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Let's Give A Damn

Let's Give A Damn

By Nick Laparra

On the Let's Give A Damn podcast, we introduce you to people who are trying to live a a meaningful life. You'll hear from damn good people like Matthew McConaughey, Chelsea Clinton, Rainn Wilson, Noor Tagouri, Lisa Sharon Harper, June Diane Raphael, Clint Smith, and over 175 other damn good humans! From their experiences and wisdom, you'll learn how to give a damn about yourself, each other, and others. Join us!
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Currently playing episode

Andrea Geubelle — Give To Others Without Needing Something In Return

Let's Give A DamnMar 31, 2017

00:00
51:30
Reshma Saujani

Reshma Saujani

Reshma Saujani is the Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, the international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology and change the image of what a computer programmer looks like and does. She is the author of the international bestseller Brave, Not Perfect and the New York Times bestseller Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World. Reshma’s TED talk, “Teach girls, bravery not perfection,” has more than four million views and has sparked a worldwide conversation about how we’re raising our girls. She is the host of the award-winning podcast “Brave, Not Perfect.”

Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on FacebookInstagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we’re doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can’t do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! See you next year. Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!

Jan 19, 202156:56
Annie Lowrey

Annie Lowrey

Annie Lowrey is an accomplished journalist who writes on politics and economic policy for The Atlantic magazine. Before moving over to The Atlantic, she was at the New York Times. In 2019, Annie wrote a book that I read and loved. It’s called Give People Money: How a Universal Basic Income Would End Poverty, Revolutionize Work, and Remake. If you want to dive into this topic more of UBI—or a Universal Basic Income—here are two other books I’d highly recommend:
— The War on Normal People: The Truth About America's Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future by Andrew Yang
— Utopia for Realist: How We Can Build the Ideal World by Rutger Bregman
Lastly, follow Annie on Twitter! And catch her work by reading The Atlantic.
Jan 12, 202101:28:26
Matthew McConaughey, Ed Winters, Elizabeth Marvel, and Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.

Matthew McConaughey, Ed Winters, Elizabeth Marvel, and Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.

This is our last podcast in 2020. What a year! In the beginning of this episode, I share some closing thoughts for the year and then I share some of my favorite moments from conversations I had with damn-giving friends Matthew McConaughey, Ed Winters, Elizabeth Marvel, and Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. Listen to entire Matthew McConaughey conversation here: lgad.co/mcconaughey Listen to the entire Ed Winters conversation here: lgad.co/edwinters Listen to the entire Elizabeth Marvel conversation here: lgad.co/elizabethmarvel Listen to the entire Eddie S. Glaude Jr. conversation here: lgad.co/eddieglaudejr Reach out to me anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! See you next year. Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Dec 29, 202033:51
Rachael Denhollander

Rachael Denhollander

Rachael Denhollander became known internationally in 2016 as the first woman to pursue criminal charges and speak publicly against USA Gymnastics’ team doctor Larry Nassar, one of the most prolific sexual abusers in recorded history. As a result of her activism over 300 women—including numerous Olympic medalists—came forward as survivors of Nassar’s abuse, eventually leading to his life imprisonment. Read the rest of her bio here. Rachael is an incredible advocate for survivors. She works tirelessly to make sure their voices are heard. I've witnessed so much of this advocacy first-hand over the past year. Buy her first book, What Is a Girl Worth?: My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics Buy her second book, How Much Is A Little Girl Worth? Watch the incredible 36-minute speech Rachael gave at Larry Nassar's sentencing in 2018. It's powerful and worth watching. Follow Rachael on Instagram and Twitter. Reach out to me anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Dec 22, 202001:27:14
Ed Winters

Ed Winters

Ed Winters—known as Earthling Ed to his 1.2M social media followers—is a vegan educator, public speaker and content creator based in London, England. He is a Co-Founder and Co-Director of Surge—an animal rights organization determined to create a world where compassion towards all non-human animals is the norm. You won't find me pushing back on Ed in this conversation. We are both animal rights activists (he in a much greater capacity) and vegans. Whether you eat meat or not and whether you plan on making any changes to your diet or not, please listen to this conversation. If you are going to continue consuming animal products in 2020, at least know what's happening behind the scenes and right in front of your face in the meat and animal products industries. After you listen, hit me up on social media or email me (hello@letsgiveadamn.com) with any questions you may have. Would love to discuss and/or answer any questions! Follow Ed on Instagram and Facebook. Follow Surge on Instagram and Facebook. And if you're ever in London, visit the Unity Diner! Reach out to me anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Dec 15, 202001:48:29
Shannon Sedgwick Davis

Shannon Sedgwick Davis

Shannon Sedgwick Davis is my friend, an incredible activist, and a remarkable lawyer. Shannon is the CEO of Bridgeway Foundation—a philanthropic organization dedicated to stopping mass atrocities around the world. The Bridgeway Foundation is part of Bridgeway Capital—a company that has committed to giving away half of their profits to help solve some of the biggest problems facing our world today. Shannon is the author of To Stop A Warlord: My Story of Justice, Grace, and the Fight for Peace. We are giving away a bunch of copies of this book during the first week after this conversation releases. Check us out on Instagram for more details! Follow Shannon on Instagram and Twitter. Reach out to me anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Dec 08, 202001:20:41
Hank Fortener

Hank Fortener

Hank and his beautiful family live in Los Angeles. He is the GM of Artist Management at RocNation. And a few years ago, he founded AdoptTogether—a non-profit, crowdfunding platform that bridges the gap between families who want to adopt and the children who need loving homes. Over the past few years, they have helped 4K families raise $17M dollars to adopt children from over 60 countries.  Follow Hank on Twitter and Instagram. Follow AdoptTogether on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Hank’s TEDx talks: How I use the internet to build families / The power of together Lastly, watch this great Buzzfeed piece on why and how he started World Adoption Day. Reach out to me anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Dec 01, 202001:27:09
June Diane Raphael

June Diane Raphael

You probably know June Diane Raphael from shows like Veep, New Girl, and Parks and Rec or from movies like Long Shot or The High Note. But what you may not know about her is that she co-founded an incredible organization called The Jane Club! TJC is committed to "taking care of the woman who takes care of everything else.” They started as a physical space in Los Angeles but when they pandemic hit, they moved online and their community has grown by 450%! I found four statements on the website that I love and want to share with you for your consideration: Honor all work. Come as you are. Show Up. Be of service. Check out The Jane Club! I suspect some of y’all will want to join. Follow June on Twitter and Instagram. Join our texting community by sending us a text at 646-328-6414. Reach out to me anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Nov 24, 202001:11:15
Chloé Valdary

Chloé Valdary

Chloé Valdary couldn’t find any antiracism training that didn’t ultimately spread more bigotry and hatred so she started The Theory of Enchantment—an innovative framework for compassionate antiracism that combines social emotional learning (SEL), character development, and interpersonal growth as tools for leadership development in the boardroom and beyond. In just a few short years, Chloé has taught The Theory of Enchantment to high school and college students, government agencies, business teams, and more in many countries around the world. Chloé is super smart and wise and I’m honored to have her on the show today. Follow Chloé on Twitter. Follow The Theory Of Enchantment on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Watch her brilliant TED talk called How Love Can Help Repair Social Inequality! Join our texting community by sending us a text at 646-328-6414. Reach out to me anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Nov 17, 202001:20:59
Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey

Yes, the Matthew McConaughey is on the podcast this week. How does one introduce Matthew McConaughey? What’s that, you say? Don’t even try? Cool, I won’t. I will say this—he is charming, smart, and incredibly wise. Matthew recently wrote a book based on 36 years of journaling. In it, he shares incredible stories, tons of wisdom, and he helps us learn the art of catching Greenlights. Remember, no matter how many yellow lights or red lights you may be experiencing in your life, they always turn green. In this conversation, you’ll finds of wisdom for damn-givers of all shapes and sizes. Follow Matthew on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Visit Greenlights.com to learn more about the book and please it from your local bookstore! Join our texting community by sending us a text at 646-328-6414. Reach out to me anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Nov 10, 202053:51
Gretchen Carlson

Gretchen Carlson

I’ve admired Gretchen for years! It was an absolute honor to speak with her on the podcast this week. In 2016, Gretchen boldly spoke up about abuse she had suffered at the hands of one of the biggest media tycoons in the world. And the rest is history! Now, most of you already know who Gretchen is. For the few of you who may not know her story and her work, here are a few highlights from her website: Gretchen Carlson is a fierce, fearless and internationally recognized advocate for women’s rights, whose bold actions against Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes helped pave the way for the global #MeToo movement. A journalist, author, TED talk alum, and champion for workplace equality, Carlson was named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” and is a member of the TIME’S UP Global Leadership Board. She’s a PEOPLE TV special contributor and host of the new daily news podcast “Get The News With Gretchen Carlson” on Quake Media. Carlson is the author of the New York Times bestseller “Be Fierce” and “Getting Real,” and recently co-founded the non-profit Lift Our Voices to end the silencing of harassment victims through forced arbitration and non-disclosure agreements. Follow Gretchen on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Please buy her book, Be Fierce! It’s so good. ___________________________________ Join our texting community by sending us a text at 646-328-6414. Reach out to me anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Nov 03, 202001:02:19
Priti Krishtel

Priti Krishtel

Priti Krishtel is an incredible human! She’s a a committed campaigner for justice, a community organizer, and a relentless advocate for patients. For the past 20 years, she Priti has worked to tirelessly to make sure more people can have access to affordable, life-saving medicine. Please read her full bio here. She has done and is doing so many incredible things. Also, watch her incredible TED talk. She delivered the talk at TEDWomen in December of 2019 and it already has 2M views! Lastly, make sure to follow her on Twitter. ___________________________________ Join our texting community by sending us a text at 646-328-6414. Reach out to me anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Oct 27, 202001:20:55
Ann Lee

Ann Lee

Ann Lee is the Chief Executive Officer of CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort)—Sean Penn’s disaster relief charity. Among many great things she had accomplished in this role, she has led high-level partnership with organizations like The World Bank, the United Nations, the Sean Parker Foundation, the Supreme Committee of Qatar, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Salesforce, World Central Kitchen, and many others. Before she joined CORE, she was the lead on urban humanitarian response and the private sector liaison for the Secretary General’s World Humanitarian Summit at the UN’s Organization for Coordination and Humanitarian Affairs. And I genuinely need a smoke brea after rattling off just a couple of the incredible things Ann has accomplished. Additionally, Ann received the Society for International Development’s prestigious Truman Award in 2009. I could go on and on and on. Bottom line—she’s a certified badass. Learn more about CORE’s rapid response during this global pandemic. It’s truly amazing! Follow Ann Lee on Twitter and Instagram. ___________________________________ Join our texting community by sending us a text at 646-328-6414. Reach out to me anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Oct 13, 202001:01:36
Elizabeth Marvel

Elizabeth Marvel

Yes, that Elizabeth Marvel is on the show today. I’m honored she took some time to be with me and with us. Elizabeth is a force to be reckoned with! She has acted in some incredible movies (True Grit, Lincoln) and TV shows (Homeland, House of Cards, Fargo). Her career has been amazing so far. How has she done it? By finding strategic ways to give a damn and by removing herself from the toxic social media environment. Read about how and why she protests in the NYT. Read about the "Cut Piece for Pant Suits” project we talked about in our conversation. ___________________________________ If you need anything at all, text me at 646-328-6414 or email me hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Oct 06, 202001:27:00
Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

Eddie Glaude Jr. is amazing! And he has a remarkable bio. It’s so remarkable that I’ll just link to it instead of trying to summarize it for you here. I hadn’t heard of Eddie until 2 months ago when my Priest brought him up during one of our conversations. I left our conversation and immediately bought his latest book Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own. Holy shit! I mean, I’ve always been a massive fan of Jame Baldwin’s life and work, but this book wrecked me. I teeter-tottered between hope and despair the entire time. Follow Eddie on Twitter and Instagram Buy his books: Begin Again, Democracy In Black, In A Shade of Blue What did you think about this conversation? Hit me up anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Sep 29, 202001:00:16
Michael Wear

Michael Wear

Michael Wear is a friend and fellow damn-giver. He believes politics is a forum for loving your neighbor. And that's exactly why he joins us on the show today — to help us be hopeful, to share that hope, and to love out neighbor well. From Michael’s website: Michael Wear is a leading strategist, speaker and practitioner at the intersection of faith, politics and public life. He has advised a president, as well as some of the nation’s leading foundations, non-profits and public leaders, on some of the thorniest issues and exciting opportunities that define American life today. He has argued that the spiritual health and civic character of individuals is deeply tied to the state of our politics and public affairs.  As one of President Obama’s “ambassadors to America’s believers” (Buzzfeed), Michael directed faith outreach for President Obama’s historic 2012 re-election campaign. Michael was also one of the youngest White House staffers in modern American history: he served in the White House faith-based initiative during President Obama’s first term, where he led evangelical outreach and helped manage The White House’s engagement on religious and values issues, including adoption and anti-human trafficking efforts. Today, Michael serves as Chief Strategist and member of the executive team for the AND Campaign. Michael is also the founder of Public Square Strategies LLC, a sought-after firm that helps religious organizations, political organizations, businesses and others effectively navigate the rapidly changing American religious and political landscape. Michael is the author of Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America. In 2020, Michael was the co-author of a major report on “Christianity, Pluralism and Public Life in the United States” that was supported by Democracy Fund. He also writes for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Catapult Magazine, Christianity Today and other publications on faith, politics and culture. Michael is a Senior Fellow at The Trinity Forum, and he holds an honorary position at the University of Birmingham’s Cadbury Center for the Public Understanding of Religion. Michael and his wife, Melissa, are both proud natives of Buffalo, New York. They now reside in Northern Virginia, where they are raising their beloved daughter, Saoirse.  Lastly, follow Michael on Twitter! He helps me stay focused on a daily basis.  ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Sep 22, 202001:17:21
Sarah Mardini

Sarah Mardini

Sarah Mardini is a Syrian refugee. In 2015, she left Syria with her sister, Yusra, to seek a better life in Europe. A couple of years later, Sarah was arrested on several false charges. What was the real reason they arrested her? For helping refugees at Moria Refugee Camp on the island of Lesvos in Greece. If charged, she could face 25 years in prison. Sarah gives so many damns! During our chat, we talked about her upbringing in Syria, her love for swimming, how and why she was arrested, and so much more. - Watch "How I was arrested for handing out blankets to refugees” — Sarah’s first TEDx talk. - Watch “Shore Talk” — Sarah’s second TEDx talk. - Follow Sarah on Instagram. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Sep 15, 202001:20:09
Kristen Howerton

Kristen Howerton

Kristen Howerton is amazing! From her website: Kristen Howerton is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the mother of four children within four years via birth and adoption. She is the founder of the blog Rage Against the Minivan where, in the midst of writing about the raw emotions and experience of motherhood, she has become a fierce advocate for social justice.  It was an absolute joy to chat with Kristen about parenting, divorce, raising black and white kids, parenting during a global pandemic, her new book, and so much more. Follow Kristen on Instagram and Twitter.Visit her website for more information on her book, podcast, and counseling services. Oh, and buy her book! It’s well-written and funny as hell. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Sep 01, 202001:14:56
Phil Vischer

Phil Vischer

Phil Vischer is an animator, puppeteer, writer, voice actor, entrepreneur, and podcast host who created the computer-animated cartoon series VeggieTales – one of the most successful cartoons of all-time. After the horrific public lynching of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Phil put together and released a 17-minute video called Race In America. In it, he outlines the history of racism in our country and he points out that systemic racism is still alive and well today. It went viral! As of right now, it has 1.2M views on Youtube and 5.5M views on Facebook. Even Queen Viola Davis shared it on her Instagram! The other day, he released a follow-up video on Youtube and Facebook where he answers the top questions he had received since the first video went viral. Phil and I also briefly discuss why he still identifies as Evangelical when white Evangelicals make up the majority of Trump Supporters out there. I liked his answer! Follow Phil on Twitter and Instagram. And make sure two watch Parts 1 and 2 of his amazing videos on race in America. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Aug 25, 202001:11:22
Alex Vitale

Alex Vitale

Alex Vitale is my guest on the podcast this week! What a pleasure. From his website: Alex is Professor of Sociology and Coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project at Brooklyn College and a Visiting Professor at London Southbank University. He has spent the last 30 years writing about policing and consults both police departments and human rights organizations internationally. Prof. Vitale is the author of City of Disorder: How the Quality of Life Campaign Transformed New York Politics and The End of Policing. His academic writings on policing have appeared in Policing and Society, Police Practice and Research, Mobilization, and Contemporary Sociology. He is also a frequent essayist, whose writings have appeared in The NY Times, Washington Post, The Guardian, The Nation, Vice News, Fortune, and USA Today. Now, I know this is a hot topic right now. This conversation makes some people very angry. You have cops in your family. Or maybe you’re a cop. I just want to be the first to tell you that this conversation is not the end all conversation on this matter. BUT don’t write it off before you do the research and study. Buy Alex’s book There are other brilliant resources and lectures out there that I’ll link to in the show notes. If your response to this is simply, “Well, we can’t not have police. That’s stupid. What about all the bad guys?” then please take a deep breath and start studying and researching because this is a complex issue with only complex, nuanced answers. It’s not easy but it is worth checking out if we truly want a country that is for all people and a country that wants life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone.  Please check out his website. It’s a goldmine of resources! On it, you’ll find television appearances, review of his book, essays, radio appearances, news coverage of his work, and so much more. I promise you, you could spend DAYS on his website. And this is an important topic. So, why not spend some time learning about this important topic? Remember, hello@letsgiveadamn.com for anything at all. Love y'all. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Aug 18, 202051:21
Mark Charles

Mark Charles

Mark Charles, a dual citizen of the United States and the Navajo Nation, is running as an Independent Candidate for President of the United States to build a nation where We The People truly means All The People. Mark’s 100-day plan includes striking the racist, sexist and white supremacist language from the Constitution, truly abolishing slavery, and adding the words “Value Life” to the constitution so that the constitution would read like this: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, value life, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Honestly, Mark Charles blew me away. He is authentic, honest, and humble. Just the kind of leader we need. I know and he knows that his campaign is a long-shot. Maybe someday, however, independent candidates will be taken more seriously because we need more leaders like Mark in Washington.  To support Mark’s campaign in a variety of ways, visit MarkCharles2020.com.  Take 8-minutes to watch his Presidential candidacy announcement video. It’s amazing! Buy his book, Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery. It’s fantastic. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Aug 14, 202001:26:37
Rob Scheer

Rob Scheer

Rob Scheer is my friend and the founder of Comfort Cases. They exist to "inspire communities to bring dignity and hope youth in foster care.” Every single day, Rob and his team aim to love and care for the 440k children in foster care. Over the past several years, they have given out over 100,000 cases to children who will hopefully never have to use a trash bag for their belongings ever again.  Rob was raised in an abusive home and was placed in the broken foster care system as a child. Sadly, the foster care system hasn’t improved much since Rob was a young boy. His story of resilience, bravery, and perseverance will inspire you in a hundred different ways. Guaranteed! A few links you should click on and check out: - Watch Rob (and other dads like Will Smith, Judd Apatow, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O’Brien) in the recent Apple TV documentary Dads.  - Read Rob’s CNN Hero piece on CNN.  - Watch Rob’s TEDx talk. - Buy and read Rob’s memoir A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time. - Hear Rob’s story on Upworthy. - Follow Rob on Instagram. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Aug 11, 202001:32:57
Billie Winner-Davis

Billie Winner-Davis

Reality Winner shared the truth about the Russians hacking in our 2016 Presidential election. Instead of praising her and calling her a hero, the powers that be put her in prison. She has been behind bars since 2017. Reality’s mother, Billie, joins me on the show today to talk about key parts of Reality’s upbringing, how and why she joined the Air Force, how and why she acted heroically by releasing top secret government information, and we spend quite a bit of time discussing her horrible situation in prison.  There are quite a few moments during our chat where I thought about how hard it must be for Billie to talk about these things. I’m incredibly grateful for her time and for reliving this nightmare so that we can learn more Reality’s story and so that we can be motivated to do something about it.  If you want to get involved, visit standwithreality.org. You’ll find multiple ways to help out immediately.  Don’t forget to follow Billie Winner-Davis on Twitter! ___________________________________ SPONSOR: This episode of Let’s Give a Damn is brought to you by Red Kap — a fantastic company that makes workwear and uniforms. Not only is Red Kap a Nashville-based company — which I, of course, love because I live here right now — but they champion the men and women who are out there committed to making our communities thrive. Everything they make — from work shirts to coveralls — is crafted with purpose and on purpose. They’re a no BS company. What you see is what you get. And what you get is a group of people who genuinely give a damn about work, and a life, done right. From now until July 31, you can get 20% off your first purchase at redkap.com with the promo code GIVEADAMN. Here’s something cool! I worked with them last month to interview amazing damn-givers that are beautifully contributing to their communities during this global pandemic. See more of my From The Frontlines interviews at redkap.com/communuity. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Jul 31, 202001:03:08
Matthew Kincaid

Matthew Kincaid

Matthew Kincaid is an educator and activist who has been leading anti-racism workshops for over fourteen years.  Kincaid is the founder, CEO, and Chief Consulting Officer for Overcoming Racism an organization that works to develop culturally responsive schools and practitioners. Overcoming Racism works with schools and organizations providing intensive race and equity training, consulting and providing schools with the tools to address the reality of systemic racism both inside and outside of the classroom. I was first introduced to Matthew through a video of his Black Solidarity Day speech entitled "The Harvest Is Plentiful But the Workers are Few" that he gave at Tufts University in 2009. You need to watch the entire thing! Also, don’t forget to follow Overcoming Racism on Instagram. ___________________________________ SPONSOR: This episode of Let’s Give a Damn is brought to you by Red Kap — a fantastic company that makes workwear and uniforms. Not only is Red Kap a Nashville-based company — which I, of course, love because I live here right now — but they champion the men and women who are out there committed to making our communities thrive. Everything they make — from work shirts to coveralls — is crafted with purpose and on purpose. They’re a no BS company. What you see is what you get. And what you get is a group of people who genuinely give a damn about work, and a life, done right. From now until July 31, you can get 20% off your first purchase at redkap.com with the promo code GIVEADAMN. Here’s something cool! I worked with them last month to interview amazing damn-givers that are beautifully contributing to their communities during this global pandemic. See more of my From The Frontlines interviews at redkap.com/communuity. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Jul 28, 202001:42:39
Nick Laparra

Nick Laparra

In this episode, Nick shares some thoughts about the two civil rights heroes we lost this past week and he gives us some challenges for the days ahead.  C.T. Vivian was born July 30 1924 in Boonville, Missouri and died on July 17 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was 95 years old. John Robert Lewis was born February 21 1940 in Tory, Alabama and died on July 17 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was 80 years old.  John Lewis always asked people to, "Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America. ”These two men were arrested, they were beaten with an inch of their lives, they walked with Dr. King, and they have done important work that will outlive them for many decades and centuries to come. Let us honor them by spending our lives getting into good trouble. ___________________________________ SPONSOR: This episode of Let’s Give a Damn is brought to you by Red Kap — a fantastic company that makes workwear and uniforms. Not only is Red Kap a Nashville-based company — which I, of course, love because I live here right now — but they champion the men and women who are out there committed to making our communities thrive. Everything they make — from work shirts to coveralls — is crafted with purpose and on purpose. They’re a no BS company. What you see is what you get. And what you get is a group of people who genuinely give a damn about work, and a life, done right. From now until July 31, you can get 20% off your first purchase at redkap.com with the promo code GIVEADAMN. Here’s something cool! I worked with them last month to interview amazing damn-givers that are beautifully contributing to their communities during this global pandemic. See more of my From The Frontlines interviews at redkap.com/communuity. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Jul 21, 202020:19
Jelani Memory

Jelani Memory

Jelani Memory is a black entrepreneur, thinker, learner, and an incredibly curious human. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and six kids. He co-founded Circle, a product that helps parents monitor and limit online time, site visits, and app usage. We've used it in our home and it’s fantastic. A couple of years ago, they partnered with Disney to get it into many more homes so now it’s called Circle with Disney. He also co-founded A Kids Book About — a company that creates books that treat kids like they are smart and speaks to them straightforwardly and honestly about topics like racism, body image, divorce, failure, bullying, empathy, creativity, disabilities, and so many other important topics. Follow Jelani on Twitter. Follow A Kids Book About on Twitter and Instagram. And make sure to check out the books and order some today! ___________________________________ SPONSOR: This episode of Let’s Give a Damn is brought to you by Red Kap — a fantastic company that makes workwear and uniforms. Not only is Red Kap a Nashville-based company — which I, of course, love because I live here right now — but they champion the men and women who are out there committed to making our communities thrive. Everything they make — from work shirts to coveralls — is crafted with purpose and on purpose. They’re a no BS company. What you see is what you get. And what you get is a group of people who genuinely give a damn about work, and a life, done right. From now until July 31, you can get 20% off your first purchase at redkap.com with the promo code GIVEADAMN. Here’s something cool! I worked with them last month to interview amazing damn-givers that are beautifully contributing to their communities during this global pandemic. See more of my From The Frontlines interviews at redkap.com/communuity. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Jul 17, 202001:01:08
Highlights!

Highlights!

This week, we’re doing a highlights episode! These are some of the moments that have stuck out to me from the amazing conversations I get to have each week. This time around, you’ll get to hear from Josh Radnor, Justin Jones, Lisa Sharon Harper, Joel Stein, Yusra Mardini, and Mike McHargue. If you’d like to listen to the full conversations, click on the link(s) below: Josh Radnor Justin Jones Lisa Sharon Harper Joel Stein Yusra Mardini Mike McHargue ___________________________________ SPONSOR: This episode of Let’s Give a Damn is brought to you by Red Kap — a fantastic company that makes workwear and uniforms. Not only is Red Kap a Nashville-based company — which I, of course, love because I live here right now — but they champion the men and women who are out there committed to making our communities thrive. Everything they make — from work shirts to coveralls — is crafted with purpose and on purpose. They’re a no BS company. What you see is what you get. And what you get is a group of people who genuinely give a damn about work, and a life, done right. From June 1 - July 31, you can get 20% off your first purchase at redkap.com with the promo code GIVEADAMN. Here’s something cool! I worked with them last month to interview amazing damn-givers that are beautifully contributing to their communities during this global pandemic. See more of my From The Frontlines interviews at redkap.com/communuity. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Jul 14, 202034:22
Yusra Mardini

Yusra Mardini

Yusra Mardini is a Syrian Refugee. In 2015, she and her sister left their home to head toward safety. A few minutes into the trip, the engine on their boat stopped working. She and her sister tread water for 3 1/2 hours which led to everyone’s lives being saved. Eventually, she arrived in Germany and began training for the 2016 Olympics. She competed at the 2016 Olympics in Rio on the very first Refugee Olympic Team. She is a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and swims every day as she trains for the next Olympics. Buy her book to hear the full version of her story. Follow Yusra on Instagram and Twitter. And visit her website to learn more about her. ___________________________________ SPONSOR: This episode of Let’s Give a Damn is brought to you by Red Kap — a fantastic company that makes workwear and uniforms. Not only is Red Kap a Nashville-based company — which I, of course, love because I live here right now — but they champion the men and women who are out there committed to making our communities thrive. Everything they make — from work shirts to coveralls — is crafted with purpose and on purpose. They’re a no BS company. What you see is what you get. And what you get is a group of people who genuinely give a damn about work, and a life, done right. From June 1 - July 31, you can get 20% off your first purchase at redkap.com with the promo code GIVEADAMN. Here’s something cool! I worked with them last month to interview amazing damn-givers that are beautifully contributing to their communities during this global pandemic. See more of my From The Frontlines interviews at redkap.com/communuity. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Jul 10, 202001:07:22
Charles Robinson

Charles Robinson

Charles belongs to the Choctaw tribe and his wife belongs to the Blackfoot tribe. 21 years ago, they started a non-profit organization called The Red Road. The Red Road exists to empower and share hope with Native American communities all over the country. He travels with his wife, Siouxsan, and their 7 children to do this incredible work.  A couple of years ago, Charles and his wife came up with a brilliant way to support the non-profit so they didn’t have to spend so much time fundraising. So, they started a cigar company! It’s called Atsiniki Cigars. Atsiniki means “Storyteller” in Choctaw. Their three cigars right now are named after three of their seven children: Nanaiya means Peace, Imaiya means Victory, and the Tashka means Warrior or Warrior Spirit. Follow Charles on Instagram. Visit The Red Road and Atsiniki Cigars to learn more about what they do and how you can get involved. If you’re ever coming through Nashville, stop by Smoker’s Abbey to grab some Atsiniki cigars. Hit me up and maybe I’ll join you! ___________________________________ SPONSOR: This episode of Let’s Give a Damn is brought to you by Red Kap — a fantastic company that makes workwear and uniforms. Not only is Red Kap a Nashville-based company — which I, of course, love because I live here right now — but they champion the men and women who are out there committed to making our communities thrive. Everything they make — from work shirts to coveralls — is crafted with purpose and on purpose. They’re a no BS company. What you see is what you get. And what you get is a group of people who genuinely give a damn about work, and a life, done right. From June 1 - July 31, you can get 20% off your first purchase at redkap.com with the promo code GIVEADAMN. Here’s something cool! I worked with them last month to interview amazing damn-givers that are beautifully contributing to their communities during this global pandemic. See more of my From The Frontlines interviews at redkap.com/communuity. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Jul 07, 202001:34:20
Tori Williams Douglass

Tori Williams Douglass

My guest today is Tori Williams Douglass. She is from Portland, Oregon. Tori is an anti-racist educator, the founder of White Homework, a writer, a content creator, and so much more. In our chat, we talk about growing up in a progressive but not so progressive city, living on stolen land, systemic racism, the global pandemic, police brutality, spirituality (or the lack thereof), what she would right now if she were president, and so much more. Fair warning — this conversation is raw and unfiltered. I mean, y’all already know that’s how I roll but this one is extra spicy. You can't say I didn’t warn you.  Follow Tori online, on Twitter, and on Instagram. And sign up for White Homework! ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon so we can keep making this podcast! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Jul 03, 202001:23:16
Robert Frank

Robert Frank

Robert Frank is the Henrietta Johnson Louis Professor of Management and a Professor of Economics at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. He, also, contributes to the "Economic View" column in The New York Times. Additionally, he has written over a dozen books including the book we will discuss today — Under The Influence: Putting Peer Pressure to Work. In this incredible and though-provoking book, Frank argues that we can and should use positive peer pressure to turn our friends, family, neighbors, and those in our sphere of influence into people who care about the climate crisis and will act to change the direction we are headed. You need to get this book! Here are some additional ways you can learn about Robert’s work:PBS NewsHour segment, Jan 30, 2020 Excerpt in The Economist, Feb 7, 2020 Excerpt in Behavioral Scientist, Feb 10, 2020 Excerpt in The Atlantic (lead essay), March, 2020 Excerpt in Washington Post Outlook (cover story), Feb 23, 2020 Robert Frank’s Radical Idea (Ezra Klein Podcast), May 24, 2020 Also, follow him on Twitter! He is always sharing fantastic resources. ___________________________________ SPONSOR: This episode of Let’s Give a Damn is brought to you by Red Kap — a fantastic company that makes workwear and uniforms. Not only is Red Kap a Nashville-based company — which I, of course, love because I live here right now — but they champion the men and women who are out there committed to making our communities thrive. Everything they make — from work shirts to coveralls — is crafted with purpose and on purpose. They’re a no BS company. What you see is what you get. And what you get is a group of people who genuinely give a damn about work, and a life, done right. From June 1 - July 31, you can get 20% off your first purchase at redkap.com with the promo code GIVEADAMN. Here’s something cool! I worked with them last month to interview amazing damn-givers that are beautifully contributing to their communities during this global pandemic. See more of my From The Frontlines interviews at redkap.com/communuity. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Jun 30, 202001:25:09
Larycia Hawkins

Larycia Hawkins

Larycia Hawkins is a scholar, a speaker, and a Professor at University of Virginia. She was the first female African-American tenured professor at Wheaton College — the Harvard University of Christian colleges. She accidentally fell into the national spotlight when, in 2015, she decided to wear a hijab in an act of embodied solidarity during a time in our country when then presidential candidate Trump was sppreading hateful rhetoric about Muslims on a daily basis. During this chat, we discuss the current polarized political and societal climate in America, the public lynching of George Floyd, how white people can help most during this time, losing her tenured professor position, and so much more. Follow Larycia on Instagram and Twitter. And don’t forget to watch Same God — only 99 cents through July 1 on Amazon Prime. ___________________________________ SPONSOR: This episode of Let’s Give a Damn is brought to you by Red Kap — a fantastic company that makes workwear and uniforms. Not only is Red Kap a Nashville-based company — which I, of course, love because I live here right now — but they champion the men and women who are out there committed to making our communities thrive. Everything they make — from work shirts to coveralls — is crafted with purpose and on purpose. They’re a no BS company. What you see is what you get. And what you get is a group of people who genuinely give a damn about work, and a life, done right. From June 1 - July 31, you can get 20% off your first purchase at redkap.com with the promo code GIVEADAMN. Here’s something cool! I worked with them last month to interview amazing damn-givers that are beautifully contributing to their communities during this global pandemic. See more of my From The Frontlines interviews at redkap.com/communuity. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Jun 23, 202001:37:26
Sarah Ives

Sarah Ives

Sarah Ives joins me on the podcast today! Sarah works with former podcast guest Jacob Glanville, is an immune engineer, is the Director of Contract Research at Distributed Bio, and is the lead scientist for the broad-spectrum Centivax flu vaccine technology. Read her full bio here. She’s a busy woman! In our conversation, we talk about their universal flu vaccine, their work on a coronavirus cure, what it’s like to work on a cure that could change the world, our deep love for Guatemala, and so much more! Follow Sarah on Twitter. And make sure to follow the incredible work they are doing at Distributed Bio and Centivax! ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Jun 16, 202001:02:13
Teens 4 Equality

Teens 4 Equality

Kennedy Green, Mikayla Smith, Nya Collins, Jade Fuller, and Emma Rose Smith join us on the show today to talk about how they went from throwing around ideas to pulling off the largest Black Lives Matter protest yet. I was there. It was incredible. It felt sad. It felt just. It felt righteous. And it was peaceful.  Since the protest last Thursday, pretty much every major outlet has picked up their story. Many politicians and influencers have shard their story. It’s been so great to see the responses around the country! I’m so grateful they gave me/us an hour of their time. Follow @Teens.4.Equality on Instagram to keep up with what they’re doing now and in the future. They’re cooking up some really cool stuff! ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y’all!
Jun 09, 202050:14
Lisa Sharon Harper

Lisa Sharon Harper

In the wake of the devastating and senseless murder of George Floyd, our cities are on fire, people of color are experiencing tremendous amounts of pain, and we all have a million questions. Lisa Sharon Harper joins me on the podcast today to discuss all things George Floyd, riots, slavery, the police, and whether to not everything will be made right one day. Lisa is a speaker, author, theologian, playwright, and a fantastic human. You can read her incredible and extensive bio here. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
Jun 02, 202001:27:42
Eugene Cho

Eugene Cho

Eugene is a pastor, author, and a humanitarian. He is the Founder of One Day’s Wages and the President-Elect of Bread for the World. Eugene and his family immigrated to the United States from South Korea when he was a little boy. he and his family have lived in Seattle for years but are moving to Washington, D.C. soon for his new role with BFTW. During our chat, we talk about his immigration story, racism, xenophobia, One Day’s Wages, his forthcoming role at BFTW, his books, and so much more. You’re going to love this guy! Follow Eugene on Twitter and Instagram. And don’t forget to check out his website! ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
May 19, 202001:06:05
Mike McHargue

Mike McHargue

Mike McHargue "is a public educator trusted by millions to use empathy and deep scientific insights to help them navigate some of the most difficult parts of the human experience. He’s the host of Ask Science Mike, is the bestselling author of Finding God in the Waves, and You’re a Miracle (and a Pain in the Ass), and works as a science advisor and story consultant for film and television working with clients including Marvel Studios and Pete Holmes. Mike has been featured in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, The Huffington Post, and scores of other notable publications. Mike is an in-demand speaker appearing all over the world—including appearances at Google and MIT." During this chat, we discuss his journey to atheism and back, his books, the pandemic, science, and so much more! You’re going to love Mike. He's amazing. Follow Mike on Twitter and Instagram. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
May 12, 202001:30:35
Rainn Wilson

Rainn Wilson

We’re bringing back and oldie but a goodie! My 10th podcast conversation — 131 podcast episodes ago — was with my friend Rainn Wilson. Since we met 3 years ago, Rainn has been so kind to help me and Let’s Give A Damn out in several really key and kind ways. I love Rainn, his wife Holiday, and the many ways they give a damn.  In this conversation, Rainn gives us so much wisdom. Among other important things, he talks about building something as an alternative to what you’re protesting. This is a huge point, friends. Slacktivism is the name of the game for so many today. It’s so easy to sit on a couch, yell, and scream at others that don’t agree with us. That’s not activism. That’s not giving a damn. That’s not getting shit done. That’s easy. The hard stuff is pointing out the problem and them building an alternative. Or pointing out the problem and, at the very least, being part of the solution.  There is so much more gold in our conversation! This one is worth a re-listen. ___________________________________ This show was created by me, produced by Chad Snavely, and the music is by our friend Propaganda. We’re part of the Matter Media family. We’re grateful for their partnership. Until next time, peace! Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Please. Pretty please. Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
May 05, 202050:09
Nick Laparra

Nick Laparra

It’s monologue time, friends! I want to share with you this I’ve been processing and learning over the last few weeks. Give it a listen and let me know what you think!  Shoot me an email with any questions or thoughts you may have: hello@letsgiveadamn.com. I’d love to hear from you! Make sure to follow us on Instagram and sign up for our email newsletter so you’ll know all the details for our weekly livestream show that we’re launching on May 8! ___________________________________ This show was created by me, produced by Chad Snavely, and the music is by our friend Propaganda. We’re part of the Matter Media family. We’re grateful for their partnership. Until next time, peace! Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Please. Pretty please. Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
Apr 28, 202022:32
Joe Sanberg

Joe Sanberg

April 22 is Earth Day! This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day — a day we set aside each year to show our support for the environment, our commitment to helping our planet become cleaner and healthier, and to discuss the different ways we are doing just that.  Before I introduce our guest today that was handpicked for our Earth Day episode, I want to share with you something we are doing on Let’s Give A Damn to show our increasing commitment for the environment. For every new follower on our social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) we will plant one tree! We will share more about our method and our partners soon but we wanted to let you know that’s happening. So, invite your friends to join the LGAD family on social media. By merely clicking a button, they will help change the world. Pretty cool, huh? Joe Sanberg is a serial entrepreneur, an investor, one of the leaders who helped bring the Earned Income Tax Credit to California, and he is the co-founder of Aspiration Aspiration is a bank...but not really. On their website, they state “We didn't set out to build a bank. We set out to build a better world.” And they’re doing just that! Sign up for an Aspiration account today: https://www.aspiration.com Follow Aspiration on Twitter and Facebook. Follow Joe on Twitter. ___________________________________ This show was created by me, produced by Chad Snavely, and the music is by our friend Propaganda. We’re part of the Matter Media family. We’re grateful for their partnership. Until next time, peace! Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Please. Pretty please. Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
Apr 21, 202001:19:36
Joel Stein

Joel Stein

Joel Stein — quite possibly the best person out there to defend elites — is on the podcast this week! But we don’t like elites, right? Well, don’t check out quite yet. You’re going to want to listen to this conversation. I promise. Joel Stein is was a staff writer and columnist for Time magazine for two decades. While there, he wrote twenty-two cover stories! Additionally, he was a columnist for Entertainment Weekly and the Los Angeles Times. His first book is called Man Made: A Stupid Quest for Masculinity. His second book is the reason I asked him to join me on the podcast. It’s called In Defense of Elitism: Why I'm Better Than You and You're Better Than Someone Who Didn't Buy This Book. You should buy his book so you can be as good as I am but not as good as Joel, obviously. Besides, it’s a fantastic book!  Oh, he taught at Princeton, also. No big deal. During this chat, we talk about why Trump was elected, what Joel means by elitism and why it needs defending, how to be endlessly curious, the importance of asking lots of questions, what he learned from spending some time in the county that had the highest percentage of Trump voters, and so much more. It was super fun conversation to have and I hope you enjoy listening to it! Lastly, follow Joel on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
Apr 14, 202001:42:44
Earl Bridges & Craig Martin

Earl Bridges & Craig Martin

Earl Bridges and Craig Martin are philanthropologists, storytellers, and lifelong best friends and adventurers. During our conversation, we discuss growing up overseas, the importance of global travel, failures and successes, their podcast, and their brand new TV show, The Good Road.  Click here to find out when The Good Road is playing on PBS near you.  Follow The Good Road on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Listen to their podcast, Philanthropology. I’m a guest on their podcast this week! ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
Apr 07, 202001:13:52
Katie Steller

Katie Steller

Katie Steller is the founder of Steller Hair, Steller Connect, Steller Kindness Project, The Red Chair Project. Yes, all of those things. Katie and I have known each other for 12 years and it was great to reconnect. In our chat, we talk about her upbringing, her faith background, how she became an entrepreneur, why she began inviting people to “come as you are” in all of life, what she is doing now that her business is shut down because of a global pandemic, and more!  Follow Katie on Instagram. You’ll be glad you did! She is always sharing good news and encouraging people.  And don’t forget to follow Steller Connect & Steller Kindness Project! ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
Mar 31, 202001:31:37
Nick Laparra

Nick Laparra

It’s monologue time, friends! In this short episode, I share some great stories and hopeful ideas for us to chew on during this crazy time. We talk about possible effects this pandemic could have on the climate, we talk about Yashar’s fundraiser for hourly workers that have lost their jobs, we discuss the new #DamnGoodQuarantine series I’m launching this week, and much more.
Please hit me up on email (hello@nicklaparra.com), Twitter (@NickLaparra), or Instagram (@NickLaparra) if you have any questions, thoughts, or ideas.
Join me next week for another amazing conversation with someone who saw something wrong in the world and gave a damn about it. Be safe out there! Stay home. Wash your damn hands. Love you. Peace!
Mar 24, 202026:41
Jacob Glanville

Jacob Glanville

How can we give a damn in the midst of this Coronavirus Pandemic if we don’t know what it is, how it spreads, what we’re doing right, what we’re doing wrong, and what the future looks like?  Jacob Glanville, my friend and computational immuno-engineer, joins us on the podcast to give us a one-stop-shop experience re: all things Coronavirus. Buckle up, you’re about to drink from a firehose! Jacob is one of the co-founders of Distributed Bio, a company whose mission “is to create breakthrough technologies to drug previously challenging targets.” What does that mean? Hell if I know! But I do know, among many other things, they are working on things like a universal vaccine for the fly and for HIV.  Follow Jacob on Twitter and please attention to all the advice he gives us in this chat! Stay safe out there, y’all. Much love. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
Mar 17, 202001:16:45
Josh Mundy

Josh Mundy

Join me in welcoming Josh Mundy to the pod! On March 3, an F4 tornado hit Nashville and caused billions of dollars of damage. Josh Mundy housed 4 of his businesses in one building and lost them all overnight. Yet, Josh and Tabitha have a tremendous amount of peace that whatever comes next will be for their good and for the good of their community. I can’t wait for you to hear our chat! If you want to know more about what Josh is working on and the businesses he hopes to rebuild, check out The Lab, Pivot Technology School, and Fortitude Homes. And be sure to follow Josh on Instagram! All sorts of great content on there.  And if you’d like to help the Mundy’s get back on their feet, you can donate here.  ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
Mar 10, 202001:02:36
Becky Laparra

Becky Laparra

March 8 is International Women’s Day and we have my favorite person in the world and Let’s Give A Damn’s biggest fan on the podcast today! My wife has sacrificed so much so that I can bring amazing stories to your ears each and every week. I’m thrilled that you get to meet her via this one-hour conversations with one of the biggest damn-givers I know. Enjoy! She’s not on social media right now but if you want to get in touch with her, send an email to becky.laparra@gmail.com. Love y'all! ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
Mar 03, 202001:24:20
Justin Jones

Justin Jones

Justin Jones is running for Congress in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District and he is my guest on the podcast today. His bio, found on his website, is worth reading because it highlights the breadth and depth of the ways he has given a damn from such a young age: Justin Jones is an activist, graduate student, and community organizer in Nashville. Born in Oakland, California, he grew up in the East Bay where he attended public school and learned at an early age the importance of speaking up for equality for all. His mother, Christine, raised Justin and his sister while putting herself through nursing school. She’s now a registered nurse active in the California chapter of National Nurses United. He is the grandson of black, working-class grandparents from the South Side of Chicago and Filipino immigrants who migrated to California during the Vietnam War. Growing up, his family, especially his two grandmothers, taught him the importance of community involvement, care for the environment, and spirituality. In high school, Justin served as his city’s Youth Commissioner and began organizing for the civil rights of students and policies that ensured racial equity, environmental protections, and inclusivity. Justin first saw the power of community organizing as part of a successful campaign to force a recall election of three city council members involved in financial mismanagement and corrupt practices. In high school, he found himself on the front lines of organizing in Oakland following the murder of Trayvon Martin and during student campaigns to repeal nationwide Stand Your Ground laws. Justin came to Fisk University in 2013, where he received the John R. Lewis Scholarship for Social Activism. Inspired by its legacy of the student-led movement for civil rights, Justin became involved on campus and in community groups and spent his four years organizing student campaigns for the expansion of healthcare in Tennessee, the repeal of restrictive state voter ID laws, and community accountability in cases of police brutality against unarmed black victims. He served on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Healthcare Campaign and has led actions at the Legislature, and across the South, for the expansion of Medicaid. In 2015, Justin helped file a federal lawsuit against the State of Tennessee for its restrictive voter ID laws that targeted students. He has chaired the Nashville Student Organizing Committee and is a recipient of awards from the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, ACLU of Tennessee, Tennessee Alliance for Progress, Fisk University Alumni Association, the Vanderbilt Organization of Black Graduate Students, and the Nashville NAACP. It was a true pleasure to speak with Justin. I'm very encouraged when young people take seriously the role of leading in communities, cities, states, and countries. Follow Justin on Twitter and Instagram. And keep up with his campaign by following them on Instagram. ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
Feb 19, 202001:13:57
Justin Jones — A Congressional Campaign That Is All About Communities, Families, & Future

Justin Jones — A Congressional Campaign That Is All About Communities, Families, & Future

Justin Jones is running for Congress in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District and he is my guest on the podcast today. His bio, found on his website, is worth reading because it highlights the breadth and depth of the ways he has given a damn from such a young age:

Justin Jones is an activist, graduate student, and community organizer in Nashville. Born in Oakland, California, he grew up in the East Bay where he attended public school and learned at an early age the importance of speaking up for equality for all. His mother, Christine, raised Justin and his sister while putting herself through nursing school. She’s now a registered nurse active in the California chapter of National Nurses United. He is the grandson of black, working-class grandparents from the South Side of Chicago and Filipino immigrants who migrated to California during the Vietnam War. Growing up, his family, especially his two grandmothers, taught him the importance of community involvement, care for the environment, and spirituality.

In high school, Justin served as his city’s Youth Commissioner and began organizing for the civil rights of students and policies that ensured racial equity, environmental protections, and inclusivity. Justin first saw the power of community organizing as part of a successful campaign to force a recall election of three city council members involved in financial mismanagement and corrupt practices. In high school, he found himself on the front lines of organizing in Oakland following the murder of Trayvon Martin and during student campaigns to repeal nationwide Stand Your Ground laws.

Justin came to Fisk University in 2013, where he received the John R. Lewis Scholarship for Social Activism. Inspired by its legacy of the student-led movement for civil rights, Justin became involved on campus and in community groups and spent his four years organizing student campaigns for the expansion of healthcare in Tennessee, the repeal of restrictive state voter ID laws, and community accountability in cases of police brutality against unarmed black victims. 

He served on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Healthcare Campaign and has led actions at the Legislature, and across the South, for the expansion of Medicaid. In 2015, Justin helped file a federal lawsuit against the State of Tennessee for its restrictive voter ID laws that targeted students. He has chaired the Nashville Student Organizing Committee and is a recipient of awards from the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, ACLU of Tennessee, Tennessee Alliance for Progress, Fisk University Alumni Association, the Vanderbilt Organization of Black Graduate Students, and the Nashville NAACP.

It was a true pleasure to speak with Justin. I'm very encouraged when young people take seriously the role of leading in communities, cities, states, and countries.

Follow Justin on Twitter and Instagram. And keep up with his campaign by following them on Instagram.

___________________________________

Follow Let’s Give A Damn on FacebookInstagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!

Feb 19, 202001:13:52
Nick Laparra

Nick Laparra

Let's talk about the Oscars. Many actors and artists used their stage time to share their thoughts on what is happening in society and in politics. Which, for the record, I’m 100% OK with. In fact, I applaud it! Entertainers throughout history have used their art form and platform to speak out against injustices happening around them. The notion that athletes should stick to playing sports or that actor should stick to acting or that musicians should stick to music and not speak up is ludicrous. It’s bullshit. So, let's talk about Joaquin Phoenix. Let's talk about Jane Fonda. Let's talk about awareness and activism. Let's talk about cancel culture.  ___________________________________ SPONSOR: We keep this show (relatively) ad-free but we do need to make a little money so we can cover the costs of recording, production, travel, and *fingers crossed* my time. I won’t put a dollar amount on how much that costs per episode but it’s a lot. if you didn't know, we are on Patreon! Patreon is a place where — for the price of a damn cup of coffee each month, you can help us make this podcast and platform more sustainable. Go to Patreon.com/letsgiveadamn to find out how you can join the Let's Give A Damn family or hit me up on social media if you have any questions at all. I hope you’ll join us! ___________________________________ Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow our host Nick Laparra on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. Have an amazing week, friends! Love y’all!
Feb 11, 202011:21