WORLD GONE GOOD

Days of Our Lives' actor Martha Madison & director Sonia Blangiardo take us behind the sands thru the hourglass to reveal the inner workings of a TV love scene. Talk about a good bonus, amIright? Be sure to check out our full episode LOVE GONE GOOD.

We celebrate love this Valentine's week with a twist: It's love in the afternoon. Join us as we explore the good of real love versus the fictional love we find five days a week on daytime dramas. Guests include Days of Our Lives' actor Martha Madison and Emmy-winning director Sonia Blangiardo, entertainment reporter Michael Maloney, Pier 54 podcast hosts Shannon Koch & Amanda Kimmell, and two of my longtime close friends, John Carrozza and Doug Prinzivalli. They all have a love story to tell from how Martha first got her gig in Salem to how John and Doug fell for each other after finding out their mutual love of Another World. Spoiler Alert: No one comes back from the dead in this episode. But hooray for love none the less, people!

George Kenyon shares the good of becoming a foster family, opening his door - and his heart - to two children in need and saying YES - along with his wife - when the universe asks you a question even if you might not be fully ready or think you have the exact and perfect answer. He's also the creator, producer and host of 'George Tells Stories' on YouTube where he does what he does best - share good stories. And on top of all that good stuff, he has one of the best voices ever (next to mine). This episode is also a WORLD GONE GOOD first: It's the full show - unedited - because I loved our conversation so much, I wanted you to hear all of it (and/or I am lazy and didn't feel like editing it). On top of the top of all that in the less than good stuff category, my mic was in a mood (and/or I am that dynamic that I make everything snap, crackle and pop). Welcome to the world of podcasting, where anything can - and will - happen. Enjoy this good ride of an episode in (almost) real time.

Jeannie & Jordyn Jones are a mother/daughter good deed doing duo (try saying that 10 times fast). Jeannie has her own mentoring program and every Christmas, she camps out in her local Starbucks for 24 hours straight to gather toys from the community for foster kids and families in need. Jordyn created her own blessing bags which she donates to people in need and she just finished her first college courses - did we mention she's 13 and still in middle school? We also discuss when (and if) Jeannie ever sleeps and if Steve can be Jordyn when (and if) he ever grows up. The Jones family is the definition of good - prepare to be inspired and uplifted.

Georja Umano took her husband and two dogs to Africa to work with elephants and that's just the beginning of her unique and inspiring story. An actor and activist, she's loved animals her entire life. So much so, she's put her adventures on the page with her new book Terriers In the Jungle. The book chronicles their journey as told from the perspective of her two dogs, Roxie and Romeo. You know we love animals - and good stories - here at World Gone Good and Georja brings them all together in this special episode.

Pick up Terriers in the Jungle on Amazon.

It's my birthday today so I am sharing with you a moment of peace, a moment to breathe, a moment of presence. Close your eyes. Press play. Be in the moment. Be in YOUR moment. This is my birthday reminder to you: You are exactly where you are meant to be right here, right now. Be good.

Erin Amerman doesn't like cows - she LOVES cows (and pigs and chickens and dogs and cats and...). And she proves it daily at Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary. Their driving mission is to promote compassion for farm animals through rescue and education and to support other farm sanctuaries. They believe strongly that we are all in this together for the animals. Critter Creek homes the largest amount of rescued cows in our nation. This is her good journey and you should listen to it right cow (see what I did there?).

Jill Gobora is the founder of Amy's Kisses, an organization whose mission is to provide Kisses of Opportunity in the form of domestic violence educational resources as well as educational scholarships to low-income students throughout the U.S.Their goal is to celebrate the memory of Jill's sister, Amy and her children, Molly and Gregory and reflect her generosity of spirit, her commitment to academic excellence, and her enduring legacy as a mother and tutor. Even in the darkest of situations, there is light, there is good to be found and good to be shared - this is what Jill is doing thru Amy's Kisses.

If you are in need of help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. Help is out there.

1 year ago on this very day, we made the Happy Jar Challenge - did you partake? Did you keep up? Do you have any idea what we are even talking about? Listen up cause here in this bonus episode where Steve is joined by his longtime pal and returning WGG guest Mari Weiss as they discuss the little things, the uplifting moments and reminders, that are all come to be if you simply write them down and toss them in your Happy Jar. Then when you're done, go get started on your own. Happiness awaits!

Jill Hotchkiss & Wendy Miller are friends, neighbors, former co-workers, and two women happily living on the purge. They both discovered they shared their love to give away presently unwanted items in their life thru the Buy Nothing Project, a website and app that gives communities the chance to re-home their no longer used stuff and find stuff they may need themselves. Case in point from this here episode: Jill gave away her washing machine while Wendy picked up a Rubik's Cube and the entire Remington Steele collection on DVD. They took things one step further and created a podcast about the Buy Nothing experience which includes a story about a woman who gave her no-longer-needed engagement ring away to a neighbor. This isn't just about clearing out and cleaning up your home, it's about getting to know your neighbors, sharing with others, building community, and keeping our nation's landfills a little less full. And this all happens for absolutely free. How good is that? Enjoy this first episode of the new year with two of my longtime pals.