Meet Heidi Johnson

We were lucky to catch up with Heidi Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Heidi, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Finding my life’s purpose wasn’t a single defining moment….it was a slow unfolding that began with loss and was transformed through love. Years ago, when our family faced the unimaginable, I searched for meaning in the midst of heartbreak. It was in that darkness that I felt a quiet whisper, a calling to serve others walking similar paths. Out of that grief, I co-founded the Spiritual Care Guild at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to bring hope, faith, and compassion to families who needed it most. What I didn’t realize then was that this first act of service was the beginning of my life’s mission…..to help the helpers.

Over time, I began to see that the people who pour themselves into serving others…..nonprofit founders, volunteers, teachers, nurses, parents…..who often do so quietly and without recognition Through my work with TACSC, I saw young leaders learning that same truth: that real leadership is rooted in service. And through my blog and podcast, Charity Matters, I discovered that sharing the stories of these everyday heroes not only lifts them up but reminds all of us that kindness is contagious. Each story became a thread in a larger tapestry of good, a reminder that when we serve others, we find healing ourselves.

My purpose revealed itself piece by piece…..through faith, through pain, and through the grace of human connection. Today, my mission is simple but powerful: to help the helpers, to tell their stories, and to remind the world that giving changes everything. I’ve learned that when we focus on others….when we move from “me” to “we”….we find not only our purpose but our peace. Service is where I found my joy, my faith, and my life’s calling, and I am endlessly grateful to walk this path of compassion every day.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

At my core, I’m a storyteller on a mission to change the world through kindness, service, and connection. My journey has taken many forms….author, nonprofit founder and leader, blogger, and podcaster. At the heart of it all is the same: helping the helpers. As the Executive Director of TACSC (A youth leadership organization), I have the privilege of developing young moral leaders who are learning that leadership isn’t about titles or applause…..it’s about serving others. Watching students discover their voices, their courage, and their ability to make a difference is one of the greatest joys of my life.

Long before TACSC, I created Charity Matters….a weekly blog and top rated podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of nonprofit founders and everyday heroes who transform compassion into action. Every week, I sit down with remarkable people who see a need and decide to do something about it. Their stories of resilience, creativity, and love remind us that we all have the power to make an impact, no matter how small our acts may seem. It’s more than storytelling….it’s a movement built on the belief that giving changes everything.

This year, that mission is expanding in exciting ways. I’m continuing to grow Charity Matters into a full media platform dedicated to kindness, community, and service, reaching even more hearts through podcasting, writing, and speaking. My best selling book, Change for Good: The Transformative Power of Giving as the Ultimate Cure, has opened doors for conversations and events that celebrate generosity in all its forms. Whether I’m in a classroom, behind a microphone, or on a stage, my focus is the same: to inspire others to lead with love and remind them that each of us…through even the smallest act of kindness…can change the world.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that have most deeply shaped my journey are perseverance, gratitude, and faith. Perseverance has been the quiet strength that carried me through life’s hardest seasons. In Change for Good, I wrote that “change always begins with loss,” and I learned that true growth often comes from walking through challenges, not around them. Perseverance taught me that purpose isn’t found in ease…..it’s built in the moments when you choose to keep going, even when the path feels uncertain.

Gratitude has been my guiding light. It transforms even the smallest moments into blessings and reminds me that every act of kindness, every connection, is a gift. When we focus on what we have rather than what we lack, we begin to see the world through a lens of abundance. That shift changes everything. Gratitude has allowed me to turn pain into purpose and to see service not as an obligation, but as a privilege.

And faith has been the foundation beneath it all. The unshakable belief that there is a greater plan at work, even when we can’t see it. Faith reminds me that we are never walking alone. For anyone at the start of their journey, my advice is simple: stay the course when things get hard, give thanks even when life feels heavy, and trust that every step….no matter how small is leading you toward something beautiful. Perseverance builds your strength, gratitude fills your heart, and faith gives you the wings to soar.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

Yes! Everyone gets overwhelmed…..it’s part of being human, especially when you’re juggling multiple callings that you love. Between leading a nonprofit full time, hosting a weekly podcast, writing a blog, publishing a monthly magazine column, promoting my book, speaking, and still showing up for my family and the causes close to my heart, there are days that feel like too much. What I’ve learned, though, is that overwhelm is often a signal and a reminder to pause, breathe, and realign with what truly matters.

When everything feels urgent, I take a step back and ask myself: What’s most important? What aligns with my values and my purpose? That clarity becomes my compass. I’ve learned that saying “no” is just as powerful as saying “yes.” You can’t do everything, but you can do the things that matter most….and do them well. I prioritize faith, family, and purpose first, and everything else falls into place.

My advice to anyone feeling overwhelmed is to give yourself grace. Take one thing at a time, create space to rest, and don’t lose sight of why you’re doing what you’re doing. Overwhelm fades when you replace it with gratitude and perspective. When you remember that your work….your service and energy is an expression of love, it shifts from a burden to a blessing.

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