Simple Acts, Big Impact

Pages4Progress is a youth-led organization that is empowering incarcerated voices through literacy and learning. Founders Ranya and Marisa, along with co-founder Matthew, demonstrated incredible patience and perseverance in setting up this incredible effort. Pages4Porgress is helping to end recidivism and improve literacy among incarcerated people in New Jersey.

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TW: This episode talks about eating disorders

High School seniors from Maryland, Anya and Kendyll, are dancers whose lives have been affected by eating disorders. They bonded over their shared experiences, and joined forces to launch Dancers Beyond Labels, a nonprofit organization which works to address the youth dancer mental health crisis by: engaging with dance company directors, inst...

Intergenerational volunteerism is probably one of the most meaningful types of service. It is literally a win-win. Teens can learn so much from older adults and seniors get a tremendous emotional boost from spending time with young people. My guests today - Lauren and Proksha started ForgetMeNot International, a nonprofit that works to prevent cognitive decline in the elderly through con...

My guest today, Hunter G. from Virginia, is a one-person food rescue warrior. He noticed that food at his local fast food restaurants and cafes was being thrown away, and asked if he could collect the food and get it to a local shelter where it would feed hungry neighbors. His commitment to food rescue - picking up after early morning swim practices - is inspiring, and a perfect example ...

Welcome to the kickoff of Season Four! Sophie K. is a high school student from California whose recently launched organization, Chains of Hope, benefits charities supporting the people of Ukraine. As a first generation Ukrainian American, whose parents emigrated to the US after WWII, I was deeply touched by Sophie's heart for the Ukrainian people who continue to suffer after more than th...

Our Season Three Finale!

I have interviewed more than 50 amazing young people this season, and we've covered a wide range of topics. I've learned so much, and continue to be inspired, every day, by the work of these changemakers. I'm ending the season on a super high note - Dylan Z. created Computers4People when he was only 15 years old, turning a hobby with friends into a social impact ...

California teen Gwenevere P. started the Persaud Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the ocean through education, public involvement and conservation. Through online courses, an electronic newsletter and a podcast, she and her team raise awareness and share their love for marine biology. It is always so inspiring to speak to a young person who is on fire about an issue, and w...

As we move through Mental Health Awareness month, my guests today, brothers Vick and William from Minnesota, approach the issue from an entirely new perspective - one that we've never covered on the podcast before. Their nonprofit Fish Hut empowers youth to get outdoors and into nature, and provides the tools that young people need to learn how to fish - a pastime that has been shown to ...

As we acknowledge Period Poverty Awareness week, I'm honored to share this conversation with Ananya D. a high school senior who cares deeply about women living in refugee camps, and is especially concerned about their ability to have what they need to care for themselves and to maintain their dignity during their menstrual cycles. Ananya's drive and tenacity are an inspiration.

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This conversation is the perfect way to honor Older Americans Awareness month, which is celebrated in May. Intergenerational volunteering is so incredibly powerful. My guests today, high school students Areen, Emily and Rachel, started Generation Union with the mission of bridging the gap between generations. They empower youth to engage with institutionalized seniors and other patients ...

As we kick off Mental Health Awareness month, I'm delighted to share this conversation with three big-hearted young men who care deeply about the mental health of their class mates and other youth around the world. Arjun, Tanuj and Shreyas started their nonprfoit Mind4Matter last Fall after observing a need for a safe space for teens to talk about stress and mental health struggles. Mind...

We wrap up Earth Month with this conversation with Madhvi C., and incredibly impressive young changemaker from Colorado. Since she was a very young child, Madhvi has been passionate about sustainability and advocacy around climate justice. She worked to remove styrofoam from her school, and has been instrumental in the passing of legislation around environmental issues in Colorado. She h...

As we continue to celebrate Earth Month, I'm delighted to share this conversation with Ivy, a highschool student who started the Teen Coalition 4 Climate, an international youth-led organization with the goal of uplifting youth climate voices. Now in over 30 countries around the world, Teen Coalition 4 Climate publishes a YouZine - one of the first ever entirely youth-led climate justice...

April is Earth Month and it is my absolute pleasure to kick it off with this delightful conversation with 14-year-old Cash from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Cash is an award-winning river and ocean conservationist and was named a top 5 Time Magazine Kid of the Year, and his platform is called, appropriately, The Conservation Kid. He cofounded an organization called The CleanUp Kids that engag...

My guest today, Emma J. from New York City, took a painful experience - the loss of her father when she was only 13 years old - and turned it into a joyful and impactful nonprofit called Club Care. Now with chapters all over the country and one in Paris, Club Care volunteers fundraise and create care packages for pediatric cancer patients.

Learn more at www.clubcare.org

There is a phrase - "home of the free BECAUSE of the brave." My guest today, Ben B from New York, is an impressive young man with a passion for supporting our active duty military, their families and our honored veterans.We're living through a chaotic and divided moment right now and I hope that this conversation will remind us that our service men and women, and our veterans and wounded...

Running is a sport that instills confidence, strength, resilience and a sense of purpose. My guest today, Maya M, from Minnesota, is a first year at Georgetown and a member of the track and field team. During a gap year before starting college, she traveled to Tanzania and launched a special organization called Girls Run Global, which empowers girls and equips them with the skills to suc...

This Friday, the first Friday in March, is National Speech and Debate Day! To amplify the many benefits of this extracurricular activity, I'm excited to share this conversation with Saeed who, along with his cofounder Ammar, launched The Speaking Solution which shares the skills and joys of speech and debate with under-resourced young people in their community.

Learn more at https://thes...