Escape into a Cause

About Escape into a Cause

Studies show that people who contribute to something bigger than themselves are happier and live with fewer regrets. Join host Stephanie Dyer as she explores how to create meaningful impact in Austin, Texas, and the surrounding areas. Escape into a Cause hopes to inspire others to turn their good intentions into great impact by sharing stories of community, connecting people to local non-profits, and encouraging everyone to step up, unplug, and make a difference.

Publisher

Stephanie Dyer

Category

business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Jan 2025

Latest episode

17 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

50 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Sept 2026

   Escape Into Kindr

   We're excited to welcome founders Karan Mishra and Deandre Blackwell to the conversation! 🎙️ Kindr is an upcoming app designed to make volunteering and giving back easier to find, more engaging, and something everyone can take part in. Karan and Deandre share what inspired Kindr, how the app connects people with volunteer opportunities, and how features like gamification, a social-style feed, and an Impact Score can help people see the bigger picture of their contributions. We also talk about what's ahead for Kindr, including future opportunities for businesses to get involved, and how nonprofits can connect with the team as the app gets ready to launch. Before we escape into Kindr, Steph and Courtney dive into the growing funding challenges facing nonprofits and ask whether consolidation could help organizations spend less time competing for resources and more time serving their communities, or whether it could come at the cost of jobs, programs, and pieces of organizations that matter. If you're a nonprofit interested in being part of Kindr, reach out to bekindrnow@gmail.com Special Thanks: A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible and your donation to WSP. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.

2. 

   20 Aug 2026

   Escape Into DAWA

   We're excited to welcome Jonathan "Chaka" Mahone, Founder and Creative Director of DAWA, to the conversation! 🎙️ DAWA is a nonprofit organization that honors, celebrates, and empowers BIPOC community frontliners through direct financial support and culturally relevant, health-centered programming. Since 2019, DAWA's mission of "giving to the givers" has been creating meaningful social and economic impact across Austin by centering community, culture, and collective care. Before we escape into DAWA, Steph and Courtney dive into charity overhead spending and what really matters when evaluating nonprofit impact. Ways DAWA makes an Impact: Supporting BIPOC Community Frontliners – Providing direct financial support to the people doing essential work in their communities. Creating Culturally Relevant Wellness Programs – Offering health-centered programming that honors culture, community, and collective healing. Investing in Community Resilience – Supporting innovative solutions that help Austin's BIPOC communities build greater sustainability, connection, and resilience. How to Get Involved & Earn Some 'Bragging Rights': ✨Volunteer your time, skills, or resources by helping hand out flyers, table at an event, set up a stage, design a graphic, sign in guests, pick up food, drive someone home, and more. Volunteer! ✨Make a donation to help keep the DAWA medicine alive and support their essential programs! Donate Here! (https://www.dawaheals.org/7-for-7) 🎶And if you're looking for a fun way to get involved, DAWA Fest is happening September 19! Come celebrate 7 years of DAWA medicine in Austin's BIPOC community with food, drinks, live music, and more. Tickets are $17! Buy Tickets Here! Special Thanks: A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible and your donation to WSP. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.

3. 

   18 Jun 2026

   Escape Into ASHwell

   We're excited to welcome Sandra Chavez, interim co-executive director of ASHwell, to the conversation!  🎙️ ASHwell is a nonprofit that has been empowering Central Texans since 1988 through sexual health and wellness services that care for the body, mind, and spirit. As demand for services like PrEP, gender-affirming care, and infectious disease treatment continues to grow, ASHwell has continued to expand access and strengthen public health outcomes across the region. From its integrated hep C program to peer advocacy and holistic care services, ASHwell builds creative, community-driven programming that responds to real, unmet needs. Before we escape into ASHwell, Steph and Courtney dive into a rapidly changing reality for nonprofits as government funding shrinks and philanthropic expectations grow. Ways ASHwell makes an Impact: Expanding Access to Essential Care – Providing HIV, hep C, STI testing, PrEP/PEP, and gender-affirming services at low or no cost. Centering Community Support – Offering peer advocacy, case management, and wraparound services like food, rent, and utility assistance. Advancing Health Equity – Breaking down systemic barriers and prioritizing care for communities most impacted by healthcare inequities. How to Get Involved & Earn Some 'Bragging Rights':✨ Donate — Sexual health is for everyone. Your support helps ASHwell continue providing essential care and keeping the community healthy and safe. 👉 Donate To ASHwell ✨ Follow along for volunteer opportunities + community events — ASHwell regularly shares ways to get involved, from helping at events to supporting outreach and spreading the word so their impact reaches further. 👉 ASHwell Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ashwellatx/?hl=en) 👉 ASHwell Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ashwellatx/) Special Thanks: A huge thank you to Nightlight Insurance Agency for making this podcast possible and your donation to WSP. We also appreciate Todd Thompson for editing & mixing, Ashlynne O'Neal for content management, Graham Thompson for the music, and Cory McKane at Just Push Record Studios.

Who has been a guest on Escape into a Cause

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jennifer Poteat
• Dr Johanna Moya Fábregas
• Ciji Wagner
• Piper Stege Nelson
• Lucas Castillo-West

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

91

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact Escape into a Cause

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.