Liberation Project

Join Aalia and environmentalist Jolyon Collier as they discuss the concept of coral protection which has enormous potential for preventing environmental damage. Jolyon highlights the importance of feeling connected to the natural world & oceans and the fact that we can preserve our environment by being mindful of our everyday actions. He had an early awareness that the natural wonders of the world would not be able to withstand the future years of human activity. By putting our best foot forward and taking action steps, he explains, we can generate innovative ideas and put them into real life practice. Some examples of helping to protect the earth include excluding plastics, chemicals, and animal product consumption from our lives as well as donating to organizations and projects directly combating climate change. Jolyon became an expert in the realm of custom craftsmanship, steel fabrication, and welding, working with highly profiled individuals and CEO’s across LA and Malibu. A passion for the ocean led Jolyon to become a videographer in Fiji, connecting to the culture and reef like no other. By connecting art and conservation, Jolyon has created a way to communicate and address the human impact on our oceans and coral reef ecosystems. He developed these intricate art pieces with the help of leading scientists in coral propagation, to ensure they are highly effective and supersede all previous coral practices. 

Join Aalia and Marion Van Horn, Ph.D. as they discuss the concept of neuroplasticity and the impact of our early life experiences on brain development. Marion obtained her Ph.D. in Neurophysiology from McGill University and is currently a postdoc researcher at the Montreal Neurological Institute, where she studies mechanisms underlying developmental neuroplasticity. She studies how external factors, like experiences and environment, can influence how neurons explore and is trying to better understand the nitty gritty signaling pathways underlying how neurons make strong synaptic connections with other neurons to make functional neural circuits in the brain. In addition to her research, Marion is actively involved in science communication and knowledge translation. Marion leans on the research that tells us that early life experiences are important for shaping the brain and uses this as an excuse to slow down and appreciate the time she has with her children. And while parenting is not easy, she reminds us that the books we read our children, the conversations we have and the banana bread we make are all experiences that will help build a better brain in the long run. She is the producer and co-host of the Curious Neuron Podcast, which provides zero-cost, evidence-backed information for parents and caregivers. 

Join Aalia and Dr. Uma Naidoo as they discuss the vital role that food plays on your body. Their conversation highlights the importance of being mindful of the things we put into our bodies and how our decisions can lead to a highly conscious, healthy life. Dr. Naidoo is a Harvard-trained Psychiatrist, Professional Chef and Nutrition Specialist. Her niche work is in nutritional psychiatry and she is regarded both nationally and internationally as a medical pioneer in this more newly recognized field. Featured in the Wall Street Journal, ABC News, Harvard Health Press, Goop, and many other platforms, Dr. Naidoo has a special interest on the impact of food on mood and other mental health conditions. In her role as a Clinical Scientist, Dr. Naidoo founded and directs the first hospital-based clinical service in nutritional psychiatry in the USA. She is the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. In addition to this, Dr. Naidoo is the author of This Is Your Brain On Food, released in 2020. In her book, she shows the cutting-edge science explaining the ways in which food contributes to our mental health and how a sound diet can help treat and prevent a wide range of psychological and cognitive health issues, including but not limited to ADHD, anxiety, depression, and OCD.

Join Aalia and Oak & Acorn Founder and Designer Miko Underwood as they discuss the history of American denim and manufacturing and explore the journey of the first sustainable brand in Harlem, New York. Oak & Acorn ~ Only for the Rebelles includes genderless, luxury denim that pays homage to the untold history of the Indigenous American & the enslaved African’s contributions that have shaped American manufacturing & American denim. Oak & Acorn was one of six brands featured in Nordstrom NYC’s Black Founders x Center Stage Pop-Up and made history in Nordstrom as the first Black Designer Brand on the Designer 4th Floor in their New York City Flagship. Miko was recently listed by RIVET 50 as one of the “Most Influential People” in the global denim industry and her brand has been listed as “Label to Watch” by The Spinoff & Highsnobiety.

Join Aalia and Kiss the Ground Co-Founder Finian Makepeace as they discuss the concept and importance of regenerative agriculture. Finian is the Co-Founder, Policy Director & Lead Educator of Kiss the Ground, a nonprofit that sheds light on regenerative agriculture, a “new, old approach” to farming, that has the potential to balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world. In addition to their media, farmland, and stewardship programs, KTG’s efforts have also resulted in a book and a full length documentary with the tagline “The Solution is Right Under Our Feet.” Finian is a renowned presenter, media creator, and thought leader in the field of regenerative agriculture and soil health. His dedication to KTG’s mission of “awakening people to the possibilities of regeneration” has motivated him to develop training programs, workshops, and talks designed to empower people around the world to become confident advocates for this growing movement. 

Join Aalia and sustainable artist Katrina Rodabaugh as they discuss mending, the use of natural dyes and textiles, and sustainable design. Katrina is an artist and author working to explore environmental and social issues through craft techniques. Currently, she focuses on sustainable fashion through her work with mending, plant dyes, and sustainable design in her ongoing art project, Make Thrift Mend. Katrina is the author of three books: Make Thrift Mend (2021), Mending Matters (2018), and The Paper Playhouse (2015). In addition to writing books, she teaches classes and designs sustainable products for her online shop. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing and her BA in Environmental Studies having spent many years working in nonprofit arts organizations.

Join Aalia and vegan triathlete Jason Fonger as they discuss food systems, education, and conscious decision making regarding the shift away from consuming animal products. In addition to creating social media content, Jason started the Vegan Champion Podcast in 2018 where he interviews industry experts. He helps high school teachers bring plant-based eating to their classrooms and for over 15 years, he’s taught private music lessons and ESL to high school students. He offers virtual events which help high school students understand what plant-based eating is, why it's becoming so popular, and how it might affect the future of food. He is an elite 4x triathlon champion, 13x triathlon age group champion, public speaker, and has been 100% powered by plants since 2009. He believes that the best possible time to answer the question “where do you get your protein?” is when you have just won a race!

Join Aalia and Graham Hill, face of the Carbonauts and TreeHugger, as they discuss carbon emission mitigation and self sufficiency. 20 years in the making, The Carbonauts is the culmination of Graham’s environmental career. One of Fast Co.’s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” Hill is sought after to speak about how we can create a wealthier, greener and happier planet. He has presented at many prestigious conferences including twice on the TED main stage that have reached over 10M viewers. Hill founded one of the earliest Internet consultancies in ‘95, the groundbreaking website TreeHugger.com in ‘04 and LifeEdited, a small living consultancy in ‘10. TreeHugger was the most trafficked green site for years, sold to Discovery Channel and has served billions of pageviews. 

Join Aalia and Lauren Gropper as they discuss the importance of producing and using repurposed and biodegradable materials to improve the planet’s health and longevity. Lauren is the founder and CEO of Repurpose, the leader in plant-based tableware. An eco-entrepreneur and green architecture pioneer, Lauren began her career in sustainable design. Her early success led to a surprising career in Hollywood, working as a consultant to the industry with customers like Discovery Networks. Confronted with the waste generated by craft services, Lauren had an aha moment on-set. She founded Repurpose to extend the disposable lifespan of single use products and reduce waste. Today, Lauren leads Repurpose on its quest to change the world one low-impact cup, plate, and fork at a time.

Join Aalia and environmental writer Emma Loewe as they discuss the importance of wellness & self care and how that relates to being tuned into nature. Having received her BA in Environmental Science & Policy from Duke, Emma Loewe is an editor and author based in New York City. She is the senior sustainability editor at mindbodygreen and the co-author of The Spirit Almanac: A Modern Guide To Ancient Self Care. During her time writing about the environment, she has traveled the world to cover topics such as the water crisis in California, sustainable fish farms in Norway, and the latest innovations from IKEA’s design lab in Sweden. In addition to penning over 1,000 articles on mbg, her work has appeared on Bloomberg News, Marie Claire, Bustle, and Forbes. She is currently writing her second book on the intersection of nature, human health, and climate activism.