Dr. Sylvia Earle is a world-renowned oceanographer, marine biologist, and National Geographic Explorer in Residence affectionately known by her fellow scientists, and peers alike, as “Her Deepness.”  She has logged more than 7,000 hours underwater.  What struck me most when I first met Sylvia was her ability to deeply touch my spirit when we talked about the oceans.  In this episode, you’ll hear us talk about “our power to change the nature of nature,” as Sylvia says, “through our options.” We talk about the pace at which the planet is warming, our impact on the oceans, and how we can govern ourselves better to ensure they (and we) have more longevity to make our survival and prosperity possible.  WORKS - founder, Mission Blue, an organization dedicated to protecting the ocean from threats such as climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, invasive species, and the dramatic decrease in ocean fish stocks - founder, Sylvia Earle Alliance -author, National Geographic Ocean: A Global Odyssey - author, The World is Blue - author, Sea Change - author, Blue Hope: Exploring and Caring for Earth's Magnificent Ocean TOOLS - Knowledge that equips us to understand how we affect the ocean and how the ocean affects us  - Historic and scientific evidence of our planet’s network of life—information that can empower us to look at Earth as a system and see what needs protecting and how  - Appreciation for the planet to inspire sustainable change - How to apply for a Hope Spot and where - What we can do in our local communities to restore health to the oceans

"We only have one home to live in: our body," says today's guest, Jovanka Ciares who carries over a decade of personal wisdom as an integrative herbalist and nutrition expert with the life mission of "helping people reclaim natural states of wellness through practices of our lineage, our ancestry, and our birthright." I instantly graviated to her work because it highlights how we can take our power back and heal ourselves.  She writes about this in her book, "Reclaiming Wellness: Ancient Wisdom for Your Healthy, Happy, and Beautiful Life." And has so much wisdom to offer us today as the founder of Solana Wellness and creator of the #ReclaimingWellness, which carries the initiative of educating BIPOC communities about the power of herbal medicine and plant-based living. In this conversation, we go DEEP and get to hear her share powerful practices to build new habits, change our taste buds, and experience a new conversation between our mind and body. We explore how her upbringing in Puerto Rico and connection to African philosophies brought her to discover a level of true wellness & connectivity we all deeply crave and deserve access to. WORKS - author, Reclaiming Wellness: Ancient Wisdom for Your Healthy, Happy, and Beautiful Life - founder, Solana Wellness  TOOLS - Thought processes to support systems change in privileged spaces - Practices to decolonize your mind - African philosophies for reconciliation & healing - How music serves as a gift and doorway into healing - Advice for those moments when you feel the call to do more and give back - Wisdom for honoring the only home we have to live in: our body   - "Lazy-proof" self-love, self-care practices to create nutritional routines that give you joy and uplift your lifestyle - Why we're depleted, and tools to reclaim time and space - Practices that help us replenish our needs rather than self-abandon - Permission to honor your emotions and cry - Powerful practices to build new habits, change your taste buds, and experience a new conversation between your mind and body - Tips to turn your desire to see the world be a BETTER place into ACTION

Today, I have the distinct pleasure and honor of hosting GRAMMY award-winning artist, Julian Alexander whose work has been a cornerstone of hip hop and rap for three decades. He’s the creator behind iconic logos & album artwork that you undoubtedly recognize (artists including Jennifer Lopez, 50 Cent, Eminem, Destiny’s Child, the iconic Mile Davis, and more). He’s the founder of Slang Inc., a Brooklyn-based studio whose clients include the world’s top agencies & brands. And also serves on the board of my charity, A Better Life Foundation. We go way beyond resumé in this conversation and dig deep into the intricately thoughtful layers of his art.  I ask him about the work he creates to survive—not for money, for meaning. You'll hear him share about the Supremacy Project, a profound art instillation brought to life during 2020’s historical Black Lives Matter protests. Julian collaborated with our friend Steven Irby (aka Steve Sweatpants) and the powerful Khadijat Oseni. “I had so much to say and so few options,” he says when speaking to the anger of the moment. “I had to do this for my sanity and survival.” Join us as we talk about art as a force for political change, dialogue, and expression on all sides. And how expression yields empowerment, especially in critical times, like the ones we’re in today.   WORKS: - Supremacy Project, description: “Addressing the systematic oppression and violence our communities are fighting to end through art. #whoprotectsmefromyou”  - Fit The Description—”a series of conversations between Black male officers and civillians.”  - founder, Slang Inc. -  GRAMMY® Award for The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions by Miles Davis for Best Boxed or Special Edition Package - previously, Design Director for Sony Music - previously, Executive Creative Director of Guild, where Julian led creative teams on experiential projects for Nike, Target, and Stella Artois - TEDx Talk “Good Design Makes People Feel Heard, a Part of Something”   Tools You’ll Get from this Episode: - Inspiration to expose injustice through art - A thoughtful viewpoint on what art’s purpose is in the world -  Permission to practice  creative expression as activism - Confirmation & affirmation when it comes to allowing yourself to transmute anger into art - Wisdom and advice on how to keep some of life private - Reflections on the difference between solitude & loneliness   - Tools to witness your own good fortune - Stories that showcase how to create work that matters to a mission - A sense of humility with a dose of permission to allow your art to be its own entity in the world - Insight into how to enable meaningful dialogue through your creations   BETTER with Mark Brand is produced by Pamela Rothenberg of I HEAR YOU STUDIOS and Adam Karch with Orbyt Media

Chef Suzanne Barr is a social justice advocate & food advocate who walks the talk in equitable pay, food security, social justice for People of Color and the LGBTQIA+ community. She is a one of North America’s most respected chefs, a dear friend of mine, the author of My Ackee Tree: A Chef's Memoir of Finding Home in the Kitchen, and she previously owned of the popular restaurant Saturday Dinette, Head Chef/Owner at True True Diner, and was the inaugural chef-in-residence at the Gladstone Hotel.    Today, you’ll hear powerful stories about setting intention, knowing your path, letting go to let more in, and much much more.    WORKS: - Author of, “My Ackee Tree: A Chef's Memoir of Finding Home in the Kitchen” - Head Chef/Owner at True True Diner - Owner, Saturday Dinette - Former inaugural chef-in-residence at the Gladstone Hotel - Contributor, Suzanne contributed her jerk chicken ramen recipe to “Black Food”—a collection of stories, art and recipes across the African Diaspora  - suzannebarrfood.com Tools You’ll Get from this Episode: - Awarenesses that remind us how powerful love is and how to put it in practice to heal and support the needs of communities  - How to find flow state in something you care for personally & professionally  - Tools to enhance your love for and connection to food - Inspiration on how to change the hierarchy is a workplace - Stories that remind us of the importance of rest  - Inspiration to create food and recipes as resistance    BETTER with Mark Brand is produced by Pamela Rothenberg of I HEAR YOU STUDIOS and Adam Karch with Orbyt Media

Almost every man I know has benefited from a woman’s right to choose. And in this time, we need them to be louder than ever. Control is not an option. Which is why I’m bringing Kathryn “Kitty” Kolbert on to talk about the data, action and tools that we need to equip ourselves with to support women’s reproductive rights. What makes Kathryn’s voice so powerful is manyfold, but one in particular is her legacy as the attorney who co-founded the Center for Reproductive Rights and argued Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the historic 1992 Supreme Court case that saved Roe v. Wade. She’s also the co-author of “Controlling Women: What We Must Do Now to Save Reproductive Freedom,” which I binged the day before our interview and is mandatory regardless of your pronouns. In this episode, you’ll gain access to critical information on Roe v. Wade, abortion rights, what we can do collectively, and what’s next, from the wisdom of someone who has literally been at the tip of the spear for 30 years and is recognized as one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in America”    WORKS: - Co-founder of the Center for Reproductive Rights - Co-author of “Controlling Women: What We Must Do Now to Save Reproductive Freedom” - Founder of the Athena Center for Leadership at Barnard College, which is dedicated to the advancement of women’s leadership - Co-Founder of The Athena Film Festival, which celebrates extraordinary films from across the globe that tell the stories of fierce and fearless women leaders. - Creator and executive producer of NPR’s “Justice Talking,” an award-winning radio program Tools You’ll Get from This Episode: - Directions on how to properly support women’s rights with action - Data that helps us better understand why the system is the way it is and who’s most harmed along the way - Historic accounts that help equip you with the education necessary to create progress  - Big questions to ask loved ones and strangers alike in exploring your individual role in empowering leaders who support human rights BETTER with Mark Brand is produced by Pamela Rothenberg of I HEAR YOU STUDIOS and Adam Karch with Orbyt Media

Tim Daly is an award-winning actor best known for his roles in MADAM SECRETARY, WINGS, PRIVATE PRACTICE, and THE SOPRANOS. He’s also the voice of Superman for the animated series. But, beyond a 40-year acting career, Tim is a dear friend and advocate in some of the most critical spaces. He’s president of The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group that focuses on funding for the arts and shaping policy in a way that supports our creativity as humans. He’s also on the board of Inside Out Writers, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing juvenile recidivism. In this important conversation about art and politics, he shares with us how creativity can be used as a catalyst for personal transformation, so much so, that it actually saves people from re-entering the prison system by finding their own voice, power, and inner-artist. We also talk about unlocking memories that leads to creating more space for presence and learning how to properly honor the part of you that is creative. One of the many great lessons here is that even if you think you’re not, you are. We are. And your individual creativity can unlock opportunities for a BETTER world.   WORKS: - Madam Secretary  - Wings - Private Practice  - The Sopranos  - Superman, The Animated Series   - The Creative Coalition, (President) - Inside Out Writers, (Board Member) - Recipient of Theater World, Golden Satellite, GLAAD, Gracie, and Peabody Awards, and also has been nominated for Emmy and SAG awards   Tools You’ll Get from This Episode: - Insightful reflections on discovering your inner artist - Guidance on how to take the first step toward a cause you care about - Advice and wisdom on sobriety  - Uplifting messages of the heart to inspire your greatest abilities in life   BETTER with Mark Brand is produced by Pamela Rothenberg of I HEAR YOU STUDIOS and Adam Karch with Orbyt Media

Sara Roversi is transforming the future of food and doing it in the most powerful spaces on the planet. She is my dear friend and a powerhouse accomplice in developing global food systems. Her focus directly addresses climate change, planetary health, and global poverty, but amongst the heaviness, she brings so much light, wisdom and joy. Among her many influential roles, she is the founder and President of the Future Food Institute, an organization dedicated to facing the urgent challenge of protecting our planet while feeding humans in a way that is sustainable, equitable, and nourishing. In this episode, she brings her love of Earth, people and food to brighten our vision of what’s truly possible for our planet’s health and shows us how certain mindset changes can empower Us to create a sustainable world together. The beauty of this episode is indescribable, but I’ll give you one off the top: you’ll see and FEEL that you’re never “just one person,” you are much more than that—connected, capable and creative. And together, we can do big things.  WORKS: - Future Food Institute, Founder & President - Singularity University, Faculty Member - B20, Member of the Action Council - Food for Climate League, Partner & Board Member - You Can Group, Founder - Food Innovation Program, Executive Director - CAAB - The Agri Food Center of Bologna, Board Member - Bibimbap, Co-Founder - Well Done Burger, Co-Founder Tools You’ll Get from This Episode - Powerful mindset changes that will help you be a BETTER ally for the planet - Empowering ideas to help inspire actionable change within your local community - Information about our planet that will help us unify in saving her BETTER with Mark Brand is produced by Pamela Rothenberg of I HEAR YOU STUDIOS and Adam Karch with Orbyt Media

Having interviewed every music legend known from Prince to Public Enemy, George Stroumboulopoulos is one of the most trusted and respected journalists—period. He has over three decades of music knowledge and an ability to help us see the revolutionary healing power of music. He’s won awards for Best Talk Series, Best Show Host, Best Screen Award, and more, and uses his platform to create change and stand up for people and causes that deeply matter, including hunger, mental health, decriminalizing drugs and keeping people safe alongsideThe United Nations World Food Program, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, Canadian Music Therapy Fund, and Artists for Peace and Justice. George and I go deep on music and explore how healing and unifying it can be when the world or life can feel so lonely, hope is found in the lyrics of your favorite song.    Works: - STROMBO on Apple Music Hits   Tools: - How to find your community through music - Reframes for seeing society in a light that opens you up to advocacy - Advice for how to redirect your energy away from energies that harm and toward energies that serve  - Questions that lead to new channels of open-mindedness

Mark Groves is a massively insightful human dedicated to helping us understand human connection. He shows up in the world as a teacher and translator of some of our most challenging and beautiful experiences in life so we can better understand the pathways to true love within ourselves and within relationship. In this conversation, we talk about discovering and creating liberating love, and also offer some powerfully conscious tools to help you create the love you wish to experience most deeply in life.  WORKS: - Mark Groves Podcast - @createthelove on Instagram  - Create The Love Cards Tools You’ll Get From This Episode: - Frameworks and questions to ask yourself when considering how to consciously be in love and truth - Permission to explore your relationships, what they need, and what you need with absolute honesty & integrity  - Insight on how to hold joy and grief at the same time alongside tools to honor “the beauty of the departure” - Liberating ways to let divorce be a sign of self-love   - Reminders of your humanness and how worthy of love you naturally are  BETTER with Mark Brand is produced by Pamela Rothenberg of I HEAR YOU STUDIOS and Adam Karch with Orbyt Media

Rha Goddess is an Entrepreneurial Soul Coach, the Founder & CEO of Move The Crowd, a Hip-hop artist, known for coining the term “floetry,” and the author of The Calling. In her TED talk, she says, “This is a story of a young girl’s journey to rock the mic, save the hood, and heal the planet. This is my journey from starving artist to sustainable revolution. This is the story of how I healed my relationship with capitalism, and empowered a new generation of entrepreneurs.” In this conversation, we hear Rha’s raw wisdom highlighting the beauty of what we can be if we invest in hope. We hear about “the medicine of slowing down and finding your people.” And we dig into the current systems of power and what meaningful change looks like, and how you can find your way into creating it with us.   TRIGGER WARNING:  This episode discusses suicide and suicidal ideation, and some people might find it disturbing. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please, contact your physician, go to your local ER, or call the suicide prevention hotline in your country.    For the United States, the numbers are as follows: Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255), or message the Crisis Text Line at 741741. Both programs provide free, confidential support 24/7.   For Canada, the numbers are as follows: Call the Canada Suicie Prevention Service 1.833.456.4566, available 24/7/365 or Text the Crisis Text Line  at 45645, available 4pm - midnight   WORKS: - Coaching & Soul Work: www.movethecrowd.me - Book: “The Calling: 3 Fundamental Shifts to Stay True, Get Paid, and Do Good” - TED talk “Born To Move THe Crowd” - TED talk “ 4 Ways to Redefine Power at Work to Include Women of Color” Tools You’ll Get From this Episode: - Guidance to discover your true calling - A sense of affirmation that can guide you into your intuition - Wisdom that can guide you through the emotional ebbs and flows of being in movements - Reminders to rest and find your people