Care More Be Better: A Podcast For Sustainable Social Impact and Regeneration

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, and abuse.

Sex trafficking does not only happen “somewhere else.” It thrives in silence, misunderstanding, and systems that fail to protect vulnerable youth.


In this re-released episode of Care More Be Better, Corinna Bellizzi speaks with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Melody C. Miller about her documentary California’s Forgotten Children and the real-world impact it has had in schools, communities, and institutions across the United States.


Melody began this work as a teenager, believing trafficking was a distant issue, only to discover that students from her own high school were being exploited. That realization led her to volunteer with survivor-led organizations, undergo trauma-informed training, and ultimately spend five years creating a film that centers survivor voices and equips communities with tools for prevention and response.


This conversation is also deeply personal. Corinna shares her own experience of running away at thirteen and the vulnerability that follows when young people are left without safety, support, or options. Together, she and Melody unpack what sex trafficking actually looks like, how grooming and coercion operate, and why language, awareness, and informed action matter.


Rather than focusing on perpetrators or sensational stories, this episode centers:


Survivor-led insight

<li>Community-based prevention</li>

<li>Trauma-informed response</li>

<li>Practical guidance for recognizing and reporting exploitation</li>



Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of how trafficking hides in plain sight—and how ordinary people can help interrupt it without putting themselves or others at risk.


What We Cover in This Episode



How Melody discovered trafficking within her own community

<li>Why sex trafficking is often misunderstood and misidentified</li>

<li>The importance of survivor-centered language and reporting</li>

<li>How schools and communities can safely intervene</li>

<li>Real outcomes from film screenings, including victims coming forward</li>

<li>Trauma-informed approaches in policing and education</li>

<li>What each of us can do to help protect vulnerable youth</li>



If this episode feels heavy, you’re not alone. Support resources are included below, and listeners are encouraged to engage at their own pace.


Special Re-Release Offering
In honor of this episode re-share, filmmaker Melody C. Miller is offering a free viewing of California’s Forgotten Children for the first 50 viewers.


️Use code CARE at checkout:
https://californiasforgottenchildrendocumentary.vhx.tv


Melody is also currently in post-production on her new documentary, Thriv(h)er, which follows young cancer survivors and mothers navigating life, healing, and resilience.


️Watch the teaser: https://vimeo.com/1131769274/abf79b9e1c
Learn more: https://www.thrivherfilm.com/




Additional Resources Mentioned



If you suspect human trafficking or exploitation, support is available:


National Human Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888
Text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE)
humantraffickinghotline.org


National Runaway Safeline
800-RUN-AWAY (786-2929)


988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988




About the Guest



Melody C. Miller is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer. Her first feature documentary, California’s Forgotten Children (2018), won Best Documentary at the Soho International Film Festival and has screened internationally, including at the United States Senate and the United States of Women Summit. The film has been used as a training and education tool in schools, nonprofits, and institutions, helping communities recognize and respond to sex trafficking with care and accountability.


Learn more:
• https://mcmfilmmaker.com
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Every single person in the human race wants to build a better world and a brighter future for the next generation. But why is the climate discourse constantly diminished by cancel culture? Corinna Bellizzi explores this distressing social issue with climate strategist and advocate for sustainable change, Jenny Morgan. Delving into her book, Cancel Culture in Climate, Jenny discusses what it takes to get rid of the perfectionism and purist mindset that puts the entire climate movement to a halt. She explains how to participate in hopeful climate conversations that simplify the overwhelming climate problem, the importance of transparency and clarity in corporate social responsibility, and how to make the younger generation more climate and environmentally sensitive.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode of Care More Be Better is intentionally different.

Rather than analysis or debate, host Corinna Bellizzi shares the direct audio of comedian and actor Matt Braunger reading a letter written by his cousin — a father, neighbor, and resident of the Twin Cities — who felt compelled to document what daily life has become like amid intensified federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis–St. Paul.

The letter is not a political essay. It’s a witness account — grounded in everyday details like children’s activities, neighborhood text threads, and community members stepping into unexpected roles of care and resistance. Through this deeply human lens, the episode explores how large political forces manifest quietly inside ordinary life.

After the audio, Corinna reflects on what it means to bear witness without panic, how media fragmentation and algorithm-driven news shape public understanding, and why democracy depends not only on elections, but on relationships, mutual care, and informed attention.

Listeners are invited to reflect on their own communities, examine where they get their information, and consider small but meaningful ways to stay engaged, connected, and informed — before fear becomes routine.

In This Episode:



A full, uninterrupted reading of a first-person letter from Minneapolis



Reflections on ordinary life, community resilience, and civic responsibility



A discussion on media literacy, confirmation bias, and staying informed beyond headlines



Practical suggestions for thoughtful engagement without overwhelm

Resources Mentioned:



Letter from Minneapolis - read by Matt Braunger on TikTok



High Country News: https://www.hcn.org/



PBS Newshour: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/



PBS Newshour Podcasts: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/podcasts



Ground News (eliminate your news bias): https://ground.news/

Content Note:

This episode includes descriptions of fear, surveillance, immigration enforcement, and strong

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Water is often our biggest household use, and yet around 60% of that goes to waste and is never put to good use. Dr. Kelly Kopp, a nationally recognized expert in urban water conservation, joins Corinna Bellizzi to discuss the key findings from her recent irrigation waste report and what must be done to solve our seemingly endless water waste. She explores the essential role of plants in creating drought-resilient communities, the use of smart technology to cut down water use, and the importance of doing routine irrigation evaluation. This conversation is indeed an eye-opener on how to save water, one of the most essential yet highly neglected resources of this planet.

COMPLETE BLOG & TRANSCRIPT: https://caremorebebetter.com/solving-the-worlds-water-conservation-problems-with-dr-kelly-kopp/
About Guest:

Dr. Kelly Kopp is a Professor of Plants, Soils & Climate and Director of the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping at Utah State University. A nationally recognized expert in urban water conservation, turfgrass science, and homeowner irrigation behavior, Dr. Kopp has led the Water Check Program and Utah Growing Water Smart initiatives, which have helped thousands of Utah residents reduce outdoor water use. She is a frequent media voice on sustainable landscaping and drought resilience across the Intermountain West.

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-kopp-2b57108/

Guest Website: https://greenspacescoalition.org/

Additional Resources Mentioned:

From Air To Aqua: Decentralized Water Solutions For A Thirsty Planet With Brian Sheng: https://caremorebebetter.com/from-air-to-aqua-decentralized-water-solutions-for-a-thirsty-planet-with-brian-sheng

Show Notes: Raw audio

02:34 - Dr. Kopp’s Key Findings About Irrigation Waste
09:49 - Making The Most Out Of Our Landscapes

14:49 - The Amazing Technology Of Smart Irrigation Controllers

17:59 - The Key Role Of Plants In Landscape Design

25:55 - Community Outreach In One Of The Fastest-Growing States

34:06 - Dr. Kopp’s Programs For Thousands Of Households In Utah

42:30 - Achieving Regeneration Through Water Stewardship

47:36 - Role Of Homeowners In Building More Drought-Resilient Communities

53:16 - Importance Of Raising Awareness On Water Conservation

56:35 - Episode 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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Your house may be the most comfortable place in the entire world for you, but it could still be hiding several health hazards that must be promptly addressed. Corinna Bellizzi discusses what it takes to create healthful living spaces with Paul Kealey, founder and president of EkoBuilt. As head of North America’s most advanced sustainable homebuilding company, he exposes why modern building codes are actually failing our health, from poor indoor air quality to serious mold growth. Paul also presents how a passive house offers a good alternative by perfectly marrying cost-effectiveness and a healthy environment. Find out how simple changes can turn your home from a space that could kill you slowly to a place of health and comfort.

COMPLETE BLOG & TRANSCRIPT: https://caremorebebetter.com/what-it-takes-to-achieve-healthful-living-with-paul-kealey/

About Guest:

Paul Kealey has spent nearly twenty years redefining what home truly means. As the Founder and President of EkoBuilt, he leads one of North America’s most advanced sustainable homebuilding companies and the Architect of the ‘House is Medicine’ system. Paul’s work proves that homes can do more than save energy, they can actively protect and enhance human health. Through EkoBuilt, he designs and constructs Net-Zero Passive Houses that are affordable, resilient, and life-rewarding. His mission challenges the conventional building industry by showing that most homes don’t just waste energy, they compromise health.

Paul’s mission is clear: to make homes that heal. He has built his career around proving that healthy homes are the most powerful medicine we take every day - lowering energy bills, reducing stress, preventing mold and illness, and protecting the planet. From families seeking nurturing environments to developers building sustainable communities, Paul brings science-backed insight, practical strategies, and an unwavering belief that the home is humanity’s most overlooked medicine.

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-kealey-17614529/

Guest Website: https://ekobuilt.com/

Guest Social: 

https://www.instagram.com/ekobuiltpassivehouse/

https://www.facebook.com/EkoBuilt/

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

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

Show Notes:

01:43 - Early Signs Of An Unhealthy Home

12:07 - The Danger Of Building Homes Fast And Cheap

17:49 - How To Build A Cost-Effective Healthy Home

35:02 - Moving From Furnaces To Heat Pumps

41:26 - Preparing Financially To Build A Healthy Home

44:57 - What’s Next For Paul And EkoBuilt

47:39 - Practical Tips And Valuable Advice For Home Building

51:00 - Episode 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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.