Find A Way with Matt Lavinder

Empathy as Advocacy: Survivor to Advocate

Trevor Lee is a local advocate and changemaker who turned personal trauma into a powerful shield for the most vulnerable. From surviving childhood abuse to navigating the halls of the state legislature to pass the "Gabby Act," Trevor has spent his life defining what it means to stand up and refuse to "walk by" community injustice. In this conversation, we pull back the curtain on "Empathy as Advocacy." Trevor reveals the mental toughness required to heal from deep trauma, the heavy realities of frontline community advocacy, and why true justice requires a collective responsibility from all of us. This is a masterclass in transforming personal pain into systemic change and finding the way through the persistence required to protect the vulnerable.

The Uncomfortable Path to Success

Kacey White is a US National Team veteran and UNC All-American who mastered the "Competitive Cauldron" to become a premier voice in MLS broadcasting. From the championship dynasty of North Carolina to the Apple TV booth, Kacey has spent her life defining what it means to find an "edge." In this conversation, we pull back the curtain on the "Uncomfortable Path to Success." Kacey reveals the mental toughness required to be the smallest player on the pitch, the brutal honesty of elite ranking systems, and why true confidence is always a product of competence. This is a masterclass in honing your craft in the shadows and embracing the grind required to reach the top.

Photographer’s Leap of Faith

Jared Kreiss is a world-class nature photographer who walked away from a stable career path to follow a silent intuition that led him across the globe. From selling everything he owned for a one-way ticket to New Zealand to standing face-to-face with grizzly bears in the Alaskan wilderness, Jared shares a powerful story of risk, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of a vision. This conversation goes behind the "photo dumps" to reveal the Herculean effort required to capture the perfect moment—whether it's days spent on a paddleboard or weeks tracking wildlife in the Smokies. Jared explores the profound "sense of place" found in the wild, the patience required to master a craft from scratch, and how a leap of faith can transform a vague spark into a life of purpose and freedom.

A Herculean Rebuild: 100 Homes in One Year

Olivia Bailey is a former television personality and dedicated community advocate who walked away from the bright lights of big-city media to serve the region she calls home. She shares a powerful story of resilience, local pride, and the Herculean effort required to rebuild after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. From the newsroom to the front lines of disaster recovery, Olivia helped lead a grassroots movement that bypassed red tape to put families back in their homes. This conversation explores the profound "sense of place," the strength found in neighborly collaboration, and how a shared vision can rebuild more than just houses—it can restore the heart of a community.

Rebuilding the Village in Appalachia

Tina McDaniel is a retired corporate professional and community historian who is on a mission to recover the "invisible" stories of Bristol. She shares a moving narrative of the "Village"—the resilient Black neighborhoods of the Jim Crow era where identity was forged on front porches and in segregated classrooms. From the bustling business district of Black Bottom to the 100-year-old oral histories she captures today, Tina explores how communal accountability and a deep sense of place can provide a fortress against adversity. This conversation is a journey through memory, urban renewal, and the urgent need to reclaim the human connection that nourishes a community’s soul.