Team Powdered Donut™ Podcast

Gary Thompson
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Documentary

Over the past ten years, Gary has honored his late wife, Maureen’s, memory by delivering bags of powdered donuts to meaningful places each year on October 21, the day of her passing. What began as a way to turn grief into joy has sparked powerful connections and moments of healing. Team Powdered Donut™ takes this tradition and makes it about all of us. "One Story. One Moment. One Donut at a time." The podcast is going "on the air" ahead of Team Powdered Donut heading out on the road via Airstream® in 2026 to visit all 73 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers and other meaningful locations along the way. At every stop, powdered donuts will be shared and stories will be collected – echoing the spirit of StoryCorps® – with a mobile podcast studio in the Airstream in which Gary will travel. From patients to those who love them, from oncologists to their healthcare teams, stories will be captured and shared along the way.

  1. 13h ago

    Can Your #OneThing be ZERO? | Courtney Bugler, President & CEO, ZERO Prostate Cancer

    Who Is Courtney Bugler? Currently serving as the CEO and President of ZERO Prostate Cancer, Courtney is committed to advancing the organization's mission and making a tangible impact in the fight against prostate cancer. Under her leadership, ZERO Prostate Cancer continues to achieve remarkable milestones and drive meaningful change. Prior to her role at ZERO Prostate Cancer, Courtney served as the Chief Development and Marketing Officer at the Piedmont Park Conservancy. Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, she successfully elevated the organization's profile and expanded its philanthropic efforts. Courtney's career highlights also include her tenure as the National Director of the Race for the Cure / MORE THAN PINK Walk Series at Susan G. Komen, where she led a nationwide team to transform a top-ten National Peer-to-Peer Walk Series. Her strategic vision and leadership led to significant organizational growth and fundraising success. With a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Northwestern University and certification as a Certified Fundraising Executive®, Courtney combines her academic background with hands-on experience to drive results. Passionate about cancer advocacy and survivorship, Courtney has lobbied on Capitol Hill for funding toward cancer research programs and has served as a consumer advocate research grant reviewer. She has also developed successful programs and health communication tools for young women with breast cancer and at-risk populations.

    Can Your #OneThing be ZERO? | Courtney Bugler, President & CEO, ZERO Prostate Cancer

  2. Sep 8

    How to Get to 1M Signatures on the Mobile Love Letter? Ask One of the Authors of Go-Giver®!! | Bob Burg, Co-Author, International Bestseller, Go-Giver®

    Who Is Bob Burg? Bob Burg shares how a subtle shift in focus is not only a more uplifting and fulfilling way of conducting business but the most financially profitable way, as well. For more than 30 years he has helped companies, sales leaders, and their teams to more effectively communicate their value, sell at higher prices with less resistance, and grow their businesses based on Endless Referrals. Bob has regularly addressed audiences ranging in size from 50 to 16,000 — sharing the platform with notables including today’s top thought leaders, broadcast personalities, Olympic athletes and political leaders including a former United States President. Although for years he was best known for his book Endless Referrals, it’s his business parable, The Go-Giver (coauthored with John David Mann) that captured the imagination of his readers. The Go-Giver, a Wall Street Journal, and BusinessWeek Bestseller, has sold well over 1.5 million copies. Since its release, it has consistently stayed in the Top 25 on Porchlight’s (formerly 800-CEO-READ) Business Book Bestsellers List. The book has been translated into 30 languages. It was rated #10 on Inc. Magazine’s list of the Most Motivational Books Ever Written, and was on HubSpot’s 20 Most Highly Rated Sales Books of All Time. Bob is the author of a number of books on sales, referrals, influence, persuasion, and people skills, with total book sales exceeding two million copies. Bob is an advocate, supporter and defender, of the Free Enterprise system, believing that the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve. He is also an unapologetic animal fanatic and serves as part of a South Florida rescue, foster, and adoption organization. Learn more: https://burg.com/about/

    How to Get to 1M Signatures on the Mobile Love Letter? Ask One of the Authors of Go-Giver®!! | Bob Burg, Co-Author, International Bestseller, Go-Giver®

  3. Aug 25

    Channeling 35 Years at the Helm of SXSW to Transform Global Events | Hugh Forrest, Gather & Grow Experiences

    Who is Hugh Forrest? A transformative leader in the global events industry, Hugh Forrest dedicated more than three decades of his life to building South by Southwest (SXSW) into one of the world's most influential gatherings of technology, innovation and culture. Over the course of his 30+ year tenure at SXSW, Hugh was honored as "Austinite of the Year" by the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce (in 2012) and was also awarded as "Austin Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst & Young (in 2014). Austin Mayor Steve Adler honored him with a key to the city in January 2023. And in September 2025, Hugh was given the Legacy CEO of the Year Award by the Austin Business Journal. Kenyon College, his alma mater, bestowed him with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2018, acknowledging his significant impact on arts, culture, and education. His commitment to diversity and inclusion was likewise recognized when Hugh received the Diversity Champion of the Year award from the Austin Black Business Journal in June 2021. In addition to SXSW, Hugh served as the co-organizer of the Austin Reggae Festival for more than 30 years. This event raised more than one million dollars to help the Central Texas Food Bank feed hungry families in the Lone Star State. Hugh now channels his experience and expertise into exciting new directions with Gather & Grow Experiences, a consultancy that serves community-focused events, experiences and organizations globally. Current clients include SP2B (an eight-day celebration of culture and business scheduled for August 2026 in São Paulo, Brazil), the Texas Tribune Festival (September 24-26 in Austin), the Austin Forum (a weekly ATX-based event series) and Borderlands AI (a new event launching in San Antonio in the spring of 2027). Learn more about these and other projects at gatherandgrowexperiences.com He is also lending his insights to the Austin Sister Cities International (ASCI), as an at-large board member for this important committee. Other current Board positions include the school food program Common Threads and as as a Trustee for the Foundation for Better Business (Heart of Texas Chapter). He previously served on the Board for Austin Habitat for Humanity.

    Channeling 35 Years at the Helm of SXSW to Transform Global Events | Hugh Forrest, Gather & Grow Experiences

  4. Aug 11

    #BeyondTheRedDot | Living Exponentially and Playing Big | Nancy Giordano, Founder, Strategist Futurist, Curator

    Who Is Nancy? Described as endlessly optimistic, Nancy is an exponential strategist, gatherer, and best-selling author of LEADERing: The Ways Visionary Leaders Play Bigger. As founder of the Femme Futurist Society, the Futurist(Mom) podcast and mother of three, her expertise and experiences range from A.I. to frozen foods to reinventing the internet. And with a drive to help caring leaders play bigger to meet the escalating expectations ahead, she is recognized as one of the world’s top female futurists and has delivered more than 200 keynotes across the world. More From Nancy: https://nancygiordano.com https://podcast.futuristmom.com https://nancygiordano.substack.com/

    #BeyondTheRedDot | Living Exponentially and Playing Big | Nancy Giordano, Founder, Strategist Futurist, Curator

  5. Jul 28

    Beyond the Red Dot - Curating Connection From Libraries to Art, Creativity, Nature and the Spirit

    Who is Patricia Fitzgerald? Patricia is a visual artist, author and mindfulness meditation facilitator located in Dublin, Ireland. Her main focus is on the art of Mandala and the power of mandala as a tool for the expansion of consciousness. Her internationally selling work has been exhibited extensively in Ireland and abroad. As well as creating stunningly detailed mandalas, she also hosts workshops and retreats on Mandala creation and meditation. She is a part of the creative collective outlet who are situated in the Courtyard at Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin. Patricia studied Visual Education and Communication at Dun Laoghaire College of Art & Design (IADT) and also holds a first class honours degree in Philosophy and Sociology from University College, Dublin where she was also awarded a post graduate scholarship. Her first book Healing Creations: Discover your mindful self through mandala colouring and journaling (Collins Press 2016) contains forty hand drawn mandalas for you to engage with, positive quotations and wisdom from many of the world's best thinkers plus meditation. Her second book ‘Who Would You Be If..’ is a personal development book for women and was published by Red Stag Books in December 2018. She has featured on The RTE Today Show, The Irish Times, The Independent, Irish Examiner, Victoria Mary Clarke's The Art of Living Show, Derry City FM's Arts show, Positive Life, Live Encounters, The Dublin Enquirer and on many other radio shows and magazine features. Patricia was a Senior Librarian and Arts Officer with South Dublin Libraries for over 27 years until she changed her career in 2017 to pursue her art and meditation practice full time. During her time there, she organised many events including TEDxTallaght (she was the principal organiser and license holder for nine years), The Red Line Book Festival, Culture Night, Seachtain na Gaeilge, Children's Book Festival, Bealtaine, and more. She underwent treatment for TNBC Breast Cancer treatment in 2021/22 whilst simultaneously losing both of her parents during that time. She believes that the tools she has built up creatively and through meditation greatly helped navigate this extraordinarily difficult time. She is also an advocate for women with breast cancer and for the rights of women and children to have single sex spaces and keep safeguarding and language in tact. Peace@healingcreations.ie

    Beyond the Red Dot - Curating Connection From Libraries to Art, Creativity, Nature and the Spirit

  6. Jul 14

    What Does It Mean to be Human? An Exploration of Belonging in an Age of Hybrid Intelligence. | Jennifer Sertl, VP, Mktg, Circle Optics, Strategist, Futurist

    Who Is Jennifer Sertl? Jennifer Sertl is an internationally recognized strategist, leadership coach, and marketing executive with more than two decades of experience across transportation, beauty, defense, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. She is actively consulting through her firm Agility3R, where she helps organizations and executives build strategic capacity through resilience, responsiveness, and reflection. Jennifer is also Vice President of Marketing at Circle Optics, a deep tech company pioneering stitch-free panoramic imaging systems for aerospace, defense, and robotics. Her consulting and executive advisory work spans global companies including Genesee & Wyoming Inc., Zotos International, TRACSIS, Fujifilm, and Optimax Systems Inc., where she delivers transformation through behavioral branding, system design, and narrative intelligence. Jennifer is affiliated with several innovation ecosystems—including the MARL Accelerator, Upstate Venture Connect, Luminate Accelerator, GENIUS NY, and Alley to the Valley—supporting founders and leaders as they navigate growth, alignment, and complexity. She is the designer and creative director of three thought leadership platforms: ~ Studio A3R – her personal podcast, where she hosts thinkers and visionaries exploring the theme “The antidote to chaos is connection.” ~ 360° Pulse Podcast – produced for Circle Optics, focusing on Wide Field of View Innovation ~ Slow Drip Podcast – hosted by India Osborne, where Jennifer serves as creative director and co-producer Jennifer personally hosts both Studio A3R and 360° Pulse, and brings a high level of strategic storytelling and philosophical depth to each. A seasoned facilitator, she previously led three executive roundtables for Vistage International, curating thought leadership for C-level executives. She currently teaches “Exploring Innovation” at Rochester Institute of Technology and has spoken on global stages including Sibos, Asian Banker Summit, and the New York State CIO Conference. She is co-author of Strategy, Leadership and the Soul and The Upstate Founders Playbook, and serves on multiple advisory boards focused on technology, ethics, and workforce development. Jennifer lives in Rochester, New York. When she’s not consulting or creating, she’s likely hiking, reading existential philosophy, or hosting intimate salons that foster connection across disciplines and generations.

    What Does It Mean to be Human? An Exploration of Belonging in an Age of Hybrid Intelligence. | Jennifer Sertl, VP, Mktg, Circle Optics, Strategist, Futurist

  7. Jun 30

    We Can't Do it Alone. Business Design, Innovation & Co-Creation | Patrick Van der Pijl, Founding Partner, Business Models, Inc.

    Who Is Patrick Van der Pijl? Patrick founded Business Models Inc. the company that drives growth through innovation. BMI helps leaders and teams to systematically grow the core business, unlock new opportunities and build innovation capabilities. They work in collaboration with our clients like IKEA, ING, Mars, Medtronic and Heineken to create lasting results. After producing the global bestseller Business Model Generation, Patrick began writing his own books on business collaboration tools and methods, including Design a Better Business and Business Model Shifts. Through these books, he continues to explore business design—helping leaders and teams innovate, grow, and transform through practical tools, strategic thinking, and impactful business models. His latest book, Augmented Collaboration, explores an innovation workflow powered by AI and will be released on September 1, 2026. Available here - https://augmentedcollaboration.com/pages/buy-the-book

    We Can't Do it Alone. Business Design, Innovation & Co-Creation | Patrick Van der Pijl, Founding Partner, Business Models, Inc.

  8. Jun 16

    The Search For Meaning With the Luckiest "Mann" in the World | John David Mann, NYT Bestselling Author & Coauthor, The Go-Giver

    As I dug into John's story in preparation for his episode, I stumbled into not only a prolific writer but a deep thinker with a rich and interesting story. The kind of story and person I just love having a conversation with on the Team Powdered Donut™ podcast. John is as eloquent a speaker and thinker, as he is a writer. His own love story with Ana led to their book The Go-Giver Marriage, and they have another one on the horizon from their love story, "The Start of Something Big." As you get ready to listen to a truly special episode, these two quotes really stood out, both of which we discuss in the episode. One from John's Substack, "Mann’s Search for Meaning," definitely worth subscribing to by the way. John starts each post with a quote. This one from C.S. Lewis from the start of John's post, "On love, grief, and joy stood out. “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken." And finally, from Doris Lessig, the oldest winner of the Nobel prize in literature. "Whatever you're meant to do, do it now. Circumstances will always be impossible." Thank you John for inspiring us all not only with your more than 40+ books but to making the impossible possible! Who is John David Mann? John David Mann is an award-winning author whose books have sold more than 3 million copies in 3 dozen languages, including the New York Times bestselling memoir The Red Circle with former Navy SEAL Brandon Webb and the New York Times bestselling parable The Latte Factor with personal finance legend David Bach. As a teenager, John started his own high school and was an award-winning composer and cellist before turning to careers as an entrepreneur and author. His classic The Go-Giver (with Bob Burg) has sold over 1 million copies in 38 languages and won the Living Now Evergreen Medal for its “contribution to positive global change.” His book Take the Lead (with former White House staffer Betsy Myers) was named by Tom Peters and the Washington Post “Best Leadership Book of 2011.” His first novel, Steel Fear (with Brandon Webb), was nominated for a Barry Award in 2021 and named one of the “best books of the year” by Publishers Weekly. John lives in Florida and New England, where he leads a coaching program called Writing Mastery Mentorship. https://johndavidmann.com

    The Search For Meaning With the Luckiest "Mann" in the World | John David Mann, NYT Bestselling Author & Coauthor, The Go-Giver
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5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Over the past ten years, Gary has honored his late wife, Maureen’s, memory by delivering bags of powdered donuts to meaningful places each year on October 21, the day of her passing. What began as a way to turn grief into joy has sparked powerful connections and moments of healing. Team Powdered Donut™ takes this tradition and makes it about all of us. "One Story. One Moment. One Donut at a time." The podcast is going "on the air" ahead of Team Powdered Donut heading out on the road via Airstream® in 2026 to visit all 73 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers and other meaningful locations along the way. At every stop, powdered donuts will be shared and stories will be collected – echoing the spirit of StoryCorps® – with a mobile podcast studio in the Airstream in which Gary will travel. From patients to those who love them, from oncologists to their healthcare teams, stories will be captured and shared along the way.

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