Escape into a Cause

Join us as we escape into Con Mi MADRE!  We're excited to welcome Dr. Johanna Moya Fábregas , the executive director for Con Mi MADRE, to the conversation!  Con Mi MADRE is a nonprofit partnering with schools to provide social-emotional learning and college readiness from 6th grade through college. Their dual-generational program actively involves mothers in events like college trips and fairs. Th...

Join us as we escape into Louder Than Silence !  We're excited to welcome Ciji Wagner , Founder and CEO of Louder Than Silence , to the conversation. Louder Than Silence supports survivors of sexual violence by providing the community and resources needed to rebuild their lives. At the heart of their work is EMDR therapy, an evidence-based approach to healing trauma, which they offer completely fr...

Join us as we escape into I Live Here I Give Here!  We're excited to welcome Piper Stege Nelson , Executive Director of I Live Here I Give Here , to the conversation! I Live Here I Give Here is on a mission to amplify giving in Central Texas through cultivating and creating deeper connections for givers and the issues they care about. They believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging a...

Join us as we escape into National Hispanic Institute We're excited to welcome Lucas Castillo-West and Isabella Matamoros, both seniors at Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA), to the conversation!  NHI is all about building Latino leaders—early. With a 98% college enrollment rate and 67% going on to grad school, it's making a huge impact across the U.S. and the Americas. Through programs like...

Join us as we escape into E3 Alliance. We're excited to welcome Kyle Seipp, the Director of Post-Secondary and Workforce Readiness for E3 Alliance, to the conversation! E3 Alliance is a regional, data-driven education collaborative based in Austin, Texas. They are building the strongest educational pipeline in the country to drive regional economic prosperity. E3 Alliance partners with school dist...

Join us as we escape into Austin Angels!  We're excited to welcome  Susan Ramirez , the founder and CEO of Austin Angels, to the conversation! Austin Angels walks alongside children, youth, and families by providing consistent, heartfelt support through intentional giving, relationship building, and mentorship. From personalized care packages to long-term, trust-based connections, their work bring...

Join us as we escape into Austin Soundwaves! 🎙️ We're excited to welcome Dr. Hermes Camacho , Deputy Director at Austin Soundwaves, to the conversation. Before diving into the incredible work they're doing in music education, we explore this week's Topics That Matter : The Psychology of Giving — Are we more generous when others are watching? And how does seeing someone else donate influence our ow...

Join us as we escape into the Yellow Bike Project! 🎙️ We're excited to welcome Pete Wall, Staff Manager & Bike Mechanic, and Jim Robertson, Board Member, to the conversation! 🎙️ Yellow Bike is a nonprofit community bike shop born from grassroots efforts, committed to transforming lives through access to bicycles and hands-on education. They offer tools, workspace, and support to help individuals l...

Join us with Pastor Mark Smith and his wife and Director, Cindy Smith, as we escape into Austin Baptist Chapel! 🎙️ First! Steph and Court dive into what cause categories do people donate to most?  Then! We're escaping into Austin Baptist Chapel—also known as Angel House Soup Kitchen! This episode is filled with stories of people from all walks of life who come through their doors—some facing a lif...

Join us as we escape into Austin Sunshine Camps ! 🎙️ We're excited to welcome David Roberts, Chief Development Officer at Austin Sunshine Camps , to the conversation! Austin Sunshine Camps creates life-changing experiences by offering the joy of overnight camp—completely free for kids who need it most. With 90% of campers coming from low-income families and many in foster care, ASC provides a safe...

Join us as we escape into Art From The Streets ! 🎙️ We're excited to welcome Marla Johnson , the development director of Art From the Streets , to the conversation! Art From the Streets provides a creative space for those experiencing homelessness in Austin , helping individuals heal, find purpose, and build community through artistic expression. Their work is about fostering stability through cre...

Join us as we escape into Pease Park Conservancy! We're excited to welcome Allison Johnson, the Director of Community Engagement for Pease Park Conservancy , to the conversation! Pease Park Conservancy works in partnership with the City of Austin to set the standard for world-class park management. The Conservancy celebrates the diverse ecology and history that make Austin's first public park valu...

Join us as we escape into Texas Stars Foundation! We're excited to welcome Captain Curtis McKenzie of the Texas Stars Hockey and board member of the Texas Stars Foundation to the conversation! 🎙️ The Texas Stars Foundation has been the official foundation of the Texas Stars Hockey Club since 2010. Focused on youth engagement, honoring military families, and assisting those in need , they make a la...

Join us as we dive into Special Olympics Central Texas! We're excited to welcome Bruce Williams, coach of the San Marcos Wolverines, and his son Nick, a 5-time gold medalist in powerlifting! 🎙️ Listen in as we dive into all things Special Olympics and hear about Bruce's brand-new delegation in San Marcos, Wimberley, and New Braunfels. For 12 years, he's been helping athletes of all abilities train...

Join us as we escape into Addicus Legacy Dog Rescue! We're excited to welcome Amy Stanton, Director of Addicus Legacy Dog Rescue, to the conversation! 🎙️ Amy's passion for rescuing and advocating for dogs in need is at the heart of Addicus Legacy Dog Rescue , a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to saving dogs from kill shelters and the streets of Texas and Mexico. Founded in 2013, the organiz...

Join us as we escape into ATX KIDS CLUB! We're excited to welcome Tammy Miller, Founder of ATX KIDS CLUB , to the conversation! 🎙️ Tammy's passion for creating meaningful experiences for kids is rooted in her lifelong love of field trips and the belief that low teacher-to-child ratios lead to real impact. Through ATX KIDS CLUB, she's built a program that sparks curiosity, builds independence, and...

Join us as we escape into Best Buddies Central Texas !   We're excited to welcome Morgan Ilika, Area Director of Best Buddies Central Texas, and Tasha Johnson, Best Buddies Ambassador, to the conversation! 🎙️ Tasha is amazing —not only is she a Best Buddies Ambassador, but she's an advocate, a leader. Morgan is just as incredible, working tirelessly to expand Best Buddies' impact in Central Texas....

Join us as we Escape into Generation SERVE! We're thrilled to welcome Stephanie Bazan, Executive Director of Generation SERVE , to the conversation. She shares how youth volunteerism is creating a lasting impact in and around Austin, TX—empowering the next generation to step up, take action, and make a real difference in their communities.  

Join us as we Escape into Carrying Hope! We're excited to welcome  Kristin Finan, Co-Founder of Carrying Hope, to the conversation. She shares how Carrying Hope makes an impact for youth and families impacted by the foster care system across Texas. Right now, over 21,000 children are in foster care in Texas. The good news? There are people stepping up to support them in meaningful ways, like Carry...

Join us as we Escape into The Junior League of Austin! We're excited to welcome Courtney Dickey, President, and Whitney Broughton, Assistant to the President, of The Junior League of Austin (JLA) to the conversation. They share how JLA supports children's welfare programs by providing coats, shoes, and meals across Austin. But their impact doesn't stop there. These badass women are also lifting ea...

Join us as we Escape into SAGE Studio ATX ! Host Stephanie Dyer and co-host Courtney Dickey as they tackle the growing loneliness epidemic . Discover how giving back and engaging in your community can not only combat loneliness but also make you a happier, more connected person. In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome the dynamic Lucy Gross , Co-founder and Director of External Relations at SAG...

Episode 1: The Journey Begins: Getting Familiar & Why We Think You Should Brag Welcome to the first episode of Escape into a Cause ! Host Stephanie Dyer and co-host Courtney Dickey introduce the podcast, sharing why it's for busy people ready to turn good intentions into meaningful action. In this episode, Steph and Courtney discuss the purpose behind the podcast, their journey to get involved in...

Hi, I'm Stephanie Dyer—an Austinite since 2009, a proud UT alum, and someone who's long wanted to make a greater impact in our community. Escape into a Cause was created to explore how to give back meaningfully to the Austin Metro area. We're on a mission to turn good intentions into great impact by sharing stories of community, connecting people to local non-profits, and encouraging everyone to s...