Navigating with Anita Casalina

Former fire captain, paramedic, and longtime public information officer Erik Scott joins Navigating to share the untold stories from the front lines of the Palisades Fire. After spending 28 straight days responding to the disaster, Erik witnessed unimaginable destruction—but also extraordinary courage, resilience, and humanity. In this conversation, Erik explains why the fire became nearly impossi...

What happens when grief doesn’t just break your heart — but brings old wounds back to the surface? In this deeply moving episode of Navigating, Anita interviews Ruthie Chamichian Smith, a certified grief educator and author, about grief, survival, caregiving, childhood conditioning, trauma, writing, rest, and becoming someone new after loss. Ruthie shares how the disappearance and death of her bes...

Jackie Elward immigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo without speaking English. Today, she’s a former mayor, community leader, and candidate for California State Assembly - and her story is unlike anything you’ve heard. In this Navigating Season 2 debut episode, Jackie shares what it’s really like to come to America as an immigrant, the moment her son changed her life forever, why she bel...

What if your soul has been recording every lifetime — and you can access it? In this episode of Navigating, host Anita Casalina sits down with internationally recognized author and spiritual healer Lisa Barnett to break down the Akashic Records in a grounded, practical way: what they are, who the Akashic “Masters” are, and how anyone can learn to access their own records. Lisa shares her personal...

In this episode of Navigating, host Anita Casalina speaks with Sarah Cadorette, a coordinator at SF Bay Area Mutual Aid, about the powerful grassroots system quietly helping people survive rising rent, medical debt, job loss, and housing instability. As government programs shrink and economic pressure grows, mutual aid networks are stepping in — offering direct cash assistance, rent support, medic...

In this long-form conversation, political scientist and analyst Kristoffer Ealy breaks down why the Democratic Party keeps losing ground — and why MAGA continues to gain power even when it appears chaotic or self-destructive. From Kamala Harris’s shortened 2024 runway, Democratic panic after the debate, and the failure of elite messaging, to the psychology of grievance politics, relative deprivati...

In this powerful episode of Navigating, host Anita Casalina talks with actress and activist Emily Baden about the constant barrage of misinformation, the personal and societal consequences of political silence, the importance of taking action to protect democracy, and a crazy experience with a United States Supreme Court Justice! Anita and Emily discuss the emotional toll of activism, strategies f...

In this episode of Navigating Podcast, Anita Casalina sits down with Ellie Mariyo to discuss social media resilience, body image, plus size fashion, diet culture, and celebrity influence. Whether you’re navigating trolls online, seeking fashion resources, or learning to accept your body, this conversation is packed with practical insights and empowering advice. 💡 What you’ll learn in this episode...

Royce McLemore and Damian Morgan are both social activists and lifelong residents of Golden Gate Village, an historical public housing complex in Marin City, California. Golden Gate Village was originally built in 1961 to house Black American shipbuilders who came to the area during World War II, because after the war, Black people found themselves redlined and unable to purchase property anywhere...

Ann Lai's childhood in Taiwan and Ohio put her on the path to Harvard science labs and now venture capital. Her unbelievable journey is one of resilience, curiosity, and breaking barriers. . 🌎💡 If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate massive life transitions, thrive in STEM, or build the next billion-dollar startup, this episode is packed with stories and insights you won’t hear anywhere el...

Maggie Reed, known as “Mermaid Maggie” is a gifted writer, comedian, and character actor, whose political skits shine a hilarious light on some of the darkest political developments. She's becoming more popular by the day, with hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, TikTok, and several other social media platforms. From Trump Coin corruption and crypto scandals to the dumbing down o...

🎙️ Chuy Gomez: The Voice of the Bay on Shutting Down the Bay Bridge, Wild Stunts, and the Power of CMC If you grew up in the Bay, Chuy Gomez wasn’t just on the radio — he was part of your life. In this deep, no-holds-barred conversation, the legendary KMEL DJ opens up like never before. We cover it all: 🚧 The time he shut down the Bay Bridge... because of President Bill Clinton 🎬 Wild on-air stu...

Liza Leeds has produced commercials for ad agencies, created beautiful lines of jewelry, and now works one on one helping people see the best in themselves. She’s an inspiring example of how each of us can pivot gracefully in our lives as we continue to build our personal skills.  Navigating Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-with-anita-casalina/id179173629...

Media mogul and entrepreneur Larry Namer has gracefully evolved with the entertainment industry over many decades without missing a beat. In fact, he has led the way many times. After co-founding E! Entertainment, he went on to develop programming in Russia and China. He’s always ahead of the curve and continues producing new media specifically to help sectors like women and veterans.  Chapters: 0...

As the world continues to move forward from the global pandemic, Dr. Jacob Glanville discusses what will be necessary to prevent additional widespread diseases. Dr. Glanville has devoted his professional career to creating a broad spectrum vaccine that will immunize against many illnesses. Subscribe to the Navigating Podcast channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingPodcastChannel/featured?sub_c...

Reverend Dr. Robert J. Thomas has truly lived a life of service. First in the Peace Corps, then as a Minister in the prison system and a Chaplain in the US Navy. In every situation, he has always looked for what people really need and how to help them. Enjoy this episode as we talk in-depth with Reverend Thomas about his ministry and experiences in life. Let us know what you think in the comments...

Comedian Kristina Wong shows us that activism can be fun and funny! In this episode, she describes her incredible history of on-stage storytelling that helped audiences think and feel about all social justice issues. One of her greatest achievements was creating a sewing circle and fabricating 350,000 face masks during the pandemic that were used worldwide.  Subscribe to the Navigating Podcast cha...

In this episode, Anita has an in-depth conversation about art and politics with San Francisco. artist Debra Walker. Because of her many years of involvement with both local and national politics, Debra has a unique perspective on our changing political landscape and what it will take for more people to feel heard and represented. A lively and informative discussion! Navigating Podcast on Apple Pod...

Intimate and in-depth conversations with Bay Area native, social activist, author, filmmaker, and television studio owner Anita Casalina, speaking with a wide range of guests about their personal journeys in today’s world. They have faced hardships, solved problems, invented new ways, listened to their inner wisdom, and are role models for growth and personal evolution. From technology wizards to...