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The Do Gooders Podcast

149 episodes listed below

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Faith, service, and everyday generosity.

The gist

The Do Gooders Podcast follows people turning help into habit: volunteers, a councilmember, service leaders, and faith voices. Its episodes connect practical charity with spiritual reflection, moving from food boxes and holiday gifts to recovery, belonging, and shared joy.

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About The Do Gooders Podcast

The Do Gooders Podcast presents community service as personal, local, and spiritually grounded. Its stories often begin with visible need: food insecurity, frostbite, utility bills, addiction recovery, refugee family hospitality, or a child discovering Christmas gifts for the first time. The show stays close to the people involved. Volunteers describe ringing bells, serving on boards, collecting food, and watching relief replace fear. Service leaders explain how a single shelf of emergency food can become a large facility providing food assistance, social services, and planned bridge housing for women. The episodes also return to a clear pattern. Help received can become compassion practiced. Fabian's story, Vivero's education after recovery programming, and Mai Vang's memory of childhood assistance all point toward that movement from being supported to supporting others. The show is explicitly Christian, but its focus is not abstract doctrine alone. Faith appears through Scripture, prayer, transformation, generosity, and the belief that love can reshape how people serve. Some episodes lean more devotional, with Timothy Jones on being fully loved, Dr. Amy-Jill Levine on the challenge of Jesus' parables, Commissioner James Betts on transformation and love, and Amanda Bible Williams on Scripture at Christmas. Others are more grounded in field reports from Salvation Army work across local communities. The tone is calm, earnest, and reassuring. It favors testimony over argument. It also keeps returning to joy, not as cheerfulness detached from suffering, but as something that can emerge through stability, dignity, welcome, and shared care. The result is a faith-based service podcast for listeners who want concrete examples of compassion at work and a steady reminder that generosity can start small.

Made for: The show is for listeners drawn to Christian service, local charity work, volunteer stories, and practical encouragement. It especially suits people who want faith connected to food assistance, recovery, refugee welcome, Christmas giving, and neighborhood care.

What sets it apart: It blends devotional reflection with on-the-ground Salvation Army stories, keeping theology tied to tangible help. Instead of staying with inspiration alone, it follows how assistance becomes stability, dignity, advocacy, and renewed service.

In their own words

If you care about making an impact for good then the Do Gooders Podcast from The Salvation Army's Caring Magazine is the show for you. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Christin Thieme, listen in for real-life inspiration, expert insight, evidence of transformation happening in communities across the U.S. through The Salvation Army, and ideas from change-makers so you can join in right where you are and be the reason somebody believes in goodness.

Why you'd press play

Romans 12 meets a childhood Christmas gift, and suddenly your faith has sleeves to roll up.

Press play if you want

  • Scripture connected to the awkward, practical business of loving people unlike you
  • first-person stories where receiving Christmas help grows into public compassion
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Salvation Army servicevolunteering and givingfood assistanceChristmas generosityrecovery and stabilityChristian faith and Scripturerefugee welcomecommunity advocacy

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Episodes

  1. 1

    226 Walking With Jesus: The Thief on the Cross with Dr. Major Terry Masango

    ·19m
  2. 2

    261: When help becomes hope and ripples outward

    ·16m
  3. 3

    260: Knowing you are fully beloved with Timothy Jones

    ·22m
  4. 4

    259: Receiving help plants lifelong compassion with Councilmember Mai Vang

    ·19m
  5. 5

    258: Jesus the storyteller with Dr. Amy-Jill Levine

    ·26m
  6. 6

    257: Music, mentorship and the joy of sharing what you've been given with Rhys Jones

    ·17m
  7. 7

    256: Transforming Love with Commissioner James Betts

    ·35m
  8. 8

    255: From housing insecurity to helping others find home with Lt. Nick Carillo

    ·17m
  9. 9

    254: Why stories move us to care with Dr. Paul Zak

    ·31m
  10. 10

    253: Why joy is meant to be shared

    ·8m
  11. 11

    Coming Soon: Share The Joy

    ·1m
  12. 12

    252: A new year, a new chapter with Commissioners James and Sue Betts

    ·33m
  13. 13

    251: The extraordinary gift of Christmas with Commissioner Douglas Riley

    ·15m
  14. 14

    250: Olympia's Roaring Motorcycle Toy Run with Captain Amelia Mott

    ·20m
  15. 15

    248: Christmas began with a promise with Amanda Bible Williams

    ·34m
  16. 16

    247: Behind the Red Kettle

    ·39m
  17. 17

    246: Your brain on altruism with Nicole Karlis

    ·22m
  18. 18

    245: Profiles in joyful giving

    ·15m
  19. 19

    244: 6 ways to Give With Joy this Christmas

    ·8m
  20. 20

    243 Slowing Down: Come away and rest with Alyson Pryor

    ·30m
  21. 21

    242 Slowing Down: A gentle invitation to exhale with Jodi Grubbs

    ·21m
  22. 22

    241 Slowing Down: Discovering the goodness of limits with Ashley Hales

    ·22m
  23. 23

    240 Slowing Down: Releasing the stress you were never meant to carry with Tracie Braylock

    ·19m
  24. 24

    239 Slowing Down: Living at the pace of love with Alan Fadling

    ·27m
  25. 25

    238: The state of the corps—and the future of ministry—with Jim Sparks

    ·38m
  26. 26

    237: Building a legacy of care with Maria Rodriguez

    ·14m
  27. 27

    236 The Big Five: How Understanding Personality Transforms Relationships with Dr. Jack Anderson

    ·35m
  28. 28

    235: Beyond the statistics on homelessness

    ·13m
  29. 29

    234: How Hope Markets transform food assistance with Stacy Bleuel

    ·13m
  30. 30

    233: Summer at the Long Beach Red Shield with Captain Jared Arnold

    ·27m
  31. 31

    232: The volunteer rebound with Hillary Jackson and Adriana Thiele

    ·21m
  32. 32

    231: Uniquely caring for veterans with Chaplain Nate Lyons

    ·27m
  33. 33

    230: Hope through the generations with Commissioners Doug and Colleen Riley

    ·31m
  34. 34

    229: The science of hope with Dr. Chan Hellman

    ·21m
  35. 35

    228: This is 'Hope in Action'

    ·8m
  36. 36

    227 Walking With Jesus: The Resurrection with Dr. Major Terry Masango

    ·22m
  37. 37

    262: Volunteers share why showing up changes everything

    ·11m
  38. 38

    225 Walking With Jesus: The Good Samaritan with Dr. Major Terry Masango

    ·25m
  39. 39

    224 Walking With Jesus: The Lost Sheep with Dr. Major Terry Masango

    ·23m
  40. 40

    223: Sheltering hope in The Salvation Army

    ·13m
  41. 41

    222: When food is just the beginning with Jenny Hartung

    ·34m
  42. 42

    221: Keeping the heat on with Captain Jon Tollerud

    ·22m
  43. 43

    220: Filling a need for warm coats with Suzanne Pickering

    ·17m
  44. 44

    219: When hearts and homes need warming

    ·15m
  45. 45

    218: Love Your Nervous System with Dr. Jon Kole

    ·28m
  46. 46

    217: A Practical Guide to Family Emergency Planning

    ·27m
  47. 47

    216: Recognizing collective trauma after disaster with Dr. David Eisenman

    ·27m
  48. 48

    215: Helping Others While Also Experiencing Uncertainty with Captains Nick and Becky Helms

    ·26m
  49. 49

    214 More Than a House: With Love from Southern California

    ·13m
  50. 50

    213: How to trust God's plans for the New Year with Megan Fate Marshman

    ·35m
  51. 51

    212 'Army of Stars': A Christmas Time Capsule from 1949

    ·35m
  52. 52

    211 More Than a Gift: Inside Alaska's Inmate Toy Store Ministry with Cathy Muñoz

    ·16m
  53. 53

    210: Brightening the Holidays: The Salvation Army Spreads Christmas Love

    ·16m
  54. 54

    209: 'Catching Whimsy' with Bob Goff

    ·28m
  55. 55

    207: Finding purpose as a Salvation Army shelter monitor with Linda Byrd

    ·14m
  56. 56

    205: 'Hope Ain't a Hustle' with Irwyn Ince

    ·28m
  57. 57

    204: Hope for Cynics with Dr. Jamil Zaki

    ·10m
  58. 58

    203: Stocking the shelves of a Salvation Army food pantry with Kandie Spaet

    ·12m
  59. 59

    202: What are you choosing to be hopeful about?

    ·14m
  60. 60

    201: Your favorite conversations to date

    ·30m
  61. 61

    200: What's changed and what's stayed the same

    ·40m
  62. 62

    A new season of The Do Gooders Podcast is coming September 30

    ·4m
  63. 63

    199: Tell the world from 2024 Testify Congress with General Lyndon Buckingham

    ·6m
  64. 64

    198 Testify: Monte Mansfield and Sthefania Milhilli at 2024 Testify Congress

    ·12m
  65. 65

    197: Holy living from 2024 Testify Congress with General Lyndon Buckingham

    ·22m
  66. 66

    196 Testify: Envoy Kevin Nagasaki and Dalton Low at 2024 Testify Congress

    ·15m
  67. 67

    195: Celebrate our stories from 2024 Testify Congress with Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham

    ·13m
  68. 68

    194 Testify: Lt. Do-Hyun Kim and Davrah Williams at 2024 Testify Congress

    ·16m
  69. 69

    193: Summoned from 2024 Testify Congress with General Lyndon Buckingham

    ·21m
  70. 70

    192: Commencement address from 2024 Testify Congress with Dr. Sharon Docter

    ·21m
  71. 71

    191 State of Disaster: The power of help after disaster with Shamrock Steele

    ·19m
  72. 72

    190 State of Disaster: Living and serving through disaster with Envoy Kevin Nagasaki

    ·14m
  73. 73

    189 State of Disaster: Building resilience with Todd De Voe

    ·32m
  74. 74

    188 State of Disaster: Our ministry of presence with Major Tammy Ray

    ·25m
  75. 75

    187 State of Disaster: Mapping the natural hazards of your neighborhood with Jonathan Sury

    ·27m
  76. 76

    186 State of Disaster: Preparing for a future with hotter summers with Lt. Colonel Ivan Wild

    ·21m
  77. 77

    185 State of Disaster: How The Salvation Army is adapting to a changing disaster landscape with John Berglund

    ·20m
  78. 78

    184 State of Recovery: Understanding the neuroscience of addiction with Dr. Judy Grisel

    ·28m
  79. 79

    183 State of Recovery: The opioid crisis and what we can do with Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal

    ·28m
  80. 80

    182 State of Recovery: What transformation takes with Shauna Zeuske

    ·21m
  81. 81

    181 State of Recovery: What is The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center program? with Major Mark Nelson

    ·18m
  82. 82

    180 State of Recovery: On The Way Out in San Francisco with Steve Adami

    ·20m
  83. 83

    179: Growing in numbers (and how they're doing it) with Captains Dustin and Caroline Rowe

    ·30m
  84. 84

    178: Your testimony matters (and how to use it for good) with General Lyndon Buckingham

    ·34m
  85. 85

    177 State of Homelessness: Why have so many efforts fallen short? with Andrew Hening

    ·31m
  86. 86

    176 State of Homelessness: Chipping Away at a Complex Crisis with Steve Berg, National Alliance to End Homelessness

    ·26m
  87. 87

    175 State of Homelessness: The Face of Transformation with Morgane Dussault

    ·28m
  88. 88

    174 State of Homelessness: How The Salvation Army Is Responding with Lt. Colonel Mike Dickinson

    ·30m
  89. 89

    173: A Vision from God That Is Specific to You with Ciara Laine Myers

    ·12m
  90. 90

    172 Reflect and Renew: A New Year Journaling Session

    ·10m
  91. 91

    171: What's So Amazing About Grace? with Philip Yancey

    ·26m
  92. 92

    170: Inside The Salvation Army Rose Parade Experience with Kevin Larsson and Jim Sparks

    ·29m
  93. 93

    169: Born is the King with Commissioner Doug Riley

    ·13m
  94. 94

    168: Appreciating the Deep Magic of Christmas with Dr. Emily Hunter McGowin

    ·27m
  95. 95

    Sneak Peek: Caring X Grace Winter Book Club coming January 2024

    ·2m
  96. 96

    Bonus! Do What You Can With What You Have with Emily Ann Roberts

    ·19m
  97. 97

    167: Celebrating the Gift of Volunteering at Christmas with Captain Edith Dye-Mabie

    ·20m
  98. 98

    206: Veteran finds healing, magic in the mundane with Eric Yanes

    A veteran shares his journey of losing everything to addiction and finding healing and hope through the Salvation Army's veteran services.

    ·26m
  99. 99

    249: Inside The Salvation Army's Angel Tree with Marlene Klotz-Collins

    An exploration of the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program, which provides Christmas gifts to children in need, featuring stories of impact and the spirit of giving.

    ·27m
  100. 100

    208: Embracing 'Infectious Generosity' with Chris Anderson

    Chris Anderson discusses how starting with gratitude can lead to a generosity journey and making a difference through small actions.

    ·29m
  101. 101

    262: Volunteers share why showing up changes everything

    This episode explores the transformative power of volunteering and how showing up with time and talents brings joy to both the giver and receiver.

    Apr 6, 2026·11m
  102. 102

    261: When help becomes hope and ripples outward

    Two stories from the Salvation Army's Caring Magazine show how receiving help leads to hope that ripples outward, transforming lives in Seattle and Southern California.

    Mar 30, 2026·16m
  103. 103

    260: Knowing you are fully beloved with Timothy Jones

    Hidden gem

    Timothy Jones discusses the concept of being 'fully beloved' by God, contrasting it with imperfect human love and emphasizing that true joy comes from security in God's unconditional love.

    Mar 23, 2026·22m·1 clip
  104. 104

    259: Receiving help plants lifelong compassion with Councilmember Mai Vang

    Hidden gem

    Mai Vang, a Sacramento city councilmember and daughter of Lao refugees, recalls receiving Salvation Army Christmas gifts, clothing, and a safe place to play basketball while growing up in a family of 16 children.

    Mar 16, 2026·19m·1 clip
  105. 105

    258: Jesus the storyteller with Dr. Amy-Jill Levine

    Hidden gem

    The Do-Gooders Podcast host Kristen Thiem interviews biblical scholar Dr.

    Mar 9, 2026·26m·1 clip
  106. 106

    257: Music, mentorship and the joy of sharing what you've been given with Rhys Jones

    Rhys Jones describes learning cornet at age 6 or 7 in Denver and turning music practice into a lifelong discipline.

    Mar 2, 2026·17m·1 clip
  107. 107

    256: Transforming Love with Commissioner James Betts

    Hidden gem

    Commissioner James Betts, the Salvation Army’s West Territorial Commander, speaks at the February 14 Welcome and Installation Service at the Tustin Ranch Corps in California.

    Feb 23, 2026·35m·2 clips
  108. 108

    255: From housing insecurity to helping others find home with Lt. Nick Carillo

    Feb 16, 2026·17m
  109. 109

    254: Why stories move us to care with Dr. Paul Zak

    Feb 9, 2026·31m
  110. 110

    253: Why joy is meant to be shared

    Feb 2, 2026·8m
  111. 111

    252: A new year, a new chapter with Commissioners James and Sue Betts

    Jan 5, 2026·33m
  112. 112

    251: The extraordinary gift of Christmas with Commissioner Douglas Riley

    Dec 22, 2025·15m
  113. 113

    250: Olympia's Roaring Motorcycle Toy Run with Captain Amelia Mott

    Dec 15, 2025·20m
  114. 114

    249: Inside The Salvation Army's Angel Tree with Marlene Klotz-Collins

    Dec 8, 2025·27m
  115. 115

    248: Christmas began with a promise with Amanda Bible Williams

    Hidden gem

    The Do Gooders Podcast episode “Christmas began with a promise” features host Kristen Thiem and Amanda Bible Williams discussing Christmas, scripture, Advent, and the book The Bible is for You.

    Dec 1, 2025·34m·2 clips
  116. 116

    247: Behind the Red Kettle

    Nov 24, 2025·39m
  117. 117

    246: Your brain on altruism with Nicole Karlis

    Nov 17, 2025·22m
  118. 118

    245: Profiles in joyful giving

    Nov 10, 2025·15m
  119. 119

    244: 6 ways to Give With Joy this Christmas

    Nov 3, 2025·8m
  120. 120

    243 Slowing Down: Come away and rest with Alyson Pryor

    Oct 6, 2025·30m
  121. 121

    242 Slowing Down: A gentle invitation to exhale with Jodi Grubbs

    Sep 29, 2025·21m
  122. 122

    241 Slowing Down: Discovering the goodness of limits with Ashley Hales

    Sep 22, 2025·22m
  123. 123

    240 Slowing Down: Releasing the stress you were never meant to carry with Tracie Braylock

    Sep 15, 2025·19m
  124. 124

    239 Slowing Down: Living at the pace of love with Alan Fadling

    Sep 8, 2025·27m
  125. 125

    238: The state of the corps—and the future of ministry—with Jim Sparks

    Sep 1, 2025·38m
  126. 126

    237: Building a legacy of care with Maria Rodriguez

    Aug 25, 2025·14m
  127. 127

    236 The Big Five: How Understanding Personality Transforms Relationships with Dr. Jack Anderson

    Aug 18, 2025·35m
  128. 128

    235: Beyond the statistics on homelessness

    Aug 11, 2025·13m
  129. 129

    234: How Hope Markets transform food assistance with Stacy Bleuel

    Aug 4, 2025·13m
  130. 130

    233: Summer at the Long Beach Red Shield with Captain Jared Arnold

    Jul 28, 2025·27m
  131. 131

    232: The volunteer rebound with Hillary Jackson and Adriana Thiele

    Jul 21, 2025·21m
  132. 132

    231: Uniquely caring for veterans with Chaplain Nate Lyons

    Jul 14, 2025·27m
  133. 133

    230: Hope through the generations with Commissioners Doug and Colleen Riley

    Jul 7, 2025·31m
  134. 134

    229: The science of hope with Dr. Chan Hellman

    Jun 30, 2025·21m
  135. 135

    228: This is 'Hope in Action'

    Jun 23, 2025·8m
  136. 136

    227 Walking With Jesus: The Resurrection with Dr. Major Terry Masango

    Apr 14, 2025·22m
  137. 137

    226 Walking With Jesus: The Thief on the Cross with Dr. Major Terry Masango

    Apr 7, 2025·19m
  138. 138

    225 Walking With Jesus: The Good Samaritan with Dr. Major Terry Masango

    Mar 31, 2025·25m
  139. 139

    224 Walking With Jesus: The Lost Sheep with Dr. Major Terry Masango

    Mar 24, 2025·23m
  140. 140

    223: Sheltering hope in The Salvation Army

    Mar 17, 2025·13m
  141. 141

    222: When food is just the beginning with Jenny Hartung

    Jenny Hartung discusses how the Salvation Army in Gillette, Wyoming expanded from a single shelf of emergency food to a large facility distributing over 2,000 food boxes monthly, addressing food insecurity and related needs.

    Mar 10, 2025·34m
  142. 142

    221: Keeping the heat on with Captain Jon Tollerud

    Captain Jon Tollerud discusses the challenges of keeping homes heated in extreme cold and the Salvation Army's efforts to prevent utility shutoffs.

    Mar 3, 2025·22m
  143. 143

    220: Filling a need for warm coats with Suzanne Pickering

    Feb 24, 2025·17m
  144. 144

    219: When hearts and homes need warming

    Feb 18, 2025·15m
  145. 145

    218: Love Your Nervous System with Dr. Jon Kole

    Feb 10, 2025·28m
  146. 146

    217: A Practical Guide to Family Emergency Planning

    Feb 3, 2025·27m
  147. 147

    216: Recognizing collective trauma after disaster with Dr. David Eisenman

    Jan 27, 2025·27m
  148. 148

    215: Helping Others While Also Experiencing Uncertainty with Captains Nick and Becky Helms

    Jan 20, 2025·26m
  149. 149

    214 More Than a House: With Love from Southern California

    Jan 12, 2025·13m