We’ve relaunched a GOOD online series, “People Are Awesome,” where we feature good people doing great things—and seek their advice, inspiration, and ideas. This week’s Awesome Person: Sam Polk.
If you’ve heard of Sam Polk, it’s likely because of his recent viral op-ed in the New York Times, tearing into the bro culture of Wall Street. But this former hedge fund trader bears many layers; his main focus may surprise you. For several years now, Polk has focused his energy on helping people in food deserts eat better.
When he walked away from his finance gig back in 2010, Polk was not really sure what the next step was. “I came to realize I was standing in the wrong place in the world,” he says. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but it was not that.”
He dabbled in a bit of this and that, before seeing the seminal documentary on hunger in America, “A Place at the Table.” This was the inspiration for Groceryships, a nonprofit he launched in 2013. It’s a curious model, wherein groups of 10 inner-city parents (mothers mostly) receive regular batches of fresh produce, then have weekly meetups to talk about cooking tips, nutrition, and general commiseration about the challenges of eating well.
Groceryships expanded slow and steady, and this year will facilitate meetups for 20 to 30 different groups of parents. But to give new options for healthy urban eating, Polk is launching Everytable in South Los Angeles on Saturday, a chain of affordable “grab-and-go” shops.
Founded in conjunction with David Foster, another refugee from the world of high finance, Everytable will offer healthy, freshly prepared meals for as little as four dollars. Starting in a neighborhood with a median income of $13,000, where healthy food options are pretty slim, this for-profit business will be looking to scale up quickly around Los Angeles and the nation.
As Everytable’s launch nears, we caught up with the man behind the mission, to find out a little about what makes him tick.
Who is your hero?
I just read this great book by Tavis Smiley, the radio host and social justice advocate. It’s about the last year before the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Basically you have this guy carrying the full weight of what was then a struggling civil rights movement. And despite the advice of everyone he knew, he came out against the Vietnam War before that was a popular thing to do. The press, the president, people in his own movement turned against him. His supporters were angry! Think about the power a single person has inside of them, if they harness and trust their instincts.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
A lot of my backstory has to do with a Native American spiritual counselor I met with during my first summer on Wall Street. His advice is basically that all wisdom comes from the heart. If faced with a decision, will I think about it, or will I feel it with my heart? It sounds cliched, but I try to do always do that, to do what feels right.
How about the worst advice?
An old boss of mine, when I was thinking of quitting Wall Street, he said it was a good idea, but that I needed to have the have next thing lined up already. Honestly that would have been a great recipe to keep me paralyzed. So many people remain in jobs they’re not fulfilled in, staying stagnant based on that way of thinking.
What’s the last thing that made you laugh out loud?
I was sitting with a group of friendly misfits, and there was this woman talking about a coworking space, maybe WeWork? She said she didn’t like it because there were only people there who buy things, or sell things, or process things. I realized she had slipped into that Lloyd Dobler line from Say Anything! I cracked up when I realized what she was doing.
If you could be anywhere else right now, where would it be?
In Sun Valley, Idaho, with my wife and (2 ½-year-old) daughter. I get there as often as I can, but that’s only about once a year at this point. I mean, I’ve got this new store opening Saturday, I’ve got another kid coming in a month; life doesn’t make it easy.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.