Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, joins activist Crystal Turner, who leads the nonprofit Mothers in Healing. They discuss the urgent need for stronger gun laws sparked by tragic events, including the Sandy Hook shooting. Watts shares the grassroots journey of building a movement that empowers mothers to advocate for safe communities. Turner passionately addresses her mission to support grieving mothers, driven by her personal loss. Together, they highlight the critical impact of community activism in combating gun violence and fostering healing.

In this conversation, Kimahli Powell, the Executive Director of Rainbow Railroad, details the organization’s vital work in helping LGBTQ+ individuals escape persecution. He shares heartbreaking stories of people fleeing from countries with anti-LGBTQ+ laws, particularly the plight of Chechen men fleeing purges. Powell illustrates the interplay of LGBTQ+ issues within the global refugee crisis and emphasizes the hope and resilience of those fighting for justice. Listeners gain insight into how they can support these courageous efforts.

John Moe, a writer and radio personality known for his work on mental health, shares his journey with humor and vulnerability. He discusses how making mental health conversations less intimidating can significantly reduce stigma. John emphasizes the importance of storytelling in fostering community and support. He also examines the unexpected decline in suicide rates during 2020 while recognizing the continuing struggles many face post-pandemic. His approach highlights the transformative power of humor and open dialogue in healing and understanding.

Yonathan Moya grew up on the U.S./Mexico border and sought out a way to tell the stories of the people living there. Following a nine-day photographic journey in 2017, he launched an organization supporting families along the border. Border Perspective leads service-learning trips along the south Texas border to provide opportunities to support local immigrant ministries and to better understand the complexity of immigration. In this episode, Yonathan and Branden discuss what’s currently happening at the U.S./Mexico border, the nuanced and complex historical and political contexts of immigration, and opportunities to create solutions. Guest: Yonathan Moya, executive director of Border Perspective Learn more about Border Perspective’s work on their website, follow @borderperspective and @yonathanmoya on Instagram, and donate to Yonathan’s father’s memorial fund Show your support: Buy something from Border Perspective's Amazon Wish List to provide humanitarian relief to migrant families at the border. Volunteer with Border Perspective to support shelters that are overwhelmed by vulnerable migrant families navigating a lawful immigration process. Volunteer with Catholic Charities to care for unaccompanied minors in San Antonio. Take action through RAICES, the largest immigration legal services nonprofit in Texas. Donate to the United Nations Refugee Agency to support their work in solving the root causes within Central America that cause people to flee. Contact your representatives and tell them you want to see immigration reform that 1) respects people’s dignity and rights, 2) responds to both short-term and long-term problems, and 3) creates infrastructure that allows for a fair immigration process. Call 1-844-USA-0234 and enter your zip code to be connected with your representatives, or text RESIST to 50409. Learn more: Child migrants: What is happening at the US border? 9 questions about the humanitarian crisis on the border, answered Sponsor: With Libro.fm, get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 with the code GOOD (and shop local bookstores online with Bookshop) Sponsor: Save 20% on Riff cold brew and sparkling energy drinks at LetsRiff.com with the code GOODGOODGOOD → Become a Member and get the Goodnewspaper at goodgoodgood.co/membership → Join 30,000 weekly Goodnewsletter readers at goodgoodgood.co/goodnewsletter

Join Gene Stone, a New York Times bestselling author and former Peace Corps volunteer, as he dives into the world of plant-based diets. He shares his personal journey to veganism and offers practical steps for others looking to make the switch. Discover how reducing meat and dairy not only benefits your health but also plays a crucial role in environmental sustainability. Gene emphasizes conscious eating choices and the transformative impact on animal welfare while encouraging community support in this important lifestyle change.

Amy Wolff, founder of the Don't Give Up movement, shares her journey of transforming a small family project into a global initiative that spreads hope through uplifting yard signs. She discusses the profound impact of simple, kind messages on mental health and community well-being. Inspiring stories highlight how these signs have helped individuals confront challenges like depression and loss. Wolff also debunks myths about the significance of small acts of kindness, emphasizing their role in driving meaningful change.

At 22, Paige More (The Breasties) got a preventative double mastectomy before ever being diagnosed with cancer. At the time, she was working as a producer for Good Morning America and felt on top of the world, but she had just discovered she carried the BRCA 1 gene mutation that indicates a higher risk for developing breast, ovarian, and other types of cancer. While seeking resources, support, and guidance online, she was discouraged to find only stories of nightmare experiences and worst-case scenarios. But Paige’s experience was different from those stories. After her surgery, she felt strong and sexy, so she started sharing her story on Instagram and co-founded a hopeful, empowering community for other “previvors” and women affected by breast and gynecological cancers. This community, called The Breasties, is a nonprofit organization that hosts events and retreats and offers a positive alternative to the nightmarish stories for others facing similar situations. The Breasties is on a mission to increase access to reliable information, provide a safe and empowering community, and help women feel less alone. In this episode, Paige explains how sharing your story, giving yourself permission to be yourself, and showing up imperfectly but authentically are the keys to making an impact. Most importantly, when we work together in community, we have the power to make an even bigger difference. Guest: Paige More, co-founder of The Breasties Follow @paige_previvor and @the_breasties on Instagram and visit their site at thebreasties.org Sponsor: Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/GOOD Sponsor: With Libro.fm, get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 with the code GOOD (And choose an AAPI-owned bookstore to support here.) → Get more Good Good Good at goodgoodgood.co → Join 30,000 weekly Goodnewsletter readers at goodgoodgood.co/goodnewsletter → Become a Member and get the Goodnewspaper at goodgoodgood.co/membership

Photographer Aundre Larrow (@aundre) has worked with clients such as The North Face, Amex, Volcom, Lululemon, and the Warriors, and his work has been published in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. His work aims to show the fundamental value in each person and commonly captures the intersection of art and racial justice. He’s currently hosting an Instagram series called Equity Through Editing about how to edit photos to accurately portray skin tones. In this episode, Aundre shares the challenges he and other content creators of color face in the photography, art, and creator industries, including lack of opportunity, imposter syndrome, and racism. He also explains how he uses photography as a vehicle for social change to increase access and racial equality and how we can create a more equitable future for creators of color. Guest: Aundre Larrow, photographer Follow @aundre on Instagram and view his work on his website, aundrelarrow.com Sponsor: Get 50% off your first Datebox from Happily with the code GOODGOODGOOD Sponsor: Save 20% on Riff cold brew and sparkling energy drinks at LetsRiff.com with the code GOODGOODGOOD → Get more Good Good Good at goodgoodgood.co → Join 30,000 weekly Goodnewsletter readers at goodgoodgood.co/goodnewsletter → Become a Member and get the Goodnewspaper at goodgoodgood.co/membership

Journalist and photographer KK Ottesen has photographed and interviewed the world’s most notable politicians and activists. She is a regular contributor to The Washington Post Magazine, and her work has appeared in many other international publications. Her new book, “Activist: Portraits of Courage” includes portraits of Stacey Abrams, John Lewis, Tarana Burke, Edward Snowden, Bernie Sanders, Cecile Richards, Al Sharpton, Gabrielle Giffords, Angela Davis, and many more. In her book, these world-changers recount the experiences that sparked their work in social justice and politics and share the beliefs that keep them going. In the first half of this episode, KK shares how through her interviews with them, she learned that most of the famous activists we know of today started their journeys simply by believing that a different world is possible, taking one small action step, and then committing to taking step after step. In the second half, she shares that anyone who has hope for a better future can be an activist. It’s more simple than you might think. Guest: KK Ottesen, author of “Activist: Portraits of Courage” Buy KK’s book and follow @kk.ottesen on Instagram Sponsor: Get 50% off your first Datebox from Happily with the code GOODGOODGOOD Sponsor: Save 20% on Riff cold brew and sparkling energy drinks at LetsRiff.com with the code GOODGOODGOOD → Get more Good Good Good at goodgoodgood.co → Join 30,000 weekly Goodnewsletter readers at goodgoodgood.co/goodnewsletter → Become a Member and get the Goodnewspaper at goodgoodgood.co/membership

Allison Fallon, author of "The Power of Writing It Down" and founder of Find Your Voice, discusses how writing can unlock personal purpose and facilitate healing. She emphasizes the importance of confronting pain to foster growth and understanding. Writing isn't just for traditional authors; it's a tool for everyone to make sense of life's challenges. Fallon also introduces the Infinity Prompt as a method to process emotions and highlights the transformative power of personal storytelling in creating meaningful change.