Join us as we escape into We Are Blood!

In this episode, we explore why purpose-driven work deserves more respect, recognition, and investment. We discuss how teachers, social workers, and nonprofit professionals shape our communities and why their impact is often undervalued.

We also sit down with Nick Canedo, Vice President of Community Engagement at We Are Blood, the nonprofit dedicated to saving lives in Central Texas!

We Are Blood is dedicated to providing and protecting the community's blood supply, inspiring Central Texans to save lives locally, and treating everyone they serve as family. They collect, test, and distribute donated blood to more than 50 hospitals across 10 counties, ensuring patients in our community always have access to the lifesaving care they need.

Ways We Are Blood makes an Impact:

Saving Lives Locally – Ensuring patients in Central Texas have access to lifesaving blood every day. Engaging the Community – Inspiring and supporting thousands of local donors to give back regularly. Supporting Hospitals – Partnering with more than 50 medical facilities to maintain a reliable blood supply for patients in need.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Bragging Rights:

Donate Blood – Every donation can save multiple lives in your community. Whole blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors every 7 days. 👉https://weareblood.org/donate-blood/

Volunteer – Help at donation centers, transport lifesaving blood, or educate the community. 👉https://weareblood.org/help/volunteer/

Host a Blood Drive – Organize a drive with your company, school, church, or neighborhood to make a real difference in your community. 👉https://weareblood.org/ways-to-help/host/

How to Do Some Good in Austin & Get Rewarded 🏒 + 🎟️ = 💚 Sign up for updates on causes you care about or share your #GoodBrag showing how you've volunteered or donated—then DM us for a chance to win Texas Stars tickets!

Follow along: 👉 Facebook 👉 Instagram

Special Thanks:

A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson and Jaden Dyer for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.

Join us as we escape into Special Olympics San Marcos Wolverines!

We're excited to welcome the the Special Olympics San Marcos Wolverines Soccer Team to the conversation!

The Wolverines have been selected to represent Team Texas at the Special Olympics USA Games next year in Minnesota! For these athletes, this is more than a game. It's about growth, courage, teamwork, and the joy of pushing themselves to be their best. The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and share gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, fellow athletes, and the community.

Ways Special Olympics San Marcos Wolverines make an Impact:

Empowering Athletes – Helping individuals develop skills, confidence, and courage through competitive sports. Building Teamwork and Friendship – Creating a supportive environment where athletes encourage and inspire one another. Fostering Inclusion and Community – Giving athletes with intellectual disabilities the chance to participate fully in sports and life, celebrated by their families and communities.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Bragging Rights:

Donate: Use the link below to help cover travel, lodging, meals, uniforms, and training gear. 👉 https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/6502775

How to Do Some Good in Austin & Get Rewarded 🏒 + 🎟️ = 💚 Sign up for updates on causes you care about or share your #GoodBrag showing how you've volunteered or donated—then DM us for a chance to win Texas Stars tickets!

Follow along: 👉 Facebook 👉 Instagram

Special Thanks:

A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson and Jaden Dyer for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.

Join us as we escape into Mike & Sherry Project!

We're excited to welcome Sam Hellman-Mass, restaurant industry veteran, owner of East Austin favorite Suerte, and founder of Mike & Sherry Project, to the conversation!

Founded in 2019, the Mike & Sherry Project partners with Capital Area Counseling (CAC) to provide affordable, accessible mental health care for Austin's restaurant and bar industry. Through fundraising, the Project helps cover costs for workers facing financial barriers, offering income-based sliding scale appointments starting at $25. To date, over $124,000 has been raised, supporting more than 6,400 appointments.

Ways Mike & Sherry Project make an Impact:

Supporting Mental Health – Providing affordable, high-quality counseling to service industry employees. Building Community – Helping workers navigate the challenges of a high-stress industry with care and support. Financial Accessibility – Using fundraising to ensure mental health care is accessible regardless of income.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Bragging Rights:

Donate: Help ensure Austin's hospitality workers never face financial barriers to mental health care. 👉 https://www.mikeandsherryproject.com/donate/ Join the Project: If you work in the industry and need affordable therapy, reach out to [email protected] to learn more.

How to Do Some Good in Austin & Get Rewarded 🏒 + 🎟️ = 💚 Sign up for updates on causes you care about or share your #GoodBrag showing how you've volunteered or donated—then DM us for a chance to win Texas Stars tickets!

Follow along: 👉 Facebook 👉 Instagram

Special Thanks:

A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson and Jaden Dyer for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.

Join us as we escape into Level!

We're excited to welcome Alex Wright, Executive Director of Level, to the conversation!

Level creates and distributes educational and job training content for people in prison, helping them thrive after release and break the cycle of incarceration. Their programs focus on the unique needs of incarcerated learners and their supporters on the outside, believing in the power of education to transform futures for individuals, families, and communities.

Ways Level Make an Impact:

Building Career Skills – Providing job training in entrepreneurship, computer science, and internet technology to prepare learners for success after release. Supporting Personal Development – Offering guides in meditation, art, and self-improvement to help learners grow holistically and navigate prison life. Expanding Access to Education – Delivering self-paced, printed guides to learners in over 1,000 correctional facilities, even in maximum security or solitary confinement.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Bragging Rights:

Volunteer: Help transcribe handwritten completion forms from incarcerated learners. You can do this from anywhere- home, school, or office—and directly support someone's educational journey. 👉 https://learnlevel.org/volunteer/ Donate: Your gift empowers people in prison to find purpose, gain skills, and increase their chances of success after release. 👉 https://learnlevel.org/donate/

Bonus: Share your support on social media! Every post helps Level reach more families and learners. 👉 @LearnLevel

How to Do Some Good in Austin & Get Rewarded 🏒 + 🎟️ = 💚 Sign up for updates on causes you care about or share your #GoodBrag showing how you've volunteered or donated—then DM us for a chance to win Texas Stars tickets!

Follow along: 👉 Facebook 👉 Instagram

Special Thanks:

A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson and Jaden Dyer for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.

Join us as we escape into LifeWorks!

We're excited to welcome Liz Schoenfeld, the Chief Executive Officer of LifeWorks, to the conversation!

Every young person deserves safety, stability, and the chance to shape their own future. Yet in Central Texas, more than 1,000 youth, many aging out of foster care or supporting a child, do not have a safe place to sleep. LifeWorks is changing that by providing housing, mental health care, education, and job support while walking alongside each young person as they pursue their goals. Their Youth Resource Center in East Austin offers a welcoming space where youth can access essential services and begin planning for their future. Serving over 2,500 individuals annually, LifeWorks uses data, compassion, and youth voices to provide long-term solutions and a national model for solving youth homelessness.

Ways LifeWorks Make an Impact:

Housing & Basic Needs – Offering personalized support to help youth find safe, stable housing and meet their immediate needs.

Mental Health & Well-Being – Providing mental health services and peer support for youth navigating family conflict, trauma, and big life transitions.

Education & Workforce – Helping youth finish school, build job skills, and prepare for meaningful work through personalized collaboration.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some 'Good Bragging Rights':

Volunteer: Give your time, help stock the food pantry, or support in other ways to make a lasting impact.

Donate: Help provide housing, mental health care, education, and workforce services for youth. Pledge long-term and join the LifeWorks Legacy.

Project Holiday Help: LifeWorks matches donors with youth or families to brighten the holidays, from essentials to special gifts. Sign-ups start in November, with gifts due early December.

Visit LifeWorksAustin.org/Get-Involved to find your way to help. Every act of generosity creates real momentum forward.

How to Do Some Good in Austin & Get Rewarded 🏒 + 🎟️ = 💚 Sign up for updates on causes you care about or share your #GoodBrag showing how you've volunteered or donated—then DM us for a chance to win Texas Stars tickets!

Follow along: 👉 Facebook 👉 Instagram

Special Thanks:

A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson and Jaden Dyer for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.

Join us as we escape into GirlForward!

We're excited to welcome Johanna Hosking-Pulido, the executive director for GirlForward, to the conversation!

GirlForward is a community of support dedicated to creating and enhancing opportunities for girls who have been displaced globally by conflict and persecution. GirlForward supports girls in grades 9-12 who are refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers through three core programs: mentoring, education, and safe spaces. Every girl in their community has a unique story that continues to be written, and each year they serve over 200 girls, helping them overcome barriers like disrupted education, language challenges, and isolation.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some 'Good Bragging Rights':

Become a Mentor! - Become a mentor and help girls build skills, confidence, and connection. 👉 https://www.girlforward.org/mentoring

Volunteer - Join their community of support! 👉https://www.girlforward.org/volunteer

Donate - Your support directly funds services girls need most—from camp lunches to computers and school supplies. 👉 https://www.girlforward.org/ways-to-give

Gratitude Night - Join this special community celebration on Nov 12 in Austin and Nov 19 in Chicago to share joy, connection, and gratitude. 👉 Email [email protected] for more details.

How to Do Some Good in Austin & Get Rewarded 🏒 + 🎟️ = 💚 Sign up for updates on causes you care about or share your #GoodBrag showing how you've volunteered or donated—then DM us for a chance to win Texas Stars tickets!

Follow along: 👉 Facebook 👉 Instagram

Special Thanks:

A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson and Jaden Dyer for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.

Join us as we escape into NAMI Central Texas!

We're excited to welcome Colleen Gallion, executive director for NAMI Central Texas, to the conversation!

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization, dedicated to improving the lives of millions of Americans affected by mental illness. What began in 1979 as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table has grown into the nation's leading voice on mental health. Today, NAMI is an alliance of more than 600 local affiliates working in communities to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available.

Ways NAMI Central Texas makes an Impact:

Providing Support & Education – Offers programs, support groups, and resources for individuals and families affected by mental illness. Crisis & HelpLine Assistance – Connects people in need with trained volunteers and professional resources during times of crisis. Advocating for Change – Raises public awareness and influences mental health policy to reduce stigma and improve access to care.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Good Bragging Rights:

Donate: Help ensure no one faces their mental health journey alone. https://namitexas.org/get-involved/donate/

Join NAMIWalks: Mark your calendar for Oct 18th and join in on the largest mental health event series in the country, celebrating stories, community, and progress. https://www.nami.org/get-involved/find-a-namiwalks/

How to Do Some Good in Austin & Get Rewarded 🏒 + 🎟️ = 💚 Sign up for updates on causes you care about or share your #GoodBrag showing how you've volunteered or donated—then DM us for a chance to win Texas Stars tickets!

Follow along: 👉 Facebook 👉 Instagram

Special Thanks:

A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson and Jaden Dyer for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.

Join us as we escape into The Church Lab / BridgeBuilders Lab!

We're excited to welcome Reverend Carrie Graham of The Church Lab / BridgeBuilders Lab to the conversation! Stephanie and Courtney also dive into a topic that matters - The "I can't make a difference" dilemma that people may face when deciding whether to give back to nonprofits or their community. The Church Lab (TCL) was founded in 2013 to respond to a growing need for innovative ministry experiments. While many are stepping away from institutional religion, the hunger for spaces to ask spiritual questions and grow remains timeless. TCL offers a creative and inclusive environment where anyone, whether you've distanced yourself from religion, practice devout faith, or are still exploring, can find room to grow spiritually. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, The Church Lab helps individuals and churches reimagine the future of faith, serving as a bridge between traditions, leaders, and seekers, and sharing what they learn to inspire others.

Ways The Church Lab Makes an Impact:

Hosting Interfaith Dialogues – Bringing together people of diverse faiths and worldviews for deep, respectful conversations.

Supporting Pastors and Leaders – Partnering with churches and faith innovators to explore new approaches to ministry.

Building Bridges Across Communities – Creating tools and practices that strengthen understanding, connection, and spiritual growth.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Good Bragging Rights:

Donate: Every contribution helps sustain their grassroots mission. https://thechurchlab.org/give Join a Dialogue: Bi-weekly conversations (online + IRL) with people of all faiths and perspectives. https://thechurchlab.org/new-calendar

How to Do Some Good in Austin & Get Rewarded 🏒 + 🎟️ = 💚 Sign up for updates on causes you care about or share your #GoodBrag showing how you've volunteered or donated—then DM us for a chance to win Texas Stars tickets!

Follow along: 👉 Facebook 👉 Instagram

Special Thanks:

A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson and Jaden Dyer for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.

Join us as we escape into Zilker 351!

We're excited to welcome Fleetwood Jacobs, Executive Director of Zilker 351, to the conversation. Zilker 351 is a nonprofit dedicated to making Zilker sustainably greener and accessible for all. They care for the park's natural habitats, restore native plants, protect the springs, and uncover its full history, from indigenous roots to the harder stories of exclusion, to ensure the park is welcoming for everyone. They also connect the community through volunteer events, educational programs, and initiatives that help everyone enjoy and care for this iconic Austin space.

Ways Zilker 351 Makes an Impact:

Restoring Native Habitats – Removing invasive species, planting native plants, and protecting the park's springs to keep the ecosystem thriving.

Preserving and Sharing History – Highlighting the park's stories, from indigenous and settler history to difficult chapters of segregation and exclusion, to ensure the park is welcoming to all.

Engaging the Community – Hosting volunteer events, cleanups, and educational programs to connect the community to the park and its mission.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Good Bragging Rights:

Donate to support Zilker 351's projects, programs, and vision for a thriving, inclusive park. https://www.zilker351.org/donate

Sign up for their newsletter to stay updated on volunteer opportunities like tree plantings, trash cleanups, and community events. https://www.zilker351.org/events

Help behind the scenes by emailing [email protected] to volunteer with newsletters, photos, and more.

How to Do Some Good in Austin & Get Rewarded 🏒 + 🎟️ = 💚 Sign up for updates on causes you care about or share your #GoodBrag showing how you've volunteered or donated—then DM us for a chance to win Texas Stars tickets!

Follow along: 👉 Facebook 👉 Instagram

Special Thanks:

A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson and Jaden Dyer for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.

Join us as we escape into Austin Parks Foundation!

We sat down with Caitlyn Denham, Senior Events & Partnerships Manager, and Katie Kennedy, VP of Marketing & Communications at Austin Parks Foundation!

Austin Parks Foundation partners with the community to enhance people's lives by improving public parks, trails, and green spaces through volunteerism, innovative programming, advocacy, and financial support. The organization creates programs to encourage positive use of public spaces in neighborhoods across Austin, empowers community leaders, and connects people to education and resources that promote change. It finances projects both large and small to help develop and improve Austin's parks, trails, and green spaces.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Good Bragging Rights:

Donate – Help maintain our over-loved parks and ensure all Austinites have access to green spaces. 👉 https://austinparks.org/donate/

Volunteer – Join city-wide events like It's My Park Day or individual volunteer days throughout the year. Thousands of Austinites make a difference each year! 👉 https://austinparks.org/event-calendar/

Party for the Parks – Experience a night of music, games, eats, and fun in Zilker Park while supporting Austin's nearly 400 parks. This year features a private concert by Passion Pit. Tickets on sale August 20th! 👉 https://party.austinparks.org/

How to Do Some Good in Austin & Get Rewarded 🏒 + 🎟️ = 💚 Sign up for updates on causes you care about or share your #GoodBrag showing how you've volunteered or donated—then DM us for a chance to win Texas Stars tickets!

Follow along: 👉 Facebook 👉 Instagram

Special Thanks:

A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson and Jaden Dyer for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.