Philanthropy and Giving Back to Society

Philanthropy and giving back are essential to building a more compassionate and connected world. In this episode, Lindsay reflects on the meaning of social responsibility, the power of generosity, and how acts of giving—small and large—can ignite long-term change across communities.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, rate and review.

“If a charity or philanthropy is creating a space where people can connect at a heart level, then only good things can happen there.” Share on X

What Motivates You to Give Back?

What motivates you to help others and become successful?

As we enter the world of philanthropy, giving back to society becomes more than a goal—it becomes a guiding principle. Whether you’re a writer, a chef, or a community leader, sharing your gifts and empowering others is something everyone should be able to do.

Today’s guest, dynamic philanthropist, nonprofit leader, and creator Diana von Welanetz Wentworth, has lived that truth. As the founder of The Inside Edge Foundation for Education and a bestselling author of ten books, Diana brings passion, purpose, and wisdom to every conversation.

A Life of Creativity, Leadership, and Heart

Diana von Welanetz Wentworth is a woman of many talents. She’s the author of seven award-winning cookbooks—including the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul Cookbook.

Beyond the kitchen, Diana is an international keynote speaker, magazine contributor, and the longtime host of The New Way Gourmet, a daily television series.

But her impact doesn’t stop with media and publishing. As a philanthropist, she founded the Inside Edge—an organization dedicated to self-awareness, community building, and mutual empowerment through education.

From Chicken Soup to Community Impact

In this inspiring episode, you’ll learn how Diana’s early work in the culinary world paved the way for her deeper calling in community and personal growth.

She shares stories of meditating with Maharishi, navigating the ups and downs of the nonprofit sector, and overcoming a heart attack that shifted her perspective forever.

From Chicken Soup for the Soul to her heartfelt book Love Your Heart, Diana’s life and legacy offer lessons in resilience, leadership, and living with purpose.

Key Takeaways:

Diana’s story and the spark to be a giver and inspire others through cooking books and a cooking school she owned in LA.
Taking her cooking on the road and starting The Inside Edge Foundation for Education.
A petri dish of consciousness and Inside Edge’s future events.
The magical moment of becoming a co-author in the Chicken Soup for the Soul Cookbook series.
How having a heart attack and perfect timing combined for Diana to write a book along with the American Heart Association.
How Diana raised $150,000 for the American Heart Association writing Love Your Heart.
The importance of giving: ‘If we are not giving, we are not living’.
The perfect timing: how Diana witnesses magic around her 3 or 4 times a day.
Diana and her husband’s journey on meditation with Maharishi and transcendental meditation.
Why the nonprofit sector struggles with fundraising and the constant grind of figuring out finances to stay alive.
The best way to win Diana over as a nonprofit organization.