Larger Than Yourself

The Larger Than Yourself Podcast follows host Thibault Manekin and his inspiring guests as they explore how reimagining industries, leading with purpose, and giving communities a real seat at the table can turn tiny ideas into powerful and impactful movements—inspiring listeners at a time when social entrepreneurship is no longer a buzzword but a global necessity.

Ben Nichols: Humble Service 01/09/2024

Ben Nichols: Humble Service Ben Nichols is a third generation marine who epitomizes the concept of a humble servant leader. Whether leading troops in Afghanistan or running Harkins Builders here in America, Ben is committed to giving everyone a platform, a voice, and a seat at the table. At a time where building consensus and getting people on the same page can seem overwhelming, Ben helps us see that not only is it possible, but that it is critical to the success of the growth of the ideas that we work on and champion. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/29419838

Sekwan Merritt: Hope 08/20/2023

Sekwan Merritt: Hope Sekwan Merritt is magic. His smile, his beautiful heart, and his hope are just a few of the things that separate him from the rest of us. Sekwan never let a 25 year prison sentence slow him down. If anything, it motivated him to dig deeper, find his freedom, and answer the calling to change the world for him and for everyone around him. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/27807018

Victoria Thompson: A Better Hustle 06/23/2023

Victoria Thompson: A Better Hustle Victoria Thompson spent years hustling in the squeegee business, which has been one of the most polarizing topics that we’ve faced in Baltimore in a long time. Her recent leadership in the Squeegee Collaborative, where a group of Baltimore leaders and squeegee workers came together to listen to each other and map out a path forward that would be in the best interest of all those involved, has changed the landscape in our city, and is a beautiful reminder of the importance of listening deeply. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/27252030

Shelonda Stokes: We Could 05/15/2023

Shelonda Stokes: We Could My friend Shelonda Stokes is the glue that is helping all of Baltimore stick. Her life’s quest to blaze an equal trail for women and people of color has led her to a point in her career where the social capital that she possesses, used correctly, just might be the tipping point that Baltimore needs to thrive together. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/26842899

Luke Cooper: Who Cares? 04/21/2023

Luke Cooper: Who Cares? Luke Cooper is on a quest to level the playing field for entrepreneurs of color. Raised surrounded by drugs and violence, as a young boy he watched his father get sentenced to 20 years in prison. If it wasn’t for a strong mom, a short ride in a Cessna airplane, and a science fair he won at 12 years old, Luke’s life would have looked a lot different. As he says, he probably would be dead. Luke’s story on how he realized that he controlled his own destiny, which led him to start and sell some very successful tech companies, is full of priceless lessons on how to inclusively grow ideas. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/26614155

Alicia Wilson: The Seed Planter 02/19/2023

Alicia Wilson: The Seed Planter Alicia Wilson is the mightiest person I know. Her ability to navigate community, and life, in a way that is transparent, humble, and compassionate have landed her in some of the most important conversations in Baltimore, throughout the country, and now around the globe. Alicia’s courage to take on world-changing challenges without ever forgetting how she got there, or who she really represents, are all a part of her inspiring magic. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/25980522

Charlotte James and Undrea Wright: Sacred Medicine 02/07/2022

Charlotte James and Undrea Wright: Sacred Medicine Charlotte James and Undrea Wright believe deeply in the healing powers of plant medicine. Our conversation explored how their personal journeys with psychedelics led them to create The Ancestor Project, which uses these sacred medicines to co-create a collective liberation. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/22043858

Artie Gonzales: Facing Our Demons 01/21/2022

Artie Gonzales: Facing Our Demons At 16 years old, Artie Gonzales was already deep in the gang world when he took the life of another man, was tried as an adult, and caught a life sentence in the California prison system. 21 years later, through hard personal work, Artie was released as a model prisoner and has since become a leader in his community, an advocate for legislative reforms, and a member of several social justice organizations. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/21844151

Ashley Williams: Seeing Beyond the Patterns 01/06/2022

Ashley Williams: Seeing Beyond the Patterns Ashley Williams is on a quest to make sure that the youth of this world, our future generation, have the emotional intelligence needed to thrive in these incredibly challenging times. It’s as important to her as math, English and science, and it can no longer be overlooked. Her edu-tech company, Clymb, is reimagining what’s possible by not accepting the status quo. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/21696890

John Brothers: The Community Builder 08/25/2021

John Brothers: The Community Builder Dr. John Brothers is the glue that is quietly and humbly holding Baltimore city together. Our conversation covered everything from his growing up in deep poverty, to his ability to see the beauty in even the most challenging places, to his unique approach to leading the T. Rowe Price Foundation’s quest to reimagine the role of philanthropy within communities. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/20260157

Monique Smith: Missing 08/04/2021

Monique Smith: Missing Monique Smith was abducted as a baby and raised by an abusive woman who claimed to be her mother. It wasn’t until she was in her 30s that Monique began to put the pieces together. Today, Monique is on a quest to discover her true identity and to create a movement to support families of missing children. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/20032796

Kondwani Fidel: Are We Going To Be Ok? 07/21/2021

Kondwani Fidel: Are We Going To Be Ok? Kondwani Fidel is a Baltimore legend. Known for his ability to use words to stir an awakening and deep emotion, Kondwani’s poetry, lyrics and books are both asking and answering our toughest questions. Kondwani’s ability to be real and vulnerable have propelled him forward onto a national stage where he’s using his platform to inspire critical change. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/19883582

Lola Manekin: Conscious Creation 06/24/2021

Lola Manekin: Conscious Creation Lola Manekin is my wife, my oracle and one of the most powerful healers that I’ve ever met. In this conversation, which was rooted in creation, we dove deep into marriage, children, birthing ideas, the universes’ wisdom, and trusting ourselves to find our paths. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/19597160

Ethan Lipsitz: The Love Extremist 06/16/2021

Ethan Lipsitz: The Love Extremist In 2017, Ethan Lipsitz was diagnosed with brain cancer. Rather than giving up, this challenged him to face his mortality and reorient his priorities around health and love. From that period onwards Ethan founded the Love Extremist project, a platform that empowers people to become activists for love. Today he works with companies, schools, communities and organizations to facilitate important conversations and practices that bond groups, empower health and cultivate creativity, action-oriented love. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/19504151

Sheela Murthy: Reimagining Immigration Law 06/09/2021

Sheela Murthy: Reimagining Immigration Law Sheela Murthy has lived an incredible life. Born and raised in India, Sheela's parents instilled a work ethic in her that propelled her onto a global stage. Armed with a law degree from Harvard, and based on her own poor experience in optioning a green card, Sheela set out to reimagine immigration law as we know it through the Murthy Law Firm. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/19415759

Tara Ryan: Heal the Healers 06/03/2021

Tara Ryan: Heal the Healers Tara Ryan is the founder of the Heal the Healers Project, a powerful nonprofit that provides emotional support for nurses on the front lines. Driven to serve based on life threatening burns Tara experienced when she was only nine months old, and the trauma that came with it, Tara has committed her life’s work to taking care of others. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/19343867

Joe Jones: Dismantling Poverty 05/19/2021

Joe Jones: Dismantling Poverty Joe Jones is the founder and CEO of the Center for Urban Families. Addicted to heroin, selling drugs, and arrested before he was legally able to drive, Joe decided he had a larger purpose in life. He set out on a journey to create an organization that would dismantle poverty, and he’s systematically chipping away at that every single day. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/19166399

Brandon Scott: Why Can't We? 05/12/2021

Brandon Scott: Why Can't We? Brandon Scott is the 52nd mayor of Baltimore City and he’s on a mission. As 37 years old, he’s the youngest mayor Baltimore has had in over a hundred years. In this episode Brandon talks about his lifelong passion to serve his city, his commitment to reimagining what it means to be an elected official, why he is challenging the status quo, and the hard questions he’s asking that will eventually move the needle. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/19079831

D. Watkins: My Brother's Keeper 05/05/2021

D. Watkins: My Brother's Keeper D. Watkins is a New York Times bestselling author, world renowned speaker, editor and teacher. In this inspiring conversation, D. and I talk about being a new dad, about him being a product of the crack era and living to be able to tell that story, about the racism and crime that are crippling our country, about the importance of building community and more importantly, protecting that community once you’ve made it. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/18991301

Aaron Henkin: The Story Listener 04/21/2021

Aaron Henkin: The Story Listener Aaron Henkin is an award-winning radio journalist and podcaster. In this episode, we dive deep into understanding how his radical agenda to show up with no agenda led to the creation of the hit series, Out of the Blocks, and how it grew into a movement that reimagines radio as we know it. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/18799814

Ericka Alston-Buck: I Am Extraordinary 04/14/2021

Ericka Alston-Buck: I Am Extraordinary Ericka Alston-Buck is a divine force whose life work has been to amplify the voices of change agents and magnify the work being done by others to positively impact the world. In our conversation we discuss her being tested as a genius at eight years old, the weight of having her first child at 15, her recovery from being addicted to crack cocaine, her creating the Kids Safe Zone in response to the Freddie Gray uprising, and her burning question of Why is this all OK? /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/18726686

Nnadagi Isa: Dope Toilet Paper 04/07/2021

Nnadagi Isa: Dope Toilet Paper Nnadagi Isa is the co-founder of Lor Tush, an incredible company that is reimagining toilet paper as we know it. In this episode, we discussed the influence of growing up in America with Nigerian parents, her experience being homeless, the music album she helped go platinum, and the creativity that brought Lor Tush to life. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/18639863

Daniel O'Connor: Media Humanized 04/01/2021

Daniel O'Connor: Media Humanized Daniel O’Connor is the founder and chief storyteller behind Panacea, an amazing organization that is healing communities, one complicated conversation at a time. Dan saw a lack of positive narratives in the media around themes of love, empathy, and forgiveness and decided to do something about it, which launched him on a journey that may just unite the world. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/18568985

Fagan Harris: The Social Justice Warrior 03/24/2021

Fagan Harris: The Social Justice Warrior Fagan Harris is the co-founder and CEO of Baltimore Corps. He’s also one of my heroes and one of the most thoughtful people I know. In the episode we talked about hustle, the Rhodes Scholarship, death, life, purpose over profit, nonprofit vs. for profit, Baltimore Corps, Lexington Market, and the fight for racial equity. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/18456818

Joe Mechlinski: Authentic Relating 03/17/2021

Joe Mechlinski: Authentic Relating Joe Mechlinski is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and social entrepreneur who believes that an engaged workforce is the key to unlocking human potential. More importantly, he’s one of my best friends. In this episode, the two of us covered love, plant medicine, parenting, trauma, equality, complicated conversations and his exciting new book. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/18364760

Bree Jones: Development Without Displacement 03/10/2021

Bree Jones: Development Without Displacement Bree Jones watched her hometown of New Rochelle, NY become gentrified so fast that by the time she tried to do something, it was already too late. Vowing to find a solution, Bree moved to Baltimore and founded a community led real estate company called Parity, whose mission is to renovate abandoned buildings to create affordable home ownership and prove that you can do development without displacement. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/18274133

Delali Dzirasa: Fearless 03/03/2021

Delali Dzirasa: Fearless Delali Dzirasa is the future. His story about the hustle and hard work that led him to create Fearless, a tech company whose mission is to build software with a soul, was so inspiring. Delali shows us all how much more successful we can be when we chase purpose over profit. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/18178538

Simon Cataldo - Harlem Lacrosse 02/25/2021

Simon Cataldo - Harlem Lacrosse Simon Cataldo shares his fascinating life journey that led him to reimagine the game of lacrosse. The story of how Harlem Lacrosse came to be has very little to do with the actual game, it’s all about how the sport itself, looked at differently, can change the life trajectory of our most forgotten and disenfranchised youth. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/18095558

Shelley Halstead - Black Women Build 02/17/2021

Shelley Halstead - Black Women Build Shelley Halstead's burning desire to know why things are how they are, led her around the world, and eventually to Baltimore where she launched Black Women Build, a homeownership and wealth building initiative that trains Black women in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing by restoring vacant and deteriorated houses in West Baltimore. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/17990051

David Slomkowski: Athletes Serving Athletes 02/12/2021

David Slomkowski: Athletes Serving Athletes Sports enthusiast and three-time All-American athlete, David Slomkowski, combined his love and appreciation for the athletic spirit with his entrepreneurial prowess to create Athletes Serving Athletes. The organization is committed to helping athletes with disabilities find opportunities to participate in mainstream sports while ensuring they and their families feel loved and included. /episode/index/show/largerthanyourself/id/17920163

Larger Than Yourself

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