“American Compassion LIVE”: Join a Post-Election Episode on Nov. 13
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. We’re collaborating with The LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas-Austin to co-host American Compassion LIVE, a discussion panel series for the latest season of the safety net podcast.
Season 3 of American Compassion will feature four video podcast episodes filmed in front of a live audience at The LBJ School’s historic Bass Lecture Hall. We filmed the first episode in September, and episode 2, “What Happens Now?”, is slated for Wednesday, Nov. 13. This series is free and open to the public. Panelists include experts from academia, the public and private sectors, and practitioners who are innovating America’s social safety net.
“If we are going to fix the safety net, we first have to understand what it is and why decisions were made in the first place because, and only if we understand that we can avoid mistakes that have been made in the past and actually make material progress.”
— Erine Gray, Findhelp Founder and CEO
Season 3, Episode 2: “What Happens Now?” panelists
The second episode, titled “What Happens Now?” will be filmed on Nov. 13, 2024, from noon to 1:30pm Central. During a conversation focused more on policy than politics, we’ll explore what the outcome of the U.S. election means for social care and the future of the safety net. The panelists are:
Bob is the Chairman and CEO of BGR Group, a bipartisan lobbying and communications firm based in Washington, D.C. He has led numerous campaigns for public policy efforts, using his state and federal experience to engage lawmakers and activate community-based support. He served as Chief of Staff for Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, helping to steer the passage and implementation of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act. Bob previously served as Chief of Staff to Thompson while he was Governor of Wisconsin.
Barbara serves is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for the Master of Nursing Science and the Nursing Practice Innovation program at The University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. She co-directs the university’s Free Mental Healthcare Outreach Line, offering consultations statewide. With over 35 years in nursing, Chapman has dedicated much of her career to serving uninsured and medically underserved populations. Her commitment extends to volunteering with mobile health services, advocating for healthcare access on national media, and serving on the Texas Nurses Association’s Regulation and Practice Authority Committee and Texas Nurse Practitioners’ Board of Directors. As a Legislative Ambassador to both the Texas House and Senate, she aims to advance nurse-led mobile healthcare and enhance access to primary and mental health services across Texas.
Paul makes nationally-acclaimed documentaries about American politics and history. They include George Wallace: Settin’ the Woods on Fire, Vote for Me: Politics in America, Last Man Standing: Politics Texas Style, Louisiana Boys: Raised on Politics, and Getting Back to Abnormal, about race, culture and politics in post-Katrina New Orleans. He also co-produced a nine-part series, Postcards from the Great Divide, done in association with the Washington Post. Paul has a doctorate in American politics (Harvard ’82) and taught documentary filmmaking at the University of Texas for 25 years. He is currently Professor Emeritus and is the former chair of the Department of Radio, Television and Film.
Glen oversees the Government Relations teams at Findhelp. The first 20 years of his career were spent as a staffer in the United States Senate, where he served as Chief of Staff to Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri. After leaving the Senate, Glen was the SVP of Federal Affairs at a Fortune 5 health care company and a major Association. He lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife, three sons, two gerbils, a cat, a dog and three chickens.
New episodes of American Compassion LIVE will be available on Findhelp’s YouTube channel, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts shortly after the live events, and will also air on KUT, Austin’s Public Radio station.
Previous American Compassion episodes: The origins of the safety net
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 to explore the origins of foundational government programs which still exist today. Rebecca returns to the series as host and moderator for season 3, bringing more than 20 years of experience in journalism and public radio.
“Over and over again, we were reminded that the safety net and the systems that we think today are impenetrable were imagined and built by individuals with empathy, creativity, passion, and vision. And as we attempt to mend and reimagine and rebuild our safety net for the 21st century and beyond, we look to individuals with those same qualities, that same drive, and that same mission.”
– Rebecca McInroy, Executive Producer & Host
Season 3, episode 1: Available now!
Watch episode 1 to catch up on the conversation ahead of episode 2.
- Sept. 18, 2024 | “The Broken U.S. Safety Net”. We kicked off season 3 with a big picture look at the modern safety net. Panelists answered questions like how did we get here, what’s broken, and what are the biggest challenges standing in the way of Americans who need help? Findhelp Founder and CEO Erine Gray joined a panel featuring Professor Maninder “Mini” Kahlon of Dell Medical School, Turning Point Center Founder Isha Deselle, and Dr. Pritesh Gandhi, Chief Community Health Officer for Walmart.
Season 3, episodes 2-4: Join us!
RSVP for your free ticket to attend upcoming episodes in person.
- Nov. 13, 2024 | “What Happens Now?”
- After the results of the presidential election, we explore what the outcome means for social care. What is 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.
Be part of the conversation
You’re invited to join the live recording session of American Compassion LIVE on UT-Austin’s campus. Register today to claim your free spot! Hear directly from our featured experts and innovators, and enjoy a light lunch following the discussion.
