Tom looks back at 2017- and highlights what 2018 for The Good Network will look like! We are excited to share more Good stories and Good people with you over the course of the New Year!

http://vcunitedway.org

http://www.hsvc.org

www.TGNpodcast.com

Assal Ravandi immigrated to the United States of America has a child from war torn Iran. Growing up in a new country she was inspired to join the United States Army after seeing her brother serve in the Navy, but made the decision that she needed to serve her new country herself.

It was on an early Autumn morning in 2014, shortly after her honorable discharge from the United States Army that Assal Ravandi longed for a service oriented satisfaction equal to what she had experienced during her time as a soldier. "I need to do something," she thought to herself. "I need my sense of purpose back and to continue my service." In this enthusiastic state, Assal conceived the idea of The Veterans Awards (Vettys); an accountable platform to recognize the positive aspects of the Veterans community. Finally, on Veterans Day 2015, the Vettys was produced for the first time ever and became the first community-wide event that celebrated various veterans projects under one roof.

www.usv.academy/aboutausv

www.TGNpodcast.com

www.podcastdetroit.com

When most people think of Detroit they think of rundown neighborhoods, violence, and crime. Yet, every time someone speaks of Detroit, they speak of the turnaround that is happening. Travis Peters is a man helping to lead that turnaround.

As a former US Army Soldier, Travis fought in the First Persian Gulf War and has seen what being on the wrong side of discrimination is like, both inside and outside the Army. After being discharged from the Army and medical retiring, Travis wanted to help those who serve to protect his home town. He came up with a veteran run organization in which our military veterans patrol the neighborhoods of Detroit on bicycle. The Detroit Peace Peddlers was born. They are meant to be a presence, they are meant to help be the eyes and ears for the Detroit PD.

Once they became a sanctioned organization within the police department Travis has been able to help improve the community he grew up in on a daily basis, and he is doing so to help other Vet's make an impact in the city as well.

With people like Travis Peters- Detroit will once again return to glory.

www.bestforvets.militarytimes.com

Unforgotten Heroes LLC

FaceBook- Detroit Police Department

Thank you Office Sean Wilson

www.TGNpodcast.com

Imagine what it takes to ride your bicycle across the country. Imagine what it takes to run a marathon. Now imagine what it must take to run 31 consecutive marathons, in 31 consecutive days, in 31 different cities. Rob Jones did just that. And he did it has not only a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, but he did it has a double above the knee amputee.

Over the last couple months Rob Jones has gained a large following after sharing his story on the Jocko Podcast. Upon hearing his story we at TGN were inspired to welcome Rob into The Good Network- but DiFran was also able to run along side him in Detroit.

Time Stamps

1:51- Welcome Rob Jones

4:10- Rob's Story

11:51- Daily Routine

21:40- Doing What Is Hard

25:06- Stay In The Fight

37:09- Raising Awareness

52:49- Who Is Good?

www.RobJonesJourney.com

www.TGNpodcast.com

www.podcastdetroit.com

https://tunnel2towers.org

https://semperfifund.org

Working in Division 1 Collegiate Athletics can often times lead to a laser focus on one thing- Winning. The pressure to win can push people out of a career they love, drive good people to make life changing decisions, and push kids to violate rules set by the NCAA.

Mike Hamilton knows this life all to well, after spending almost 30 years in collegiate athletics, and many of them as the Athletic Director at Tennessee, Mike looked at his role through a different lens. Mike's primary focus was transforming the lives of the student athletes he was responsible for. This vision transcended his role as athletic director and impacted his life, his family, and communities thousands of miles away from his home in Knoxville Tennessee.

Time Stamps

2:26- Who is Mike Hamilton

5:54- Who Influenced your Beliefs?

18:40- Believing and Working Hard

21:30- West Chester Doing Good

30:15- Who do you WANT to be?

40:55- Three Things that matter most?

46:04- Working with Pat Summitt

50:34- Who is someone doing good that more people need to know about?

www.BloodWater.org

www.TGNpodcast.com

The University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital went viral earlier this year with an awe-inspiring video of players and fans from Kinnick Stadium, home of the Hawkeyes, waving to onlooking children from the hospital windows.

The story of how this "wave" originated is touching, but what is even more inspiring is the efforts the community has put forth each and every day to make the children feel more comfortable and happy.

We had an opportunity to chat with Gwen Senio, Child Life Program Manager of University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, and learn about how a community came together in an extraordinary manner!

Enjoy!

https://uichildrens.org

https://uichildrens.org/ways-give

www.TGNpodcast.com

Everyone has that shelf in the pantry with canned goods, mac n’ cheese, and other non-perishables that have been collecting dust for who knows how long. Everyday people throw away bananas or oranges that may be just “bad” in their eyes, but perfectly good to someone else. The cumulative effect of these practices can be termed Food Waste. The mission of the app Olio is to eliminate food waste, and increase the amount of food shared within a community. Co-Founder Saasha Celestial-One sat down with The Good Network to discuss the overall mission of Olio and so much more.

www.olioex.com

https://itunes.apple.com/app/olio-food-sharing-revolution/id1008237086?mt=8

www.TGNpodcast.com

Music Provided by Bensounds.com

Meet Parker Hurley- a modern day Renaissance Man. From his daily yoga practice, to professional modeling, to writing his first book- Parker dives into new projects with a passion not many people are used to. DiFran had the privilege to sit down and talk with Parker about his upbringing in South Jersey, what got him to where he is in life, and where he sees life going in the future.

Time Stamps

3:39- Be the Example

10:04- Yoga Practice

15:40- Expand Knowledge, Expand Your Community

21:38- A Man's Search for Meaning

23:06- Human Hero

www.Parker-Hurley.com

@parker_hurley

www.TGNpodcast.com

Music provided by www.BenSound.com

Just before the 2016 football season kicked off, Netflix launched its newest documentary series, Last Chance U, a binge-worthy show following all aspects of one of the nation’s top junior collegiate football programs in the country – East Mississippi Community College. A behind the scenes look at student-athletes who have one last chance, as the title would suggest, at success on the gridiron, but more importantly life.

While the Netflix documentary hones in on the football practices, recruiting, and all the ups and down in making a run at a college championship, including politics and a suspension-worthy brawl, the real storyline is guiding the troubled athletes to make positive life decisions. And those efforts were led by the school’s dedicated academic counselor (and life coach) Brittany Wagner. But just like her players, Wagner had to overcome her own challenges.

This platform goes beyond the walls of Wagner’s office at East Mississippi Community College, and with more than a decade’s worth of combined experience at the NCAA and NJCAA levels, it was time to grow. Earlier this year, Wagner made the decision to step down as the academic advisor at the junior college she called home for the past eight years. But her journey was only beginning.

Time Stamps

5:38- How it all started?

10:57- Overcoming a tough background

15:49- Life lessons- being prepared

18:21- Leaving traditional athletics for a start-up

25:18- TED Talk

29:52- Common Characteristics

35:52- Pencils around the world

37:32- Who is someone doing good that more people need to know about?

41:14- Closing Thoughts

www.BrittanyWagner.com

www.TGNpodcast.com

Music By: www.bensound.com

If I asked you to close your eyes and imagine an opera singer, you likely are picturing the overweight women with the "viking" helmet on...you are certainly not picturing John Brancy. John is a Juilliard trained Opera singer hailing from South Jersey who knew what he wanted to do from an early age, and worked to achieve that dream. His work has traveled allowed him to travel the world performing. It has also given him the chance to pursue other side businesses.

In DiFran's Good Conversation with John they get into his work, his passion and his experiences training at one of the most well respected Performance Arts schools in the world.

Time Stamps

1:18- Welcome John Brancy

4:19- When did Juilliard feel "real"?

10:02- What is your purpose?

14:15- Confidence going into Juilliard?

35:48- A Silent Night

40:58- 10,000 Hours

47:18- Philanthropic work

56:48- Who is someone doing good more people need to know about?

www.JohnBrancy.com

www.TGNpodcast.com

Music provided by www.bensound.com