Episode 438 - Ryan Lampa

Ryan Lampa is co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit People Loving Nashville - it’s one of the city’s most recognizable grassroots nonprofits. What began as a simple desire to cook a few Thanksgiving meals for some of his unhoused neighbors in 2008 has grown into an organization that has not missed a single Monday night of outreach in the years since.

Over the years, PLN has expanded far beyond emergency food and supplies to offer housing support and other programs. These days they’re providing upwards of 800 meals every single week. And they run Paradeisos Coffee Company in downtown Nashville and through it provide job opportunities and career training for formerly unhoused individuals.

Prior to devoting himself full-time to People Loving Nashville, Ryan spent years on the road managing tour operations for major music acts, including Toby Mac - and Ryan’s sister, Dove Award-winning Christian pop singer and songwriter, Rachael Lampa.

Song 1: "Not the Only One" by Bonnie Raitt from her 1991 album Luck of the Draw. https://youtu.be/A2USNAxj1l4?si=ubZs_Wwx4_hYM8_X

Song 2: "Don't Look So Surprised" by Vicious Vicious released in 2006 n the album of the same name. https://open.spotify.com/album/767eZ6IVXe9cPArvB0zB2

Song 3: "My Song" by Labi Siffre from the album Crying Laughing Loving Lying released in 1972. https://youtu.be/U9ulY90Wy8Y?si=RpLrdx6at9J8VEZh