There are episodes that feel like strategy sessions — and then there are episodes that feel like a hand on your shoulder.

This one is the second kind.

Because sometimes the world feels heavy. Big. Complicated. Like the problems are too massive and we’re too small to matter.

And then you hear stories like the ones we’ve shared this month, and continued in this episode — stories that remind you:

The people changing the world aren’t always the ones on billboards.
They’re the ones doing the work, quietly, consistently, and with a whole lot of heart.

This episode is a compilation of four mini-interviews with nonprofit founders and community organizers — each one nominated by listeners who said, “You need to meet her.”

And I’m so glad you’re here to meet them.

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The Common Thread: It Started With Noticing

None of these women sat down one day and declared, “I’m going to change my community.”

It started smaller than that.

It started with a moment that sounded like:

• “This should be better.”
• “There’s a gap here.”
• “Someone needs to do something.”
• “I can’t unsee this now.”

That’s the real beginning of community leadership. Not a title. Not a resume. Not a following.

Just noticing… and deciding to participate.

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Meet the Women Behind the Work

Callie FitzGerald: Building Confidence Through Music

Callie is the founder of Centrally Rooted and the force behind Mindful Musicians — a program using intentional music experiences to teach kids coping skills, communication, empathy, breathwork, and resilience… starting when they’re literally babies.

Her work is a reminder that brain health isn’t “extra.”
It’s foundational.

And what I love most is how she’s made it accessible — from community-based programming to scholarships to a digital subscription families can use at home.

Molly Schreiber: Mindfulness as a Life Skill

If you’ve ever wished your kid had a toolkit for big emotions… this is it.

Molly’s nonprofit, Mindful Minutes, brings mindfulness education into schools — but it doesn’t stop there. It’s expanded into healthcare settings, shelters, juvenile detention centers, and trauma-informed spaces.

The model is simple, repeatable, and powerful — breath, movement, heart-of-lesson, guided practice, and a closing mantra to carry into real life.

And the beautiful part?
It doesn’t just help kids “behave.” It helps them regulate, understand themselves, and build resilience for the long haul.

Dee McKenna: Keeping Tradition Alive by Investing in Youth

Dee is one of those people who sees a system… and immediately starts making it better.

She helps run the Woodbury County Fair Bonus Sale, where community members and businesses invest directly into 4-H and FFA youth projects — and 100% of the premium goes back to the kids.

It’s not flashy. It’s spreadsheets, community outreach, relationship-building, and a whole lot of coordination.

But the ripple effect?
Massive.

Because those kids become future employees, business owners, agricultural leaders, and community citizens.

Nicole O’Dell: Building a Playground — and a Future

Nicole is the fundraising director for the Bernard Playground Project, and her story is the definition of “small town, big heart.”

They recognized a need: their old playground wasn’t accessible, and their community needed a safe place to gather, play, and move.

Their goal? $500K+.

And they’re nearly there — thanks to community builds, private donors, grant work, and the kind of persistence that says: we’re going to figure this out.

They pivoted into phases, installed the accessible playground, and now they’re in the final push for phase two — a walking path and courts that extend the impact for everyone.

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The 14-Day Challenge: Don’t Just Feel Inspired

I said this in the episode and I’ll say it here too:

My hope is you don’t just consume this episode and move on.

So here’s your challenge — within the next 14 days, do one of these:

1. Support one of these organizations.
   Donate. Subscribe. Volunteer. Share their page. Tell a friend.
2. Thank a community helper.
   Send the text. Write the note. Say the words.
3. Nominate someone doing good work.
   If you know someone who’s making things happen — tell me.
   Email me at molly@mollyknuthmedia.com or DM me on Instagram.

Because you don’t have to do everything.
But I promise: there is something you can do.

And your “something” might be what changes someone else’s world.