Braver New Worlds

What if the goal of a story wasn't to convince someone, but to hand them their own voice back?  Philippe Lazaro has spent nearly two decades helping international nonprofits and climate organizations tell stories from the Congo Basin to Bangladesh — and along the way, he's developed a clear-eyed philosophy about what ethical storytelling actually requires.  In this conversation, Philippe and Natha...

In this episode, Nathan sits down with AI researcher and economist Dr. Karen Boyd for a conversation that explore the AI related questions many of us are wrestling with. How is AI reshaping work, creativity, trust, and human connection? And why navigating these questions requires more nuance than either the enthusiasts or the skeptics often provide. Karen explains why many of the biggest concerns...

What does it really mean to become a man in a world that offers plenty of expectations but a lot of contradictory direction. In this episode, Nathan sits down with men's relationship coach Dave Lishansky for a wide-ranging conversation about masculinity, relationships, emotional growth, and the work of becoming more fully human. Together they explore why so many men are taught grit, responsibility...

In this episode of Braver New Worlds , Nathan sits down with Lola Akapo , founder of Benchtop to Boardroom , a biotech communications consultancy specializing in mRNA therapeutics and biologics. Drawing on nearly a decade of vaccine and drug development work, Lola argues that the biotech companies shaping the future of medicine can’t simply rely on building breakthrough technologies. They also nee...

What happens when the worldview that shaped your identity, relationships, and understanding of reality no longer makes sense? In this episode of Brave New Worlds, Nathan sits down with Kaia Badger—former ministry leader, biblical studies scholar, and content creator under the handle of Reconstructing Kaia—for a conversation about faith, doubt, identity, power, and the challenge of rebuilding a mea...

EPISODE SUMMARY What if universities weren't just places where knowledge is created, but places where knowledge is actively put to work in service of local communities? In this episode of Brave New Worlds , we sit down with Professor Jessica Barlow , Professor of Sustainability at San Diego State University and Executive Director of the Center for Regional Sustainability. Together, they explore ho...

In this episode, Nathan sits down with Alexandra Peek, a former climate tech professional turned community-based healer, to explore what it means to truly create change.  After years working in law, sustainability, and environmental advocacy, Alexandra found herself questioning the impact of her work despite outward success. That realization sparked a personal transformation that shifted her focus...

EPISODE SUMMARY In this solo episode of Braver New Worlds , we explore how leaders can define and tell their personal story in a way that builds trust, clarity, and momentum.  Building on previous episodes about the importance of storytelling and persuasion, I share how  storytelling is a core leadership skill because it helps others understand your motivations, your vision, and the change you’re...

EPISODE SUMMARY In this solo episode of Braver New Worlds , Nathan Young explores the connection between storytelling, persuasion, and leadership — and why the future may depend on thoughtful people learning how to communicate their ideas more effectively. Drawing from themes of psychology, rhetoric, and social change, Nathan breaks down Aristotle’s rhetorical framework of persuasion (“ethos, path...

📝 EPISODE SUMMARY This week we’re doing a solo episode of Braver New Worlds , where I share some of the foundational aspects of my work with leaders and communicators.  I argue that while animals rely on instinct to survive, humans rely on stories. These stories shape how we understand reality, define identity, and determine how we behave within our communities. Basically, storytelling isn’t just...

In this episode, Nathan sits down with Dr. Alex Vazquez , historian and media scholar, to explore how television has shaped—and often distorted—the way Latino identity is understood in the United States. Drawing from her doctoral research, Dr. Vazquez breaks down the evolution of Latino representation on TV, from early shows like Chico and the Man to more modern series like George Lopez and Ugly B...

EPISODE SUMMARY What does it actually mean to start a religion—and why would someone do it in the modern world? In this episode we sit down with Colin Campbell, founder of Aretéanism, a nontheistic religion designed to build stronger individuals and communities from the ground up. Colin shares his journey from being a deeply committed Mormon missionary to leaving the church, navigating identity lo...

What if psychedelics weren’t fringe, controversial, or countercultural, but simply another tool your doctor could prescribe? That is the mission of this week’s guest, Dr . Lynn Marie Morski, MD, JD , President of the Psychedelic Medicine Association.  We talk about the the evolving world of psychedelic medicine, and what it will take to bring it into mainstream healthcare system. Dr. Morski unpack...

What if the real problem in fundraising isn’t a lack of money, but how we think about it? In this conversation, we sit down with Shantel Suárez Ávila, founder of Más Allá, a nonprofit fundraising consultancy; to explore a deeper, more human approach to fundraising, rooted in community, trust, and systemic change.  Together, they unpack the philosophy behind community-centric fundraising and the te...

What if the environment isn’t just one issue among many, but the foundation that everything else depends on? For this episode we sit down with Anne Middleton, Associate Director at WILDCOAST, to explore the deeper reality of conservation, restoration ecology, and the systems shaping our relationship with the natural world.  Anne shares why environmental work is often misunderstood as a “luxury iss...

What does it really take to sustain the people who are trying to do good and enact justice in the world? In this episode, we speak with Loretta Turner , Founder and Organizational Wellbeing Strategist at Do Good Leadership Collective . Loretta’s work focuses on helping “the helpers”—leaders who are deeply committed to social impact but often operate within systems that normalize burnout, self-sacr...

📄 Episode Description: This week we’re joined by sociologist, sex and intimacy expert, and TEDx speaker Dr. Jenn Gunsaullus for a conversation that starts with sex and goes straight into the heart of self-worth, storytelling, and how to build a life and business that honors your wise and vulnerable self. We talk about the evolution of her work from sexual health to emotional intimacy, what it mea...

What would it mean to heal the soul of a nation ? In this episode, we sit down with facilitator, author, and purpose expert Brandon Peele to explore a bold experiment in civic imagination: a National Pilgrimage across the United States culminating in a Mother’s Constitutional Convention .  Brandon describes the inspiration behind a cross-country pilgrimage visiting historic sites connected to Amer...

In this episode of Braver New Worlds , we sit down with Dr. Arezou Ghane, to explore what it means to stay human in an increasingly artificial world. Arezou shares her vision for a more intentional, relational, and value-aligned future — one rooted in connection, civility, tenderness, and generativity. Together, we unpack the tension between personal well-being and professional necessity, especial...

In this episode, we sit down with attorney, advocate, and entrepreneur, Sam Mazzeo for a wide-ranging conversation about privilege, power, and the systems we’re living in.  Sam reflects on his own evolution from law school and “hunt for money and power” conditioning to a more values-driven approach to business, politics, and community leadership. He shares how shame, growth, and unlearning shaped...

In this episode we’re talking about something most of us need more of yet don’t know how to ask for: safe, platonic touch. My guest is Michelle Renee , a human connection coach, certified cuddle therapist, and co-owner and Director of Training at Cuddlist.com . She helps individuals reconnect with their bodies and rewire the stories they’ve been told about intimacy, touch, and self-worth. This con...

🎧 Episode Summary In our inaugural episode, we sit down with Sara Schairer , compassion educator, speaker, and founder of the nonprofit Compassion It .  We explore what compassion really means, how to practice it in everyday life, and what it takes to bring compassion into workplaces, systems, and even our political conversations. Sara shares how her own personal crisis led her to launch a global...

Our introductory episode.