Let's Give A Damn

A few weeks ago, I sat down with Peter Shankman in his Midtown Manhattan office on a rainy day in NYC. Peter and I originally interacted on Twitter when he posted, “How can I help you today?” I ask that question often and love it when others do, too! I went on his website and, sure enough, the first thing I see a banner that reads, “How can I help you today?” I love this! And he truly means it.

We talk about everything from the NYC Public School system, to growing up in NYC, to his work, to how he won’t stay overnight in Vegas. We spent a chunk of time talking about why he is on a mission to help people with ADHD see it as a gift and not a curse. 

If this conversation seems different from most of the other stories we highlight on the podcast, you’re right! I always want to push the boundaries and highlight all different types of giving a damn. 

If you want to learn more about Peter, visit his website and follow him on Twitter.

Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow Nick Laparra—Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter.

Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice on Patreon. 100% of the money you contribute will go to making more podcasts. Not a dime goes into our pockets.

 

THIS WEEK’S SPONSORS

 

Ruby Cup: Ruby Cup is a healthier, more sustainable, cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to pads and tampons. Ruby Cup makes a world of difference. It will transform how you manage your period and help promote menstrual health in developing countries. Visit their website to learn more about you can help make a difference in the lives of so many women around the world!

Scout Books: Visit their website for 15% of any products in their store! All their products are made with 100% recyclable materials and their shop in Portland, OR runs off of renewable energy. Support these friends of ours! And make sure to find them online and thank them for their generosity and for making our podcast possible.

 

Much love to you and yours! Can’t wait to share more stories with y’all next week.

I had the privilege of sitting down with three wonderful humans while spending just a few hours in Baltimore, MD. We met up at Baltimore’s ImpactHub location and I met with them one after the other. By the end, I was drained, encouraged, and, more than anything, had real love in my heart for these three people and the city they cared for and loved. 

First, you’ll hear my conversation with David Fakunle. David has lived his entire life in Baltimore. He has a PhD in Mental Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. I love David’s energy and spirit! Baltimore is blessed to have him. Second, you’ll hear my chat with C. Harvey. She talks about her life, her struggles, and her art. She’s an amazing person who has overcome so much and continues to fight! Lastly, you’ll hear the conversation I had with Rodney Foxworth. This brother is a force to be reckoned with. He is a quiet man but his life packs a punch. Rodney co-founded ImpactHub Baltimore, he founded and is the CEO of Invested Impact, and he is involved, in so many ways, in making Baltimore a better place. 

I know you’ll be encouraged by these conversations and I trust you’ll love you city, town, or neighborhood more as a result of hearing us chat. 

If you want to learn more about David, you can find his TEDx talk here. If you want to keep up with C. Harvey, you can learn more about her by reading her bio or by following her Baltimore’s Gifted brand on Instagram. If you want to find out all that Rodney Foxworth is involved in, read here. If you want to keep up with all that Red Bull Amaphiko is going to encourage and help social entrepreneurs in Baltimore and in many other cities, follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow Nick Laparra—Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter.

Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice on Patreon. 100% of the money you contribute will go to making more podcasts. Not a dime goes into our pockets.

 

THIS WEEK’S SPONSORS

Ruby Cup: Ruby Cup is a healthier, more sustainable, cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to pads and tampons. Ruby Cup makes a world of difference. It will transform how you manage your period and help promote menstrual health in developing countries. Visit their website to learn more about you can help make a difference in the lives of so many women around the world!

Scout Books: Visit their website for 15% of any products in their store

I had the privilege of sitting down with a fantastic human and writer, Jonathan Merritt. We met at his apartment in Brooklyn, NY and spoke for an hour or so over wine and a beer. We discuss everything from growing up as the son of a prominent Southern Baptist pastor and leader to how he got into writing as a career to how he uses his life and skills to give a damn by writing articles and books that move people toward action. 

He currently serves as a contributing writer for The Atlantic, contributing editor for The Week, and senior columnist for Religion News Service. He has published more than 3500 articles in publications like USA Today, Buzzfeed, The Daily Beast, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. He has appeared on ABC World News, NPR, CNN, PBS, MSNBC, Fox News, CBS’ “60 Minutes” and The New York Times. He has also written three books, including Jesus is Better Than You Imagined and A Faith of Our Own: Following Jesus Beyond the Culture Wars, and has collaborated on or ghostwritten more than 40 additional books, with several titles landing on the New York Times, USA Today, or Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists. 

If you want to learn more about Jonathan, check out jonathanmerritt.com. If you want to learn from him, check out writebrilliant.com and jumpstartmywriting.com. 

Follow Nick Laparra on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter and Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing!

Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice on Patreon. 100% of the money you contribute will go to making more podcasts. Not a dime goes into our pockets.

 

THIS WEEK’S SPONSORS

Ruby Cup: Ruby Cup is a healthier, more sustainable, cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to pads and tampons. Ruby Cup makes a world of difference. It will transform how you manage your period and help promote menstrual health in developing countries. Visit their website to learn more about you can help make a difference in the lives of so many women around the world!

Scout Books: Visit their website for 15% of any products in their store! All their products are made with 100% recyc

I had the privilege of sitting down with the incredible Noor Tagouri. We met for an hour last week at VaynerMedia in NYC. We discuss everything from growing up as a Muslim in West Virginia to her success as a storyteller to why she wears a hijab and what that empowers the women around her. And so much more! I had so much fun talking with her and I know you’ll learn a ton from a young woman who gives so many damns!

Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. Additionally, I’d encourage you to watch her TED Talk to learn about her story and her life.

Follow Nick Laparra on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter and Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing!

Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice on Patreon. 100% of the money you contribute will go to making more podcasts. Not a dime goes into our pockets.

THIS WEEK’S SPONSORS

Ruby Cup: Ruby Cup is a healthier, more sustainable, cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to pads and tampons. Ruby Cup makes a world of difference. It will transform how you manage your period and help promote menstrual health in developing countries. Visit their website to learn more about you can help make a difference in the lives of so many women around the world!

Scout Books: Visit their website for 15% of any products in their store! All their products are made with 100% recyclable materials and their shop in Portland, OR runs off of renewable energy. Support these friends of ours! And make sure to find them online and thank them for their generosity and for making our podcast possible.

Much love to you and yours! Can’t wait to share more stories with y’all next week.

This week, I share six of my favorite moments so far on the podcast. These are, of course, not the only favorite moments I have had. Not even close! I have loved each conversation with the incredible people with whom I’ve been able to chat. These moments, however, stuck out in my mind and I wanted to share them with you. I hope you learn from them and are inpsired to take action and give a damn TODAY! For reference, the clips I share from my conversations with Bucky Buchstaber, Rainn Wilson, Brit Gilmore, Timothy Sykes, Nickolas Gaines, and Golriz Lucina. Each person represents a different way that they’re changing the world but they all have one thing in common—they give a damn and have chosen to not be silent about things that matter. I hope you are encouraged and challenged by the moments I’ve pulled together for you! Follow me, Nick Laparra, on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter and Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice on Patreon. 100% of the money you contribute will go to making more podcasts. Not a dime goes into our pockets. THIS WEEK’S SPONSOR Scout Books: Go to scoutbooks.com/letsgiveadamn for 15% of any products in their store! All their products are made with 100% recyclable materials and their shop in Portland, OR runs off of renewable energy. Support these friends of ours! And make sure to find them online and thank them for their generosity and for making our podcast possible. Much love to you and yours! Can’t wait to share more stories with y’all next week!

This week, I have a conversation with my new friend and super human, Becca Stevens. Becca Stevens is an author, speaker, priest, social entrepreneur, founder and president of Thistle Farms. After the death of her father when she was 5, Becca experienced sexual abuse at the hands of someone close to her. As she grew older, she longed to help women who had experienced some of the things she had when she was younger. In 1997, she started Thistle Farms. Two decades later, Thistle Farms helps women through the means of free housing, medical care, therapy, and education. Additionally, the Global Market of Thistle Farms employed more than 1800 women worldwide!

Becca has been featured in the New York Times, ABC World News, was recently named a 2016 CNN Hero and a White House “Champion of Change." Among other awards and recognitions, she was inducted into the Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame. Her newest book, Love Heals, will be published by Harper Collins in September of 2017. You can preorder it now! Follow Becca on Facebook & Twitter. Also, follow Thistle Farms on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. You’ll love keeping up with the incredible work they’re doing!

Also, follow Nick Laparra (Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter) and Let’s Give A Damn (Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter) to keep up with all the LGAD happenings. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing!

Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing a monthly amount of your choice on Patreon. 100% of the money you contribute will go to making more podcasts. Not a dime goes into our pockets.

SPONSORS FOR THIS WEEK

Scout Books: Go to scoutbooks.com/letsgiveadamn for 15% of any products in their store! All their products are made with 100% recyclable materials and their shop in Portland, OR runs off of renewable energy. 

Thistle Farms: Use code giveadamn at checkout to receive free shipping on your entire order within the USA. Support the incredible work they’re doing by purchasing their amazing products!

Support both of these friends of ours! Also, make sure to find them online and thank them for their generosity and for making our podcast possible.

Much love to you and yours! Can’t wait to share more stories with y’all next week!

In this Season 2 finale episode, I chat with you, my dear friends! Well, we’re not really chatting. But I am speaking directly to you. Season 2 has been extraordinary! In this episode, I recap our amazing guests like Rainn Wilson, Timothy Sykes, Andrea Geubelle, Jamie Tworkwoski, and so many more! I also share what I’ll be doing in between seasons and I share a brief challenge based on quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Loretta Scott. We have so many amazing things planned for the future and I’m grateful for your time and attention! If you’d like to keep up with what we’re doing at Let’s Give A Damn while you wait for Season 3, make sure to follow us on Facebook,Twitter, & Instagram. Also, don’t forget to join our weekly email list. Additionally, you can support the work we are doing over at Patreon. We’re grateful for your financial contributions! Lastly, If you like this show, please write a review on iTunes or whoever you listen to your podcasts. This will help us stand out in the crowd and get into the ears and lives of more listeners. Until we resume with Season 3, keep giving so many damns! I love you all.

In this episode, I chat with my friend, Nickolas Gaines. Nick currently serves as the Suicide Prevention Program Manager for the Department of Defense which entails training, teaching, and caring for 11,000 Soldiers across 26 states. Before his current role, he served as an Army officer and chaplain. In that role, he helped soldiers process major events in their lives and he also helped them in their relationship with God, with themselves, and with others.  From his website: "Nickolas wants to amplify the power, might, and resilience of marginalized communities, particularly communities of color. While he believes in the strength of the human spirit, Nickolas recognizes people of color work to love themselves, their families, and be their best and highest selves in a world that constantly seeks to demean and belittle their unique expressions of culture, love, and joy.” To learn more about Nickolas Gaines, check out his website and you can also find him on Twitter and Facebook. If you want to keep up with what we’re doing at Let’s Give A Damn, make sure to follow us on Facebook,Twitter, & Instagram. Don’t forget to join our weekly email list! Additionally, you can support the work we are doing over at Patreon. We’re grateful for your financial contributions! Lastly, If you like this show, please write a review on iTunes or whoever you listen to your podcasts. This will help us stand out in the crowd and get into the ears and lives of more listeners. Until next week, keep giving so many damns! I love you all.

In this episode, I chat with my friend and PR extraordinaire, Melissa Orozco. Even as a young social entrepreneur, Melissa has already had an incredible career. She received Marketing Magazine's 30 Under 30 marketing pro award and she was the Chair of Communications for the Urban Land Institute of BC from 2011-216. She also played a key role behind impactful & global campaigns including Fuck Cancer, where, on behalf of Yulu PR, she earned an International Stevie® Award for Best Global Social Good PR Campaign of 2012. Additionally, she worked with World Housing, where she launched a PR strategy for the world’s first one-for-one home gifting model, resulting in homes for more than 2,000 Cambodians. Melissa is an incredible human and I’m thrilled you get to listen to our conversation! To learn more about Melissa & YuluPR, check them out online and on their Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you want to keep up with what we’re doing at Let’s Give A Damn, make sure to follow us on Facebook,Twitter, & Instagram. Don’t forget to join our weekly email list! Additionally, you can support the work we are doing over at Patreon. We’re grateful for your financial contributions! Lastly, If you like this show, please write a review on iTunes or whoever you listen to your podcasts. This will help us stand out in the crowd and get into the ears and lives of more listeners. Until next week, keep giving so many damns! I love you all.

In this episode, I chat with filmmaker and creative genius, Ricky Staub. Ricky is an accomplished filmmaker. By his mid-twenties, he was living the dream! Well, the dream for some, anyway. He was an assistant producer for Sam Mercer, who co-produced most of M. Night Shyamalan’s films. While in Philadelphia working on Shyamalan’s film The Last Airbender, he met a man that changed his life and the course of his career. Ricky started a film company that has made world class content for companies like Google, Nike, Coca-Cola, Jeep, Reebok, NBC, Universal, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He loves his work but his favorite part about what they do is their desire to help formally imprisoned men make a living and a life again. They have created a unique program for doing this. You’re going to learn a ton from our talk and I know you’ll love Ricky and his heart to love and help these men. Get ready! This is a good one.  To learn more about Ricky and Neighborhood Film Company, check them out online and on their Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Also, you’ll want to go check out The Cage—the film we talk about in our chat. It’s absolutely riveting and fantastic! If you want to keep up with what we’re doing at Let’s Give A Damn, make sure to follow us on Facebook,Twitter, & Instagram. Don’t forget to join our weekly email list! Lastly, If you like this show, please write a review on iTunes or whoever you listen to your podcasts. This will help us stand out in the crowd and get into the ears and lives of more listeners. Until next week, keep giving so many damns! I love you all.