How We Change the World

In 2017, after spending thirteen years in the finance industry directing billion-dollar portfolios and hedge funds, Vikas Garg pivoted to helping make the world better for everyone.

Using his vast knowledge of data analysis, algorithms, finance, and plant-based nutrition, Vikas developed an app that would create meaningful social change. His goal was to inspire ⁠abillion⁠ or more people to adopt a vegan lifestyle, or to simply lean into eating less meat and choosing foods that are sustainable for the planet.

“We have an opportunity to think about what we put on our plate and how it can create so much impact for so many things. It is connected to everything.” — Vikas Garg

In this episode, we discuss:

• Vikas’s background as a vegetarian Hindu born in India.

• HIs family’s move to New York and their transition to a dairy laden American diet, and the resultant health issues that eventually drove them all to eat a vegan diet.

• Vikas’s decision to leave the financial world after the 2016 US election to create a social media app that had social good as its primary goal.

• The creation of ⁠abillion⁠ company and app, and the myriad ways it helps people, the planet, animals, non-profits, and various aspects of societal health.

• Vikas’s goal to have one billion or more users by 2035.

• The interconnectedness of what we eat and the impact on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)

Find & Follow ⁠abillion⁠:

⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ ⁠| ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Listen & Subscribe to How We Change the World: 

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🌎  Follow How We Change the World on Social Media:

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Find podcast details, contact info, and previous episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠howwechangetheworld.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How We Change the World is a weekly podcast designed to inspire hope, encourage action, and celebrate progress in the realms of climate change, poverty, health, governance, social justice, education, animal welfare, conservation, and other pressing issue areas. Every Wednesday, tune in to hear in-depth conversations with activists, advocates, and other changemakers whose stories of triumph, tragedy, and tenacity will encourage you to explore your own problem-solving potential.

In this special edition of How We Change the World, we invite you to join us on a journey of reflection, inspiration, and action.

Our quest to make the world a better place often begins with a single spark - a moment, an experience, a conviction - that ignites a lifelong flame of dedication and resolve. This week, we turn the spotlight on those transformative beginnings, revisiting conversations with 12 extraordinary individuals whose inspiring actions continue to ripple across the world.

This episode is designed to illuminate the many paths that lead to making a difference. Taking the first step towards positive change can be overwhelming. In revisiting these conversations, I hope to dispel those fears, illustrating that once you find your cause and your purpose, the paths to effect change are as diverse as they are impactful.

In this episode, we:

By sharing these reflections, we hope to inspire you to find your own spark, igniting a flame that can change the world, one action at a time.

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Listen & Subscribe to How We Change the World: 

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ | 🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ | 🎥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠

🌎  Follow How We Change the World on Social Media:

_________________________________

Find podcast details, contact info, and previous episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠howwechangetheworld.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How We Change the World is a weekly podcast designed to inspire hope, encourage action, and celebrate progress in the realms of climate change, poverty, health, governance, social justice, education, animal welfare, conservation, and other pressing issue areas. Every Wednesday, tune in to hear in-depth conversations with activists, advocates, and other change makers whose stories of triumph, tragedy, and tenacity will encourage you to explore your own problem-solving potential.

In today's episode of the podcast, we journey to Belize to explore the holistic and heart-based approach to healing and community with the phenomenal Julz Peña of Julz Holistic Massage Studio.

Julz's journey is nothing short of inspiring. From a childhood marked by poverty and struggle, growing up with a single mom and four siblings, often moving and going hungry, she's risen above these hardships to create a space of healing, positivity, and care for her Belize community.

Julz firmly believes that everyone and everything are interconnected. This philosophy shines through her unique approach to massage, where she intertwines traditional practices with holistic healing. It's a method that doesn't merely cater to the physical, but also the emotional and spiritual well-being of her clients.

In our conversation, Julz highlights the importance of heart-based community, a concept at the core of her practice. She shares her insights into how love can be a powerful force in sustaining and nurturing a community. Her optimistic outlook and belief in positivity as a key to building a happy life resonate throughout our discussion.

In this episode, we delve into:

Whether you're a healer, a lover of holistic practices, or someone seeking inspiration from a powerful personal journey, this episode has something for everyone.

🚜 Find & Follow Julz Holistic Massage Studio

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠  | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠  

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Listen & Subscribe to How We Change the World: 

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | 🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | 🎥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠

🌎  Follow How We Change the World on Social Media:

_________________________________

Find podcast details, contact info, and previous episodes at ⁠⁠⁠howwechangetheworld.co⁠⁠⁠⁠

How We Change the World is a weekly podcast designed to inspire hope, encourage action, and celebrate progress in the realms of climate change, poverty, health, governance, social justice, education, animal welfare, conservation, and other pressing issue areas. Every Wednesday, tune in to hear in-depth conversations with activists, advocates, and other change makers whose stories of triumph, tragedy, and tenacity will encourage you to explore your own problem-solving potential.

In today's episode, we present a real-life adaptation of the proverb, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Amid the 2020 pandemic lockdown, an isolated college student stumbled upon a shocking paradox while watching the news - farmers wasting surplus food, leading to an environmental crisis, while food banks struggled to meet demand. This disturbing dichotomy struck a chord with Aidan Reily, a Brown University junior, and his best friend, James Kanoff, a Stanford junior. Driven to bridge this gap, they rallied their friends, Ben and Will Collier from Connecticut, and successfully marshalled an army of 500 student volunteers. Together, they launched The Farmlink Project.

By June 2023, this student-run non-profit has remarkably shifted 118 million pounds of excess farm produce to needy food banks, simultaneously sparing the environment from over 173,000 tons of carbon emissions. An inspiring testament to how proactive minds can turn adversity into a powerful tool for change.

Joining us for How We Change the World Podcast to represent The Farmlink Project is the dynamic Julia DeSantis. A recent graduate, Julia's academic credentials combined with her fervor for environmental preservation have propelled her to the role of Head of Sustainability and Development. Julia’s eloquence and expertise bring Farmlink's mission and efforts to life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The birth of The Farmlink Project⁠, sparked by the Covid pandemic and the determination of four college students.

• The paradox of food insecurity in the US, set against the backdrop of colossal food waste.

• The disparity in food insecurity across various demographics.

• Farmlink's mission to enable consistent and dignified access to food for all Americans.

• The organization's commitment to the global objective of halving food waste by 2030.

• The intricate interdependence of our food systems and the planet's health.

• The substantial role of food waste reduction in curbing climate change.

• Farmlink's nurturing of future leaders through its network of 600 student volunteers.

• The Farmlink Project's forward plan to instigate systemic change through a nationwide, collaborative hunger-fighting network.

🚜 Find & Follow The Farmlink Project:

⁠Website⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠  |  ⁠⁠Facebook |  Twitter⁠⁠

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Listen & Subscribe to How We Change the World: 

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ | 🎧 ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ | 🎥 ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠

🌎  Follow How We Change the World on Social Media:

_________________________________

Find podcast details, contact info, and previous episodes at ⁠⁠howwechangetheworld.co⁠⁠⁠

How We Change the World is a weekly podcast designed to inspire hope, encourage action, and celebrate progress in the realms of climate change, poverty, health, governance, social justice, education, animal welfare, conservation, and other pressing issue areas. Every Wednesday, tune in to hear in-depth conversations with activists, advocates, and other changemakers whose stories of triumph, tragedy, and tenacity will encourage you to explore your own problem-solving potential.

Today's episode is all about how to save the bees! Did you know bees are responsible for pollinating 80 percent of all flowering plants including most fruits, nuts, and vegetables grown in the United States? Tragically, bees and other pollinators are plummeting in numbers and some species are facing extinction. If bees go extinct, it would likely lead to a major change in ecosystems and a disruption in the food supply. And what about all those beautiful flowers that brighten our world?

Our guest this week, Brad “The Bee Man 🐝” Kuhn, is doing all he can to change the trajectory of that outcome. The founder of Finding Nectar Nursery, Brad is bringing a comprehensive plan to life by providing a pure source of pollinator-friendly flowering plants to the Rocky Mountain Front Range. Beyond that, his main goal is educating the world about the urgency of sustaining bees and other pollinators around the world, and teaching us beautiful, fun ways to do it!

⁠(Full episode show notes & more HERE!)

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

• Brad’s lifelong interest in bees!

• How a pandemic shifted Brad's goals to create a nectar-centric nursery

• The troubling situation of the rapid decline of bees and other critically important pollinators and the causes behind it

• How pollination helps provide our food supply

• Why planting just 3 plants a year can help reverse the loss of bee and other pollinator species

• The point of the “No-Mow-May" trend, and why more people should participate

• Finding Nectar’s efforts to educate youth and adults everywhere to care for pollinators

• Ways to learn more about the ecosystem in your own area.

• The joy of shopping or browsing at Finding Nectar knowing every flower you choose is pollinator friendly and free of systemic pesticide

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🌻 Find & Follow Finding Nectar Nursery:

Website | ⁠Instagram⁠  |  ⁠Facebook⁠

_________________________________

Listen & Subscribe to How We Change the World: 

🎧 ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ | 🎧 ⁠⁠Spotify⁠ | 🎥 ⁠⁠YouTube

🌎  Follow How We Change the World on Social Media:

_________________________________

Find podcast details, contact info, and previous episodes at ⁠howwechangetheworld.co⁠⁠

How We Change the World is a weekly podcast designed to inspire hope, encourage action, and celebrate progress in the realms of climate change, poverty, health, governance, social justice, education, animal welfare, conservation, and other pressing issue areas. Every Wednesday, tune in to hear in-depth conversations with activists, advocates, and other changemakers whose stories of triumph, tragedy, and tenacity will encourage you to explore your own problem-solving potential.

Did you know that the beagle, one of America's most beloved dog breeds, is also one of the most exploited in laboratory testing? Today, we have a guest who has dedicated her life to change this narrative - Shannon Keith, animal rights lawyer & founder of the Beagle Freedom Project.

Shannon Keith is a passionate animal rights lawyer who traded courtroom battles for a different kind of fight - the fight against animal testing. Shannon's journey began with a deep love for animals and a strong sense of justice. These powerful forces propelled her into forming the Beagle Freedom Project, an organization devoted to rescuing animals from laboratory testing and promoting legislative changes to end this cruel practice.

(Full episode show notes & more HERE!)

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

✨ Follow Beagle Freedom Project:

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube

______________________________________________

Listen & Subscribe to How We Change the World: 

🎧 ⁠Apple Podcasts | 🎧 ⁠Spotify | 🎥 ⁠YouTube

🌎  Follow How We Change the World on Social Media:

Find podcast details, contact info, and previous episodes at howwechangetheworld.co⁠

How We Change the World is a weekly podcast designed to inspire hope, encourage action, and celebrate progress in the realms of climate change, poverty, health, governance, social justice, education, animal welfare, conservation, and other pressing issue areas. Every Wednesday, tune in to hear in-depth conversations with activists, advocates, and other changemakers whose stories of triumph, tragedy, and tenacity will encourage you to explore your own problem-solving potential.

This week, I had the privilege to speak with Matt Tullman, an inspiring, mission-based entrepreneur who is leading a revolution in health and nutrition. As CEO & co-founder of the plant-based nutrition company Complement⁠, Matt is on a mission to promote healthy plant-based nutrition, aiming for 30% of the population to be plant-based by 2030.

🎙 In this episode, we discuss:

(full episode show notes & more HERE)

🌱 Complement Website: lovecomplement.com

✨ Follow Compliment:

Instagram: ⁠@complement | TikTok: @lovecomplement | Facebook: Complement

✨ Follow Matt Tullman:

Instagram: @vegan_vc | LinkedIn: Matt Tullman

✨ Follow No Meat Athlete:

Instagram: @nomeatathlete_official | Facebook: No Meat Athlete | Twitter: @nomeatathlete

______________________________________________

Listen & Subscribe to How We Change the World:

🎧 ⁠Apple Podcasts | 🎧 ⁠Spotify | 🎥 ⁠YouTube

🌎 Follow How We Change the World on Social Media:

Find podcast details, contact info, and previous episodes at howwechangetheworld.co⁠

🎥 Watch full episode with captions on ⁠YouTube⁠!

In the heart of Belize, one woman's vision has led to the flourishing of both wildlife and human life. This week, we delve into the story of Jessie Young and her groundbreaking work as President of the Community Baboon Sanctuary.

Jessie Young is the tenacious director of the Community Baboon Sanctuary Women's Conservation Group (CBSWCG). In our conversation, she paints a vivid picture of her lifelong devotion to wildlife, recounting the origins of her love for nature during her early childhood, which blossomed into a resolute commitment to safeguard the biodiversity of the Belizean rainforest.

We explore the phenomenal success story of CBSWCG, a unified force of seven determined female leaders from seven distinct villages. This collaboration has been responsible in for fortifying the sanctuary and preserving the critical Belizean corridor - a lifeline for biodiversity that serves as home to endangered species such as black howler monkeys, tapirs, spider monkeys, jaguars, and the elusive Central American River Turtle.

Despite the numerous challenges the CBSWCG has faced over Jessie's decades of stewardship - including climate change, species extinction threats, devastating hurricanes, and brain drain - Jessie highlights their resilience and unwavering commitment. Their shared purpose of preserving the sanctuary and the surrounding rainforest has been a beacon of hope, guiding their collective action.

Under the banner of the CBSWCG, these women have become more than just protectors of their 20-square-mile sanctuary - they have emerged as global advocates for conservation. The compelling narrative of their journey underscores the transformative power of dedicated individuals banding together to promote environmental sustainability.

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Dr. Deb Sandella is a psychotherapist with nearly 50 years of experience and the founder of the RIM Institute. RIM stands for Regenerating Images in Memory, a technique that Dr. Deb developed to help people access and release emotional pain that's stored in their bodies. Dr. Deb explains how emotions are stored as images in our bodies, and trauma or intense emotions can cause these images to get stuck. RIM uses guided visualization to help individuals access these images and release the associated emotions. By doing so, RIM helps people process and heal from emotional wounds.

Using the RIM technique Dr. Deb has helped thousands of individuals overcome anxiety, depression and other emotional issues in far less time and with greater success than she experienced with clients using traditional talk therapy sessions.

Dr. Sandella is also the author of "Goodbye Hurt & Pain: 7 Simple Steps to Health, Love, and Success," which provides a step-by-step guide to using the RIM technique for personal transformation. She also offers certification training for individuals who want to become RIM facilitators and help others heal.

To learn more, visit:

✨RIM Institute website. https://www.riminstitute.com

Follow Dr. Deb and the RIM Institute on Social Media:

✨ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrDebSandella

✨Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/drdebsandella/

✨ Twitter: https://twitter.com/drdebsandella

Episode #18 features Dr. Brad Harrington, Director of the Boston College Center for Work and Family.

Dr. Harrington conducts research on a variety of topics related to work and family life. His work helps businesses better understand current topics related to employee satisfaction, productivity, and improving employees’ lives such as work-life balance, flexible work arrangements, women’s empowerment, gender and diversity in the workplace, and leadership and career development.

Dr. Harrington and his team collaborate with companies, policymakers, and other organizations to better understand the challenges individuals and families face in balancing work and personal responsibilities. They go further to develop solutions and roadmaps to get them find the best path.

Best of all, their reports and studies can be downloaded free at www.bc/cwf and implemented by managers, business owners, or anyone who needs to better understand the complex issues facing employees and employers in our ever-changing world. 

Follow Dr. Harrington’s work at Boston College Center for Work and Family on Social Media 

✨ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bccwf

✨Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/DrBradH

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PODCAST: HOW WE CHANGE THE WORLD

 Listen & Subscribe to How We Change the World 🎙️:

🎧 Spotify: ⁠https://spoti.fi/3ifDKo2⁠

🎧 Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://apple.co/3VMWh91⁠

Follow How We Change the World 🎙️ on Social Media:

🌎 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/changetheworldpod⁠

🌎 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/changetheworldpod⁠

🌎 Twitter: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/changeworldpod⁠

How We Change the World podcast details, photos, contact info, and previous episodes:

💻 Website: ⁠https://www.howwechangetheworld.co⁠

How We Change the World is a weekly podcast designed to inspire hope, encourage action, and celebrate progress in the realms of climate

👉🏼 Learn more at ⁠https://www.howwechangetheworld.co