In this inspiring episode, Diane and Scott Strand, founders of JDS Creative Academy, share how a simple “what if?” turned their creative careers into a nonprofit that is transforming lives through the arts. Using filmmaking, acting, and digital media, they help youth and adults, including individuals with developmental disabilities, build confidence, communication skills, and pathways to independence.

Diane and Scott reflect on the personal experiences that shaped their mission, the challenges of growing a nonprofit, and the powerful moments that remind them why their work matters. Their story is a reminder that real impact often begins by saying yes to one opportunity and helping one person at a time.

In this powerful episode, Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, shares the unforgettable moment that opened his eyes to the hidden crisis of child bedlessness and the little girl named Haley whose first bed changed the trajectory of his life. What began as a small Christmas project in his garage with a few teenage boys and a power drill has grown into a global movement dedicated to making sure no child sleeps on the floor. From one bunk bed to more than 425,000 beds delivered to children around the world, Luke’s story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the simplest acts of kindness create the biggest ripple effects. This conversation will inspire you to look at the world a little differently and maybe even pick up a hammer and help change a child’s life.

For our 100th episode of the Charity Matters Podcast, we are celebrating in the most meaningful way possible....by spotlighting a true innovator, a quiet disruptor, and a modern-day hero who dared to ask a simple but world-changing question: What if no parent ever had to say, “I have no one to call?” When psychologist Dave Anderson saw firsthand the devastating ripple effects of child abuse and foster care, he didn’t just shake his head at a broken system, he built something different. He shares how his bricklayer father’s words, “If I don’t help them, who will?” became the blueprint for Safe Families for Children, a revolutionary approach that mobilizes communities to step in before a crisis becomes a catastrophe. This episode is about courage, radical hospitality, and the extraordinary impact of ordinary people choosing to care.