Simple Acts, Big Impact

Sisters Caitlyn and Chloe K. from Las Vegas, learned about the very troubling issue of period poverty, and decided to do something about it. They created the Wellness Box Foundation which creates and distributes boxes containing feminine hygiene products and other toiletry items to girls and women living in shelter or experiencing homelessness.  Learn more at www.thewellnessboxfoundation.org @thew...

My guest today, 13 year old Divisha from Washington State, is a dog lover and social entrepreneur. As a 9 year old, she created Bow Bow Ties, an Etsy shop which sells hand-sewn bow ties and bandanas and donates the proceeds to help animal shelters in her community. https://www.instagram.com/bow_bow_ties/

Emily B., has a passion for neuroscience and psychology, and is committed to helping other young people with similar interests - especially those from marginalized groups without representation in neuroscience or healthcare. She created the Teen Neuroscience Alliance to help make neuroscience and psychology education accessible to everyone with an interest in the workings of the human brain. Learn...

If you have an older adult in your life, you may know that criminals frequently try various tricks and phishing scams to get them to hand over personal information or to send money. This is a huge problem affecting millions of people around the globe, with billions of dollars being stolen. My guest today, college student Jake, created CyberAware, to train teen volunteers across the country to go o...

As we've discussed on the podcast many times, representation matters, and thats especially true in the medical field. Young black and brown girls need to see people who look like them becoming physicians and taking on other leadership roles in healthcare. My guest today, Sarah, is a recent college graduate who will be attending medical school. Working in partnership with Sneakers to Scrubs, she cr...

Since 2025 began, issues surrounding immigration, naturalization and undocumented citizens has been very much in the news cycle. What can get lost in all of the coverage of ICE raids and deportations are the stories of real people who are pursuing legal avenues to become US citizens. My guests today, Samuel and Julie, are the leaders of CLIP, which stands for Creating Legal Immigration Pathways, a...

Expressing ourselves through art is healing, and it celebrates our cultural heritage, it educates and it connects us to one another, fostering understanding among people from different backgrounds. My guest today, Shriya from Phoenix, understood this, and created Artsphere, which provides programs to boys and girls clubs, schools and camps in her community, to spread cultural awareness through art...

With election day coming up next week, we need every young person to get engaged in our civic discourse, to care about our collective future and to share their talents and skills to make a difference. My guest today, Kayla P. from Illinois, started the Civic Success Project, an organization dedicated to transforming how young people connect with and participate in civic life - centering youth prio...

Title IX is federal legislation that prohibits discrimination based on general in any programs receiving federal funding. My guest today is a young woman who cares deeply about ensuring that everyone in her community understands their legal rights under title IX. Rachel, from Orange County, started the Title IX Advocacy Initiative and speaks passionately about the ways that young people who care a...

There's a common phrase used in mentorship and educational equity circles: You need to SEE it to BE it. My guest today understands the representation matters, and that young people need to see and hear from role models whose lived experiences mirror their own. Munveer S. from Menlo Park, California, started Off the Stage to connect young people to speakers, mentors and role models from diverse bac...

Sophie Szew is an incredible mental health advocate, writer and speaker. As an eating disorder survivor and proud Jewish Latina, Sophie combines their own experiences with injustice brought about by mental healthcare inequity with her passion for writing, advocacy, and leadership to uplift the voices of those with lived experiences and fight for the systemic destigmatization of marginalized bodies...

Pages4Progress is a youth-led organization that is empowering incarcerated voices through literacy and learning. Founders Ranya and Marisa, along with co-founder Matthew, demonstrated incredible patience and perseverance in setting up this incredible effort. Pages4Porgress is helping to end recidivism and improve literacy among incarcerated people in New Jersey. Follow and learn more at @pages4pro...

TW: This episode talks about eating disorders High School seniors from Maryland, Anya and Kendyll, are dancers whose lives have been affected by eating disorders. They bonded over their shared experiences, and joined forces to launch Dancers Beyond Labels, a nonprofit organization which works to address the youth dancer mental health crisis by: engaging with dance company directors, instructors, a...

Intergenerational volunteerism is probably one of the most meaningful types of service. It is literally a win-win. Teens can learn so much from older adults and seniors get a tremendous emotional boost from spending time with young people. My guests today - Lauren and Proksha started ForgetMeNot International, a nonprofit that works to prevent cognitive decline in the elderly through conversation,...

My guest today, Hunter G. from Virginia, is a one-person food rescue warrior. He noticed that food at his local fast food restaurants and cafes was being thrown away, and asked if he could collect the food and get it to a local shelter where it would feed hungry neighbors. His commitment to food rescue - picking up after early morning swim practices - is inspiring, and a perfect example of how one...

Welcome to the kickoff of Season Four! Sophie K. is a high school student from California whose recently launched organization, Chains of Hope, benefits charities supporting the people of Ukraine. As a first generation Ukrainian American, whose parents emigrated to the US after WWII, I was deeply touched by Sophie's heart for the Ukrainian people who continue to suffer after more than three years...

Our Season Three Finale! I have interviewed more than 50 amazing young people this season, and we've covered a wide range of topics. I've learned so much, and continue to be inspired, every day, by the work of these changemakers. I'm ending the season on a super high note - Dylan Z. created Computers4People when he was only 15 years old, turning a hobby with friends into a social impact endeavor....

California teen Gwenevere P. started the Persaud Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the ocean through education, public involvement and conservation. Through online courses, an electronic newsletter and a podcast, she and her team raise awareness and share their love for marine biology. It is always so inspiring to speak to a young person who is on fire about an issue, and who has mad...

As we move through Mental Health Awareness month, my guests today, brothers Vick and William from Minnesota, approach the issue from an entirely new perspective - one that we've never covered on the podcast before. Their nonprofit Fish Hut empowers youth to get outdoors and into nature, and provides the tools that young people need to learn how to fish - a pastime that has been shown to reduce str...

As we acknowledge Period Poverty Awareness week, I'm honored to share this conversation with Ananya D. a high school senior who cares deeply about women living in refugee camps, and is especially concerned about their ability to have what they need to care for themselves and to maintain their dignity during their menstrual cycles. Ananya's drive and tenacity are an inspiration. Learn more about he...

This conversation is the perfect way to honor Older Americans Awareness month, which is celebrated in May. Intergenerational volunteering is so incredibly powerful. My guests today, high school students Areen, Emily and Rachel, started Generation Union with the mission of bridging the gap between generations. They empower youth to engage with institutionalized seniors and other patients living wit...

As we kick off Mental Health Awareness month, I'm delighted to share this conversation with three big-hearted young men who care deeply about the mental health of their class mates and other youth around the world. Arjun, Tanuj and Shreyas started their nonprfoit Mind4Matter last Fall after observing a need for a safe space for teens to talk about stress and mental health struggles. Mind4Matter is...

We wrap up Earth Month with this conversation with Madhvi C., and incredibly impressive young changemaker from Colorado. Since she was a very young child, Madhvi has been passionate about sustainability and advocacy around climate justice. She worked to remove styrofoam from her school, and has been instrumental in the passing of legislation around environmental issues in Colorado. She has address...

As we continue to celebrate Earth Month, I'm delighted to share this conversation with Ivy, a highschool student who started the Teen Coalition 4 Climate, an international youth-led organization with the goal of uplifting youth climate voices. Now in over 30 countries around the world, Teen Coalition 4 Climate publishes a YouZine - one of the first ever entirely youth-led climate justice magazines...

We continue our celebration of Earth Month with this delightful conversation with Makayla C. whose love of the beaches near her home in Southern California, especially Venice beach, inspired her to create Clean Up the Beach, a youth-led beach clean-up organization. Learn more at www.cleanupthebeachca.org or follow at @celan_up_the_beach_ca