Thriving Together (Season One Finale)

Thriving isn’t a solo act. In this closing conversation, host Matt Biel looks back on 11 episodes that help shape how Thrive Center pursues its mission.

Anchored in Dr. Jack Shonkoff’s insight that thriving is “the match (or mismatch) between what’s unique about each child and the environment that child is living in,” Matt revisits the season’s most resonant lessons on collective transformation.

From Maria Vasquez on communities forging resilience before systems catch up, to Jen Drake Croft’s philosophy of walking alongside rather than leading from above, and Jason Lembeck’s call to “shrink that time to community,” the episode traces a clear through-line: relationships are our greatest asset when resources are tight and systems are strained.

Listen in as Thrive Center recommits to its role as a connective tissue that honors local expertise, resists scarcity thinking, and creates intentional spaces for collaboration and mutual support. The closing question for every listener: in times of disruption, how do we build something better together?