Ep. 1115 Ricky Ogden | How a Pharmacist Found His True Mission in Saving Lives Through Clean Water
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “Ep. 1115 Ricky Ogden | How a Pharmacist Found His True Mission in Saving Lives Through Clean Water ” inside PodZeus.
Ricky Ogden, a pharmacist at Children's Mercy Hospital, didn't set out to become a global water advocate—but a simple invitation to help at a fundraiser led him on a transformative journey. What began as a volunteer role in 2019 evolved into chairing Aquaviva International, an organization that has now provided purified water to over 106,000 people across five countries. The real revelation? Clean water isn't just about survival—it's the foundation for education, economic empowerment, and dignity. Ricky shares how access to safe water doubled school attendance, enabled women to launch micro-businesses, and transformed entire communities. His story is a powerful reminder that leadership isn't about titles—it's about showing up, listening, and serving where the need is greatest. The most profound impact? Not just the lives saved, but the way this mission reshaped his family, his values, and his understanding of what it means to truly live. The episode reveals that the most effective change comes not from grand gestures, but from small, consistent actions rooted in human connection. Ricky emphasizes that every installation is paired with health education, community stewardship, and local leadership—especially women. He shares a deeply moving moment when a board member, Noelle, revealed she once lived without clean water and now dedicates her life to fixing it. This isn’t charity; it’s partnership.
One in three people globally lack access to purified water—over half a million children under five die each year from waterborne diseases.
Aquaviva International’s model combines water purification with health education, micro-business training, and community stewardship to create sustainable change.
Each water system serves up to 2,000 people and has led to a 50% increase in school attendance in served communities.
Women-led leadership is a non-negotiable requirement—communities must commit to 50% female representation before receiving an installation.
The organization’s pivot during the pandemic—training in-country coordinators—doubled their impact and created local ownership.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome & Introducing Ricky Ogden
Joel Goldberg welcomes listeners to Rounding the Bases and introduces Ricky Ogden, a pharmacist at Children's Mercy Hospital and chairman of Aquaviva International, highlighting the dual mission of saving lives through healthcare and clean water.
From Pharmacy to Purpose: The Unexpected Path
Ricky recounts how his upbringing—rooted in service and community—led him to volunteer at a fundraiser for Aquaviva, despite having no prior knowledge of the organization or water crisis.
The Aha Moment: Water as the Foundation of Health
“Don't overcomplicate things. Start with basic building blocks. And then you can go to the next step and to the next step and the next step.”
The Global Water Crisis: Scale and Human Cost
Ricky reveals that 1 in 3 people globally lack access to purified water, and half a million children under five die annually due to unsafe water—highlighting the urgency and scale of the crisis.
Pivoting During the Pandemic: From Volunteers to In-Country Leaders
“What if we teach our friends and create in-country coordinators in our five countries? So now we have two different tactics.”
“When you lock eyes with somebody and they say, I live this, I know what it's like not to have it, and I want to contribute and give back, like that still gives me goosebumps.”
“Don't overcomplicate things. Start with basic building blocks. And then you can go to the next step and to the next step and the next step.”
“When we do those installations, you'll see other communities say, hey, I want one of those. And so they start saying, hey, what do I need to do that?”
Host
Guest
Aquaviva International
organization
Ricky Ogden
person
Joel Goldberg
person
Children's Mercy Hospital
organization
Kenya
place
Tanzania
place
Guatemala
place
Honduras
place
Ecuador
place
Noelle
person
Ep. 1112 Bridget Howard | The Hidden Sacrifices & Hard-Won Lessons in Sports Broadcasting
Rounding The Bases With Joel Goldberg • 39m • 3/31/2026
Ep. 1113 Ken Davidoff | Discovering Resilience: How Baseball Shapes Our Identity
Rounding The Bases With Joel Goldberg • 56m • 4/7/2026
Ep. 1116 Judy Henderson + Angel McDonald | Turning Her Darkest Chapter Into Others' Second Chance
Rounding The Bases With Joel Goldberg • 42m • 4/28/2026
Ep. 1118 Will Severns | The Unexpected Power of Storytelling in Building Influence and Impact
Rounding The Bases With Joel Goldberg • 38m • 5/12/2026
Ep. 1118 Mark Divine | The Hidden Power of Care That Turns Leaders Into Unbeatable Forces
Rounding The Bases With Joel Goldberg • 37m • 5/19/2026
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “Ep. 1115 Ricky Ogden | How a Pharmacist Found His True Mission in Saving Lives Through Clean Water ” inside PodZeus.
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime