Listen to interviews with San Diego nonprofit organizations and local leaders about the importance of serving others! Learn the stories behind the founding of organizations and discover what volunteer opportunities await you!
New episodes 1st and 3rd Friday of every month
To find a service project near you, visit https://www.justserve.org/ (https://www.justserve.org/) and type in your zip code!
SD Talks with Pastor John Quinata (Our Father's Grace Ministries)
John Q talks about his stuffed animal drive happening on October 24th! We touch on the beginnings of the drive, why it's important and how it's grown over the years. He also speaks on what this project has taught him over the years and how his beliefs shape the way he lives his life!
Link to stuffed animal drive (https://www.justserve.org/projects/e9ceaa2e-6141-4f0a-a158-9564fd68f4fe/stuffed-animal-drive-9/26-10/24?shiftId=88c6b1cc-b325-40dc-a663-de18096b62ea)
John Q's Information:
619-772-7139
ohanaqz@gmail.com (mailto:ohanaqz@gmail.com)
Instagram: @ourfathersgrace
Graphic design: Collette Cribbins
Cover photo: James Collington from Pexels
Surfboard graphic: sketchify from Canva
Music: "Blessed" www.purple-planet.com (http://www.purple-planet.com)
9 Oct 2026
SD Talks with JustServe Club President Elenna
In this episode, we spoke with Elenna who is the president of a JustServe club at her school! She talks about the importance of having service clubs at school and how it's impacted her and her peers. She also shares why she volunteers and how service has shaped the person she is today.
Graphic design: Collette Cribbins
Cover photo: James Collington from Pexels
Surfboard graphic: sketchify from Canva
Music: "Blessed" www.purple-planet.com (http://www.purple-planet.com)
8 Oct 2026
I said goodbye, now I say hello (hello, hello)
Hi everyone! This is a little update on the podcast! I apologize for the recent erratic posting schedule, but we're back to normal programming! Thank you for your support and I look forward to sharing new episodes soon!
ps- did you catch the song reference??
4 Sept 2026
SD Talks with Jack Eliason (Race Against Cancers) (feat. Hannah Wallace)
Jack Eliason comes to us from Provo, Utah to talk about his nonprofit Race Against Cancers. This year holds the nonprofit's first ever race on November 7th to raise money to help pay for cancer treatments for patients in need.
Jack talks about how this nonprofit was founded, its mission, obstacles he's faced in starting a nonprofit and where he wants to expand in the future. He speaks about his role model who heavily influences his desire to serve, as well as his own personal philosophy about serving others in your community.
To sign up for the race, or to donate to Race Against Cancers, visit https://raceagainstcancers.org/ (https://raceagainstcancers.org/)
Graphic design: Collette Cribbins
Cover photo: James Collington from Pexels
Surfboard graphic: sketchify from Canva
Music: "Blessed" www.purple-planet.com (http://www.purple-planet.com)
22 Aug 2026
SD Talks with Chris Wodjak (American Red Cross) (feat. Gary Quackenbush)
Chris Wodjak of the American Red Cross explains to our audience the fascinating beginnings of the Red Cross and what the American Red Cross does for the world today. Her enthusiasm for serving others is contagious as she tells us the personal benefits of serving others. Were you aware that the Red Cross, in addition to responding to 65,000 disasters every year, the organization helps over 1% of the world's population every year. Chris tells us how we can get involved in saving human lives and that by giving an hour of our time to donate blood, our donation could save up to 3 lives! The Red Cross coordinates with Just Serve to post opportunities to participate in blood drives as well as other service opportunities all over the county.
Graphic design: Collette Cribbins
Cover photo: James Collington from Pexels
Surfboard graphic: sketchify from Canva
Music: "Blessed" www.purple-planet.com (http://www.purple-planet.com)
8 Aug 2026
SD Talks with Maxie Gluckman (Friends of Fundesur) (feat. Gary Quackenbush)
SD talks with Maxie Gluckman, a native of San Diego and Executive Director of Friends of FUNDESUR (https://friendsoffundesur.org/), about how she has worked in Honduras for 13 years involved in nonprofit work centers on education and community development. Maxie shares her work through Friends of FUNDESUR to uplift and expand upon FUNDESUR's 12-year history of leading life-transforming education, health, environmental, and livelihood work across Honduras. Friends of FUNDESUR's vision is for Honduran communities to have the conditions, confidence, and opportunity to thrive today and for generations to come. Maxie tells listeners how they can get involved in this great work, including an event listed on www.JustServe.org (https://www.justserve.org/projects/36b151f0-af6f-4859-8b3a-4bca06211dd7/create-a-new-story:-help-build-children) on August 17, 2026, in San Diego's Mission Valley area.
Website: https://friendsoffundesur.org/ (https://friendsoffundesur.org/)
Graphic design: Collette Cribbins
Cover photo: James Collington from Pexels
Surfboard graphic: sketchify from Canva
Music: "Blessed" www.purple-planet.com (http://www.purple-planet.com)
7 Aug 2026
Goodbye, For Now (With love, Collette)
Hello!
Just a mini update for everyone: I will be taking a break as host from our podcast for a couple months. I've arranged for a few guest hosts to take my place. You are in good hands!
My break ends in November, so I'll be back for the holidays!
With love, Collette
17 Jul 2026
SD Talks with Erin Aris & Margaret Giuffre (Miracle Babies)
Erin and Margaret speak on the nonprofit Miracle Babies and outline the service it provides parents whose babies are in the NICU.
What started as a transportation service has turned into a larger operation in providing parents with general needs and support. When the parents are supported, the babies do better.
If you would like to volunteer or check out the organization, their information is posted below!
info@miraclebabies.org (mailto:info@miraclebabies.org)
Website: miraclebabies.org (http://miraclebabies.org)
Social media: @miraclebabies
3 Jul 2026
SD Talks with Kayla Thomson (San Diego Food Bank)
Disclaimer!! – My mic was doing something funky this episode, so my voice is a little hard to hear. But Kayla's voice is crystal clear and she's the one to hear! I hope you enjoy this episode!
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints partnered with America 250 to sent 250 semi-trucks of food out into the United States in honor of the America's milestone birthday. The San Diego Food Bank was a recipient of one of these trucks and Kayla is here to talk it!
Kayla works at the San Diego Food Bank – a local nonprofit aiming to aid San Diegans in need. In our conversation, Kayla speaks on the real threat of food insecurity we have in our town and what we can do to help our neighbor.
19 Jun 2026
SD Talks with Maliya Jones (The Cooper Family Foundation)
Maliya Jones is the granddaughter of Sidney and Thelma Cooper – pioneers of Juneteenth celebrations here in San Diego!
She speaks with us today about the history of The Cooper Family Foundation, the significance of Juneteenth, and the importance of acceptance and community healing.
From humble beginnings, the Cooper Family Juneteenth Healing Community Festival is now an award-winning event, focusing on education, acceptance, respect, and understanding of community and culture here in San Diego.
2026 Event Details:
Saturday, June 20, 2026
11:00 am - 6:30 pm
Memorial Park, 2975 Oceanview Blvd, San Diego, CA
Instagram: @thecooperfamilyfoundation
Facebook: The Cooper Family Foundation
5 Jun 2026
SD Talks with Jessica Stephens (Water and Kindness)
We spoke with Jessica Stephens – president of Water and Kindness. In this conversation, Jessica speaks on the importance of helping others in your local community and proposes some ways we can effectively look out for each other. She also discusses the differences between charity work and mutual aide and some ramifications of both.
As the world continues to grow more connected, Jessica emphasizes the need for more local community support.
29 May 2026
SD Talks with Michelle Metschel (5th Friday episode)
This episode, we hear from a city council member and deputy mayor of El Cajon: Michelle Metschel! Michelle speaks about how she became an elected official in El Cajon and the rewarding parts of her position. She speaks about her political stances on immigration and homelessness and gives background on her stances.
Michelle talks about kindness – being kind out of the goodness of your heart, not for praise. Her message to all: it costs nothing to be kind.
15 May 2026
SD Talks with Rebecca Bennion
Rebecca talks about helping JustServe in its beginnings and bringing it to San Diego! Talking about the history of the organization, Rebecca recounts the difficulties and successes of the volunteer platform in its early days.
1 May 2026
SD Talks with Shamine Linton (Sharia's Closet)
Sharia is the founder/CEO of Sharia's Closet – a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help clothe the underprivileged with dignity and respect. She speaks about the beginnings of Sharia's Closet, her family, the needs of the organization and what loving others is to her.
Listen as Shamine expresses her love of serving others and the symbolism of purple bags and butterflies!
17 Apr 2026
SD Talks with Julie Harper
We spoke with Julie Harper! She is a JustServe club specialist for San Diego County! She spoke about high school JustServe clubs, the opportunities they present and the projects they get involved in. She also encourages possible growth to universities as there is only one JustServe university club in all of the United States.
4 Apr 2026
SD Talks with Liz Agle
Liz is a JustServe area specialist in Vista! During our conversation, she talks a little bit about what her position requires, and how it's affected her life. She also talks about Global Youth Service Day on April 25, 2026.
Celebrating unity, Liz is excited about the volunteer opportunities that JustServe provides for everyone in our community.
20 Mar 2026
SD Talks with Robin Gephart
Welcome to the first episode of Just Serve in San Diego!
Our talk to day is with Robin Gephart, the San Diego regional representative for JustServe.org. She also serves in W.I.S.E. (Women In Service Everywhere), helping with meetings and coordinating support for women-led nonprofits.
Robin tells us today the importance of service, how service affects volunteers, and what exactly JustServe.org (http://JustServe.org) contributes to communities.
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4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
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