TOBY Talk: All Things Teens and Volunteering
By Lion's Heart Teen Volunteers
TOBY Talk: All Things Teens and VolunteeringAug 01, 2019
Episode 50: A Year in Review & 2020 Sneak Peek
On Episode 50 of the TOBY Talk podcast, after a little break, this will be the final episode of 2019! Dom sits down with our Executive Director, Becca, to recap 2019 and to talk about some of the new things coming in 2020. You will also get to meet our new AmeriCorps Fellow, Zack.
We will be gearing up the TOBY Talk podcast for the new year, so be sure to tune in for new episodes in 2020!
Episodes 48 & 49: Back to School & Disaster Preparedness
This week on the TOBY Talk podcast, we have a Lion's Heart intern double feature! This week we are combining episodes 48 & 49 with our Lion's Heart interns, Mandy and Audrey, to bring you some back to school and volunteering, as well as disaster preparedness tips!
Episode 47: JOYA Scholars
This week’s guest on the TOBY Talk podcast is Christian Esteban, Executive Director at JOYA Scholars in Fullerton, California. The mission of JOYA Scholars is to inspire and prepare students from families of low-income communities in Fullerton to succeed through higher education.
Episode 46: Intern Takeover
This week on the TOBY Talk podcast, we have part one of our intern takeover. It is a very fun episode with Lion's Heart interns Mandy, Safaa, and Audrey talking about their experiences this summer, in and out of the Lion's Heart office.
Episode 45: Sandy Feet Initiative
This week’s guest on the TOBY Talk podcast is Mo Langley, the president and co-founder of Sandy Feet Initiative in San Clemente, California. Their mission is, “Fostering empowerment of siblings of children with special needs through beach programs and ocean conversation.”
Episode 44: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
This week's guest on the TOBY Talk podcast is Jemma Peterson, Database and Communications Coordinator for Fair Child Botanic Gardens in Coral Gables, Florida. Their mission is to save tropical plant diversity by exploring, explaining and conserving the world of tropical plants; fundamental to this task is inspiring a greater knowledge and love for plants and gardening so that all can enjoy the beauty and bounty of the #tropical world.
They are one of the premier conservation and education-based gardens in the world and a recognized international leader in both Florida and international conservation. With 45,000 members and over 1,200 volunteers, Fairchild plays many roles, including museum, laboratory, learning center and conservation research facility, but its greatest role is preserving biodiversity, which the garden's scientists, staff and volunteers all contribute to on a daily basis.
Episode 43: College Prep Tips & Tricks for High Schoolers
This week on the TOBY Talk Podcast, Dom is joined by Safaa, Lion's Heart intern, to talk about some college prep tips & tricks for high schoolers and incoming high school freshmen. With summer heating up, you've got time and it's never too early to start preparing for college!
Episode 42: Hope Beyond Bridges
This week’s guest on TOBY Talk is David Droll, Executive Director and Co-founder of Hope Beyond Bridges in Houston, Texas.
The organizations mission is to restore HOPE to the homeless by meeting spiritual, emotional & physical needs because a bridge is NOT a home. They help those hurting, hungry & homeless under bridges, in camps and/or along the streets and highways of Houston, Harris & Montgomery counties.
Episode 41: Empowerment & Removing the Barriers to Success
This week’s episode of the TOBYTalk podcast, our guest is Chris M King, Executive Coach, Motivational Speaker, Thought Leader, and Consultant for Executive Optimization. Dom and Chris talk about his journey to become an Executive Coach and discuss empowerment by removing the barriers to success.
Episode 40: Urban Roots
This week’s guest on TOBY Talk is Kasey Williams, Program Vista for Urban Roots in Austin, Texas. As the only farm-based youth leadership organization in Austin, Urban Roots has been empowering youth and nourishing community for more than 10 years. Their mission is to use food and farming to transform the lives of young people and inspire, engage, and nourish the community.
Episode 39: Be the Star You Are!
This week’s guest on TOBY Talk is Cynthia Brian, Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are! in Moraga, California. Be the Star You Are! is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that collects and distributes books to and produces positive media messages for women, families, and youth at risk as a way to improve literacy and raise life skills and self-esteem. They help families and youth access positive, productive information and passionate role models that will lead them beyond the negative messages in the media, and on to becoming the individual stars that they are.
Episode 38: College Planning with Jan Kerchner
This week on TOBY Talk, Dom is joined by the founder of The College Blueprint and Lion’s Heart Board Member, Jan Kerchner! She founded The College Blueprint, LLC nearly 20 years ago with a vision and mission to assist students with finding the right collegiate fit. In addition to private college counseling, The College Blueprint, LLC also offers Test Prep, Tutoring and Academic Coaching.
Episode 37: Project Helping
On this week's episode, Dom interviews Justin Kruger, founder and CEO of Project Helping. The mission of Project Helping is improving mental wellness through kyndfulness. Kyndfulness includes volunteering, and intentional acts of kindness and gratitude. Their vision is for everyone to have an opportunity to improve their mental wellness every day. Project Helping organizes volunteer events specifically designed to make an impact both on people and on their community. Through volunteering, participants actively invest in their communities while also reaping the benefits of increased mental wellness.
Project Helping was founded in Denver, Colorado in 2014. The organization has since expanded to Tampa, Florida and also hosts monthly volunteer experiences in San Diego, California.
Episode 36: Lion's Heart Member Take Over
On this week's episode of TOBY Talk, Dom sits down with Lion's Heart member Gerald to discuss a video he made with his group and his Lion's Heart experience. And then Audrey, Lion's Heart member and intern, takes over the podcast with her own interview of fellow Lion’s Heart members Sriya, Mandy, Mariam, and Safaa. It's a jam packed episode with TWO interviews for you in our first ever Lion's Heart Member Take Over!
Episode 35: The Tiyya Foundation
This week on the TOBY Talk podcast, Dom is joined by guest co-host Audrey, Lion's Heart member and intern, and they sit down to talk with Meymuna Hussein-Cattan. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Tiyya Foundation, the only nonprofit organization in Orange County and Los Angeles that focuses on refugee youth, while helping the entire family. Tiyya serves more than 250 families annually and provides community support and educational opportunities for families of refugees, immigrants, and displaced Americans. They hope to create a community that fosters the development of self-sufficiency, ultimately helping program participants overcome obstacles and actively participate in society.
Episode 34: I Love A Clean San Diego
On this week's episode of TOBY Talk, Dom speaks with Nik Kennedy, Community Events Coordinator for I Love a Clean San Diego.
The mission of I Love A Clean San Diego is to lead and inspire the community to actively conserve and enhance the environment through example, outreach, and local involvement. Their vision is to create a zero waste, litter-free, and environmentally engaged San Diego region.
Episode 33: AmeriCorps Week
It's AmeriCorps Week! On this episode of TOBY Talk, Dom sits down with two other AmeriCorps Fellows from his cohort, Laly & Stephen, to discuss all things AmeriCorps & their experience over their last two years of service.
Episode 32: Comfort Cases
This week on TOBY Talk, Dom speaks with Rob Scheer. Rob is the Founder of Comfort Cases in Rockville, Maryland.
At Comfort Cases, they believe that every child deserves to feel a sense of dignity. Every child deserves to pack their belongings in a special bag that they can call their own. It is their mission as a charity to provide a proper bag, filled with comfort and essential items, to these brave youth in foster care on their journey to find their forever home. Every child deserves to know they matter.
Episode 31: Bracken's Kitchen
On this week's episode of the TOBY Talk podcast Dom talks to David Adamo, volunteer coordinator for Bracken's Kitchen. They discuss the organization, it's programs, and David's non-profit and AmeriCorps experience.
Bracken’s Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Orange County California. Founded in 2013 by chef Bill Bracken Their mission is: "Through food recovery, culinary training and our community feeding program we are committed to recovering, re-purposing and restoring both food and lives."
Episode 30: Recycle Utah
On this week's episode of TOBY Talk, Dom talks with Haley Lebsack. She is the Outreach Director for Recycle Utah, a nonprofit organization that has served residents of Summit County since 1991.
Their mission is to empower people to lead sustainable lives. They are committed to reducing waste and preventing ground water pollution in our community and offer a variety of collection programs, education programs, workshops, and events.
Episode 29: Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
This week on the TOBYTalk podcast, Dom speaks with Brittany Goldsmith, the Volunteer Program Manager for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. They discuss her nonprofit journey and experiences, and the many ways to get involved as a volunteer at the Conservancy.
The mission of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy (PVPLC) is to "preserve land and restore habitat for the education and enjoyment of all." Since its founding in 1988, the Conservancy has successfully preserved 1,600 acres of open space on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Episode 28: Saffyre Sanctuary
On this week's episode of the TOBYTalk podcast , Dom talks with the founder of Saffyre Sanctuary in Los Angeles, California. Saffyre Sanctuary is a rescue and rehabilitation program that cares for horses that have been abandoned, abused, or neglected.
By allowing them to rediscover their true nature, Saffyre Sanctuary provides every opportunity for them to experience the possibility of enjoying a second career, or offer them a well deserved retirement due to soundness issues, age, or owner hardships.
Episode 27: Great Opportunities
This week on the TOBYTalk podcast, Dom talks with David Groos, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Great Opportunities in San Juan Capistrano.
The mission of Great Opportunities is to provide under advantaged kids with the opportunity to see their potential and understand that they can achieve anything if they believe in themselves.
Episode 26: Meet Darlene Cullivan with Eskaton
Happy New Year TOBYTalk listeners! Our first podcast episode of 2019 is with Darlene Cullivan, Community Engagement Manager for Eskaton. Dom and Darlene discuss the benefits and importance of serving the senior citizen community, and volunteering with a purpose.
As a community-based nonprofit in Sacramento, CA, Eskaton exists solely to fulfill its mission of enhancing the quality of life for seniors through innovative health, housing, and social services.