Episode 11

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Published on:

14th Aug 2026

From Poverty to Purpose with Brandi Jack

Episode Summary

Many of us have never stopped to think about the cost of diapers, or what happens when a parent simply can't afford them.

In this episode of DunnWise Perspectives, Doris Dunn sits down with Brandi Jack, CEO of Nashville Diaper Connection, to discuss her remarkable journey from growing up in a financially struggling family to leading one of Middle Tennessee's fastest-growing nonprofits.

Brandi shares what it was like raising two young boys as a single mother, working multiple jobs, and facing impossible financial decisions, including the emotional story of buying two Lunchables when every dollar mattered. She also explains how a devastating tornado destroyed the business she had moved to Nashville to build, only to open the unexpected door that led her to Nashville Diaper Connection.

Today, Brandi leads an organization serving families in 32 counties with an ambitious goal of distributing five million diapers this year while expanding service throughout Middle Tennessee.

This conversation is about far more than diapers. It's about dignity, resilience, leadership, and how one person's hardest seasons can become the foundation for helping thousands of others.

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • Brandi's childhood growing up in rural Washington and the lessons she learned from financial hardship.
  • Why the "Lunchables story" still impacts her today.
  • How becoming a single mother shaped her perspective on poverty.
  • The business she launched after moving to Nashville and how the 2020 tornado changed everything.
  • Why volunteering at Nashville Diaper Connection became an unexpected career.
  • How the organization grew from distributing diapers out of a garage to serving 32 Middle Tennessee counties.
  • Why diaper insecurity is a hidden crisis affecting working families every day.
  • Innovative programs like Diapers for Diplomas, helping parenting students stay in college.
  • The importance of removing barriers so families can thrive.
  • How listeners can support Nashville Diaper Connection through donations, volunteering, and community partnerships.

Connect with Brandi

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About the Podcast

DunnWise Perspectives
A podcast about resilience, mindset, and the stories that shape who we become. Hosted by Doris Dunn, DunnWise Perspectives shares real conversations with people who have faced challenges, found their turning point, and discovered a way forward.

About your host

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Doris Dunn

Doris Dunn is a business coach, speaker, and founder of DunnWise Consulting. With more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, she has built a career focused on learning and development, employee engagement, and helping individuals and teams reach their full potential.

Through her work, Doris helps business owners and leaders turn their ideas into clear strategies, guiding them from vision to action with a focus on mindset, accountability, and long-term success.

Doris is passionate about the role mindset plays in both personal and professional growth. Her own journey—marked by loss, resilience, and difficult life decisions—has shaped her perspective and deepened her commitment to helping others navigate challenges and move forward with confidence.

She is the host of DunnWise Perspectives, a podcast dedicated to sharing real stories of resilience, shifting mindsets, and the moments that shape who we become.