What if you couldn’t tell a doctor what hurts or understand a teacher’s note your child brought home? In this episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee explores how Executive Director of the English Empowerment Center, Roopal Mehta Saran and Volunteer Teacher, Kathleen McCleary are helping immigrants across Northern Virginia build confidence, connection, and opportunity through language. Through powerful stories—a wife unable to communicate in an emergency room to a trained surgeon working in construction learning English to rebuild his life—this conversation reveals how learning English opens doors and changes lives. Listen to learn more and find us at weregood.net.

podcast duration - 30 min listen

What if the biggest threat to the environment is already growing in your own backyard? In this powerful outdoor episode, We’re Good Podcast host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee visits Earth Sangha to uncover how native plants, invasive species, and local conservation efforts are shaping the future of our parks, wildlife, and neighborhoods. With moving stories of mentorship, community, and purpose across generations, this episode will change how you see the land around you—and show how ordinary people can help restore it.

podcast duration - 27 min listen

In this newest episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee visits A Farm Less Ordinary in Loudoun County, Virginia—where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities find more than work; they find purpose and belonging. Born from one family’s response to their son’s autism, the farm is transforming lives through work and community. From fields and greenhouses to dreams of nationwide jam sales, this powerful story reveals what’s possible when an inclusive workplace builds confidence, sparks joy, and creates a community where everyone feels they belong.

podcast duration - 30 min listen

In this on-location episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee steps inside Horton’s Kids’ podcast studio in Washington DC– as We’re Good returns to its very first guests—and discovers just how far the story has traveled. Executive Director Erica Ahdoot and Chief of Staff Rahaman “Kil” Kilpatrick reflect on the seeds planted during that first podcast —seeds that inspired the powerful documentary Kil and the Kids. Kil shares the emotional reality behind the film, the loss, and the “third option” kids need and HK providesto help stop the cycle of violence.

You’ll also hear how this organization is responding to today’s challenges with a Financial Resilience Fund providing direct emergency cash support and the growing Community Caregiver Collective strengthening parents through connection and the Nurturing Parenting Program. It’s honest, urgent, and deeply hopeful—listen and watch what long-term commitment really sounds and looks like.

podcast duration - 29 min listen

In this powerful episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee sits down with foster, adoptive, and kinship parents from Formed Families Forward for an uplifting, hope-filled conversation about love, struggle, and community. Presented with the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, the episode explores isolation, resilience, and a groundbreaking new FASD resource hub. If you’ve ever cared for a child—or someone who has—this story will move you to listen, reflect, and share.

podcast duration - 30 min listen

Step inside the warm, welcoming kitchen of Together We Bake in Alexandria, Virginia in this powerful episode of the We’re Good Podcast—where handmade cookies and granola are just the beginning of something special. This uplifting episode reveals how women overcoming major obstacles in life find healing through shared stories and community. In the bakery, they work alongside others who’ve walked the same road—while earning credentials that open doors to jobs and stability. Listen and find out how.

podcast duration - 31 min listen

What if you woke up tomorrow and couldn’t drive anymore—no errands, no appointments, no independence? In this can’t-miss episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee meets Beth Kilgore-Robinson and volunteer Barry Wickersham from the Shepherd Center of Fairfax-Burke, a CFNOVA grantee quietly making thousands of lives better. They’ve delivered 51,000+ rides—but the real story is what happens inside the car: unexpected friendships, healing moments, and a “circular caring continuum” you’ll want to try in your own life. Tune in to hear the secret sauce.

podcast duration - 28 min listen

In this heart-stirring episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee visits Higher Achievement in Washington, DC—where mentoring transforms futures. CEO Lynsey Wood Jeffries and Board Member and alumni Mitchell Brooks share how this 50-year legacy of connection, turns middle school years into launching pads for college and purpose. Mitch - who now leads a multimillion-dollar firm— says he’s living proof that mentors help their mentees stretch, this episode proves talent is everywhere, and mentorship can change everything.

podcast duration - 30 min listen

In this uplifting episode, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee spotlights Community Foundation for Northern Virginia 2025 grantee Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia—more than a running program, it fuses movement with life lessons for 3rd–8th graders. Jaimi Taylor and Sammy Carr share an evidence-based “Go-To Toolbox” (star power, happy pace, breathe-and-reset) that builds confidence during a critical time of girls’ development. The 5K finish-line tears, cheers, and nicknames make this an emotionally uplifting episode! CFNOVA’s grant removes cost barriers while trained coaches fuel mentorship and positive futures

podcast duration - 28 min listen

As We’re Good wraps an unforgettable year, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee pulls back the curtain on what’s coming in 2026—and it’s powerful. From emotional finish lines with Girls on the Run, to life-changing mentorship at Higher Achievement, to neighbors showing up through the Shepherd’s Center, this episode teases stories of courage, connection, and everyday brilliance. New on-location episodes. New voices. Deeper impact. If you’re craving hope, heart, and proof that good is happening—this is your moment to tune in and join the movement.

podcast duration - 7 min listen

Season One of the We’re Good Podcast wraps with a powerful reflection on the moments that made us laugh, cry, and believe even more deeply in the good happening around us. From emotional stories at Jill’s House and Horton’s Kids to surprising revelations at College Track, Year Up United, DC SCORES, and more, this episode captures the heart of community: belonging, resilience, and everyday brilliance. Plus, Dr. Christina Prather’s wisdom on aging leaves listeners inspired for the year ahead.

podcast duration - 29 min listen

The season-one finale of the We’re Good Podcast is filled with gratitude and full of reveals! The We’re Good team peels back the curtain to share what we learned, loved, and heard from you—like “wait, what?” moments: a public–private fix for affordable housing, a neighbor’s call that saved a woman’s future, and a young man’s independence (and cookies) through a program we thought we knew. Behind the cameras, lights and microphones, a movement is emerging to celebrate the good work happening all around us.

podcast duration - 21 min listen

In this episode of the We’re Good Podcast, Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee interviews a local geriatrician – Dr. Christina Prather MD –  to reveal ways to age well and lower dementia risk. Learn why some memory slips are normal, the 10 p.m. ritual that helps your brain “take out the trash,” and the two-word mantra—“motion is lotion.” She decodes study hype, previews biomarkers and therapies, reframes dementia as an “odyssey,” equips caregivers, and shows how micro-communities—friends and habits—protect brain health. So listen and watch for a hopeful mindset. Find this episode and learn more at weregood.net

podcast duration - 24 min listen

In this heartfelt episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee is joined by co-founder Tanya Ruiz La Force as they spotlight Insight Memory Care and open up about how Alzheimer’s and dementia have touched their own families. This honest episode includes testimony from Mary Jo Ammon, whose husband Steve was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. Through humor and grace, Mary Jo reveals how Insight Memory Care helped them rediscover purpose and dignity in the face of change. A must-listen for anyone navigating caregiving, aging, or love that endures through every season. Watch and listen now. Find us at www.weregood.net

podcast duration - 23 min listen

In this episode of We’re Good, DC SCORES takes center stage—a transformative after-school program fusing soccer, poetry, and service to empower youth across Washington, D.C. Meet 13-year-old poet-athlete Kayla Nelson, whose words now live in the Library of Congress, and Tony Francavilla, a passionate leader of the movement. When teachers are also after-school coaches, trust deepens, lives change and a family is formed. From soccer fields to poetry slams, DC SCORES is building confidence, community, and the next generation of changemakers.

podcast duration - 28 min listen

In this uplifting episode of the We're Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee speaks with two outstanding Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington “Youth of the Year” participants. Discover how Nola transformed personal trauma into strength through her powerful brand, "Strong as a R.O.C.K.," and how Vera stepped boldly out of her sisters' shadows. Hear how these neighborhood-based clubs foster resiliency, leadership, and family becoming cherished second homes for countless youth.

podcast duration - 22 min listen

In this inspiring We're Good episode, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee speaks with Dr. Minnie Annan from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. Dr. Annan shares success stories, from BGCGW alumni thriving in careers on Capitol Hill and at Amazon, to young people overcoming adversity and discovering new pathways through club opportunities. Dr. Annan shares her personal journey, and highlights the Youth of the Year leadership program that is helping prepare tomorrow’s leaders today.

podcast duration - 25 min listen