Heidi Johnson on Loss, Grief, and the Transformative Power of Giving
Release Date: 07/23/2025
Phil Green on the Impactful and Inspiring Work He Does for Young Musicians and His Hometown of Oakland
Blue Sky
Phil Green has had a successful career in music and sports. For what he describes as his “third act,” Phil is now overseeing , a nonprofit in his hometown of Oakland, California. Follow the Music provides artist development, booking and management services to young artists — to shine a light on their talents and bring visibility to the programs that helped develop them. Chapters: 00:00 Introducing Phil Green and Follow the Music Bill Burke introduces Phil Green, co-founder of Follow the Music, an organization dedicated to fostering young...
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Stacy Palmer on Nonprofits and the Role Optimism Plays in Moving Them Forward
Blue Sky
Stacy Palmer leads , the leading journal in the world of nonprofits. In this Blue Sky conversation, she talks about the evolution of nonprofits into sophisticated organizations that do remarkable work around the world. She describes the role of donors large and small, and how they’re helping address challenges created by cuts in government funding. Stacy also shares her belief that nothing gets done in this space without a healthy dose of optimism. Chapters: 02:04 Origins of the Chronicle of Philanthropy Stacy Palmer discusses the founding of The...
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Shirzad Chamine on Saboteurs, Sages, and Positive Intelligence
Blue Sky
Shirzad Chamine experienced a traumatic childhood, raised in Iran by a father who was full of a frightening rage. Following high school, Shirzad decided to move to the United States and make his future there. Along the way, he heard an inner whisper telling him to make a positive influence on a worldwide scale. After a variety of education experience, he developed innovative theories that resulted in the New York Times bestselling book, . In this Blue Sky episode, you’ll learn more about Shirzad Chamine’s remarkable life and inspiring work. ...
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Author Bree Groff on Finding Joy at Work
Blue Sky
Losing her mom to cancer reminded Bree that life is fleeting. Working as a consultant, she also saw how many people are miserable in their jobs. Connecting these dots, she decided to help people find more joy and meaning in their work and rather than count the days to the weekend, turn things around and actually look forward to getting to work, perhaps even embrace a “TGIM” mentality. In her book, she gives numerous examples of way we can find more joy from our work and our colleagues and encourages employers that creating a fun-filled workplace can improve an...
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Erin Cain on Personal Resilience and the Power of Horses to Heal
Blue Sky
Erin Cain didn’t grow up around horses but eventually was exposed to them and the remarkable abilities they have to facilitate healing for a wide range of individuals. A series of life events caused her to move from her native northeast to the Colorado Rockies and today, she’s the co-founder, owner, and operator of . In this episode she describes the personal hardships she’s overcome and the work she now does rescuing and “gentling” wild mustangs, then working with these animals to provide therapy to the diverse group of individuals who come to Grace Reins for healing. ...
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Psychotherapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis on the Importance of Understanding Grief as a Path Toward Living Healthier Lives
Blue Sky
Meghan Riordan Jarvis was a practicing psychotherapist when she found herself devastated by the loss of her two parents. She suddenly saw she was no different from those she helped, but she still needed outside support to recover. In this Blue Sky episode, she describes how this realization led her to become an expert about grief and an advocate for all of us to learn about this important and challenging part of life. Chapters: 02:20 Journey to Psychotherapy Meghan shares her personal journey into psychotherapy, beginning with a...
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Tricia Rose Burt Describes How She Transformed Her Life and Why She Encourages Others to Believe That There Is “No Time to Be Timid”
Blue Sky
Tricia Rose Burt had done everything right, according to the way she was raised. She went to a “good school,” had a “good job” and all seemed to be going great on the surface. But inside, she was miserable and decided to make a change. She left her career in public relations, took classes at art school, and began to explore her own creativity in a way that, as she describes it, “filled her cup.” She’s never been happier, and in this Blue Sky conversation, she’ll explain how listeners might want choose to tap into their “inner artist” as...
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Stacey Garcia on Resilience and Optimism in the Face of Personal Roadblocks and Why She Thinks “Mondays are Magic”
Blue Sky
As a personal trainer and wellness coach, Stacey Garcia was doing everything right. She ate well, exercised, and took great care of herself. That’s why her cancer diagnosis came as an extra shock, and in this episode, she explains how she dealt with this news and found strength and resilience as she battled her disease. Now in recovery, Stacey helps guide others through similar challenges both in her daily work as well as her podcast . Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Stacey Garcia Bill Burke introduces Stacey Garcia, host of ‘Never Miss a...
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Astronaut Nicole Stott Reflects on Lessons She Learned in Outer Space and How They Changed Her View of Life on “Spaceship Earth”
Blue Sky
Nicole Stott had a remarkable career with NASA, logging more than 100 days in outer space. Her time on the International Space Station drives her appreciation for the importance of cooperation across cultures and national boundaries. On this Blue Sky episode, she describes lessons learned from her time as an astronaut, and the inspiring work she does today through the Space For Art Foundation, and her optimistic and solutions-oriented approach to life. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Nicole Stott This chapter introduces Nicole Stott, a retired NASA...
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Back to School Edition
Blue Sky
Host Bill Burke thinks back to his own back to school days and offers thoughts on what he might study were he an incoming student this fall. He also discusses what he might teach if he were a faculty member and encourages us all to keep learning in our lives, whether we are enrolled students or not.
info_outlineHeidi Johnson was in a great spot in life. She had a great family, good job, all she could reasonably ask for. But when her mother was killed in a shocking accident, that all changed. After suffering from intense grief, Heidi’s life changed when she was asked to start a new initiative at her local children’s hospital. This led her to create and lead her own nonprofit and to a life today of service and also shining a light on other nonprofit leaders, through both a book and hosting her podcast, Charity Matters.
Chapters:
00:30 Heidi Johnson’s Journey Begins
Heidi Johnson shares her life story, detailing her upbringing in a large Irish Catholic family and the unexpected tragedy that altered her life’s path, leading her to a deeper exploration of grief and purpose.
04:11 The Tragic Accident
Heidi recounts the harrowing details of her parents’ vacation in Costa Rica, where a devastating accident claimed her mother’s life and left her father in a coma, profoundly impacting her family and her outlook on life.
07:29 The Revelation of Grief
Heidi reflects on how her grief revealed her inner strength and fueled her desire to help others, transforming her pain into a powerful catalyst for change in her life.
10:34 A Call for Help
A pivotal moment arises when a priest at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, reaches out to Heidi for assistance in establishing a nonprofit to provide emotional support to families, marking the beginning of her new mission.
12:56 Establishing the Nonprofit
Heidi discusses the formation of the Spiritual Care Guild, detailing the challenges and triumphs of starting a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing chaplains for families in need at the hospital.
17:28 The Impact of Service
Through her work at the Children’s Hospital, Heidi discovers the profound personal health benefits of service, illustrating how helping others can lead to healing and meaning in one’s own life.
18:14 The Birth of Charity Matters
Heidi shares the inspiration behind her blog and podcast, Charity Matters, which highlights the stories of nonprofit founders and the impact of their work, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit in the nonprofit sector.
23:24 Lessons from Nonprofit Founders
In this segment, Heidi reflects on the commonalities she has observed among nonprofit founders, emphasizing their resilience, optimism, and the transformative power of personal experiences that drive their missions.
27:38 Finding Growth in Loss
Heidi articulates her belief that loss can lead to personal growth, sharing insights on how adversity can pave the way for new beginnings and a deeper understanding of purpose.
31:47 The Journey from Corporate to Nonprofit
Heidi reflects on her transition from a successful corporate career to running a nonprofit, sharing the challenges and rewards of this significant life change.
35:41 Igniting Passion in Others
Heidi shares insights on the importance of building community as a nonprofit founder and the necessity of igniting passion in others to join the cause. She emphasizes the contagious nature of enthusiasm and how it helps in forming a supportive network.
38:08 Philanthropy in America
The conversation shifts to the philanthropic spirit of Americans, with Heidi noting that a significant percentage of the population volunteers. She discusses the importance of focusing on local communities and how small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect.
40:07 The Good in the World
Heidi and Bill conclude with a discussion about the prevalence of good deeds happening around the world, countering the negativity often portrayed in the media. They celebrate the resilience and positivity that nonprofit work embodies, encouraging listeners to contribute to their communities.