The Idealist.org Podcasts

With the new year just around the corner, we thought we'd find out what people hope for the world and their communities in 2008. And who better to ask than future world leaders?

In this episode, we hear wishes and dreams for the upcoming year from kids ages 3 to 13. We were inspired, moved and tickled by their honest ideas to make the world a better place—let's just say that robots are in the plan.

The featured kids are students from I.S. 162 in the Bronx, Our World Neighborhood Charter School in Queens and San Francisco's De Marillac Academy, as well as friends and family of Idealist staff members. Special thanks to the everyone who conducted the interviews.

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There are a lot of tools on the internet meant to help bring people and communities together across the world for good. But do any of these tools make a real impact? Can they be used to build trust between people despite the anonymity of the Internet?

In this episode, we look at one such tool, Pledgebank, a project of the UK-based organization mySociety. The idea behind this website is that someone pledges to take an action as long as a certain amount of others do too. We explore this tool's simple premise and how it has brought the city of Bhubaneswar, India together with people from around the globe and with Western literary heroines like Pippi Longstocking.

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Featured in this episode:
mySociety.org
Pledgebank
Bakul Foundation

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When you hear about interns, you most likely think about someone being trapped in a boxy cubicle sending emails, fetching coffee for an angry manager or well connected kids kicking back their feet on the desk for a summer. However, we found some interns whose experiences went way beyond any of these preconceptions.  

In this episode we talk with three interns: Antasia at the Red Hook Initiative; Carolyn at Green Guerillas; and Santi at the Global Workers Justice Alliance. 

If you're inspired to or need an internship, search our site for internships.  You should also check out our exciting new internship openings for next year (including a podcasting intern!)

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Last month we posted an Idealist Community Podcast about Val Moran, the Australian grandmother aiming to walk 1000 miles in 1000 hours. Val, who lost a daughter to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) years ago, planned to raise money and awareness for the bereavement support organization SIDS and Kids through her walk. We got an email from Val's son Gary this morning, who wrote: "You might have read on the 1000 Mile Walk website that Val has been diagnosed with a double stress fracture of a hip. Although she was directed by the doctor not to walk any further she has committed to completing the journey in a wheelchair. This is progressing well with 526 miles now complete." Val's community in Australia has rallied around her - family members, radio DJs, even the Mayor of Queanbeyan have been taking turns pushing the wheelchair. What a journey! Click here to listen to our interview with Val, and here to track her progress on the 1000 Mile Walk blog.

The Idealist Public Service Careers Podcast features an interview with Katrina Mathis, the Recruitment Specialist with  AmeriCorps*NCCC. AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is one of three branches of AmeriCorps, the domestic Peace Corps. Since the fall of 2005 AmeriCorps*NCCC teams from all over the U.S. have all contributed to rebuilding the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Idealist.org's Amy Potthast and Katrina talk about the work and roles of NCCC members, their relationships with each other and with the people in the communities where they serve. To find out more, go to www.americorps.gov/nccc.

In this two part episode we hear from two people who are connecting people, issues and organizations through the act of walking. More than just a leisurely stroll, they are raising awareness and money for important issues by walking an astonishing one thousand miles.

On the other side of the world, we catch up with Val Moran who is walking 1000 miles for the Australian organization SIDS and Kids. She is undertaking a walk that would challenge anyone, but at 65 she is charging forward with humor and practice. In this episode, Val describes the distant relative who inspired her walk as well as her own personal story that motivated her.

1000 Mile Walk

SIDS and Kids
Walkers Part 1, Iain

In this two part episode we hear from two people who are connecting people, issues and organizations through the act of walking.   More than just a leisurely stroll, they are raising awareness and money for important issues by walking an astonishing one thousand miles.

The idea to walk 1,000 miles came to Iain Purdie after listening to the early 1990's hit, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," by the Scottish band The Proclaimers. But what started out as an arduous romantic gesture turned into something more.

In this episode we talk to Iain as he treks through Europe to raise money for the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, a Vietnam-based nonprofit that works with street children in Hanoi.  Proving community knows no borders, the former web programmer talks about the adventures and connections he's made while promoting a nonprofit on the other side of the world.

I Would Walk 1000 Miles

Blue Dragon Children's Foundation

In the first Idealist Careers Podcast, our own Amy Potthast talks with Chris Asch, co-founder of the U.S. Public Service Academy. Recently featured in Time Magazine, Chris Asch discusses the mission of the USPSA-- the first national civilian university in the United States-- to develop and educate future leaders in public service.

Many young people in the US don't currently consider public service a viable career option. Chris and Amy begin by discussing the challenges that lead to this perspective, then discuss the similarities between this university and military academies. They also touch upon issues of funding, maintaining a diverse student body and the challenges of working with politicians.

More Information on the U.S. Public Service Academy

Fellowships in Public Service

One-Year Service Opportunities

A Time to Serve article in TIME

Technorati Profile

1. The Chicago Startup Meeting

Welcome to the first Idealist podcast. This podcast is all about shining a spotlight on the people, organizations and groups on Idealist.org making connections in their community. In January, we sent an email to thousands of people who use Idealist around the world about our coordinated campaign of Idealist Start-up Meetings. The idea was to connect people who wanted to make change in their community but weren't sure how to start. This one simple email led to led to 400 meetings in 80 countries over the following months.

In this episode we highlight the Chicago Idealist Network by interviewing the hosts (Dave and Katie) and some attendees (Ryan, Jeff and Jackie).   They discuss how this group that grew from 9 to 150 members is now making connections within their community.

The Chicago Idealists Network on Idealist.org
Read more about this project at Imagine.

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