Brandon Steppe: “Shoulder to Shoulder” Mentorship That Changes Lives

About this episode

Brandon Steppe discusses how his nonprofit, David’s Harp Foundation, uses music and mentorship to empower justice-involved youth.

Brandon Steppe left a corporate career to start a recording studio in his garage—never imagining that a few persistent neighborhood kids would change his life. Those early studio sessions grew into the David’s Harp Foundation , a nonprofit where justice-involved and opportunity youth in San Diego discover their voices and chart a path forward through music, media, and mentorship. This Episode Can rhythm and relationship change a young person’s life? Brandon shares how vulnerability and honesty became cornerstones of his organization’s culture, starting with a simple practice he calls flashlight first : mentors shine the light on themselves before asking youth to open up. From those early lessons grew a creative community that helps youth connect to support, record songs behind detention walls, and build micro-enterprises that pay real wages and teach real skills. Together with Grant, Brandon explores how art heals, how relationships transform justice, and how community-rooted workforce programs can help young people thrive. Key Moments: [4:05] How one determined teenager changed Brandon’s path [8:28] “Flashlight first”—earning trust through vulnerability [22:54] The importance of…

People in this episode

Hosts: Grant Oliphant, Crystal Page

Guest: Brandon Steppe

Topics covered

• mentorship
• youth empowerment
• music
• non-profit
• community support

Keywords

• mentorship
• youth
• music
• non-profit
• community
• vulnerability
• creative economy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: David’s Harp Foundation

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