She's the mom of a child with a rare condition, and she wouldn't take "no" for an answer from doctors. He walked 500 miles for his granddaughter, who has the same condition. Together, they're helping a foundation develop a gene therapy treatment faster and cheaper than the big pharma giants.

Today, we speak with Nicole Johnson, founder of the FOXG1 Research Foundation, and Tom Horton, former CEO of American Airlines. Together, they are proving that a lean, parent-led organization can achieve breakthroughs usually reserved for billion-dollar pharmaceutical giants.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Startup Model for Science: How Nicole and Tom applied "lean startup" principles to fund a lab and launch a clinical trial.

• 500 Miles for a Cure: Tom Horton shares the lessons learned from his 500-mile walk carrying the names and prayers of children who cannot walk themselves.

• Defying the Odds: An update on Josie, the beautiful 14-year-old who inspired the movement.

• A Blueprint for Others: Why this breakthrough provides hope for thousands of other rare diseases left on the shelf.

Chapters & Timed Links:

• [04:22] The Diagnosis: Nicole recounts the moment she was told "there's nothing you can do" and why she refused to believe it.

• [10:15] Building the Lab: How the FOXG1 Research Foundation created a new model for gene therapy at a fraction of the usual cost.

• [18:40] The 500-Mile Journey: Tom Horton discusses his walk and the "Gianna effect" that drives his fundraising.

• [25:55] The Science of Hope: Why FOXG1 research holds the key to treating conditions like Autism and Alzheimer's.

• [33:10] Staring Down the Impossible: Nicole's advice for anyone told that their goal is unreachable.

My Sincere Thanks

Because of listeners like you, our show now ranks among the top 5% of most-downloaded podcasts by volume per month. Your support has helped take our little idea to celebrate generosity and good deeds, and turn it into one of the most listened-to podcasts available. Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates people who do good things for others.

Walter Martin spent decades making and playing music, most famously with the indie rock bands Jonathan Fire*Eater and The Walkmen. Recently, he's started a new crazy good turn, helping people like you and me rediscover the joy of music through his Walter Martin Radio Hour show and Substack.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How a single instrument (like the organ) can change how you hear a song.

• Why Walter chooses positivity over rock criticism.

• Moving past the "judgmental" years to love bands you once dismissed.

• The "Crazy Good Turn" of human-to-human music discovery.

Chapters & Timed Links:

[05:07] The Austin Kleon Connection: How two creators found each other through "the magic of the internet."

[07:29] From NYC to Upstate: The origin of The Walter Martin Radio Hour.

[10:16] The Classical Club: Why Walter is diving deep into Strauss and Stravinsky.

[12:07] The Organ Episode: Learning to hear the difference between a Hammond and a Farfisa.

[21:43] Breaking the "Teenage Rules": How Walter learned to love the Grateful Dead and Neil Young.

[23:52] Walter's Favorite new musician right now.

[28:57] Walter's Songs: Discussing "The Rat" and the autobiographical beauty of "The Soldier."

[31:33] Who's done a Crazy Good Turn for Walter?

Frank Blake sits down with Goodwill Industries CEO Steve Preston and truck driver Michael West to discuss the organization's "second chance" mission. From running adult high schools in prisons to providing career paths for those overcoming addiction and incarceration, this is the story of how a 125-year-old mission is still changing lives today.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The surprising scale of Goodwill: 650 job centers and 50 adult high schools.

• Michael West's personal journey from addiction and incarceration to homeownership.

• Why Steve Preston left the C-suite and the Cabinet to lead a "difficult-to-hire" mission.

• The "Edgar Helms" philosophy: Turning charity into a chance.

• How employers can unlock a massive, untapped labor pool.

Chapters:

• [01:38] The Personal Mission: Steve Preston on transitioning from HUD Secretary to Goodwill CEO.

• [06:02] A Missionary in Boston: The 125-year history of Edgar Helms and the birth of Goodwill.

• [12:22] From Processor to Driver: Michael West shares his path from community service to a career in trucking.

• [16:55] A Goodwill Wedding: The community and family culture within the organization.

• [21:33] The Untapped Labor Pool: Why employers should look "beyond the label" of past incarceration.

• [26:52] The Future of Work: How AI and tech-skills training are reaching low-wage workers.

• [31:33] The "Internet Trash" Problem: Steve addresses the common false narratives about the organization.

We invite you to share your feedback about this show with us on social media. We're @crazygoodturns on all of the platforms.

Don't forget to subscribe or follow us on the podcast service of your choice. If you already subscribe, we'd really appreciate a 5-star review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-good-turns/id1137217687

We appreciate your listening and sharing our episodes. Thank you!

Crazy Good Turns received more than 500 nominations from listeners like you seeking to recognize organizations that are helping others. In this show, we reveal five winners selected to receive a $10,000 grant.

They are:

The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation: Founded by a man who was wrongly imprisoned for sixteen years. Since being exonerated, he's used his own money to free others who've been falsely accused.

Locker #505: A student clothing bank serving disadvantaged kids in Albuquerque in a special way.

Gotta Have Sole: The amazing story of a 5-year-old boy who visited a homeless shelter, wanted to help, and went on to launch a nonprofit that gives children brand new shoes.

Bridge of Hearts: A group of retired North Carolina teachers came up with a creative way to serve the needs of schoolchildren.

Golden String: An Ohio organization that provides residential care, life skills, and other support to hundreds of people with disabilities.

Don't forget to subscribe or follow us on the podcast service of your choice. If you already subscribe, we'd really appreciate a 5-star review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-good-turns/id1137217687

We appreciate your listening and sharing our episodes. Thank you!

Grey Bull Rescue helps innocent Americans who are stranded, imprisoned, or otherwise trapped in dangerous situations around the globe.

BRYAN STERN founded Grey Bull in August 2021, during the fall of Afghanistan. Since that time, Grey Bull has helped rescue more than 8,000 Americans in 800 different missions.

Stern's own story begins decades earlier. As a young Army intelligence officer, he was at Ground Zero on the day of 9/11, and narrowly avoided being trapped by the collapsing towers. He went on to serve a full and highly decorated military career.

In this episode, Stern discusses his path from the World Trade Center to today, and the missions he and his team of brave volunteers conduct around the globe today.

Don't forget to subscribe or follow us on the podcast service of your choice. If you already subscribe, we'd really appreciate a 5-star review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-good-turns/id1137217687

We appreciate your listening and sharing our episodes. Thank you!

It's a story about the best of the internet.

A place 100 million people visit every year and post 1,600 positive messages every hour.

It's CaringBridge. And the support and connection it makes possible can be truly life-saving.

"Definitely I wouldn't be here without it, I think," says Jill Olecki, one survivor who's used the platform for years. We speak with Jill, her husband, Dave, and CaringBridge CEO Tia Newcomer to bring you the story behind 27-year history of positivity, connection and support.

We encourage you to check out CaringBridge at caringbridge.org. And we invite you to share your feedback about this show with us on social media. We're @crazygoodturns on all of the platforms.

Don't forget to subscribe or follow us on the podcast service of your choice. If you already subscribe, we'd really appreciate a 5-star review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-good-turns/id1137217687


We appreciate your listening and sharing our episodes. Thank you!

Brock Holt is a World Series winner and former Red Sox player. Caitlin Fink is the VP of the team's official charity, the Jimmy Fund. They join us to share how the longest-running partnership between a sports team and a charity has improved the lives of cancer patients around the globe.

We invite you to share your feedback about this show with us on social media. We're @crazygoodturns on all of the platforms.

Don't forget to subscribe or follow us on the podcast service of your choice. If you already subscribe, we'd really appreciate a 5-star review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-good-turns/id1137217687

We appreciate your listening and sharing our episodes. Thank you!

Ken's Krew creates opportunity and hope for people with neurodevelopmental disabilities by helping them find fulfilling jobs — usually inside of a Home Depot store.

In this episode, also you'll hear from Executive Director Suzy Goldberger, who shares how the organization has helped nearly 1,000 people across its 25-year history. You'll also hear from Crystal Hanlon, one of the top leaders at Home Depot, who saw firsthand what a powerful difference Krewmembers make.

But to really help you understand what it's like, we bring you the story of Krewmember Matthew O'Neill and his mother, Margy. They share the story of how they discovered Ken's Krew and what happened after Matthew got started.

We invite you to share your feedback about this show with us on social media. We're @crazygoodturns on all of the platforms.

Don't forget to subscribe or follow us on the podcast service of your choice. If you already subscribe, we'd really appreciate a 5-star review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-good-turns/id1137217687


We appreciate your listening and sharing our episodes. Thank you!