Michael Johnson, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County, shares his transformative journey from a challenging childhood to leading a multimillion-dollar nonprofit. He discusses the Pay It Forward campaign, raising $1.5 million for community initiatives like home renovations and car donations. Johnson emphasizes the importance of love, family, and smart partnerships in leadership. The podcast also touches on the divisive political climate and its impact on social services. Later, bird enthusiast Brenna Marsicek discuss the Christmas Bird Count, encouraging citizen participation in bird conservation. A poetic interlude adds a reflective note to the lively conversation.

The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!