In this episode, Laurie is flying solo and talks with the amazing Nelli Kim, Founder & CEO at RĒDEN, which makes radically comfortable shoes with a purpose, and Founding Board Member of RAISEfashion, a network of fashion industry leaders, provi

Mannie Thomas on Changing False Narratives, Reversing Toxic Masculinity, and Lessons Learned After Incarceration

Mar 16th, 2022 48m 50s

In this episode, Laurie and Ann talk with Mannie Thomas, co-executive director and director of programming at Success Stories, which "provides an alternative to prisons that builds safer communities by delivering feminist programming to people

Latanya DeVaughn on Pursuing Dreams, Launching the Only Mobile Bookstore in the Bronx, and Developing a Love of Reading

Mar 1st, 2022 35m 21s

In this episode, Laurie and Ann talk with Latanya DeVaughn, founder of Bronx Bound Books, the only mobile bookstore in the Bronx (and only the second bookstore in that area!), an area of over 1.5 million people. For years, Latanya didn't think

Hope England on The Intersection of Laughter & Trauma and What Covid-19-induced Paralysis Taught Her About Her Calling

Feb 22nd, 2022 43m 10s

In this episode, Laurie and Ann talk with Hope England, a brilliant and funny psychotherapist and comedian who founded Humor for Hope, an organization that prevents and heals trauma by using comedy and improvisation. Hope and her team formed a

Charles Lerner on Growing Up in the Foster Care System, Unconditional Acceptance, and the Lifelong Journey of Love

Feb 8th, 2022 42m 2s

In this episode, Laurie and Ann talk with Charles Lerner, Executive Director of At The Crossroads, which reaches out to homeless youth and young adults at their point of need, and works with them to build healthy and fulfilling lives. Charles s

Rabbi Dr. Ariel Burger on Tradition, Dialoguing Across Differences, and What He Learned from Elie Wiesel

Feb 1st, 2022 45m 1s

In this episode, Laurie and Ann talk with Rev. Dr. Ariel Burger, founding director and senior scholar of The Witness Institute, whose mission is to empower emerging leaders, inspired by the life and legacy of Elie Wiesel. A orthodox-trained rab

Cole Arthur Riley on Finding Rest and Discovering Yourself in Difficult Times + "This Here Flesh" - Her Upcoming Book

Jan 25th, 2022 46m 31s

In this episode, Laurie and Ann talk with Cole Arthur Riley, a writer and liturgist who founded Black Liturgies, a project seeking to integrate concepts of dignity, lament, rage, justice, rest, and liberation with the practice of written prayer

Kevin McDowell on Beating Cancer, Becoming an Olympic Medalist, and Why Our Suffering Can Inspire Others

Jan 18th, 2022 42m 28s

In this episode, Laurie and Ann talk with Kevin McDowell, a triathlete who just won a silver medal in the mixed relay triathlon and placed sixth overall in the individual men's triathlon. He was one of the first American men to win an Olympic m

Mike Thirtle on "Doing a Little More," Smart and Good People, and Honoring Those Who Serve

Jan 11th, 2022 41m 58s

In this episode, Laurie and Ann talk with Mike Thirtle, CEO of the Gary Sinise Foundation, which "serves our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need." We talk with Mike about his 20 years

Lauren McCann on Creating a Positive Difference, Following Your Own Dreams, and Sobriety with Others

Jan 3rd, 2022 41m 9s

In this episode, Laurie and Ann talk with Lauren McCann, founder of Calliope Advisors, a "mission-driven consulting firm and innovation partner for philanthropists, companies, and nonprofits who want to pilot new concepts and models to solve pr

Laurie and Ann on The Year Behind, Kindness Creativity, Making Space for Us, Rubik Cubes, Harvesting Apples, and Heromaking in 2022

Dec 27th, 2021 30m 53s

After too long of a hiatus, we are back for Season Three of the Heromakers Podcast! Here, Laurie and Ann talk about some things they learned and noticed in 2021, how kindness creativity is flourishing in some areas, and why friendship and netwo

Julie Anne Kelly on Kicking Cancer in the ___ Through Community, Love, and a Whole Lot of Boxing

May 11th, 2021 47m 3s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, we talk with Julie Anne Kelly, cancer survivor and co-founder of Haymakers for Hope, which gives everyday men and women the chance to fight back against cancer by training for and competing in charity

Nicholas Kristock on Fleece, Thank You, Empathy, Compassion, Confidence, and Many Things in Between

Apr 28th, 2021 34m

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, we talk with Nicholas Kristock, founder of Fleece & Thank You, a non-profit focused on connecting people who want to make blankets for children in the hospital with the heroes who receive them. A forme

Ian Hockley on Lessons of Loss from Sandy Hook and Building Communities of Heromakers

Apr 20th, 2021 46m 48s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, we talk with Ian Hockey, co-founder and executive director of Dylan's Wings of Change and the Wingman program. In December 2012, Ian's life changed forever when he lost his son, Dylan, in the Sandy Hoo

Katie Spotz on Endurance Sports and Pushing Yourself to Do the Impossible to Raise Awareness of Those in Need

Apr 13th, 2021 42m 5s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Katie Spotz, endurance athlete and clean water advocate. Katie has completed a number of significant physical fitness challenges--being the youngest person to row across the At

Dorris Walker-Taylor on Finding Joy After More Than Two Decades of Pain, and Why a Place Called Thistle Farms Is So Amazing

Apr 6th, 2021 45m 13s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Dorris Walker-Taylor, Senior Ambassador of Thistle Farms. Here, she opens up about the painful incident of seeing her father murdered and how that led to a lifestyle of drugs a

Darcy Olsen on Using Every Available Means to Give Voice to the Children Unheard and Unseen in the Foster Care System

Mar 16th, 2021 45m 44s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Darcy Olsen, founder and CEO of Gen Justice, which "works to mend the child protection system and bring a permanent end to innocent children enduring violence." A foster parent

Dion Dawson on Dreaming Big for His Englewood Community and How One Person Can Put Hopes into Motion

Mar 9th, 2021 43m 48s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Dion Dawson, founder and visionary of Dion's Chicago Dream. Growing up in Englewood on the south side of Chicago, Dion later spent time in the Navy, serving as a journalist and

Samantha Tan on Racing Fast Cars and Trailblazing as a Young Female in a Male-dominated Sport

Mar 2nd, 2021 28m 54s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Samantha Tan, a 23-year-old phenom who is setting the stage for a new generation of women in race car driving. At the age of 14, with the encouragement of her father, Samantha

Mark White on "Home", Physical Proximity, and Gratitude as Values That Build a Joyful Life

Feb 23rd, 2021 49m 41s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Mark White, founder of Run Grateful and Your Town, about the power of community and why we all need physical proximity even as we continue to communicate virtually. Mark shares

Chris Fields on Three Decades of Being a Firefighter, the Iconic Oklahoma City Bombing Photo, and Why Trauma Doesn't Have to Have the Final Word

Feb 16th, 2021 42m 42s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with retired Oklahoma City firefighter Chris Fields. Best known around the world for his role in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, where he was featured in the iconic photo carrying

Kellie Haddock on Hope After Tragedy, the Power of Music, and a Thank You Project 10 Years in the Making

Feb 9th, 2021 41m 18s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Kellie Haddock, a Christian singer-songwriter who has an incredible story of hope. Losing her husband in a car accident while also having her baby's life saved, Kellie has live

Teresa Goines on Building Heromakers in Vulnerable Populations, Her Vision Behind Old Skool Cafe, and the Power of Community

Feb 2nd, 2021 35m 10s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Teresa Goines, the founder of Old Skool Cafe, a faith-based, violence prevention program that provides job training, employment, and a second chance by way of a 1920’s speakeas

Ali Llewellyn and Nick Skytland on Looking at What Comes Next & Innovating at NASA and in Life

Jan 26th, 2021 42m 13s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Nick Skytland and Ali Llewellyn about working at NASA, finding your calling, helping others to dream big, and of course, their new book, What Comes Next?: Shaping the Future in

Aalia Lanius on Authentically Being You, Overcoming Obstacles, and the Power of Loving Yourself

Jan 19th, 2021 42m 18s

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Aalia Lanius, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Unsugercoated Media, which seeks to help survivors of trauma through media and works of art that address the critical issues