Blake Talks Good

When someone can't pay rent, buy groceries, or afford a medical bill, they often turn to a local church for assistance. Yet many church leaders - pastors, elders, deacons, staff, volunteers - have never been trained in how best to help a person or family struggling with material poverty. That lack of knowledge can be devastating; you can actually do more harm than good in these crucial moments. So...

Here are my Top 10 truths to know before starting a non-profit or choosing to work at a non-profit. These are things that I either wish I would have known before starting OnRamp or was grateful that I already knew. Some of these are good news; some are bad; but all are critical to know before investing your life in non-profit work. Most apply to working at a church as well. Outline: It's easier th...

In this episode we talk about something most people hate as much as having teeth pulled - fundraising! How do you get over that terror and effectively, confidently raise money for your charity, church, ministry, mission, or project? How do you raise money without exploiting those you hope to serve? How can you turn donors into true, long-term partners? Find out as I share my top 5 lessons learned...

For anyone battling depression, anxiety, loss, or loneliness, there is hope! Your suffering CAN get better and it CAN bring about surprising good in your life and in your community. In this episode, Blake shares his own story of trying to do good while battling clinical depression these last twelve years. As much as he hates depression, OnRamp wouldn't exist without it! Discover the good that can...

Diversity in leadership leads organizations to better decisions now and in the future. It's a simple truth that has somehow become controversial in our current day and age. Don't let that controversy distract you from building the best leadership team possible for your charity, business, church, or organization. In this episode, I'll reveal why diversity of gender, race, socio-economic level, and...

In this bonus Hot Take, Blake shares advice he received from the president of Tuskegee University about the single most important thing college students can do to build the resilience, adaptability, and soft skills that will be essential to surviving the chaos and change that AI is bringing to the workforce.

Blake Talks Good with guest Chris Field, the founder of Mercy Project, an anti-human-trafficking organization that's rescued hundreds of kids from slavery in Africa, lecturer at Texas A&M, consultant to many non-profits, including OnRamp, recent addition to our College Station School Board, and author of multiple books on how to do good better, including "A Billion Hours of Good: Changing the...

What is the law of unintended consequences and how does it impact our community and our world at large? As people who desire to do good in the world, we are called to lessen the impact of the destructive side of this natural law. And the timing could not be more apropos as we brace for the impending onslaught of Artificial Intelligence. For all the good it may bring, there are countless unintended...

So exactly how much should you be giving to charity or church? I've been asked that question so many times over the years that I'd like to take this episode to give you my best answer. Here's a framework that will help you practice transformative philanthropy throughout and even beyond your lifetime.

Who should you choose for your charity, ministry, or church's board? What makes for a great leader on a board of directors? Alternatively, how can you become a person others would want on a board? In this episode, I'll walk you through the four essential qualities of an ideal leader for your business, charity, or ministry. Get this right and you'll save yourself years of heartache and struggle.

When we try to help others in need, we can so easily and unintentionally fall into the trap of playing God. This is true even for those who don't believe in God! And when we play God, it hurts both our souls and the souls of those we are trying to help. In this episode, I'll give you principles and practical advice to help you recognize and avoid this all-too-common disease.

A short, unscheduled episode that perfectly illustrates my point in Tuesday's full podcast on my Worst Sermon Ever. Not that he's likely to ever see this pod, but I sure owe TD Jakes an apology...

Want to know the sermon I most regret preaching? Here it is. The reason for my regret relates directly to the mission of this podcast. I made one of the most common mistakes you'll find in evangelical Christianity, but am so grateful for the friend who opened my eyes and set me straight. This is a problem that afflicts us all, not just Christians. It's one of the primary reasons our entire society...

On this episode, I want to answer one of the most important questions I get from individuals, non-profits, and churches who are trying to help people in need: How do you measure success? You're doing good deeds - that's wonderful - but how do you know if you are actually DOING any good in the world? So many people never ask; they simply pat themselves on the back for doing a good deed and go on th...

In this introductory episode, Blake shares WHAT this podcast is about and WHY it's worth your time to listen. If you have questions you'd like Blake to answer in future episodes about how to do good more effectively in your individual life or in leadership in a church, charity, or any other organization, please send them to us at blakej@onramptx.org