The Truman Charities Podcast

How do you cut through the misinformation a generation is growing up on? 

Education Enhancement Initiative (Eden) was founded to combat rising antisemitism that followed the October 7th attacks. In this episode, founder Talya Knable explains how bringing educators to Israel helps them understand the region, teach from their firsthand experiences, and help students discuss the complex dynamics without hostility.

She also shares what she witnessed traveling through Israel after the attacks, and Eden's plans to expand beyond its first cohort this summer.

Connect with Education Enhancement Initiative:

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Imagine going abroad to volunteer for a few months and realizing you never want to leave.

That's how Heather Graham ended up spending 25 years at Casa Guatemala, which has grown from an orphanage into a community model providing education, healthcare and daily nutrition to over 300 children across 30 villages.

In this episode, she reflects on what it takes to keep a school running off the grid, what she’s learned about the art of adapting, and the success stories that make it all worth it.

Learn how to support or volunteer at casa-guatemala.org.

On May 2nd, the Truman Charities Derby Party raised $42,720 for the National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation. Like Truman Charities, it’s a 100% volunteer-run organization and every dollar goes straight to research and patient care.

 In this episode, learn more about this year’s cause and the amazing sponsors that made the event possible. Jamie also shares what’s next for Truman Charities in 2026 and how you can be a part of the mission.

 Get more information on how you can show up, give back, and get involved in the community at trumancharities.com.

Connect with Jamie at...

Most abuse doesn't start with violence. It starts with control that looks like love — constant texting, always wanting to be together and hating when you're apart.

 In this episode, Kristy Warren, Executive Director of the Montgomery County Family Justice Center Foundation, walks through the subtle warning signs most people miss and how they're helping survivors break the cycle.

 She shares their unique approach to making sure no survivor has to go back, the surprising role technology plays in abusive relationships, and why prevention starts with teens learning what a healthy relationship looks like.

 f you...

You do not want to miss this year's Derby Party! On May 2nd, Truman Charities is taking over Tommy Joe's in Bethesda from 5:30 to 9:30 for a night of racing, live auctions, prizes, and lots of fun.

 All proceeds raised go directly to the National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation, a 100% volunteer-run organization that uses every dollar to support research and patient care.

 Grab your tickets before they’re gone: https://www.trumancharities.com/events-derby

 Connect with The National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation:

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Facebook

Hotline: 303-808-3437

Connect with Jamie at Tr...

Some cancers get billions in funding, massive awareness campaigns, and life-saving research. Leiomyosarcoma isn't one of them. It's a rare, aggressive cancer that most people have never even heard of — but Dr. Mitch Achee & Annie Achee are hoping to change that.

 In this episode, they  explain  what LMS is, why it's so difficult to treat, and  how the National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation is filling the gaps through patient education, a 24/7 support hotline, and global research efforts.

 Truman Charities is proud to partner with the NLMSF for the upcoming Derby Party on May 2nd, where every dollar raised...

If you care about homelessness and food insecurity, you've probably asked yourself: where can my support actually change someone's life for good, not just for a night?

 43 years ago, 15 people sat down to dinner in a small house kitchen in Montgomery County. Today, Shepherd's Table has served over 2 million meals and has never missed a single day.

 Daniella Burgos, Director of Development, joins Jamie to talk about how their community's response to hunger grew into something far bigger than a soup kitchen — a 12-week Culinary Skills Training Program that has turned meal guests into professional chef...

Tonight, kids in your town are falling asleep on cold, hard floors. Not because of neglect, but simply because their families don't have beds.

 Luke Mickelson heard about a family in his community whose children were sleeping on hardwood floors, so he built them a bed. Then he built another, and another. His work eventually turned into Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that has now delivered over 360,000 beds across 47 states and four countries.

 In this episode, you'll learn why a bed is more than just a bed, how two foster siblings nearly lost each ot...

 How are kids graduating without being able to read in one of the most well-funded school systems in America?

 Investigative reporter Christopher Papst helped expose how Baltimore City Public Schools received billions in funding but students were leaving without mastering the basics. In this episode, he shares shocking details of how the school system has failed its students and the community — including why kids are pushed to the next grade after missing most of the school year and how policies like the “50% rule” make it easier to pass than to learn.

 Join our conversation to learn who...

If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t people just get back on their feet?"this episode will show you why rebuilding is rarely that simple.

That's why Friendship Place is tackling homelessness in a different way. Their person-centric approach meets people where they are and helps them secure stable housing and employment without having to jump through a million hoops before getting support.

 In this episode, President and CEO Jean-Michel Giraud shares what their programs look like in practice — from street outreach to services for veterans. You'll hear what most people misunderstand about homelessness, why share...

Art education should be non-negotiable, not something students get only when budgets allow. From keeping students engaged to making subjects like math and science make more sense, the arts build confidence and create more ways for kids to succeed.

In this episode, Executive Director of Arts Every Day Julia DiBussolo shares how the organization is expanding access to certified fine arts teachers across Baltimore City Public Schools. Join their fight to provide classrooms with instruments and equipment, fund field trips, and bring art experiences to students who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity!

Learn how you...

Did you know that your home's design can impact your mood, focus, and even how safe you feel? The good news: it's simpler than you think to reset your space — and the start of a new year is the perfect time to do it.

 In this episode, Sarah Trop, founder of FunCycled Repurpose Design, shares easy, budget-friendly ways to refresh your home and make it feel more comfortable, more functional, and more like "you." From trauma-informed design to repurposing items you already own, she explains how small changes, like color and texture, can calm your mind and ner...

$175,000 Raised in 2025!  Learn what we  have in store for 2026 and how you can get involved.  We have decided on our 2025 charities as well. 

Connect with Jamie at Truman Charities:
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Email: info@trumancharities.com

This episode was post produced by Podcast Boutique https://podcastboutique.com/

Listen to some of our most influential interviews of 2025!  These are some of my favorite interviews from last year.

We are the only podcast that donates $250 to our guests charity of choice.  

Connect with Jamie at Truman Charities:
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LinkedIn
Website
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Email: info@trumancharities.com

This episode was post produced by Podcast Boutique https://podcastboutique.com/

The job market looks very different when survival is part of the equation. For many people in Loudoun County, finding work isn’t just about their resume. It's about overcoming a lack of transportation, housing instability, and language barriers.

 Nonprofits like Crossroads Jobs address these challenges to give people who are unemployed or underemployed the chance to rebuild their lives. In this episode, Scott German shares how their hands-on approach connects people with the right employers, builds confidence through coaching, and provides the resources they need to get hired and stay hired.

 Learn how you can...

In this Giving Tuesday episode, we spotlight the nonprofits we’ve featured throughout the year and share the impact they’re making. Think of it as a simple, meaningful guide to help you find the organization that resonates most with you and your family.

Connect with Jamie at Truman Charities:
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Website
YouTube
Email: info@trumancharities.com

This episode was post produced by Podcast Boutique https://podcastboutique.com/

Educational support is more than just pencils, paper and textbooks. From helping children in need show up to school prepared to supporting teachers as they grow their skills, this episode explores how one foundation is helping fill the gaps that school budgets can't cover.

 Kristy Mathey, Senior Vice President at Educational Systems Federal Credit Union and Chair of the Support Education Foundation, joins host Jamie Truman to share how their work helps students succeed in school and even continue their education in college or trade programs.

 Learn how you can donate, volunteer, or partner with th...

Truman Charities just raised $43,750 for the Salute Military Golf Association, and your nonprofit could be next! In this episode, host Jamie Truman recaps their annual Halloween fundraiser, the community support that made it a success, and how they ensure every dollar raised goes directly to charity.

 You’ll also learn about the vetting process and the steps your organization can take to become a Truman Charities beneficiary. If you'd like to join the next event or partner with Truman Charities, visit trumancharities.com for more details.

Connect with Jamie at Truman Charities:
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In this episode, Dr. Bill Rawls shares his own experience battling chronic fatigue, mystery symptoms, and years of frustration before finding answers. You'll learn why so many treatments fail, the limitations of antibiotics, and what actually works to help your body heal at the cellular level.

He's spent years researching chronic illness and cellular health to understand what modern medicine overlooks, and it could change everything for you and your family!

 Connect with Dr. Bill Rawls:

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Wounded warriors don't just lose part of their body, they lose the life they once knew. For Ramon Padilla, that meant letting go of his dreams of a long military career and finding a new mission in recovery.

What he didn't expect was the game of golf to become his therapy, his challenge, and his motivation. In this episode, you'll hear how golf helped him rebuild his life, connect with other veterans, and even share the course with Tiger Woods.

Ramon’s story reminds us that golf isn’t just a game — it’s a lifeline...

We share why Truman Charities has chosen the Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA) as the beneficiary for our upcoming Halloween event.

You'll hear directly from SMGA Executive Director CJ Johnson and Veteran Jason David about the impactful work they do.

Additionally, we'll provide details about the Halloween event itself, including some of our incredible raffle and auction items, costume prizes, and other exciting surprises!

Register for our Halloween Charity Party Benefiting SMGA HERE

Connect with Jamie at Truman Charities:
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Email...

13 families a day are told their child has brain cancer. This statistic is rising, yet pediatric brain cancer is still underfunded and advances in treatment options aren't coming fast enough.

 In this episode, host Jamie Truman speaks with one mother who refused to wait and built a foundation to fund more research and bring hope to families. Nicole Giroux, founder of the Lilabean Foundation, shares how they’ve built a community that supports families, honors children affected by pediatric brain cancer, and funds the research needed to develop safer, more effective treatments.

 Learn how community fund...

$2.5 million raised and still going! Truman Charities continues to make an impact, and this time it's children that take center stage in our fundraising efforts. Their courage, energy, and teamwork show how giving back can inspire growth at every age.

In this episode, host Jamie Truman recaps the JUST TRYAN IT Kids Triathlon that raised $15,000 to support families fighting pediatric cancer. From the fun atmosphere to a nerve-racking start to the race, you'll hear how the kids challenged themselves and found joy in giving back.

 Jamie also answers one of your most asked qu...

Independence isn’t about doing everything alone. It’s about having choices. That’s exactly how Seeking Employment Equality and Community (SEEC) supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing lifelong support but letting them lead the way.

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In this episode, CEO Karen Lee shares how this philosophy has helped people ease into adulthood, build connections in the community, and feel like they truly belong. You'll hear why their employment program has more success than traditional job placement, how they personalize housing to every individual, and how families are supported every step of the way.<...

What if you had to choose between food, utilities, or urgent home repairs? This is the reality for many Montgomery County families barely scraping by, living in homes that are falling apart faster than they can fix them.

 In this episode, Chloe Bernardi of Rebuilding Together Montgomery County talks about this overlooked crisis and the volunteers who help them make homes safe and livable again. She shares who qualifies for their services, the crucial partnerships that allow them to reach more people, and real stories of their impact in the community.

 Tune in to learn wh...

Most people aren't prepared to care for aging family members. From finding quality caregivers to navigating insurance, deciding on the best care for loved ones is overwhelming, confusing, and often lonely.

 Steve Lorberbaum learned the hard way just how difficult those challenges are and now works to help families approach senior care with more support and less stress. His agency, Assisting Hands Home Care, guides families through every step of arranging in-home care so seniors can age comfortably at home.

 In this episode, Steve explains what Medicare actually covers, how hospice works, and the pros an...

Suffering from anxiety, weight gain, or brain fog? Poor sleep could be causing your biggest health issues — and your kids are just as vulnerable.

 In this episode, Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown, board-certified sleep physician and author of Beyond Tired: A Sleep Physician’s Guide to Solving Your Child’s Sleep Problems for Good, explains how sleep impacts our mood, hormones and long-term health. From unhealthy food cravings to hyperactivity in your kids, she shares surprising signs of poor sleep and how we can start to address them.

 Dr. Brown also tackles some of the most common question...

Truman Charities, a 100% volunteer-based organization founded in 2010, has raised over $2 million through three annual charity events.

Our upcoming Family Fun event on September 7th will benefit "Just TRYAN It," a local organization supporting families with children undergoing pediatric cancer treatment.

My 9-year-old son, Dominic, has even created a team to involve his friends in the triathlon.

The Family Fun event will take place at the Knights of Columbus from 2 PM to 5 PM on September 7th. We will have the Morazzi Pizza Truck, Clayboys Shave Ice, a Moon Bounce, and an open bar. 

 Diet, medications, environmental toxins... what’s really harming our kids?

 Beth Lambert of Documenting Hope joins host Jamie Truman to unpack the rise of chronic conditions in children and what conventional medicine misses when it comes to the health of our kids. She explains what she calls “the total load of modern living,” a cultural shift where kids are increasingly exposed to more processed food, technology, and chemicals putting stress on their developing bodies.

 Beth also shares how the organization is helping parents address the root causes of conditions like everything from developmental delays to autoimmun...

The difference between youth sports today and what we grew up with? 

 In this episode, Coach Jonathan Scribner helps us unpack why youth sports has changed and how year-round training, early specialization, and over-scheduling are affecting our kids. We discuss the decline of pickup games, rising competition, and the risks of burnout and injury.

 Plus, Jonathan has great advice for parents — including what age is best to specialize and how to make sure your children are having fun even when they're competing. He also shares how his organization is addressing these issues, developing crucial skills, and h...

Re-airing our most downloaded episode from our Vanishing Father's Series

“To be a father was my way of breaking a cycle and starting over.” In this one sentence, today’s guest, Peter Gronvall, insightfully reflects on his journey to fatherhood after growing up in a cult.
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During his conversation with host Jamie Truman, Peter discusses his experience living in two distinct worlds: One world where he and his eight siblings were subjected to severe emotional and physical abuse, and another where he was a dedicated student and spent time with friends. He shares how he and...

Celebrating Fathers and the Impact of Fatherhood

In this special Father's Day episode of the Truman Charities podcast, host Jamie Truman celebrates fathers, particularly her husband Jerry Truman, co-founder of Truman Charities. Jamie outlines how Truman Charities started with Jerry's initiative to raise funds for Leukemia research and has since grown, raising over $2 million.

 She discusses the significant impact fathers have within the family unit and the alarming statistics on youths without fathers. Jamie shares insights from her book 'Vanishing Fathers: The Ripple Effect on Tomorrow's Generation,' which explores the societal consequences of fatherlessness. 

You cover outlets, block stairs, baby-proof the cabinets — but did you miss the biggest risk in your home? Drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for children ages 1–4, but most parents don’t realize how crucial water safety really is until it’s too late.

 After losing her son, Andrea Montoya turned her grief into action, founding the Sylas Project to raise awareness, provide swim scholarships, and help families prevent the kind of tragedy she experienced.

 In this episode, Andrea shares what she wishes she had known earlier about water safety, the common misconcept...

Memorial Day is a holiday to most, but a day of remembrance and mourning for others. In this episode, you’ll hear how TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) supports families through every stage of grief — meeting them with compassion, honoring every story, and making sure no one has to grieve alone.

 Vice President of Development Audrey B. shares how one phone call to TAPS became the first step in her journey toward healing as a young military widow. She opens up about the grief that followed, and how the organization’s peer support helped her rebuild her lif...

We raised $48,000 for Interfaith Works at our Derby Party, with every dollar going directly to their job placement program.  As a 100% volunteer-based organization since 2010, Truman Charities has raised over $2 million through three annual events supporting different causes each year.

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Listen to Learn About....

Connect with Jamie at Truman Charities:
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Email: info@trumancharities.com

This episode was post...

The Face of America Cycling Challenge is a 110-mile, two-day ride that brings together adaptive and able-bodied athletes, veterans, and allies. After six years of riding, Mike Beezley has raised over $100,000 for World T.E.A.M., the nonprofit behind the ride that empowers athletes of all abilities through inclusive events like this one.

In this episode, Mike shares how the event supports people of all skill levels, honors our military, and the special moments that keep him coming back year after year. You’ll hear about the community support that helps riders push through, how World T...

Invisible toxins linked to cancer and chronic disease could be hiding in your water, your food, and even your bloodstream. In this gripping episode, we look into how “forever chemicals” have polluted our world and created a global health crisis with Robert Bilott, the attorney whose decades-long battle against DuPont exposed one of the worst corporate cover-ups in history.

From the lies that kept communities in the dark to the disturbing realities of animal deformities and the Teflon flu, this conversation reveals the shocking truth Big Chem tried to bury — and what’s still being hidden today.

Dis...

There’s no one solution to poverty, but Interfaith Works has built a comprehensive network of services to help thousands of residents rebuild their lives.

In this episode, CEO Courtney Hall shares real success stories and the programs that make them possible — from emergency housing and financial assistance to a food pantry and paid job training. We also explore how community involvement, including their partnership with Truman Charities, helps the organization grow and provide long-term support to those experiencing housing insecurity, hunger, and unemployment.

If you want to help make an impact, don’t miss the Tr...

You’ve eaten them, but do you know what oysters do for our waterways? These unassuming shellfish play a vital role in cleaning and protecting our waterways, but decades of overharvesting and destruction of their homes nearly wiped them out. Now, a major restoration movement is rebuilding oyster populations throughout the Chesapeake Bay.

 In this episode, Paul Schurick of the Oyster Recovery Partnership shares how this nonprofit is leading large-scale efforts to plant billions of oysters and rebuild reef habitats, support marine life, and protect the Bay’s future.

 From fascinating oyster facts to simple ways y...

Ready to learn the truth about the food you consume every day? Not all farms are created equal, so what’s on your plate may surprise you. In this eye-opening conversation, Nick Bailey of Grand View Farm explains the shocking differences between local farms and industrial agriculture — and why it matters for your health.

We discuss the benefits of sustainable and regenerative farming practices, why our food freedom is at risk, and the hidden dangers of factory-farmed meat. Nick also shares insights on the raw milk controversy and how Grand View Farm is delivering clean, high-quality food to t...