Doing Good

In this episode, Kyle Lee joins Megan McInnis to discuss the transformative power of volunteerism in prison outreach. We explore Kyle's personal journey, share impactful stories from his experiences, and offer actionable insights for those interested in making a difference.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ The impact of volunteerism on personal growth and community

✅ Strategies for engaging with prison outreach programs

✅ How to fi...

What does it mean to truly bear someone else’s burden?

Karen Chambers knows firsthand. After experiencing a devastating miscarriage 42 years ago, with no support system to turn to, she founded Bearing Others’ Burdens, a nonprofit that delivers care and comfort bags to individuals facing cancer, miscarriage, infant loss, and bereavement.

In this moving episode, Karen shares:

• 🧵 The Power of a Bag: How a simple pillow, bla...

In this episode, Megan sits down with John Witherspoon, retired Special Forces veteran and president of Beacon Rescue. From building shelters in Papua New Guinea to leading rapid disaster deployments in Tennessee, John shares his lifelong journey of service—and how his nonprofit is empowering veterans, families, and communities to respond with compassion in moments of crisis. Tune in to hear how training, teamwork, and a willingnes...

In this heartfelt episode, we explore with Kelli R. Brooks and Gregory Prioleau from Roberta’s House, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit family grief support center in Baltimore, Maryland, the transformative work of this organization dedicated to helping children, families, and communities heal from loss and trauma. Founded in memory of a beloved matriarch, Roberta’s House provides free, culturally responsive programs that offer emotional suppo...

Join Megan as she interviews Cylinda Smith again – a volunteer she is revisiting to find out how she is, if she’s still volunteering, and to learn any updates. Fortunately, Cylinda continues to volunteer at Roberta's House, a grief support nonprofit located in Maryland. Her joy of serving people - and walking with them through grief - is palpable. In the interview, Cylinda shares her journey of passion for helping others, the i...

Join host Megan McInnis as she turns the spotlight on three incredible volunteers who work behind the scenes to bring the Doing Good podcast to life. In honor of National Volunteer Month, meet Azilee, our podcast producer; Jay, our audio and YouTube expert; and Carrie, our talented copy editor.

Each shares their unique path to volunteering with Doing Good, the passion that drives their work, and the meaningful moments that have stuc...

Join host Emily as she interviews Philip Hyams, a college student who is passionate about volunteering and community service. Philip shares his journey from childhood volunteerism to co-founding a high school service organization and balancing college life with his ongoing dedication to helping others. Discover how service can be both fulfilling and stress-relieving, and hear Philip’s tips for finding your own path in volunteering....

In this episode of the Doing Good podcast, host Megan McInnis sits down with Steve Bauer, a retired Braille instructor and passionate volunteer at the Braille Institute. With over 15 years of experience teaching Braille and assistive technology, Steve now dedicates his time to helping individuals learn how to use Braille e-readers, ensuring they can fully access literacy resources.

From discussing the Braille Challenge to explaining...

In this episode, John Henry Soto shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood in New York City to a life of purpose in Nashville. He opens up about experiencing homelessness as a teenager and how it shaped his passion for volunteer work and community engagement. John also discusses his artistic evolution from music to film, emphasizing the importance of creating for joy rather than commercial success.

Through powerf...

In this episode of the Doing Good Podcast, host Megan McInnis speaks with Ryan Tagg, a dedicated volunteer at Comfort Zone Camp, a bereavement camp for children who have lost loved ones. Ryan shares his journey from being a Big Buddy to taking on various roles within the organization, including fundraising and training. He discusses the emotional challenges of working with grieving children, the importance of open conversations abo...

In this episode, Erin Harris shares her inspiring journey from a career in education to founding Un/Do Mindset, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mental health education and trauma recovery. Through candid storytelling, Erin discusses her work providing accessible resources rooted in cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapy and serving diverse communities, including incarcerated and transient populations. She delves into th...

Stephanie Wynn’s family and her barber introduced her to helping others as a child. Learn about Joe and his lifelong impact on her that led to her volunteering with the unhoused in the Tampa Bay area with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. After her own life-changing scare, he also influenced her founding a nonprofit for those with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Hear Stephanie’s personal...

Debbie Hartman recently moved cross-country to live closer to her grandchild. Listen to this adventurous matriarch share how and why she uses volunteering to meet new friends and learn about her new community. Her volunteering experiences include the Girl Scouts of the USA, DECA, Home of Guiding Hands, Rady’s Children’s Hospital of San Diego, Kiwanis International, Ronald McDonald House, the Salvation Army, and currently The Store,...

Bill Crump is a career pilot, veteran, and now a retiree and volunteer. In this podcast episode, Bill shares meaningful and memorable stories from his lifetime of service. He began as a soldier in the United States Navy stationed in San Diego, California, where he volunteered for Wounded Warrior Project and Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego to serve children. Today, he continues his brotherhood with veterans through Operation Sta...

In this installment of the podcast, we’ll talk to Dr. Tom Seals. He is a retired professor, husband, veteran, and, of course, volunteer who lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Although many people take their well-earned rest at the age of eighty-five, he is busy helping veterans find a sense of hope.

Dr. Seals served in the Marines when he was young, and he has spent a lot of time since then working with veterans in various capacities. ...

This week we’ll meet Pastor Luis Sura. This Franklin, Tennessee pastor says that he has been volunteering since before he knew what the word meant, and now he does so in an official capacity. While he holds a part-time job as an assistant pastor, he also runs the nonprofit Better Options TN, which was founded in 2016.

Better Options TN has several initiatives, including mentoring and ESL classes, but its main fo...

In this episode of the Doing Good Podcast, we meet Julie Ridenour from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Julie is a longtime volunteer with multiple organizations, a mother of grown children, and most recently, a puppy raiser for Freedom Service Dogs in Colorado.

Raising a future service dog has been a lifelong dream for Julie. About two months ago, she received her puppy, Salem, and will foster her until she’s around 18 months old. During t...

This week, we’re shaking things up by introducing a newcomer to volunteering: Jack Valentino. Jack lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where he attends Belmont University. As a passionate musician, he naturally gravitated towards volunteering by sharing his love for music with others.

Just a few months ago, Jack began his volunteer journey with Love Learning Music, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the devel...

In this episode of the Doing Good podcast, we talk with Jill Pratt. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Jill is a wife, mom, and the head of The Jiselle Lauren Foundation. This organization provides grants for care not traditionally covered by insurance to families of children with disabilities and aims to “help kiddos with disabilities experience joy.”

This cause is very close to Jill’s heart as her oldest daugh...