The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast

In this interview, I’m incredibly honored to be joined by Courtney Dauwalter, one of the greatest ultrarunners of all time.

For those unfamiliar with the ultrarunning world, Courtney has shattered expectations and rewritten records in some of the most grueling races on the planet. 

In 2023, she became the first person ever to win the Western States 100, the Hardrock 100, and the UTMB all in the same year -- which is like the ultrarunning triple crown, an achievement that stands alone in the history of the sport.

Known not only for her incredible endurance but also her positive attitude, sense of humor, and love of candy and nachos, Courtney has conquered races like the Moab 240 (a 240 mile race in Moab!), which she won by more than 10 hours, and the Big's Backyard Ultra, where she set a women's record of 279 miles.

She’s also renowned for her trademark "Shortney" baggy shorts, her love for the "Pain Cave," and her unique ability to push herself through the most difficult physical and mental challenges-- whether it’s running through storms, climbing mountains, or even hallucinating friendly woodland creatures along the trail.

In this episode, we talk about what Courtney has learned about the mental side of ultra-running and try to glean some lessons that we mere mortals can apply to our everyday challenges—things like problem-solving, positive self-talk, and mantras that keep her going for hours on end.  

We’ll we also explore how she stays grounded, connected to the community, and why she believes there’s always another level we can reach if we just keep moving forward, and stay curious about what’s possible.

Courtney is like the Ted Lasso of running. I think her superpower is her curiosity.

And speaking of curiosity, I want to give a special shoutout to our partners at Brooks Running!

For over a century, Brooks has been propelled by a never-ending curiosity with how humans move.

It drives their every decision and every innovation. 

Because they believe movement is the key to feeling more alive.

And we’re all moving towards something.

It could be the top of a mountain, a first-ever 5K, or peace of mind after a stressful day.

So… let’s run there.  

With gear and experiences specifically designed to take you to that place. 

Whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, a finish line, a cure for Parkinson’s, a cleaner environment, justice, or shattering what you previously thought was possible…

Let’s run there. 

Head to BrooksRunning.com to learn more 

Today, I'm thrilled to be joined by Alison Mariella Desir, a powerhouse disrupter and activist in the running community and a true advocate for change.

Alison is the founder of Harlem Run, a running club that brings people together through running while championing diversity and inclusion.

She's also the author of Running While Black, which sheds light on the intersection of race and running.

I like to think I’m pretty progressive and aware of the ways that race affects us all personally and collectively.  But reading Alison’s book, my eyes were opened even more to the ways that race continues to shape the running community—and society generally.

In this conversation, Alison shares her personal journey, the inspiration behind Harlem Run, and the powerful message in her book that challenges and invites us to all open our eyes to the hidden forces of race in the running world and beyond. 

We dive into how running can be a vehicle for social justice, and the importance of creating spaces where everyone can feel welcome and empowered.

This is a conversation about more than just miles—and more than just race.  It’s about community, activism, inclusivity, intentionality, culture and using movement to drive change.

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This interview is presented with gratitude to our partners at Brooks Running

For over a century, Brooks has been propelled by a never-ending curiosity with how humans move.

It drives their every decision and every innovation.

Because they believe movement is the key to feeling more alive.

And we’re all moving towards something.

It could be the top of a mountain, a first-ever 5K, or peace of mind after a stressful day.

So… let’s run there. 

With gear and experiences specifically designed to take you to that place.

Whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line—or a cure for a disease, a cleaner environment or a more just and equitable society.

Let’s run there.

Head to BrooksRunning.com to learn more .

Today’s interview is with Dana Snyder, founder and CEO of Positive Equation, where she helps charities grow their communities and monthly giving programs.

This interview will be helpful for anyone that works at a charity—which some of our members do.

But, more than that, this interview will provide all of us with insight – and empathy – for how hard our charities work to fundraise in support of the missions we all care about—and, therefore, how we can better support them in that endeavor.

Most crucially, I hope Dana’s insight will help us all think less transactionally, and more relationally, about how we support our favorite charities.

I also want to give a huge shoutout to our partners at Lifeway Kefir. Lifeway was one of our first sponsors, and their CEO, Julie Smolyansky has become a friend and has been on the pod before too.

Lifeway Kefir is purpose-driven brand and a champion for many social causes, supporting initiatives that promote maternal health, girls education and empowerment, the environment, mental health and well-being, and more—all things we care deeply about here at Charity Miles.

Speaking of mental health, did you know that what you eat can have a profound effect on your mind? It turns out that the gut and brain are connected in ways we’re just beginning to understand.

Lifeway Kefir, with its rich probiotics, supports your gut biome, which plays a crucial role in regulating mood, stress, and overall mental health. It's a simple, delicious way to nourish your body and your mind.

So, whether you're fueling up for your next walk, run, or bike ride—or just looking for a way to take care of your mental well-being— head over to lifewaykefir.com to learn more and get started today.

Today’s interview is with Nathan Chappell, one of the world’s foremost experts on the intersection between Artificial Intelligence and philanthropy.

Nathan serves as Senior Vice President of DonorSearch AI, and is the founder of Fundraising.Ai, a member-centric collaboration of nonprofit professionals with a focus on data ethics, data equality, privacy and security and sustainability.

Nathan is also the co-author of The Generosity Crisis, which we discuss in the interview.

Nathan elaborates why there is a generosity crisis now and how the remedy for that crisis is for people like us to think less transactionally and more holistically about our relationships with the charities we care about. 

I’m sure his message will resonate with all of us.

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Big thanks to our newest partners at Lagoon Sleep, which makes the most comfortable pillow I’ve ever used. 

Which is why I reached out to them to ask if they’d sponsor us.

No joke, I ordered myself a Lagoon pillow when I saw how many NCAA and Olympic athletes were using them to improve their sleep and recovery.

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting too much but I was curious what the hype was about. But I’ve been completely blown away. 

I go to bed pretty early so that I can wake up very early for my runs. And sometimes it’s hard to fall asleep when it’s that early.

But not with my Lagoon pillow. Once I get into bed, I’m usually asleep within minutes.

And I’m staying asleep – no more tossing and turning or waking up in the middle of the night. No kinks in my neck.

This has definitely translated into improvements on my morning runs– and how I feel the rest of the day.

I've said this many times: Getting more and better sleep is one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health.

So if you’d like to get the best sleep of your life, go to LagoonSleep.com and take their awesome 2 minute sleep quiz to find which Lagoon Pillow is right for you.  Use the code EXTRA for 15% off your first purchase.

Today's interview is with Brian Reynolds, one of the world's fastest double amputee runners.

When Brian was four years-old he contracted a rare form of bacterial meningitis, which led to him having both of his legs amputated below the knee.

Despite this, Brian was fairly active as a child-- and did his best to participate in most common childhood sports like baseball, basketball and even hockey.  (He grew up in Boston after all.)

When Brian was in college, he got into power lifting... which led to him to join the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training to hike across the Grand Canyon... and then finally to running.

Brian is now one of the fastest double amputee runners in the world, having set records in distances from the 5K to the marathon. 

Brian happens to live about a mile from me, so we see each other on our morning runs quite often. I'd love to run with him more, but I don't think I can keep up!

Last month, the Fleet Feet in our town hosted a trail running film festival featuring several short documentaries about trail running and ultramarathons.  One of the films was about Brian's attempt, last year, to complete the Leadville 100, one of the toughest ultramarathons in the world.

In a few weeks, Brian will be heading back to Leadville for another attempt.  And as we publish this episode, Brian is currently climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Brian is also sponsored by our partners at Brooks Running, so we definitely want to give a big thanks to them as well. 

For over a century, Brooks has been propelled by a never-ending curiosity with how humans move.

It drives their every decision and every innovation. Because they believe movement is the key to feeling more alive.

And we’re all moving towards something.

It could be the top of a mountain, a first-ever 5K, or peace of mind after a stressful day.  It could be a cure for Parkinson’s, a cleaner planet, fair play.

So… let’s run there.

With gear and experiences specifically designed to take you to that place.

Whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line. Let’s run there.

Head to BrooksRunning.com to learn more.

Soraya Alexander is the Chief Operating Officer of GoFundMe and as the President of Classy, a GoFundMe subsidiary. Through her work, Alexander supports thousands of nonprofits and hundreds of thousands of people to unlock the world's generosity.

GoFundMe is on a mission to help people help each other. Through innovative technology, Classy helps nonprofits raise more so they can do more good in the world. Together, the two organizations help billions of dollars per year get raised for social and environmental good. 

In this interview, we discuss the challenges charities face in engaging their supporters, generational shifts in donor expectations, effective fundraising techniques, community building, and the psychological barriers to making donation requests.

Soraya shares how GoFundMe and Classy are tackling these challenges and how we, as people who care about charities, can take a more active role in supporting them.  

On a final note, I'm happy to share that Charity Miles is developing a partnership with Classy and GoFundMe to help bring some of these ideas to life, and to better help our members support the charities they love.

We're grateful for the opportunity to make an impact with Classy and GoFundMe. And we're grateful to Soraya for sharing so much with us in this interview.

#EveryMileMatters!

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Here are some time stamps:

04:29 The Power of Individual Donors 08:21 Generational Shifts in Philanthropy 10:19 Engaging Donors Beyond Donations 13:12 Building Community and Connection 14:09 Innovations in Fundraising Technology 21:43 Charity as a Way of Life 24:49 Community Support and Long-Term Stewardship 25:05 Connecting Immediate and Structural Change 26:09 The Power of Donor Engagement 28:02 Building True Community vs. Marketing Segments 32:29 Empowering Supporters and Relinquishing Control 34:15 Successful Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Tips 36:57 The Psychology of Asking for Donations 41:13 The Importance of Consistency in Fundraising 45:04 Call to Action for Nonprofit Supporters 47:00 Conclusion

Laura Putnam is a global wellbeing activator, author of the bestselling book Workplace Wellness that Works, and CEO and Founder of Motion Infusion, a leading wellbeing provider. 

She is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and has worked with a wide range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofits.

Laura has trained over 40,000 managers and leaders on how to lead wellbeing from the inside-out and outside-in to truly champion wellbeing that works for all.

I recently met Laura at the First Coast Worksite Wellness Council's conference in Jacksonville, Florida where she was the keynote speaker. (Shoutout to FCWCC for including us!)

After hearing her keynote, I knew we had to get her on the podcast-- not just for our members and partners in our Employee Empowerment Program, but for all our members, most of whom work at companies in one way or another, and in their own capacity have the power to foster a culture of wellbeing.

In this interview, we dive deep into the importance of workplace wellness and how it ties into building high-performing teams.

Laura shares insights on the challenges companies face with wellness programs and provides practical strategies for creating a culture that supports wellbeing. 

She discusses the significance of team leaders in fostering a healthy work environment and offer tips for both organizational and individual improvements in workplace wellness.

Whether you're an HR leader, a manager, or an employee, this episode provides valuable advice on enhancing wellbeing in the workplace.

Big thanks to Laura for sharing so much with us!

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Here are some helpful timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome 02:35 Meet Laura Putnam 06:42 Laura's Journey and Mission 09:45 The Importance of Workplace Wellness 11:37 Challenges and Solutions in Wellness Programs 17:55 Role of Managers in Promoting Wellbeing 22:06 Creating a Culture of Wellbeing 30:26 Practical Tips for Managers 39:47 Conclusion and Contact Information

It’s also a great privilege for me to share today’s interview with Kara Goucher.  Kara is a two-time Olympian, World Championship medalist, and one of the most accomplished and admired long-distance runners of our time. 

Beyond her competitive achievements, Kara is also a passionate advocate for clean sport and gender equity, an inspiring speaker, author, podcaster and NBC broadcaster for track and field.  She’s someone who continues to inspire runners of all levels.

As we’ll talk about in this interview, two years ago, Kara began slipping while she was running.  And after seeing multiple doctors, she was diagnosed with Runner’s Dystonia, a neurological disorder with some similarities to Parkinson’s.  Many of you may remember the interview I did with my friend, and fellow Team Foxer, Justine Galloway, who also has Runner’s Dystonia.  So this is something we’ll also talk about in this episode.

Kara also as a unique and hard-won perspective on the power of brands to affect social change, and the power that we have as people– individually and collectively– to move and work with them to do so.  

Most recently, Kara has partnered with Brooks Running, a brand that holds a very special place in our hearts here at Charity Miles.  Whenever we ask you what brands you want us to partner with, Brooks is always the #1 response.

Which is why we are so thrilled to also be partnering with Brooks this year.

For over a century, Brooks has been propelled by a never-ending curiosity with how humans move.

It drives their every decision and every innovation. Because they believe movement is the key to feeling more alive.

And we’re all moving towards something.

It could be the top of a mountain, a first-ever 5K, or peace of mind after a stressful day.  It could be a cure for Parkinson’s, a cleaner planet, fair play.

So… let’s run there.

With gear and experiences specifically designed to take you to that place.

Whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line. Let’s run there.

Head to BrooksRunning.com to learn more.

 

Sami Inkinen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Virta Health, which is reversing type two diabetes through nutrition, lifestyle change, and a new standard of medical care.

Prior to Virta, Sami was the Co-Founder and COO of Trulia, which many of you probably used to find a house or apartment. Sami took Trulia public and then sold it to Zillow.

Sami is also an Ironman Age Group Champion and all-around world-class endurance athlete.

To raise awareness about the dangers of sugar and its connection to diabetes, Sami and his wife rowed from California to Hawaii—2,750 miles, completely unsupported. 

I've been personally lucky to know Sami for over ten years now.  I was introduced to Sami through the Global Good Fund, a fellowship program for social entrepreneurs. 

Sami became my mentor through GGF, and has always been generous with his time and insight whenever I need it through the years.

I've wanted to record this interview for a long time. Big thanks to Sami for sharing so much with us.

#EveryMileMatters!

Today's interview is with Jenny Lawson, the president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, a leading national nonprofit that inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment.

Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful provides the expertise, programs, and resources to help people end littering, improve recycling, beautify America's public spaces, and restore and support resilient communities.  

Before joining Keep America Beautiful, Jenny was the Chief Civic Innovation Officer at Points of Light where she led forward thinking initiatives, partnerships, and campaigns to advance the mission of Points of Light around the world.

She designed, led, and championed programs and research to aid companies in achieving their social change goals through the actions of their employees, including the Corporate Service, Council of Leading Brands, the Civic 50, Ranking of Community Minded Companies, and a newly developed digital community, the Community for Employee Civic Engagement. 

So needless to say, I think Jenny has a lot of expertise on how nonprofits can work with companies and communities to advance social change, which is a topic that I know all of us are interested in, particularly those of us who are part of the Charity Miles Employee Empowerment Program. 

One of those companies is AT&T which is supporting Keep America Beautiful now through our Employee Empowerment Program, and connected us with Jenny for this interview.  

I met Jenny in a park up in Connecticut, and we recorded this as a live walking webinar with our members and AT&T's employees.  It was a bit rainy, but that didn't seem to faze Jenny one bit.

Huge thanks to Jenny for all of her insight, and to AT&T for their partnership in bringing this to life.

#EveryMileMatters!