Do Something More-Nonprofit Spotlights & Ways to Serve Your Community

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What if your New Year’s resolutions focused less on doing more for yourself and more on doing a little more for others?

In this first episode of 2026, I’m sharing why service-focused resolutions matter—and simple, sustainable ways to give back without overwhelm. From slowing down in daily interactions to using your words, time, and talents for good, these small shifts can make a big difference.

If you’re looking for meaningful goals, simple ways to serve, or a fresh perspective on giving and receiving, this episode is for you...

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In this inspiring Christmas episode I sit down with Connie Manwaring, Manager and President of the Nebo Holiday Chorus and Orchestra, to explore the remarkable story behind Handel’s Messiah and the powerful tradition of using music to bless and uplift others.

Connie shares the fascinating charitable history of Handel’s Messiah — including how its very first performances were created as benefit concerts that raised funds for the poor, freed debtors from prison, and supported vulnerable children. She also opens up about her own journey from growing up in...

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In this powerful episode I sit down with Hayley Smith, founder and CEO of Lifting Hands International, a nonprofit dedicated to providing meaningful, needs-based aid to refugees around the world.

Hayley shares the eye-opening story of how a two-week volunteer trip to Greece opened her eyes to the realities of the global refugee crisis and inspired her to begin an organization that now supports displaced families in multiple countries. From chaotic camps in Greece to community-centered livestock programs in Jordan, Hayley takes us inside the world of humanitarian work...

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In this inspiring replay episode, I revisit one of the most impactful conversations I've had on the show — a deep dive into the giving-circle movement with '100 Women Who Care.' I personally joined my own local Utah Valley chapter after recording this episode over two years ago, and I've been attending quarterly meetings ever since. Today, I wanted to bring back this episode to highlight why this powerful model of collective giving continues to grow — and why you might want to be part of it too.

Jessica Farnsworth, a longtime lead...

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As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s easy to get caught up in meal prep and family plans—but this episode will inspire you to think about gratitude in action.

I sit down with Rob Adams, Founder of 'Thanksgiving Heroes', a nonprofit that rallies over a thousand volunteers and hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations each year to deliver full Thanksgiving meals to more than 3,500 families facing food insecurity.

Rob shares the moving childhood story that inspired his mission, how a promise to his mother changed his life forever, and the...

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The holiday season can be busy and full—but it can also be deeply meaningful. In this solo episode I'm sharing why the holidays are the ideal time to build service into your family traditions, and how simple acts of kindness can bring more joy, connection, and purpose to this time of year.

You’ll  learn realistic, doable ways to serve together as a family—whether you have toddlers, teens, or grown children. I also share lots of stories and give many meaningful ideas that you can easily fit to your own fam...

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What if one program could transform an entire school’s culture—helping students with and without disabilities build real friendships, learn teamwork, and create a spirit of belonging?

That’s exactly what Unified Sports is doing. It’s a high school program run through the Special Olympics that brings students with and without intellectual disabilities together to play in sports competitions—and it’s creating ripple effects of kindness and inclusion in high schools all over the nation.

In this episode, I sit down with Haylee Whiteley, the Unified Sports coach...

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Food pantries and food banks across the United States are seeing record levels of demand right now for so many reasons — if you’ve ever felt that tug to volunteer, donate, or somehow get involved, now truly is the time.

That’s why I’m resharing this meaningful episode that originally aired in February 2024 featuring 'Tabitha’s Way Food Pantry' and its Founder and Executive Director, Wendy Osborne. Wendy has spent years leading efforts to help families in need, and in our conversation she gives a thoughtful look into how food pantries o...

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In this tender and moving episode, I revisit my conversation with Melanie Rodger from the nonprofit organization Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep—a group that provides the priceless gift of professional remembrance portraits to parents grieving the loss of a baby.

Melanie shares her own story of losing her infant son and how that heartbreaking experience inspired her to volunteer—and later work—with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. Through her vulnerability, compassion, and insight, Melanie reminds us that healing and service often intertwine in profound ways.

T...

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Have you ever stopped to think about the power behind a simple invitation?

In this episode I share why being an inviter—someone who reaches out, includes, and connects—matters more than ever in today’s lonely world.

You’ll hear how small, sincere invitations can change lives, what often holds us back from inviting, and three simple ways to make inviting and connecting a natural part of your everyday life.

Whether it’s lunch, a walk, or a birthday party—your invitation might mean more than you know. Duration: 00:22:04

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Ben Lyne is a runner and for over 2 years he kept having the thought that he could use those regular runs to inspire and motivate others…by holding a sign while he ran that says ‘I Believe In You’. He finally got the courage to act on those thoughts a few years ago, and the reaction and feedback he’s received has been tremendous. He’s had many let him know that through this simple act of service he’s lifted them, encouraged them, and even saved their life. 

Ben’s story is an ins...

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Camille Hawkins is the Founder and Director of ‘The Wellness Farm’, a place that aims to provide tangible ways to support individuals walking through grief and trauma. This is Camille’s second nonprofit she’s started from the ground up, so she shares about the realities of working in the trenches of the nonprofit world. A trained therapist, Camillie also shares her own tender experiences with grief through infertility and infant loss. They are what ultimately led to her realizing a need for the unique space she has created at ‘The Wellness Farm.’

This in...

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When it comes to service, the most important part is the doing! We have to be able to take the steps that actually lead to action and start serving and helping in the ways we feel called to do in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. In this episode I am giving you very actionable items: one you can do today, one you can do this week, and one you can do this month. I also give simple ideas for each one. I hope it helps you see how service truly can be a...

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On this episode I'm celebrating 100 Episodes of the 'Do Something More' podcast! At the end of each episode, I ask my guests to give general advice for how people can serve, volunteer, and give back to their communities. I took eight of those nuggets of wisdom and rolled them all together to mark this 100th episode. Come and be inspired and empowered and also get a reminder of the great caliber of guests we have on this podcast. They really all are incredible people trying to do good in many ways.

...

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'Big Brothers Big Sisters' began over 100 years ago as an alternative to the juvenile justice system when a group of adults realized they could help vulnerable kids by giving them connection and meaningful relationships. Now with over 230 chapters in the United States, they have many programs to help youth reach their full potential in a variety of ways.

On this episode I feature Jill Sundstrom, who is the President and CEO of 'Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah'. She shares some great stories and outcomes that show the impact this organization...

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Kenra Keddington has been a Camp Director for Royal Family Kids Camp for 22 years. These are week-long summer camps for 7 to 11 year old foster kids. Kenra says their main goal every year is to pour love and connection into each participant and give them the chance to just be a kid again. 

The camps are 100% volunteer run, with some of their volunteers being previous camp attendees who return as teenagers to help create those same experiences they enjoyed as kids. 

Kenra shares some really sweet stories in this episode an...

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The story of Joe Tuia’ana’s nonprofit begins after he had the opportunity to help a man in a suicide crisis and literally love him off the ledge. After that experience, he learned that there weren’t any resources for men’s mental health and suicide prevention where he lived, so he decided to start creating them. Now he runs his nonprofit the ‘I Love You, Bro Project,’ where they sponsor support groups and hold workshops for men to help them find connection and purpose as they navigate mental health challenges.

Joe’s hear...

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Deb Yokshas is a volunteer with Utah County Search and Rescue, who handle all outdoor search and rescue operations in the county. Not only is their team of rescuers 100% volunteer, but they also each pay thousands of dollars of their own money to be certified and have the right personal gear. These are people who are committed on a whole new level to helping and serving in their community. 

Deb tells some great stories in this podcast about some of her experiences (I think she’s the kind of person you wou...

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Training for and running a 5k can not only be a great goal to accomplish…but also a way to champion the causes you feel passionate about. Many nonprofits and other organizations use 5ks to create awareness and raise funds to support the work they do. 

In this episode I’m giving tips and encouragement so that the next time you see a 5k for a cause that matters to you, you can go and participate with full confidence. Give it a listen and be inspired to sign up for a race...

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‘Choose Kindness PG’ is a nonprofit located in Pleasant Grove, Utah. It all started after some citizens felt there was division in their community. They went to the city council proposing a plan to promote a culture of kindness and service in their city. It began with organizing kindness clubs in the local schools, and spread from there to community events, and now they also celebrate a ‘Choose Kindness’ month in February.

My guests on this episode of the podcast, Rebecca Cardon and Ruth Horsley, are the current co-chairs of ‘Choose Kindness P...

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'Fish for Garbage' is a nonprofit that was organized by a bunch of outdoor enthusiasts who noticed significant amounts of trash littering stream banks and lakeshores of popular fishing locations in Utah. They started by encouraging local anglers to collect garbage each time they went out fishing, and then began organizing official events inviting volunteers and locals to come help pick up trash.

Now they organize around six cleanups every year in the spring and summer that mobilize hundreds of volunteers all over the state. They recently reached the impressive milestone...

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Looking for a very doable but also impactful way to serve someone around you today? Consider giving a genuine compliment, to a stranger or someone you know. It doesn’t need to feel forced either. Just take the good thoughts you’ve already had about somebody else, and have the courage to share them. You can do it through text, in person, or even write them a note.

I originally aired this episode in August of 2023, but I wanted to share it again because in it I tell a cool experience I ha...

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Trigger warning: this episode mentions suicide

Jen Spencer had spent 20 years as a meth addict and was living on the streets of Ogden, Utah during a particularly cold and bitter winter. She remembers the feeling of cold completely overwhelmed her, zapping her energy and even her will to live. During a particularly dark and broken moment, she decided to reach out to God in prayer. The answer she received during that prayer helped her to start a rehab program. Only three months into her recovery she learned about the technology of...

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Bryan Ware was out to dinner with his family one night when he wondered, could someone do something with all the restaurant crayons kids use and repurpose them? After pondering that question for a couple years and doing a little research, he finally started his nonprofit ‘The Crayon Initiative.’

Using his manufacturing background, he slowly figured out a way to collect recycled crayons, remake them into new crayons with a unique design, and donate those new boxes to children’s hospitals all over the country for sick kids to use.

At t...

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Giving of our time and volunteering is important and a great way to serve in our communities, but in this episode I’m switching my focus just a little bit and talking about how important it is to donate money and physical goods as well…especially to the nonprofits in our community. Donations, large and small, are their lifeblood and they are truly appreciative of any amount someone can give.

I’m sharing a few tips on how anyone can make donating a regular part of their life by learning how to tak...

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While navigating her husband’s sudden job loss, Emily Buss wanted to still be able to provide a fun birthday for her daughters…but after looking around for community resources didn’t know how she could do it. A friend ended up anonymously sharing a list with the community, and packages started arriving on Emily’s doorstep…even down to the cute cat napkins her daughter had requested. From there Emily realized there was a real need in the community to provide birthday supplies to other families walking through difficult times, and that was the be...

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Allison Bond is 28 years old, has cerebral palsy, and lives in Lincoln, Arkansas. During the COVID pandemic she decided she wanted to do something to make a difference and started writing letters to various people. Several years and almost 6,000 letters later…she’s touched a lot of people and lives. She writes to individuals in many different situations…people in prison or serving in the military to people affected by natural disasters or even people in her own community. 

This candid conversation is a great reminder that anyone truly can make a diffe...

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I think many of us have found ourselves in a moment where we felt like we wanted to offer our service, or help, or assistance to someone…but we weren’t quite sure what to say or do. This is a topic I have pondered and studied for the last 7-8 years. I’ve even kept pages in notebooks where I’ve written down phrases and questions I have heard others use when they were trying to offer service or help to someone. So this episode is my attempt to share a small piece of...

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‘Joyful Welcome’ started after the founder saw a father leaving the hospital with his new baby wrapped in his coat. She decided to start making welcome kits with essential baby items for newborns and their families and distributing them to her local hospital. 

My guest, Brenda Sanford, is now the chair of ‘Joyful Welcome’. She learned about what they do at a local church meeting, and felt inspired to start volunteering. It was a short time later when the founder thought she might have to shut down her nonprofit, and Brenda courageou...

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One of Amy Chandler’s missions with her nonprofit is to be a catapult for lasting transformation. She is the Founder and Executive Director of 'My Story Matters' and they’ve developed courses to help people take ownership of their story and have the tools they need to live with intention and create real change in their lives.

Amy emphasizes that their curriculum is really for anyone, but she’s had the opportunity to lead these courses in many places, including the prison system. Amy currently visits the prison three days a week...

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Service is a great tool for building a sense of community…and we can also use our communities to serve in big ways. In this episode I’m sharing some ideas I’ve seen from different organizations and people and how they use the power of gathering people together to serve and lift  in many beautiful ways. I also give my thoughts on why using this power of community to serve with our families is a good idea too. Listen and you might hear an idea that could help you, your family, or your ow...

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She’s been in media outlets all over the U.S. championing the ‘free range kids’ movement, and I feel honored to have the opportunity to feature Lenore Skenazy on this episode of the podcast.

Lenore shares how she became the standard bearer for this idea of helping parents foster growth in their kids by allowing them to have independent experiences. We also talk about the nonprofit she co-founded called ‘Let Grow.’ Its goal is to make it easy, normal and legal to give kids the independence they need to grow into capab...

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As a culinary student at a school in downtown Salt Lake City, Jessica Lowe realized that instead of throwing out the food they prepared each week, she and her classmates could share it with the homeless people they often saw on their way to and from class. And that’s exactly what she started to do and continued to do for several weeks. After the class was finished, Jessica realized she wanted to keep serving food and meals, and her nonprofit 'A Little Too Kind' was born.

Now each Thursday, she se...

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Cindy Trussel describes herself as a ‘doer’ and a hard worker. She likes to solve problems and has used that tenacity in many ways to serve and lift those around her. She came to the United States from Australia with her family as a young girl and knows what it’s like to navigate a new country and culture. After raising five biological children and then adopting three more, she felt pulled to the nonprofit world. She was involved in different ways and eventually found her life’s calling working with refugee and immigran...

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It's the Christmas season and many of us are busy with to do lists and hoping to make this time a fun and magical one for our families and those around us. But today I am going to be sharing simple ideas on how you can 'Light the World' with simple acts of kindness and service.

This isn't meant to be another burden or thing to add to your to do list. This is meant to be a resource and a source of inspiration and joy as we all do our...

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Chauncy and Kelli Johnson experienced tragedy on Christmas Eve in 2010 after a snowboarder collided with Kelli and their five-year-old daughter, Elise, while they were skiing. Elise and the snowboarder both ended up passing away, and Kelli spent several months recovering from a traumatic brain injury. It was because of these experiences and the passion they have had for skiing their whole lives that they decided to start their 'Snow Angel Foundation'. With this foundation they began the campaign ‘Ride Another Day’ to encourage safety and awareness for skiers and snowboarders and others recreating in t...

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Everyone needs to feel at times like they matter or that what they do matters. Expressing gratitude to those around us for the ways they have helped us and inspired us can be a beautiful way of helping others feel seen and loved…but it can also be a simple and profound way to serve. 

Listen to this episode to hear my thoughts on how you can craft a sincere ‘thank you’ that can truly make a difference in someone else’s life.

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This week is unique for the podcast because I’m featuring a museum for the first time…the Springville Museum of Art. My guests Jacquelynn Sokol and Emily Larsen both work for the museum and they share some great thoughts about the power of art and the museum’s mission to make art accessible to everyone in their community. They share about the many programs the museum does, and also about some of the unique and long-running exhibits they do each year. I especially loved the message shared at the end of this episod...

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Holly Christensen is a wife and homeschooling mom of three children, running her nonprofit ‘The Magic Yarn Project’ from her home. It all started several years ago when she decided to make a soft Rapunzel wig for a friend’s little girl who had been diagnosed with cancer. The wig was a hit…and Holly then started making more wigs for her local hospital, and from there her nonprofit took off. They’ve now delivered over 60,000 wigs to all 50 states and 52 countries around the world.

I loved this interview because Holly really sha...

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With Hurricanes Helene and Milton that have recently hit the United States, the topic of how to help after a natural disaster is at the forefront of many people’s minds. In this episode I’m sharing just a few ideas of ways you can serve and support communities that have experienced a natural disaster.

Many of us have good intentions and truly want to offer help where it’s needed, so one thing I stress in this episode is making sure you offer your service in a coordinated way through reputa...

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This week on the podcast I am featuring my niece, Mckell Draper. Mckell is currently serving as a service missionary for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a service missionary, she is dedicating 18 months to full time service at a variety of church and community organizations. Mckell takes us through what a typical day and week look like for her, she shares about some of the service sites she gets to work at, and she tells some really touching stories of times she’s been able to connect wi...

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Ashlee Taylor has worked with nonprofits for her entire career and she now serves as the Executive Director of The Refuge Utah, a center that assists victims and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. This can be a sensitive topic to cover, but I think an essential one as well. I really appreciated the ways Ashlee shared about the variety of services they offer, the real needs their center is actively fulfilling in their community, and even the stories of some of the people they’ve been able to help. I love ho...

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It’s that time of year when many families are finally getting settled into their school routine and schedule. Life can be busy! Running kids around, balancing many responsibilities in and outside our homes, and keeping up with all that life has to offer. So with this episode I wanted to take a minute to give the reminder that volunteering in our children’s schools is a great way for parents…and even grandparents…to serve and make a difference!

I share my personal reasons for why that is and give some enc...

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Danielle Simko graduated from high school this last May and along with everything else that you can imagine a busy senior doing, she also competed in her local city’s pageant with the Miss America organization.

On this episode Danielle shares about the community service initiative she started called ‘Lead with Light’. Her goal with it is to teach different areas of leadership to children and youth, giving an especial focus on service and helping those around you. I love how we were able to discuss the ways that service can help y...

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Anadine Marshall has done work with many nonprofits in a variety of ways…and right now she’s serving as the Programs Director with the nonprofit Charity Vision. I was so inspired by this nonprofit and the work they do to not only restore curable sight impairment worldwide…but also the goal they have of empowering the communities they work with to be self-sustaining and giving them the tools they need to facilitate their own solutions for the work of giving vision care.

Anadine talks about the Sight Buddies program that Charit...

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In the United States, September 11 has been officially recognized and established under federal law as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Organizations all over the nation…including nonprofits, employers, faith and religious groups, cities and schools…organize projects and use this day to encourage the people of our nation to serve and reach out to others. On today’s episode I’m giving you just a little background on this day and also some ideas for how you can participate.

Links mentioned in the episode:
JustServe.org
American Red Cros...

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Amy Francis is the Founder and CEO of Rocky Mountain Therapy Dogs. They are a non-profit that offers training and certification of dogs, as well as connecting dog handlers with service opportunities in the community. Therapy dogs are a little different than service animals. While they are working dogs, instead of providing a service to one individual, they are used to serve and provide therapy in a myriad of different ways to many different people.

 That is one of the things I loved learning about this non-profit. Their therapy dogs are i...

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This podcast episode is a sweet and tender interview with my husband’s cousin, Camber Hess. Camber lost one of her daughters as an infant several years ago, and has also experienced infertility and miscarriage. In this episode she talks about those experiences, and shares how receiving heartfelt service from others helped her cope with her grief. I really appreciate how she also gave genuine and simple ideas anyone can use to help them serve and be a support to those they might know currently walking through grief. 

Camber also relates how...

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Hello! I'm back after a little summer break. I'm so happy to be back here...we've got a lot of great episodes coming up on the podcast. But today, I'm sharing some thoughts with you on why doing a small act of service might be just what you need on a bad day.
I also talk about how I love sharing doable ideas on this podcast so ANYONE can make service a beautiful and meaningful part of their own life, even in the simplest of ways.
Thank you so much for...

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Shauna Brown has been with Project Read for over 20 years…she started out as a volunteer herself, and is now the Executive Director. Project Read is an adult literacy program where they help individuals gain the skills they need in reading, writing, math, and even digital skills. One thing I especially love about this episode is all the great stories Shauna shares. She really gives a good picture of the work they’re doing through these stories and experiences she had herself as a tutor, and now also the success and good experiences othe...

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After a 5 year battle with cancer, Quinton Muir passed away in 2017 at the age of 16. Now his parents, Jeff and Lori Muir are running a foundation called the Ironman Q Foundation to honor his memory and to help other families who find themselves navigating a cancer diagnosis.

This of course was a tender interview as Lori shared her memories of Quinton and some of the reasons they felt motivated in different ways to begin this foundation and help other people in honor of Quinton. She shares how they started out by...

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Vaughn Kimball is my older brother…but he’s also had a lot of experience working with youth through work and also a variety of volunteer roles and opportunities. For this episode I asked him if he could talk about being a volunteer coach for kids sports teams. He shares a lot of good advice and encouragement for anyone that’s ever thought about wanting to be a coach for their kid’s teams. I also love the ‘why’ he shares at the end. That yes, it’s fun competing and learning a new sport, but...

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Summertime for many of us also means vacation time! In this episode I’m sharing some of my own reasons for why service on vacation is a great idea. I also have some simple tips for how you can make service happen: some of them you can do with little to no planning, and some take just a little planning. I hope after this episode you can see how easy and fun it can be to incorporate service in your travel plans.

Links mentioned in episode:
Just Serve

Fo...

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When she was a freshman in high school, Meg Busing was in a tragic car accident with some of her friends. She ended up with a traumatic brain injury and as a teenager had to learn how to navigate life with a distinct set of new challenges. She was able to successfully graduate high school, but a few years later in college, she had her first seizure and was diagnosed with epilepsy. She managed to achieve her dream of graduating with her degree in nursing, but then a few years later during a...

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Jen Simonic and Masey Kaplan are both crafters at heart and have been friends for over 30 years. After having their own experiences with finishing crafting projects for other friends and loved ones who had passed away, they started tossing around the idea of a nonprofit where they could create a community of crafters who would be available to finish projects families and individuals would like finished that their loved ones had started.

Now their nonprofit, Loose Ends, has a community that spans 64 countries and over 24,000 people. Their mission is to ease...

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It’s Mother’s Day coming up this Sunday here in the United States…so this episode is dedicated to all the good women out there and the good service they do with their own families and those around them.

First, I'm sharing some pretty personal thoughts about a conversation I had years ago that gave me a shift on my motherhood and navigating the challenges of life. And I’m also sharing a fun poem I wrote a few years ago that highlights all the good daily work Mother’s do. My goa...

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Melanie Rodger lost her first son just 32 hours after his birth when she was 20 years old. That loss prompted her to want to seek community and not feel alone as she navigated the grieving process. During that time, she learned about 'Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep', a nonprofit that provides remembrance portraits to parents experiencing the death of a baby. Melanie had known she wanted to be a part of other families' stories in a way that others had been there for her, and when she was ready she started volunteering...

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Several years ago Krysti Wright felt nudged to more intentionally start using her gifts and talents to make a difference in the world. She had always loved doing long-arm quilting and decided that was where she could make her contribution. She started off with a small group of women who worked together making and donating quilts to different causes. But then she started having other groups reach out to her who wanted to help or needed service projects to do, and that’s when she realized what her real role was. 

Now...

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Time! We all wish we had more of it! Especially when it comes to serving and helping others, many of us feel we wish we had time to do more of those good things we’ve felt inspired or nudged to do. In this episode I’m sharing some of my thoughts on time and submitting the idea that we are more in control than we think.  I talk about the famous ‘Good Samaritan’ study done back in the 70s that looked at this concept of serving others and time, and I’m sharing 5 t...

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Janelle Christensen has been involved with Family Haven in a myriad of ways for almost 15 years and right now she serves as the Director. On this episode of the podcast she shares how Family Haven fulfills its primary purpose of preventing and treating child abuse.

What impressed me in this interview is Family Haven truly believes in coming at this sensitive issue from all sides. First by empowering families and giving them the tools they need to be healthy and succeed, through things like parenting classes and providing child care that...

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Brady and Andrea Murray are the parents of 11 children, 7 of them they adopted into their family. Their journey with adoption and their passion for advocating for children began after their first son was born with Down syndrome. Soon after that, they became aware of the fate that many children born with Down syndrome around the world face of being abandoned or left in orphanages.

That fueled their idea to create a nonprofit to help many of those children find families and homes. The mission of their nonprofit now is to inspire...

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This week the podcast is celebrating one year! I am so proud of putting out an episode each week for one whole year. I also am so, so grateful for every guest that graciously gives of their time to come on the show, and each person that downloads, follows, or shares.

This episode is a fun one celebrating the podcast...I'm sharing some fun stats, talking about some favorite episodes, and answering some of the questions I regularly get about the podcast.

Give it a listen to learn a...

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‘People Helping People’ is a non-profit organization that likes to say they are often in the business of building confidence. They help primarily women and single mothers gain and keep good employment so they can provide for themselves and their families. 

My guest on the podcast this week Kristen Carr is the Community Outreach Coordinator, and she shared that many of the women and single mothers that come into their program have gone through hard and traumatic experiences. But through the mentoring and coaching those women receive at People Helping People, they...

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Tallia Feltis was raising her young kids in Provo, Utah when she realized they needed an accessible and affordable place they could go to create, explore, learn and try new things. She decided to be the one to create that community space, and the Neighborhood Art Center was born. 

Tallia’s taken her passions from visiting other Children’s Museums around the country and seeing what her own kids enjoyed doing, and she’s put all of those ideas together into one engaging space for children and families. In this episode she wal...

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Anxiety and depression have been a reality for me like they are for many others. In this episode I share what I’ve learned about the nature of managing my own mental health, and one way of doing it is to find regular things I put in my daily life and routines that help me navigate those challenges and keep moving forward. I share why I truly believe service can be a great thing to incorporate when someone is wanting to improve their mental health. I also give some concrete ideas anyone can us...

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Wendy Osborne was working in a corporate career when she found herself on a spiritual journey and felt inspiration come that she needed to open a local food pantry in her community. She decided to name the pantry ‘Tabitha’s Way’ after a story from the Bible about a woman who provided food and clothing to the needy. That was in 2010, and now their pantry operates out of three different locations in Utah County, serving thousands of people each month. 

I learned a lot in this interview! It was fascinating to learn t...

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Several years ago, Ivan Gonzalez wanted to throw himself a birthday party. But it was a little different than your typical party. At this party he wanted to invite children and families going through hard times, whether it be because of poverty and finances, or because of a medical diagnosis, or special needs. After having a great time watching these kids be able to experience true joy for the evening, Ivan decided to plan another event and then another, and that’s how his non-profit ‘Best Seat in the House’ began. 

And now...

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On this episode I'm sharing 3 simple ways anyone can use service to strengthen, boost, or improve their relationship with their spouse or significant other. And of course, I share a few stories about me and my husband!

At its core, service is an act of love. It naturally brings good feelings with it and helps us feel connected to those around us, whether we are givers or receivers of that service. And in my opinion, there's no better way than to use all those benefits that come with service to strengthen...

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Dorthy Haskell has loved horses all her life. After receiving some training and working with adults as a certified clinical hypnotherapist, she decided to combine her lifelong love of horses with her skills and training, and now serves children and teenagers with her equine therapy practice.

I loved this episode because like any good therapist, Dorthy left me feeling enlightened and encouraged with reminders on how anyone can navigate the challenges of life and emotions that come with them. She talks about how this works in her practice and what it...

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Brent Crane has been with the Food and Care Coalition for 35 years, so he has a lot of experience and expertise to share when it comes to serving and helping the homeless and those in poverty. On this episode he starts off explaining how the Food and Care Coalition began as a truly grassroots movement, the ways they collaborate with other organizations to help meet their clients needs, and of course he shares some great stories that truly illustrate the good their organization is doing, as well as the volunteers and donors that...

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We've all had that moment when we've come home from work or a party or other social function...and realized we had something in our teeth, or our fly was down, or there was some food dribbled on our shirt...or whatever it might be! In that moment we wonder how long we walked around like that and maybe might have even wished someone would have spoken up and let us know. On this episode I'm sharing my opinion that being courageous enough to be that someone to speak up in the middle...

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The statistics surrounding suicide in construction and other blue-collar careers are alarming. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that they have some of the highest rates of suicide among all other occupations. My guest on the podcast this week, Brice Julian, has seen some of the effects of working in these professions first-hand in his own career, and is now committed to providing mental health resources and support to the many men and women who work in blue-collar jobs.

On the episode he shares why mental health can be such...

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'Days for Girls' is an organization that is working to improve the livelihood for women and girls all over the world, through education and by providing the resources necessary to eliminate the stigma and limitations associated with menstruation. My guest on the podcast this week, Tiffany Larson, is the CEO of 'Days for Girls' and she highlights so well all the many ways their organization is impacting communities and cultures throughout the world.

She shares the moving story of how 'Days for Girls' got started. She also talks about the patented...

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Listen to the podcast this week to hear a special Christmas story that happened to me several years ago. I was struggling as a young mother with depression and anxiety, and this simple opportunity I had to help someone else on Christmas day helped me feel God's love and gave me something to hold on to during a difficult time. It's a simple story, but it has meant something to me and stuck with me all these years.

And also...the podcast will be taking a break for a couple of...

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Ben Lyne is a runner and for over 2 years he kept having the thought that he could use those regular runs to inspire and motivate others…by holding a sign while he ran that says ‘I Believe In You’. He finally got the courage to act on those thoughts a couple of years ago, and the reaction and feedback he’s received has been tremendous. He’s had many let him know that through this simple act of service he’s lifted them, encouraged them, and even saved their life. 

Ben’s story is an i...

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For the podcast this week I had the opportunity to talk with Katie Bunnell, co-founder and President of the Live Your Dream Foundation. The foundation awards scholarships to single mothers in Utah to help them complete their education so they can better provide for their families. Their scholarships can be used at any university, college, or technical school.

In this episode, Katie shares her own story of becoming a single mother and the perseverance it took for her to be able to finish her college degree. With the help of some...

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It’s the holiday season! Many of us are shopping for family members and buying gifts for others, so I wanted to share a few thoughts on the podcast this week about leaving reviews.
I share a story at the beginning that really illustrates this idea, and I also give three ideas on ways you can leave a review and why it might matter.
Leaving a review is simple, it usually only takes a few minutes, but it truly can be an act of service in many different ways. Listen to th...

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This week for the podcast I am featuring my sister, Catherine Cheshire. Catherine is the mother of 8 children and has so much wisdom to share on serving your family and finding meaning, purpose, and joy in that service. She sprinkled so many good nuggets of wisdom throughout this whole interview. Catherine shared her thoughts on why remembering that service to your family is important, ways you can find joy in that service, and also simple ideas you can use to build a culture of service and gratitude in your own family. 

I...

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My guest on the podcast this week is Amy Francis, the Founder and CEO of Rocky Mountain Therapy Dogs. They are a non-profit that offers training and certification of dogs, as well as connecting dog handlers with service opportunities in the community. Therapy dogs are a little different than service animals. While they are working dogs, instead of providing a service to one individual, they are used to serve and provide therapy in a myriad of different ways to many different people.
 
That is one of the things I loved learning a...

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Today for the podcast I'm sharing a few thoughts on choosing an abundance mindset and the benefits of establishing a regular ritual for expressing gratitude. And of course, I talk about how that's all connected to service and giving back! Listen to the episode to get some inspiration on how you can start having more of an abundance mindset in your life.

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The 'Revolving Closet' is a community supported idea, where anyone can come to find children's clothes for their kids for free, and donate clothes as well. They are locally managed and overseen by individuals who run them out of their homes and do it all on a completely volunteer basis.

Brianna Call has been running a 'Revolving Closet' in Payson, Utah for several years after seeing a need in her own community and deciding to say 'yes.' She does it by appointment and holds all the clothes in her family's...

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I loved my conversation with Michelle Cox for this episode! Michelle helps parents find joy in parenting through building connection with their children and finding confidence in themselves. She offers classes and coaching through her company 'Build Family Connection,' and I'm so grateful she was willing to come on the podcast and share so many of her good insights and ideas.

In this episode, Michelle talks about building a culture of service in your family from so many different perspectives. She shares ways parents can find joy in serving their...

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I spend a lot of time on this podcast talking about serving and giving in unique ways, but for today's episode I'm flipping it around and giving advice on how to be a better receiver. Admittedly, this is something I have struggled with myself in the past, but it's also something I've recognized I need to work on...because serving and receiving go hand in hand. Graciously receiving is just as important as serving. And we actually learn how to be better at serving and lifting others, when we practice being a good...

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It started as a tradition Best Bagalwa and her husband did with their children. During the holidays and at other times, instead of giving presents or other things they would gather donations or buy necessities to send  to communities in Africa. But after a trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and visiting some of the communities there, Best decided she wanted to start a foundation to address many of the tremendous needs she saw. She is now the CEO of the Bagalwa Foundation and they have initiated many projects to help w...

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This was such a sweet and tender interview with my husband’s cousin, Camber Hess. Camber lost one of her daughters as an infant several years ago, and has also experienced infertility and miscarriage. In this episode she talks about those experiences, and shares how receiving heartfelt service from others helped her cope with her grief. Camber also relates how reaching out and giving service to others has been another way to help her navigate those losses. At the end of the episode she shares about her ‘Infant Loss Stories’ project and website, where...

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I shared the quote in today's podcast title a couple weeks ago on a solo episode...and today I'm sharing the sweet story behind it!

Listen to the podcast to hear it and also get a gentle reminder that acting on the simple, good thoughts we have can truly make a difference.

Devotional talk mentioned in the podcast:
BYU Devotional February 2007

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While working as a health coach at a local university, Tanya Macdonald met many women who struggled with body image issues and realized a lot of them carried those from their youth and teenage years. She wanted to find a unique way to reach teen girls before they started developing things like physical insecurities or body shame. She organized her 'Embrace You' event to give a place for teenagers to have meaningful discussions and uplifting experiences about positive body image.

I was so impressed with Tanya's desire to act on the...

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This week for the podcast I interviewed Jessica Farnsworth who helps run the Utah Valley chapter of '100 Women Who Care'. This organization takes crowd funding to a whole new awesome level! Members meet quarterly to choose non-profits in their local community to give their combined donations to. Each member commits to giving $100 each quarter, so their efforts together really do make a huge impact for these organizations and the people they serve.

Listen to the show to learn more about how this organization works, and also about some of the...

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One of the goals of this podcast is to encourage listeners with ideas on how to make service a regular part of your life...so the topic I'm addressing this week is actually talked about on the podcast all the time! But I wanted to put some of these ideas together in one episode.

Give it a listen to hear some simple tips that I hope will inspire you and also remind you that when it comes to reaching out and helping others, it doesn't have to ever be filled with...

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It started with Stephanie DeCremer's animal-loving daughter finding simple ways to raise money for their local Humane Society, and has now turned into over five years of Stephanie and her children volunteering together there every week. They have done everything from walking dogs and cleaning kennels, to helping with special fundraising events. Listen to the podcast to hear all the many different ideas she shares for how to be involved at your local animal shelter. You can also hear tips on how anyone can be successful volunteering long-term for a cause like her...

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Shauna Brown is the Executive Director of Project Read, a program that helps adults with literacy through one-on-one tutoring and small group instruction. On this episode she shares inspiring stories on how this organization truly is changing lives by helping adults acquire the skills they need in reading, writing, digital literacy, and math.

I especially loved this interview because I volunteered as a tutor with Project Read many years ago when I was a college student. The experience impacted me for the good and definitely helped instill my love of volunteering...

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Several years ago I had a neat experience that impacted me and taught me the true power a compliment can have, even with a stranger. Listen to the episode to hear my story (I promise it's pretty cool!) and why I think complimenting others can be a great act of service.

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Melissa Christensen is  the mother of three children, two with special needs. She knows what it's like to learn how to advocate for and support a special needs child, all while navigating the medical needs and different unique challenges that come up along the way. She has used that experience and knowledge to assist other families for many years through her work with the Utah Kids Foundation and now serves as president.

Listen to the podcast to learn about the many unique ways this foundation is supporting families and individuals with s...

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Cari Bartholomew is passionate about education, advocating for children, and empowering others through information. She has been spending a lot of time this summer at different  camps for children, performing and reenacting the role of Harriet Tubman. I loved not only learning more about Harriet and her story in this interview, but also feeling Cari's passion for storytelling and history. Give it a listen to hear the inspiring reasons behind why she loves volunteering in this way.

Links mentioned in the episode:
Freedom's Light Festival
Cari's podcast on YouTube Duration: 00:27:49

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After listening to a popular podcast that went live this summer called 'Scamanda', I thought it would be great to share a few tips on how to avoid scams to help anyone that is thinking of donating some money to a worthy cause. Of course, scams are unfortunately always going to exist and there isn't any absolute fail-proof way to always know when you're donating to one. But there are certainly lots of things we can do to make it a lot less likely.

Listen to the podcast to hear my...

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Abby Whiting is going to be a senior in high school next year, she's the first teenager I've had on the show! After personal experiences with people she loved and cared about, she had a desire to do something to raise awareness and normalize conversations around mental health. So last spring she decided to organize a run she called 'Physical Health for Mental Health.' Hear about her experiences putting the run together, and also what motivated her to do it. I was so impressed with the passion that Abby has and her...

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Lincoln Bailey was working as an aid at a nursing home when he realized how he could make a difference for the residents who lived there. What started as him doing simple things like taking them to lunch, sitting and talking with them, or even making fun videos has now turned into his non-profit called 'Letters from Lincoln.'

Listen to the podcast to hear some of his experiences with starting his non-profit and to hear more about the good things he's doing to serve the elderly in his community.
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I thought this topic was a good one to drop on the 4th of July! In our world today, with social media and the constant news media cycle, badmouthing, criticizing, and demeaning elected officials, or really anyone that doesn't agree with our view point, is what sells. It's what popular and easy for people to do. 

Taking the time to thank someone who represents us in any way (all the way from our US Senators down to our local HOA president) and being specific about what we appreciate they are doing f...

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I loved this interview and I know you will too! My well-traveled friend, Sarah Egbert, shares a plethora of ideas anyone can use if you've ever thought about making service part of your travel plans. I think there are some pretty awesome ideas for anyone staying home too. :) Sarah also shares some neat experiences her family has had while traveling and serving abroad.

Give it a listen or share it with one of your traveling friends!

Links mentioned in the podcast:
Sarah's list of simple service ideas
...

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This episode is all about the organization, Help Me Grow. They serve families with young children by offering free screenings and connecting parents to the resources they need to help support their children's growth.

Listen to the podcast to hear my guest, Jodi West, share some stories about the families they've been able to help. You will also learn about some great and simple service projects you can do with Help Me Grow as a family or a group!

Links mentioned in the show:
Help Me Grow-Utah
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