PODCAST · society
Escape into a Cause
by Stephanie Dyer
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.
Episodes
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Escape Into The Safe Alliance
We're excited to welcome Melina Cantu, Co-Chief Program Officer, to the conversation! 🎙️ The SAFE Alliance brings together Austin Children's Shelter and SafePlace to support survivors of child abuse, sexual assault and exploitation, and domestic violence. Their mission is to interrupt the cycle…
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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...
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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…
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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...
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Escape Into Tango Charities
We're excited to welcome Will Mattingly, the Austin, TX (Zilker) leader for Tango Charities, to the conversation! 🎙️ Tango Charities is a hunger-focused nonprofit that works to feed, educate, and empower communities through healthy and nutritious food initiatives. Since officially becoming a...
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Escape Into Breakthrough T1D
We're excited to welcome Jenna Medford, Chapter Director of the Greater Austin Chapter at Breakthrough T1D, to the conversation! 🎙️ Founded in 1970, Breakthrough T1D was started by families who refused to accept a type 1 diabetes diagnosis as the end of the story. Today, it has grown into a…
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Escape Into Women's Storybook Project
Connection between a mother and child does not have to be lost, even from a distance. We're excited to welcome Jill Gonzalez, Executive Director at Women's Storybook Project, to the conversation 🎙️ Women's Storybook Project helps incarcerated mothers stay connected with their children by…
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Escape Into Austin Community Foundation
The next 25 years are going to change the way we give. Are nonprofits ready for women and younger generations who care more about causes than organizations? We're excited to welcome Meagan Anderson Longley, Chief Impact Officer at Austin Community Foundation, to the conversation! 🎙️ Often...
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Escape Into Pop-Up Birthday
Happy New Year! Do you have any goals for 2026 to connect and give back more? If not, we share some tips. Then we sit down with Marcus Cantu, Executive Director at Pop-Up Birthday to talk about why celebration matters, how birthdays can create a sense of belonging for children in CPS care, and…
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Escape Into Ronald McDonald House of Central Texas
Join us as we escape into the Ronald McDonald House of Central Texas! In this episode, we explore why people are skeptical of large donations and the wealthy individuals behind them. We discuss the role of influence, tax write-offs, and "strings attached" gifts, and why nonprofits often earn more...
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Escape Into Family Eldercare
Join us as we escape into Family Eldercare! We're excited to welcome Dr. Aaron Alarcon, Chief Executive Officer at Family Eldercare, to the conversation! In this episode, we dive into the power of community and why collective care matters more than ever. We discuss how investing in the people...
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Escape Into Project Schoolhouse
Join us as we escape into Project Schoolhouse! We're excited to welcome Selina Serna, Executive Director, and Shannon Fohn, Board VP, at Project Schoolhouse to the conversation! First we explore how technology can help mission-driven organizations do more with less. We discuss how AI, automation,...
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Escape Into We Are Blood
Join us as we escape into We Are Blood! In this episode, we explore why purpose-driven work deserves more respect, recognition, and investment. We discuss how teachers, social workers, and nonprofit professionals shape our communities and why their impact is often undervalued. We also sit down…
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Escape Into Special Olympics San Marcos Wolverines Soccer
Join us as we escape into Special Olympics San Marcos Wolverines! We're excited to welcome the the Special Olympics San Marcos Wolverines Soccer Team to the conversation! The Wolverines have been selected to represent Team Texas at the Special Olympics USA Games next year in Minnesota! For these...
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Escape Into Mike & Sherry Project
Join us as we escape into Mike & Sherry Project! We're excited to welcome Sam Hellman-Mass, restaurant industry veteran, owner of East Austin favorite Suerte, and founder of Mike & Sherry Project, to the conversation! Founded in 2019, the Mike & Sherry Project partners with Capital Area…
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Escape Into Level
Join us as we escape into Level! We're excited to welcome Alex Wright, Executive Director of Level, to the conversation! Level creates and distributes educational and job training content for people in prison, helping them thrive after release and break the cycle of incarceration. Their programs...
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Escape Into LifeWorks
Join us as we escape into LifeWorks! We're excited to welcome Liz Schoenfeld, the Chief Executive Officer of LifeWorks, to the conversation! Every young person deserves safety, stability, and the chance to shape their own future. Yet in Central Texas, more than 1,000 youth, many aging out of…
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Escape Into GirlForward
Join us as we escape into GirlForward! We're excited to welcome Johanna Hosking-Pulido, the executive director for GirlForward, to the conversation! GirlForward is a community of support dedicated to creating and enhancing opportunities for girls who have been displaced globally by conflict and...
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Escape into NAMI Central Texas
Join us as we escape into NAMI Central Texas! We're excited to welcome Colleen Gallion, executive director for NAMI Central Texas, to the conversation! NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization, dedicated to improving the lives of...
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Escape Into Church Lab / BridgeBuilders Lab
Join us as we escape into The Church Lab / BridgeBuilders Lab! We're excited to welcome Reverend Carrie Graham of The Church Lab / BridgeBuilders Lab to the conversation! Stephanie and Courtney also dive into a topic that matters - The "I can't make a difference" dilemma that people may face when...
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Escape Into Zilker 351
Join us as we escape into Zilker 351! We're excited to welcome Fleetwood Jacobs, Executive Director of Zilker 351, to the conversation. Zilker 351 is a nonprofit dedicated to making Zilker sustainably greener and accessible for all. They care for the park's natural habitats, restore native…
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Escape Into Austin Parks Foundation
Join us as we escape into Austin Parks Foundation! We sat down with Caitlyn Denham, Senior Events & Partnerships Manager, and Katie Kennedy, VP of Marketing & Communications at Austin Parks Foundation! Austin Parks Foundation partners with the community to enhance people's lives by improving…
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Escape Into Dick Rathgeber
Join us as sit down with Dick Rathgeber! We sat down with Dick Rathgeber, one of Austin's most remarkable philanthropists and community builders! For more than 40 years, Dick and his wife, Sara, have given away half of their annual income to charity, $200 million, over his lifetime. His…
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Escape Into Keep Austin Fed
Join us as we escape into Keep Austin Fed! And Steph and Courtney talk about a topic that matters: nonprofit and 501(c)(3) terminology. Listen in as Lisa Barden, Executive Director for Keep Austin Fed shares ther mission and ways you can show up. Keep Austin Fed began in 2004, when founder Randy...
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Escape Into Austin Creative Reuse
Join us as we escape into Austin Creative Reuse and celebrate our 25th interview! We sat down with Madison Knapp, Community Programs Manager for Austin Creative Reuse! Austin Creative Reuse was founded in 2009 to foster conservation and reuse through creativity, education, and community building....
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Escape Into Foster Angels
Join us as we escape into Foster Angels! We're excited to welcome Maggie Sheppard, Director of Communications & Partnerships for Foster Angels, to the conversation! At Foster Angels, every child who has experienced foster care deserves to feel safe, supported, and valued. Many enter the system…
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Escape Into Hungry Souls
Join us as we escape into Hungry Souls! We sat down with Breanna Porter, Director of Operations, and Claire Hutson, Director of Development from Hungry Souls to learn how this organization is tackling food insecurity for children and families in Austin. Hungry Souls was founded in 2011 by Celeste...
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Escape Into Colin's Hope
Join us as we escape into Colin's Hope! We're excited to welcome Jennifer Poteat, Executive Director for Colin's Hope, to the conversation! Colin's Hope was formed in 2008 after four-year-old Colin Holst tragically drowned in a public pool, with lifeguards on duty and family members present.…
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Escape into Con Mi MADRE
Join us as we escape into Con Mi MADRE! We're excited to welcome Dr. Johanna Moya Fábregas, the executive director for Con Mi MADRE, to the conversation! Con Mi MADRE is a nonprofit partnering with schools to provide social-emotional learning and college readiness from 6th grade through college....
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Escape Into Louder Than Silence
Join us as we escape into Louder Than Silence! We're excited to welcome Ciji Wagner, Founder and CEO of Louder Than Silence, to the conversation. Louder Than Silence supports survivors of sexual violence by providing the community and resources needed to rebuild their lives. At the heart of their...
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Escape into I Live Here I Give Here
Join us as we escape into I Live Here I Give Here! We're excited to welcome Piper Stege Nelson, Executive Director of I Live Here I Give Here, to the conversation! I Live Here I Give Here is on a mission to amplify giving in Central Texas through cultivating and creating deeper connections for...
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Escape into National Hispanic Institute
Join us as we escape into National Hispanic Institute We're excited to welcome Lucas Castillo-West and Isabella Matamoros, both seniors at Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA), to the conversation! NHI is all about building Latino leaders—early. With a 98% college enrollment rate and 67% going...
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Escape into E3 Alliance
Join us as we escape into E3 Alliance. We're excited to welcome Kyle Seipp, the Director of Post-Secondary and Workforce Readiness for E3 Alliance, to the conversation! E3 Alliance is a regional, data-driven education collaborative based in Austin, Texas. They are building the strongest…
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Escape into Austin Angels
Join us as we escape into Austin Angels! We're excited to welcome Susan Ramirez, the founder and CEO of Austin Angels, to the conversation! Austin Angels walks alongside children, youth, and families by providing consistent, heartfelt support through intentional giving, relationship building, and...
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Escape Into Austin Soundwaves
Join us as we escape into Austin Soundwaves! 🎙️ We're excited to welcome Dr. Hermes Camacho, Deputy Director at Austin Soundwaves, to the conversation. Before diving into the incredible work they're doing in music education, we explore this week's Topics That Matter: The Psychology of Giving —…
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Escape Into Yellow Bike Project
Join us as we escape into the Yellow Bike Project! 🎙️ We're excited to welcome Pete Wall, Staff Manager & Bike Mechanic, and Jim Robertson, Board Member, to the conversation! 🎙️ Yellow Bike is a nonprofit community bike shop born from grassroots efforts, committed to transforming lives through...
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Escape into Austin Baptist Chapel
Join us with Pastor Mark Smith and his wife and Director, Cindy Smith, as we escape into Austin Baptist Chapel! 🎙️ First! Steph and Court dive into what cause categories do people donate to most? Then! We're escaping into Austin Baptist Chapel—also known as Angel House Soup Kitchen! This episode...
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Escape into Austin Sunshine Camps
Join us as we escape into Austin Sunshine Camps! 🎙️ We're excited to welcome David Roberts, Chief Development Officer at Austin Sunshine Camps, to the conversation! Austin Sunshine Camps creates life-changing experiences by offering the joy of overnight camp—completely free for kids who need it...
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Escape into Art From the Streets
Join us as we escape into Art From The Streets! 🎙️ We're excited to welcome Marla Johnson, the development director of Art From the Streets, to the conversation! Art From the Streets provides a creative space for those experiencing homelessness in Austin, helping individuals heal, find purpose,...
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Escape into Pease Park Conservancy
Join us as we escape into Pease Park Conservancy! We're excited to welcome Allison Johnson, the Director of Community Engagement for Pease Park Conservancy, to the conversation! Pease Park Conservancy works in partnership with the City of Austin to set the standard for world-class park…
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Escape into Texas Stars Foundation
Join us as we escape into Texas Stars Foundation! We're excited to welcome Captain Curtis McKenzie of the Texas Stars Hockey and board member of the Texas Stars Foundation to the conversation! 🎙️ The Texas Stars Foundation has been the official foundation of the Texas Stars Hockey Club since…
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Escape into Special Olympics
Join us as we dive into Special Olympics Central Texas! We're excited to welcome Bruce Williams, coach of the San Marcos Wolverines, and his son Nick, a 5-time gold medalist in powerlifting! 🎙️ Listen in as we dive into all things Special Olympics and hear about Bruce's brand-new delegation in…
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Escape into Addicus Legacy Dog Rescue
Join us as we escape into Addicus Legacy Dog Rescue! We're excited to welcome Amy Stanton, Director of Addicus Legacy Dog Rescue, to the conversation! 🎙️ Amy's passion for rescuing and advocating for dogs in need is at the heart of Addicus Legacy Dog Rescue, a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit...
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Escape into ATX Kids Club
Join us as we escape into ATX KIDS CLUB! We're excited to welcome Tammy Miller, Founder of ATX KIDS CLUB, to the conversation! 🎙️ Tammy's passion for creating meaningful experiences for kids is rooted in her lifelong love of field trips and the belief that low teacher-to-child ratios lead to…
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Escape into Best Buddies Central Texas
Join us as we escape into Best Buddies Central Texas! We're excited to welcome Morgan Ilika, Area Director of Best Buddies Central Texas, and Tasha Johnson, Best Buddies Ambassador, to the conversation! 🎙️ Tasha is amazing—not only is she a Best Buddies Ambassador, but she's an advocate, a…
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Escape into Generation SERVE
Join us as we Escape into Generation SERVE! We're thrilled to welcome Stephanie Bazan, Executive Director of Generation SERVE, to the conversation. She shares how youth volunteerism is creating a lasting impact in and around Austin, TX—empowering the next generation to step up, take action, and...
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Escape into Carrying Hope
Join us as we Escape into Carrying Hope! We're excited to welcome Kristin Finan, Co-Founder of Carrying Hope, to the conversation. She shares how Carrying Hope makes an impact for youth and families impacted by the foster care system across Texas. Right now, over 21,000 children are in foster…
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Escape into The Junior League of Austin
Join us as we Escape into The Junior League of Austin! We're excited to welcome Courtney Dickey, President, and Whitney Broughton, Assistant to the President, of The Junior League of Austin (JLA) to the conversation. They share how JLA supports children's welfare programs by providing coats…
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Escape into SAGE Studio ATX
Join us as we Escape into SAGE Studio ATX! Host Stephanie Dyer and co-host Courtney Dickey as they tackle the growing loneliness epidemic. Discover how giving back and engaging in your community can not only combat loneliness but also make you a happier, more connected person. In this episode,...
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Journey Begins: Getting Familiar & Why We Think You Should Brag
Episode 1: The Journey Begins: Getting Familiar & Why We Think You Should Brag Welcome to the first episode of Escape into a Cause! Host Stephanie Dyer and co-host Courtney Dickey introduce the podcast, sharing why it's for busy people ready to turn good intentions into meaningful action. In this...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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.
HOSTED BY
Stephanie Dyer
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Escape into a Cause have?
Escape into a Cause currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Escape into a Cause about?
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...
How often does Escape into a Cause release new episodes?
Escape into a Cause has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Escape into a Cause?
You can listen to Escape into a Cause on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Escape into a Cause?
Escape into a Cause is created and hosted by Stephanie Dyer.
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