“American Compassion”: Partnering with The LBJ School on the Safety Net Podcast
As part of our mission to build a better social safety net, Findhelp fosters conversations about the state of modern social care and what can be done to improve it. As we recently announced, we’re collaborating with The LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas-Austin to co-host a LIVE speaker series for the latest season of American Compassion: The Safety Net Podcast.
Season 3 of American Compassion will kick off with four video podcast episodes – two this fall and two next spring – filmed in front of a live audience at The LBJ School’s historic Bass Lecture Hall. The series will be free and open to the public, featuring experts from academia, the public and private sectors, and practitioners who are innovating America’s social safety net.
“As an alum of The LBJ School of Public Affairs (Class of ‘04), this initiative has special meaning. LBJ always knew that the Great Society legislation wasn’t perfect. With the benefit of time, and advances in technology, we hope ideas debated here can be implemented to improve the lives of others.”
– Erine Gray, Founder & CEO of Findhelp
Season 3: Looking ahead
What will the outcome of the 2024 presidential election mean for the safety net? How can technology improve outcomes for Americans? What does the gold standard for social care look like? These are some of the questions we’ll explore in this innovative series.
Episode 1 | September 18, 2024
Titled “The Broken U.S. Safety Net”, the first episode will be filmed on Sept. 18, 2024, from noon to 1:30pm Central. The episode will take a big picture look at the modern safety — how did we get here, what’s broken, and what are the biggest challenges standing in the way of Americans who need help?
Erine Gray, Founder & CEO of Findhelp, will join a panel featuring:
- Maninder “Mini” Kahlon, Ph.D., Dept. of Population Health at Dell Medical School
- Isha Deselle, Founder of Turning Point Center
- Dr. Pritesh Gandhi, Chief Community Health Officer for Walmart
Future Episodes
New episodes of American Compassion will be available on Findhelp’s YouTube channel, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts shortly after the live events. The recorded episodes will also air on KUT, Austin’s Public Radio station.
- Nov. 13, 2024 | “What Happens Now?” After the results of the US presidential election, we explore what the outcome means for social care and the future of the safety net — for the next four years, at least.
- Feb. 12, 2025 | “Social Care in the Digital Age.” Given the flaws in the safety net and the political realities that exist, we explore how to modernize the system. Discussion topics include the roles played by AI, health insurance companies, and social determinants of health tech.
- March 26, 2025 | “Who’s Doing It Best?” In this episode, look for those who are innovating the safety net to create modern solutions.
Seasons 1 & 2: Looking back at where we started
In the first two seasons of American Compassion, we dove into the history behind the safety net. From FDR’s New Deal to LBJ’s Great Society, host Rebecca McInroy spoke with prominent historians like Robert Caro, H.W. Brands, and Mark Updegrove. They explored the origins of some foundational government programs that still exist today. Rebecca will return to the series as host and moderator for season 3, bringing more than 20 years of experience in journalism and public radio.
“I’m thrilled to discuss the shaping of a robust, comprehensive safety net for the 21st century with some of the most thoughtful, innovative, energetic minds in America. From librarians, nurses, and data scientists to tech giants, policymakers, and business leaders, these are the voices that will help us imagine a future where all Americans thrive.”
– Rebecca McInroy, Executive Producer & Host
A Texas Team-up: Partnering with The LBJ School of Public Affairs
Founded in 1970, The LBJ School is America’s preeminent educational institute for training leaders and improving the quality of public service in the United States and abroad at all levels of governance and civic engagement.
“As UT’s hub for policy leadership, The LBJ School has a powerful tradition of convening both the UT and greater Austin communities together for dialogue on issues of policy importance. I’m delighted that Erine Gray, one of our very own LBJ graduates, has chosen to partner with the school to bring our community important programing on social policy.”
– JR DeShazo, Dean of The LBJ School
Findhelp is honored to collaborate with The LBJ School of Public Affairs on this endeavor, and we look forward to welcoming their esteemed students and faculty to the conversation.
“In a world where people have become so divided about so many things, we hope to broaden our understanding and provide solutions,” Erine said. “We want people to learn something new and leave feeling good about the future.”
Join the conversation!
You’re invited to join the live recording session of American Compassion on UT-Austin’s campus. Claim your free spot by registering today. Hear directly from our featured experts and innovators and enjoy a light lunch following the discussion.
