.jpg)
Food, Family, & Philanthropy
Hello and welcome to Food, Family, and Philanthropy, the podcast that combines my passions for real estate, family, food, sports, and most importantly, giving back to the community. I'm Michael Nathanson, and for nearly two decades, I've been working in the real estate business in beautiful South Florida.
Throughout my career, I have found that the most rewarding experiences are those that involve giving back to the community. And that's why I decided to create this podcast: to explore how we can all make a difference through the many aspects of our lives. Whether it's supporting local businesses, connecting with loved ones, or getting involved in philanthropic endeavors, I believe we all have the power to positively impact the world.
In each episode, I'll be joined by amazing guests – from restaurant owners to real estate professionals, to family members, friends, and mentors. We will discuss how we can use our passions and resources to create meaningful change in our communities. And, of course, we'll indulge in some delicious food along the way!
So, whether you're a foodie, a philanthropist, a sports fan, or just someone who wants to make a difference in the world, I invite you to join me on this exciting journey. Follow us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and let's explore the many ways we can positively impact the world through food, family, and philanthropy!
Episodes
50 episodes
Ep. 49 - Why Laura Reiss Believes Kindness Starts With the Little Ones
What happens when a barefoot hippie mom moves to a community that feels cold and decides to do something about it? That's exactly how Laura Reiss, founder of Kindness Matters 365, got started — not with a grand plan, but with a simple afterscho...
.jpg)
Ep. 48 - Fighting Hunger in Palm Beach County: Feeding South Florida’s Impact, Food Insecurity & How You Can Help
In this powerful episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy, we dive into the reality of food insecurity right here in Palm Beach County. Many assume South Florida is thriving—but behind the scenes, families are making impossible choice...
Ep. 47 - Sherri Divband On Rethinking Education For Kids With Autism And Anxiety
What if the way we’ve always done school just isn’t working for a lot of kids?Michael sits down with Sherri Divband, founder of Aramis Creative Learning Center, to talk about a different path for children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and ...
Ep. 46 - Dennis Miles And Vincent D'Aria On Supporting Families Before Crisis
What if the biggest impact happens before a family ever reaches a breaking point?In this conversation, Michael Nathanson sits down with Dennis Miles, Executive Director, and Vincent D'Aria Palm Beach Advisory Board Chair of Children’s Ho...
Ep. 45 - Jamie Kendall On Fighting Hunger In Palm Beach County
Food prices are up, people are stretched thin, and the need is closer than most of us want to believe. Michael Nathanson sits down with Jamie Kendall of the Palm Beach County Food Bank to talk about what food insecurity looks like in Palm Beach...
Ep. 44 - Jack Lighton On Cleaning Up Ocean Plastic And Why It Matters To All Of Us
Most of us love the ocean, but we don’t always think about what’s actually in it until someone puts it in plain language. Michael Nathanson sits down with Jack Lighton of 4OceanFoundation to talk about ocean bound plastic pollution, why it’s be...
Ep. 43 - Shari Kaplan and the Can’t Tell Foundation Helping Foster Youth Heal From Trauma
Some conversations stay with you because they’re honest, human, and rooted in real community care. Michael Nathanson sits down with Shari Kaplan, founder of the Can’t Tell Foundation, to talk about what trauma healing can look like when we stop...
Ep. 42 - How Do You Rebuild Life After Prison?
Michael Nathanson sits down with William Freeman, founder and CEO of People of Purpose, a Florida nonprofit helping returning citizens rebuild their lives with stability, dignity, and real support. William shares how the idea for People of Purp...
Ep. 41 - Nonprofit Heroes Changing Lives And How You Can Help
In this special year end episode of Food, Family & Philanthropy, host Michael Nathanson looks back on the inspiring nonprofit leaders who pulled up a chair to share how they are changing lives. Michael revisits powerful conversatio...
Ep. 40 - How Jim Good And Nations Of Coaches Mentor College Basketball Leaders
On this episode of Food, Family & Philanthropy, host Michael Nathanson sits down with Jim Good, regional director for Nations of Coaches, to explore how investing in coaches transforms entire teams and communities. Jim shares how this nonpr...
Ep. 39 - Inside Sofia’s Hope with Jamie Doherty
In this episode of Food, Family & Philanthropy, Michael Nathanson sits down with Jamie Doherty, president and CTO of R2 Unified Technologies, for a conversation that blends food, family, sports, and heartfelt purpose.Jamie shares his...
Ep. 38 - YMCA Community, Youth Programs, and Giving Back with Bryan Hunt
On this episode of Food, Family & Philanthropy, host Michael Nathanson sits down with Bryan Hunt, Executive Director of the Peter Blum YMCA in Boca Raton, to explore how a true community hub changes lives. Bryan shares his Jamaican roots an...
Ep. 37 - Hope, Home and Helping Hands with Jane Richardson
Michael sits down with Jane Richardson, executive director of Friends of Foster Children, for a heart first conversation about building stability and joy for kids in Palm Beach County. Jane shares her path into nonprofit leadership and the prog...
Ep. 36 - Seeds of Impact with Tamika Taylor
We pull up a chair with Tamika Taylor, founder of Impact Achievement Learning Center, whose mission is to give every child a safe place to be seen, supported, and taught to read with confidence. We talk favorites from Lemongrass’s Sex on the Mo...
Ep. 35 - Waves of Impact with Monica Hadvigerova
Michael sits down with Monica Hadvigerova, founder of Military Recreational Divers, Inc., to explore how ocean therapy and scuba bring healing, resilience, and community to veterans living with PTSD and other invisible wounds. We trace Monica’s...
Ep. 34 - More Than Mugs: How Her 2nd Chance Is Redefining Recovery Through Purpose and Products
In this inspiring episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy, host Michael Nathanson welcomes Jessica Williams, Etsy Manager at Her 2nd Chance, a nonprofit based in Boca Raton that empowers women in recovery through paid employment, per...
Ep. 33 - How One “Yes” Sparked A School, A Movement, And A Mission To Empower with Diana Sierra
When Diana Sierra first walked into what would become Boca School for Autism, she planned to volunteer. What happened next? A two-minute tour turned into a two-hour conversation that completely changed her life—and the lives of dozens ...
Ep. 32 - The Garden That Grew A Movement: How One Local Leader Is Rewilding South Florida And Empowering Teens
Michelle Hendricks went from backyard gardening to leading a movement that’s transforming how South Florida connects with nature. As president of Friends of Loxahatchee, she’s on a mission to protect one of the last wild pieces of the ...
Ep. 31 - From Barbecue To Boardrooms: Serving Seniors With Heart — Featuring John Sawdon Of The Volen Center
In this heartwarming and eye-opening episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy, we sit down with John Sawdon, Outreach Coordinator at The Volen Center, a powerhouse nonprofit supporting seniors across South Florida. From dementia care ...
Ep. 30 - Roots, Purpose, And Possibility: The Story Behind The HAB Center with Sherry Henry
In this heart-centered and eye-opening episode, we sit down with Sherry "Shadelle" Henry, the dynamic Executive Director of the HAB Center in Boca Raton. With warmth, wisdom, and a little Jamaican spice (literally!), Sherry shares the personal ...
Ep. 29 - Running On Purpose: Frank McKinney’s Mission From Real Estate To Real Impact
In this heartfelt and high-energy episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy, host Michael welcomes real estate visionary and humanitarian Frank McKinney for a powerful conversation about passion, perseverance, and purpose. From buildin...
Ep. 28 - From Music To Mentorship: How Shanna St. John Is Changing Lives Through Nat King Cole’s Legacy
In this inspiring episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy, we sit down with Shanna St. John — Executive Director of Nat King Cole Generation Hope — to uncover how she's turning music into a powerful tool for education, healing, and c...
Ep. 27 - Blind Ambition: How Lisa Stella Is Revolutionizing Tech & Support For The Visually Impaired!
What if losing your sight didn’t mean losing your independence? In this must-listen episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy, we sit down with Lisa Stella, Executive Director of Lighthouse for the Blind, to uncover how cuttin...
Ep. 26 - Empowering Families: How The Fuller Center Is Changing Lives In South Florida
In this heartfelt episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy, we sit down with Eric Robey, former South Florida news anchor turned CEO of the Fuller Center. With a mission to support underprivileged families, Eric shares how the center ...
Ep. 25 - Open Hearts, Unforgettable Stories: A Journey of Love, Loss, and Impact with Lisa Murphy
Welcome to 2025's first episode of Food, Family, and Philanthropy, where we kick off the "Year of the Non-Profit" with a heartwarming and deeply inspiring conversation with Lisa Murphy, CEO of Open Hearts for Orphans. Lisa’s journey, f...