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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.
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Making you love the movies you hated, and hate the movies you loved, one argument at a time.
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Welcome to the So Smokin' Gooder Show! Where we talk all things BBQ, Brews and Good Times... If you're a fan of BBQ, this is the podcast for you! Join Rob and Case as they bring you a behind the scenes look from the ever growing BBQ scene.
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Today, we're closing out our Give With Joy series with a special Christmas message from our Territorial Commander, Commissioner Douglas Riley. As we celebrate the season together, Commissioner Riley invites us to pause amid the noise and remember the heart of Christmas—the miracle of God's love made known in Jesus. It's a message of hope for the we…
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Every December in Olympia, Washington, the sound of Christmas isn't just bells ringing—it's engines revving. For one incredible day, thousands of bikers fill the streets, each with toys strapped to their motorcycles—dolls, skateboards, games, stuffed animals—all destined for children who might otherwise go without. It's the annual Olympia Toy Run, …
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There's nothing quite like the joy on a child's face when they open a Christmas gift chosen just for them. It's the kind of joy that lingers long after the wrapping paper is gone—the joy of being remembered, seen and loved. For more than 40 years, The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program has made that moment possible for children across the country.…
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Christmas isn't only about the manger in Bethlehem. It's about the bigger story—one that stretches from Genesis to Revelation. The story of creation, fall, redemption and restoration. And at its center, the good news, as we read in John 1:14, is the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. At Christmas, we celebrate that truth—the Word bec…
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Today, we're pulling back the curtain on one of the most familiar sights and sounds of Christmas: the Red Kettle. You've probably walked past one outside your grocery store or shopping center—the bell ringing, the volunteers bundled up in scarves and mittens, and that iconic kettle inviting you to pause for just a moment and give. This year, for th…
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The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that "God loves a cheerful giver." And we've seen that throughout this series—giving changes lives, both for those who receive and for those who give. But here's something interesting: science agrees. Research shows that helping others doesn't just strengthen communities—it also transforms our health. …
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Alright, let's cut right to it today: the people behind the gifts—the donors, kids, families and partners who show us what it means to give with joy. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." And when we hear "chee…
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Both science and Scripture agree on something powerful: generosity is good for you. The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley found that generosity leads to better health, longer life, stronger relationships and yes, greater happiness. And long before researchers confirmed it, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each of you should give what you …
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In a world that glorifies busyness, what if rest is actually the most faithful thing you can do? In this final episode of our Slowing Down series on The Do Gooders Podcast, Christin Thieme talks with Alyson Pryor—marriage and family therapist, spiritual director and author of the forthcoming book "Come Away and Rest: A Guide to Personal Spiritual R…
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What if slowing down isn't lazy, but holy? Hear Jodi Grubbs—author of "Live Slowly: A Gentle Invitation to Exhale"—share why our bodies and souls weren't designed for hustle culture, and how embracing slower rhythms can help us live with presence, peace and purpose. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. JOIN TH…
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What if the good life isn't about having it all, but about embracing our limits? Dr. Ashley Hales, author of "A Spacious Life: Trading Hustle and Hurry for the Goodness of Limits," invites us to rethink freedom, not as endless choice, but as life within God's loving boundaries. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email ser…
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What if slowing down wasn't selfish—but essential? In this episode, holistic nurse educator and author Tracie Braylock talks about her new book "Radical Relaxation: Releasing the Stress You Were Never Meant to Carry." Drawing from her background as a surgical nurse and over 15 years in holistic wellness, Tracie shares how stress isn't just unpleasa…
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Do you ever feel like busyness is running your life? What if slowing down could actually make you more effective in doing good? Author and spiritual director Alan Fadling talks about living unhurried—not as laziness, but as faithful discipleship. Learn why presence matters more than productivity, how Jesus' rhythms of rest and work offer a better w…
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What's the real state of the Church today—and how is The Salvation Army positioned within it? Jim Sparks, Western Territorial Mission Strategist, joins Christin Thieme to unpack surprising new data about spiritual commitment in America, why Gen Z and Millennials are leading a revival, and how corps can connect with people who are open to Jesus but …
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For more than 30 years, Maria Rodriguez has been the heart of The Salvation Army Los Angeles Day Care Center—supporting children and families in LA's fashion, produce and flower districts. In this episode, Christin Thieme talks with Maria about how she went from high school volunteer to director, why safe, affordable childcare matters more than eve…
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236 The Big Five: How Understanding Personality Transforms Relationships with Dr. Jack Anderson
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Discover how the Big Five personality traits shape the way you see the world—and your relationships. Dr. Jack Anderson joins Christin Thieme to share practical ways to bridge differences, build trust and bring out the best in others. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. JOIN THE HOPEFULS. Get inside the group.…
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Today, we're covering one of America's most pressing challenges: homelessness. But this isn't an episode drowning you in statistics. Instead, we're going to explore real solutions happening right now across the western United States—ways The Salvation Army is helping to truly change lives, one person at a time. Of course, the numbers are sobering. …
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Lately, here on this show, we're exploring what happens when hope moves from feeling to doing, from possibility to practice. And today, we're continuing our journey inside one of The Salvation Army's recent transformations: Hope Markets. As we covered in our recent "Hope in Action" issue of the magazine, these aren't your typical food pantries. In …
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Today, we're heading to Long Beach, California, to talk to someone with a unique perspective on youth programming. Captain Jared Arnold runs The Salvation Army Red Shield Community Center, and he recently caught my attention when he said, "Summer is our Christmas." Now, when most of us think about summer, we might think about vacations, beach days …
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Want to hear some encouraging news that's emerging from communities across America? After years of declining volunteer participation—a trend that accelerated during the pandemic—researchers are documenting what they're calling a "volunteer rebound." The numbers are striking. Nearly 30 percent of Americans formally volunteered from 2022 to 2023, con…
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It won't come as a surprise to you that hundreds of thousands of veterans across America are affected by trauma—some from their time in military service, though not all—and yet, their needs remain deeply misunderstood by many of us who haven't served. Not all veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder, and yet many do—in fact, some 29 perce…
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We're exploring not just what hope is, but how it's built, sustained and passed from person to person, community to community. Today, I'm welcoming two leaders whose lives embody this multi-generational understanding of hope: Commissioners Doug and Colleen Riley, territorial leaders of The Salvation Army in the western U.S. The pair met while worki…
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We're exploring what it means to put Hope in Action. And today, I'm excited to welcome a guest who has dedicated his career to understanding hope not just as a feeling, but as a measurable, teachable strength that transforms lives and communities. Dr. Chan Hellman is recognized as one of the world's leading hope scholars, with more than 25 years of…
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Hope isn't something that happens to you. It's something you create. It's what happens when possibility meets action. Today we're beginning a journey—one that will explore not just what hope is, but how we build it, nurture it and put it into action. Here's the key: Hope isn't just something lucky people have. It's something all of us can build. An…
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In part four of our series, Walking With Jesus: A Journey to the Cross with Major Dr. Terry Masango, we stand before the empty tomb—the defining moment that separates Christianity from every other faith tradition in the world. The resurrection isn't just an epilogue to the crucifixion—it's the validation of everything Jesus taught and claimed. It's…
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In part three of our series, Walking With Jesus: A Journey to the Cross with Major Dr. Terry Masango, we explore three simple words: "Jesus, remember me." Spoken by a dying criminal, these words contain within them the essence of our faith journey. As we near Holy Week, Major Masango invites us to consider which of the two thieves we identify with—…
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In part two of our series, Walking With Jesus: A Journey to the Cross with Major Dr. Terry Masango, we turn to one of Jesus' most profound and challenging parables: The Good Samaritan. This story isn't just about helping others—it completely redefines what it means to be a neighbor and challenges our assumptions about who deserves our love and comp…
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Welcome to a new series—Walking With Jesus: A Journey to the Cross. Over the next four weeks, we'll be guided by Major Dr. Terry Masango through a thoughtful exploration of Scripture and its meaning in our everyday lives. In this series, he invites us to walk alongside those who encountered Jesus on his journey to the cross—from the lost sheep bein…
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Today, we're closing our Warm Hearts, Warm Homes series with perhaps the most critical need of all: shelter. Recent government data shows homelessness has soared to the highest level on record, with more than 770,000 people experiencing homelessness in the United States—an 18 percent increase over last year. Behind these sobering statistics are rea…
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We're back again today with our Warm Hearts, Warm Homes series, and this time, exploring how food assistance helps create warm, stable homes for our neighbors in need. Food insecurity is a big problem in the United States, as 47 million people—including 14 million children—do not have enough to eat and don't know where their next meal will come fro…
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Continuing our Warm Hearts, Warm Homes series, today we're tackling a challenge that affects countless families during these coldest weeks of the year—keeping the heat on. For many of our neighbors, the choice between staying warm and affording other essentials is a harsh reality. Did you know roughly 11 percent of Americans live in poverty, which …
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On this show, we like to share stories of everyday people turning hope into action in small, real-life ways right where they are—people like Suzanne Pickering. As a representative of Banner Health, Suzanne started a winter coat and blanket drive in partnership with The Salvation Army in Tucson, Arizona. She knows firsthand what it is like to need a…
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In disasters, we often see something remarkable: how communities come together, how neighbors help neighbors, and how hope persists even in the darkest moments. And notably, it's up to each of us and the little choices we make to keep that spirit of community alive, not just in times of crisis, but every day. Today, I want to share a few stories th…
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One of the most powerful tools available to us is our own mindfulness. Dr. Jon Kole is the Medical Director and Senior Director of Psychiatry at Headspace, which calls itself "the mental health app for every moment." From guided meditations to one-on-one coaching, the Headspace team of clinical experts and trained coaches work to offer science-back…
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What would you take if you had to evacuate your home? Are you prepared? A study by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) found less than half of American households had discussed or developed an emergency plan. After hearing the stories of many families I know having to evacuate with little to no warning, I decided it was time to finally g…
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In our recent episodes, we've explored what it means to lose home—from the immediate chaos of evacuation to the grief of loss, to the challenging work of supporting a community in crisis. Today, we're examining the deeper psychological impact of disaster on communities. Dr. David Eisenman has spent more than two decades studying how disasters affec…
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Help us love beyond disaster at salarmy.us/socalfire. Last week, we explored what home means—those mental souvenirs we collect, the everyday moments that make a space our own, and the devastating impact when that sanctuary is suddenly gone. We heard about The Salvation Army's immediate response to the wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles communi…
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Help us love beyond disaster at salarmy.us/socalfire. As wildfires burn across Southern California, The Salvation Army is there. We're there before, during and after disasters strike and are committed to serving the whole person—physically, emotionally and spiritually. With thousands of structures burned, so many have lost so much. What would you t…
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What are your plans for the New Year? As we step into 2025, many of us are thinking about resolutions, goals and what lies ahead. But what if planning for the year ahead was less about our own agendas and more about trusting God's plans? In this timely rebroadcast, we're revisiting our conversation with Megan Fate Marshman, who continues to serve a…
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Welcome to this special presentation of "Army of Stars," a radio program that captured the spirit of giving during the golden age of radio. From the 1930s through the 1990s, this series brought together some of entertainment's brightest stars in support of The Salvation Army's mission. And today, we're traveling back to December 25, 1949, for a par…
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As you well know, Christmas is a time like no other in The Salvation Army. There's the red kettles, the Angel Trees, the holiday meals and so much more. Christmas is a season of giving, which for many of us means showering those we love with gifts. But it's also about giving to those most in need. And in Juneau, Alaska, board members, donors and vo…
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When we think about Christmas, we often think about love—love that came to Earth as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, and love that compels us to give freely to those around us. And today, we're exploring how The Salvation Army is brightening the holidays by sharing that love across the Western United States. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFF…
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Everything feels a bit more whimsical this time of year. And maybe you're after a little more of it? As bestselling author Bob Goff will tell you, we can't catch what we don't chase. Which is why he's out with a new devotional next week called "Catching Whimsy: 365 Days of Possibility." In it, he offers daily thoughts to help you chase after a more…
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Chances are, if you've been online at some point over the past decade, you've probably watched a TED Talk. You know the format—world-renowned speakers, experts and innovators on various topics take center stage to present one great idea in 18 minutes or fewer. TED Talks often challenge conventional thinking and offer new perspectives. They can be i…
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It's no secret having a safe and stable place to live is at the very foundation of overall health and well-being. That's why, in The Salvation Army, there's no such thing as no place to go. We uniquely understand the statistics on those experiencing homelessness—which by the latest counts means tonight in America more than 421,000 people are withou…
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The Salvation Army has a long history of serving those who have served our country. It all began with donuts and coffee for soldiers during World War I, and it only grew from there. Today, The Salvation Army offers a range of veterans services, providing comfort, support, counseling and a home to thousands of veterans in need each year. Did you kno…
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Hope is what propels us through the uncertainty and chaos of our slumps and our challenges. But in our broken, imperfect world, a lot of people are finding their peace is constantly under threat, and because of that, it's harder to experience genuine hope for the future. Irwyn Ince is a pastor, author and coordinator of Mission to North America for…
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Have you noticed our culture tends to treat cynicism as though it's the price of being right? But cynicism is a contagion infecting our society—creeping into every corner of our lives, corroding our connections and obscuring our hope for a brighter tomorrow. That's according to Stanford Psychologist and Director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience …
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Today we're focusing on a topic that hits close to home for many families across the country: food insecurity. With rising prices, the struggle to put food on the table has become a reality for more and more people in recent years. And many people are turning to charitable food resources to make ends meet. That's where organizations like The Salvat…
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I'm always paying attention to what's going on in the lives of our listeners—you—and I guess I've spotted this idea because I am you. A lot of people with hope for a better world let it end there. Why is that? You're here so I know you're one of the hopefuls, someone who knows where there's movement there's hope—and you're willing to do something. …
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