In honor of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I am honored to share this conversation with Diya- a high school senior who, through her own experience with an eating disorder as a young teen, decided to launch an organization, Eating Disorders Support and Awareness, or EDSA. Partnering with a national ED nonprofit, EDSA is a youth-led organization that raises awareness and provides peer-to-peer support.

Follow at @projectEDSA and learn more at www.projectedsa.wixsite.com

Through his own curiosity, research and interest in giving back to his community in a meaningful way, Brock M from the Boston area figured out that socks are some of the most needed items among people experiencing homelessness. He launched Project Socks in the Fall of 2025 and has already made such a huge impact. This conversation covers so many topics that are foundational to my work and the themes of this podcast. Brock shows us that even the smallest thing can make the biggest impact in the lives of people in need.

Visit www.projectsocks.org to learn more and follow at @project.socks

Showing kindness to our elderly neighbors and those who are confined to facilities is some of the most gratifying and impactful service work we can do. My guest today, Nora P. from the Chicagoland area, created a beautiful organization called Roots and Grounds,a youth-led nonprofit serving seniors in retirement homes, offering complimentary planting and craft workshops.

Learn more at www.roots-and-grounds.com

My guest today, Brandon, tells us the story of the challenges he has faced in terms of his eyesight and the way that his mother helped him to face this challenge and overcome it, with hard work and optimism. Brandon created the See the World Foundation to help other children who struggle with issues around their sight. See the World empowers young leaders to take leadership roles and it ensures that clear sight is a right, not a privilege, by removing financial barriers to care.

Follow at @seetheworldfoundation or learn more at www.seetheworldfoundation.org

This Friday Jan 23 is National Reading Day, and to celebrate, I have a special episode to share today, featuring Rebecca Y, a high school student from California who created an incredible organization, Read to Respond. Rebecca has always been a voracious reader, and what began as a book club combined with community service has evolved into an international community of readers who are connecting and learning together.

Follow, sign up for the monthly newsletter or register for the online book meeting at @readtorespond.

My guest today, 16-year-old Nyla, cares deeply about the mental health struggles of young people in her community. During the pandemic, she realized that she was not the only person who was feeling lonely, isolated, and worried. She created Stillmakers with a grant from the Riley's Way Foundation to help tweens in grades 6 - 8, to use creative expression to share their feelings. She hopes to normalize discussion around mental health issues, especially in this younger age group.

Learn more and follow @blkgirlstandingsun

Creativity in all its forms can be healing, and can provide a welcome distraction for children going through treatment for pediatric cancer. My guest today, Olivia W, combined her passion for photography and her interest in becoming a pediatric oncologist to create Healing Lens, an organization that helps pediatric patients share their stories through photography.

Learn more at @healinglensproject

Happy New Year!
At the midway point of Season 4, I continue to be overwhelmed by the kindness, drive, purpose and optimism exhibited by my guests each week. During dark and troubling days in our world, these teen changemakers give me hope for a brighter future.

Instead of my usual interview, today, I'd like to share a short essay with you. The Riley's Way Foundation, which I've mentioned on the podcast many times, and for which I am a proud board member, hosted an essay contest this fall in honor of World Kindness Day. The topic was "what does Kind leadership mean to me" and five exceptional winners were selected. I'm going to read one of those winning essays for you today, written by Emily H. from California.

This essay is perfectly aligned with the themes of my new book! I'm delighted to announce that my third book, Simple Acts of Care: How to Help When Someone You Love is Hurting, will be published in December 2026 by The Collective Book Studio. This book is has been bouncing around my head for years and sharing these vulnerable stories and the life lessons I've learned over time has become a labor of love.

Stay tuned for more details in the coming year.