Summary of "Who Can I Help Today?": A Conversation with Natalie Silverstein on The PM Podcast

Episode Title: "Who Can I Help Today?": A Conversation with Natalie Silverstein
Host: Jay Frost
Release Date: February 1, 2025
Podcast: The PM Podcast
Host/Author: DonorSearch

1. Introduction to Natalie Silverstein

Jay Frost welcomes Natalie Silverstein, an influential author, speaker, and podcast host dedicated to fostering kindness and service among families and teens. Natalie is the founder of the New York affiliate of Doing Good Together and hosts the award-winning podcast Simple Acts, Big Impact, which celebrates Teen Changemakers. She is also the author of two nationally recognized books: Simple Acts: The Busy Family's Guide to Giving Back and Simple: The Busy Teen's Guide to Making a Difference.

2. Natalie's Background and Origin Story

Natalie shares her immigrant roots, born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, by Ukrainian parents who met in a displaced persons camp after World War II. She recounts her parents' journey to the United States and their settlement in New Haven. Natalie humorously notes, "[...] People would say, 'No, no. I’m really from here. People actually live here. If you just drive up the road and take a left, you'll find my mom's house" (01:28).

3. Influence of Public Health on Her Career

Natalie's career in public health stemmed from a childhood experience with scoliosis. At age 13, she was treated at the Newington Children's Hospital, where the kindness of the hospital staff inspired her to pursue a path that aids others without direct clinical involvement. She reflects, "[...] Every interaction that you have with a person can change them and can mentor them" (05:27).

4. Early Lessons in Philanthropy from Immigrant Parents

Growing up, Natalie’s parents instilled a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility to help others. Her father, a hardworking woodworker, and her mother, who cleaned offices, demonstrated philanthropy through actions rather than grand gestures. Natalie fondly remembers contributing to charity as a child, saying, "[...] My mom always would have us watch the Jerry Lewis telethon. [...] We would get a few dollars of my babysitting money [...] and mail it to the muscular dystrophy" (11:54).

5. Integration of Faith and Philanthropy

Raised in the Eastern Catholic tradition, Natalie discusses how her family's faith informed their philanthropic actions. She highlights the importance of religious institutions in teaching children the value of giving back, noting, "[...] These were places where people could find opportunities to give back, where it was expected of them to do so" (13:22). Despite transitioning to a Jewish day school for her children, she emphasizes the shared values of kindness and community service across different faiths.

6. Transition to Nonprofit Work After Parenthood

After the birth of her third child, Natalie shifted her focus to nonprofit work, leveraging her skills in writing and fundraising to support various organizations. She recounts her involvement in managing communications for nonprofits dealing with different cancers and disease states, leading her to help families engage in meaningful community service.

7. Writing and Fundraising Skills

Natalie attributes her success in fundraising to her ability to confidently ask for donations without feeling personal rejection. She explains, "[...] I'm really good at asking for money [...] explaining to you why I believe that this work is important" (22:08). Her approach involves sharing compelling stories and focusing on the mission rather than personal gain.

8. Building Family Service Traditions

Natalie and her family established annual service traditions, such as visiting Holocaust survivors during Hanukkah. These experiences became cherished memories for her children, reinforcing the importance of service and empathy. She shares a poignant story, "[...] my kids would say, what night are we going to see the Schwartzes?" (33:41), highlighting the deep connections formed through these acts of kindness.

9. Publishing Books on Family and Teen Philanthropy

Her firsthand experiences inspired Natalie to author two books aimed at facilitating family and teen involvement in philanthropy:

• Simple Acts: The Busy Family's Guide to Giving Back – A practical resource guide for families to incorporate service into their daily lives.
• Simple: The Busy Teen's Guide to Making a Difference – A guide encouraging teens to leverage their talents and passions for community impact.

She explains, "[...] the first book grew out of that work, which is simple [...] it's a resource guide [...] step by step, really pretty basic" (34:13).

10. Overcoming Barriers to Family Volunteering in NYC

Natalie addresses the challenges of volunteering in a bustling city like New York, where many nonprofits historically excluded families. She advocates for creating family-friendly volunteer opportunities to broaden participation and facilitate meaningful engagement. She notes improvements but emphasizes the need for ongoing efforts: "[...] organizations might create a family-friendly day on a Saturday" (39:07).

11. Impact of the Pandemic on Volunteerism

The COVID-19 pandemic forced nonprofits to innovate, leading to the rise of virtual volunteer opportunities. Natalie refers to these initiatives as "kitchen table kindness," allowing families to contribute from home. This shift has expanded access and engagement, making volunteering more inclusive.

12. Engaging Teens in Meaningful Service

Natalie emphasizes the importance of aligning volunteer opportunities with teens' interests and passions to ensure sustained engagement. She advises, "[...] find something that speaks to them and their passions and their talents and their interests and their skills" (43:23). This approach fosters a deeper commitment and personal fulfillment among young volunteers.

13. Hosting the Podcast: Celebrating Teen Changemakers

Natalie’s podcast, Simple Acts, Big Impact, showcases the inspiring efforts of young people making significant impacts in their communities. Each episode features interviews with teen changemakers, highlighting their motivations, challenges, and successes. Natalie expresses profound admiration for these young leaders, stating, "[...] these stories are just really special" (47:34).

14. Staying Motivated Through Youth Engagement

Despite global challenges, Natalie finds hope and motivation in the dedication and optimism of young volunteers. She observes, "[...] these kids keep me going, honestly [...] they just figure out a way to fix it or to try to help" (52:18). Their unwavering commitment serves as a beacon of positivity for her.

15. Reflections on Immigration and Current Events

Natalie reflects on her parents' immigrant experience and current global issues, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and U.S. refugee policies. She advocates for a personalized approach to social problems, urging individuals to help "one person" at a time. She advises, "[...] Who is one person that you could help in your sphere?" (62:47).

16. Concluding Thoughts: Legacy and Recognition from Parents

In closing, Natalie hopes her parents would be proud of her philanthropic endeavors. She shares, "[...] my mother [...] saw my name on [my books] and it was a proud moment for her" (63:02). Her parents' legacy of hard work and community service continues to inspire her mission to help others.

Notable Quotes

• Natalie Silverstein (00:00): "When folks say to me, it's too much, it's too overwhelming... Who is one person that you could help in your sphere?"

• Natalie Silverstein (05:27): "Every interaction that you have with a person can change them and can mentor them."

• Natalie Silverstein (22:08): "I'm really good at asking for money... explaining to you why I believe that this work is important."

• Natalie Silverstein (43:23): "Find something that speaks to them and their passions and their talents and their interests and their skills."

• Natalie Silverstein (62:47): "Who is one person that you could help in your sphere? Who is one person that you can see someone in your world that you can help in some substantive and meaningful way?"

Conclusion

Natalie Silverstein's journey from a compassionate child in New Haven to a respected leader in philanthropy underscores the profound impact of individual actions on broader societal issues. Through her books, podcast, and hands-on community service, she empowers families and teenagers to engage in meaningful philanthropy, fostering a culture of kindness and service. Her insights highlight the importance of personalized efforts in addressing complex social challenges, inspiring listeners to make a difference one person at a time.

For more information about Natalie Silverstein, her books, or to listen to her podcast, visit simpleactsguide.com.