The Do Gooders Podcast

Latest Episodes:

20: How to fill a political conversation with grace with Beth Silvers Oct 07, 2019

Show notes

It's not polite to talk politics.

I'm sure you've heard the sentiment. Especially in any kind of mixed crowd where people might disagree on the issue at hand.

We live, worship and work in diverse communities, but with politics becoming so tribal in nature, many of us simply avoid the subject. And that does a disservice to us all.

Yet we can get comfortable with being uncomfortable and do it in a grace-filled way, according to Beth Silvers, co-author of "I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversations."

She and Sarah Stewart Holland also co-host the Pantsuit Politics podcast. As working moms from opposite ends of the political spectrum, they regularly sit down to talk politics together.

Beth, a conservative life and business coach, spent 11 years as an attorney and then an HR executive before opening her own business. Named one of Cincinnati's "40 under 40" business leaders and as one of Ohio's Most Powerful and Influential Women, Beth regularly speaks to organizations about hard conversations.

She asks us to hear each other's thoughts, to test our own beliefs against each other's philosophies and to better appreciate our own core beliefs by having to articulate and challenge those beliefs.

As Beth says, politics is all about how we live in community with each other. And if we engage in conversation with a goal not to persuade but to be open to personal growth, we're all better off.

Find show notes for this episode and more at caringmagazine.org/podcast.

19: How The Salvation Army engages the federal government with Sabrina Kiser Sep 30, 2019

Show notes

The Salvation Army is actively involved in fighting hunger, homelessness and more across the country. In fact, the organization serves some 23 million people a year in the U.S.

But you may not know that The Salvation Army is also engaged in nonprofit advocacy with the federal government.

Sabrina Kiser serves as Assistant Director of Social Services and Public Policy Coordinator at The Salvation Army's National Headquarters. She and a team of policy analysts work to engage policymakers in The Salvation Army's fight against poverty.

Once a month, the team heads to Capitol Hill to zero in on a specific issue and educate congresspeople and staffers about the size and scope of The Salvation Army's work, while extending its hand as a resource.

It's a critical partnership, Sabrina shares on this episode, as this kind of advocacy forms a vital link between the daily realities of community needs and federal policymakers.

By being at the table, The Salvation Army can help to impact lives.

Find show notes for this episode and more at caringmagazine.org/podcast.

18: Is faith personal or is it inherently social? With Commissioner Jolene K. Hodder Sep 23, 2019

Show notes

Our salvation in Christ begins personally—it's a decision and commitment made individually. But it does not end there. A genuine personal relationship with God flows into all of our relationships.

After all, Jesus gave us two commands: love God and love others.

In this episode, Commissioner Jolene Hodder shares more about her own experience of faith, how she knows God is real and where she finds him. She explores how we can express love for God and for others as commanded.

And why, as she says: love is a decision not a feeling.

Commissioner Jolene holds a master's of religion and has served as an ordained minister—an officer—in The Salvation Army for 31 years. She currently serves as the Territorial President for Women's Ministries of The Salvation Army USA Western Territory.

As a two-time author, Commissioner Jolene shares in her writing about her overseas ministry and day-to-day life in Kenya—including the good and the moments where she had to look for God.

Her stories illuminate a personal relationship with God, and how it is central to understanding who we are and what life is about.

Find show notes for this episode and more at caringmagazine.org/podcast.

17: How The Salvation Army keeps kids full for the weekend with Lt. James Fleming Sep 16, 2019

Show notes

You've probably heard of The Salvation Army's Thanksgiving dinners, food pantries or the provision of meals during a natural disaster. But you might not know that TSA in communities across the country fills backpacks or other bags with food to send home from school with kids for the weekend.

That's to make sure kids who receive free or low-cost breakfasts and lunches at school don't go hungry at home.

Hemet, California, is one of those communities.

Located some 80 miles from downtown Los Angeles in the San Jacinto Valley, the 28-square mile city has a population of roughly 85,000 people. With a median household income of about $37,000, some 23 percent of the population lives below the federal poverty line. And the number of children who qualified for the National School Lunch Program was so high, the school district decided to make it easier—now everyone qualifies.

For Lt. James Fleming, the corps officer or pastor of the Hemet Corps, making sure a person gets the help they need is his greatest passion. And that includes these kids.

In this episode, Lt. James shares more about The Salvation Army's weekend food program for school kids in Hemet. He works with volunteers, donors, drivers and school nurses to make sure bags with four meals, four snacks and two drinks go home on Friday afternoons with the kids who need it.

Find show notes for this episode and more at caringmagazine.org/podcast.

16: How to define and communicate your core values with Krysta Masciale Sep 09, 2019

Show notes

What are your core values? Do you know?

Can you put four or five specific words to them and explain the way those values show up in your life?

As Krysta Masciale says, any brand is the promise of an experience. On a personal level, is that experience consistent? Will anyone who interacts with you say the same thing about who you are?

Krysta is the CMO of LumaForge, a technology company in Los Angeles, where she leads the way in brand awareness, content creation and strategic partnerships.

It's a role she came into after years as CEO of brand agency B!G DEAL BRANDING, which led the way in strategic design and messaging for both small creative organizations and multi-billion dollar corporations.

And she'll tell you that just as a company does, defining our personal core values is a way of establishing and consistently reinforcing who we are and what we stand for—beyond any current job title.

But owning our values takes clarity, commitment and communication—and in this episode, Krysta offers best practices for it all.

Find show notes for this episode and more at caringmagazine.org/podcast

15: What it's like to work at a Salvation Army summer camp Sep 02, 2019

Show notes

Did you know: The Salvation Army is a big supporter of fun with 44 summer or day camps in the United States devoted to children? Last year, more than 260,000 kids attended camp with The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army's Summer Residential Camping Program at Camp Redwood Glen near Santa Cruz, California, encourages at-risk and under-privileged kids to learn new skills and self-reliance through swimming, archery, hiking, and other fun activities.

And it's more than a picturesque vacation. Campers learn new skills and self-reliance. Each week of camp helps kids explore the natural world and grow in knowledge of who God is and who he created them to be.

It's also a time of growth for the camp staff, those age 16 and up who are hired for the summer to fill positions from dish room crew to lifeguard, naturalist or cabin leader.

In this episode, two Camp Redwood Glen campers turned cabin leaders—Abel Sanchez and Jezabel Aparicio—talk about what it's like to work at summer camp.

Find show notes for this episode and more at caringmagazine.org/podcast.

14: How the Salvation Army sponsors education around the world with Rachel Thieme-Ramirez Aug 26, 2019

Show notes

Building well being in a person is like building a strong house—it requires certain materials, resources and opportunities.

When these materials are not available, we may have a hard time surviving the storms.

For so many kids around the world, The Salvation Army is a key part of their building materials.

Did you know The Salvation Army operates more than 2,700 schools—including schools for blind and disabled children, and residential programs for orphaned, neglected and trafficked children?

These programs are supported by people like you and like me and the lady at the center of connecting it all for The Salvation Army on the U.S. West coast is Rachel Thieme-Ramirez.

In this episode, Rachel shares how she aims to do good and how you can be part of providing for the essential needs of children right where you are.

Find show notes for this episode and more at caringmagazine.org/podcast.

13: Life inside a Salvation Army Kroc Center with Major Phil Lum Aug 19, 2019

Show notes

A network of Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers across the U.S. have a common goal: to help people discover and develop their passions in their own neighborhood.

The 26 centers were created thanks in large part to Joan Kroc, wife of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, who entrusted The Salvation Army with $1.5 billion to build a space for arts, education and athletics in underserved communities.

The Hawaii Kroc Center, on the island of Oahu, has been offering fun for more than seven years. With some 11,000 members, the center attracts locals with everything from a water park to a dance academy to Kroc Church.

In this episode, Executive Director and Senior Pastor Major Phil Lum says the Hawaii Kroc Center is a one stop shop for the family. A Salvation Army officer for more than 30 years, Lum was appointed to help develop the Kroc Center back in 2006 and he's steered its growth since.

Find show notes for this episode and more at caringmagazine.org/podcast.

012: What is Peace and How Do We Build It with Monica Curca Aug 12, 2019

Show notes

What is peace—and how do we build it?

How can we create a shared future where everybody belongs.

In this episode, Monica Curca talks about peace and why it involves all of us...Why we're all responsible to solve violence. And why power is found in relationship.

Monica founded Activate Labs, a nonprofit organization that builds a creative force for peace and justice. Her projects bring together the ingredients for joy to enable direct, structural and cultural peacebuilding.

As a refugee herself and someone who holds two master's degrees in sustainable international development and conflict and coexistence, Monica is perfectly poised to help us pursue a lens of peace.

Find show notes for this episode and more at caringmagazine.org/podcast.

011: How Salvation Army Culinary Students Train for the Workforce with Chef Paul Fields Aug 05, 2019

Show notes

What's 18 square miles with a riverfront promenade and legendary food scene?

You guessed it—Napa.

This central California town is considered a world-class destination with plenty of culinary star power.

And Chef Paul Fields is at the heart of it all, having worked for the Pebble Beach Company, Silverado Country Club and several local Napa wineries. He honed his culinary skills at Oenotri, which was recognized as one of the Bay Area's top 100 restaurants. And he was the Executive Chef at the prestigious Inn on Randolph, a boutique bed and breakfast that is considered one of the country's top inns.

Now, Chef Paul is cooking in a different kitchen as the Executive Chef of The Salvation Army Napa Valley Culinary Training Academy.

Designed in collaboration with the Culinary Institute of America, the program is for those with at least six months of sobriety to support their transition back to the workforce.

Since launching in 2016, the academy has successfully placed 87 percent of its graduating students into jobs—thanks to intentional partnerships with the local hospitality industry.

From sautéing, to safe knife skills or how to plan a menu, Chef Paul leads students through the 15-week course and serves as a mentor along the way.

In this episode, he says cooking and food are means to community and a way to instantly make someone's day better.

And that passion led him from commercial kitchen to commercial kitchen in The Salvation Army, preparing students for successful employment and thus self sufficiency.

Find show notes for this episode and more at caringmagazine.org/podcast.

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