We're Good

Every year, thousands of women leave incarceration facing addiction, unemployment, fractured families, and stigma. What does it take to give someone a second chance? Join host of the We’re Good Podcast,  Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee at Friends of Guest House, where Dr. Bobbi Sherrod, Director of Programs and current resident Crystal reveal how stability, trust, recovery support, and community can transform a life. Crystal’s journey shows what becomes possible when women aren’t defined by their lowest times—and how second chances can reunite families and strengthen communities. Learn more www.weregood.net. 

At 17, Joshua Johnson made a decision that sent him to prison and threatened to define his future. Can we become more than our worst mistake? Join We’re Good Podcast co-founder Mary Ellen Chandler as Johnson shares his journey from incarceration to purpose, leadership, and second-chance advocacy. His transformation reveals how accountability, opportunity, and believing in what’s possible can turn a painful past into purpose—and create stronger families, workplaces, and communities. Learn more www.weregood.net. 

Every year, thousands of families arrive at the National Institutes of Health carrying every parent's greatest fear—a child with a life-threatening illness and one last hope that groundbreaking clinical research might save their life. But this episode asks a deeper question: What else is essential for healing? The We're Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee takes you inside The Children's Inn at NIH with CEO Jennie Lucca and former patient now board member, Jamie Gentille to reveal how hope, community, and compassion help families persist in their toughest times and how their courage is creating life-saving breakthroughs for generations to come. Learn more www.weregood.net. 

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What if the most important investment we can make in our future happens before a child turns five? We’re Good Podcast host, Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee visits Northern Virginia Family Services' new Ashburn Farm Early Childhood Development Center with Stephanie Berkowitz, President and CEO and Dennis DeLoach, Director of Early Childhood Programs. You’ll hear Dennis’s extraordinary story as a former Head Start student who now leads the very program that changed his life. Discover how affordable child care, early education, and family support are transforming lives, strengthening communities, and creating brighter futures for generations.

If you care about education, nonprofits, parenting, workforce development, child care, or building stronger communities, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Learn more at weregood.net. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WereGoodPodcast

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What happens when we experience music together? Join We’re Good Podcast host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee inside the Virginia Chamber Orchestra with Executive Director John Huling and Principal Flutist Nicolette Oppelt, whose unexpected journeys reveal a shared passion for live music. From outdoor concerts to intimate performances, accessible tickets, and opportunities for young musicians, VCO brings music into the community—creating something a screen cannot: connection, belonging, joy, and the power of experiencing music together. Learn more www.weregood.net. 

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Washington, D.C.’s disappearing tree canopy raises a big question: Can planting trees really change the future of our planet? Join Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee and the We’re Good Podcast on location at Langdon Park with Andrew Schichtel of Casey Trees and Tim Purinton from The Nature Conservancy to discover how trees fight climate change—and how people power the solution. From carbon capture and stormwater protection to volunteers restoring forests and children discovering urban forestry, see how one tree, one person and one neighborhood can grow into lasting change. Learn more www.weregood.net. 

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What if the key to career success could start before college? In this inspiring episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee explores how Genesys Works is helping high school students gain paid professional internships, career coaching, and real-world workplace experience. Executive Director Elizabeth Lindsey shares her personal journey as a first-generation college graduate, while alumna Michelle Olivar reveals how the program transformed her confidence and future. Plus, hear how AI is reshaping tomorrow’s workforce and the practical training these young professionals receive. Learn more at weregood.net.

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What if the future of conservation is hiding on top of a landfill? In this fascinating episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee learns how Sustainability Matters Executive Director Andrea McGimsey and Rappahannock County Administrator Garrey Curry are testing a bold hypothesis: can closed landfills become thriving habitats for butterflies, pollinators, and native plants while still meeting critical soil erosion and safety requirements? Discover how this innovative partnership is blending science, sustainability, and community action to create a model that could transform landfill management—and environmental stewardship—across America. Learn more www.weregood.net. 

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What does a German immigrant brewer, a Victorian mansion, and the future of the American Dream have in common? In this episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee takes you inside Washington D.C.'s historic Heurich House Museum to uncover a story of immigration, innovation, entrepreneurship, and community that helped shape the city we know today. From hidden histories and revived beer recipes to a groundbreaking exhibit asking what America’s next 250 years should look like, this fascinating conversation with Executive Director Alex Fraioli and curator Philippa Pham Hughes will change the way you see one of D.C.’s most extraordinary hidden gems. Follow the We’re Good Podcast. www.weregood.net. 

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In this episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee reunites with CEO, Nene Spivy and Community Programs Manager, Sue Fajer to get behind the scenes of the $120 million Northern Virginia Science Center. From its grassroots beginnings to the Children’s Science Center Lab, this story reveals the sometimes challenging journey to expand STEM education and hands-on learning. Discover how this new resource with large scale immersive exhibits and increased access for Title I schools will help shape innovation, workforce development, and opportunities for all across the region.