The PM Podcast: "It's What Everyone Needs To Do"

A Conversation with Hillary Cohen, a Top Five 2025 CNN Hero
Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Jay Frost
Guest: Hillary Cohen, Co-Founder of Everyday Action

Overview

This episode of The PM Podcast features an inspiring, candid conversation between host Jay Frost and Hillary Cohen, recently named a Top Five 2025 CNN Hero. Hillary is the co-founder of Everyday Action, a nonprofit redefining food rescue in Southern California by redistributing unused gourmet meals from Hollywood film sets to individuals in need. The episode traces Hillary’s journey from directing film sets to orchestrating a grassroots food movement, sharing untold stories of collaboration, ingenuity, and persistent hope.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. The Emotional Impact of Giving & The Thanksgiving Effort

[00:00–01:31]

• Hillary describes the joy and emotion that comes from reading thank-you emails and witnessing the direct impact on hunger over Thanksgiving.
  • "Helping people who are hungry and people in need is what everyone needs to do." — Hillary Cohen (00:18)
• Recap of Everyday Action's annual Thanksgiving event, scaling from 450 to 1,900 meals due to community collaboration and support from local chefs, volunteers, and donors.
  • "We donated food to over 22 organizations and seven LA community fridges." — Hillary Cohen (02:47)

2. The Origin Story: From Film Sets to Food Rescue

[03:03–09:30]

• Hillary’s firsthand observations of massive food waste on LA film sets versus her indie film experiences on the East Coast.
• Discovered legal and logistical barriers (misbeliefs about “illegality” of food donation) that prevented immediate action earlier in her career.
• The pivotal moment during COVID lockdown: channeling frustration and “rage” not into online arguments, but into solving hunger.
  • "It should be a joke because grocery stores exist, so there’s no reason why people should be hungry in America. That is stupid." — Hillary Cohen (05:54)
• Founded Everyday Action with Sam Liu, leveraging industry contacts and knowledge to build a systematized, professional, and ethical approach to food rescue.

3. Launching Amid a Pandemic & Making Mistakes

[09:30–12:22]

• Preparatory period during the industry shutdown led to a robust proof-of-concept and organizational infrastructure.
• First real test with the return of on-set production. Early blunders—like distributing beef stroganoff at 2 a.m.—taught lessons about respect, dignity, and timing.
  • "Looking people in the eye, not walking past someone, and even if they're not interested in the food ... still acknowledging their existence." (10:53)
• Growth from simply serving those directly adjacent to sets, to supporting organizations across 90 miles of LA.

4. Logistics, Liability, and the “Good Samaritan” Myth

[12:54–15:03]

• Host Jay Frost probes how Everyday Action overcame widespread industry fears about liability.
• Hillary explains leveraging the federal Good Samaritan Act, obtaining liability insurance, and securing agreements to lower logistical and legal barriers for donors.
  • "We really try to just cover all areas of that process ... But what I'm trying to get people to see it as is it's really no different than Postmates or DoorDash or Grubhub." — Hillary Cohen (14:06)
• Points out the unfair double-standard where temperature and safety concerns are cited much more for donations to at-risk populations, despite common practices for food delivery and leftovers.

5. Building Community and Driving Collaboration

[15:03–18:05]

• Everyday Action now supports over 50 grassroots nonprofits, offering food and much-needed supplies (like refrigerators and backpacks) tailored to each partner's needs.

• Emphasizes the importance of “listening and reacting” to what partners and beneficiaries actually want versus dumping unwanted surplus.

  • "A lot of times in crisis, people just panic and like, 'Oh, I have beanbags, I'm going to send you 800 beanbags' ... and it's not actually helpful." — Hillary Cohen (16:38)
  • Annual review and site visits ensure ongoing impact and partnership efficacy.

6. Scale & Environmental Impact

[18:05–19:17]

• To date, over 120,000 pounds of food have been reallocated, representing about 80,000 meals—excluding supplies and mutual aid.
• Everyday Action values even the smallest donations: "Those five meals are still five people that went without food."
• The program’s model also addresses food waste as an environmental crisis.

7. Expanding to a "Food Insecurity Shared Hub"

[19:17–21:03]

• Announcement of FISH (Food Insecurity Shared Hub): a warehouse in development housing five collaborating nonprofits, including Everyday Action.
• The hub will facilitate large-scale food and mutual aid item redistribution, especially for late-night or off-hours donations typical in the entertainment industry.
  • Aspires to establish similar hubs nationwide—"nonprofits working together to reallocate food and then get it out to people in need in their own lanes."

8. Personal Transformation and Mission-Driven Life

[21:03–23:43]

• Hillary reflects on her career shift from a rising film industry professional to full-time nonprofit leader.
• Notes the personal and financial challenges of running a small, community-focused organization without avoiding the reality of struggle and burnout.
  • "This is the best work I've ever done in my life ... I just really love putting my skills toward people who genuinely just need help." — Hillary Cohen (22:37)
• Efforts to employ production workers in transition add another layer of impact.

9. Advice for Changemakers and the Power of Grace

[23:43–25:24]

• Encourages listeners to pursue their ideas without undue anxiety about complexity or perfectionism.
  • "Life's only complicated if you make it so. So nothing's too complicated. It's just an idea. But also allow yourself grace." — Hillary Cohen (24:14)
• Shares vulnerability about self-doubt and learning from nonprofit peers, emphasizing the importance of collaboration over competition.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Helping people who are hungry and people in need is what everyone needs to do." — Hillary Cohen (00:18, 22:57)
• "It should be a joke because grocery stores exist, so there's no reason why people should be hungry in America. Like, that is stupid." — Hillary Cohen (05:54)
• "We really try to just cover all areas of that process ... It's really no different than Postmates or DoorDash or Grubhub." — Hillary Cohen (14:06)
• "Life's only complicated if you make it so. ... Allow yourself grace. ... It's okay to fail." — Hillary Cohen (24:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–01:31: The emotional driver and Thanksgiving effort
• 03:03–09:30: The origin and early obstacles of Everyday Action
• 09:30–12:22: Launching amid the pandemic, learning by doing
• 12:54–15:03: Legal barriers, liability, and changing mindsets
• 15:03–18:05: Community partnerships and collaborative support
• 18:05–19:17: Scale of impact—pounds of food saved, meals delivered
• 19:17–21:03: The new warehouse: Food Insecurity Shared Hub (FISH)
• 21:03–23:43: Personal reflections, the cost and reward of mission work
• 23:43–25:24: Advice, perfectionism, and sustaining hope

Episode Takeaways

This conversation offers a powerful message for both nonprofit professionals and anyone contemplating community action: start where you are, use what you know, and don’t let the fear of imperfection or complexity hold you back. In Hillary Cohen’s words, the backbone of progress is the everyday action of generous, adaptive, and collaborative people.