In one of the most powerful episodes of From the Playground to the Foreground yet, Jon and Scott sit down with Matt Nalker, Executive Director of The Arc of Mississippi—an organization fighting every day for the rights and dignity of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). But Scott has an especially personal connection to Matt.

Matt shares the moving story of Cody Richardson, a young man who faced a traumatic childhood in foster care and found stability and compassion through The Arc. When Cody tragically passed away in his mid-20s, Matt made the life-changing decision to donate his organs—an act of generosity that saved lives, including Scott Bennett's. Yes, Scott received Cody's heart!

What began as Scott’s effort to thank a donor’s family has evolved into a deep and lasting connection with Matt, who has spent decades championing disability rights after his own daughter was born with severe disabilities. Today, he continues to lead with empathy, courage, and an unwavering commitment to advocacy.

This episode is a tribute to legacy, connection, and the very best of humanity—showing how two people, brought together by chance and tragedy, are now working side-by-side to raise awareness for organ donation and disability advocacy.

#FromPlaygroundToForeground #TheArcOfMississippi #OrganDonation #DisabilityAdvocacy #PodcastWithHeart #DisabilityRights #HumanityInAction #MakeADifference #DallasPodcast

In this episode, Jon and Scott welcome Samantha "Sam" Erger, Head Coach of SMU Women’s Volleyball—and a true force on and off the court. From leading her team to NCAA tournament success to mentoring All-Americans and Pro League draftees, Sam is redefining what excellence looks like in women’s sports. 🏐🔥

They dive into her journey to SMU, the shifting landscape of college athletics in the age of NIL, and why women’s sports deserve a lot more spotlight than they get. Plus, Sam shares her thoughts on the mental side of the game—and why it’s key to long-term success, whether you’re chasing titles or just trying to survive Tuesday.

And yes, the episode includes a very serious debate during the hat-pull segment about the movie Cast Away. Spoiler: Jon is wrong, and we’re not letting it go. 🎬🏐

Smart, funny, and full of spikes (figuratively and literally)—this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen or watch now and catch all episodes at the link in bio.

#FromPlaygroundToForeground #SamErger #SMUVolleyball #DallasPodcast #WomenInSports #CollegeAthletics #NILEra #MentalHealthMatters #VolleyballLife #CoachEnergy #DFWPodcasts #WomenCoaches #CastAwayMovie

In this episode of From the Playground to the Foreground, Jon Altschuler and Scott Bennett catch up with former classmate and ex-RISD Superintendent Dr. Jeannie Stone for a smart and lively conversation about what makes a great brand—whether it’s a truck stop or a school. Hint: Top pay is an important ingredient. And when the conversation turns to teacher pay in HPISD, Jeannie’s reaction to where the district ranks is somewhat unexpected.

From teacher pay, to private school vouchers, school safety, and why HPISD must invest in excellence to stay on top—they cover a lot of ground. And of course, some good laughs about their school days together!

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#FromPlaygroundToForeground #JeannieStone #EducationMatters #TeacherPay #HPISD #DallasPodcast #BuildingGreatBrands