In this moving episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks sits down with Dr. Frank Rogers Jr., professor at Claremont School of Theology and co-founder of the Center for Engaged Compassion, to explore the healing power of radical compassion. Frank defines compassion as being genuinely moved by another’s experience in a way that prompts restorative action—and distinguishes it from empathy, which can become draining “empathic distress” if we stay stuck in the wince. He shares unforgettable stories—especially his grandmother caring for a dying, ostracized man during the AIDS crisis—as an example of what compassion looks like when it’s lived. Frank also reveals his own trauma-to-recovery journey as a sexual abuse survivor, and how learning self-compassion transformed inner chaos, shame, and suicidal impulses into a path of restoration. Together, they discuss the threefold rhythm of compassion—grounding in a sacred source, practicing self-compassion, and extending compassion outward—especially in a polarized world. The conversation closes with practical hope: compassion can be practiced in small moments, and dreams/body signals can guide us toward what the soul is asking to heal.

In this timely episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks speaks with Naomi R. Aguiar, PhD, Research Associate Director at Oregon State University, about how AI is reshaping childhood connection—and possibly love itself. Naomi explains why AI “companions” can feel new and strange, yet also represent a continuum of human imaginary relationships—from kids’ imaginary friends to parasocial bonds with media figures. The key difference, she says, is that AI simulates serve-and-return reciprocity, which can make the relationship feel “real,” even though it’s synthetic. They explore the risks of constant positive reinforcement and “sycophancy,” especially for children who need real-world rupture and repair to learn self-regulation, conflict tolerance, and healthy intimacy. Naomi also warns about engagement-based design (borrowed from social media) being baked into AI companions—creating relationships that may become subtly extractive rather than supportive. The conversation turns practical: why many experts recommend waiting on AI companionship for ages 0–8, keeping conversations open with tweens/teens, and building “AI companionship literacy” at home and in schools. They close on a hopeful note: tech may evolve fast, but human values don’t—kids still need love, safety, creativity, and real human relationships to thrive.

In this episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks sits down with Staci Miller, co-founder of Better Angels, an organization taking a holistic, practical, and deeply human approach to the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles.

Staci shares how she and Adam Miller founded Better Angels after recognizing that while many organizations are doing meaningful work, the systems meant to support unhoused people are often fragmented, outdated, and difficult to navigate. Their work focuses on prevention, direct services, technology, shelter access, affordable housing, and community engagement — all with the goal of helping people before crisis becomes catastrophe.

Together, Cynthia and Staci explore the emotional reality of homelessness, the fear and numbness many Angelenos feel, and the importance of seeing every unhoused neighbor as a human being with a story, a community, and a need for dignity. This conversation is about compassion, systems change, and what can happen when love is paired with real-world problem solving.

What does it actually mean to feel loved? In this episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks speaks with Dr. Harry Reis, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester and coauthor of How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most. Dr. Reis explores why love is not only about romance, but about feeling seen, understood, valued, and known. He explains why happiness is deeply connected to relationships, why loneliness can become dangerous when it turns chronic, and why presenting only the polished version of ourselves may win admiration but block real love. This conversation asks: What happens when we hide the parts of ourselves we most want accepted? Can vulnerability make us more lovable, not less? Why are adolescents among the loneliest people today? And what kind of love actually helps a person feel whole? A conversation on loneliness, vulnerability, emotional intimacy, social connection, and the human need to be seen. Follow our socials: Instagram / / andnowlove.podcast Facebook / / And Now Love Podcast Youtube / / @AndNowLovePodcast TikTok / / and.now.love.podc

Brett Feldman, co-founder of USC Street Medicine, has spent nearly two decades bringing health care directly to people living on the streets. But this conversation is not only about medicine.

It is about the wound beneath homelessness: the feeling of being unwanted, unseen, and pushed from place to place with nowhere for the body—or the soul—to rest.

Brett shares how one man under a bridge changed the direction of his life, why trust is harder than most of us imagine, and why the work begins not with fixing someone, but with approaching them as precious.

This episode explores homelessness, love, spiritual poverty, moral injury, community responsibility, and what it means to deliver care without distance.

A conversation about what happens when medicine becomes a form of tenderness.

What happens when a country is discussed constantly, but rarely understood? Bobak Kalhor brings a filmmaker’s eye, an Iranian-American life story, and a historian’s discipline to a conversation that moves from Iran’s revolutionary past to the unconscious forces shaping humanity’s future. Having left Iran as a child during the revolution, Bobak speaks from both personal memory and years of historical inquiry, including his documentary A Dying King: The Shah of Iran. This conversation does not reduce Iran to headlines, regimes, or slogans. It asks what the West often fails to understand: that Iranians may argue, divide, and oppose one another internally, but that external attacks can quickly transform division into unity. From there, the conversation turns inward. Bobak reflects on Dr. Bernard Bail’s dream work, the mother’s imprint, and the question of who we are before fear, anxiety, trauma, and history imprint themselves on us. He describes the search for the authentic self as difficult work — but the kind of work that opens more doors the deeper it goes. The episode ultimately returns to love: not as sentiment, but as the internal tool humanity has neglected. Technology may advance, wars may grow more sophisticated, and political systems may change, but Bobak argues that what we build inwardly may be the only thing we truly take with us.

Cynthia Marks of the And Now Love Podcast sits down with guests from Compton Junior Equestrians, a Richland Farms youth horse program dedicated to helping children grow through mentorship, education, responsibility, and connection with horses.

Founded by Maisha Akbar, the program gives young people a safe and meaningful place to learn discipline, emotional awareness, confidence, and care. In this episode, the guests share how horses can become powerful non-judgmental companions, helping children and adults calm their minds, process emotions, and reconnect with themselves.

The conversation explores the healing presence of horses, the importance of education, the use of tools like the feelings wheel, and the life-changing impact of mentorship. The guests also discuss the real cost of caring for horses, the need for community support, and how Compton Junior Equestrians continues to create opportunities for young people in Compton and beyond.

This episode highlights a program rooted in love, responsibility, and hope—showing how horses can help young people find purpose, stability, and a stronger sense of self.

Learn more or support the program: comptonjrequestrians.org

Cynthia Marks, host of And Now Love and head of the Holistic Psychoanalysis Foundation, speaks with Brandon Dean Johnson, CEO of Create Now, about the power of art to open doors for underserved youth across Los Angeles. Brandon shares how a love of animation began at age eight, how he pursued graphic design and fine arts at Elizabeth City State University despite early discouragement, and how his path took him from teaching art in Europe to rebuilding after a brief period of homelessness in Los Angeles.

He also reflects on his six years as a volunteer with Create Now before becoming CEO in 2021, and discusses how he continues to develop his own creative projects while leading the organization forward.

In this episode, Brandon explains the origins of Create Now under founder Jill Gurr and its mission since 1996 to provide free arts programming for young people up to age 24 through more than 150 partner schools, shelters, and community agencies across LA County. He also speaks about the realities of nonprofit work, including funding challenges and the impact of crises such as wildfires and ICE raids on the communities they serve.

From tailored classes and cultural field trips to career fairs and partnerships with organizations like Discovery Cube and the LA Clippers, this conversation highlights how Create Now is using creativity not just as expression, but as access, support, and possibility.

In this essential episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks sits down with Patti Giggans, longtime Executive Director of Peace Over Violence, a Los Angeles–based nonprofit founded in 1971 to support survivors through intervention, prevention, education, and advocacy. Patti shares the story behind Denim Day, the longest-running sexual violence prevention education campaign, inspired by a court ruling that treated “tight jeans” as consent—sparking a movement to challenge rape myths and stand with survivors. She explains why one of the most important skills society can learn is simply how to be a support person—to listen without judgment, without rushing, and without trying to “fix” the survivor’s timeline. The conversation highlights POV’s deep, practical work: 24/7 hotlines, counseling, legal services, courtroom accompaniment, and trauma-informed healing modalities that meet people on their worst days. Patti reflects on the ebb and flow of public attention—Me Too moments, headlines, backlash—and how organizations keep going even as prevention programs are often the first to lose funding. We also hear Patti’s personal origin story—how women’s self-defense and martial arts led her into violence prevention work, and why “practice” (not perfection) is the path toward nonviolence. The episode closes with a clear invitation: believe survivors, show up with love, and support the organizations keeping safety and healing alive.

In this powerful episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks speaks with Dr. Niaz Kasravi, a national expert in criminal, racial, and social justice, about the often invisible crisis facing incarcerated women in the United States. Niaz explains that while women make up a smaller portion of the incarcerated population, they are the fastest growing—and the data, funding, and solutions remain largely centered on men. She describes the “trauma-to-prison pipeline,” noting that a staggering majority of incarcerated women have histories of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other adverse childhood experiences—often with PTSD rates higher than returning veterans. The conversation challenges “they made a choice” narratives and reframes incarceration as the criminalization of trauma responses—especially for marginalized communities. They explore how incarceration devastates families: most incarcerated women are mothers and primary caregivers, and removing them creates rippling generational harm. Niaz also highlights systemic inequities like women being jailed pre-trial simply because they can’t afford bail, and the elevated risks of abuse inside facilities. Ultimately, the episode is a call to center women’s lived experience in policy, invest in real rehabilitation, and rebuild systems with dignity, love, and equity at the core.