Let's Give A Damn

Ben’s story involves prison, it involves homelessness, and it involves Ben being getting shot at as he narrowly escaped from communist Romania. I told Ben during our convo that parts of his story remind me of The Great Escape—you know, the WWII movie with Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson. Ben is an amazing man who has fought hard to raise a money, start a church, run Vital Solutions, and so much more. This is an incredible story of bravery, resilience, perseverance, and passion. You know what? All of these things are required at some point if you’re going to give a damn.  Follow Ben on Twitter. If you enjoyed our conversation, go let him know! Also, follow the work Vital Solutions is doing. Amazing stuff! Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow Nick Laparra—Facebook, Instagram,& Twitter. Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the mo

Jeremy and I attended a fundraiser a few weeks ago and we got talking about our current political climate. We text all the time about it but hadn’t had the opportunity to chat in person about it in quite some time. He mentioned that no one ever asks him about that. Most people only want to know about the celebrities he has photographed or the hotel he is building. So, I asked him if he wanted to have a discussion on our podcast. He said yes! This conversation is the result of our time together.  We intentionally didn’t make this a Trump-bashing conversation. I believe we cover a range of topics responsibly and our hope is that you’ll get a sense of the important issues at hand and where we stand on said issues. Jeremy does a fantastic job summarizing what’s wrong, what’s right, and what we can do about it. Follow Jeremy on Instagram and Twitter. Also, sign up for updates regarding the hotel he’s building and why this is a big deal.  Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up wit

Is there anything Amy Jo Martin hasn’t done? She is a successful CEO, a speaker, a best-selling author, an investor, and a podcast host. I, for one, am very glad my daughters will have women like Amy Jo to look up to as they grow up and aspire for greatness. I loved chatting with Amy Jo about a number of things—about her life, her career, working with celebrities like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, hosting a successful podcast, #SpreadSerotonin, and so much more. Buckle up, this is a good one!  Follow Amy Jo on Twitter and Instagram. Read more of her extensive bio here. Also, buy her book! She sent me a copy a while back and it’s fantastic.  Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow Nick Laparra—Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice on Patreon. 100% of the money you contrib

It all started for Jeremy when he was on a leisurely trip to India. A couple abolitionists introduced him to the horrors of the red light district—women and children being sold into sex slavery. That day changed him forever. He went on to start Climb For Captives—an initiative he started which has raised over $750,000 so far! Later, he founded Rescue:Freedom International—an amazing group of humans fighting to end slavery one life at a time. And they’re doing it! To date, they’ve helped 49,138 people all over the world. They are 481 people currently receiving restorative care, and they’re working in 11 countries. Amazing work! I know you’re going to love Jeremy and the work he and RF are doing all around the world. Follow Jeremy on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Rescue:Freedom on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Also, consider becoming a financial partner! Your money will go to good use, to say the least.  Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We

Elena and I first met over FaceTime months ago. Minutes into our conversation, I knew I needed to have her on the podcast. Elena grew up as the child of humanitarian aid workers overseas so she was able to see firsthand what it looks like to give a damn. Among her many accomplishments, she has been awarded the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship. That’s kind of a big deal. She is also a Rhodes Scholar finalist. Also, a big deal.  We discuss growing up all over the world, caring for refugees in war-torn countries, fighting for women’s rights, and engaging in the long, hard work of being an agent of change for important issues at the policy level. I know you’re going to love our conversation.  Follow Elena on Facebook. She’s not on social media all that much but you can google her name to find out more about her academic scholarships and her accomplishments. She’s awesome! Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the com

Heide is a sustainable fashion model from NYC. She uses her voice and platform to champion the work Deux Mains and so many others are doing in the sustainable and ethical fashion world. Heide is good friends with Julie, the founder of Deux Mains. In this podcast chapter, I speak with both of these women about their lives, their vision for giving meaningful work to so many in the developing world, and their hopes for the future. You’re going to love these women—so much passion for life and love for people!  Follow Heide on Twitter and Instagram, follow Julie on Instagram, and follow Deux Mains on Twitter and Instagram. Also, buy your next pair of sandals, your next tote, or your next necklace from Deux Mains. Amazing products that support the livelihood of so many wonderful people! Lastly, if you want to hear more from Julie, check our her 2016 TEDx talk.  Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we do

Jamie Sivrais is an amazing person. He’s displays resilience and strength in so many ways. During the first few years of his life, he experienced a significant amount of pain and trauma from a family member. Years later, he is using all that he has gone through as a launching pad for helping, loving, and serving those who has experienced similar things in their lives.  Follow Jamie on Twitter. Follow A Voice For The Innocent on Twitter and check out their website for help, resources, and information! Lots of great stuff there. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow Nick Laparra—Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice on Patreon. 100% of the money you contribute will go to making more podcasts. Not a dime goes into our pockets! Thanks for all your help. Have a wonderful

Eryn Eddy is a social entrepreneur, speaker, art director, and the founder of So Worth Loving– a lifestyle clothing brand based in Atlanta, Georgia. Eryn and her work have been featured in publications such as CNN headline news, MSNBC, Mashable, Jezebel Magazine, Southern Living, and Atlanta Magazine. Eryn hopes to empower others to use their voice for good in whatever avenue they are serving in. In our conversation, we discuss her upbringing, how So Worth Loving started (fascinating story!), what she believes her calling is for her life, and so much more.  Follow Eryn on Twitter and Instagram. Follow So Worth Loving on Instagram and go buy a shirt (or two!) on their website.  Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow Nick Laparra—Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice o

Rich has spent 29 of his 33 years of life living in the same neighborhood—Washington Heights, Manhattan. He’s a husband, father, pastor, and a neighbor. And he’s committed to seeing people thrive in every way—physically, financially, emotionally, & spiritually. He—along with his family, church family, and community—are very involved in caring for the needs of the people around them. An all-around amazing dude that gives so many damns!  Follow Rich on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Mi Casa Uptown on Instagram and check out some videos, blog posts, and other resources on their website. Also, buy Rich’s new book! You’re going to love it.  Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow Nick Laparra—Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice on Patreon. 100% of the money you contr

Kareem Manuel grew up in Chicago. He has pastored churches, performed for thousands as a hip hop artist, started companies, and everything in between. Now? He lives in Atlanta growing the We. Society, loving his neighbors, spending time with his family, managing artists, and always dreaming up new ways to help people rally around good causes. Kareem is wildly passionate about empowering people to give a damn and to stop making excuses for not caring. After all, we are the ones we are waiting for. This is a great conversation. Lots to learn from Kareem. Let’s go! Follow Kareem on Twitter and Instagram. Follow We. on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. And support them by purchasing a dang shirt! Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow Nick Laparra—Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount

This week’s conversation is live! Yup. We recorded this in front of a live audience in Nashville. Along with hearing from Barrett Ward, you’ll also get to hear from Miles Adcox, Ashley Real, and Alex Masters. These three humans are amazing and I can’t wait for you to hear what they have to say! Or sing, in Alex’s case:) OK, back to Barrett. It wasn’t until later in life that Barrett figured out what he wanted to do. He would say he still doesn’t quite know. But now that he (somewhat) knows, he’s running full speed ahead. He and the team at Fashionable provide meaningful work to thousands of women in the developing world while also providing those living in the Western world an opportunity to wear clothes that are sustainably and responsibly made and produced. You’re going to love Barrett, his story, and his passion for providing meaningful jobs to women all all over the world. And guess what? They’re just getting started! In our conversation, he reveals some really fantastic and important details about the fu

Miles Adcox is the CEO of Onsite. He speaks nationally on topics such as Emotional Leadership, Inspiration, Communication, Organizational health, Creative Flow, Family Systems, Trauma, and Emotional Wellness. He is also a frequent guest on Dr. Phil and he’s been featured on A&E’s Intervention.  So, what’s Onsite? “Onsite provides a safe, loving, family environment where guests can break the cycles that hold them back and rediscover themselves and their relationships.” They’ve helped so many people through very difficult times in their lives. They’ve even helped people I know personally!  Miles is a wise man who is filled with love and care for people. This was crystal clear when I met him in the studio and I know you’ll hear these things come through in our conversation. So much to learn from him!  Follow Miles on Twitter and Instagram. Keep up with the work he and the Onsite team are doing by following them on Twitter and Instagram, as well!  Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter

Like some of you, Beth Mathews is a graphic and web designer by trade. She’s a damn good one, too! What makes Beth so special is that she has chosen to proactively use her skillset and experiences to love and serve so many people. Whether we look at The Mom Bag or Immigrant Run Eateries, she continues to kill it.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Beth. She exudes humility and genuine love for people. You’ll hear it in her voice, in her responses, and even in the occasional pauses. Buckle up, this is a good one! Follow Beth on Instagram. Keep up with some of the damn-giving work she’s doing by visiting Immigrant Run Eateries and The Mom Bag.  Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow Nick Laparra—Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice on Patreon. 100% of the money you co

John Cotton Richmond has been helping, loving, and serving people for quite some time. He started out working to free people from human slavery with the International Justice Mission. He then serve das the Special Litigation Counsel with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He went on to start the Human Trafficking Institute. If you haven’t figured out by now, John loves people and longs to see all people freed from all kinds of slavery. He’s amazing! In our conversation, he gives us so much wisdom and practical help for giving a damn. You won’t want to miss one minute of our chat.  Follow John on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Keep up with the work he’s doing by following the Human Trafficking Institute on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow Nick Laparra—Facebook, Instagram,

You may know Leon from his iconic yellow motor bike. Or you may know him from his Netflix show, The Kindness Diaries. Or maybe from his National Geographic show called The Amazing Adventures of a Nobody. Either way, you’re going to enjoy my conversation with a man who takes risks for a living with the hope of sharing love and kindness with as many people as possible. It’s not all fun and games, though. Leon will share a little about the struggles of being a globe trotting kindness spreader.  Leon has documented his travels for Good Morning America, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Outside, Good, Psychology Today, and The New York Times. Follow Leon on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. And if you have Netflix (and everyone of you do!), quit watching The Office reruns and watch The Kindness Diaries.  Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want

David is a powerhouse. No, seriously. His voice and passion command your attention and his fitness regimen makes most of us look undisciplined and straight-up lazy. David spent a few years playing for the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks. He was “Mr. Irrelevant” (the last pick) in the 2008 NFL Draft. He didn’t get discouraged by this, however. He used this opportunity to prove everyone wrong. You will hear the same passion and persistence in his voice today as he now uses his skillset, experiences, and his whole life to serve disabled military veterans through the Adaptive Training Foundation. You’ll hear more about this and so much more in this podcast conversation. Follow David on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Adaptive Training Foundation on Twitter and Instagram. Also, watch this short film to learn more about David and the incredible work he’s doing! Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months a

I met Clint in the back of a coffeeshop and bookstore to record our conversation (please excuse the chatter you’ll hear in the background!). Clint has impacted me deeply so it was an honor to get a few minutes of his time on a beautiful Sunday morning in D.C. Clint uses poetry, public speaking, social media, books, and many other mediums to address important issues like systemic racism, mass incarceration, gentrification, et al. Unlike many others addressing these same issues, Clint approaches these topics with firm humility. Very refreshing, indeed! I know you’ll enjoy and learn from our conversation.  Follow Clint on Twitter to keep up with what’s going on in his life. Purchase Counting Descent, his collection of poetry, immediately. This important book was the winner of the 2017 Black Caucus of the American Library Association Literary Award. What are you waiting for? Lastly, watch his TED talks here and here. You won’t regret doing so. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to ke

Adam and I met when I recorded a podcast with his wife, Noor Tagouri. Three days after recording my podcast with her, Adam and I met at their apartment building in D.C. to record a conversation wit him! I love everything about this couple. Adam has always been entrepreneurial. His hard-working, immigrant roots led him to start Lisn Up Clothing when he was still a teenager. I love this clothing brand and I love how radically generous they are! You’ll learn more about him and Lisn Up in this fantastic conversation.  Follow Adam on Instagram. Follow LisnUp on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also, check out their website! Buy a hat or a shirt and support their great mission! Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow Nick Laparra—Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice on Pa

Alex Lewis is 23 year old social media social specialist at YoungLife. He’s so full of life and positivity! He’s also a poet and had an idea to start a simple project that has now spread all over the world—Car Window Poetry. We both happened to be in North Carolina at the same time so we grabbed an hour or so together to talk about life, poetry, turning ideas into reality, and where Car Window Poetry is headed.  Follow Alex Lewis on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Car Window Poetry on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you’d like to be involved as a CWP ambassador, click here for more info on how you can join the team and spread good news! Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if you want to follow Nick Laparra—Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice on Patreon. 100% of the money you contr

My conversation with Jeremy Courtney impacted me so deeply. Jeremy is the founder of Preemptive Love Coalition. He and his family live outside of Mosul, Iraq. You can't follow Jeremy or Preemptive Love for very long on social media before realizing that these friends are the real deal. They are not bullshitting about the work they do and the intense situations they are surrounded by each day as they pour their lives out for the precious people of Iraq, Syria, and beyond. I hope our conversation impacts you as deeply as it has impacted me. Follow Jeremy Courtney on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Follow Preemptive Love on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you’d like to be involved in the work they’re doing, consider giving a one-time or monthly donation. Your money will be put to incredible use, I can assure you. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! And if yo