Videos

Exploring Immigrant Issues Through Fiction With Orlando Ortega-Medina

In these last few years, immigrant issues have been a huge topic of discussion in the United States. People flee from war-torn countries, immigrants facing discrimination, and banning certain nationalities ...from entering the country have sparked endless debate. Author Orlando Ortega-Medina wanted to shed light on the challenges he went through as an immigrant himself by writing a fiction novel that reflects his non-fiction story. He joins Corinna Bellizzi to talk about his book The Fitful Sleep of Immigrant, which narrates the trials and tribulations of an immigrant in San Francisco during the late 90s. Orlando talks about his current life in London, the importance of authors seeking professional editing, and the reason he writes about tough subjects.

About Guest:
Orlando Ortega-Medina was born in Los Angeles to Sephardic immigrants from Cuba. He studied English Literature at UCLA and has a Juris Doctor law degree from Southwestern University School of Law. At university, he won the National Society of Arts and Letters Award for Short Stories.

Ortega-Medina’s short story collection Jerusalem Ablaze was shortlisted for The Polari First Book Prize (2017). In 2018, he was named the Marilyn Hassid Emerging Author for the Houston Jewish Book & Arts Festival. He is also the author of three novels, The Death of Baseball (2019), The Savior of 6th Street (2020), and The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants (2023). Ortega-Medina lives in London, England, where he practices law and writes fiction.

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlando-ortega-medina-046a1820b
Guest Website: https://orlandoortegamedina.co.uk/
Guest Social: https://www.instagram.com/sadot_medina, https://www.facebook.com/orlandoortegamedina, https://www.tiktok.com/@orlandoortegamedina
Additional Resources Mentioned: https://orlandoortegamedina.co.uk/the-fitful-sleep-of-immigrants/

Show Notes:
00:00 - Introduction
03:47 - Orlando’s origin story
05:39 - Writing about heavy topics
12:27 - Cultural difference between the US and the UK
18:09 - A mix of fiction and non-fiction
22:17 - Importance of an editor and book cover choice
27:05 - Choosing the topics to write about
30:16 - Looking back
34:10 - Thought on Twitter, social media, and online culture
38:29 - Final Words

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Support Care More. Be Better: A Social Impact + Sustainability Podcast
Care More. Be Better. is not backed by any company. We answer only to our collective conscience. As a listener, reader, and subscriber you are part of this pod and this community and we are honored to have your support. If you can, please help finance the show (https://www.caremorebebetter.com/donate). Thank you, now and always, for your support as we get this thing started![+] Show More

Exploring Immigrant Issues Through Fiction With Orlando Ortega-Medina

In these last few years, immigrant issues have been a huge topic of ...

The Impact Of Dams On The Health Of Our Entire Ecosystems With Steven Hawley

The world has made it so easy to overlook our natural resources in ...

Creating A Spark In Climate Activism Through Music With Donna Grantis - @donnagrantis

...

https://caremorebebetter.com/creating-a-spark-in-climate-activism-through-music-with-donna-grantis/

Last September 2022, Corinna Bellizzi interviewed Tzeporah Berman, Founder of Stand.earth. Her inspiring words from that episode were used by Donna Grantis in her moving musical presentation centered on climate ...activism, A Drop in the Bucket. Donna is here to talk about using her music in raising awareness on saving the environment through her newest project, Culture v. Policy. She explains the role of arts during a climate emergency, some simple practices to reconnect with nature, and why she considers Planet Earth as a co-writer of her songs.

About Donna Grantis
Donna Grantis is an artist and guitarist from Tkaronto (Toronto). From 2012 to 2016 Grantis performed and recorded with Prince as a member of his funk-rock trio 3RDEYEGIRL and supergroup New Power Generation. As a bandleader, she fronted a 5-piece electric jazz quintet and released the critically acclaimed debut album, DIAMONDS & DYNAMITE.

Her newest project, Culture vs Policy, fuses the emotive power of music with thought-provoking dialogue about the climate and ecological crises. In collaboration with climate scientists, activists, Indigenous leaders, policymakers, researchers, sociologists, and others, Grantis seeks to highlight in her art narratives exploring human impacts on the planet. As an EarthPercent artist and a signee of the Music Declares Emergency declaration she is passionate about music as a force for social change.

Guest Website: https://donnagrantis.com

Guest Social: https://www.instagram.com/donnagrantis, https://www.facebook.com/DonnaGrantis, https://www.youtube.com/donnagrantis, https://twitter.com/donnagrantis

Additional Resources Mentioned: https://earthpercent.org/, https://www.amazon.com/Intersectional-Environmentalist-Dismantle-Systems-Oppression/dp/0316279293/

Show Notes:

00:00 – Introduction

04:59 – Donna’s origin story

07:17 – Using music for activism

14:51 – Earth as your co-writer

22:28 – Reconnecting with nature

25:17- Future of Culture v. Policy

30:04 – Dietary tips

31:56 – Role of arts in climate emergency

33:44 – Final Words

37:30 – A Drop in the Bucket Full Performance

Join the Care More. Be Better. Community! (Social Links Below)
Website: https://www.caremorebebetter.com
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better
Twitter: https://twitter.com/caremorebebettr

Support Care More. Be Better: A Social Impact + Sustainability Podcast
Care More. Be Better. is not backed by any company. We answer only to our collective conscience. As a listener, reader, and subscriber you are part of this pod and this community and we are honored to have your support. If you can, please help finance the show (https://www.caremorebebetter.com/donate).[+] Show More

Creating A Spark In Climate Activism Through Music With Donna Grantis

Last September 2022, Corinna Bellizzi interviewed Tzeporah Berman, ...

Creating A Spark In Climate Activism Through Music With Donna Grantis

Last September 2022, Corinna Bellizzi interviewed Tzeporah Berman, ...

Creating A Spark In Climate Activism Through Music With Donna Grantis

Last September 2022, Corinna Bellizzi interviewed Tzeporah Berman, ...

Address Plastic Pollution One Boxed Water At A Time With Robert Koenen

Every plastic bottle you throw away will certainly go somewhere, but ...

Every plastic bottle you throw away will certainly go somewhere, but only a handful of them are actually recycled and reused. Plastic pollution is a serious problem most people ignore ...in exchange for the convenience it offers. That’s why a huge number of them unsurprisingly ends up in landfills and in the ocean. Corinna Bellizzi is eager to solve this problem, and she sits down with Robert Koenen to talk about how he helps address such a massive issue. The Founder of Boxed Water Is Better shares how they contribute to lessening needless plastic by creating eco-friendly and biodegradable water containers. Robert also explores the benefits and dangers of aluminum, why you should be wise in choosing companies to support, and why most water brands are only out there for marketing.

About Guest:
Rob Koenen is the Chief Revenue Officer and Sustainability Lead of Boxed Water Is Better; the first national company to offer a sustainable alternative to plastic water bottles. Rob is charged with expanding Boxed Water’s core message and empowering consumers to make a statement that “sustainability matters.” Rob’s extensive marketing and leadership experience is rooted in story-telling with innovative campaigns that span multiple communication channels. In his role at Boxed Water, Rob leads the brand’s trial and awareness efforts, digital opportunities, and retail experiences. In prior leadership roles, Rob has built true lifestyle brands for food, apparel and footwear companies.

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boxed-water-is-better/
Guest Website: https://boxedwaterisbetter.com/
Guest Social: https://www.instagram.com/boxedwater/, https://www.tiktok.com/@boxedwater/, https://www.facebook.com/BoxedWater/, https://twitter.com/boxedwater

Show Notes: - Edited Audio
00:00 - Introduction
01:07 - Rob's Origin
05:07 - Introducing needless plastic
08:41 - Boxed Water
15:29 - Brands and loyalty
18:23 - Aluminum arguments
23:50 - Water brands
29:52 - Vote for companies with good intentions
32:42 - Robert’s hope for a sustainable future
39:09 - Final Words
44:22 - Closing

Join the Care More. Be Better. Community! (Social Links Below)
Website: https://www.caremorebebetter.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCveJg5mSfeTf0l4otrxgUfg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CareMore.BeBetter/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better
Twitter: https://twitter.com/caremorebebettr
Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/club/care-more-be-better

Support Care More. Be Better: A Social Impact + Sustainability Podcast
Care More. Be Better. is not backed by any company. We answer only to our collective conscience. As a listener, reader, and subscriber you are part of this pod and this community and we are honored to have your support. If you can, please help finance the show (https://www.caremorebebetter.com/donate). Thank you, now and always, for your support as we get this thing started![+] Show More

Building A Sustainable World By Dismantling Fast Furniture With Michael Barlow

In today’s world of rapid movement, fast furniture is a real problem ...

In today’s world of rapid movement, fast furniture is a real problem in almost every home. When people change addresses, they often discard a huge chunk of their furniture, only ...to buy new ones upon arriving to their next place. This only leads to tons of trash, and Michael Barlow is here to put an end to the dangers of fast furniture. Joining Corinna Bellizzi, he shares how they bring furniture into the service economy through Fernish, giving people the freedom to rent, swap, or rent-to-buy depending on their needs. He explains how this business model can help push the reuse economy forward and finally get rid of the IKEA culture. Michael also discusses how they minimize their carbon footprint by keeping a localized team and sourcing from local communities.

About Guest:
Michael Barlow is the co-founder and CEO of Fernish and sets the vision and strategy as the company changes the way people create and relate to their homes. After completing his fifth move in eight years, Michael co-founded Fernish in 2017, a furniture-as-a service business designed to bring furniture into the service economy and give people the freedom to rent, swap, rent-to-buy, buy or return furniture as their life and living situations change.

Prior to starting Fernish, Michael was Vice President of Atom Tickets and started his career at J.P. Morgan where he focused on mergers, acquisitions and leveraged finance (which was also the first time he had to carry a sofa up a four floor walk-up).

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fernish/
Guest Website: https://fernish.com
Guest Social: https://www.instagram.com/fernish/, https://www.facebook.com/fernishliving/ , https://www.tiktok.com/@fernishliving

Join the Care More. Be Better. Community! (Social Links Below)
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Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/club/care-more-be-better

Support Care More. Be Better: A Social Impact + Sustainability Podcast
Care More. Be Better. is not backed by any company. We answer only to our collective conscience. As a listener, reader, and subscriber you are part of this pod and this community and we are honored to have your support. If you can, please help finance the show (https://www.caremorebebetter.com/donate). Thank you, now and always, for your support as we get this thing started![+] Show More

Ferla Bikes: Pedaling Towards A Greener Future With Feras Bashnak

Earth Month may be over, but that doesn’t mean our work to save the ...

Earth Month may be over, but that doesn’t mean our work to save the planet has to stop. We need to continually aspire to live more sustainably. When it comes ...to sustainable transportation, nothing beats pedal power. Here to provide us with a sustainable transport solution that is friendly to all kinds of users is Feras Bashnak. Feras is the founder and CEO of Ferla Bikes, where they are producing some of the most innovative, technologically advanced, and sustainable commercial bikes and carts in the world. In this episode, Feras sits down with Corinna Bellizzi to talk about electric bikes and their benefits—not just to individual users but also to businesses and entrepreneurs. He shares some of their success stories, the current cargo bike models they are working on, and the impact they are making on people and the environment. Do you find it challenging to pedal uphill? Do you think going sustainable is not very budget-friendly? Do you want to make a splash in your marketing? Tune in to this conversation and discover how Feras’ Ferla Bikes can help you.

About Guest:
Feras Bashnak is the founder and CEO of Ferla Bikes. A serial entrepreneur, Feras was raised in Kazakhstan and began his career in hospitality, earning his bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management/Administration from IHTTI School of Hotel Management in Switzerland. After working at several world-renowned restaurants and hotels, Feras’ entrepreneurial spirit took over and he launched a successful catering business in Los Angeles. In 2016, Feras’ career path would then take another turn after observing and helping a woman struggling to push a fruit cart up a steep hill. Feras realized then that there had to be a better solution and began developing the prototype for the first Ferla cargo e-bike. Ferla has gone on to become a leading provider of premium electric cargo bikes and, to date, has developed more than 20 different cargo e-bikes/carts for business and personal use.

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feras-bashnak-3384b3a6/
Guest Website: https://ferlafamilybikes.com/, https://ferlabikes.com/
Guest Social: https://www.instagram.com/ferlafamilybikes/, https://www.instagram.com/ferlabikes/, https://twitter.com/ferlabikes, https://www.youtube.com/c/ferlabikes, https://www.pinterest.com/ferlabikes/, https://www.pinterest.com/ferlafamilybikes/

Additional Resources Mentioned: https://ferlafamilybikes.com/products/ferla-cargo-bike-longtail, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKEofjrD31I[+] Show More

Ferla Bikes: Pedaling Towards A Greener Future With Feras Bashnak

Earth Month may be over, but that doesn’t mean our work to save the ...

Ferla Bikes: Pedaling Towards A Greener Future With Feras Bashnak

Earth Month may be over, but that doesn’t mean our work to save the ...

The Impact Of Dams On The Health Of Our Entire Ecosystems With Steven Hawley

The world has made it so easy to overlook our natural resources in ...

The world has made it so easy to overlook our natural resources in exchange for revenue. Take a look at dams as an example. According to statistics, we have buried ...a landmass equal to the size of the state of California in reservoirs behind dams since the start of the 20th century. That is a staggering amount of land lost. In this episode, writer and award-winning filmmaker Steven Hawley sheds light on this alarming information. With his new book, Cracked: The Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World, Steven tells us the impact of dams on the health of our entire ecosystems and, more importantly, what we can do about it. Tune in as he joins Corinna Bellizzi to share more important insights on the state and future of dams and whether it is possible to recover the rivers we lost.

About Guest
Steven Hawley is a writer and filmmaker from Hood River, Oregon. He is the writer and co-producer of an award-winning documentary “Dammed to Extinction” (2019), and the author of Recovering a Lost River (Beacon Press, 2011). His new book, Cracked: The Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World, releases May 2nd from Patagonia. Steve was among the first to write about the historic agreement to tear out Edwards Dam on the Kennebec River in Maine. Since then, his work has appeared in High Country News, OnEarth, The Oregonian, Missoula Independent and other publications.

Guest Website: https://www.stevenhawleyauthor.com/
Guest Social: https://www.instagram.com/patagoniabooks/, https://www.facebook.com/patagoniabooks

Additional Resources Mentioned: Dammed to Extinction TEDx, Dammed to Extinction (Documentary Film), Cracked: The Future of Dams In A Hot, Chaotic World

Join the Care More. Be Better. Community! (Social Links Below)
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Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/club/care-more-be-better

Support Care More. Be Better: A Social Impact + Sustainability Podcast
Care More. Be Better. is not backed by any company. We answer only to our collective conscience. As a listener, reader, and subscriber you are part of this pod and this community and we are honored to have your support. If you can, please help finance the show (https://www.caremorebebetter.com/donate). Thank you, now and always, for your support as we get this thing started![+] Show More

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Exploring Immigrant Issues Through Fiction With Orlando Ortega-Medina

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Exploring Immigrant Issues Through Fiction With Orlando Ortega-Medina

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