Michelle Boggs - The Future of Fundraising: Trust, Community and Innovation
Michelle Boggs is the Executive Nonprofit Industry Advisor at GoFundMe, where she works closely with nonprofits of all sizes and has a unique perspective on the trends shaping the future of fundraising and philanthropy. In our interview, Michelle shares the latest trends she's seeing in the nonprofit space, the current challenges that charities are facing, and how they can better engage their supporters to build trust and community. Her insight is helpful both to our listeners who work at charities and for all of our members who are always looking for ways to go the extra mile for the charities that we care about. Big thanks to Michelle for sharing so much with us.
Wes Adams: Making Work Matter With Community, Contribution, and Challenge
In this episode, we catch up with Wes Adams—positive psychology researcher, author, and founder of SV Consulting Group—during a walk through his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey, for a powerful conversation about what makes work meaningful. Wes shares insights from years of research into why some workplaces thrive while others burn out, and how great leaders create meaning—not just through mission statements, but through everyday moments of community, contribution, and challenge. From casual team check-ins to stretch assignments, Wes explains how small, consistent actions can build cultures where people actually want to show up. We explore what it really means to lead with purpose, how to support others without micromanaging, and why meaning—not perks—is the key to retention, engagement, and performance. Huge thanks to Wes Adams for sharing his perspective—and for helping reshape how we think about leadership and the future of work. Connect with Wes Adams Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesadams1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wesadams1/
Manoj Kumar: Cycling 3,633 Miles Around India With a Purpose
In this episode, we sit down with Manoj Kumar, a tech leader at Harman and passionate cyclist, to hear the incredible story of his 6,000km solo ride across India. Manoj opens up about what inspired him to take this journey—navigating traffic, burnout, and the desire to break out of the ordinary—and how cycling became both a physical and spiritual path. From flat tires to moments of doubt, from conversations with strangers to meditative stillness on the road, Manoj’s story is one of resilience, clarity, and quiet courage. We explore the diversity of India’s landscapes and cultures, the role of family and inner conviction, and how a simple commute became the foundation for a life-changing experience. A huge thank-you to Manoj Kumar for sharing his journey—and to Harman for supporting personal transformation inside and outside of work.
Pat Morrissey & Brendan Cusick: Ocean Rowers and Founding Members of Human Powered Potential
In this episode of The Extra Mile Podcast, we’re joined by Pat Morrissey and Brendan Cusick of Human Powered Potential—a four-person team that rowed across the Pacific Ocean to raise over $43 million for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Pat, who lives with early onset Parkinson’s, shares his powerful journey from diagnosis to joining this life-changing mission. Brendan, the team’s skipper, walks us through the inspiration behind the row, the mental and physical preparation, and what it was like to face 30-foot waves and total isolation in the middle of the ocean. Together, they talk about the strength of community, the power of purpose, and how the support they received from thousands kept them moving through even the hardest days. This is a story of resilience, teamwork, and pushing beyond limits for something bigger than yourself. Don’t miss this incredible conversation. Every mile matters.
Kiera Smalls, Executive Director of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition: Mix It Up Mindfully
We're thrilled to share this interview with Kiera Smalls, the Executive Director of the Running Industry Coalition. The RIDC is an educational nonprofit with a mission to unite the running industry to improve inclusion, visibility, and access for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This is a conversation about how running can be a tool for connection, empowerment, and change, but also how the running community, and how we think about diversity in the running community, is a microcosm for so much more. In a time where we seem to see a movement in opposition to diversity, equity, inclusion, we are doing our best to double down on these values. At Charity Miles, we believe in inclusivity, and that our diversity is what makes us resilient. It also makes our life experiences so much more rich and enjoyable. But most of all, because it's the right thing to do. So we're going to try to do our part, in this podcast at the very least, to bring you more voices like Kiera's. — This podcast is sponsored by our partners at UCan, a brand that I have personally relied on for years to fuel my performance, both in big events and every day. UCan provides steady, long lasting energy without the sugar roller coaster that's in other energy gels and drinks. The unique LiveSteady carbohydrate is a starch, not a sugar, that is trusted by elite athletes like Kira D'Amato and Emma Bates, weekend warriors, and everyday movers alike. Unlike fast burning sugars and gels, UCan delivers a slow, sustained release of energy to keep you going strong without the crashes. Whether you're training for a marathon, heading out for a long ride, or just staying active, UCan helps you feel and perform your best. And as a special gift to the Charity Miles community, UCAN is offering a free sample pack of four energy gels, plus, you can get 20% off any other UCan products by entering the code “CharityMiles” at checkout. Click here to learn more.