Voices of Change

In Episode 16 of Voices of Change, Charles Orgbon III joins us for a grounded and expansive conversation on climate change, youth leadership, corporate sustainability, and writing as a tool for impact.

Charles shares his journey from founding a youth-led nonprofit at just 12 years old to working in corporate sustainability and storytelling. We explore what it means to act before you feel ready, how education and history shape responsibility, and why writing remains one of the most powerful tools in climate advocacy.

This episode dives into:

Youth leadership and starting before you feel qualified

Charles reminds us that climate change is not abstract. It is personal. It influences our communities, our health, and our future. And sometimes, the most powerful act of leadership is simply beginning.

If you care about climate change, youth activism, social justice, sustainability, or writing for change, this conversation is for you.

Guest: Charles Orgbon III

• Malcolm X's journey was one of growth and learning.
• He emphasized the importance of self-determination and pride.
• His advocacy for self-defense was a response to systemic violence.
• Malcolm X's views evolved towards a more inclusive vision of unity.
• He rejected the notion of assimilation into a white-dominated society.
• His teachings on economic empowerment are still relevant today.
• Malcolm X believed in the power of collective action.
• His legacy challenges us to fight for our rights without seeking approval.
• He was a voice for those who couldn't speak for themselves.
• Malcolm X's message continues to inspire movements for justice.

• The Legacy of Malcolm X: A Voice of Change
• Understanding Malcolm X: From Defiance to Unity

• "He was a voice of change."
• "By any means necessary."
• "Liberation is a universal need."
• "Change starts with us."
• "Teamwork makes the dream work."

Bob Marley wasnt just a musician he was a cultural force whose voice carried the weight of a generation. In this episode of Voices of Change, we explore Marleys impact on music, identity, politics, global culture, and how his message still shapes conversations today.

We walk through the different chapters of his journey, from the spiritual roots that shaped his sound to the global rise of reggae and the international reach of his message of unity. One of the defining moments we unpack is the 1978 One Love Peace Concert, where Marley brought political rivals Michael Manley and Edward Seaga onstage and called for peace in a country torn by violence. But his influence stretches far beyond that night.

In this episode, we break down:

This episode is part of our Historical Figures Series, where we explore the leaders, artists, and thinkers whose voices continue to shape the present.

Listen to our podcast: Voices of Change

Marcus Garvey changed the conversation long before social media ever existed. In this episode of Voices of Change, we break down the story of the Black Star Line, the movement that inspired millions, and the moment in history that made 1923 such a turning point.

Garveys vision wasnt just about ships. It was about pride, ownership, unity, and possibility. From Harlem parades to global Pan-African organizing, his impact stretched across continents and across generations. His supporters the Garveyites helped shape a movement that still influences culture, music, and politics today.

In this episode, we look at:

This is part of our Historical Figures Series, where we explore the voices that shaped the world and continue to spark conversation today.

Full video on our podcast: Voices of Change

In this creatively raw episode of Roots of Resilience, hosts Gabe and Tex explore the surprising and often overlooked ways people use imagination, alter egos, and online personas as coping strategies for trauma. Whether it's the curated version of yourself on Instagram, a made-up personality at school, or the quiet fantasy world in your head, these avatars can feel safer than reality. But when does escape turn into a trap?

Through honest conversation and powerful reflections, the hosts peel back the layers of survival-through-identityhow dissociation becomes protection, and how storytelling (even the ones we live in our heads) helps us survive. They ask bold questions: What does your mask say about you? When do you meet your real self underneath?

This episode is a journey through digital identity, psychological safety, and how imagination can either isolate or liberate us.

Dissociation isnt always dramatic sometimes it looks like disappearing into a curated version of yourself.

Creating avatars is often a way to feel control, safety, and freedom.

Fantasy and imagination are powerful survival tools but they must be balanced with self-awareness.

Healing invites you to meet your authentic self without the need for constant performance.

You are allowed to be complex both soft and strong, both fantasy and flesh.

The journey from mask to self is a radical act of healing.

In this deeply personal episode of Roots of Resilience, hosts Gabe and Tex explore the layered complexities of identity, mental health, and what it truly means to show up as your full self. Through candid conversation and lived experience, they unpack the pressures of code-switching, the emotional toll of societal expectations, and the path toward radical self-acceptance.

Together, they challenge the idea that we have to choose between being accepted and being authentic. Instead, they highlight how healing is not a solitary actits a communal one. This episode offers reflection, insight, and encouragement for anyone trying to reclaim their voice and embrace who they arewithout apology.

In this powerful kickoff to the Roots of Resilience series, hosts Tex and Gabe dive deep into the experience of living in survival modea constant state of emotional hyper-awareness shaped by trauma, instability, and societal expectations. Drawing from personal stories, cultural context, and honest reflections, they unpack how survival isnt the same as living. This episode sheds light on the hidden emotional toll many carry and offers space to name it, heal it, and grow from it.

Whether youve lived this experience or know someone who has, this episode is a call to break the silence and begin a new path toward wholeness and self-compassion.

Main Takeaways:

Survival mode becomes a default response to trauma but isnt sustainable long-term.

Many people, especially in marginalized communities, normalize emotional suppression and hyper-vigilance.

Resilience isnt about pushing through pain its about resting, reflecting, and reaching out.

Naming trauma is the first step in reclaiming your story and beginning to heal.

You deserve more than survival you deserve peace, clarity, and joy.

In this powerful episode of Voices of Change, host Tex Wambui sits down with Shreya Chaudhuri, a recent UC Berkeley graduate and founder of Project Planet, to explore how colonialism, environmental justice, and Indigenous knowledge intersect in the tea fields of Assam, India.

Through the lens of her award-winning project Equi-Tea, Shreya discusses the deep-rooted trauma and resilience embedded in Assams tea industryan industry shaped by empire, labor exploitation, and ecological harm. This conversation sheds light on how youth activism, cultural heritage, and decolonial food systems are reshaping the future of environmental justice.

Together, they unpack:

The colonial legacy of global agriculture

The power of archiving Indigenous knowledge

Agroecology vs. industrial farming

The importance of solidarity between oppressed communities

Reimagining environmental education through a decolonial lens

From family legacy to land liberation, this episode is a reminder that healing the earth begins with telling the whole truth about its history.

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