New Mexico Magazine editor-in-chief Steve Gleydura joins Doing Good to celebrate everyday heroes, the communities they strengthen, and the power of telling their stories.

Steve Gleydura had an unusual introduction to New Mexico. Hired to lead New Mexico Magazine in early 2020, he was preparing to relocate when the pandemic shut everything down. Suddenly, he was editing a travel magazine about a state he’d never visited, at a time when nobody could travel.

That improbable beginning helped inspire True Heroes, the magazine’s annual celebration of people quietly making their communities better. As neighbors organized food deliveries, shared supplies, and checked on one another, Steve saw a story worth telling: not just where to go in New Mexico, but who makes those places special.

In this episode of Doing Good, Steve joins hosts Michael Campbell, Anna Farrier, and Gabriella Marks to explore what everyday heroism looks like—and why these stories deserve attention.

Each year, the magazine receives roughly 200 to 250 nominations and selects just ten honorees. The choices span geography, backgrounds, and kinds of service, from longtime nonprofit leaders to people who simply step forward when disaster strikes. But Gleydura wants something more than a record of accomplishments: he asks writers to talk with someone whose life has actually changed because of a nominee’s work.

One example is Joanne Thompson, who helped organize Tucumcari Tuesdays, a weekly effort to clean up and care for her community. It’s easy to see Tucumcari through its neon signs and Route 66 nostalgia. Her story reveals the people keeping the town vibrant today.

Gabriella, who has photographed and interviewed True Heroes for years, notices another common trait: most are reluctant to be in the spotlight. They see themselves as part of something larger, and they’d rather talk about the work than receive credit.

The conversation also considers the role of journalism. Steve pushes back against the idea that media ignores positive stories; often, he says, it’s conflict that gets the most attention. Yet quieter stories can matter enormously, showing how lasting change happens through dedication, persistence, and connection.

What unites these heroes? For Steve, it’s a deep love of place—a desire to belong to a community by helping it thrive. From youth sports to veterans’ programs, their contributions remind us that goodness isn’t reserved for grand gestures.

This year’s True Heroes will be announced November 19 on New Mexico Magazine’s YouTube channel and featured in its December issue. More than an awards program, True Heroes is an invitation to notice the good already happening around us—and perhaps find a way to join in.

For more information, or to tell the story of someone you know who's doing good, go to doinggood.fm

From Top Chef to the kitchens of Santa Fe, Chef Dakota Weiss shares how her love of food, her battle with cancer, and a passion for helping others have shaped a life devoted to giving back.

Chef Dakota Weiss grew up in a household where everything was made from scratch. Her mother believed in natural foods, homemade meals, and carob chip cookies. Young Dakota, meanwhile, was sneaking off to friends’ houses in search of Twinkies. But somewhere along the way, those early experiences planted the seeds of a remarkable culinary career.

In this episode of Doing Good, Dakota joins hosts Michael Campbell, Anna Farrier, and Gabriella Marks for a lively, heartfelt conversation about food, family, overcoming adversity, and finding purpose through helping others.

Her journey took her from culinary school to Santa Fe’s legendary Coyote Cafe, kitchens around the world, and eventually television’s Top Chef. Along the way, she discovered that being a chef offered something more meaningful than professional recognition: an opportunity to make a difference.

That realization began with her involvement in No Kid Hungry, the national nonprofit dedicated to ending childhood hunger. It sparked a commitment to charitable work that continues today through organizations like Cooking with Kids and the Cancer Foundation.

But Dakota’s understanding of giving back became deeply personal when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Frightened by the uncertainty and the disturbing images she encountered online, she decided to share her own experience openly, including her surgeries, reconstruction, and recovery.

Through candid photographs and social media posts, Dakota has helped other women facing similar diagnoses feel less frightened and alone. One photograph taken by Gabriella reached nearly 53,000 views, prompting messages from women grateful for her openness.

Cancer also changed Dakota’s perspective on life. After years of putting work ahead of everything else, she began making more room for family, travel, and the things that bring happiness. That philosophy now extends to the young chefs she mentors, encouraging them to pursue excellence without sacrificing their personal lives.

Back in Santa Fe, Dakota continues finding ways to put her culinary talents to work for others. Whether raising thousands of dollars through charity dinners, supporting children’s nutrition programs, or volunteering with cancer patients, she sees generosity as a natural extension of her profession.

For Dakota, cooking has always been about more than creating memorable meals. It’s about caring for people, bringing them together, and sharing something of yourself.

And sometimes, the simplest way to do good is to feed someone.

For more information, or to tell the story of someone you know who's doing good, go to doinggood.fm

At Santa Fe’s Gerard’s House, Maggie Boyle is helping children and families discover the healing power of connection, compassion, and simply being there for one another.

When someone we love dies, the world can suddenly feel like a lonely place. For children, grief can be especially confusing, filled with questions they may be afraid to ask and feelings they don’t yet know how to express. But what if the greatest comfort isn’t finding the right answers, but simply finding someone who understands?

That’s the philosophy behind Gerard’s House, a Santa Fe nonprofit that has supported grieving children and families since 1997.

In this episode of Doing Good, Maggie Boyle, Associate Director of Gerard’s House, joins hosts Michael Campbell, Anna Farrier, and Gabriella Marks for a deeply moving conversation about grief, compassion, and the extraordinary power of human connection.

Gerard’s House began when a group of parents who had lost children recognized that their surviving children needed the same kind of support they had found in one another. Nearly three decades later, the organization serves approximately 1,700 people annually, including children, teenagers, and adults.

What makes Gerard’s House different is its peer-support approach. Rather than trying to fix grief or help people “get over” a loss, the organization creates welcoming spaces where people can share their experiences, express their feelings, and discover they aren’t alone.

For young children, that might mean drawing, playing games, or simply spending time with others who understand. Maggie shares how an ordinary game of pool can unexpectedly open the door to cherished memories of a father who has died. Sometimes the most meaningful conversations happen when nobody is trying to start one.

The organization also recognizes that grief extends beyond death. Through Nuestra Jornada, a culturally responsive program offered in Santa Fe schools, children experiencing immigration-related separation, deportation, and other profound losses find support and understanding.

Throughout the conversation, Maggie challenges our assumptions about grief. It isn't always sadness. It can be anger, guilt, confusion, or even laughter. And there is no timetable for how someone should feel.

Perhaps the episode’s most powerful insight is also its simplest: compassion doesn’t require answers. It requires presence, patience, and the willingness to listen.

As Gerard’s House expands its reach into the Española and Pojoaque valleys, Maggie hopes more people will discover that supporting someone through grief doesn't require professional training. Sometimes, being willing to sit beside another person in their sadness is enough.

Because nobody should have to grieve alone.

Learn more about Gerard’s House at gerardshouse.org

For more information, or to tell the story of someone you know who's doing good, go to doinggood.fm