Welcome to the EveryDayMatters podcast, a show from Netsmart

Listen to Recent Episodes

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  Episode 16: How Happy Bottoms Supports Families, One Diaper at a Time

  Lack of access to diapers impacts more than just child health and hygiene—it can impede access to childcare, diminish parental mental wellbeing and even affect employment stability. That’s where Happy Bottoms steps in. Kansas City’s only diaper bank distributes diapers to thousands of families in need across the region. In this episode of the EveryDayMatters Podcast, Susan Belger Angulo, Co-Executive Director and Chief Development Officer, Happy Bottoms, shares the obstacles vulnerable families face, how diaper banks can help and ways volunteers can support the cause.

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  Episode 15: From a Mother’s Story to a Movement of Hope

  Mental health challenges can leave families feeling overwhelmed, afraid and unsure of where to turn for support. In this episode, Susie Gurley shares how her family’s journey inspired the Just A Mom podcast and a mission to help others feel less alone through honest stories and shared resources.

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  Episode 14: Disrupting Generational Poverty: Operation Breakthrough’s Mission to Support Children and Families

  Netsmart associates Tom Herzog and Wendy Hill sit down with Mary Esselman, President and CEO of Operation Breakthrough to discuss how the organization works to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. The episode explores Operation Breakthrough’s mission, services and impact, including how support ranging from education resources to mental health support, assist families experiencing poverty in and around Kansas City. This conversation also highlights how volunteering through the EveryDayMatters Foundation can help associates get involved and make a meaningful impact in the community.

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  Episode 13: Why We Volunteer

  Join Tom Herzog and Netsmart colleagues Wendy Hill and Mary McCann for a reflective conversation about the “why” behind volunteer efforts. With April ushering in National Volunteer Month, there is no better time to reflect on the reasons why we choose to give our time and effort in service to our communities. Together, they discuss their personal, professional and organizational reasons for volunteering. The conversation also explores the broader organizational values that make service an important part of the Netsmart culture.

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  Episode 12: From Inclusion to Impact, Creating a Community That Matters

  Join Tom Herzog as he sits down with Erin Galba, Director of Development at Inclusion Connections, a Kansas City–based nonprofit dedicated to creating pathways to meaningful employment, life skills development and community connection for people of special abilities. Erin shares the organization’s origin story, rooted in a parent’s question of “what’s next,” and how Inclusion Connections has grown into a holistic model that supports independence, purpose and belonging.

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  Episode 11: Honoring R.Y.A.N. – Healing and Making a Difference After Loss

  Join Tom Herzog for a heartfelt conversation with Linda Hill, a colleague at Netsmart, who shares her deeply personal story of grief following the unexpected loss of her son, Ryan.

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  Episode 10: Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health: The Legacy of Carl’s Cause

  In this episode, Tom sits down with Kelly Specht, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Carl’s Cause, an organization dedicated to reshaping the narrative around mental health. Kelly shares her personal story of her son Carl, whose battle with mental health culminated tragically in 2017. Despite the devastating loss, Kelly and her family transformed their grief into a powerful force for change, advocating for mental health awareness and support.

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  Episode 9: Ending Homelessness for this Generation and the Next

  In this episode, Tom Herzog sits down with Michael Wilson, a former Netsmart associate and
  current Executive Director for Community LINC, a crisis housing facility whose mission is to end homelessness in Kansas City for this generation and the next. Community LINC serves as transitional housing for families, with the goal of breaking the cycle of homelessness and
  improving people’s mental and physical wellbeing.

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  Episode 8: Helping Heros Navigate Trauma to Embrace Hope and Healing

  Being cause-connected is at the heart of our mission and by uniting with other organizations we seek to provide a place to share stories about the progress being made, how to overcome challenges and ideas to inspire. The military community—service members, veterans, military spouses and family members—often experience setbacks when it comes to finding meaningful employment opportunities, navigating “a new normal” and finding a way forward.

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  Episode 7: Empowering Military Transitions with Meaningful Opportunities

  Being cause-connected is at the heart of our mission and by uniting with other organizations we seek to provide a place to share stories about the progress being made, how to overcome challenges and ideas to inspire. The military community—service members, veterans, military spouses and family members—often experience setbacks when it comes to finding meaningful employment opportunities, navigating “a new normal” and finding a way forward.

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  Episode 6: On the Road to Success: The Importance of Mentoring Programs for At-Risk Youth

  Mentorship, culture and community are vital for youth, particularly in underserved populations, as they provide support, guidance, and a sense of belonging. These factors can help young people navigate challenges, build confidence and access opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

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  Episode 5: The Art of Being ME: How One Movement is Inspiring Other

  In this episode, Tom Herzog, chief operating officer at Netsmart, talks with Gabrielle Martin and Randy Bacon about the work they’ve done to launch The Art of Being Me campaign that connects everyday life to the challenges that we all have.

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  Episode 4: How Trauma-Informed Care Can Help Heal Our Communities

  No matter how big or small – nearly everybody has experienced trauma at some point in their life. With social determinants like equity, vocation, access to food and so many more, no two stories will look the same. This is where trauma-informed care comes into play. Focused on coping skills and how to internally manage trauma, this form of care meets each individual where they’re at.

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  Episode 3: Creating Connection in a Digital World

  As technology advances each day, our society is using digital devices more and more in their daily lives. While many connections are being made across social media channels, text messaging, video game chat rooms and beyond, our relationships off screen have taken the back seat. In fact, National surveys have shown that only 14% of teens feel that they have had a helpful or productive conversation with any trusted adult about their digital life. By pausing and reflecting on the way we consume our technology devices, we can find ways to form better connections, improve productivity and build relationships in an increasingly digital world.

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  Episode 2: Creating a Better Community – Ending the Cycle of Incarceration

  The United States recidivism rate continues to be a major flaw in our nation’s criminal justice system. How can we help formerly incarcerated individuals and their families overcome obstacles and end the cycle of incarceration for a better future? By connecting impacted individuals and their family members to resources, support, skill development, work opportunities and meaningful programs that transform their experience as they return to the community.

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  Episode 1: How to Bridge the Gap Between Mental & Physical Health

  We speak with Tim DeWeese, Director at Johnson County Mental Health and Caitlin Truhe, Athletic Trainer with Blue Valley Schools, about mental health in athletics and how to inspire others to adopt the call to action.

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  The EveryDayMatters Podcast: An Introductory Episode

  In this introductory episode, Tom Herzog, Chief Operating Officer, speaks with two co-workers at Netsmart: Wendy Hill, Chief People Officer, and Julie Hiett, Senior Director of Population Health, about making a difference day-to-day and the importance of mental health.