Still Work to Do” — Sneha Gandhi on Service, Identity & Purpose | AmeriCorps Connections Podcast 📌 This episode is part of our 2025 Recruitment Series. BayAC is currently recruiting AmeriCorps members to serve youth in San Francisco and the East Bay! 👉 Learn more: https://www.bayac.org/ In this deeply inspiring episode of the AmeriCorps Connections Podcast, host Nicki Fiocco sits down with Sneha Gandhi—Bay Area Youth Agency Consortium (BAYAC) alum, educator, and empowerment coach. Sneha sh...
Jul 19, 2025•43 min•Ep. 87
🎙️ We Are the Vessels: Jordan Snipes on Youth Leadership, Service, and Fighting for AmeriCorps In this powerful and heartfelt episode of the AmeriCorps Connections Podcast , host Nicki Fiocco sits down with Jordan Snipes —a dynamic South Carolina native whose national service journey took him from youth commissioner to two-term AmeriCorps College Advising Corps member, and now, to graduate school and national board leadership. From working with high school students across South Carolina to join...
Jul 14, 2025•49 min•Ep. 86
In this episode of the AmeriCorps Connections Podcast, we reconnect with Alex Tran, a dedicated AmeriCorps alum who has fearlessly served multiple terms in various capacities across the country. Alex returns to discuss the turmoil and uncertainty facing AmeriCorps amidst funding cuts and the critical need for national service. He shares his experiences, from his work with the American Conservation Experience (ACE) to his volunteerism and advocacy in Delaware. Alex emphasizes the importance of or...
Jul 08, 2025•39 min•Ep. 85
🎧 Kate Morton: From AmeriCorps to Presidential Leadership AmeriCorps Connections Podcast | Episode Title: “Purpose Finds You” In this episode of the AmeriCorps Connections Podcast, host Nicki Fiocco reconnects with Kate Morton, an NCCC alum and fan-favorite from Episode 5 (March 2023). Now a Chief Clinical Officer at Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless and a Presidential Leadership Scholar, Kate returns to share how national service continues to shape her life—and how purpose has a way of f...
May 10, 2025•45 min•Ep. 84
📢 This is not your average AmeriCorps Connections episode. We're issuing an urgent call to action. On April 22, 2025, AmeriCorps Connections host Nicki Fiocco sat down with national service leaders Maureen Eccleston (Service Year Alliance) and Chad Driscoll (America’s Service Commissions) to discuss the unfolding threat to AmeriCorps programs across the country—including the demobilization of NCCC teams and the administrative leave of 85% of AmeriCorps agency staff. 💡 This episode breaks down:...
Apr 23, 2025•49 min•Ep. 83
From AmeriCorps Service to National Movement Leader: J.R. Jamison's Inspiring Journey In this episode of the AmeriCorps Connections Podcast, we delve into an illuminating conversation with J.R. Jamison, an AmeriCorps alum whose year of service in 2001 with the Indiana Reading Corps shaped his impactful career. Join us as J.R. shares his personal journey—starting from his passion for storytelling and education, traversing through his work in higher education, and culminating in his current role a...
Apr 12, 2025•54 min•Ep. 82
In this episode of the AmeriCorps Connections Podcast , we sit down with Sarah Middleton , a passionate social impact leader whose AmeriCorps service year in 2001 sparked a lifelong journey in nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and corporate volunteerism. Sarah shares how a single year of service shaped her future—from house-parenting at Girls Hope, to launching a global employee volunteer program at PIMCO, to starting her own consultancy, Mission Up. We explore the real-world impact of volunte...
Apr 04, 2025•52 min•Ep. 81
In this episode of AmeriCorps Connections, we sit down with Griff Ryan Roberts, an AmeriCorps NCCC, NCCC Leader & VISTA alum, who’s now in his final year of law school. Griff shares the honest, often humorous, and deeply impactful story of how a surprise call from Vinton, Iowa changed his life trajectory—from selling iPhones to becoming a passionate advocate for national service. We talk about: 🤝Life in NCCC: From 10-person crews to living in church basements 🤝Lessons in leadership as a te...
Mar 27, 2025•54 min•Ep. 80
🚀 New Episode! The Legacy & Future of AmeriCorps with Bill Basl 🎙️ Join us for an incredible conversation with AmeriCorps legend Bill Basl, a VISTA alum from 1970 and a pioneer of national service. Bill has shaped service programs at every level—from founding the Washington Service Corps & Veterans Corps to serving as Director of AmeriCorps at the White House. In this episode, we explore: ✅ The early days of VISTA & lessons from the 1970s ✅ The birth of AmeriCorps & the power o...
Mar 19, 2025•59 min•Ep. 79
🌍 From AmeriCorps to Global Change: How Service Transformed Dimer’s Life & Community 🌱🎙️ 📢 In This Episode: We’re wrapping up our special series with IPSL Global Engagement by diving into an inspiring conversation with Dimer Castro, a three-time AmeriCorps alum who has turned his passion for agriculture and service into a global impact. 🌎 From AmeriCorps VISTA to State & National, Dimer’s journey took him from building sustainable farms in Puerto Rico to revitalizing a rural school ...
Mar 13, 2025•44 min•Ep. 78
🎙️ AmeriCorps Connections Podcast is a platform dedicated to sharing the transformative journeys of AmeriCorps alumni and service-driven changemakers. Through inspiring interviews, we explore how national service shapes careers, builds community impact, and fosters leadership. Whether you're an AmeriCorps member, alum, or someone passionate about service, this podcast offers insights, stories, and resources to help you navigate life during and after AmeriCorps. 🚀✨ 🚀 Take Your AmeriCorps Servi...
Mar 06, 2025•59 min•Ep. 77
🎙️ AmeriCorps Connections Podcast is a platform dedicated to sharing the transformative journeys of AmeriCorps alumni and service-driven changemakers. Through inspiring interviews, we explore how national service shapes careers, builds community impact, and fosters leadership. Whether you're an AmeriCorps member, alum, or someone passionate about service, this podcast offers insights, stories, and resources to help you navigate life during and after AmeriCorps. 🚀✨ Beyond Comfort Zones: Paige B...
Feb 27, 2025•20 min•Ep. 76
🎙️ AmeriCorps Connections Podcast is a platform dedicated to sharing the transformative journeys of AmeriCorps alumni and service-driven changemakers. Through inspiring interviews, we explore how national service shapes careers, builds community impact, and fosters leadership. Whether you're an AmeriCorps member, alum, or someone passionate about service, this podcast offers insights, stories, and resources to help you navigate life during and after AmeriCorps. 🚀✨ Join us for an inspiring conv...
Feb 20, 2025•34 min•Ep. 75
🎙️ 2024 End-of-Year Highlights Part 2! Growth, Connection, and Impact 🌟 In this special year-end reflection, the AmeriCorps Connections Podcast looks back at a year of powerful stories, impactful service, and transformative growth. Throughout 2024, we celebrated the voices of AmeriCorps alumni who showcased the profound difference a service year can make in communities and individual lives. 💡 What to Expect in This Episode: 🌟 2024 Recruitment Extravaganza: Highlights from 15 incredible progr...
Jan 04, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 74
🎙️ 2024 End-of-Year Highlights: Growth, Connection, and Impact 🌟 In this special year-end episode of the AmeriCorps Connections Podcast, we reflect on the transformative power of national service through the stories of inspiring alumni. Despite their diverse experiences, shared themes of personal growth, resilience, and community impact emerged. 💡 What to Expect in This Episode: 🌊 Addressing root causes: Tackling systemic issues for lasting change. 🌟 Personal transformation: Building resili...
Dec 29, 2024•16 min•Ep. 73
Join us in this illuminating episode of AmeriCorps Connections as we dive deep into the transformative journey of Nisa Abdul Sabur. From her early introduction to volunteerism through the Girl Scouts and church community service to her impactful roles in AmeriCorps and Peace Corps, Nisa shares her compelling story of personal and professional growth. Learn how she leveraged these experiences to secure a fulfilling career in the federal government, working at FEMA and now the FDA. Discover the im...
Dec 06, 2024•59 min•Ep. 72
Nicki stepped out from behind the camera and got on stage with AmeriCorps VISTA members in Chicago, USA. 🤠 Remember it's NOT the challenges that define you, but how you respond to them. It is your resilience and commitment to “GET THINGS DONE” In the AmeriCorps Pledge we agreed “TO MAKE OUR PEOPLE SAFER, SMARTER AND HEALTHIER” We pledged that if “FACED WITH APATHY” we would take actions. We committed to persevere if faced with adversity. We pledged to “carry this commitment with us during a ser...
Nov 21, 2024•13 min•Ep. 71
AmeriCorps Connections: From Teach for America to Peace Corps with Antonio In this episode of AmeriCorps Connections, we have a fascinating conversation with Antonio Mendez, an AmeriCorps alum who has transitioned from being a Teach for America member to serving as the Country Director for Mexico with the Peace Corps. Join us as Antonio shares his journey, insights, and valuable experiences from his diverse service background. This episode touches on themes of career growth, the impact of nation...
Nov 16, 2024•50 min•Ep. 70
Connecting Through Service: AmeriCorps and Peace Corps Journeys In this episode of the AmeriCorps Connections podcast, hosted by Nicki Fiocco, we explore the inspiring story of Sadie Botin, a dual service member who has served both in AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. Sadie shares her journey from her AmeriCorps service in a refugee resettlement agency in Iowa to her impactful Peace Corps experience in Eswatini, focusing on community projects, and the strong relationships she built. The discussion...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 69
Life-Changing Journeys: AmeriCorps and Peace Corps Insights In this compelling episode of AmeriCorps Connections, host Nicki Fiocco delves into the inspiring journeys of individuals who have served both in AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. Joined by Justin Hargesheimer, the episode explores how service in these transformative programs fosters leadership, global empathy, and cultural humility. Justin reflects on stepping out of comfort zones and the skills developed through advocacy and action-orie...
Oct 25, 2024•44 min•Ep. 68
📢Your voice matters more than ever. Take 2 minutes and tell your lawmakers that AmeriCorps is essential to your community. 📢📢📢 USE THIS LINK 🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝 Dual Service Journeys: From Peace Corps to AmeriCorps with Thomas Darnell In this AmeriCorps Connections podcast episode, we explore the dual service journey of Thomas Darnell, an alum of both the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps. Thomas shares his experiences serving in Mali with the Peace Corps, where he face...
Oct 18, 2024•36 min•Ep. 65
📢Your voice matters more than ever. Take 2 minutes and tell your lawmakers that AmeriCorps is essential to your community. 📢📢📢 USE THIS LINK 🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝 In this episode of the AmeriCorps Connections podcast, host Nicki Fiocco interviews John Knauer about his transformative experiences in AmeriCorps and Peace Corps. John shares insights from his service years, emphasizing the importance of seeing individuals behind the numbers and harnessing the power of c...
Oct 12, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 67
📢Your voice matters more than ever. Take 2 minutes and tell your lawmakers that AmeriCorps is essential to your community. 📢📢📢 USE THIS LINK 🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝 Full Circle with Mikayla Wright: AmeriCorps Alum & Marketing Guru Join host Nicki Fiocco on this exciting episode of the AmeriCorps Connections podcast as she interviews Mikayla Wright, an AmeriCorps alum with four summer service terms under her belt. Typically behind the scenes editing the podcast, M...
Sep 21, 2024•25 min•Ep. 66
📢Your voice matters more than ever. Take 2 minutes and tell your lawmakers that AmeriCorps is essential to your community. 📢📢📢 USE THIS LINK 🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝 Empowering the Future: AmeriCorps Alums in Service and Beyond In this episode of the AmeriCorps Connections podcast, host Nicki Fiocco brings on Casey Vincelette from the New York State Service Commission to discuss their experiences and journeys through AmeriCorps. This episode offers insight into the im...
Jul 29, 2024•29 min•Ep. 64
📢Your voice matters more than ever. Take 2 minutes and tell your lawmakers that AmeriCorps is essential to your community. 📢📢📢 USE THIS LINK 🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝 Exploring AmeriCorps Opportunities with Leah Pagano: From Service Years to Career Paths Join Nicki Fiocco, founder of AmeriCorps Connections Podcast, in an enlightening conversation with Leah Pagano, an AmeriCorps alumna based in Austin, Texas. Leah shares her diverse experiences serving on the west coast...
Jul 23, 2024•29 min•Ep. 63
📢Your voice matters more than ever. Take 2 minutes and tell your lawmakers that AmeriCorps is essential to your community. 📢📢📢 USE THIS LINK 🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝 AmeriCorps Alumni Lisa McGurk Shares Her Journey and Recruitment Insights | AmeriCorps Connections Podcast In this episode of the AmeriCorps Connections Podcast, founder Nicki Fiocco interviews AmeriCorps alumna Lisa McGurk, representing Notre Dame Mission Volunteers AmeriCorps. Lisa discusses her unique ...
Jul 20, 2024•28 min•Ep. 62
📢Your voice matters more than ever. Take 2 minutes and tell your lawmakers that AmeriCorps is essential to your community. 📢📢📢 USE THIS LINK 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 Empowering Communities with Public Allies Alum Candace Jusino Join host Nicki Fiocco on the AmeriCorps Connections podcast for a special episode in the 2024 Recruitment Extravaganza series. This episode features Candace Jusino, an AmeriCorps alum from Public Allies, who shares her journey from the financial sector to community service. Ca...
Jul 08, 2024•35 min•Ep. 61
📢Your voice matters more than ever. Take 2 minutes and tell your lawmakers that AmeriCorps is essential to your community. 📢📢📢 USE THIS LINK 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 In this episode of the AmeriCorps Connections podcast, host Nicki Fiocco speaks with Max Berry from the Earn to Learn (ETL) Next Steps program. They discuss the significance of the AmeriCorps service in addressing community and national issues, particularly focusing on the college access and readiness initiatives led by ETL. Max shares hi...
Jul 08, 2024•31 min•Ep. 60
📢Your voice matters more than ever. Take 2 minutes and tell your lawmakers that AmeriCorps is essential to your community. 📢📢📢 USE THIS LINK In this episode, Nicki Fiocco chats with Kayla Doyle, Program Director for Cherry Health AmeriCorps program and two service term AmeriCorps Alumni. Kayla started at Cherry Health with an internship for her Masters of Public Health, then served as a short term AmeriCorps member, then went back for more! Learn haw Kayla's service year contributed to her c...
Jul 03, 2024•43 min•Ep. 59
📢Your voice matters more than ever. Take 2 minutes and tell your lawmakers that AmeriCorps is essential to your community. 📢📢📢 USE THIS LINK Exploring Career Paths Through Service: An Insight into Confluence Environmental Center and AmeriCorps In this episode of the AmeriCorps Connections podcast, host Nicki Fiocco interviews Ashlie Tainer, a two-time AmeriCorps alumna, currently involved with the Confluence Environmental Center in Portland, Oregon. Nicki and Ashlie discuss the impact and op...
Jul 02, 2024•37 min•Ep. 58
