Ep 12. What happens when a mother turns a personal breakthrough into a movement that changes lives?

In this episode of our Start Up Nonprofit series on Passion Inspires, we sit down with Tosha, founder of Pawsitive Friendships, to hear how one unexpected moment with her son and their French bulldog, Zoe, sparked something extraordinary. After her son was diagnosed with high-functioning autism in 2012, therapy felt overwhelming, and progress felt slow. But when Zoe became part of the process, everything changed. Challenging exercises turned into moments of joy, motivation, and real growth. That experience led Tosha to train Zoe as a therapy dog and eventually launch a nonprofit designed to help other families experience the same kind of breakthrough.

Today, Pawsitive Friendships serves thousands of children and adults through intentional animal-assisted programs. Dogs, pigs, horses, and other animals help participants build confidence, develop motor skills, and reconnect with learning in ways that feel safe and encouraging.

In this conversation, you’ll hear the heart behind the mission, the realities of building a nonprofit from the ground up, and why animals often unlock progress where traditional approaches fall short. Tosha also shares her dream of creating a dedicated farm where even more individuals can experience healing, growth, and belonging.

If you love stories about purpose, innovation, and the powerful bond between humans and animals, this episode will leave you inspired.

Ep 11. In this episode, we sit down with Kema Charles, Founder and Executive Director of Lights, Camera, Discover, a nonprofit that is transforming the lives of youth through filmmaking, creativity, and life skills. What began as a passion rooted in Kema’s own journey through the entertainment industry has grown into a powerful, tuition-free STEAM program serving youth ages 8–18 (and now up to 24). Through after-school, weekend, and summer programs, students are introduced to every aspect of the film and entertainment world, from acting and directing to lighting, budgeting, makeup, and production, while also gaining workforce readiness, confidence, and real-world skills.

But this conversation goes far beyond filmmaking. Kema shares how Lights, Camera, Discover has become a safe space for young people navigating bullying, mental health challenges, and life circumstances that often leave them feeling unseen or unsupported. By removing financial barriers and fostering a sense of belonging, the program allows students to discover not just creative talents, but their own worth and potential. From students finding career paths in broadcasting and comics to parents witnessing remarkable growth in maturity and confidence, the impact is deeply personal and far-reaching.

As the organization approaches 15 years of service, Kema reflects on her vision for the future, expanding into communities across the country so more youth can have a place to learn, create, and feel safe. This episode is a powerful reminder that when creativity meets compassion, lives are changed, and that investing in youth is one of the most meaningful ways to shape the future.

Ep 10. As part of our newest series, Start-Up Nonprofits, we hear from Andy Gibson, who shares the heart behind Certain Hope Community, a nonprofit founded to bring connection, hope, and belonging to families raising children with disabilities.

Andy and his wife Laura’s youngest daughter was born with a rare chromosome disorder that introduced countless hospital stays, difficult conversations, and moments of deep uncertainty. Alongside the medical and emotional challenges came something quieter but just as heavy: isolation. The kind that settles in when others don’t fully understand the loss of expectations, the constant advocacy, or the strain placed on the entire family alongside navigating everyday life.

Through their own journey, Andy and Laura recognized a powerful truth that no family should have to walk this road alone. Certain Hope Community was born out of that need for in-person community, shared meals, accessible adventures, and spaces where families are seen, supported, and celebrated.

This conversation is about choosing to focus not on limitations, but on what is possible, and how faith, joy, and community can transform even the hardest stories.