The Work of Seeing: Faith, Community, and Real Impact w/ Holly Fogle

What happens when you walk away from success to pursue something deeper?In this episode of Living in the Meantime, Stephen Bauman sits down with Holly Fogle to explore a remarkable journey—from partner at McKinsey & Company to co-founder of Nido de Esperanza, a groundbreaking program supporting mothers and babies in Washington Heights.Holly shares the moment she realized her life’s work needed to change, the disorienting loss of identity that followed, and how a deep spiritual calling led her toward a radically different vision of impact—one rooted not in solving problems, but in building community.Together, Stephen and Holly unpack what’s been lost as communal life has eroded in modern culture—and what it might look like to rebuild it. They explore the power of radical hospitality, the dignity of truly “seeing” others, and why meaningful change often begins with small, local, deeply human connections.From launching a program that stays with families for three years, to responding to crisis during COVID, to expanding into national direct-cash support through the Bridge Project, this conversation offers a compelling vision for how faith, community, and action can intersect in transformative ways.Chapters:00:00:00 – Introduction & Holly’s Journey00:03:00 – Leaving Success Behind & Losing Identity00:06:00 – Faith, Calling, and the Search for Meaning00:08:00 – The Vision: From Idea to Nido de Esperanza00:12:00 – A New Model: Community Over Problem-Solving00:16:00 – Challenges, Critiques, and Listening First00:20:00 – Why Community Works (and Why People Stay)00:23:30 – Immigration, Invisibility, and Human Dignity00:30:00 – Expanding Impact: The Bridge Project & Systemic Change00:36:30 – Rebuilding Community & A Call to Action Get full access to Living in the Meantime at livinginthemeantime.substack.com/subscribe