Small & Gutsy: Nonprofit Stories with Heart
Small & Gutsy offers our listeners the opportunity to learn about the smaller, less known nonprofits and social impact organizations with revenues under $10 M. Our aim is to bring their stories to life, celebrate them, and further build their client, potential employee, volunteer, and funding networks. The goal of the Small & Gutsy podcast is to raise the visibility of this Big little social impact sector. Tune in as we interview a different organization so you can learn about them, maybe find a job, volunteer, or donate.
Episodes
For more than a decade, one conference has been getting ahead of the headlines instead of chasing them. Host Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff sits down with Mark Treitel, founder of TechTainment, and Konrad Trope, the conference's co-chair, ahead of this year's event to talk about how a niche gathering on technology, entertainment, and the law grew into one o...
What if the fastest way out of predatory lending isn't a lecture on budgeting, but $50 saved at a time? That's the model behind Mint to Prosper Foundation, a savings marketplace built for asset-limited households to step away from payday...
What if the fastest path out of exploitation isn't aid, but a paycheck? That's the premise behind Theodora Africa, a nonprofit that helps disadvantaged women in Ghana escape poverty and exploitation not through short-term assistance, but through real, paid work. Small & Gutsy host Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff sits down with Theodora Africa Founder and CEO Michael Podolny to trace how a business consulting trip t...
What if the path to healing wasn't a straight line, but a trail — one that combines the physical challenge of hiking with the mindful presence of yoga? That's the vision behind Hike to Yoga, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit blending guided hikes, nature-based yoga therapy, and community connection into what founder Laurie Hang calls a "mini urban retreat." Host Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff sits down with Laurie to explore how a se...
SHOW NOTES:
What if your charitable dollars could come back to you — and you could send them right back out into the world to do even more good? That's the elegant premise behind Renewables.org, the first nonprofit that lets everyday people fund solar projects across India and the Global South for as little as $25, with monthly repayments over five years. Host Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff sits down with co-founder...
So many mothers — especially those from patriarchal cultures — are conditioned to believe that everyone else knows better. The doctor is right. The priest is right. The attorney is right. Everyone except them.
South Central LAMP Executive Director Diana Z. Pinto is on a mission to change that. For over 30 years, her organization has been helping mothers in South Central Los Angeles find their voice, recognize their wort...
Imagine a place that dares to speak truths many are afraid to say. A place that celebrates communities too often forgotten and tells the stories rarely heard. Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff sits down with Raymond O. Caldwell, Artistic Director, and Johannah Maynard Edwards, Managing Director, of The Fountain Theatre — a nonprofit performing arts organization in Hollywood, California, that has been producing bold, socia...
In this episode, host Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff sits down with Tarik Kitson, Executive Director and co-founder of Active Plus NYC, to discuss how a chance volunteering opportunity in East Harlem evolved into a transformative nonprofit serving thousands of underserved youth across New York City. ...
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff sits down with Masha Merkulova, founder of CLUB Z, a national organization dedicated to educating and empowering Jewish teens to become articulate, knowledgeable leaders and advocates for themselves, Israel, and the Jewish people. Masha shares her remarkable personal journey from discovering her Jewish identity at age 16 in the Soviet Union to founding an organization that n...
Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff interviews Josh Thye, Executive Director of The Academy, about the transformational power of competitive drum and bugle corps for youth ages 15-21. The conversation explores the intense 11-hour daily rehearsals during the summer tour, the behind-the-scenes logistics, an...
Carlecia Bell, Executive Director of Phenomenal She shares the inspiring story of how Phenomenal She was born from a simple birthday club among friends and has grown into a transformative mentorship program serving young women of color ages 12–24 in the Federal Way and D...
In this episode, Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff sits down with Shilpa Alva, Founder of Surge for Water, to discuss how a childhood moment of witnessing inequality in Mumbai sparked a lifelong mission to bring clean water, sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health solutions to underserved communities ...
Dr. Laura Scherck Wittkoff welcomes Ann Medlock and John Graham, the founders and leaders of the Giraffe Heroes Project—an organization that has spent over 40 years celebrating ordinary people who "stick their necks out" for the common good. From their serendipitous Superman movie meet-cute to building a global movement around courage, compassion, and community, Ann and John share how storytelling became their most powerful t...
In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff welcomes Antonis Politis and Panos Kokmotos, two young Greek entrepreneurs who co-founded Givelink, a donation platform transforming how people give to nonprofits. GiveLink connects donors directly to nonprofits' real needs through in-kind giving, creating transparency, measurable impact, and genuine engagement every step of the way.
KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED
T...
EverWalk is the brainchild of Diana Nyad and Bonnie Stoll, created to help all of us live longer, better, and healthier lives.
Their mission and vision are to build community by walking side by side, leaving differences behind, and discovering the freedom that comes from striding together, instead of sitting hunched over a screen.
EverWalk invites you to make the commitment to become your best...
Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff reflects on the power of Indigo Arts Alliance's approach to artist development. She emphasizes that the organization understands a fundamental truth: the creative mind is a creative mind. By setting the right place, environment, and tone, Indigo Arts Alliance enables a...
Michelle Etchebarren shares an inspiring journey from struggling single mother of four to founder of Attorneys in Moti...
Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff welcomes Dr. Leah Hanes, CEO of Two-Bit Circus Foundation, to discuss how hands-on, experiential learning is transforming education for students across Los Angeles and beyond. After 13 years leading the organization, Dr. Hanes shares her personal journey from a student labeled a "slow learner" due to undiagnosed dyslexia to becoming a passionate advocate for reimagining how we teach creativity, collaborat...
One of the biggest travesties in our country is the number of unhoused individuals and families. Home Again LA is changing the narrative around homelessness by recognizing it as a situational crisis, not a personal failure. Through innovative partnerships with faith-based organizations, corp...
In this episode of Small & Gutsy, Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff sits down with Keri Burgess, founder of The Farm Dog Rescue, and Nancy Zare, a dedicated volunteer foster parent, to discuss the critical work of dog rescue, rehabilitation, and responsible adoption in Martin County, Florida.
The Farm Dog Rescue is a no-kill dog rescue organization that has made it a mission to rescue and adopt dogs, educate the community, and help an...
Popular Podcasts
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
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.
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 Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.