Escape into a Cause

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.

Join us as sit down with Dick Rathgeber!

We sat down with Dick Rathgeber, one of Austin's most remarkable philanthropists and community builders!

For more than 40 years, Dick and his wife, Sara, have given away half of their annual income to charity, $200 million, over his lifetime. His generosity has fueled projects across the city, including the Rathgeber Center for Families with the Salvation Army, which provides emergency shelter and support for families experiencing homelessness, the Bennett-Rathgeber Mentoring Center with Big Brothers Big Sisters, where youth build life-changing relationships with mentors, and the SAFE Alliance's Rathgeber Village Campus, a safe haven and housing community for survivors of violence and abuse.

Beyond the dollars, his impact is woven into the very fabric of Austin, from developments like Avery Ranch and Lost Creek to countless nonprofits he's uplifted.

At 92, he still carries the kind of drive and purpose that would tire someone half his age, proof that a life dedicated to giving can truly shape a city.

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. Thanks to The Texas Stars Foundation, you will be entered for a chance to win Texas Stars hockey 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 Keep Austin Fed!

And Steph and Courtney talk about a topic that matters: nonprofit and 501(c)(3) terminology.

Listen in as Lisa Barden, Executive Director for Keep Austin Fed shares ther mission and ways you can show up. Keep Austin Fed began in 2004, when founder Randy Rosens saved high-quality catered food from an Austin Museum of Art fundraising event that was headed to the dumpster. That food fed a group of women and children living at a shelter in South Austin. Today, Keep Austin Fed rescues thousands of meals every month from grocery stores, restaurants, farms, and caterers, getting good food to neighbors in need while keeping it out of landfills. Less hunger. Less waste. More community.

Ways Keep Austin Fed Makes an Impact:

Rescuing Surplus Food – Collecting high-quality meals from local businesses to feed neighbors in need. Supporting Vulnerable Communities – Partnering with shelters and nonprofit programs to provide consistent access to nutritious food. Reducing Food Waste – Diverting edible food from landfills and lowering harmful methane emissions.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Bragging Rights:

Donate – If you have surplus food from your restaurant, bakery, grocery store, catering business, or event venue, Keep Austin Fed will pick it up for free and deliver it to local organizations that help those in need. 👉 https://www.keepaustinfed.org/donate-food Volunteer – Be a food rescue runner! A typical food run takes about an hour and helps provide 160 meals while saving 190+ pounds of edible food from the landfill. 👉 https://www.keepaustinfed.org/volunteer Advocate – Support programs like SNAP, which return $1.80 to the local economy for every $1 invested. Advocate for their mission and follow Keep Austin Fed on social media to share their work!

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 Creative Reuse and celebrate our 25th interview!

We sat down with Madison Knapp, Community Programs Manager for Austin Creative Reuse! Austin Creative Reuse was founded in 2009 to foster conservation and reuse through creativity, education, and community building. Their mission is to inspire a community that consciously consumes and chooses reuse first when evaluating the need for personal or project materials. Through discovering the reuse of objects, people learn to make purchase decisions based on the entire lifecycle of an item. They aim to build a more sustainable and thoughtful community by encouraging creative reuse.

Ways Austin Creative Reuse Makes an Impact:

Encouraging Sustainable Art Practices – Providing affordable materials to artists while reducing waste. Empowering Community Creativity – Offering workshops and programs that inspire reuse and creative expression for all ages. Building Environmental Awareness – Educating the community about conservation through hands-on engagement and resource sharing.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Bragging Rights:

Donate: Cleaning out your craft closet? Schedule an appointment to drop them off and help fuel creativity across Austin by giving materials a second life. 👉 https://austincreativereuse.org/donate

Volunteer: From sorting materials to testing sewing machines, every hand helps keep art affordable and accessible. 👉 https://austincreativereuse.org/volunteer

Special need: ACR is seeking volunteers with experience in watches and sewing machines to help test and process donations. Those with these skills are encouraged to get involved and support the mission.

Mark your calendar: Reuse on the Runway – Sept 20: 70+ upcycled fashion looks, drag & cosplay flair, and a whole lot of creativity. Reuse Markets – Dec 6–7: Shop unique art & gifts made entirely from reused materials. 👉 https://austincreativereuse.org/events

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 Foster Angels!

We're excited to welcome Maggie Sheppard, Director of Communications & Partnerships for Foster Angels, to the conversation!

At Foster Angels, every child who has experienced foster care deserves to feel safe, supported, and valued. Many enter the system with only the clothes on their back, and limited public resources often mean their basic and emotional needs go unmet. Foster Angels steps in to provide essentials and fund meaningful experiences that foster self-worth, confidence, and a sense of belonging. It's all about helping children feel seen, cared for, and empowered to thrive.

Ways Foster Angels Makes an Impact:

Meeting Essential Needs – Providing clothing, beds, hygiene items, and more so children in foster care don't go without. Creating Joy Through Experiences – Funding extracurriculars, birthday celebrations, and summer camps to help kids feel normal and loved. Supporting a Brighter Future – Helping older youth transition to adulthood with tools like laptops, graduation support, and career resources.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Bragging Rights:

Want to earn some bragging rights? Here's how: Become a Friend of Foster Angels – Commit to giving $1,000+ over 3 years to help them plan for the future. 👉 https://www.fosterangelsctx.org/donate Volunteer – Help with seasonal drives like Back to School and Toys for Teens, which kicks off the first week of November. Grab a wishlist and rally your office, block, or friend group to make a teen feel seen and celebrated. 👉 https://www.fosterangelsctx.org/volunteer Attend the Shining Stars Luncheon - Come hear powerful stories and learn how Foster Angels is helping youth overcome the odds on September 17 at the JW Marriott. 👉 https://www.fosterangelsctx.org/events-calendar/shining-stars-luncheon Donate a Van – They're looking for a sprinter-style van (no seats!) to help deliver big items like mattresses. Or help fund one!

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 Hungry Souls!

We sat down with Breanna Porter, Director of Operations, and Claire Hutson, Director of Development from Hungry Souls to learn how this organization is tackling food insecurity for children and families in Austin. Hungry Souls was founded in 2011 by Celeste and Jason Stanford after discovering just how many children in their own school district were going hungry on weekends and school breaks. What started in one school now feeds over 2,300 families each week across 32 schools, providing fresh produce, protein, recipes, and even crockpots to help families prepare full meals at home.

Ways Hungry Souls Makes an Impact:

Filling the Weekend Gap – Delivering fresh groceries, produce, and protein to families when school meals aren't available. Meeting Families Where They Are – Offering delivery and pickup options across Austin to reduce barriers to access. Empowering with Dignity – Providing recipes, crockpots, and thoughtful support that help families cook nutritious meals at home.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Bragging Rights:

Donate - $30 helps feed a family for a weekend, $120 provides meals for a month, and $1,560 supports one family for an entire year. 👉 https://www.hungry-souls.org/

Volunteer - Help pack, deliver, and distribute meals across Austin every week. 👉 https://www.hungry-souls.org/volunteer

Host a Food Drive or shop their Amazon Wish List for needed items 👉 https://www.hungry-souls.org/host-a-food-drive

September is Hunger Action Month, and Hungry Souls will be featured at the Round Rock Express game on Saturday, Sept 13. Use code SOULS when buying tickets to support their mission.

And save the date: their biggest fundraiser of the year is happening Thursday, Oct 9 at Pecan Springs Ranch with live auctions, raffles, country music, 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 Colin's Hope!

We're excited to welcome Jennifer Poteat, Executive Director for Colin's Hope, to the conversation!

Colin's Hope was formed in 2008 after four-year-old Colin Holst tragically drowned in a public pool, with lifeguards on duty and family members present. Their mission is to provide water safety awareness, education, and resources to prevent children from drowning. Drowning is the #1 cause of death for children ages 1–4 and a leading cause for ages 1–14. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for each fatal drowning incident, seven more children receive emergency care for submersion injuries. While no one is drown-proof, drowning is preventable.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Good Bragging Rights:

Learn. Visit colinshope.org and read their water safety tips. A few that stuck with me: – Put kids in bright bathing suits so they're easier to spot in the water – Skip the arm floaties—go for Coast Guard-approved life jackets – If your house suddenly feels quiet, check the pool first – And always assign an adult Water Watcher anytime kids are swimming

Donate. Your donation helps fund water safety kits, educational programs—and yes, children's swim lessons. Helping a child learn to swim could be the difference between life and tragedy. Plus, Colin's Hope has a van with Colin's image on it that's logged over 179,000 miles spreading awareness across Texas. Let's keep that mission—and that van—moving forward. 👉 https://www.colinshope.org/get-involved/donate-2/

Volunteer. Whether it's stuffing water safety kits or helping at events, there are lots of hands-on ways to get involved. 👉 https://www.colinshope.org/get-involved/volunteer/

Join a Swimraiser. Raise funds while spreading awareness by dedicating your next swim, lap, or water-based challenge to a cause that saves lives. You can also become an Athlete Ambassador. 👉 https://www.colinshope.org/get-involved/ambassadors/

Also, there are fun, engaging ways to integrate water safety with your kids this summer. If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews spending time near water, check out the free Colin & Friends water safety lessons at drowningispreventable.org. Colin's Hope has made it easy to turn lifesaving tips into kid-friendly, interactive learning.

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 Con Mi MADRE!

We're excited to welcome Dr. Johanna Moya Fábregas, the executive director for Con Mi MADRE, to the conversation!

Con Mi MADRE is a nonprofit partnering with schools to provide social-emotional learning and college readiness from 6th grade through college. Their dual-generational program actively involves mothers in events like college trips and fairs. Their mission is to prepare the next generation of Latinas, with their mothers' support, to graduate high school, complete college on time, and enter the workforce ready to thrive.

Ways Con Mi MADRE Makes an Impact:

Empowering Latina Students – Providing culturally relevant social-emotional and college readiness education. Engaging Families – Creating opportunities for mothers to participate actively in their children's academic and personal growth. Building Pathways to Success – Offering experiential learning events that prepare students for college and career milestones.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Bragging Rights:

Donate — Support mothers and daughters as they build brighter futures. Every gift sends a message of belief and encouragement. 👉 https://www.conmimadre.org/support-us

Volunteer — Share your time and talents as a guest speaker, event helper, fundraiser, or in other meaningful roles. 👉 https://www.conmimadre.org/volunteer

Join the Somos el Futuro Society — Bring girls and families together to create lasting change and strengthen communities. 👉 https://www.conmimadre.org/somoselfuturo

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 Louder Than Silence!

We're excited to welcome Ciji Wagner, Founder and CEO of Louder Than Silence, to the conversation.

Louder Than Silence supports survivors of sexual violence by providing the community and resources needed to rebuild their lives. At the heart of their work is EMDR therapy, an evidence-based approach to healing trauma, which they offer completely free of charge. Their belief is simple but powerful: survivors shouldn't have to pay to heal from harm they didn't cause. Through connection, care, and community, they're helping survivors move from survival to wholeness.

Ways Louder Than Silence Makes an Impact:

Providing Free EMDR Therapy - Delivering accessible, trauma-informed healing to survivors at no cost. Advocacy for Survivor Rights - Amplifying survivor voices to transform policies and cultural attitudes. Building Community Support - Creating networks that empower survivors to reclaim their strength and agency.

How to Get Involved & Earn Some Good Bragging Rights:

Host a speaking event with Ciji on The Art of Having Hard Conversations — available virtually or in person. 👉 Email [email protected] to learn more. Donate monthly to join the survivor support network and help keep healing free. 👉 https://www.louderthansilence.org/get-involved

Volunteer your skills—from event help to web design, every contribution matters.

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.