Small & Gutsy features Salvation Mountain
Small & Gutsy: Nonprofit Stories with Heart
Release Date: 03/18/2025
Small & Gutsy: Nonprofit Stories with Heart
The conference is coming up on October 16th For more information and to purchase tickets to TechTainment™: Being a professor in the age of AI — particularly generative AI — is both exciting and deeply challenging. As educators, we recognize that technology is evolving at a pace with which, even seasoned technologists struggle to keep up. Students are increasingly tempted to let AI do the thinking for them, believing they’re being efficient when, in fact, they may be shortcutting the deeper learning process. Using AI tools like ChatGPT should not be about...
info_outlineSmall & Gutsy: Nonprofit Stories with Heart
How many times have I wished I could take those negative thoughts out of my head, those thoughts projecting a future that may not actually happen? This doesn’t mean that we don’t prepare for the worst, but do we want to live in that state or space where it virtually eliminates being in the present/ our present? How can we enjoy anything if we are always thinking about what might be? Conversely, thinking about what might be from a positive standpoint might actually be soothing, and yet again, it takes us out of the present, which is the only place that can drive our actions, as it is all we...
info_outlineSmall & Gutsy: Nonprofit Stories with Heart
What happens when you mix the love of Jiu-Jitsu and the love for community? Guardian happens! This podcast recording offers insight into how learning to manage our emotions through martial arts, and specifically through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has its own magical ingredients with real and lasting impact. Guardian was founded by Ben Kovacs and Joel Lunenfeld in 2015, initially starting as a single academy in Oakland, California. The original gym supported over 1,000 youth across the Bay Area by providing mentorship, free training, and a welcoming community. From the outset, they envisioned...
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In this nonprofit podcast story, I share about a personal experience and then tap into the beauty of matching rescueres with rescues! I am not sure who rescues whom! I don’t know about you, but I think about dog rescue as a really wonderful thing to do although it has its challenges; our dog, Molly is a rescue and I guess that she was not just abandoned, but abused, she probably had a set of puppies and we think was about 2 or 3 when we adopted her. I have never seen a dog eat as fast as Molly - you could feel the trauma in her frenzy as she inhaled her bowl of food - she’s only 12 lbs and...
info_outlineSmall & Gutsy: Nonprofit Stories with Heart
This podcasting story will resonate with anyone who is still living and wants to fully embrace life. There are plenty of words in the English language that are disdainful, hurtful, nasty, & downright awful, but there are two words that are unavoidable and from which we often run: death & dying - no one enjoys grief, sadness, or loss - those words are so dam final! When I was in social work school, I read Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s book aptly titled On Death and Dying, seminal work at that time. Kubler-Ross introduced what is known as the 5 stages of grief: Denial, Anger,...
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It has been an honor and a privilege to host this nonprofit podcast to benefit nonprofits and social enterprises Our 100th episode is a montage of what our interviewees shared with us about their experience on Small & Gutsy, as well as some advice for those yet to be interviewed. We are grateful for the opportunity to have interviewed the most amazing organizations over the past 4 1/2 years and look forward to many more interviews, celebrating the work of smaller nonprofits and social enterprises. From Small & Gutsy to Big with Impact! www.smallandgutsy.org
info_outlineSmall & Gutsy: Nonprofit Stories with Heart
Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, second only to water. It comes in many varieties: black, green, white, oolong, and herbal. Tea is celebrated for its health benefits, from antioxidants to its calming effects, and it continues to play a major role in global culture and commerce. In recent decades, tea has experienced a revival in interest, with a growing market for specialty teas, such as artisanal blends, organic teas, and matcha. The modern-day global tea market is vast, and tea continues to evolve as both a daily beverage and a symbol of tradition, health, and...
info_outlineSmall & Gutsy: Nonprofit Stories with Heart
Finding inner peace is a process that leads to a practice; there are important rituals that guide us in self-discovery. Derived from the Sanskrit word for “circle”, the Mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe. It is a sacred art form that connects us to our inner selves and the world around us. Their profound wisdom and tranquil messages, serve as a powerful medium to contemplate and find peace within. Mandalas are typically circles with repeating symmetrical shapes, and are considered a sacred symbol. In Sanskrit, mandala translates to...
info_outlineSmall & Gutsy: Nonprofit Stories with Heart
Investing in youth and education aligns directly with Sustainable Development Goal # 4 (Quality Education) and indirectly fuels several others like Decent Work and Economic Growth (goal # 8) and Reduced Inequalities (goal # 10). This perspective reinforces how crucial it is to view sustainability as not just environmental, but deeply tied to social and economic development. It takes a village is a common expression, used by so many to essentially mean…we all need to lift one another up to attain the most robust society for long-term sustainability Lifting up any society often begins with...
info_outlineSmall & Gutsy: Nonprofit Stories with Heart
Two very smart women saw a pattern developing in their midwestern city of St. Louis, my hometown actually, after one attended a meet-up group organized by Susan Gobbo one of these smart women, who is Brazilian, and who experienced the loneliness of a trailing spouse, herself when she moved to St. Louis in 2008. Years later, she formed a meetup group for other foreign wives. Annie Schlafly, the other very smart woman, who is active in various community groups, heard about the meetup group through the St. Louis Mosaic Project, a regional initiative within the St. Louis Economic Development...
info_outlineWhat a beautiful and thoughtful reflection on places of connection and spiritual significance. It’s fascinating how certain spaces, whether physical or emotional, provide that sense of peace, clarity, or even healing, just like the one I described as a child under the bush in your yard. Weaving the idea of being open to the present moment, and to the connections we share with others can be spiritual in the deepest sense. There’s a profound connection between the self and nature, the present moment, and community, which can shape our personal growth.
The story of Leonard Knight and Salvation Mountain is such a powerful example of how dedication, belief, and passion can create something that transcends just a physical space. It’s inspiring to think of how Leonard’s life and work—something as personal as his devotion to his faith—turned into a public monument that has touched so many people across the world. The mountain isn’t just a structure; it represents years of persistence, love, and a desire to spread a message of faith, connection, and hope.
I also think it’s so moving that Bob Levesque is carrying forward Leonard’s work, ensuring that his vision continues. It reminds us how important it is to protect and nurture the things that matter deeply to us, even after we’re gone, and how communities can preserve these treasures for future generations. It’s amazing how these places of connection, healing, and spirituality are passed down through the dedication of individuals and communities.
It seems like a beautiful, spiritual journey for Bob to be part of this legacy. His role in preserving Leonard’s vision must be incredibly meaningful. Do you feel like there’s a specific lesson or message you’ve taken from Leonard Knight’s story and Salvation Mountain that resonates with your own journey or understanding of connection?
Check out their website: www.salvationmountain.org