Music That Gives Back; Kindness You Can Hear

Send us Fan MailWhat if generosity were as simple as pressing play? We sit down with Dave Lewis, a San Diego accountant and solo pianist who built Playing To Pitch In, a project that routes 100% of streaming royalties directly to six vetted charities. No tip jars, no detours—just music funding impact through automated splits to organizations like the Against Malaria Foundation, Helen Keller International, Best The Book Bus, a local food bank, the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, and disaster relief groups.Dave walks us through the moment that sparked it all—discovering “earning to give” during 2020—and how he engineered a transparent system where artists and listeners collaborate. We dig into the why behind his charity choices, leaning on GiveWell research for high-impact outcomes: bed nets that prevent malaria, vitamin A supplements that save sight and lives, and literacy programs that build home libraries and confidence. Dave shares a moving story from Tampa, where he helped children pick books right off the bus, and then zooms out with the “drowning child” thought experiment to reframe distance and duty: saving a life far away is no less urgent than saving one next door.Along the way, we explore music’s quiet power to bridge divides, the joy of returning to a shelved passion, and the many small ways anyone can help—time, skills, or simple daily habits like choosing a playlist. Playing To Pitch In has grown beyond Dave, welcoming tracks from other pianists so listeners can support causes while enjoying calm, reflective music on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon, and more under “Playing To Pitch In.”Join us as we turn attention into action and art into aid. If this story moves you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick review. Then press play on kindness—and tell us which cause you’ll stream for today.This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.“Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com”Support the show