Advertise on podcast: Our Community, Our Mission

What does it take to keep a 24/7 nonprofit secure, stable, and moving forward? In this episode, Barry Feaker, La Manda Cunningham, and Miriam Krehbiel sit down with Kevin, CEO of Premier One, who is also one of TRM's Platinum Night of Praise sponsors, for a conversation about the technology that supports organizations like Topeka Rescue Mission. Kevin shares insight into outsourced IT, cybersecurity, identity protection, and the growing role of artificial intelligence, including ways these technologies can help nonprofits work more efficiently. The conversation also touches on the importance of being cautious about what information is shared with AI tools, particularly sensitive donor, financial, and client information. They also explore why strong technology support matters behind the scenes and wrap up with a reminder about Night of Praise and the community support that helps TRM continue its mission. Send us a Message!

In this episode, La Manda Cunningham talks about Topeka Rescue Mission’s fourth annual Night of Praise fundraiser and how prayer, financial support, and community involvement help meet the growing needs in Topeka. Then, Coach Damon Parker, Executive Director of The Jones Project, joins us for an honest conversation about teen mental health, bullying, social media pressure, and suicide prevention. Damon shares why storytelling and simply being willing to have difficult conversations can make a lasting difference—and why helping even one student choose to stick around makes it all worth it.  Send us a Message!

In this episode, Molly Howey, CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership, talks with Barry Feaker, CEO of Compassion Strategies; La Manda Cunningham, CEO of TRM; and Miriam Krehbiel, CSO of Topeka Rescue Mission, about how real economic development in Topeka and Shawnee County means people building lives, businesses thriving, and neighbors tackling hard issues together. She unpacks the Partnership's "Better Together" model, how the Chamber, Go Topeka, Visit Topeka, and Downtown Topeka work under one roof with distinct missions, plus job growth, community benchmarks, and rising community pride. The conversation then turns to chronic homelessness. We name the downstream problems people see and the upstream causes that take time, resources, and trust to address. You'll hear why education matters, why relationships change outcomes, and how business leaders and nonprofit partners can align around solutions that protect both human dignity and a healthy local economy.  Send us a Message!

Volunteers are the backbone of the Topeka Rescue Mission, helping provide everything from meals and clothing to critical support for people experiencing homelessness. In today's conversation with Suzie Paslay, Volunteer Coordinator at Topeka Rescue Mission, she shares what it takes to recruit, equip, and support thousands of volunteers, and reveals the full continuum of care that helps people move from crisis toward stability. We explore meaningful volunteer opportunities for every comfort level, along with community partnerships like the Moving Ahead Partnership (MAP) and the Nancy Perry Day of Caring. Whether you can volunteer every week or only have a few hours to give, this episode shows how one small step can make a real difference in the Topeka community. Send us a Message!

This episode tells the story behind the Compassion Impact Center, featuring guests Barry Feaker, CEO of Compassion Strategies and La Manda Cunningham CEO of Topeka Rescue Mission. It traces how the project grew out of years of community listening, pandemic-era mobile outreach through the Moving Ahead Partnership, and the conviction that no single organization can tackle homelessness services alone in Shawnee County. The conversation covers the research that shaped the center's design, a multidisciplinary team, a safer low-barrier shelter, and a "one-stop shop" model, as well as the practical and messy realities of getting there: choosing the Children's Palace as a site, navigating MOUs and leadership transitions, and balancing mission-driven commitment with healthy boundaries. The episode closes by highlighting the outcomes that make the effort worthwhile, from long-term unsheltered individuals finding housing to some returning as volunteers themselves. Send us a Message!

Leadership isn’t just about making hard decisions; it’s about staying tender while carrying the weight of serving others. In this episode, La Manda Cunningham CEO of the Topeka Rescue Mission joins us for an honest conversation about burnout, comparison, staffing challenges, and the pressures of serving neighbors facing homelessness, hunger, addiction, and mental health crises. We also talk about TRM’s Night of Praise on October 11th at Fairlawn Nazarene Church in Topeka, a free evening of worship and community impact with doors opening at 5:30pm and music at 6pm, plus an invitation to bring a non-perishable food item. Finally, La Manda shares lessons from the City Gate Network CEO Summit, including finding “peace in the middle,” letting go of the pressure to wear a mask, and making space for quiet, phone-free time with God to truly reset. Send us a Message!

What does it look like to truly serve the person right in front of us? In this episode, leaders from Topeka Rescue Mission unpack the SERVANT framework, seven biblical pillars shaping compassionate care, servant leadership, and staff culture. From empathy and dignity to truth, advocacy, healing in Christ, and trusting Jesus through difficult work, discover how these principles guide TRM’s everyday interactions and ministry. The 7 Biblical Pillars of TRM: S- Seek First To Understand E-Empathy In Every Response R- Real Truth Spoken In Love V- Value Every Person A- Advocate for the Broken N- New Life and Healing in Christ T- Trust and Abide in Jesus Send us a Message!

In this episode, La Manda Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of TRM and Miriam Krehbiel, Chief Strategy Officer of TRM, take you behind the scenes of Night of Praise, exploring how a community worship night can raise critical support while keeping people, not statistics, at the heart of the mission. They discuss avoiding mission drift, honoring the dignity of neighbors experiencing homelessness and instability, and the importance of donor gratitude, volunteer impact, and authentic testimony. The conversation also explores the 2026 theme, “The Power of Prayer,” and what it means to seek God through tears, exhaustion, hope, and desperation while still inviting the community to support the Topeka Rescue Misson. TRM's Fourth Annual Night of Praise takes place October 11 at 6 p.m. at Fairlawn Church of the Nazarene, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Send us a Message!

In this episode, we discuss how extreme heat is impacting our community, driving increased demand for food, water, and support at Topeka Rescue Mission. We're joined by Kathy Mosher, CEO of Astra Mental Health and Recovery, and Pam Evans, Director of Marketing and Development, to explore how Astra is expanding access to mental health services through same-day care, school-based programs, crisis response, and community support. We also examine the connection between homelessness and mental illness, the importance of collaboration in serving those in need, and highlight Astra's Vivid: The Art of Healing gala supporting mental health and recovery services.  Send us a Message!

This episode explores the growing intersection of mental illness, incarceration, homelessness, and community support. Shawnee County Department of Corrections Director Brian Cole shares the realities facing the local jail, including the challenges of providing behavioral health care while preparing thousands of people each year to successfully return to the community. The conversation also highlights rising food insecurity, the impact of community support through Topeka Rescue Mission, and why investing in stability, from meals and backpacks to reentry services, benefits both individuals and public safety. Send us a Message!

In this episode, Scott Bryant, Director of the TRM Distribution Center and Marcus Molinar, Deputy Director of Property and Security Operations discuss the Topeka Rescue Mission's Back to School Drive and why it makes a meaningful difference for local children and families. They explain the goal of providing backpacks and essential school supplies to around 400 kids across Shawnee County before the school year begins. They also share how listeners can contribute through the Amazon wish list, donation drop-offs, or volunteering. Beyond the supplies themselves, the episode explores how being prepared for school helps children feel confident, included, and ready to learn. It's a conversation about meeting practical needs, strengthening families, and creating lasting impact in the community. Send us a Message!

In this episode, Isabell Cronister and Jamie Wiegert from Topeka Rescue Mission's Trauma Education and Development program explore the profound impact of adverse childhood experiences, the lasting effects of trauma on individuals experiencing homelessness, and the reality of secondary trauma among those who serve others. They discuss why ACE scores are a tool for understanding rather than a predictor of the future, share practical ways to build trauma-informed workplaces that support both clients and staff, and highlight how programs like Kids Camp use TBRI to help children develop healthy coping skills. Send us a Message!

In this episode (https://bit.ly/OCOM_EP317), we reflect on insights from the City Gate Network conference, where La Manda Cunningham and Miriam Krehbiel discuss the challenges of serving others and the importance of lasting change rooted in faith, collaboration, and shared purpose. Centered on the theme “All For Love,” the conversation emphasizes that while effective strategies are essential, love remains the driving force behind meaningful and lasting solutions to homelessness. Send us a Message!

In this episode we discuss one of Scripture’s most powerful images of grace, the father who watches in Luke 15, and what it means that he does not simply wait for his son’s return but runs to meet him. Through stories of faith, compassion, and unexpected moments of care, we explore how God calls us to see people beyond labels, beyond assumptions, and beyond their worst decisions. Sometimes the greatest act of love is simply keeping watch for someone a long way off. Send us a Message!

In this episode we sit down with Barry Feaker to share the remarkable story of how a collapsing shelter in 1989 led to one of the most inspiring community efforts in Topeka Rescue Mission's history. What began as a crisis became a powerful testament to faith, perseverance, and the generosity of thousands of people who came together to make the impossible possible. Send us a Message!