The Do Gooders Podcast

Christin Thieme
  • 4.9 (47)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. 2D AGO

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

    When everything feels uncertain—where you'll live, how you'll provide, what comes next—stability can change everything. In this episode, Lt. Nick Carillo shares his journey through housing insecurity, recovery and faith—and how receiving help became the turning point that reshaped his future. Lt. Nick opens up about what it's like to live in survival mode, why simply having a safe place to be restores dignity and hope, and how that stability eventually led him from shelter resident to shelter manager—and now to serving others as a Salvation Army officer. This is a story about housing security, but even more, it's a story about the ripple effect of stability—how being helped can plant the seed to help others, and how joy grows when it's paid forward. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. FIND YOUR STORY. Get the email course. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. DO GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

    17 min

  2. FEB 9

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

    What if sharing a story could actually change the brain? In this episode of The Do Gooders Podcast, behavioral neuroscientist Dr. Paul Zak explains why stories move us so deeply—and how they spark empathy, generosity and joy at a biological level. You'll learn what happens in the brain when we hear a story of hope, why personal stories inspire action more than statistics, and how helping others leads to greater happiness, connection and even better health. This conversation brings science and soul together—revealing why joy spreads through story, and why sharing stories of hope isn't just inspiring… it's a force for good. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. FIND YOUR STORY. Get the email course. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. DO GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

    31 min

  3. FEB 2

    253: Why joy is meant to be shared

    Sharing joy isn't just a phrase. It's not a slogan. It's a lived experience. It's what happens when someone who once received help becomes someone who helps. It's what happens when hope doesn't stop at relief—but continues through healing, takes root, and then moves outward. Help. Healing. Hope. Helping. That full circle—that's what this season is about. Over the coming weeks, you'll hear stories from people who know that circle intimately. People who came to The Salvation Army at moments when life felt overwhelming, uncertain or broken. People who were met with care, dignity and compassion—and who are now giving back in meaningful, often very ordinary ways. These aren't glossy stories. They're honest ones. Stories of second chances that took time. Stories of dignity restored slowly. Stories where joy didn't erase the hard parts—but grew alongside them. And that matters, because joy isn't about pretending life is easy. Joy is about meaning. It's about discovering that even in the middle of difficulty, something good can take root. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. FIND YOUR STORY. Get the email course. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. DO GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

    8 min

  4. JAN 27

    Coming Soon: Share The Joy

    A new season of The Do Gooders Podcast is coming soon. We'll explore stories of help, healing and hope.

    1 min

  5. JAN 5

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

    As we begin a new year, we're sharing the joy of a new chapter in the Western Territory. Commissioners James and Sue Betts have stepped into leadership as the new Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women's Ministries for The Salvation Army's USA Western Territory. After nearly three decades of ministry together—in corps, divisions, the Adult Rehabilitation Centers, and most recently in national leadership—they bring a wealth of experience, a deep love for people, and a contagious joy for serving the Lord. Married for 33 years and officers for 29, they're the proud parents of three adult children—all active in ministry themselves—and grandparents to three energetic grandkids who keep them smiling. Sue holds degrees in psychology and intercultural studies, and Jim in communication, ministry, and business, plus three years of service in the U.S. Army Band. They're loyal Cleveland sports fans, passionate about raising up Christ-centered leaders, and committed to helping people experience the transforming love of Jesus. Today, we'll get to know the Bettses as leaders and as people—hear about the lessons that shaped them, their hopes for the West, and the vision they carry for 2026 and beyond. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. JOIN THE HOPEFULS. Get inside the group. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. DO GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

    33 min

  6. 12/22/2025

    251: The extraordinary gift of Christmas with Commissioner Douglas Riley

    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 weary, joy for the heart that gives, and peace for all who make room for him this season. So wherever this message finds you today—whether surrounded by family, serving your community, making those final preparations, or simply listening in for a quiet moment—may this reflection remind you that God is with us, and his gift still transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. JOIN THE HOPEFULS. Get inside the group. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. DO GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

    15 min

  7. 12/15/2025

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

    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, and for 48 years, this event has brought together riders from all over the region for one shared purpose: bringing joy to kids at Christmas. Those toys, thousands of them, end up at The Salvation Army, where they become part of the Toy and Joy program—helping families across Thurston County celebrate Christmas with dignity and love. Today, we'll talk with Captain Amelia Mott from The Salvation Army in Olympia about how the Toy Run helps meet real needs in the community—and later, we'll catch up with Santa Joe, the biker who started and has led this joyful ride year after year. Because generosity doesn't always come wrapped with ribbons and bows. Sometimes, it comes roaring down the street on two wheels. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. JOIN THE HOPEFULS. Get inside the group. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. DO GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

    20 min

  8. 12/08/2025

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

    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. It has grown into a movement that now brings Christmas joy to more than a million children each year. The idea was simple: invite the community to adopt a child by name, shop for their Christmas wishes, and then return those gifts so they could be placed into the hands of families who might otherwise go without. Behind that simple plan are countless stories of connection and hope—families who breathe a sigh of relief, children who go back to school with new clothes, volunteers who find purpose in serving. Today, you'll hear from people whose lives have been touched by these gifts. Captain Yohani Ortiz shares her own story of receiving gifts as a child and how it shaped her life. And then, you'll hear from Marlene Klotz-Collins, who helped launch the Christmas Angel program in Phoenix and has volunteered faithfully for four decades. Because at Christmastime, joy shows up in many faces—and often, it starts with a simple paper angel. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. JOIN THE HOPEFULS. Get inside the group. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. DO GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

    27 min
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4.9
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

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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