The Extra Mile - The Official Charity Miles Podcast gene@charitymiles.org (Gene Gurkoff)

Edith Wharton once said, "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."
Today's guest, Aaron Sherinian, is both—a candle igniting change and a mirror reflecting the light of others.
Eleven years ago, Aaron was the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for the United Nations Foundation, where, amongst many other things, he was instrumental in founding Giving Tuesday, a movement dedicated to turning the Tuesday after Thanksgiving into a day of giving.
During these crucial early days for Charity Miles, Aaron observed the power of our community sharing the #GivingTuesday hashtag on social media, sparking his interest in our mission.
This led to a breakfast meeting that was a turning point for Charity Miles and me personally.
Aaron not only connected us with crucial sponsors like Johnson & Johnson but also provided platforms for us to share our story at events like the Social Good Summit, the Moms+Social Summit, and SXSW. These opportunities were instrumental in introducing us to key members of our community.
I've wanted to do this interview for a long time, and it brings me particular joy to share it on Giving Tuesday.
In this conversation, Aaron shares insights from his career and personal experiences, including:
The potluck dinner of life and how each of us can bring our best dish. Effective ways to invite people to embrace positive change. Think big but start small. The evolving role of social media and its impact on social causes. Why rallies are important. The importance of cultivating a purpose posse. Overcoming taboos to find solutions. The power of showing up. The transformative power of taking a chance on someone. It's no exaggeration to say that Charity Miles would not exist today without Aaron taking a chance on us.
In honor of Aaron, I invite you to take a chance on someone else you see spreading light into the world.
#EveryMileMatters

If you're not joining our live weekly walking meditations, then you're missing out!
We do them on Zoom every week, alternating between Wednesdays and Fridays, at 1PM ET.
Here's a recording of our latest walking meditation, led by Haley Fountain.
Haley is an integrative nutrition coach, yoga teacher and meditation coach in Houston, Texas.
To the point, she's fantastic.
If you enjoy this walking mediation, then keep an eye out for our live meditations which we announce my email to all of our members.
(If you'd like to get those emails, just download the Charity Miles app.)
If you'd like to learn more about Haley, click here.
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Also big thanks to our sponsor, Hope Foods, which makes the most delicious and nutritious plant based hummus and dips. 
All Hope Foods products are Organic and/or Non-GMO Project verified, GFCO certified gluten-free, OU-certified kosher, and dairy and soy-free.
Hope Foods is also committed to mental health, which is why they're the perfect partner for our walking meditations.
To learn ore about Hope Foods and explore holistic well-being resources on their website, click here.

Today's interview is with Elisabet Lahti, Ph.D., an author, speaker, trainer and expert on the Finnish concept of Sisu.
What is Sisu? Sisu is a Finnish word that most closely translates in English to "grit". 
But if "grit" is the feeling we get when we grit our teeth, Elisabet notes, Sisu is in our guts.  It's in our bodies.  It's gentler.  And yet in its own way very powerful.  
These nuances are not just descriptive semantics. They have important implications for how we can cultivate Sisu and how we can apply it in our own lives.
In this interview, Elisabet shares:
Her Personal Story of Sisu: Elisabet takes us on a personal voyage, revealing the her own challenges and experiences with domestic violence that shaped her profound understanding of Sisu.
Her Epic Journey in New Zealand: Elisabet also takes us on her journey of walking, running and biking the length of New Zealand as part of her dissertation research on the concept of Sisu.
Sisu vs. Resilience and Grit: We dive into the nuances of Sisu and how it sets itself apart from seemingly similar concepts like grit and resilience. Elisabet's perspective sheds light on the subtle yet profound distinctions.
Cultivating Your Sisu: Elisabet generously imparts guidance on how individuals can cultivate and tap into their innate Sisu, empowering themselves to face life's challenges with grace and strength.
To learn more about Elisabet and Sisu, click here.
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Also big thanks to our sponsor, Hope Foods, which makes the most delicious and nutritious plant based hummus and dips. 
All Hope Foods products are Organic and/or Non-GMO Project verified, GFCO certified gluten-free, OU-certified kosher, and dairy and soy-free.
Hope Foods is also committed to mental health, recognizing the connection between gut health and brain health, aligning with Elisabet's description of Sisu as a resilience rooted in our guts, not just in our heads.
To learn ore about Hope Foods and explore holistic well-being resources on their website, click here.
 

Come along for a special walk in Cambodia to experience how the World Food Program USA's school meals program is changing the lives of studens, their families and their communities.
Every day, millions of children walk into school on an empty stomach which makes it impossible to learn, much less thrive. Today, 153 million people under the age of 18 are severely hungry – an alarming, devastating number that is only expected to rise.  
That's why WFP's Erase Hunger campaign is focused on supporting kids and their communities through their school meals program.
This back-to-school season, starting August 1 and culminating on October 16, World Food Day, together with their partners, they will raise funds to provide 3 MILLION SCHOOL MEALS FOR KIDS AROUND THE WORLD.
We are always proud to partner with the World Food Progam USA. And we're surely grateful to collaborate with them on their Erase Hunger campaign this fall.
If you'd like to learn more about the World Food Program USA, and how you can get involved in the Erase Hunger campaign, click here.

In this episode of The Extra Mile we speak with George Weiner, the Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, a social impact digital agency. George sheds light on how non-profits can harness the potential of artificial intelligence (A.I.) to drive positive change and amplify their impact.
Topics Covered:
Understanding A.I.: George breaks down the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, helping non-profits grasp its transformative capabilities.
Generative A.I.: Delving deeper, we explore the concept of generative A.I., its potential, and the creative avenues it opens for non-profit organizations.
Ensuring Equity and Inclusivity: Discover how non-profits can play a vital role in shaping A.I. platforms, ensuring they align with their values of equity and inclusivity.
Optimizing Limited Resources: Learn how A.I. can empower non-profits to achieve more with limited staff and budgets, maximizing their efficiency and impact.
Risk Awareness: George highlights the risks and potential pitfalls non-profits should be mindful of when integrating A.I. into their operations.
Avoiding the "Grey Suit Problem": Tune in to understand the significance of prompt-architecture and how it can help non-profits steer clear of the common "grey suit problem."
Introducing causewriter.ai: George shares the story behind Whole Whale's innovative causewriter.ai, designed to assist non-profits in avoiding the "grey suit problem."
Empowering Supporters: Learn how supporters of non-profits can embrace and leverage A.I. to further their impact and involvement.
Huge thanks to George for helping us explore the potential of A.I. for non-profits and how they can propel their missions.
Links:
Whole Whale CauseWriter.ai

Marcey Rader is an accomplished author, consultant, coach, speaker, and an expert on digital wellness, tech-life balance, and health-powered productivity.
She is also the founder of RaderCo, a company dedicated to helping executives and their teams banish burnout, cultivate sustainable habits, and enhance productivity through practical tools and accountability.
In this interview, Marcey shares valuable insights on improving employee wellbeing, combating burnout, and finding tech-life balance. Her expertise offers valuable guidance for individuals and organizations seeking to optimize their productivity and well-being.
Key Discussion Points:
A common mistake that leaders make when thinking about how to improve employee wellbeing in their teams.
Two things that are usually the biggest contributors to employee burnout.
How leaders can think "upstream" to mitigate burnout before it becomes an issue. 
Actionable tips leaders can take to mitigate burnout in their teams. Strategies that individuals can implement for themselves to regain more tech-life balance for themselves.
Why walking meeitings rock, and how to make them easier. To learn more about Marcey Reader and her work, visit her website, please click here.  To learn more about Rader Co, please click here.
Huge thanks to Marcey for shaing so much with us, and for her enthusiastic support for Charity Miles!