Higher Callings®

Higher Callings®

Interviews of lawyers and other persons dedicated to serving the common good. The host of Higher Callings is Donald Frederico. An experienced Boston lawyer who has taken on important pro bono cases and led a 12,000 member bar association and other nonprofits, Don has encountered a host of people who have found ways to serve their communities and the broader public and help people in need. We hope that, by shining a light on their good works, Higher Callings will inspire others to find their own paths towards making the world a better place.

Recent Episodes

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Running the Marathon: A Conversation with Tom Grilk, Retired President and CEO of the Boston Athletic Association
July 11, 2024

Running the Marathon: A Conversation with Tom Grilk, Retired President and CEO of the Boston Athletic Association

Tom Grilk is a lawyer who began his career in private practice at a major Boston law firm, then worked as in-house counsel at several area tech companies, and, from 2011 until 2022, served as President and CEO of the Boston …
Turning Data Into Action: The World Justice Project and the Rule of Law
May 1, 2024

Turning Data Into Action: The World Justice Project and the Rule of Law

The phrase “The Rule of Law” is one we often hear and many of us invoke, but do we have a shared understanding of what it means? And even if we can arrive at a common definition, why does the Rule of Law matter? If it does m…
Supreme Court Roundup, Featuring Law Professor Renee Landers
July 8, 2023

Supreme Court Roundup, Featuring Law Professor Renee Landers

Renee Landers is a Professor of Law at Suffolk University Law School in Boston. She teaches Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Health Law, and Privacy Law, among other academic pursuits. She also has served in a number …
Promoting Diversity and Defending Democracy: A Conversation with Lauren Stiller Rikleen
June 6, 2023

Promoting Diversity and Defending Democracy: A Conversation with Lauren Stiller Rikleen

Lauren Stiller Rikleen is a force of nature. An accomplished lawyer and author, past President of the Boston Bar Association, and holder of several leadership positions in the American Bar Association, she now has her own le…
Public Counsel Services in Massachusetts: An Update From CPCS Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti
April 13, 2023

Public Counsel Services in Massachusetts: An Update From CPCS Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti

I recently had the privilege of interviewing retired Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice Margot Botsford and Boston attorney Denise Murphy about the important work they and others have been doing to promote lawyer well-being…
Bonus Episode: Chinh Pham Recounts His Family's Rescue from Vietnam
April 12, 2023

Bonus Episode: Chinh Pham Recounts His Family's Rescue from Vietnam

In February, I interviewed Boston IP attorney Chinh Pham, a former colleague of mine and current President of the Boston Bar Association. At the beginning of the interview, Chinh told me the remarkable story of his family’s …
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