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Transcript
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Caitlin
So today, to this day, we don't take money that has strings attached to it. And if that means the end of Red's Good Vibes, well, then that's the end. But we stuck with what we believe in and we gave freely and we made a difference
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and we were able to increase that passive impact and get people to think differently. And so I think that that's the basis of the giving freely model. We have to let go of this mindset that if we give too much, then we'll have none.
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Andy
One, two, one, two, one, two, three, four.

#19 Caitlin McGrath-Levesque: Red's Good Vibes! Giving Grilled Gourmet Goodies in the Granite State

To date, Red's Good Vibes has served over 430,000 food truck meals, for free.

*This episode contains swear words*

In this episode of Granite Goodness, Caitlin makes Andy very hungry and motivated to join her food truck pirate crew. The two discuss:

  • Why they serve food to anybody with no questions asked

  • Why absolutely no money is exchanged at the food truck

  • Caitlin’s family history of food, giving, and fun

  • Caitlin’s experience giving a Ted Talk

  • Eliminating excuses to not help others or do stuff you want to do

  • Why giving without limits and and an abundance mindset go hand in hand

  • How awesome it is to drive around and serve infinite hamburgers to anybody anywhere

  • Why they said no to help from the USDA and the value of avoiding funding with “strings attached”

and much more!

Caitlin McGrath-Levesque is the co-founder of Red’s Good Vibes, where they believe in “Radical giving without limits, without questions, and with a focus on choice, preference, and dignity. Reducing the barriers surrounding reaching out for assistance will give us all the chance to eliminate the shame and stigma we associate with traditional services.”

Links & Notes:

Red’s Good Vibes

Caitlin’s TEDxPortsmouth Talk

TEDx Portsmouth

Music provided by Sneaky Miles

This episode was recorded in Treeline Outfitters

To learn more about us or read our Good News in New Hampshire Newsletter, go to granitegoodness.com

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@treeline_outfitters

@sneakymiles

@granitegoodness

Linkedin

TedxPortsmouth

Granite Goodness 

Discussion about this video

User's avatar
Elinor DeMeo's avatar

What an amazing story of what can be accomplished, if one is determined and puts their mind to seeing it happen!

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Tom Westheimer's avatar

True generosity is giving and expecting nothing in return. Shouldn't it be the same with basic housing? Socialist governments take much better care of their people and don't spend trillions on arms.

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Tom Westheimer's avatar

Isn't this, what normal? Compassionate governments do throughout the world?

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Andy DeMeo's avatar

Thanks for the comment Tom! We actually spent some of this convo talking about government assistance. Caitlin and her team opted not to use government services because they felt it added too many strings on who and how they could serve and they wanted to keep their operation as simple and judgement free. Specifically, it was the requirement that they ask recipients personal questions about their family size, employment, housing etc. that Caitlin felt might interfere with the "no shame, no questions asked" part of the Red's Good Vibes mission.

Your comment does make me wonder if we just had a different culture around food, giving, need, government assistance, shame, etc. if that might not have led to a different outcome.

My personal opinion is I think we should generally move away from means testing for government programs so that $$ can be maximally spent on services over admin, and Caitlin's experience almost working with the USDA I think was revealing in how it can complicate things. I also imagine anyone who has ever been on SNAP / food stamps probably wants that process to be simpler. Food for thought!

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Tom Westheimer's avatar

When I said other governments I meant that in Europe many of the governments provide housing etc. Getting data is important and questions/answers could help and be optional. It can be made clear it is to better operate the program etc. It would be interesting to ask the people if they were OK with it? I guess that if the people knew that getting info will improve the program then I bet many would want to help?

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0:34
Andy
One, two, one, two, one, two, three, four.