We're Good

At 17, Joshua Johnson made a decision that sent him to prison and threatened to define his future . Can we become more than our worst mistake? Join We’re Good Podcast co-founder Mary Ellen Chandler as Johnson shares his journey from incarceration to purpose, leadership, and second-chance advocacy. His transformation reveals how accountability, opportunity, and believing in what’s possible can turn...

Every year, thousands of families arrive at the National Institutes of Health carrying every parent's greatest fear—a child with a life-threatening illness and one last hope that groundbreaking clinical research might save their life. But this episode asks a deeper question: What else is essential for healing? The We're Good Podcast , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee takes you inside The...

What if the most important investment we can make in our future happens before a child turns five? We’re Good Podcast host, Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee visits Northern Virginia Family Services' new Ashburn Farm Early Childhood Development Center with Stephanie Berkowitz , President and CEO and Dennis DeLoach , Director of Early Childhood Programs. You’ll hear Dennis’s extraordinary story as a...

What happens when we experience music together? Join We’re Good Podcast host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee inside the Virginia Chamber Orchestra with Executive Director John Huling and Principal Flutist Nicolette Oppelt , whose unexpected journeys reveal a shared passion for live music. From outdoor concerts to intimate performances, accessible tickets, and opportunities for young musicians, VCO brin...

Washington, D.C.’s disappearing tree canopy raises a big question: Can planting trees really change the future of our planet? Join Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee and the We’re Good Podcast on location at Langdon Park with Andrew Schichtel of Casey Trees and Tim Purinton from The Nature Conservancy to discover how trees fight climate change—and how people power the solution. From carbon capture and sto...

What if the key to career success could start before college? In this inspiring episode of the We’re Good Podcast , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee explores how Genesys Works is helping high school students gain paid professional internships, career coaching, and real-world workplace experience. Executive Director Elizabeth Lindsey shares her personal journey as a first-generation college graduate...

What if the future of conservation is hiding on top of a landfill? In this fascinating episode of the We’re Good Podcast , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee learns how Sustainability Matters Executive Director Andrea McGimsey and Rappahannock County Administrator Garrey Curry are testing a bold hypothesis: can closed landfills become thriving habitats for butterflies, pollinators, and native plants...

What does a German immigrant brewer, a Victorian mansion, and the future of the American Dream have in common? In this episode of the We’re Good Podcast , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee takes you inside Washington D.C.'s historic Heurich House Museum to uncover a story of immigration, innovation, entrepreneurship, and community that helped shape the city we know today. From hidden histories...

In this episode of the We’re Good Podcast , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee reunites with CEO, Nene Spivy and Community Programs Manager, Sue Fajer to get behind the scenes of the $120 million Northern Virginia Science Center . From its grassroots beginnings to the Children’s Science Center Lab , this story reveals the sometimes challenging journey to expand STEM education and hands-on learning. D...

At this year’s Community Foundation for Northern Virginia's Impact Celebration, We're Good Podcast host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee uncovers extraordinary stories hidden in plain sight. Meet donor Jackie Plein and scholarship awardee Norah McCormick , whose passion for environmental science is protecting wildlife and investing in future researchers. Hear how Dr. Luis Ortiz and the Virgini...

What if a second chance could change everything? In this powerful episode of the We’re Good Podcast , sponsored by Clark Construction host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee is on-location inside Cornerstone Craftsman , where founder Roberto Gomez is transforming the lives of at-promise youth through paid trade apprenticeships. From a gripping courtroom moment that saves a teen from prison to hands-on tra...

In this powerful episode of the We’re Good Podcast , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee speaks with AALEAD leaders Siu Cheung Rossmark and Arti Bhatt about the hidden mental health crisis facing Asian American and Pacific Islander youth. From immigrant family struggles and the “ model minority myth ” to mentorship, education, and suicide prevention, this emotional conversation reveals how AALEAD is t...

In the We’re Good Podcast’s second episode at the Inova Saville Cancer Screening and Prevention Center , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee goes deeper with Dr. Rebecca Kaltman and Liz Stark to explore how their mobile screening bus delivers life-saving care to underserved communities—improving outcomes through early detection and expanding access to clinical trials. From firefighter screening progra...

In this episode of the We’re Good Podcast , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee explores the innovative work at the Inova Saville Cancer Screening and Prevention Center . Featuring Executive Director, Dr. Rebecca Kaltman and Director of Community Health, Liz Stark , the episode highlights a gem in our region, one of only four in the country: personalized cancer risk assessments, prevention strategies,...

What if you couldn’t tell a doctor what hurts or understand a teacher’s note your child brought home? In this episode of the W e’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee explores how Executive Director of the English Empowerment Center, Roopal Mehta Saran and Volunteer Teacher, Kathleen McCleary are helping immigrants across Northern Virginia build confidence, connection, and opportunity t...

What if the biggest threat to the environment is already growing in your own backyard? In this powerful outdoor episode, We’re Good Podcast host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee visits Earth Sangha to uncover how native plants, invasive species, and local conservation efforts are shaping the future of our parks, wildlife, and neighborhoods. With moving stories of mentorship, community, and purpose acros...

In this newest episode of the We’re Good Podcast , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee visits A Farm Less Ordinary in Loudoun County, Virginia—where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities find more than work; they find purpose and belonging. Born from one family’s response to their son’s autism, the farm is transforming lives through work and community. From fields and greenhouses to...

In this on-location episode of the We’re Good Podcast , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee steps inside Horton’s Kids’ podcast studio in Washington DC – as We’re Good returns to its very first guests—and discovers just how far the story has traveled. Executive Director Erica Ahdoot and Chief of Staff Rahaman “Kil” Kilpatrick reflect on the seeds planted during that first podcast —seeds that inspired...

In this powerful episode of the We’re Good Podcast , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee sits down with foster, adoptive, and kinship parents from Formed Families Forward for a raw, hope-filled conversation about love, struggle, and community. Presented with the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia , the episode explores isolation, resilience, and a groundbreaking new FASD resource hub. If you’v...

Step inside the warm, welcoming kitchen of Together We Bake in Alexandria, Virginia in this powerful episode of the We’re Good Podcast —where handmade cookies and granola are just the beginning of something special. This uplifting episode reveals how women overcoming major obstacles in life find healing through shared stories and community. In the bakery, they work alongside others who’ve walked t...

What if you woke up tomorrow and couldn’t drive anymore—no errands, no appointments, no independence? In this can’t-miss episode of the We’re Good Podcast , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee meets Beth Kilgore-Robinson and volunteer Barry Wickersham from the Shepherd Center of Fairfax-Burke, a CFNOVA grantee quietly making thousands of lives better. They’ve delivered 51,000+ rides—but the real story...

In this heart-stirring episode of the We’re Good Podcast , host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee visits Higher Achievement in Washington, DC—where mentoring transforms futures. CEO Lynsey Wood Jeffries and Board Member and alumni Mitchell Brooks share how this 50-year legacy of connection, turns middle school years into launching pads for college and purpose. Mitch - who now leads a multimillion-dollar...

In this uplifting episode, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee spotlights Community Foundation for Northern Virginia 2025 grantee Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia —more than a running program, it fuses movement with life lessons for 3rd–8th graders. Jaimi Taylor and Sammy Carr share an evidence-based “Go-To Toolbox” (star power, happy pace, breathe-and-reset) that builds confidence during a criti...

As We’re Good wraps an unforgettable year, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee pulls back the curtain on what’s coming in 2026—and it’s powerful. From emotional finish lines with Girls on the Run , to life-changing mentorship at Higher Achievement , to neighbors showing up through the Shepherd’s Center , this episode teases stories of courage, connection, and everyday brilliance. New on-location episo...

Season One of the We’re Good Podcast wraps with a powerful reflection on the moments that made us laugh, cry, and believe even more deeply in the good happening around us. From emotional stories at Jill’s House and Horton’s Kids to surprising revelations at College Track, Year Up United, DC SCORES, and more, this episode captures the heart of community: belonging, resilience, and everyday brillian...