Eight Billion

Explore the intersection of fashion, sustainability, activism, and spirituality in this inspiring conversation with visionary artist Runa Ray.

In this extraordinary episode, Liza Florida sits down with internationally renowned fashion environmentalist Runa Ray to explore her journey from an imaginative introverted child in Bangalore to becoming a transformative voice in global environmental and peace activism. Runa shares how fashion can go far beyond aesthetics — becoming a catalyst for sustainability, women’s empowerment, ocean conservation, and nuclear disarmament.

This isn’t just a story about textiles. It’s about curiosity, compassion, and creative courage reshaping our collective future.

• The Seeds of Imagination:
  
  Runa’s early love of books, classic literature, and adventure stories — and how her introverted childhood shaped her creative path.
   
• A Mother’s Influence:
  
  The pivotal role Runa’s mother played in encouraging her to pursue fashion instead of medicine — and how that decision led to awards, honors, and a scholarship to Paris.
   
• Environmental Innovation through Fashion:
  
  How Runa’s research into seaweed-based dyeing techniques and her discovery of invasive algae led to groundbreaking biomaterials that conserve water and protect marine life.
   
• Social Justice for Seaweed Divers:
  
  A sobering look into the lives of indigenous women divers in India, their fight against ocean privatization, and how Runa’s work sheds light on environmental and gender justice.
   
• Textiles and Geopolitics:
  
  Runa explains how the garments we wear — and the water-intensive fashion industry — are deeply tied to global conflict over shared water resources, particularly in nuclear-armed nations.
   
• The Global Peace Flag Project:
  
  A breathtaking initiative turning discarded cotton prototypes into canvases for peace commitments from around the world — exhibited at the United Nations, and soon the Vatican.
   
• Threads of Peace at the White House:
  
  An invitation to engage Runa’s event that took place on May 24 in Washington, D.C., featuring fashion for peace, global speakers, and her activism in action.

“It always starts with curiosity and ends with compassion.”

“Why do we need to kill people to find peace? That makes no sense.”

“The very shirt you’re wearing could spark a war — if you understand how much water and shared resources are behind it.”

“As women, our strength lies in weaving love and intention into everything we create.”

Peace Flag Exhibits:

• United Nations (General Assembly – Fall 2025)
• The Vatican (Tentative – July 2025, for the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday)
• D.C. Ellipse Grounds – May 24, 2025

Materials Innovation:

• Seaweed and invasive algae turned into leather, paper, and biodegradable plastics
  
   
• Solutions bridging Indigenous knowledge and environmental justice
   

📍 The Ellipse, Washington D.C.

⏰ 1:00 PM

🎤 Peace speakers, fashion show, and Runa’s activism in full display

🕊️ Global Peace Flag Exhibition – Sept 2025

📍 United Nations Visitors Center, NYC

👣 Walk-in access to witness the flags and read real people’s commitments to peace

🌐 Website: www.runaray.com

📧 Email: [email protected]

📷 Instagram: @runarayofficial

To Runa Ray for her unwavering heart and bold vision.

To the global communities and women who continue to weave peace through art, voice, and creative resistance.

To our listeners — may your curiosity lead to compassion, and your voice add to the chorus for global change.

Women as Agents of Change is a special podcast series hosted by Liza Florida, presented in collaboration with the International Peace Bureau and 8 Billion Project. Each episode celebrates the wisdom, vision, and courage of women working to build a more peaceful and just world.

Join Director Christine Ramos and Executive Producer Rhadem Musawah for a special Thanksgiving episode of Eight Billion Podcast in "The Making of Sama Dilaut." Dive into the untold stories behind the documentary—from concept to filming in a conflict area. Hear our personal journeys, the challenges faced, and the collective effort that brought this film to life. This exclusive episode is a deep dive into the heart of the Sama Dilaut indigenous community in the Southern Island of the Philippines, offering insights not shared on our touring schedule. Don't miss this intimate chat as we express gratitude for the incredible journey of creating Sama Dilaut Film

Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eightbillionproject

Delve into the remarkable life of Ben Yeh, a seasoned business and transformation coach whose journey is nothing short of awe-inspiring. With a wealth of experience as an investment officer, combined with his unwavering commitment to family life, Ben brings a unique perspective and profound depth of knowledge to his coaching role. Join us as we uncover the key milestones that shaped Ben's life, both professionally and personally, and explore the wisdom he imparts through his diverse life stages.

In this episode, we are joined by the remarkable Kristina Mand-Lakhiani, a renowned teacher, speaker, entrepreneur, artist, philanthropist, and mother of two. With over 17 years of experience in the personal transformation industry, Kristina has had an extraordinary impact on countless lives around the world. Her new book, "Becoming Flawesome," takes us on a profound journey through her own life, from the pinnacle of a personal growth empire to finding her true path by embracing honesty and authenticity.

Tatiana Villarea, a talented hypnotherapist, claircognizant, and coach, discovered her soul's purpose following a life-threatening diagnosis at 21 and a subsequent near-death experience. With a mission to help other purpose-driven women overcome trauma and emotional wounds, she's developed a highly effective modality combining energy work, subconscious exploration, and body memory release.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Uncover the secrets of Tatiana Villarea's distinct trauma-focused hypnotherapy techniques
• Experience emotional release by understanding the significance of body memory
• Identify limitations within conventional therapy methods and energy work
• Delve into the powerful world of quantum hypnosis therapy for trauma healing
• Enhance your personal development through nervous system regulation techniques

The future is here, we have a arrived at a pivotal time in human history where the decisions we make determine how our world and society will look. The four pillars Government, Business, Education and Religion are an eco-system that work in harmony to create the New Earth and the brilliant minds and hearts of today will determine that.

However, the one thing that hinges on all of that is Mother Earth.

Can we come together as unified human race to create the changes necessary to save her?

Join me in one of my favorite episodes of Season 5D with Mina Raver, an activist and futurist. As the founder of the National Innovative Business Leaders Society (formerly the 2K Days Project), Mina helps visionary business leaders develop the technological, social, and creative innovations that will shape the future. After surviving childhood homelessness, dropping out of high school, and raising her four younger siblings alone as a teenager, Mina went on to graduate from a Big Ten University, become a sought-after speaker and innovation consultant, and even ran for Congress in 2020. It is this history of perseverance that informs her work with underrepresented fellow visionaries today, as she gathers the best and brightest to challenge the status quo and build a future where there is equitable belonging for everyone.

Join us on Episode 84 of Eight Billion podcast with Shari Reinhart ghostwriter, nonfiction developmental editor and podcast host of The Metamorphosis Monologues

If you’re on a personal transformation journey and you want to write about it, this is Shari's gift to the world. Through the power of writing, storytelling and self-healing she is here to articulate the beautiful journey of your transformation.

It was through her own personal journey of answering what resonated deeply within her heart and soul, where she found the greatest work and contribution to others.

Here to share her own heart warming story of all the experiences and lessons that have gotten her to place of great peace and joy, she now has ignited a passion for helping others share theirs.

This is a must listen as her true message to all eight billion souls on this planet....it ALWAYS has been and ALWAYS will be about LOVE!

It can take many years of ignoring your inner guidance and intuition, but when a series of events happen to bring you to an understanding that the greatest place of where all answers come from is your heart, it is an undeniable truth that changes the path of your journey. What would it look like to use love as the core principle of your business? Join us with brand and business architect, Deborah O'Grady as she shares her incredible story of having her spiritual awakening with her whole family and how they transformed their entire lives. Deborah also shares how she helps design businesses from its true identity and gain the clarity to scale from the soul to divine love.

If we really think about it, all of us are striving towards the same thing: to be happy. But this concept of happiness can be so elusive that achieving it can often feel difficult. This episode’s guest believes the journey doesn’t have to be. In fact, we can create lasting happiness by transcending even the simple and small moments. Julie Leonard, Certified Life Coach and Happiness Evangelist, joins Liza Florida to show how we can take control of our happiness and become our best self. She discusses intergenerational patterns and mental and emotional health in this time of great creativity where people are looking for connection. Tune in to this conversation and find out how Julie coaches people on creating happiness.

We are much more connected to nature than we’re conscious of. For many women specifically, our menstrual cycles are being affected by the moon cycles. And that is just one aspect that our guest in this episode sheds some interesting light on today. In this conversation, Liza Florida welcomes Tere Marie Martini, a Holistic Reproductive Health Coach and Spiritual Intuitive, who leads us in alchemizing through the moon cycles. Tere shares her insights on how we can lean into these biological callings and appreciate how we are a part of the divinity and perfection that exist in nature. What is more, Tere talks about the feminine and the masculine and why we should balance both of those energies in our lives. This conversation contains plenty of wisdom about our bodies and its connection with nature. So tune in to not miss out!