Crazy Good Turns

Jamil Zaki is a Professor of Psychology at Stanford and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, where he has spent more than 20 years studying how people connect, and what happens when we stop trusting one another. He is the author of The War for Kindness and, most recently, Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness. The book makes a case that's genuinely comforting: people are better than we think they are, and the evidence is everywhere, once you know how to look. Frank and Jamil talk about why our picture of each other is so much darker than the truth, how to think like a hopeful skeptic instead of a cynic, what AI is doing to trust, and a simple dinner-table habit Jamil's family calls positive gossip. In this episode, we discuss: [03:58] A Cynicism Generating Machine: Fifty years of falling trust, why Jamil's Stanford students are not the selfish generation the stereotype claims, and the junk-food analogy for your news feed. [09:05] The Wallet Test: The Toronto Star dropped 20 wallets around the city with money inside. Readers predicted one in four would come back. Four out of five did. The story at the heart of Hope for Cynics, and why people are especially good when things go badly. [13:40] Cynic vs. Hopeful Skeptic: Cynics start with a conclusion and look for evidence. Skeptics think like scientists. Jamil on why cynics "actually are pretty naive," and why the first step is to fact-check your own cynical thoughts. [17:10] Earned Trust and Psychological Brussels Sprouts: How treating people like "the folks you hope they are" flips a vicious cycle into a virtuous one, and what brain scans reveal when we give. [20:54] Positive Gossip: The dinner-table habit Jamil's family practices, the red-car effect that explains why it works, and the late friend whose hope inspired the book. [24:25] A Recovering Cynic: Jamil turns the question on Frank, why this show is "a positive gossip engine," and the neonatologist who did Jamil's family a crazy good turn. [29:27] Turing Fatigue and the Social Router: What AI is doing to trust right now, why Jamil went back to blue-book exams, and how the same technology could be rebuilt to point us toward each other. My Sincere Thanks Because of listeners like you, our show now ranks among the top 5% of most-downloaded podcasts by volume per month. Your support has helped take our little idea to celebrate generosity and good deeds and turn it into one of the most-listened-to podcasts available. Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates people who do good things for others. Please help us continue to grow by subscribing on your preferred podcast platform and sharing our show with friends.

Lyz Glick Best was married to Jeremy Glick, one of the passengers who fought back against the hijackers aboard United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. That morning, from her parents' farmhouse in the Catskills, Lyz spent about 30 minutes on the phone with Jeremy. They stayed calm. They assessed the situation together. And he told her what he wanted if he didn't make it off the plane. Twenty-five years later, Lyz joins us for a tribute episode — to Jeremy, to everyone aboard Flight 93, and to all the victims and families of September 11th. She told the first part of this story in the 2004 book Your Father's Voice. This conversation is about the man behind the title — and the life Lyz built for their daughter in the years since. In this episode, we discuss: [03:08] High School Sweethearts: The first day of ninth-grade biology, 1984 — and the girl Jeremy told his mom he was going to marry. [05:45] "Who's Working the Chess Pieces": Falling out of touch, a chance collision in a New York City bar, and a national judo title won without a coach. [14:10] A Father for 12 Weeks: The video of Jeremy narrating a diaper change — and the joy their daughter Emmy inherited from him. [17:38] "Redemption of Sky": The remarkable poem Jeremy wrote at 16 or 17, published in his school's literary magazine – and which made its way to Lyz after 9/11. [19:05] The Phone Call: About 30 minutes on the phone — staying calm, making a plan, and what Jeremy asked for if he didn't make it home. [28:09] The Tuesday Group: The 9/11 widows who were pregnant or with young children — and how they learned that trauma and grief heal differently. [35:30] Finding Joy After Loss: The life Lyz rebuilt, her husband Jim's quiet crazy good turn, and marking 25 years since the day honored at the Flight 93 National Memorial. Image: Courtesy ACCESS

Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee are both professors of politics at Princeton. Together they wrote "In Covid's Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us" (Princeton University Press), named one of the best books of 2025 by The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and The Economist, and featured on The New York Times' "The Daily" and PBS NewsHour. The book asks a question few want to spend time with: how did we actually handle the pandemic — and what would we do differently next time? We invited Stephen and Frances on Crazy Good Turns not to relitigate COVID or assign blame, but to look back honestly so that when the next crisis comes, we do a little better. Macedo is a political theorist who has written widely on constitutional law, ethics, and public policy; Lee is a leading scholar of Congress and political polarization. In this episode, we discuss: [04:53] The Book Almost No One Asked For: Why Lee wasn't sure anyone would want to read In Covid's Wake — and why she felt it needed to exist anyway. [07:34] Why We Look Away (This Wasn't The First Time): On the strange quiet that settled after the pandemic — and the echo of 1918, when the country did much the same thing following the Spanish flu. [14:47] No Commission, No Reckoning: We studied 9/11 and the Challenger. We never launched that kind of honest look back at COVID — and Lee explores why. [17:23] Who Suffered the Most: How a response framed as protecting the vulnerable, they argue, so often landed hardest on essential workers, small businesses, and our kids. [26:57] The Case for a "Team B" in Every Crisis: Macedo on what he calls an "effortful pause" — room for dissent, and a wider table than just the experts who already agree. [38:06] Reasons for Hope: Why Macedo thinks we will do better next time, and why he's bullish on students who were in junior high in 2020. My Sincere Thanks Because of listeners like you, our show now ranks among the top 5% of most-downloaded podcasts by volume per month. Your support has helped take our little idea to celebrate generosity and good deeds and turn it into one of the most-listened-to podcasts available. Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates people who do good things for others. Please help us continue to grow by subscribing on your preferred podcast platform and sharing our show with friends.

Project D.R.E.W. brings together veterans and songwriters to turn their stories of service into songs. The nonprofit was founded by Marilyn Zeidner, Mike Winnen and Brian Ferguson in honor of Captain Drew Ferguson, an Army Green Beret and Special Forces team leader who carried a guitar with him on deployment. Frank sits down with Marilyn, Mike and Brian to talk about what happens when a veteran hears his own story sung back to him for the first time. In this episode, we discuss: The Story Untold: How a song can surface something a veteran has held in for 40 years or more. Hearing It Sung Back: What actually happens when a veteran hears his own song for the first time. The Lyric That Lands: The moving, powerful lines that come out of this work — including one that brings a Navy SEAL to tears. A Living Memorial: How Project D.R.E.W. is building what it calls "a registry of collective national memory." Chapters: [06:29] The Barn That Started It: How a few bands in a driveway became "Barnegie Hall" — and, eventually, a nonprofit. [15:02] Delivering Restorative Energy: What Project D.R.E.W. actually does over one weekend — Saturday, they talk; Sunday, the song is played out loud for the first time. [16:02] The Stories They've Never Told: How a stranger with a guitar reaches what decades of family never could. [23:19] Why It Works: Brian Ferguson on why songwriters who never served are exactly the right people to draw a veteran's story out. [35:15] A Crazy Good Turn: Our guests on who has done a crazy good turn for them. [39:50] The Man in the Song: A veteran hears a song about a rescue mission — and realizes he'd been among those rescued. [42:00] Captain Drew Ferguson's Song: The song Drew wrote as a young man, now sung by the whole room at the close of every workshop. My Sincere Thanks Because of listeners like you, our show now ranks among the top 5% of most-downloaded podcasts by volume per month. Your support has helped take our little idea to celebrate generosity and good deeds and turn it into one of the most-listened-to podcasts available. Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates people who do good things for others. Please help us continue to grow by subscribing on your preferred podcast platform and sharing our show with friends.

Lindy Wood is the founder of Westonwood Ranch, a 10-acre working farm in the Florida Panhandle. When her son Weston was diagnosed with autism fifteen years ago, she realized a terrifying "services cliff" awaited him—and millions of others—the moment they transitioned into adulthood. Rather than letting her son fall, Lindy built an extraordinary hands-on community where teens and young adults with autism learn life-changing job and life skills. Today, the ranch has grown from serving just four individuals to a full-time program supporting 60 participants. In this episode, we discuss: The "Services Cliff": Why ending high school is a frightening reality for families. Growing the Vision: How Westonwood Ranch expanded to a full-time program serving 60 young adults. The Power of Small Milestones: Why learning to use a microwave became an emotional victory. A Crazy Good Turn: The incredible gift Lindy still has trouble processing. Chapters & Timed Links: [04:12] The Diagnosis: How a 2-year-old's diagnosis sparked a much larger, lifesaver vision. [07:45] The "Services Cliff": Why society stops providing resources just when those with IDD need them most. [12:30] Building Westonwood Ranch: How a 10-acre working farm went from serving four young adults to 60. [19:15] The Microwave Milestone: Why small achievements are massive emotional victories for families. [25:40] An Unbelievable Turn: Lindy shares a "crazy good" gift that changed everything for the ranch. [31:10] Finding Meaningful Work: Lessons on neurodiversity, inclusion, and the simple dignity of labor.   My Sincere Thanks Because of listeners like you, our show now ranks among the top 5% of most-downloaded podcasts by volume per month. Your support has helped take our little idea to celebrate generosity and good deeds and turn it into one of the most-listened-to podcasts available. Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates people who do good things for others. Please help us continue to grow by subscribing on your preferred podcast platform and sharing our show with friends.  

Luke Mickelson is the founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit dedicated to building and delivering beds to children who don't have one. What started as a family project in an Idaho garage has grown into a global organization with nearly 400 chapters and more than 300,000 beds delivered to date. In this episode, we discuss: The moment Luke discovered that kids in his own town were sleeping on the floor—and why that was so shocking. The Christmas project that helped Luke see poverty through the eyes of a six-year-old. How TV personality Mike Rowe got involved—and helped spark a national movement. What actually happens at a bed build—and why volunteers keep coming back. The 150,000+ kids currently on their waiting list and the plan to reach them. Chapters & Timed Links: [04:12] The "Garage" Start: Why great American stories often begin in small, unheated spaces. [08:45] The Discovery: Realizing "bedlessness" was a crisis in a town of only 4,000 people. [12:30] The First Design: How Luke measured his daughter's bed to build furniture for the first time. [17:15] Haley's Story: Seeing the impact of a bed through the eyes of a six-year-old. [23:40] Avoiding "Mission Creep": Why saying "no" to teddy bears helped SHP scale to 400 chapters. [31:20] The Mike Rowe Effect: How the Returning the Favor program launched 125 chapters in one year. [40:05] More Than a Bed: The physical and emotional weight of a good night's sleep.  

Bill Gurley is a venture capitalist known for early investments in Uber, Grubhub, Zillow and many others. Gurley joins us to discuss "Running Down a Dream," his new book — which is full of career advice that is as surprising as it is useful.  In this episode, we discuss: The Power of Mentorship: Why Bill feels a moral urge to share what he's learned with the world. The "Safe" Path Trap: Why the jobs your parents think are safe might actually be the most dangerous in the age of AI. The Peer Group Secret: Why sharing your best ideas with others actually makes you more successful than hoarding them. Finding Your Obsession: Why Bill looks for "fascination" rather than just "passion."  

She's the mom of a child with a rare condition, and she wouldn't take "no" for an answer from doctors. He walked 500 miles for his granddaughter, who has the same condition. Together, they're helping a foundation develop a gene therapy treatment faster and cheaper than the big pharma giants. Today, we speak with Nicole Johnson, founder of the FOXG1 Research Foundation, and Tom Horton, former CEO of American Airlines. Together, they are proving that a lean, parent-led organization can achieve breakthroughs usually reserved for billion-dollar pharmaceutical giants. In this episode, we discuss: The Startup Model for Science: How Nicole and Tom applied "lean startup" principles to fund a lab and launch a clinical trial. 500 Miles for a Cure: Tom Horton shares the lessons learned from his 500-mile walk carrying the names and prayers of children who cannot walk themselves. Defying the Odds: An update on Josie, the beautiful 14-year-old who inspired the movement. A Blueprint for Others: Why this breakthrough provides hope for thousands of other rare diseases left on the shelf. Chapters & Timed Links: [04:22] The Diagnosis: Nicole recounts the moment she was told "there's nothing you can do" and why she refused to believe it. [10:15] Building the Lab: How the FOXG1 Research Foundation created a new model for gene therapy at a fraction of the usual cost. [18:40] The 500-Mile Journey: Tom Horton discusses his walk and the "Gianna effect" that drives his fundraising. [25:55] The Science of Hope: Why FOXG1 research holds the key to treating conditions like Autism and Alzheimer's. [33:10] Staring Down the Impossible: Nicole's advice for anyone told that their goal is unreachable.   My Sincere Thanks Because of listeners like you, our show now ranks among the top 5% of most-downloaded podcasts by volume per month. Your support has helped take our little idea to celebrate generosity and good deeds, and turn it into one of the most listened-to podcasts available. Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates people who do good things for others.

Walter Martin spent decades making and playing music, most famously with the indie rock bands Jonathan Fire*Eater and The Walkmen. Recently, he's started a new crazy good turn,  helping people like you and me rediscover the joy of music through his Walter Martin Radio Hour show and Substack. In this episode, we discuss: How a single instrument (like the organ) can change how you hear a song. Why Walter chooses positivity over rock criticism. Moving past the "judgmental" years to love bands you once dismissed. The "Crazy Good Turn" of human-to-human music discovery. Chapters & Timed Links: [05:07] The Austin Kleon Connection: How two creators found each other through "the magic of the internet." [07:29] From NYC to Upstate: The origin of The Walter Martin Radio Hour. [10:16] The Classical Club: Why Walter is diving deep into Strauss and Stravinsky. [12:07] The Organ Episode: Learning to hear the difference between a Hammond and a Farfisa. [21:43] Breaking the "Teenage Rules": How Walter learned to love the Grateful Dead and Neil Young. [23:52] Walter's Favorite new musician right now.  [28:57] Walter's Songs: Discussing "The Rat" and the autobiographical beauty of "The Soldier." [31:33] Who's done a Crazy Good Turn for Walter?  

Frank Blake sits down with Goodwill Industries CEO Steve Preston and truck driver Michael West to discuss the organization's "second chance" mission. From running adult high schools in prisons to providing career paths for those overcoming addiction and incarceration, this is the story of how a 125-year-old mission is still changing lives today. In this episode, we discuss: The surprising scale of Goodwill: 650 job centers and 50 adult high schools. Michael West's personal journey from addiction and incarceration to homeownership. Why Steve Preston left the C-suite and the Cabinet to lead a "difficult-to-hire" mission. The "Edgar Helms" philosophy: Turning charity into a chance. How employers can unlock a massive, untapped labor pool. Chapters: [01:38] The Personal Mission: Steve Preston on transitioning from HUD Secretary to Goodwill CEO. [06:02] A Missionary in Boston: The 125-year history of Edgar Helms and the birth of Goodwill. [12:22] From Processor to Driver: Michael West shares his path from community service to a career in trucking. [16:55] A Goodwill Wedding: The community and family culture within the organization. [21:33] The Untapped Labor Pool: Why employers should look "beyond the label" of past incarceration. [26:52] The Future of Work: How AI and tech-skills training are reaching low-wage workers. [31:33] The "Internet Trash" Problem: Steve addresses the common false narratives about the organization. We invite you to share your feedback about this show with us on social media. We're @crazygoodturns on all of the platforms. Don't forget to subscribe or follow us on the podcast service of your choice. If you already subscribe, we'd really appreciate a 5-star review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-good-turns/id1137217687 We appreciate your listening and sharing our episodes. Thank you!