Navigate the Now: Root • Rise • Reflect

Find us at: IG ⁠⁠⁠@navigatethenow⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠, email [email protected]

What does it mean to leave everything behind, not once, but twice? In this episode, we sit down with Nancy Di Bella, a woman whose life has been shaped by resilience, displacement, and the search for stability across continents. Born and raised in Venezuela, Nancy shares what it was like growing up in a country rich in culture but increasingly defined by political turmoil and uncertainty. As conditions worsened, she and her family made the difficult decision to flee their home, joining millions forced to leave in search of safety and opportunity.

But Nancy’s journey didn’t end there. After building a new life in the United States, she faced yet another turning point, one that led her to uproot everything again and start over in the United Kingdom this last year.

In this conversation, Nancy opens up about identity, belonging, and the emotional toll of starting from scratch more than once. We explore the often hidden realities of migration, the grief, the courage, and the quiet strength it takes to rebuild.

Find us at: IG ⁠⁠@navigatethenow⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠, email [email protected]

We sit down with Vicky Forrest, a long time journalist in Ohio as she shares her perspective on local journalism, its current decline, and what that means for our democracy. Vicky also shares her experience as a local reporter for the Springfield News and Sun during the rising local tensions and national scrutiny after Springfield experienced a significant population increase due to an estimated 25% population growth over the past 3-4  years, in part due to the arrival of Haitian immigrants (source, CNN).
Vicky worked in radio news for 15 years covering regional news in Columbus, Dayton and Springfield as a reporter and anchor. She covered the rallies and press conferences of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan and still has her press badge from 1973. She most recently worked as a freelance reporter at the Springfield News and Sun.

Find us at: IG ⁠⁠@navigatethenow⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠, email [email protected]

Longtime journalist Vicky Forrest shares her experience and perspective on local journalism and what the loss of local reporting means for its community. She also shares her experience as a reporter for the Springfield News and Sun during the height of tension and national scrutiny.

Find us at: IG ⁠@navigatethenow⁠, ⁠Linktree⁠, email [email protected]

Welcome back to Season 2! Join us as we sit down with Pranoo Kumar (she/they/we).

Pranoo is a proud immigrant, educator, TEDx speaker, and founder of Rohi’s Readery—a social justice-driven children’s bookstore and learning center located in the Historic Northwest District of West Palm Beach.

With a background in biology, medicine, and education, Pranoo brings over a decade of experience designing inclusive, identity-affirming learning environments across the country. From founding early childhood programs in Harlem and the South Bronx to co-creating Washington State’s first decolonized elementary charter, their work centers on culturally responsive literacy, equity, and healing-informed practice.

Episode Links:

Rohi's Readery- located at 630 7th St, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Rohi's Readery Instagram

Facebook

The Power of Critical Literacy | Pranati Kumar | TEDxLynnUniversity

• IG @navigatethenow, Linktree, email [email protected]

Join us as we sit down with Amal and A to discuss the history and lived realities of occupied Palestine. Amal is an award-winning Palestinian-American illustrator, writer, and activist who grew up in Baltimore, witnessing the parallel struggles of dispossessed communities. She’s the co-host of Unbound: The Arts & Culture of Palestine, a radio program dedicated to uplifting and un-silencing Palestinian voices.

A is one of the founding members of SUNY BDS, a coalition uniting students across all 64 SUNY campuses to push for boycott, divestment, and sanctions. They’re also deeply active in city-based organizing with Queens Shut It Down for Palestine, the Palestinian Youth Movement, and autonomous campaigns such as @stopyourliesnyt and @demilitarizebklynnavyyard.

Episode Links:

• BDS: Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions
• Palestinian Youth Movement

• Unsubscribe from the New York Times
• Demilitarize Brooklyn Navy Yard
• Within Our Lifetime
• Queens Families for Palestine

-Gaza and West Bank Journalists/Independent Journalists:

• Bisan Owda (Emmy Award: IT’S BISAN FROM GAZA AND I’M STILL ALIVE)
• Lama Jamous (child journalist from Gaza forcibly displaced to Egypt)
• Leila Warah
• Nida’ Ibrahim
• Raya Orouq
• FPTV

West Bank activists:

• Alaa Hathleen from Masafer Yatta (film: NO OTHER LAND) 
• The Andrey
• Rehab Nazzal (film VIBRATIONS FROM GAZA)

Radio: Unbound the arts & culture of Palestine 

Genocide for reluctant readers

News sources: 

• The Electronic Intifada
• Mondoweiss

Robyn Moreno is a proud Tejana, storyteller, and spiritual seeker whose work bridges culture, healing, and empowerment. Robyn is an Emmy-nominated TV host, 4-time author,  meditation teacher, and practitioner of Curanderismo.

Through her book Get Rooted, her years leading Latina magazine as Editor-In-Chief and Co-President, she’s uplifted the voices and stories of Latinas and women of color everywhere. She has been invited to the White House, Sundance Film Festival, SXSW Interactive; and has interviewed powerhouse women  such as Rihanna,  Jennifer Lopez ,  Eva Longoria, Hillary Clinton author Isabel Allende, Latina activist Dolores Huerta and more.

Connect with Robyn:

https://www.robynmoreno.com/

IG: @robynnmoreno

Get Rooted with Robyn

Find us at:

• Instagram: ⁠@navigatethenow⁠
• Linktree: ⁠Navigate the Now⁠
• Email: [email protected]

Welcome to episode 3 with Jennifer De Jesus! In this episode we discuss with Jennifer the importance of reproductive health, rights, and justice through her decade of experience in the field. Jennifer has held leadership roles at Planned Parenthood, HealthQ, and is a founding member of Pro-Choice Therapists, a platform connecting mental health professionals with pro-choice values.

Links mentioned:

• Emily's List
• Pro-Choice Therapists

Find Jennifer at:

• @jendejesus90

Find us at:

• Instagram: @navigatethenow
• Linktree: Navigate the Now
• Email: [email protected]

In this episode we sit down with journalist and NYT bestselling author, Beth Macy. In her new title Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America, Beth details her return to her hometown Urbana, Ohio. We discuss Beth's work in exploring and detailing the forces that have eroded the social fabric of America, including the loss of middle class jobs and the corrosive effect of social media.

Beth's memoir couldn't have been more relevant to our mission at Navigate the Now!

Find Beth at:

• Instagram: @bethmacy
• Facebook: Beth Macy, Author
• Substack: Beth Macy
• Website: Intrepid Paper Girl

Find us at:

• Instagram: @NavigatetheNow
• Linktree: Navigate the Now
• Email: [email protected]
• 
  

Season 2! We’re back from our extended summer break and diving right in. From our time at the Bad Bunny Residency in Puerto Rico to recent current events such as ICE raids, political violence and double standards in media, to the recent response to Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl.

This season we’re switching it up with a part 1 and part 2. Expect five new episodes dropping throughout October and November. We’ll be returning in January to with another 5 episodes in part 2.

We’re so excited to be back with incredible guests, honest conversations, and plenty of moments to Root, Rise, and Reflect as we Navigate the Now.

Join us as we discuss current events and recap some of our favorite moments of the season. We'll be back this fall with some exciting guests lined up, root, rise, reflect <3

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Contact: [email protected]

Visit us at: IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@navigatethenow⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠