Soraya Alexander - Unlocking the World's Generosity
The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast
Release Date: 07/09/2024
Wes Adams: Making Work Matter With Community, Contribution, and Challenge
The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast
In this episode, we catch up with Wes Adams—positive psychology researcher, author, and founder of SV Consulting Group—during a walk through his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey, for a powerful conversation about what makes work meaningful. Wes shares insights from years of research into why some workplaces thrive while others burn out, and how great leaders create meaning—not just through mission statements, but through everyday moments of community, contribution, and challenge. From casual team check-ins to stretch assignments, Wes explains how small, consistent actions can build...
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Manoj Kumar: Cycling 3,633 Miles Around India With a Purpose
The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast
In this episode, we sit down with Manoj Kumar, a tech leader at Harman and passionate cyclist, to hear the incredible story of his 6,000km solo ride across India. Manoj opens up about what inspired him to take this journey—navigating traffic, burnout, and the desire to break out of the ordinary—and how cycling became both a physical and spiritual path. From flat tires to moments of doubt, from conversations with strangers to meditative stillness on the road, Manoj’s story is one of resilience, clarity, and quiet courage. We explore the diversity of India’s...
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Pat Morrissey & Brendan Cusick: Ocean Rowers and Founding Members of Human Powered Potential
The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast
In this episode of The Extra Mile Podcast, we’re joined by Pat Morrissey and Brendan Cusick of Human Powered Potential—a four-person team that rowed across the Pacific Ocean to raise over $43 million for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Pat, who lives with early onset Parkinson’s, shares his powerful journey from diagnosis to joining this life-changing mission. Brendan, the team’s skipper, walks us through the inspiration behind the row, the mental and physical preparation, and what it was like to face 30-foot waves and total isolation in the middle of the ocean. Together, they talk...
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Kiera Smalls, Executive Director of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition: Mix It Up Mindfully
The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast
We're thrilled to share this interview with Kiera Smalls, the Executive Director of the Running Industry Coalition. The RIDC is an educational nonprofit with a mission to unite the running industry to improve inclusion, visibility, and access for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This is a conversation about how running can be a tool for connection, empowerment, and change, but also how the running community, and how we think about diversity in the running community, is a microcosm for so much more. In a time where we seem to see a movement in opposition to...
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Billy Mills, 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist and Humanitarian: A Dream To Heal Broken Wings
The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast
It's a tremendous honor for me to share my podcast with Olympic legend and humanitarian, Billy Mills. Billy Mills was born in 1938 and grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Oglala Lakota Nation. Billy had a very difficult childhood, losing his mother, sister, and father by the age of 12. He turned to running as both an escape and a source of discipline. After his father's passing, Billy attended the Haskell Institute, a U.S. government run boarding school for Native American children. Schools like Haskell were controversial for their forced assimilation,...
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Brad Pitassi: Fire Chief Shares Insights on the L.A. Fires
The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast
In this episode, we’re joined by Brad Pitassi, Chief of the Maricopa Fire Department, who shares his incredible journey from EMT to fire chief. We discuss wildfire response, community resilience, and the personal sacrifices firefighters make to keep us safe. Brad’s stories are both eye-opening and inspiring, offering practical tips on disaster preparedness and how we can all support our local heroes. ! Chapters: 0:00 – Welcome & Guest Introduction 0:26 – Becoming Fire Chief of Maricopa 1:31 – Inspired to Serve After 9/11 3:23 – Managing Large-Scale Disasters 5:36 – What...
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Charles Costa: Running 90 Marathons in 90 Days for Mental Health
The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast
We’re excited to bring you this inspiring conversation with Charles Costa, an ultrarunner who accomplished the incredible challenge of running 90 marathons in 90 days along the Pacific Crest Trail. In this episode, Charles shares his journey of resilience, his dedication to raising awareness for mental health through organizations like the Jed Foundation, and the lessons he’s learned from this life-changing experience. We explore powerful themes like finding freedom and purpose through running, the connection between physical activity and mental health, and how perseverance can inspire...
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Dr Bill Dahut: Chief Scientific Officer for the American Cancer Society
The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast
We're thrilled to share this interview with Dr. Bill Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer of the American Cancer Society. Dr. Dahut is a renowned oncologist and researcher who is helping set the vision for the world’s most innovative cancer research initiatives. In this interview, we cover a wide range of topics, including the groundbreaking research the American Cancer Society is supporting, the critical role of early cancer detection, and how lifestyle choices like diet, and exercise can significantly reduce cancer risk. Dr. Dahut is both inspiring and empowering, because he gives us an inside...
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Martinus Evans - Turn The Impossible Into The Inevitable
The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast
We're thrilled to share this interview with Martinus Evans, author, coach and founder of the Slow AF Run Club. Martinus' journey is not just about running. It's a journey of overcoming setbacks, challenging norms, and motivating people of all shapes, sizes, and speeds to lace up and get moving. From an “impossible” goal set in a doctor’s office, to founding a movement that encourages tens of thousands of people to get moving, Martinus’ story is about turning doubt into determination and making the impossible inevitable. We have not doubt that you’ll inspired by...
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Seth Godin - This is Strategy
The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast
Today, I have the immense privilege of walking with one of the most influential thinkers, authors and teachers of our time, . Seth is the author of 21 best-selling books that have transformed how we think about marketing, leadership, and the power of creative work. His books have been translated into over 35 languages, helping readers across the globe learn to challenge the status quo and make a lasting impact. In addition to his writing, Seth is the founder of several successful businesses, including the groundbreaking altMBA, an online workshop that has revolutionized the way people...
info_outlineSoraya Alexander is the Chief Operating Officer of GoFundMe and as the President of Classy, a GoFundMe subsidiary. Through her work, Alexander supports thousands of nonprofits and hundreds of thousands of people to unlock the world's generosity.
GoFundMe is on a mission to help people help each other. Through innovative technology, Classy helps nonprofits raise more so they can do more good in the world. Together, the two organizations help billions of dollars per year get raised for social and environmental good.
In this interview, we discuss the challenges charities face in engaging their supporters, generational shifts in donor expectations, effective fundraising techniques, community building, and the psychological barriers to making donation requests.
Soraya shares how GoFundMe and Classy are tackling these challenges and how we, as people who care about charities, can take a more active role in supporting them.
On a final note, I'm happy to share that Charity Miles is developing a partnership with Classy and GoFundMe to help bring some of these ideas to life, and to better help our members support the charities they love.
We're grateful for the opportunity to make an impact with Classy and GoFundMe. And we're grateful to Soraya for sharing so much with us in this interview.
#EveryMileMatters!
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