This Toast Is for You

Join us as we toast Chris, owner of Pizza Man in Columbia Heights, who has quietly become a community cornerstone through radical transparency, relentless compassion, and yes—cheesy, delicious pizza. In this episode of This Toast Is for You, Chris shares how a leap from mental health work to pizza delivery turned into a mission to strengthen the social fabric of his neighborhood. From offering low...

Episode Summary: Join us as we toast Charles Weed, the driving force behind Minneapolis Community Clay Courts, in this inspiring episode of This Toast Is for You. Charles shares how his passion for tennis led him to create accessible, health-friendly, environmentally friendly clay courts for active aging, injury prevention, and social connection. Discover how these courts, designed to be easier on...

Join us as we toast Reverend Dr. Frank Bennett, a former venture capitalist turned United Church of Christ minister and PhD nurse specializing in end-of-life care. In this deeply moving episode, Frank shares his unexpected journey into hospice work, the powerful lessons he’s learned from thousands of patients, and the importance of presence in our final moments. Through personal stories, he highli...

Join us as we toast Wendy, a dedicated parent liaison at Model Elementary School in Goshen, Indiana, whose work embodies the Social Determinants of Health. Wendy tirelessly supports marginalized families—helping with everything from school engagement to securing essential resources like food, healthcare, and job applications. Through community events and personal outreach, she’s not only making ed...

Join us as we toast Colette, a dedicated member of the Minneapolis Hockey Association board, who’s transforming her local hockey community by breaking barriers and fostering inclusivity. In this episode of This Toast Is for You, we explore how Colette’s relentless efforts to provide equipment and scholarships are addressing the Social Determinants of Health, like financial stability and neighborho...

Join us as we toast Kelly, a beacon of community spirit in Ennis, whose volunteer work with the Greater Federation of Women is making waves in her town and beyond. In this heartwarming episode of This Toast Is for You, we dive into how Kelly and her fellow volunteers address the Social Determinants of Health through initiatives like free little libraries, birthday boxes for food banks, and scholar...

Join us as we toast Mary Beth, the Executive Director of Trust Incorporated, in this heartwarming episode of This Toast Is for You. Mary Beth shares how her organization strengthens community ties with older adults through essential services like Meals on Wheels, transportation, and home maintenance, empowering people to live independently and thrive in their neighborhoods. We explore how these pr...

Join us as we toast Alicia, the founder of I Am My Sister's Bra. Inspired by her sister’s battle with stage four metastatic breast cancer, Alicia supports breast cancer patients as they fight cancer. Through fundraising events like the For Laura with Love walk and the Jazzy Pink Affair fashion show, Alicia demonstrates the power of community and compassion and ensures no one in Upstate South Carol...

Join us as we toast Amy, Assistant Principal at Southwest High School, for her incredible work in creating the Laker Locker. This episode celebrates her initiative to reduce barriers to student success by providing essential resources such as coats, school supplies, and hygiene products. Amy’s work not only supports students facing homelessness or mobility challenges but also helps all students in...

Restore your faith in humanity as we learn about and toast Jess, a local leader for Lasagna Love, an incredible nonprofit that connects volunteer chefs with individuals in need of a comforting meal. In this heartfelt episode of This Toast Is for You, Jess shares how the organization has touched lives, from supporting single parents to providing meals to the unhoused, all while tackling the Social...

Hi, I’m Elizabeth, a licensed counselor, coach, PhD, and host of “This Toast Is for You”, a podcast celebrating the people who make our lives better. Our name is different this season, but our focus is the same. Each episode is a heartfelt interview of a remarkable human who improves others’ lives and increases their health. You see, health is so much more than a number on the scale, choices we ma...

Join us on this last episode of season 3, as we toast Andi, founder of a neighborhood "Move and Mingle" Facebook group, in this inspiring episode of K. Elizabeth Toasts. Andi shares her journey from personal recovery to creating a neighborhood movement revolution, emphasizing size inclusivity and joyful movement. By addressing the social determinant of health related to neighborhood and built envi...

In this episode K. Elizabeth toasts Geoffrey Fenelus, an education leader passionate about school transformation and organizational health. Geoff is improving the health and quality of life of others by supporting access to quality education, one of the Social Determinates of Health, through school transformation and supporting employees with benefits so that they can focus on teaching. Geoff shar...

In this episode of K. Elizabeth Toasts, Heidi, a long-time volunteer and breast cancer survivor, shares her dedication to volunteerism. Through her work with Casting for Recovery, Heidi supports women impacted by breast cancer to the physically therapeutic world of fly fishing. With North Carolina retreats set in the serene mountains, Casting for Recovery offers a healing space where participants...

In this episode, we toast Richard, who is who is improving the health and quality of life of others by supporting their economic stability. Richard is founder of the Tenderness Tour, a double amputee with spina bifida and cancer survivor. He takes us through his 35-year mission to foster tenderness by journeying over 6,000 miles in his wheelchair and raising funds for others. This powerful convers...

In this episode of K. Elizabeth Toasts, we toast Viva, the Director of Operations and Community Engagement at Giving Voice, a nonprofit in the Twin Cities. Viva shares the personal and transformative journey that led her from volunteering, being a member with her mother, then finding a career at Giving Voice. Founded in 2014, Giving Voice combats dementia's social isolation by building choirs for...

In this episode of K. Elizabeth's Podcast, host K. Elizabeth speaks with Angela, Executive Director of the Creative Enterprise Zone, about how public art and community investment shape neighborhoods and foster well-being. Angela discusses the significance of mural festivals, like the vibrant Chroma Zone, and the organization’s commitment to paying artists fairly and promoting diverse voices. The c...

In this episode, K. Elizabeth sits down with Katie, a passionate Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with 25 years of experience working with children with autism. Katie shares her journey into the field, highlighting the transformative power of behavioral interventions in both educational settings and parent coaching. From her early inspiration in a university class to her current work helpin...

In this heartwarming episode of "Paws for Health," host K. Elizabeth sits down with Sarah, a dedicated volunteer at Can Do Canines, to explore the remarkable ways service dogs are improving the lives of individuals with various needs. Discover the incredible training process these dogs undergo for three years to assist with mobility, hearing, diabetes, seizures, and autism, all in line with the AD...

In this heartwarming episode of "K. Elizabeth Toasts," host K. Elizabeth toasts Racheal Prutch, a South Carolina resident whose life has been dedicated to volunteerism. Rachel shares her inspiring journey from her early days as a candy striper in Oklahoma to her profound experiences at Clare House following her mother's passing, and her own battle with breast cancer leading her to discover the hea...

In this inspiring episode of "K Elizabeth Toasts," host K Elizabeth sits down with Christine, a former corporate professional turned volunteer mountain bike cycling coach and mentor. With a passion for enriching the lives of girls and young women, Christine shares her transition from corporate life to the exhilarating world of mountain biking. The podcast delves into the significance of learning e...

Hi, I’m K. Elizabeth, a licensed counselor, coach, PhD, and host of K. Elizabeth Toasts, a podcast celebrating people who increase our quality of life. Each episode is a heartfelt interview of a remarkable person who improves others’ lives through 1 of the 5 social determinants of health. The World Health Organization says these social determinants can impact up to 55% of our health outcomes – tha...

This toast is for Susie, the owner and curator of an Art Gallery. This episode explores the significant role of social determinants such as neighborhood and built environment. Marty shares her personal journey of battling cancer, which led her to seek a career that brought joy not only to herself but also to others. Marty’s vision is to reflect the grand salons of 1800s Paris where artists and int...

This toast is for Josh, the executive director of EdAllies, an education advocacy group whose goal is to make sure that kids of color, kids with disabilities, Native American learners, and kids from historically underserved communities are served well in school. Josh shares the herculean efforts that his mother made to provide him with quality education and how he is using that education to serve...

This toast is for Kim, an advanced practice nurse. Kim's passion for nursing and specifically oncology was ignited by a personal tragedy, when she lost her brother after a severe motorcycle accident, praising the compassion and care of the ICU and emergency department nurses who treated him. This pivotal moment led Kim to pursue a career where she could offer the compassion and care that she recei...