Bobby Bones did another round of Giving Tuesday where he gives back from his Instagram DMs to improve his relationship with social media.
Through Giving Tuesday, Bobby has been sending money directly to listeners, whether it's to sponsor a barbecue or softball team, help with trips, or cover unexpected expenses. Last Giving Tuesday, he helped pay for surgeries for two dogs and covered most of one listener's student loan balance. He admitted he tends to choose requests that resonate with him personally, because those situations are relatable to him. Amy pointed out that since it is Bobby's own money, it makes sense that he would support causes that are meaningful to him. He added that while he does not consider himself lucky, he believes he has worked hard to build his career and wants to use that success to help others.
Bobby then shared three requests he fulfilled during the latest Giving Tuesday while keeping listeners' identities private. The first message came from a father whose daughter has cerebral palsy and needed new leg braces. He explained that the braces were expensive and praised his wife for managing their daughter's medical care. Bobby immediately paid for the braces. The second request came from a listener whose declining health and husband's inability to work had left the family behind on rent and other bills. Bobby chose not to share many of the personal details but he paid the family's rent after reading their message. The third request came from a longtime podcast listener in Reno who said she could no longer listen to the show on local radio. She suffered a serious injury after being knocked down during a fight, leaving her with a cracked front tooth and ongoing dental debt while raising her family. Bobby paid the remaining balance on her dental expenses.
Lunchbox viewed those types of requests differently than requests for vacations or entertainment. Helping someone pay for medical equipment or housing was necessary, while paying for experiences like theme park tickets felt less important. Bobby thinks experiences can also have value and pointed to previous requests he fulfilled by helping school barbecue and archery teams travel to competitions.
Bobby admitted he is still deciding whether Giving Tuesday will continue beyond another week. He recently learned one recipient did not use the money for its intended purpose. Despite that experience, Bobby said it would not stop him from helping others. He would rather occasionally be taken advantage of than refuse to help people who genuinely need assistance. Bobby does not follow up on how recipients spend the money because his goal is simply to help when he can. Bobby also emphasized that he never wanted Giving Tuesday to become a segment focused on drawing attention to himself. The project has encouraged him to engage with listeners in a way he normally avoids and has made reading his direct messages a more positive experience.