With Arms Wide Open
Join us for St. Vincent de Paul Louisville’s monthly Podcast, “With Arms Wide Open.” This podcast will share stories of people and programs in the Louisville community. Our podcast strives to shine the light on people and services that are of value to our Louisville family.
SVDP 39│Housing, Healing, and Ali: Inside SVDP Phoenix’s Mission with CEO Shannon Clancy
FEED. CLOTHE. HOUSE. HEAL.
St. Vincent de Paul Phoenix's CEO Shannon Clancy shares how she and her team are transforming lives with compassion and innovation.
As the first female CEO of SVDP Phoenix's nearly 80-year history, Clancy has adapted to meet the ever-changing needs of those experiencing homelessness. She shares about their ambitious housing goals for 2025, explains the difference between preventing homelessness and rehousing people, and highlights their unique medical and dental clinics for uninsured patients. She also shares stories of Muhammed Ali's memorable visits to SVDP Phoenix.
SVDP 38│Dr. Brian Fikkert on how to help those in need without hurting them in the process
Can helping actually hurt?
Dr. Brian Fikkert talks about the difference between empowering and enabling those in need—and why poverty is about more than a lack of possessions.
Fikkert coauthored "When Helping Hurts" and "Becoming Whole," books that have transformed how churches and organizations approach poverty. He is the Founder of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development and Professor of Economics and Community Development at Covenant College. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University.
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SVDP 37│Louisville Metro District 3 Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright shares how SVDP supported her family's success
In this podcast episode, Louisville Metro District 3 Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright opens up in this exclusive interview at City Hall. She goes in-depth on how she overcame generational poverty through stability and support at St. Vincent de Paul Louisville.
Shameka’s story is a powerful example of someone who, despite experiencing childhood trauma and homelessness, is now seeing generational change in her family and emerging as a dynamic leader in Louisville. As Executive Director of VOCAL-KY, she is using her lived experience to speak up for those on the margins of...
SVDP 36│From the Bayou to the Bluegrass: Archbishop Fabre on the importance of prayer, the journey to priesthood, preparing for Easter, and battling snowy weather
Join us as we sit down with Archbishop Shelton Fabre of the Archdiocese of Louisville at the stunning Archdiocesan History Center.
Archbishop Fabre shares his story and transition from Louisiana to Louisville. He talks about driving in the snow, why priests don’t fall from the sky, the deeper meaning of Lent, how faith compels us to serve those in need, and prayer advice during spiritually dry seasons.
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Thanks to everyone who...
SVDP 35│Breaking the Cycle: Dr. Donna Beegle on Escaping the Warzone of Generational Poverty
Communication Across Barriers President and Founder Dr. Donna Beegle shares her one of a kind story on how she broke free from the "warzone of poverty" after 26 years.
As a national expert on poverty, Donna invites us to fight poverty, not the people experiencing it. She talks about how you can be poverty-informed, the different types of poverty, and how to effectively communicate it with those around you.
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Donna was a keynote speaker at last year’s Society of St. Vincent de P...
SVDP 34│Author and Keynote Speaker Katie Martin on her vision to end hunger in America
As a leading voice in food insecurity, Katie Martin wants to reinvent the way we help people who need help with food. And the answer isn't simply handing out more food.
In this episode, Katie challenges the traditional food pantry model to one that goes beyond charity—toward lasting solutions for ending hunger. She invites us into the connection between hunger and health.
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Katie is the author of “Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger" and the CEO of More T...
SVDP 33│AMPED Founder & President Dave Christopher on overcoming personal struggles, from poverty to leadership, and connecting with your kids
AMPED Founder & President Dave Christopher opens up about overcoming personal struggles that shaped him into the leader he is today.
In this episode, Dave shares what it was like to have inconsistent access to food at an early age. He invites us into what drives him everyday and reflects on what it takes to lead a nonprofit through the highs and lows.
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Dave takes us through the origin story of AMPED—Adventurous Minds Produce Extraordinary Dreams—which began as a bond with his son o...
SVDP 32│National President John Berry's vision for SVDP USA’s role in homelessness prevention
SVDP USA National President John Berry shares his unexpected journey into the organization and his deep passion for homeless prevention.
In this episode, John invites us into the rich history of St. Vincent de Paul and investing in a mission that's bigger than ourselves.
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He talks about how he ended up at SVDP and the organization's growth, which is now ranked 59th on Forbes' list of largest nonprofits (up from 75th last year). He also makes the connection between the conferences a...
SVDP 31│Metro United Way CEO Adria Johnson on how her childhood experience with poverty shaped her life today, MUW's missional impact, leading on empty, and her son's legacy
Metro United Way CEO Adria Johnson's upbringing and adulthood hasn't been easy. But her faith has kept her standing stronger than ever.
In this episode, Adria opens up about her story. Though she experienced poverty and was a product of a divorced home, she believes God used her childhood to shape her life's purpose.
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Here's what we talked about in this episode:
SVDP 30 │Kroger's Jessica Sharp & SVDP volunteers John and Betsy Bowling on food insecurity, Kroger's response to rising grocery costs, and finding love at the Food Pantry
For many families, a fruit basket on the kitchen counter and a stocked refrigerator are the norm. We don’t even think twice about it. However, that’s not the case for everyone.
In this episode, we take a deeper dive into food insecurity. We invited onto the show Kroger Corporate Affairs Manager Jessica Sharp and longtime Food Pantry volunteers John and Betsy Bowling, who are Holy Trinity Catholic Church and St. Vincent de Paul Holy Trinity Conference members.
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SVDP 29 │JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio & Evolve502 CEO Marland Cole on serving the next generation and the pressure of leading in today’s world
JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio and Evolve502 CEO Marland Cole joined us as this month's podcast guests because our missions closely align. As our Family Success Center celebrates 10 years of providing year-round educational and social development opportunities to the next generation, we are grateful for our partnership with them.
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Here were some conversation topics...
SVDP 28 │CEO Jennifer Clark on leadership transitions, the future of SVDP, and if people choose to be homeless
Do you truly care about the homeless? CEO Jennifer Clark encourages us to build empathy for the unhoused population in this podcast episode.
If you haven’t heard the news, Jennifer was promoted to St. Vincent de Paul Louisville’s Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director upon Dave Calzi's retirement in late July, who will continue to support SVDP in a newly created advocacy role. Jennifer serves as the first female leader in the organization’s 170-year history!
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Jennifer talks about...
A Conversation with Kevin Adler, National Speaker & Author of "When We Walk By"
If you hope to learn more about the state of homelessness in the U.S. and what we can do about it, Kevin Adler's new book, “When We Walk By: Forgotten Humanity, Broken Systems, and the Role We Can Each Play in Ending Homelessness in America,” is a must-read guide.
Watch: YouTube
Kevin’s work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, on a billboard in Times Square, and in his TED Talk.
As the Founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization Miracle Messages in...
A Conversation with Whitney Austin, cofounder of Whitney/Strong
Have you ever had one of those days? Well, Whitney Austin had herself a day on Sept. 6, 2018. In our 26th podcast episode, she opens up about her survival story during the mass shooting in the lobby at Fifth Third Bank Headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio.
For Whitney to survive after being shot 12 times is a miracle in and of itself, but even more incredible is how she started the nonprofit Whitney/Strong less than a month later to find common ground to end gun violence. You can download to listen, or watch now!
Watch: https://youtu.b...
A Conversation with Churchill Downs President & COO Bill Mudd and Vice President of Corporate Communications Tonya Abeln
If you want to grow as a leader, then listen to Churchill Downs Incorporated President & COO Bill Mudd and Vice President of Corporate Communications Tonya Abeln open up about what they've learned as high-level leaders over the years.
In our 25th podcast episode and ahead of the 150th Kentucky Derby, we hear from Bill and Tonya as they talk about what's new at Churchill Downs and give leadership advice. You can download to listen, or watch now!
Watch: https://youtu.be/dGr5INxvp4o
Bill has been the President and Chief Operating Officer o...
A Conversation with Rachelle Starr, founder and president of Scarlet Hope
Scarlet Hope founder Rachelle Starr used to drive past "Theatre X" everyday on her way to work without thinking twice about the sex entertainment industry. Today, she goes into strip clubs with home-cooked meals and brings hope to the women inside.
In 2007, Rachelle founded Scarlet Hope, a nonprofit that shares the hope and love of Jesus with women in the adult entertainment industry. Scarlet Hope has since expanded across 10 cities in the United States from Las Vegas and Los Angeles to Atlanta and Orlando. Rachelle is a national speaker who has trained thousands of people to launch...
A Conversation with Teddy Abrams, Louisville Orchestra Music Director & Grammy Award Winner
What's it like to win a Grammy? Teddy Abrams tells us in his own words ... and his answer might surprise you.
This podcast episode is powerful, especially for anyone who has a passion or dream! For the last decade, Teddy has been a conductor, pianist, clarinetist, and composer and presently serves as the Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra and the Britt Festival Orchestra. Under his leadership, the Louisville Orchestra has experienced unprecedented success and its attendance has increased 30%. As Musical America’s 2022 Conductor of the Year, Teddy has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, the New Yo...
A Conversation with nationally known author Leah Rothstein and Louisville Metro Government Planning Supervisor Joel Dock
How do Legos help explain housing segregation? Louisville Metro Government Planning Supervisor Joel Dock shares what they have to do with one another.
This is an eye-opening podcast conversation! On the topic of housing segregation, author Leah Rothstein and Joel are global and local leaders, respectively. They are passionate about what we can do in our own communities to begin to challenge and redress segregation. You can also watch now!
Watch: Video
Leah is a nationally known housing policy expert and coauthored “Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law...
A Conversation with Tony Cash, founder of Freedom Lake
Tony Cash was an outlaw whose story is truly one of amazing transformation! From the age of 11 to 49 years old, he spent an accumulative 36 years incarcerated and two of those decades in and out of solitary confinement. Now, Tony is on a mission to help men like him. You can also watch now!
Watch: https://youtu.be/C9T2F19Br_Q
Alongside his wife, Kim, their nonprofit organization, Freedom Lake, has a nearby property with a 20-bed dorm inside the facility to provide a place for recently released men to reintegrate into society and...
A Conversation with Rick Tonini, Mayor of St. Matthews
If you've ever lost a loved one and need help finding purpose again, this podcast is for you. St. Matthews Mayor Rick Tonini shares how the unexpected and tragic loss of his daughter, Lauren, led to serving at our Open Hand Kitchen in Christmas 2003. You can also watch now!
Watch: https://youtu.be/R3vhyT7wRAk
Our CEO Dave Calzi spoke with Mayor Rick about a variety of topics:
A Conversation Celebrating the 170 Year History of St. Vincent de Paul Louisville
If you've always wondered how we grew from the small beginnings of gathering inside a church basement in 1853 to housing 450 nightly and feeding 330 people daily, then lean into this podcast. We condensed 170 years of history into one episode!
This podcast is truly special because we’d love to take you on a history tour as we celebrate our 170 year anniversary, especially because you are the ones who have invested so much of your time, talents, and treasures towards this mission over the years. You can also watch now!
Watch: https://youtu.be/qmQ8jDbzSXI
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A Conversation with Chris Dischinger, cofounder of LDG Development, and Elly Green, their Resident Services Manager
LDG Development cofounder Chris Dischinger quit his job less than a month into his marriage and went into real estate. You can listen to or watch how the rest of the story unfolds!
Watch: https://youtu.be/CCV3ow9tfP4
In 1994, Chris and his wife, Lisa, cofounded LDG Development in Louisville along with business partner Mark Lechner. The Dischingers are committed to building better lives through developing quality, affordable communities for hard-working families and active seniors. Today, LDG has over 200 employees and developed more than 20,000 units in multiple states. Resident Services Manager Elly Green shares...
A Conversation with Dr. Deborah Padgett, coauthor of "Housing First: Ending Homelessness, Changing Systems and Transforming Lives"
Can we really end homelessness? One housing expert believes we can, and tells us how in this podcast!
New York University Silver School of Social Work professor Dr. Deborah Padgett teaches “Homelessness in Perspective," where she breaks down the assumptions that students come in with about the homeless. The coauthor of "Housing First: Ending Homelessness, Changing Systems and Transforming Lives," Padgett joins our podcast to talk with CEO and Executive Director Dave Calzi about what housing first is, the evidence to support it, and why it matters. She's also a UK graduate!
They touch on the...
A Conversation with Gregg Colburn, author of "Homelessness is a Housing Problem"
How does the game of musical chairs help explain homelessness? This podcast conversation breaks down that analogy!
Author Gregg Colburn shares how a lack of affordable housing impacts homelessness from his recently released book, "Homelessness is a Housing Problem." He's an Assistant Professor of real estate at the University of Washington and studies affordable housing. Colburn joins our podcast to talk with CEO and Executive Director Dave Calzi about why homelessness isn't the same in every city and varies significantly by region—from Los Angeles and New York to Chicago and Charlotte.
Here are...
A Conversation with Rich Lechleiter, the CEO at the Catholic Education Foundation
If you need purpose in your work, are unsure about your second act, or love a good story, then check out this conversation!
St. Vincent de Paul Louisville CEO Dave Calzi is a guest on the Catholic Education Foundation's podcast with CEF CEO Rich Lechleiter at Talgrace Studio. Dave was formerly CEF Board Chair. Both of our organizations are working hard to improve the lives of others, whether through the public school system or on the streets of Louisville. Our missions have a lot in common!
You can also watch this episode: https://www.youtube.c...
A Conversation with Carl Gershenson, the Lab Director at Eviction Lab
In this conversation, Lab Director Carl Gershenson at Eviction Lab opens our eyes to the eviction epidemic in America! With a Ph.D. in Sociology from Harvard University, Gershenson studies the causes and consequences of housing instability, with an emphasis on how eviction leads to further economic and residential insecurity.
Gershenson joins CEO Dave Calzi via Zoom to talk about:
The definition of eviction and the main reasons people are evicted Why working parents are at an extremely high risk for eviction filings Why the Southeast region of the United States has the highest eviction rates What...A Conversation with Vincent James, the President and CEO of Dare to Care
In this conversation, Dare to Care's President and CEO Vincent James will inspire you to serve others! As a nonprofit partner of SVDP, James and his team help feed those in need. A ton of the food we cook for clients or hand out to them—try 27,000+ pounds of food last month to the Open Hand Kitchen and Food Pantry—comes from Dare to Care.
CEO Dave Calzi talks to him about many exciting topics, and come to find out, they have a lot in common! They chat about their mutual love for Muhammad Ali, coming from finan...
A Conversation with Donna Russell, St. Vincent de Paul Louisville's newest Board Member
Donna Russell’s journey is one of perseverance. She had to expand her education and career as a single mother raising two children all the while ensuring they had a roof over their heads. As St. Vincent de Paul Louisville’s newest Board Member, Donna has lived experience with avoiding eviction and finding affordable housing.
SVDP CEO Dave Calzi sits down with Donna to hear her story. She also talks about joining the SVDP Board of Directors and her frontline role as a Clinical Therapist at Volunteers of America's Freedom House.
Thanks to everyone who listened...
A Conversation with Dominique Batts, the Director of Housing and Services at St. Vincent de Paul Louisville
If you want to look behind-the-scenes and learn how clients receive help at St. Vincent de Paul Louisville, this is a don't miss discussion! SVDP CEO Dave Calzi talks to our very own Dominique Batts about housing and programs major shift to better serve those in need. Batts also shares about growing up in the Catholic school system, secondary trauma vs. secondary success, and balancing two jobs with two young children. By the way, she also loves ballet!
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A Conversation with Quentin Childers, the Associate Director of Crisis Housing at St. Vincent de Paul Louisville
If you need a good laugh, listen to this! St. Vincent de Paul CEO Dave Calzi talks to Quentin Childers about having empathy for clients and leading the daily operations of four major housing programs. "Q" also talks about starting out in dental school and ending up in social work. He even shares his love for gardening and cooking in his spare time.
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A Conversation with Greer Hannan, the Associate Director of Performance Quality Improvement and Compliance at St. Vincent de Paul Louisville
St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director/CEO Dave Calzi talks to Greer Hannan about the importance of a nonprofit securing accreditation and ensuring regulatory compliance with the government. Greer also shares an incredible story of how one homeless man, Danny, changed the trajectory of her life. Not to mention, she discusses her podcast, "Femammal," and her love for contra dancing.
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A Conversation with Ra'Shann Martin, the Executive Director of the St. John Center
St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director/CEO Dave Calzi talks to Ra'Shann Martin about housing needs for the city and the St. John Center's role to help meet those needs.
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A Conversation with Janet, a Former Resident at St. Vincent de Paul Louisville
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A Conversation with Metro Council Member Jecorey Arthur
St. Vincent de Paul Louisville Executive Director and CEO Dave Calzi discusses policy and life with Metro Council Member Jecorey Arthur.
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A Conversation with Christie McCravy, Executive Director of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund
St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director/CEO Dave Calzi talks to Christie McCravy about housing needs for the city and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund's role in getting more affordable housing built.
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A Conversation with Natalie Harris, Executive Director for the Coalition for the Homeless
Coalition for the Homeless Executive Director Natalie Harris shares the work of the Coalition and explains how people in the Louisville community can help the Coalition serve those without homes.
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A Conversation with Metro Council President David James
Host Dave Calzi and Metro Council President David James discuss President James' experiences in public service and his hopes for the future.
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A Conversation with Shelby Park Historian Chip Rogalinski
St. Vincent de Paul Louisville host Dave Calzi talks about the Shelby Park neighborhood, its history and current developments, with former Shelby Park Neighborhood Association President Chip Rogalinski. The development of the neighborhood, its rich diversity, and St. Vincent de Paul Louisville's role as a neighbor in Shelby Park are discussed.
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A Conversation with Louisville Homeless Services Director Susan Buchino
Louisville Metro Homeless Services Director Susan Buchino discusses the current issues that are fueling houselessness in the community. Affordable housing, poverty, and her role as the new director are all covered. Join us for a fascinating look at houselessness in Louisville Kentucky.
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