In the final episode of Season One, we return to the question at the heart of every Mighty Forces conversation: How are you continuing to give a damn in this world? Across the season, guests answered this in ways that were tender, funny, raw, defiant, hopeful, and deeply human. But there is a through line — we give a damn by remembering we belong to each other. Every conversation eventually circled its way back to connection. Over and over, guests revealed:

• The relief of being seen.
• The courage of telling the truth.
• The power of community to catch us, shape us, and call us forward.
• The longing to be a part of something bigger than our own striving.

This finale gathers their voices into one collective super-cut of reminders about how we stay connected, purposeful, and alive in overwhelming times. What emerges is a tapestry of small yeses, honest truths, and the many ways we keep showing up for ourselves and one another. This is the love letter ending the season didn’t know it needed.

Resources:

• Mighty Forces
• Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn
• Follow Amanda on Instagram

Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.

In this heartfelt reunion, Amanda reconnects with Philippa Hughes after more than 15 years apart. Fresh off a plane from Paris where she spent three months writing a book, Philippa joins Amanda for a wide-ranging conversation that goes from the trivial to the profound (just as the best conversations do). They explore what it means to age without giving up on life, the tension between caring deeply about the world versus caring only about ourselves, and why choosing to unpack your suitcase at midnight might actually be an act of self-love. The conversation takes vulnerable turns as they grapple with judgment, public vulnerability, and the pressure to always say the wisest thing. Philippa closes with a powerful manifesto: in a world that feels like an emotional assault, surrounding ourselves with beauty—and fighting for everyone's right to experience it—might just be our salvation.

Topics:

• How we perceive ourselves and others as we age, and the importance of fighting against giving up on life rather than fighting age itself
• Making choices that serve your current needs or set up your future self for success (unpacking, exercise, and other daily decisions)
• Using social media as "exercising power" by sharing breadcrumbs of your work and thinking to build visibility over time
• Philippa's honest observation about how most people only care about themselves, and how this shows up in one-sided conversations
• Wrestling with how to be authentic and show human frailty without being inflammatory or getting taken out of context
• What it means to give a damn when the world feels like an emotional assault
• Finding and fighting for beauty in everyday moments, especially during dark times
• Recognizing that not everyone has equal access to experience beauty in their daily lives

Episode Resources:

• Steve Job’s 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech
• We Can Do Hard Things (Song) by Tish Melton
• The Epic of America by James Truslow Adams
• Arundhati Roy: ‘The pandemic is a portal’
• Fighting for Beauty (Philippa’s art exhibit)

Resources:

• Mighty Forces
• Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn
• Follow Amanda on Instagram

Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.

In today’s conversation on Mighty Forces, Amanda is joined by two extraordinary community builders: Maryam Banikarim, founder of The Longest Table, and Venu Gupta, who helped bring the concept to life in Chicago. Together, they explore what it takes to create belonging in a time when loneliness is on the rise—and why small, everyday actions still hold enormous power. Maryam shares the simple spark that launched The Longest Table during the pandemic which grew into an annual hyperlocal celebration where thousands gather to share a meal, meet their neighbors, and feel a renewed sense of agency. Venu reflects on what moved her from inspiration to action, the fears she had about hosting her own event in Chicago, and the moment of unexpected magic that happened during the first event. Their stories show how connection—real, human connection—still surprises us, delights us, and expands our sense of what’s possible. This episode is a reminder that community doesn’t require grand gestures—just a willingness to look up, reach out, and create space for one another.

Topics:

• Why some people act on inspiring ideas while others don’t
• How belonging is built through invitation rather than responsibility
• Why grace, curiosity, and trust matter more than perfection
• The quiet power of small, compassionate gestures
• The magic that happens when we stop treating each other like strangers

Episode Resources:

• The Longest Table Community on Instagram
• Tribe by Sebastian Junger

Resources:

• Mighty Forces
• Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn
• Follow Amanda on Instagram

Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.