Crazy Good Turns

We tell inspiring stories about people who do amazing things for others.

Lyz Glick Best: Remembering Jeremy Glick and Flight 93 09/01/2026

Stephen Macedo & Frances Lee: ‘In COVID’s Wake’ Takes a Non-Partisan Look at the Pandemic’s Origins and Response 08/12/2026

Stephen Macedo & Frances Lee: ‘In COVID’s Wake’ Takes a Non-Partisan Look at the Pandemic’s Origins and Response Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee are both professors of politics at Princeton. Together they wrote “In Covid’s Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us” (Princeton University Press), named one of the best books of 2025 by The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and The Economist, and featured on The New York Times’ “The Daily” and PBS NewsHour. The book asks a question few want to spend time with: how did we actually handle the pandemic — and what would we do differently next time? We invited Stephen and Frances on Crazy Good Turns not to relitigate COVID or assign blame, but to look back honestly so that when the next crisis comes, we do a little better. Macedo is a political theorist who has written widely on constitutional law, ethics, and public policy; Lee is a leading scholar of Congress and political polarization. In this episode, we discuss: [04:53] The Book Almost No One Asked For: Why Lee wasn’t sure anyone would want to read — and why she felt it needed to exist anyway. [07:34] Why We Look Away (This Wasn’t The First Time): On the strange quiet that settled after the pandemic — and the echo of 1918, when the country did much the same thing following the Spanish flu. [14:47] No Commission, No Reckoning: We studied 9/11 and the Challenger. We never launched that kind of honest look back at COVID — and Lee explores why. [17:23] Who Suffered the Most: How a response framed as protecting the vulnerable, they argue, so often landed hardest on essential workers, small businesses, and our kids. [26:57] The Case for a “Team B” in Every Crisis: Macedo on what he calls an “effortful pause” — room for dissent, and a wider table than just the experts who already agree. [38:06] Reasons for Hope: Why Macedo thinks we will do better next time, and why he’s bullish on students who were in junior high in 2020. My Sincere Thanks Because of listeners like you, our show now ranks among the top 5% of most-downloaded podcasts by volume per month. Your support has helped take our little idea to celebrate generosity and good deeds and turn it into one of the most-listened-to podcasts available. Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates people who do good things for others. Please help us continue to grow by subscribing on your preferred podcast platform and sharing our show with friends. /episode/index/show/crazygoodturns/id/42401370

Project D.R.E.W.: Where Veterans Tell Their Stories 07/02/2026

Project D.R.E.W.: Where Veterans Tell Their Stories Project D.R.E.W. brings together veterans and songwriters to turn their stories of service into songs. The nonprofit was founded by Marilyn Zeidner, Mike Winnen and Brian Ferguson in honor of Captain Drew Ferguson, an Army Green Beret and Special Forces team leader who carried a guitar with him on deployment. Frank sits down with Marilyn, Mike and Brian to talk about what happens when a veteran hears his own story sung back to him for the first time. In this episode, we discuss: The Story Untold: How a song can surface something a veteran has held in for 40 years or more. Hearing It Sung Back: What actually happens when a veteran hears his own song for the first time. The Lyric That Lands: The moving, powerful lines that come out of this work — including one that brings a Navy SEAL to tears. A Living Memorial: How Project D.R.E.W. is building what it calls "a registry of collective national memory." Chapters: [06:29] The Barn That Started It: How a few bands in a driveway became "Barnegie Hall" — and, eventually, a nonprofit. [15:02] Delivering Restorative Energy: What actually does over one weekend — Saturday, they talk; Sunday, the song is played out loud for the first time. [16:02] The Stories They've Never Told: How a stranger with a guitar reaches what decades of family never could. [23:19] Why It Works: Brian Ferguson on why songwriters who never served are exactly the right people to draw a veteran's story out. [35:15] A Crazy Good Turn: Our guests on who has done a crazy good turn for them. [39:50] The Man in the Song: A veteran hears a song about a rescue mission — and realizes he'd been among those rescued. [42:00] Captain Drew Ferguson's Song: The song Drew wrote as a young man, now sung by the whole room at the close of every workshop. My Sincere Thanks Because of listeners like you, our show now ranks among the top 5% of most-downloaded podcasts by volume per month. Your support has helped take our little idea to celebrate generosity and good deeds and turn it into one of the most-listened-to podcasts available. Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates people who do good things for others. Please help us continue to grow by subscribing on your preferred podcast platform and sharing our show with friends. /episode/index/show/crazygoodturns/id/41934880

Lindy Wood: Westonwood Ranch Gives Young Adults with Autism a Bridge Over the ‘Services Cliff’ 06/04/2026

Lindy Wood: Westonwood Ranch Gives Young Adults with Autism a Bridge Over the ‘Services Cliff’ Lindy Wood is the founder of Westonwood Ranch, a 10-acre working farm in the Florida Panhandle. When her son Weston was diagnosed with autism fifteen years ago, she realized a terrifying "services cliff" awaited him—and millions of others—the moment they transitioned into adulthood. Rather than letting her son fall, Lindy built an extraordinary hands-on community where teens and young adults with autism learn life-changing job and life skills. Today, the ranch has grown from serving just four individuals to a full-time program supporting 60 participants. In this episode, we discuss: The "Services Cliff": Why ending high school is a frightening reality for families. Growing the Vision: How Westonwood Ranch expanded to a full-time program serving 60 young adults. The Power of Small Milestones: Why learning to use a microwave became an emotional victory. A Crazy Good Turn: The incredible gift Lindy still has trouble processing. Chapters & Timed Links: [04:12] The Diagnosis: How a 2-year-old’s diagnosis sparked a much larger, lifesaver vision. [07:45] The "Services Cliff": Why society stops providing resources just when those with IDD need them most. [12:30] Building : How a 10-acre working farm went from serving four young adults to 60. [19:15] The Microwave Milestone: Why small achievements are massive emotional victories for families. [25:40] An Unbelievable Turn: Lindy shares a "crazy good" gift that changed everything for the ranch. [31:10] Finding Meaningful Work: Lessons on neurodiversity, inclusion, and the simple dignity of labor. My Sincere Thanks Because of listeners like you, our show now ranks among the top 5% of most-downloaded podcasts by volume per month. Your support has helped take our little idea to celebrate generosity and good deeds and turn it into one of the most-listened-to podcasts available. Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates people who do good things for others. Please help us continue to grow by subscribing on your preferred podcast platform and sharing our show with friends. /episode/index/show/crazygoodturns/id/41535360

Luke Mickelson of Sleep in Heavenly Peace: The Kids Without Beds 05/06/2026

Bill Gurley: Legendary VC Rethinks Career Advice in 'Running Down a Dream' 04/03/2026

Nicole Johnson & Tom Horton: FOXG1 Research Foundation Stares Down The Impossible 03/05/2026

Nicole Johnson & Tom Horton: FOXG1 Research Foundation Stares Down The Impossible She’s the mom of a child with a rare condition, and she wouldn’t take “no” for an answer from doctors. He walked 500 miles for his granddaughter, who has the same condition. Together, they’re helping a foundation develop a gene therapy treatment faster and cheaper than the big pharma giants. Today, we speak with Nicole Johnson, founder of the FOXG1 Research Foundation, and Tom Horton, former CEO of American Airlines. Together, they are proving that a lean, parent-led organization can achieve breakthroughs usually reserved for billion-dollar pharmaceutical giants. In this episode, we discuss: The Startup Model for Science: How Nicole and Tom applied "lean startup" principles to fund a lab and launch a clinical trial. 500 Miles for a Cure: Tom Horton shares the lessons learned from his 500-mile walk carrying the names and prayers of children who cannot walk themselves. Defying the Odds: An update on Josie, the beautiful 14-year-old who inspired the movement. A Blueprint for Others: Why this breakthrough provides hope for thousands of other rare diseases left on the shelf. Chapters & Timed Links: [04:22] The Diagnosis: Nicole recounts the moment she was told "there's nothing you can do" and why she refused to believe it. [10:15] Building the Lab: How the created a new model for gene therapy at a fraction of the usual cost. [18:40] The 500-Mile Journey: Tom Horton discusses his walk and the "Gianna effect" that drives his fundraising. [25:55] The Science of Hope: Why FOXG1 research holds the key to treating conditions like Autism and Alzheimer's. [33:10] Staring Down the Impossible: Nicole’s advice for anyone told that their goal is unreachable. My Sincere Thanks Because of listeners like you, our show now ranks among the top 5% of most-downloaded podcasts by volume per month. Your support has helped take our little idea to celebrate generosity and good deeds, and turn it into one of the most listened-to podcasts available. Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates people who do good things for others. /episode/index/show/crazygoodturns/id/40325515