Charity Matters

Hosted by Heidi Johnson

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Episodes

108

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

The Charity Matters Podcast shares the stories of innovators, entrepreneurs and inspiring modern-day heroes who set out to solve the problems of humanity with their incredible journeys of service. Join us each week for a front-row seat to the best of humanity.

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60 recent

August 19, 2026Episode 10842 min

Episode 108: The Acceleration Project

In this inspiring conversation, Jane Veron shares how a successful corporate career, a decade spent raising her children, and a passion for solving problems led her to build a national movement, The Acceleration Project (TAP) , that has already helped thousands of entrepreneurs thrive. Along the way, she reminds us that we don't have to have all the answers before we begin, that asking for help is a sign of strength, and that our greatest gifts are meant to be shared. Whether you're a nonprofit leader, business owner, volunteer, or simply someone looking for more purpose in your own life, Jane's story is a powerful reminder that when we invest in people, we don't just change one life.....we strengthen entire communities.

July 15, 2026Episode 10736 min

Episode 107: Southeast Community Foundation

In this episode of the Charity Matters Podcast, we sit down with Julie Coyne, Founder of the Southeast Community Foundation , to explore how a childhood battle with polio and the kindness of others shaped her lifelong commitment to serving children. Julie shares why helping students build confidence is just as important as improving reading and math skills, the difference between career success and finding your true passion, and how investing in one child can change the future of an entire community. This inspiring conversation is a reminder that lasting impact begins when we choose to truly see and believe in others.

June 24, 2026Episode 10642 min

Episode 106: Bags of Fun

In this heartfelt episode of the Charity Matters Podcast, we explore the powerful story behind Bags of Fun. .....an organization built on the belief that every child deserves joy, even in the midst of life’s hardest battles. This is a story about showing up, about seeing a need others might overlook, and about choosing to bring light into dark places. What makes this episode so compelling is not just the mission, but the heart behind it. It reminds us that service doesn’t have to be complicated to be life-changing. Sometimes, the greatest impact comes from meeting people exactly where they are with compassion, creativity, and care. This conversation will inspire you to think differently about what it means to make a difference and will leave you asking yourself a simple but powerful question: What can I do, right where I am, to bring joy to someone else?

May 28, 2026Episode 10536 min

Episode 105: Ripple Effects Artist

What if art wasn’t just something we experienced but something that moved us to act? This week’s Charity Matters episode introduces you to Jessie Fahay, a true “ Ripple Effects Artist ” who is transforming the way we think about theater, storytelling, and service. Jessie doesn’t just create powerful productions ....she creates experiences that spark conversations, challenge perspectives, and connect audiences directly to the people and causes working to change our world. Her work sits at the intersection of art and advocacy, reminding us that when we feel something deeply, we have a responsibility to do something with it. This episode will leave you thinking differently about the power of creativity and your own ability to make a difference.

May 14, 2026Episode 10437 min

Episode 104: The Power of Sight

What if the moment that changed your life… became the reason you changed someone else’s? In this week’s Charity Matters Podcast , Episode 104: The Power of Sight , we meet Gianny Cardenas, founder of Power of Sight , a mobile nonprofit bringing vision care directly to underserved communities. But this story is about so much more than glasses. It’s about loss, faith, and the unexpected way purpose can emerge from pain. After the tragic loss of his mother, Gianny found himself searching for healing and what he discovered was that by helping others see, he began to see his own life differently. This powerful conversation is a reminder that sometimes the greatest impact begins with simply noticing and seeing a need, seeing a person, and choosing to act.

April 29, 2026Episode 10349 min

Episode 103: Walk With Me Brother

Some stories ask you to listen. Others ask you to feel. And then there are the rare ones, like this one, that ask you to walk alongside them. This episode introduces listeners to Robb Pollard, a husband, father, entrepreneur, and now the founder of Walk With Me Brother, who is about to do something extraordinary. On Monday, Robb began a 2,500-mile run across America.....not because he’s a runner, not because it’s easy, but because he knows what it feels like to be at the very bottom and wonders if his journey might help someone else choose to stay. This isn’t about miles. It’s about meaning. It’s about one man’s decision to turn pain into purpose and to remind us all that asking for help might be the bravest step we ever take. Tune in!

April 15, 2026Episode 10243 min

Episode 102: JDS Creative

In this inspiring episode, Diane and Scott Strand, founders of JDS Creative Academy , share how a simple “what if?” turned their creative careers into a nonprofit that is transforming lives through the arts. Using filmmaking, acting, and digital media, they help youth and adults, including individuals with developmental disabilities, build confidence, communication skills, and pathways to independence. Diane and Scott reflect on the personal experiences that shaped their mission, the challenges of growing a nonprofit, and the powerful moments that remind them why their work matters. Their story is a reminder that real impact often begins by saying yes to one opportunity and helping one person at a time.

March 31, 2026Episode 1011 hr 3 min

Episode 101: Sleep in Heavenly Peace

In this powerful episode, Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace , shares the unforgettable moment that opened his eyes to the hidden crisis of child bedlessness and the little girl named Haley whose first bed changed the trajectory of his life. What began as a small Christmas project in his garage with a few teenage boys and a power drill has grown into a global movement dedicated to making sure no child sleeps on the floor. From one bunk bed to more than 425,000 beds delivered to children around the world, Luke’s story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the simplest acts of kindness create the biggest ripple effects. This conversation will inspire you to look at the world a little differently and maybe even pick up a hammer and help change a child’s life.

March 17, 2026Episode 10053 min

Episode 100: Safe Families for Children

For our 100th episode of the Charity Matters Podcast, we are celebrating in the most meaningful way possible....by spotlighting a true innovator, a quiet disruptor, and a modern-day hero who dared to ask a simple but world-changing question: What if no parent ever had to say, “I have no one to call?” When psychologist Dave Anderson saw firsthand the devastating ripple effects of child abuse and foster care, he didn’t just shake his head at a broken system, he built something different. He shares how his bricklayer father’s words, “If I don’t help them, who will?” became the blueprint for Safe Families for Children, a revolutionary approach that mobilizes communities to step in before a crisis becomes a catastrophe. This episode is about courage, radical hospitality, and the extraordinary impact of ordinary people choosing to care.

March 4, 2026Episode 9936 min

Episode 99: Looking Back

Episode 99 is a pause. A breath. A moment to look back at the people who showed us what courage, compassion, community, and faith really look like. These are the stories that didn’t just inspire us....they changed us. So this moment, before we step off into a new season, seemed like that moment to reflect on so many incredible life lessons learned from 99 incredible guests! We’ll touch on some of Charity Matter’s most impactful moments, and revisit conversations with many incredible heroes. Happy listening! I’m so glad you’re here.