Today, as we kick off Earth Month, I am honored to share this conversation with Crystal and Ellie, two college students who became friends while doing Model UN in high school. They bonded over their shared concern for the environment, and launched LEAP, or Live Environmentally Active in the Present, a youth-led organization spreading awareness through education and a powerful publication called The Climate Chronicles.

Learn more at www.leapforclimate.wixsite.com and follow @leapforclimate

My guest today, Edie Y., is a college student, a future educator and a champion of the arts - for EVERYONE. Edie started We Are Artistic to support artists and art lovers, and to create a safe and inclusive space for people of all abilities to engage in creativity.

Learn more at www.weareartistic.net and follow @weareartisticgroup

Period poverty continues to be a major issue for so many women and girls in the United States. My guests today, sisters Mia and Maya F. from Florida, started Enough for Everyone, to ensure that women living marginally in their community have access to the personal hygiene products they need to maintain their health and dignity.

Learn more at www.enoughforeveryone.org or follow @enoughfor_everyone

Sometimes the simplest efforts are the most impactful. Big-hearted high school senior Ryan T. launched Read Aloud Buddies along with his sister during the early days of the pandemic. The organization aims to match every child with an experienced high school or college student. The student volunteers read to their "buddy" improving language skills and literacy. Ryan also runs Little Acts of Kindness, baking cupcakes for children celebrating their birthdays while living in a shelter.

Learn more at www.readaloudbuddies.org or follow at @read_aloud_buddies if you'd like to start your own chapter.

My guest, Aaron H. from California, created the Indigenous Justice Coalition to support the many indigenous tribes in our country who have been denied their rights and benefits. Aaron felt a call to action, particularly on behalf of the Waccamaw tribe, which is indigenous to the Bay Area. He learned how to respond to grants, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of this work  and visited Washington to lobby Congress. Aaron is a beautiful example of Dr. King's phrase, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Learn more about starting a chapter or joining this important work at https://indigenousjusticecoalition.com/ and follow @indigenousjusticecoalition

When a child is diagnosed with a rare and difficult disease, there is so much chaos and stress. The care that they are given in the hospital and the attitude and optimism of their family and support network are crucial. My guest today, Nell C., was diagnosed with a rare condition at the age of 9. She emerged from that very scary experience and is well and thriving now, with her disease in remission. She wrote a book during the early days of the pandemic called My Hospital Story, which is shared with patients and families, as well as medical students. Nell is a rare disease advocate and a beacon of light and kindness for children and families going through health challenges. 

You can purchase My Hospital Story on Amazon and follow @myhospitalstory

In honor of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I am honored to share this conversation with Diya- a high school senior who, through her own experience with an eating disorder as a young teen, decided to launch an organization, Eating Disorders Support and Awareness, or EDSA. Partnering with a national ED nonprofit, EDSA is a youth-led organization that raises awareness and provides peer-to-peer support.

Follow at @projectEDSA and learn more at www.projectedsa.wixsite.com

Through his own curiosity, research and interest in giving back to his community in a meaningful way, Brock M from the Boston area figured out that socks are some of the most needed items among people experiencing homelessness. He launched Project Socks in the Fall of 2025 and has already made such a huge impact. This conversation covers so many topics that are foundational to my work and the themes of this podcast. Brock shows us that even the smallest thing can make the biggest impact in the lives of people in need. 

Visit www.projectsocks.org to learn more and follow at @project.socks

Showing kindness to our elderly neighbors and those who are confined to facilities is some of the most gratifying and impactful service work we can do. My guest today, Nora P. from the Chicagoland area, created a beautiful organization called Roots and Grounds,a youth-led nonprofit serving seniors in retirement homes, offering complimentary planting and craft workshops. 

Learn more at www.roots-and-grounds.com

My guest today, Brandon, tells us the story of the challenges he has faced in terms of his eyesight and the way that his mother helped him to face this challenge and overcome it, with hard work and optimism. Brandon created the See the World Foundation to help other children who struggle with issues around their sight. See the World empowers young leaders to take leadership roles and it ensures that clear sight is a right, not a privilege, by removing financial barriers to care. 

Follow at @seetheworldfoundation or learn more at www.seetheworldfoundation.org