History has shown that authoritarian regimes can be toppled and social injustices can be eliminated if the public participates even in just one peaceful but powerful protest. But despite their noble goals, activism is often vilified and protesters are criminalized. Corinna Bellizzi is joined by Annie Leonard and André Carothers, two powerful souls who have spent their careers at the frontlines of activism. Together, they discuss why the public should never give up their right to protest, which is an essential “weapon” to voice out woes to those in power when all legal avenues of democracy have been exhausted. They also talk about the widespread impact of digital activism, the danger of overusing in-group language, and why protests can be effective even without resorting to violence.

Blog for this episode: https://caremorebebetter.com/if-we-lose-the-right-to-protest-we-lose-everything-with-annie-leonard-andre-carothers/

About Guests: Annie Leonard is a lifelong activist whose work has taken her to protests, courtrooms, and congressional hearings around the world. As Executive Director of Greenpeace US from 2014 to 2023, she led one of the most recognized environmental organizations on the planet. She is the creator of The Story of Stuff — one of the most widely viewed environmental films in history — and co-launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC. She has testified before Congress, appeared across major media, and been recognized by Time magazine as a Hero of the Environment. She received an honorary degree from Vermont Law School and has spent decades campaigning against pollution, waste, and unchecked corporate power.

André Carothers is an activist, writer, and organizer with more than four decades of experience in campaigns spanning climate change, human rights, environmental protection, and nuclear disarmament. He worked for Greenpeace US for 13 years, including serving on its board of directors. He co-founded the Rockwood Leadership Institute, a training organization for activists, and consults as an organizational development coach for leaders across the social change sector. He has served on the boards of the Center for Investigative Reporting (which includes Mother Jones), International Rivers, the Center for Environmental Health, the Furthur Foundation, and Rainforest Action Network.

Guest LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-leonard-65a00333/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrecarothers/

Guest Website: 

theprotestbook.com

Guest Social: 

https://instagram.com/theprotestbook

https://www.instagram.com/andrecarothers/

https://www.instagram.com/annie_leonard/

https://bsky.app/profile/theprotestbook.bsky.social

https://www.facebook.com/annie.leonard/

Show Notes: 

03:03 - Difference Between Activism And Protest

08:42 - Disability Rights Movement And Giving Funerals For Glaciers

14:49 - Common Trait Of Protests Regardless Of Issues Confronted

19:22 - How Protests And Protesters Vilified And Criminalized

28:37 - Where Does The Legitimate Limits Of Protests Lie

37:45 - How Stuff Welcomes Everyone Into The World Of Protests

42:44 - How Protests Can Actually Move The Needle

49:48 - The Widespread Impact Of Digital And Online Activism

53:12 - Balancing Clarity Of Direction, Discipline Of Movement, And The Diversity Of Humans

58:57 - Sustaining Oneself Emotionally Despite The Overwhelming Mission

01:03:18 - Seeing Protests In A Different Light

BUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER: Together, we planted 36,044 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. Join our newsletter, and we'll plant even more.

CAUSE PARTNER: If you value open dialogue, sustainability, and social equity, I invite you to support our new cause partner — Prescott College. To learn more about this effort and to support the show, visit: https://caremorebebetter.com/support/

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In this audio podcast review, you'll hear directly from our host, Corinna Bellizzi. She shares her perspective candidly - that Patagonia Books has a gift for platforming the voices our moment most needs. In her view, Protest: Respect It, Defend It, Use It may be their most urgent title yet. The authors, Annie Leonard and André Carothers, walk us from the Boston Tea Party to Standing Rock to the protests unfolding today — weaving in first-person essays from Jane Fonda, Nemonte Nenquimo, and others who put everything on the line — to make a case that is both historically grounded and immediately practical. If you've ever felt the gap between what you know is wrong and what you're actually doing about it, this book is for you. And if you can, listen to the audiobook — narrated by the authors themselves, it's something else entirely.

Corinna's interview with Annie Leonard and André Carothers airs on the book's release day, 4/28/2026. Stay Tuned!

Get your copy of PROTEST now! https://theprotestbook.com
On Amazon (earns commission): https://amzn.to/4tYlYER

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As wars continue to rage in different parts of the world, particularly between Israel and Palestine, achieving peace seems to be an impossibility. But despite the chaotic situations across the globe, there is always some way to push for a peaceful agenda – even if the main weapon is only regenerative food. Adam Hiner, co-founder of PACHA, returns to share how their business scaling efforts have transformed into using food as a force to promote peace. He joins Corinna Bellizzi to talk about his Palestinian heritage, particularly how it has influenced PACHA’s mission to continue elevating agriculture practices and forge a partnership with Sindyanna of Galilee. Adam also discusses how they continue to push the boundaries of what clean regenerative food can look like while committing to organic sourcing, compostable packaging, and farmer partnerships.

COMPLETE BLOG & TRANSCRIPT: https://caremorebebetter.com/food-as-a-force-for-peace-regeneration-heritage-the-pacha-story-with-adam-hiner/

About Guest:

Adam Hiner is a food entrepreneur and regenerative food systems advocate with deep roots in values-based business. As the co-founder of PACHA, a company creating sprouted, sourdough buckwheat bread and tortillas, Adam is on a mission to nourish both people and planet. His journey in food began over two decades ago with ventures like Eco-Caters (San Diego’s first organic catering company), Local Habit (an organic farm-to-table restaurant), and Boochcraft (the nation’s first high-alcohol kombucha brand). Today, Adam applies that same passion and innovation to PACHA, a company he co-founded with his wife Maddie to bring clean, organic, allergen-free food to a growing audience. Adam is also proudly Palestinian. His grandparents immigrated from Ramallah, and this heritage has guided PACHA’s recent collaboration with Sindyanna of Galilee, a female-led nonprofit that brings together Arab and Jewish women through sustainable agriculture. Together, they’ve created a limited-edition Fig & Olive “Peace Loaf” using Sindyanna’s organic olive oil, with proceeds from the release supporting Sinndyanna’s “Bees for Peace” initiative. This biodynamic beekeeping program gets Israeli and Palestinian women working side by side to foster cross-cultural connection and ecological healing. Adam brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial savvy, cultural depth, and climate leadership to every conversation—and his story is a powerful one for audiences exploring food as a pathway to peace, justice, and regeneration.

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhiner/

Guest Website: https://livepacha.com

Guest Social: 

https://www.instagram.com/livepacha

https://www.tiktok.com/@livepacha

https://www.pinterest.com/live_pacha/

Show Notes:

03:54 - Looking Back To Adam’s Career Journey

08:58 - Scaling The Business And Expanding Market Avenues

14:25 - Improving Durability While Maintaining A Clean Label Standard

20:08 - Regenerative Agriculture A Business Model

23:01 - Committing To Zero Biofuel-Based Plastic For Food Packaging

25:25 - How Adam’s Palestinian Heritage Shaped His Relationship With Food

30:51 - Adam’s Partnership With Sindyanna And Bees For Peace

38:14 - How To Educate The Public About Regeneration And Sustainability

43:09 - How Soil Health Impacts The Quality Of Our Food

48:45 - PACHA’s Mission To Make Regeneration The Norm

52:27 - Take More Time To Pause And Listen To Your Heart

54:56 - Discussion Wrap-up And Closing Words

BUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER

Together, we planted 36,044 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. We screamed past our goal of planting 20,000 trees thanks to subscribers like you!

CAUSE PARTNER: If you value open dialogue, sustainability, and social equity, I invite you to support our new cause partner — Prescott College. To learn more about this effort and to support the show, visit: https://caremorebebetter.com/support/

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The climate crisis continues to lead to more powerful and life-threatening typhoons and hurricanes. These climate-driven disasters are exposing safety issues with our housing system and putting many people’s lives at risk. Corinna Bellizzi sits down with George Siegal, a documentary filmmaker and former TV journalist, who sheds light on the systemic failures that make homes unsafe while blatantly ignoring the harsh realities we live in today. He discusses what it takes to build homes that are disaster resilient and can last for many years, as well as the true costs of constructing such residential buildings. George also explains how homeowners can make better decisions when choosing their homes, particularly now that weather conditions are expected to worsen for at least 30 years.

COMPLETE BLOG & TRANSCRIPT: https://caremorebebetter.com/uncomfortable-truths-about-the-housing-system-with-george-siegal/

About Guest:

George Siegal is a documentary filmmaker and former TV journalist who builds impact through story. His use of investigative storytelling helps people understand complex problems so they can make smarter choices that protect their futures. As founder of Move the World Films, he tackles resilience, housing, and system failures with a solutions lens. Credits include the award-winning Built to Last: Buyer Beware and The Last House Standing.

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-siegal/

Guest Website: https://www.movetheworldfilms.org

Guest Social: https://www.facebook.com/movetheworldfilms

Additional Resources Mentioned:

Built To Last: Buyer Beware (film): https://movetheworldfilms.gumroad.com/l/kaywco

The Last House Standing (film): https://movetheworldfilms.gumroad.com/l/wNcIq

Show Notes:

03:06 - Investigating Housing Resilience And Disaster Risk

11:48 - How Can We Build Better And More Resilient Houses

14:44 - The Problems And Loopholes Of Housing Insurance

24:36 - The True Costs Of Building A Safer Home

28:51 - Getting Ready To Address Residual Challenges

37:09 - How To Improve Building Codes And Housing Regulations

43:16 - Why Disaster Will Follow You Wherever You Go

45:03 - A Potential Film About Insurance

50:37 - Discussion Wrap-up And Closing Words

BUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER

Together, we planted 36,044 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. We screamed past our goal of planting 20,000 trees thanks to subscribers like you!

MEET OUR CAUSE PARTNER: If you value open dialogue, sustainability, and social equity, I invite you to support our new cause partner — Prescott College. To learn more about this effort and to support the show, visit: https://caremorebebetter.com/support/

Follow us on social media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caremorebebetter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caremorebebetter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better

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Coming up with climate solutions, no matter how beneficial or positive they may be for the greater good, has become so polarized. What does it take to bring people from both sides together and develop efforts that could satisfy everyone? Corinna Bellizzi chats with someone who is doing exactly that: Peter Simek, CEO of EarthX. He shares the hard work needed to unite leaders across businesses, policies, and industries to vastly accelerate solutions for a sustainable future. Peter also discusses the benefits of aligning bottom-line economic incentives with positive outcomes, the ideal way to scale sustainable projects, and the immense power of local action in building a more environmentally friendly world.

COMPLETE BLOG & TRANSCRIPT: https://caremorebebetter.com/from-polarization-to-progress-climate-solutions-with-earthx-ceo-peter-simek/

About Guest:

Peter Simek is the Chief Executive Officer of EarthX, one of the world’s premier conveners of leaders across business, policy, philanthropy, conservation, and advocacy to accelerate solutions for a sustainable future. In this role, he is leading EarthX’s evolution as a trusted global platform where investors, innovators, policymakers, and advocates can cut through polarization, find common ground, and advance pragmatic, market-based environmental solutions.  Prior to his role at EarthX, he founded Simek Media, a boutique strategy and communications agency that helps mission-driven organizations shape campaigns, build brands, and design convenings that mobilize action. His work has spanned sectors from climate resilience to artificial intelligence, advising civic leaders, coalitions, and global nonprofits.

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earthx.org/

Guest Website: https://earthx.org/

Guest Social: 

https://www.instagram.com/earthxorg/

https://www.facebook.com/earthxorg/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC79bJXPacuiS262Q5SB84Tg

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-simek-84507b41

Additional Resources Mentioned:

Bioneers: https://bioneers.com

Katharine Hayhoe's Book: Saving Us

Show Notes:

01:52 - Origin Story And Mission Of EarthX

07:41 - Why Environmental Conversations Have Become Polarized

17:55 - Benefits Of Market-Driven Environmental Solutions

26:37 - Navigating The Challenge Of Scaling Sustainable Efforts

33:29 - Securing Successes And Avoiding Pitfalls In Cross-Sector Collaboration

36:48 - How To Turn Vision Into Real Action

39:12 - How Purist Ideas Get In The Way Of Sustainability

44:11 - What To Expect On EarthX’s Upcoming Dallas Event

49:27 - Working At The Intersection Of Different Complex Systems

51:27 - Looking Into The Future With Optimism

53:44 - Get In Touch With Peter And EarthX

55:28 - Discussion Wrap-up And Closing Words

BUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER: Together, we planted 36,044 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. We screamed past our goal of planting 20,000 trees thanks to subscribers like you!

CAUSE PARTNER FOR 2026! If you value open dialogue, sustainability, and social equity, I invite you to support our new cause partner — Prescott College. To learn more about this effort and to support the show, visit: https://caremorebebetter.com/support/

Follow us on social media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caremorebebetter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caremorebebetter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better

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As the world gets hotter and drier due to the ever-worsening climate crisis, fires also grow larger, become more aggressive, and are much harder to suppress. Corinna Bellizzi unveils a smarter fire defense method to modernize emergency response with Sunny Sethi, Founder and CEO of HEN Technologies. Sunny presents how they leverage AI, IoT, and advanced fluid dynamics to create physics-informed neural networks that serve as the world’s first end-to-end fire suppression ecosystem. They discuss how this innovative tool allows for faster, more comprehensive, and more targeted ways to control and get rid of fire, especially environmentally destructive wildfires. Sunny also shares what this means for water conservation, ecological preservation, and the future of government grants.

COMPLETE BLOG & TRANSCRIPT: https://caremorebebetter.com/smarter-fire-defense-for-a-hotter-drier-world-with-sunny-sethi-ceo-of-hen-technologies/

About Guest:

Sunny is Founder/CEO of HEN Technologies, a deep-tech company revolutionizing firefighter defense. Leading the development of the world’s first end-to-end fire suppression ecosystem, Sunny leverages AI, IoT, and advanced fluid dynamics to modernize emergency response. Under his leadership, HEN has developed breakthrough devices that increase fire suppression rates by up to 300% while conserving 67% of water usage.

A seasoned R&D leader, Sunny brings a unique deep-tech approach to climate resilience. Prior to HEN, he led R&D Engineer at TE Connectivity and at SunPower Corporation, where he pioneered platform technologies and solved complex manufacturing challenges in the automotive and photovoltaic sectors. He also founded ADAP Nanotech, a nanomaterials company funded by a US Air Force STTR grant.

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunny-sethi-hen/

Guest Website: https://www.hentechnologies.com/

Guest Social: 

https://www.facebook.com/HenNozzles

https://www.youtube.com/@HenNozzles

https://www.instagram.com/hen_nozzles/

Additional Resources Mentioned:

A Resilient Approach to Forest Fire with Sandra Younger: https://caremorebebetter.com/a-resilient-approach-to-forest-fire-with-sandra-younger/

Show Notes:

02:04 - How The Wildfire Crisis Changed In Recent Years

14:06 - The Role Of AI In Putting Out Fires

21:47 - Utilizing The Internet Of Things For Fire Suppression

26:55 - The Costs Of Smarter Fire Defense

33:04 - Get In Touch With HEN Technologies

37:34 - Discussion Wrap-up And Closing Words

BUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER: Together, we planted 36,044 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. We screamed past our goal of planting 20,000 trees thanks to subscribers like you!

CAUSE PARTNER FOR 2026: If you value open dialogue, sustainability, and social equity, I invite you to support our new cause partner — Prescott College. To learn more about this effort and to support the show, visit: https://caremorebebetter.com/support/

Follow us on social media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caremorebebetter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caremorebebetter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better

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Our oceans are slowly being destroyed by plastic pollution, and marine debris rapidly increases every year with no end in sight. Corrina Bellizzi takes a deep dive into one of the most visible and urgent environmental challenges of our time with Eric Magers, Founder and Executive Director of Seaside Sustainability. Together, they discuss what must be done to minimize and put an end to plastic pollution, from getting rid of single-use plastic to pushing for legislation centered on environmental preservation. Eric also explains the importance of empowering small-scale projects and pushing young people to drive project-based sustainability initiatives.

COMPLETE BLOG & TRANSCRIPT: https://caremorebebetter.com/solving-plastic-pollution-in-our-ocean-with-eric-magers/

About Guest:

Eric Magers is the Founder and Executive Director of Seaside Sustainability, a nationally recognized nonprofit driving innovative solutions to plastic pollution, marine debris, and climate education. A lifelong educator and award-winning climate leader, Eric was honored at the White House and named Climate Educator of the Year for his pioneering work bridging science, community, and action. He is also the creator of Green Scholars, a nationally award-winning project-based learning course that empowers students to transform their schools through sustainability initiatives. Several schools implementing this program have been recognized as some of the greenest schools in America. Beyond Seaside, Eric is the Founder and CEO of the National STEM Honor Society (NSTEM), which now includes more than 500 chapters and 6,000 members worldwide. Across all his work, Eric’s vision is clear: empower students, schools, and communities with the tools to create systemic change and build a sustainable, innovative future.

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-magers/ 

Guest Website: https://www.seasidesustainability.org/home 

Guest Social: 

https://www.facebook.com/seasusinc

https://www.instagram.com/seasusinc/

Additional Resources Mentioned:

 Trash to Treasure: Exploring What It Takes to Build a Business from Waste with Kelsey Rumburg

 Solving The Problem Of Plastic Pollution With Judith Enck

 The Problem with Plastic by Judith Enck

Show Notes:

03:33 - How Eric Became An Environmental Educator And Ocean Advocate

10:00 - The Planet’s Big Problem Of Consumer Marine Debris

20:37 - How Environmental Legislation Can Solve Plastic Pollution

28:21 - Why A Total Plastic Ban Would Never Work

34:50 - Seaside Sustainability’s Focus On Plastics And Marine Debris

37:29 - Addressing Environmental Problems Even If You Are Not Seeing Them

49:46 - Plastics Should Never Find Their Way Back Into The Environment

54:57 - Keep Yourself Updated With Google Alerts

58:14 - Discussion Wrap-up And Closing Words

BUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER

Together, we planted 36,044 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. We screamed past our goal of planting 20,000 trees thanks to subscribers like you!

NEW CAUSE PARTNER FOR 2025-2026 SELECTED!

If you value open dialogue, sustainability, and social equity, I invite you to support our new cause partner — Prescott College. To learn more about this effort and to support the show, visit: https://caremorebebetter.com/support/

Follow us on social media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caremorebebetter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caremorebebetter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better

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Toxic chemicals are found in products we use daily, and they threaten our health every single day. What can we do to keep ourselves safe from these invisible enemies, and who must we hold accountable? Corinna Bellizzi sits down with Vineet Dubey, a co-founding partner of Custodio, who shares his experiences with legal battles against manufacturers who continue to use toxic chemicals and put all of us at risk. Vineet discusses how environmental litigation puts legal pressure on big corporations, as well as the urgent need for federal action against the use of toxic chemicals. He also shares simple but effective ways to reduce your toxic exposure, as well as practical tips for becoming responsible consumers.

About Guest: Vineet Dubey is a co-founding partner of Custodio Dubey, LLP. Vineet has dedicated his career to cleaning up the environment to ensure the safety of our planet for future generations. Vineet is a fierce advocate who consistently takes on the largest corporations and their corporate defense counsel. Vineet is an environmental litigator who sues companies that are endangering the health and well-being of California citizens by selling products containing toxic chemicals. Because of Vineet’s advocacy, thousands of products tainted with Lead, Cadmium, Phthalates, and other cancer-causing chemicals, have been taken off the shelves and cleaned up.

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cd-law-firm/

Guest Website:
https://cd-lawyers.com

Guest Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/cdlawfirm/
https://www.tiktok.com/@cdlawfirm
https://www.youtube.com/@custodio-dubey-cd-law
https://www.facebook.com/cdlawfirm/

Addressing America’s PFAS Crisis With Rachel Frazin: https://caremorebebetter.com/addressing-americas-pfas-crisis-with-rachel-frazin/

Show Notes:
02:40 - Why Everyday Products Are Riddled With Toxic Chemicals
09:52 - Fighting Toxic Chemicals Through Litigation And Beyond
17:17 - Dealing With Toxic Chemicals In Our Drinking Water
22:53 - Exposing Yourself To Toxic Chemicals Through Dermal Absorption
26:32 - Getting Rid Of Toxic Food Additives
30:15 - The Urgent Need For A Federal Response
35:42 - Harnessing Your Consumer Power To Build A Safer Marketplace
40:36 - Hopeful Movements Against Toxic Chemicals
51:22 - Small Daily Changes Can Lead To A Huge Change
53:55 - Discussion Wrap-up And Closing Words

BUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER
Together, we planted 36,044 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. We screamed past our goal of planting 20,000 trees thanks to subscribers like you!

CAUSE PARTNER FOR 2026!
If you value open dialogue, sustainability, and social equity, I invite you to support our new cause partner — Prescott College. To learn more about this effort and to support the show, visit: https://caremorebebetter.com/support/

Follow us on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caremorebebetter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caremorebebetter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better

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The climate crisis is not only a technological or policy challenge — it is also a crisis of worldview.

In this powerful conversation, Corinna Bellizzi speaks with Osprey Orielle Lake, founder and executive director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), about how climate justice movements around the world are working to transform our relationship with nature, power, and community.

Osprey’s work bridges grassroots activism, Indigenous leadership, international climate negotiations, and legal innovations like the Rights of Nature movement. Drawing from her book The Story Is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis, she explores how systems like colonization, extractive economics, and patriarchy have shaped today’s ecological crises — and how new stories rooted in reciprocity, justice, and stewardship can guide the path forward.

This conversation explores the role of Indigenous knowledge in climate solutions, the fight against fossil fuel expansion, the growing global push for legal protections for ecosystems, and the importance of community-led restoration efforts around the world.

Originally recorded in 2024, this episode remains deeply relevant today as movements for climate justice, land stewardship, and ecological restoration continue to gain momentum globally.

Key Topics in This Episode

• Why the climate crisis is fundamentally a crisis of worldview

• The role of Indigenous knowledge and leadership in climate solutions

• The Rights of Nature movement and legal frameworks that protect ecosystems

• The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative

• Climate justice and the risks faced by frontline land defenders

• Reforestation projects led by women restoring ecosystems and communities

• Why global transformation requires both systemic change and cultural shifts

About Osprey Orielle Lake

Osprey Orielle Lake is the Founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), an international organization that works with grassroots, Indigenous, and frontline communities to advance climate justice and a just transition to renewable energy.

She serves on the Executive Committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and the Steering Committee for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. Osprey is the author of The Story Is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis and the award-winning book Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature.

Transcript - FINAL - CMBB 172 O…

Her work has been featured in publications including The Guardian, Earth Island Journal, The Ecologist, and Ms. Magazine.

Resources & Organizations Mentioned

• Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)

• The Story Is in Our Bones – Osprey Orielle Lake

• Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative

• Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature

• Movement Rights

• Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation – Paul Hawken

• Green Amendments – Maya van Rossum

Guest Links

Website:
https://ospreyoriellelake.earth

WECAN International:
https://www.wecaninternational.org

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ospreyoriellelake

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/osprey-orielle-lake-4286bb12

Related Episodes

• Stand Up With The Earth: Fighting Fossil Fuels with Tzeporah Berman

• Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation with Paul Hawken

• Green Amendments and Environmental Rights with Maya van Rossum

Join the Conversation

What stories shape how we see our relationship with nature?

Share your thoughts and reflections with us — and tell us what regenerative solutions you’re seeing in your community.

Join Me at Bioneers 2026

I’ll be attending Bioneers in Berkeley from March 26–28 and look forward to meeting Nina in person and hearing her speak live.

If you’re considering going, now’s the time:

https://conference.bioneers.org/ ***Use code BRINGAFRIEND for 2-for-1 pricing***

Let’s gather, learn, and co-create regenerative solutions together.

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Together, we can care more and be better — and we can even regenerate our leadership models to heal people, planet, and the next generation.

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Coffee is the richest source of dietary antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents in the American diet. But behind every cup of coffee is a global story that spans centuries of cultural transformation, health science, and a tangled web of trade ethics. Corinna Bellizzi delves into this topic with Chris Kilhan, medicine hunter and author of The Way of Coffee. Together, they unpack the role of coffee in social transformation, particularly with critical tensions in the coffee trade and the nonstop price increase due to the “coffee shop culture.” Chris also presents potential solutions to solve the biggest problems of the global botanical trade to radically improve consumer prices and provide better opportunities to small farmers, the heroes behind our most delicious cups of coffee.

About Guest:

Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter, author, educator and yogi. The founder of Medicine Hunter Inc., Chris has conducted medicinal plant research and sustainable botanical sourcing in over 50 countries. Chris works with companies to develop and popularize traditional plant-based food and medicinal products into market successes. These include ashwagandha, kava, maca, rhodiola, schisandra, tamanu oil, cat’s claw, dragon’s blood, ayahuasca, and hundreds of other plants. Chris also works to bridge worlds, regularly sharing information about other cultures through presentations and media. He has appeared on major media globally for decades. The New York Times calls Chris “part David Attenborough, part Indiana Jones.”

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskilham/ 

Guest Website: http://medicinehunter.com/

Guest Social: 

https://www.instagram.com/medicinehunter/

https://www.facebook.com/medicinehunter/

https://www.youtube.com/user/chriskilham

Additional Resources Mentioned:

BOOK: The Way of Coffee by Chris Kilham, Medicine Hunter

CHRIS' EARLIER EPISODE: On Building Sustainable Communities By Learning From Indigenous People with Medicine Hunter, Chris Kilham

PRIOR EPISODE MENTIONED: Healing The Soil Through Regenerative Farming With Ric Scalzo, CEO of Kokora Life

Show Notes:

02:39 - Deep Dive Into Coffee Production And Consumption

15:06 - How Coffee Transformed Our Societies

21:03 - How We Can Walk Away From Unnecessary Coffee Hype

34:43 - How Firms Can Commit To Running An Ethical Business

49:10 - Giving More Opportunities To Small Farmers

53:40 - What It Is Like To Bridge Different Worlds

01:01:39 - Green Flags To Look For When Buying Coffee And Botanicals

01:07:00 - Diving Into A Big Product Project On Coca Leaf

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As human beings, we are built for relationship. Yet many of the leadership models we inherit are hierarchical, extractive, and rooted in struggle. In this conversation, Nina and I explore:

• What relational leadership really means

• Why empathy, vulnerability, and collaboration are strengths — not weaknesses

• How climate justice, racial equity, gender equity, and economic reform are deeply interconnected

• Why “solving for pattern” (in the spirit of Wendell Berry) leads to cascading regenerative benefits

• The importance of integrating restorative, regenerative rhythms into our leadership and lives

Nina also reflects on redefining sacrifice, embracing conflict as a doorway to deeper relationship, and leading from wholeness rather than burnout.

Why This Matters Now

We are living through overlapping crises — climate instability, political gridlock, reproductive rights rollbacks, and widening inequity. Nina reminds us that these are not separate issues, but interconnected systems.

We will not achieve climate justice without racial and gender equity.
We will not build regenerative economies without collaborative leadership.
And we cannot solve systemic problems while remaining disconnected from one another — or from the Earth.

Relational leadership invites us to lead not from dominance, but from interdependence.

About Nina Simons

Nina Simons is Co-founder and Chief Relationship Officer at Bioneers and leads its Everywoman’s Leadership program. Throughout her career across nonprofit, social entrepreneurship, corporate, and philanthropic sectors, Nina has worked with nearly a thousand diverse women leaders to cultivate mutual learning, trust, and transformative leadership.

She is the author of Nature, Culture, and the Sacred: A Woman Listens for Leadership and co-editor of Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart. Her work integrates ecological wisdom, spiritual insight, and systems thinking to inspire regenerative futures.

Connect with Nina:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-simons/

• Website: https://www.ninasimons.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1ninasimons/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nina.simons

• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ninabioneers

Join Me at Bioneers 2026

I’ll be attending Bioneers in Berkeley from March 26–28 and look forward to meeting Nina in person and hearing her speak live.

If you’re considering going, now’s the time:

https://conference.bioneers.org/ ***Use code BRINGAFRIEND for 2-for-1 pricing***

Let’s gather, learn, and co-create regenerative solutions together.

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