Simple Acts, Big Impact

I hope today's episode will inspire you to become a Monarch Defender and to do all you can to help or planet and to save species nearing extinction.   Learn more about the monarch butterfly, biodiversity and becoming a Monarch Defender on Noah's website www.monarchdefenders.org . Please follow him on IG @monarchdefenders   Noah also recommends a fantastic book for anyone that is concerned about ou...

Today we will learn about financial literacy with Jacoby K., a high school senior from New Jersey. Jacoby was inspired to create a financial literacy curriculum after watching a documentary on ESPN (reminding us that inspiration to do good can come from anywhere!). Jacoby also teaches us the importance of finding a mentor to help turn your ideas and aspirations into reality. In this episode, Jacob...

Hailey R. is a big-hearted teen whose mission is to help kids who have a family member with Alzheimer's. Her work is inspired by her love for her grandma, whom she calls her best friend, who lived with the disease. Her organization, Kid Caregivers, encourages young people to visit with institutionalized seniors, and to do puzzles with them. Intergenerational services is so powerful. I hope this ep...

In this episode, we hear from Jackson, a 17-year-old from Lake Oswego, Oregon whose passion for running inspired him to start a "24 miles in 24 hours" challenge. He uses this effort as a fundraiser, and over the last three summers, he has raised over $12,000 for two local nonprofits. Jackson has raised money for Hunger Fighters (a local food pantry that was started by a teenager) https://www.hunge...

With Halloween coming at the end of the month, this is an important episode! We meet from Emma Rose Shapiro (who is my first adult guest on the podcast) who started a nonprofit called Halloween Helpers when she was just 12 years old. Halloween Helpers collects and distributes new and gently used Halloween costumes to children in need in the US and around the world. I hope this episode inspires eve...

Have you ever seen a brightly painted refrigerator on the street and wondered what it was? On this week's episode we hear from Charlie H. who, along with a friend, launched The Friendly Fridge Network to help feed neighbors struggling with hunger and food insecurity.   Learn more about The Friendly Fridge Network  https://www.thefriendlyfridgenetwork.org/our-fridges On Instagram @theheightsfriendl...

Gillian Johnson is the founder of Recovery Meetups, a virtual support and mentorship program for teens who are in recovery for disordered eating and other mental health issues. You can learn more at:  https://recoverymeetups.carrd.co/   Follow @recoverymeetups  For immediate assistance and resources around food disorders, visit https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ For more information about Ri...

On this week's episode, I speak with Ava and Sophia P., two sisters from New York City who are passionate about dance. After years of lessons, rehearsals, and recitals, they realized that they had accumulated piles of dance shoes, leotards, and costumes. They decided to set up a collection box at their dance studio to collect gently used dance equipment and to donate it to under-resourced dance pr...

Welcome to Simple Acts, Big Impact: Celebrating Teen Changemakers. On this short weekly podcast, I will interview big-hearted 'tweens and teenagers who are volunteering, fundraising, starting nonprofits, and becoming social entrepreneurs and activists. I will amplify their stories and celebrate them, and share these stories with a world that could really use a dose of inspiration right now. On our...