Give A Damn

Story 88: The Healing Power of BBQ with Stan Hays

Stan Hays loves barbecue, feeding people, helping in times of need. His organization, Operation BBQ Relief, has fed over 10 million meals to people in need in their nearly 12 years of existence.

 

When disaster strikes, they are quite often the first organization into town, bringing meals (incredible, comfort type meals) to people who need it most. Those who have been decimated and discouraged.

 

It's an incredibly brave organization that we loved learning about, and are so excited to see where they go in the coming months! (hint: they're building a camp in the Ozarks for first responders and their families who have experienced traumatic events).

 

Stan's story is strong and courageous, and his heart to make an even bigger impact is contagious.

Story 87: Seeking Discomfort with Max Malldorf

Max Malldorf is a German national who fell in love with America as a foreign exchange student. He's now a master brewer at POG brewery south of Kansas City. He is candid about how discomfort has been a vehicle for change in his life, and we were honored to hear his story.

Story 86: The Story Inward with Josh Cress

Josh Cress is a therapist and founder of Ampersand Counseling in Liberty, MO. Our conversation goes quickly into the vulnerable, discussing his journey "inward" toward self-awareness. It's a treacherous but rewarding road that many men and women have traveled (particularly since Covid disrupted life as we know it in March of 2020).

 

Josh is a brilliant, empathetic, and vulnerable man, and fellow Swiftie.

 

We hope you find the conversation helpful on your own journey.

 

His practice's website is: https://acg-kc.com/.

Story 85: Nothing to Fear with Brent Beshore

Author, leader, thinker, and man of deep care and humility - Brent Beshore shares his story with us this week, and we could not be more grateful to hear his heart.

 

Brent shares, among other things, what it's like to walk through pride and into humility, his opinions on "health bros" and their bad takes on ice baths, and many other lessons he's learned along the way.

Story 84: What Do I Actually Want?

Trent Raines is a partner at Collected Living, where he has taken his love of building and brought it into the workplace for this incredible design firm.

 

Throughout his career, Trent consciously has pursued work that makes him come alive. And like any empathetic leader, this road has been a journey of self-awareness and self-discovery.

 

And we are so honored to hear his story.

Story 83: Paint the Horizon with MJ Mitchell

MJ Mitchell, CEO of Resto Athletic, has a riveting story: learning to lead a massive global organization at a young age, revolutionizing the custom performance apparel manufacturing industry, all while giving his team members the dignity of a living wage for their skilled labor.

 

Justin and MJ discuss leadership, redemptive entrepreneurship, how to become a horizon painter, and much more.

 

We are so excited to share this conversation with you.

Story 82: Health is Freedom with Chris Goode

"Do you mind if I pray before our conversation," Chris asked before we hit record.

 

Chris started the conversation with intention, clarity, and surrender.

 

And what resulted was mind blowing.

 

We're humbled to share this dialogue, and the glimpse into the deep parts of Chris' story.

 

One of triumph, transformation, and truth.

 

His bravery, his resilience, and his purpose is on full display here.

 

And it's beautiful.

 

Hit play, and be inspired.

Story 81: Super Geek, Rebecca Kidwell Stretching for Good

Rebecca Kidwell has a huge heart, an incredible academic pedigree, and deep humility. She has used her intellect as an engineer to start the LEARN Science and Math Club for students in the Kansas City area. That club has gone on to pioneer and develop mobile machines that help students with disabilities experience motion and play with their peers. Where they belong.

 

She is an incredible person that we are honored to know, and are so excited to share her story with you.

Story 80: Jeremy Parsons on Crummy Religion, Shame, and Joy.

Jeremy Parsons is a lot of things: a father to three growing young men, a lover of the wild places in Western Colorado (where he grew up), films by Tarantino and Wes Anderson, the comedy of John Mulaney and Patton Oswalt, and ordering more of the adventurous selections on a restaurant’s menu.

 

He has traveled the world as a documentary photographer, falling in love with humanity along the way. In 2020, he joined the Guild team, recently assuming the role of Director of Story at Guild Collective in 2022.

 

Jeremy and Justin sat down and had a candid talk about what it's like to be 42, to have kids leaving the home, the wounds they have carried since childhood, and aging into new perspectives on life, religion and mistakes.

 

The result is a heart-felt and life giving conversation.

Why Does Human-First Matter?

Who is Guild Collective?

What does it mean to be "human first"?

Why does Guild Collective exist?

Why does story matter?

 

Racheal Burnett, COO at Guild Collective, and Jeremy Parsons, Director of Story at Guild Collective join Justin to have a transparent and enlivening conversation, getting to the heart behind what drives GC and how we got here.