Doing Good

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. Two years ago, he helped found God’s Word for Warriors. This nonprofit works to help veterans reintegrate into civilian life through various programs and classes.

“We all need help,” Dr. Seals says, adding that “We all have our issues.” He also shares, “One of the biggest problems Veterans face is coming home and acclimating back in society,” and God’s Word for Warriors is helping them to accomplish this.

This podcast is brought to you by Doing Good, a 501c3 nonprofit. www.doingggood.tv. 

Read Tom's blog post at 

www.doinggood.tv/blog.

Learn More About God’s Word for Warriors:

https://www.godswordforwarriors.com/

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 focus is helping people find housing, filling a big need in the community. Pastor Sura explains that there are many places to get help with clothes or food, but this is one of the few organizations that offers assistance with rent and finding housing. 

Although it is a huge time commitment, Pastor Sura loves his volunteer work. He says that it is essential for people to volunteer with something they love doing.

“When you love what you do,” he says, “even when they don't pay you, you enjoy it.”

This podcast is brought to you by Doing Good, a 501c3 nonprofit. www.doingggood.tv. 

Read Pastor Sura's blog post at www.doinggood.tv/blog.

Learn more about Better Options TN at https://betteroptionstn.com.

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 this time, Julie will focus on socializing Salem, teaching her basic obedience, and preparing her for her future role as a service dog for someone with a disability. Afterward, Salem will return to Freedom Service Dogs to begin her training and start her new life.

Julie highlights the excellent training and support Freedom Service Dogs provides to puppy raisers—an important factor to consider for anyone interested in this type of volunteer work. She also shares the emotional bond she’s formed with Salem, knowing she is just one step in the dog’s journey. “Everyone asks if it will be hard to give her up. My response is maybe, but I know she has an important job ahead of her.”

This episode is brought to you by Doing Good, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Learn more at www.doinggood.tv, and read Julie’s blog post at www.doinggood.tv/blog. To find out more about Freedom Service Dogs, visit freedomservicedogs.org.

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 developmental needs of children through adaptive music education. Currently, Jack teaches piano to one of these children, helping instill a love of classical music. Although he’s new to this role, Jack is committed to continuing his work.

When asked for advice for prospective volunteers, Jack says, 'I’d suggest volunteering in an area you’re passionate about.'

You can learn more about Love Learning Music at: https://www.lovelearningmusic.org/

This podcast is brought to you by Doing Good, a 501c3 nonprofit. www.doinggood.tv. Read Jack's blog post at www.doinggood.tv/blog

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 daughter, Jiselle, has a rare disorder. Following Jiselle’s diagnosis, Jill began volunteering and eventually founded The Jiselle Lauren Foundation to help others “who weren’t as lucky as we were” along their journey.

“Part of it is sharing our story,” she says. “You hope you can be a person of light to somebody going through a tough time,” adding they “want to inspire joy and happiness.”

Learn more about this family’s journey through The Jiselle Lauren Foundation and check out the Rett Syndrome Research Trust.

This podcast is brought to you by Doing Good, a 501c3 nonprofit. www.doinggood.tv. Read Jill’s blog post at www.doinggood.tv/blog.

During today’s episode, the new Doing Good Podcast Co-Host, Emily Green, talks with La Toya Murdock. Originally from California, La Toya is long-time a Franklin, TN resident with a passion for volunteering.

La Toya’s Mom sparked her inspiration for giving - to provide young people a good time - almost a temporary escape - “a moment to forget…” certain trials and tribulations in life. Today, La Toya gives back by serving on the board for three local nonprofits.

In the podcast interview, she shares the impact of volunteering on herself and others through Daughters of the King. the Ray of Light Foundation, Athletes & Entertainers for Kids, and more. “Don’t take what you currently have for granted,” she says. “The volunteerism, it humbles you, . . . because in the blink of an eye, that could be me on the receiving end.” 

Check out some of the organizations discussed in this podcast:

Ray of Light: https://www.rayoflighttn.com

Daughters of the King on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daughtersofthekingfranklintn/

This podcast is brought to you by Doing Good, a 501c3 nonprofit. www.doinggood.tv.

Read La Toya’s blog post at www.doinggood.tv/blog.

In this special episode of the Doing Good podcast, we’ll get to know Emily Green, the new co-host of this podcast. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and is the newest member of the Doing Good team.

Emily has had an interesting assortment of volunteer roles throughout her life. From helping out at a local retirement home as a teenager, to her time in a service fraternity in college, to finding her niche in charity event planning, she clearly values variety of experience. In her new role as Doing Good podcast co-host, Emily is looking forward to meeting the different people interviewed and learning about their experiences as volunteers.

“My hope is that people who are listening to the episodes are able to open their mind a little bit to what all is out there,” she says, “…and start to kind of think about what they could potentially be doing in their own community.” This is an exciting new chapter for her and for the podcast.

This week we’ll talk to Brittnie Battle, a resident of Davidson County, Tennessee who has an enormous heart for animals in need. She and her partner have two rescue dogs of their own, and they have opened their home to countless fosters over the last few years, which she says has shaped her as a person.

Brittnie also serves as the Director of Outreach for Charlie’s Angels Saving Animals (CASA) Transport. This innovative organization takes animals from over-crowded Tennessee shelters and transports them to rescues in northern states without a pet overpopulation. “Just changing their zip code can give them a chance at life.” She says.

CASA is a small organization with a big mission; they have transported over seven thousand animals out of Tennessee. Brittnie has a variety of responsibilities. She primarily is the “boots on the ground”, forming partnerships with local animal shelters and choosing individual animals for transport. She also occasionally drives them north herself, and of course often has a foster or two at home. Brittnie stresses that while she lives and breathes this cause, everyone can do something to help animals. There are opportunities for everyone’s lifestyle; small actions matter, too.  

"It's so important to realize that it's not about just us in life,” Brittnie says. “There are other things that depend on us…It's sort of our duty to make sure that they're taken care of.”

Find out more about Casa Transport: https://www.casatransport.org/

This podcast is brought to you by Doing Good, a 501c3 nonprofit. www.doinggood.tv  

Read Brittnie’s blog post at www.doinggood.tv/blog.

Meet Tom Ruiz, a resident of Nolensville, TN and a life-long volunteer. He has had several, varied careers, and his volunteer experiences are just as diverse. He says that he has always sought to serve others and “fill a void.”

“Don’t hesitate; don’t look for a niche,” Tom says. From serving as an altar boy in his youth, to volunteering as a city councilman in Texas, to his current service at Nolensville First United Methodist Church, Tom says that opportunities to serve others find him. “You never know what can come from…being willing to raise your hand.” He says.  

Listen to this week’s episode to learn more about, and from, Tom’s life of service.

Read Tom's blog post at: www.doinggood.tv/blog

In this installment of the Doing Good podcast, we’ll meet Amanda Root. She is a mother, wife, and the founder and executive director of the Middle Tennessee non-profit, Hope’s Bridge.

The vision of the organization began in Amanda’s own family when they decided to adopt their two youngest children. Through that process, she felt called to use the knowledge and experience she had gained to help other kids like hers.

Today, Hope’s Bridge is a trail blazing non-profit that helps to keep kids out of state custody. They do this by finding temporary placements when needed and facilitating adoptions.

Amanda says that Hope’s Bridge aims to “remove monetary value from God’s children.” Their foster families do not receive financial compensation, and Hope’s Bridge does not get any money from adoption fees. Amanda is so passionate about this value, in fact, that she does most of her work for Hope’s Bridge on a volunteer basis. The unlikely model seems to be working as Hope’s Bridge continues to expand to serve Tennessee. Listen to learn more about this phenomenal woman and the work that she does.

Learn more about Hope’s Bridge here:

https://hopesbridgetn.com/