The Life Humbles. Give Hope. Podcast

Hosted by St. Vincent de Paul Louisville

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Aug 2026

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Our monthly podcast shines a light on the humbling situations those in need experience and how we can offer hope together to find solutions and serve our community.

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53 recent

September 9, 2026Episode 5334 min

Local Influencer Lauren Williams & SVDP's Patrick Watts on top thrifting tips that give back

“I love the hunt.” In this episode, Lauren Williams, an art teacher and local influencer with nearly 140,000 social media followers, shares her love for treasure hunting and her top tips for thrifting successfully. Lauren is joined by our very own, Patrick Watts, Director of Stores, who talks about our newest store opening in Shively and how our stores support the community through affordable shopping (check out our loyalty rewards program), sustainability, and second-chance employment opportunities. Patrick also highlights how every purchase helps families facing hardship, supporting our programs to fight homelessness and food insecurity.

August 11, 2026Episode 5246 min

George Eklund & Liz McQuillen on Housing Advocacy & Policy: Creating Pathways to End Homelessness

"Empathy is not about politics, it's about being human." In this episode, Liz McQuillen, Chief Policy Officer at Metro United Way, and George Eklund, Director of Education and Advocacy at the Coalition for the Homeless, explore how housing advocacy and public policy can help shift people’s perspectives from apathy to empathy when addressing homelessness. Liz and George discuss how housing organizations and community partners have collaborated more in recent years to create pathways to end homelessness through the “Safe & Stable: Housing for All” coalition. The conversation also covers Louisville’s latest homelessness data, recent progress in reducing unsheltered homelessness, and key housing investments included in the FY2027 Louisville Metro budget. Learn more about “Safe & Stable: Housing for All” at: https://metrounitedway.org/safe-and-stable-housing-for-all/

July 14, 2026Episode 5139 min

Matt Reed of the VOA on the anticipation building for Louisville's Community Care Campus

“I’m inspired.” Anticipation has been building for the launch of the Community Care Campus in Smoketown. This is a gamechanger in the city of Louisville and fills a void for those in need. Matt Reed, Director of the Community Care Campus of the Volunteers of America Mid-States, talks about the story and planning behind this $58 million project, which is in partnership with Louisville Metro Government. Matt shares how the campus will serve as a centralized, coordinated hub where up to 500 individuals experiencing homelessness annually can access support in one place. He talks about the excitement to complete phase one of the project, Unity House, which is an emergency family shelter with 29 units and opens July 30.

June 9, 2026Episode 5043 min

Carey Addison of Family Health Centers on the harsh reality of securing affordable housing

On any given day, there are about 1,500 households waiting for housing in our community. On a good week, only a dozen are placed in housing. That’s less than 1%, or a 1/125 chance, of getting housed that week. “Unfortunately, we're rationing something that I really hate we have to ration as a society and that's housing because the demand always far outpaces the supply that we have available. So, we're ranking and prioritizing people. And to me, that's kind of sad when I operate from the premise that housing should be a fundamental human right.” In our 50th podcast episode, Family Health Centers-Phoenix celebrates 50 years as a primary care provider for the unhoused population in our community. Carey Addison, Health Care for the Homeless Supervisor, talks about the harsh reality of securing affordable housing in our community, his extensive experience in housing policy, and the backstory to the Common Assessment Street Outreach Team.

May 12, 2026Episode 4937 min

Choose Hope Founder Britney Smith on how to choose hope and build resilience in your life

Hope is not simply wishful thinking—it’s about expectation. It believes the best about God, the best about people, and the best about our circumstances. In this podcast episode, Choose Hope founder and businesswomen Britney Smith bravely shares her story about breaking generational cycles of addiction and instability. A former SVDP resident, Britney opens up about experiencing homelessness, losing custody of her children, relational poverty, and overcoming substance abuse. She reflects on how resilience was built over time and how those experiences led her to launch Choose Hope, which is an organization that helps those struggling with addiction and mental health to reclaim their self-worth. Britney now uses her experiences to encourage others.

April 14, 2026Episode 4834 min

Reylene Robinson, Thrive by Five Executive Director, on affordable child care changing a community

Why access to affordable child care changes a community? Finding accessible, high‑quality child care can feel overwhelming for many families across Jefferson County. With annual costs exceeding $11,000 per child, child care can consume 10–20% of a household’s budget—placing pressure on parents with young children (according to the Kentucky Lantern) . In this episode, Reylene Robinson , Executive Director of Thrive by Five , joins the conversation to unpack why child care is more than a family issue—it’s an essential infrastructure for housing stability and Kentucky’s economic future. Reylene shares about Thrive by Five, one of the community’s newest nonprofits, and some innovative solutions to the child care system.

April 13, 2026Episode 4732 min

Tony Curtis, MHC Executive Director, on why it's getting harder to keep a roof over our heads

Did you know that nearly half of Louisville's renters are cost burdened—spending more than 30% of their income on housing and utilities? In this podcast episode, Tony Curtis , the Executive Director of Metropolitan Housing Coalition , breaks down what happens when there’s a lack of affordable and accessible housing. Every day, families struggle to keep a roof over their heads while wages stagnate. In MHC’s 2025 Report , Tony shares the drivers behind an increase in housing instability shaping our city, the latest trends in housing and wages, and three keys to housing success moving forward. Check out MHC’s latest initiative, www.roofoverourhead.org/

December 10, 2025Episode 4431 min

Homelessness during the Holidays with UP For Women & Children Cofounder & CEO Amy Meredith

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we all experience some levels of stress. However, we often forget the holidays amplify the challenges that the unhoused may have. In this episode, Amy Meredith , an author, keynote speaker, consultant, and cofounder and CEO of UP For Women and Children , answers "What is it like for the unhoused during the holidays?" Watch Here Amy also offers insight into the unique issues unhoused women and the elderly face. Violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women 2 in 5 women account for Louisville’s unhoused population, yet there are only 94 shelter beds designated for women among the city’s emergency shelter 1 in 5 women experiencing homelessness in Louisville are over the age of 62 Amy's new book, " Where the Light Breaks Through ," is available to purchase. You can listen anytime and anywhere! Please subscribe and share! Thanks to everyone who listened! Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , or LinkedIn !

August 12, 2025Episode 4023 min

The Police & Homelessness with LMPD Assistant Chief of Police Nick Owen

This is a candid conversation about a tough topic. In this episode, Louisville Metro Police Department Lieutenant Colonel Nick Owen shares his view on "What should the public know about police interactions with people experiencing homelessness?" As Assistant Chief of Police with nearly 20 years on the force, Nick Owen talks about the importance of policing crime—not communities—and highlights the positive strides LMPD and local government have made in recent years. He talks about the services police should and should not provide for those experiencing homelessness, his thoughts on House Bill 5, how LMPD handles mistakes in the field, and the right for every citizen to feel safe. Watch Here You can listen anytime and anywhere! Please subscribe and share! Thanks to everyone who listened! Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , or LinkedIn !

November 15, 2024Episode 3147 min

Metro United Way CEO Adria Johnson on how her childhood experience with poverty

Metro United Way CEO Adria Johnson 's upbringing and adulthood hasn't been easy. But her faith has kept her standing stronger than ever. In this episode, Adria opens up about her story. Though she experienced poverty and was a product of a divorced home, she believes God used her childhood to shape her life's purpose. Watch here Here's what we talked about in this episode: The road Adria traveled to get to where she is today. Metro United Way's mission and hope for the community. Adria's leadership style and how to lead on empty. Adria lost both her parents and son Kenneth Rhodes, II, within a year after becoming CEO at Metro United Way. Kenneth tragically passed away at 29-years-old. She shares about still working through grief and how she continues to honor her son’s legacy. Adria offers advice for women just starting out in their career. You can listen anywhere and anytime on Spotify Music, Apple Music, or YouTube Music. Please subscribe and share! Thanks to everyone who listened! Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , or LinkedIn !

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