Food, Family, & Philanthropy

Finding the right place for a child with autism to feel included isn't always easy. That's exactly why Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix , Founder and Executive Director of Love Serving Autism , and Mara Friedman , Coach and Therapist Outreach Coordinator, have dedicated their work to creating welcoming sports programs where every athlete has the opportunity to grow. Michael Nathanson sits down with...

Most of us never think twice about turning on the tap. But what if the water we rely on every day contains far more than we realize? Michael Nathanson sits down with Frank Ramos, Founder and CEO of Save the Water, to discuss the growing challenges surrounding water quality, contamination, and public awareness. Frank shares his remarkable journey from immigrating to the United States from Cuba to b...

When thousands of children and families in Palm Beach County hit a crisis, HomeSafe is often the first call. On this milestone 50th episode, host Michael Nathanson welcomes Matthew Ladika, CEO of HomeSafe, and Amanda Stone, LMHC, the organization's Chief Operations Officer, for a candid conversation about what it truly takes to protect children and rebuild lives in South Florida. Matthew walk...

What happens when a barefoot hippie mom moves to a community that feels cold and decides to do something about it? That's exactly how Laura Reiss, founder of Kindness Matters 365, got started — not with a grand plan, but with a simple afterschool program and a deep belief that if you reach kids early, you change everything. Michael and Laura cover a lot of ground in this one. They talk about...

In this powerful episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy , we dive into the reality of food insecurity right here in Palm Beach County. Many assume South Florida is thriving—but behind the scenes, families are making impossible choices between rent and food. Host sits down with Tony Hopper of Feeding South Florida and advisory council member Kye Akavia to uncover how this organization is providi...

What if the way we’ve always done school just isn’t working for a lot of kids? Michael sits down with Sherri Divband, founder of Aramis Creative Learning Center, to talk about a different path for children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and other developmental differences. Her approach centers on helping kids feel safe, confident, and empowered through animal connection, project based learning, and h...

What if the biggest impact happens before a family ever reaches a breaking point? In this conversation, Michael Nathanson sits down with Dennis Miles, Executive Director, and Vincent D'Aria Palm Beach Advisory Board Chair of Children’s Home Society of Florida, to talk about the real work happening behind the scenes to support children and families across Palm Beach, Broward, and the Treasure...

Food prices are up, people are stretched thin, and the need is closer than most of us want to believe. Michael Nathanson sits down with Jamie Kendall of the Palm Beach County Food Bank to talk about what food insecurity looks like in Palm Beach County, and what it takes to meet that need with dignity. They get into the scale of the work, including a network of more than 200 partner agencies, the f...

Most of us love the ocean, but we don’t always think about what’s actually in it until someone puts it in plain language. Michael Nathanson sits down with Jack Lighton of 4OceanFoundation to talk about ocean bound plastic pollution, why it’s become such an urgent issue, and what it looks like to build real momentum behind cleanup and education. Jack shares how a childhood sea turtle nesting experi...

Some conversations stay with you because they’re honest, human, and rooted in real community care. Michael Nathanson sits down with Shari Kaplan, founder of the Can’t Tell Foundation, to talk about what trauma healing can look like when we stop treating it like a one size fits all problem. Shari shares the personal turning point that led her to build a trauma treatment protocol and why her work fo...

Michael Nathanson sits down with William Freeman, founder and CEO of People of Purpose, a Florida nonprofit helping returning citizens rebuild their lives with stability, dignity, and real support. William shares how the idea for People of Purpose took shape while he was incarcerated, and how his own reentry experience became the blueprint for mentoring others. They talk about why communities ofte...

In this special year end episode of Food, Family & Philanthropy , host Michael Nathanson looks back on the inspiring nonprofit leaders who pulled up a chair to share how they are changing lives. Michael revisits powerful conversations with organizations like Nations of Coaches, Sofia’s Hope, Denim and Diamonds, the YMCA of Boca Raton, Friends of Foster Children, Impact Achievement Learning Cen...

On this episode of Food, Family & Philanthropy, host Michael Nathanson sits down with Jim Good, regional director for Nations of Coaches, to explore how investing in coaches transforms entire teams and communities. Jim shares how this nonprofit ministry walks alongside college basketball coaches across the country with character coaches, faith based support, leadership training, and even marri...

In this episode of Food, Family & Philanthropy, Michael Nathanson sits down with Jamie Doherty, president and CTO of R2 Unified Technologies, for a conversation that blends food, family, sports, and heartfelt purpose. Jamie shares his favorite Boca restaurants, unforgettable sports memories, and what it’s like raising kids, becoming an empty nester, and coaching in the community. He then opens...

On this episode of Food, Family & Philanthropy, host Michael Nathanson sits down with Bryan Hunt, Executive Director of the Peter Blum YMCA in Boca Raton, to explore how a true community hub changes lives. Bryan shares his Jamaican roots and food memories, favorite local spots, and why family dinners matter. Then the conversation turns to impact: youth sports and coaching, teen leadership, swi...

Michael sits down with Jane Richardson, executive director of Friends of Foster Children, for a heart first conversation about building stability and joy for kids in Palm Beach County. Jane shares her path into nonprofit leadership and the programs that meet families where they are, including kinship navigators for relatives who step in overnight, a fatherhood program for dads learning to parent,...

We pull up a chair with Tamika Taylor, founder of Impact Achievement Learning Center, whose mission is to give every child a safe place to be seen, supported, and taught to read with confidence. We talk favorites from Lemongrass’s Sex on the Moon roll to taco spots and the perfect chicken wing partner, then shift to family and sports as Tamika shares proud moments from raising four sons, including...

Michael sits down with Monica Hadvigerova, founder of Military Recreational Divers, Inc., to explore how ocean therapy and scuba bring healing, resilience, and community to veterans living with PTSD and other invisible wounds. We trace Monica’s journey from pro tennis to combat sports to service, hear the story of her husband’s path from Desert Storm to recovery through the water, and learn how mo...

In this inspiring episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy , host Michael Nathanson welcomes Jessica Williams, Etsy Manager at Her 2nd Chance, a nonprofit based in Boca Raton that empowers women in recovery through paid employment, personal growth, and community support. Jessica shares how the organization provides a one year program rooted in healing and skill building, helping women rediscover...

When Diana Sierra first walked into what would become Boca School for Autism, she planned to volunteer . What happened next? A two-minute tour turned into a two-hour conversation that completely changed her life—and the lives of dozens of families. In this episode, we go beyond the classroom to explore how Diana created a school rooted in empowerment, inclusion, and hands-on learning that’s reshap...

Michelle Hendricks went from backyard gardening to leading a movement that’s transforming how South Florida connects with nature. As president of Friends of Loxahatchee , she’s on a mission to protect one of the last wild pieces of the Everglades—while planting seeds of conservation in the next generation. In this inspiring episode, Michelle shares how teen ranger camps, community education, and a...

In this heartwarming and eye-opening episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy , we sit down with John Sawdon, Outreach Coordinator at The Volen Center, a powerhouse nonprofit supporting seniors across South Florida. From dementia care and adult day programs to intergenerational playdates and 6,000 monthly meals, John gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how one organization is redefining elder ca...

In this heart-centered and eye-opening episode, we sit down with Sherry "Shadelle" Henry, the dynamic Executive Director of the HAB Center in Boca Raton. With warmth, wisdom, and a little Jamaican spice (literally!), Sherry shares the personal and professional journey that led her to champion adults with developmental differences and mental health challenges. From her family roots in Jam...

In this heartfelt and high-energy episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy , host Michael welcomes real estate visionary and humanitarian Frank McKinney for a powerful conversation about passion, perseverance, and purpose. From building multi-million-dollar oceanfront estates to creating self-sustaining villages in Haiti, Frank shares how his unconventional journey—from juvenile detention to ultr...

In this inspiring episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy , we sit down with Shanna St. John — Executive Director of Nat King Cole Generation Hope — to uncover how she's turning music into a powerful tool for education, healing, and community impact. From her early days in high-end retail to spearheading some of the region’s most meaningful nonprofits, Shanna shares her personal journey and...