Simple Acts, Big Impact

Open Robotics and AI: Advay's Story

Advay, a Texas high school senior, is closing the AI and robotics education gap in underserved communities through his nonprofit, Open Robotics and AI. In this episode, w

Understanding Your Rights When You Can't Afford a Lawyer: Debasmita's Passion for Justice

Public defenders are overloaded, and legal jargon can leave defendants confused about the charges against them. Debasmita saw this firsthand volunteering with the Rainy D

Food Waste to Food Recovery: Sid's Waste2Taste Story

Overripe bananas, soft avocados, wilting greens — most of it isn't trash, it's still good. Sid, founder of Waste2Taste in Houston, turned his passion for food recovery in

Literary Speaking: Alejandra's Teen Mentorship Mission

What does teen-led community impact look like? For Alejandra, a Miami high school senior, it's Literary Speaking — a nonprofit offering free academic tutoring and mentors

Sarah Jakle: DemocraShe

For the last episode of season four, I'm honored to share a special conversation with Sarah Jakle, the founder of a nonpartisan nonprofit organization called DemocraShe,

Makenna and Stella: Mayo Miles Walk

A walkathon is a fun and relatively easy way to raise awareness and funds for a cause you care about. My guests today, Makenna and Stella, launched the Mayo Miles Walk to

Mila H.: MH Boxes

Young people, especially young girls of color, continue to struggle with mental health issues even six years after the pandemic. Access to services and support is spotty,

Nolan Z.: Golden Voice Outreach

I think we can all agree that sometimes, a simple phone call from a friend can brighten your whole day. And for a lonely or isolated older adult, that phone call might be

Sahana: Young Learners

We all know that books hold the key to language and literacy. My guest today, Sahana, a high school senior from Ohio, has always had a passion for words and reading and w

Evan Z: NextGen Community Builders

My guest today, HS sophomore Evan Z., cares deeply about making the streets of his community safer for everyone - drivers, walkers and bicycle riders. He started NextGen

Juan: Origami for Good

Origami is a traditional Japanese art of folding paper, typically without cutting or gluing, to create intricate, beautiful and colorful shapes. It can be a meditative pr

Keshav: Pipes for the People

Over the four years of doing this podcast, I have had the privilege of learning about some incredible social impact projects that take a unique approach to solving a diff

Jiya: Young and Old United

After the loss of her beloved grandmother, Jiya J. from Texas realized that she missed the warm connection she had with her grandmother, and reached out to local senior c

Sanvi and Sumedha: The Bookmark Project

Reading opens doors and provides opportunities, and for young people who find themselves in the hospital, research shows that books can boost positive emotions and oxytoc

Crystal and Ellie: LEAP for Climate

Today, as we kick off Earth Month, I am honored to share this conversation with Crystal and Ellie, two college students who became friends while doing Model UN in high sc

Edie Y.: We Are Artistic

My guest today, Edie Y., is a college student, a future educator and a champion of the arts - for EVERYONE. Edie started We Are Artistic to support artists and art lovers

Maya and Mia F: Enough for Everyone

Period poverty continues to be a major issue for so many women and girls in the United States. My guests today, sisters Mia and Maya F. from Florida, started Enough for E

Ryan T: Read Aloud Buddies and Little Acts of Kindness

Sometimes the simplest efforts are the most impactful. Big-hearted high school senior Ryan T. launched Read Aloud Buddies along with his sister during the early days of t

Aaron H.: Indigenous Justice Coalition

My guest, Aaron H. from California, created the Indigenous Justice Coalition to support the many indigenous tribes in our country who have been denied their rights and be

Nell C.: My Hospital Story

When a child is diagnosed with a rare and difficult disease, there is so much chaos and stress. The care that they are given in the hospital and the attitude and optimism