma, how do they remain hopeful and even use their trauma as a catalyst of their work or to recommit to their work? For more information visit goodniks.org
Mark as Played
May 24, 2022 19 mins
In episode 7, we talk to our Goodniks about who keeps them going. We hear stories about the people who light their way and give them strength. For more information visit www.goodniks.org
Mark as Played
May 17, 2022 21 mins
In Episode 6, we unpack the internal struggles, the personal sacrifices, and the external pressures that our Goodniks confront as they do good in the world. What do they have to give up to do this work? For more information visit goodniks.org
Mark as Played
In Episode 5, we talk to our Goodniks about what happens when they finish their current good work in the world. What do they do after they’ve made a particular dent in the Universe? And who are they after they cross that bridge?
Mark as Played
May 3, 2022 19 mins
In Episode 4, we ask our Goodniks about what went especially right as they were doing good in the world. Were there signs along the way that they were on the right path? And where did they find the validation they needed to keep going? For more information visit goodniks.org
Mark as Played
April 26, 2022 21 mins
In Episode 3, we ask our Goodniks about the limits they come up against as they’re doing good in the world. What miscalculations and missteps have they made? And how are they able to make peace with what they can’t fix? For more information on our Goodniks, visit: www.goodniks.org
Mark as Played
April 19, 2022 14 mins
Episode 2 focuses on what has inspired our Goodniks — the moments that have really stuck with them, propelled them into the work they do, or shifted their view of the world. Sometimes, those moments came in the form of bearing witness; sometimes, they came from an experience guided by a mentor. Either way, these experiences helped shape our Goodniks' journeys. For more information on our Goodniks and the project visit: goodniks.o...
Mark as Played
April 12, 2022 14 mins
In Episode 1, we explore how our Goodniks’ weaknesses, personality quirks, or neuroses serve the work they do. Our Goodniks also reflect on whether the kid version of themselves would be surprised they ended up on this path. For more info on our Goodniks visit goodniks.org
Mark as Played
March 21, 2022 4 mins
Goodniks is an audio project exploring the journey and meaning of doing good in the world — for people who do good or are just thinking about it. As we follow along the journey of these Goodniks, we dig into who and what inspired them, what keeps them up at night, their sacrifices, their rewards, their failures, and what it means for their relationships. What does it really mean to do good over the course of a life, or a moment, or...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Burden

    The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.

    SmartLess

    "SmartLess" with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of SmartLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laughter and newfound knowledge to feed the SmartLess mind. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of SmartLess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.