The Pinnacle Pod

Episode 17: Merideth Rose | Cornerstones of Care

In this compelling episode of The Pinnacle Pod, we sit down with 2025 Pinnacle Prize [https://www.pinnacleprizekc.org/] winner Merideth Rose, CEO of Cornerstones of Care [https://www.cornerstonesofcare.org/], to explore what it truly means to support children and families in our community. Drawing from her own lived experience in foster care and early motherhood, Merideth challenges how poverty is often mislabeled as neglect and shares powerful data, personal stories, and prevention‑focused solutions reshaping child welfare in Kansas City. This conversation is both a call to action and a message of hope, reminding us that when communities lead with curiosity, compassion, and care, families can thrive.

Episode 16: Nick Allen | Street Outreach, City of KCMO

What does it actually take to move people out of homelessness—and keep them safe in the meantime? In this episode of The Pinnacle Pod, 2025 Pinnacle Prize [https://www.pinnacleprizekc.org/] winner Nick Allen breaks down the reality of street outreach work, from building trust through progressive engagement to coordinating wraparound services that save lives. Nick shares how data, consistency, and human connection are reshaping how the city responds to encampments, why housing alone isn’t enough, and what stands between Kansas City and functional zero homelessness. This conversation is a clear call to our community: the strategy exists—now it’s time to act.

Episode 15: Dr. Robbie Harriford | Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center

The Pinnacle Pod [https://www.pinnacleprizekc.org/podcast/] welcomes Dr. Robbie Harriford—Chief Medical Officer at Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center and passionate community health advocate. Robbie shares her journey from research to family medicine to leading one of Kansas City’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). Highlighting how her work bridges clinical care with a strategic vision to serve vulnerable populations, Robbie discusses the power of culturally competent care, interdisciplinary teamwork, and her mission to make healthcare accessible and equitable for all.

Episode 14: Stacy Busch | No Divide KC

In this episode of The Pinnacle Pod, we sit down with Stacy Busch—composer, changemaker, and co-founder of No Divide KC [https://www.nodividekc.org/]. Stacy shares her powerful journey from personal recovery to community transformation, revealing how the arts became her tool for healing and social impact. Through No Divide KC, Stacy is democratizing access to the arts, amplifying underrepresented voices, and building bridges across Kansas City’s diverse communities.

Episode 13: Mariya Goodbrake | Global FC

In this episode of The Pinnacle Pod, we sit down with Mariya Goodbrake, 2024 Pinnacle Prize [https://www.pinnacleprizekc.org/] winner, public advocate and founder of Global FC [https://www.globalfutbol.org/]. Mariya shares her own experiences as a refugee and how they fuel her passion for helping refugee youth in Kansas City. From her family’s resettlement to her commitment to promote peace and reconciliation, Mariya's journey is one of resilience, compassion, and the unwavering belief in human potential. We discuss the challenges facing refugees, the power of belonging, and how Global FC is making a difference at the crossroads of soccer and community.