Doing Good

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 why Braille literacy is essential for employment and independence, Steve offers invaluable insights into the evolving world of accessibility. He also shares personal stories of students who have transformed their lives through Braille and discusses how volunteering can open unexpected doors.

Tune in to hear Steve’s inspiring journey and discover how you can support Braille literacy and inclusion.

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

To learn more about the Braille Institute, visit https://www.brailleinstitute.org.

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

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 powerful insights on validation, the impact of kindness, and the lessons learned from giving back, John reminds us that "it's not about you"—it’s about the difference we can make in others’ lives. Join us as we explore his thoughts on human connection, the power of hope, and how small acts of kindness can create lasting change.

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

View John’s podcast by visiting Doing Good on YouTube.

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

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 about death, and the rewarding experiences that come from volunteering. Ryan also emphasizes the need for community engagement and creative fundraising efforts to support these types of important programs.

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

View Ryan’s podcast by visiting Doing Good on YouTube. 

To learn more about Comfort Zone Camp, visit https://comfortzonecamp.org.

Learn more about corporate volunteering at Dominion Payroll: 

https://dominionpayroll.com/about-us#strongerpart

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

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 the transformative nature of volunteerism, the struggles of managing a nonprofit, and the role of community in fostering healing and connection.

Join us for a powerful conversation about shared humanity, emotional resilience, and aligning personal values with meaningful action.

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

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 passion, stories, and how she’s changing tomorrow for countless others through The Stephanie A. Wynn Foundation.

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

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

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, a Nashville, Tennessee nonprofit started by country music singer Brad Paisley and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley.

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

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

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 Stand Down Tennessee and keeps his local park safe and beautiful through Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms of Nashville, Tennessee.

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

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

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.