Searching for Goodness Podcast

Director, muralist and multi-media artist Carly Veronica White joins me for an inspiring conversation on Searching for Goodness. As fellow CalArts alumni, we explore creativity, storytelling, Carly's experiences in India, artificial intelligence, environmental issues and our personal definitions of goodness. We also discuss how art has the power to connect humanity, inspire empathy and create mean...

 NEW EPISODE OF SEARCHING FOR GOODNESS    In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with filmmaker and screenwriter Avishai Weinberger, whom I met through the CineStory Writers Retreat. Although Avishai is based in New York and this was a remote interview, our conversation felt incredibly natural, warm, and engaging.   In just about half an hour, we explored a wide range of topics, including...

Finding the Courage to Represent | Searching for Goodness – Season 3, Episode 12 In this episode of Searching for Goodness, Armin Nasseri interviews Ace Parsi, Director of Coalition Engagement at iCivics and the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia. Their conversation explores the meaning of goodness, Persian identity and stereotypes, the ongoing conflict inv...

🎙 Searching for Goodness – Season 3, Episode 11 In this episode, Bessy Adut speaks with Diane Perlov, Senior Vice President for Special Projects at the California Science Center. Diane shares her fascinating journey as an anthropologist, discusses her experiences in Africa, particularly Kenya, and reflects on a career dedicated to science, education, and exploration. She also talks about her book,...

In this episode of Searching for Goodness, host Bessy Adut speaks with Jane Velez-Mitchell, founder of UnchainedTV and Vegan TV Network. Together they discuss documentaries, AI, compassion, veganism, and how storytelling can help teach kindness and empathy. Jane shares why she believes animals are our friends and should not be considered food, while also exploring how humans, animals, and technolo...

As we close out our Earth Month special, Searching for Goodness brings you a powerful and eye opening conversation with Cameron Harsh, Interim Executive Director of World Animal Protection. Together, we dive into important discussions around animal welfare, from pet stores and plant based lifestyles to the ethics of horse drawn carriages, captive elephants, and dolphins in marine parks. We also ex...

Can one hour really make a difference for our planet?  In this Earth Month special, we explore the answer with the World Wildlife Fund and their Give an Hour for Earth campaign. Featuring an inspiring conversation with Hannah Feltz, Senior Specialist, Brand Engagement & Education, and with special thanks to Maggie D’Amaro for coordinating this episode. Take a moment today to reflect on how you...

Earth Day Special  | TreePeople | Side B This beautiful Earth Day piece continues with a dynamic tour and conversations with members of the TreePeople team: Lina Swislocki – Education and Outdoor Equity Senior Manager Rachel Shea – Education and Outdoor Equity Coordinator HS With special thanks to Cesar Hernandez and the entire TreePeople team for their meaningful work in environmental education a...

Earth Day Special  | TreePeople | Side A   This beautiful Earth Day piece features a thoughtful conversation with Maria Adame, Director of Environmental Education at TreePeople. In this intimate discussion, we explore the organization’s mission, the importance of environmental education, and the role of nature in building stronger, more connected communities.   Hosted and Directed by Bessy Adut  ...

We are honored to feature actress, writer, producer, and director Juliet Landau on Searching for Goodness, Season 3, Episode 4: “Finding Empowerment.”   We are excited Juliet is part of this episode. She’s one of those rare talents who acts, directs, writes, and produces—truly versatile and with so much to offer. She’s also a kind and generous person, supporting several charities, and we deeply ap...

For Black History Month 2026, we're honored to feature actress and humanitarian Chanell Bell on Searching for Goodness.   In this episode we talk about the meaning and impact of Black History Month, Chanell’s acting career and the environmental causes she cares deeply about. Chanell brings both heart and purpose to her work as an artist and as a humanitarian. I hope this conversation inspires you...

In this episode of Searching for Goodness, host Bessy Adut sits down with comedian and content creator Javier Knight for an honest and inspiring conversation about creativity, resilience, and purpose.   Bessy first discovered Javier through a viral Instagram video unpacking Bad Bunny’s lyrics, songs we often dance to without realizing how deeply emotional and bittersweet their messages can be. Tha...

Searching for Goodness – Season 3, Episode 3 Finding Stories Welcome to Searching for Goodness. We’re so glad you’re here. In Finding Stories, Bessy reconnects with her longtime friend Selçuk Ceylan from Turkey, reflecting on their shared journey as young creatives. Bessy and Selçuk co-wrote a feature screenplay inspired by a true story blended with fantasy, titled The Turk. She fondly remembers h...

Season 3, Episode 2 of Searching for Goodness, “Finding Logic,” features an insightful conversation with Kevin Hart, an analytical method development scientist. In this episode, we explore the facts behind artificial intelligence, climate change, global warming and the enduring question of what goodness means today. A reflective and intellectually rich discussion at the intersection of science, mo...

AUDIO PODCASTS (PODBEAN: SPOTIFY / APPLE & MORE) Season 3 of Searching for Goodness begins with Finding Healing In Music, featuring musician Faith Eliza. Recorded as a remote self-tape interview, this episode explores healing from trauma, the love of music, surviving sexual abuse, personal lyrics, shame, nursing and caregiving, classical music roots, and how music can save us. Faith also refle...

Searching for Goodness Season 2 Finale In the final episode of Season 2 of Searching for Goodness, we celebrate global voices from Türkiye who have made their mark on the world stage. This special finale features two standout stand up comedians Sarper Güven and Ahmet Bilge, filmed in West Hollywood before their show at the legendary The Comedy Store. Host Bessy Adut introduces Sarper and Ahmet and...

Check out our 24th episode of season two Finding Simplicity with Turkish actress Sezgi Deniz as she joined us with her bright, bubbly energy and simple, heartfelt answers. We talked goodness, love, Antarctica, the environment, AI, birds, and her fun commercial with Gülse Birsel. So grateful for this talented homeland star. Wishing her many paths back to Hollywood. 

Welcome to another heartfelt episode of Searching for Goodness. In this episode, we sit down with Anna Dravland, the inspiring founder of Spread Goodness Day, a growing movement dedicated to uplifting the world through simple, powerful acts of kindness. Anna shares the story of how Spread Goodness Day was born and how its mission continues to expand each year. She also speaks candidly about her he...

✨ Searching for Goodness | Season 2, Episode 22 — Featuring Animation Director Joel Orloff ✨ In this heartfelt and thought-provoking audio episode, we sit down with acclaimed animation director Joel Orloff for a warm and engaging conversation recorded across Los Angeles and New York. Even over Zoom, the exchange feels intimate, honest, and deeply human. We explore Joel’s creative journey and the...

🎧 Episode: Peaceful Revolution Through Dance – with Fusion Belly Dancer Tracy Rhaj In this inspiring episode, fusion belly dancer Tracy Rhaj joins us to share not only her love for dance, but also her thoughtful reflections on life, peace, and the environment. Together, we explore how dance can become a form of peaceful revolution, especially connecting people across cultures through universal rh...

Episode 20 – Dr. Emily Lindsey: Inside the La Brea Tar Pits What secrets lie beneath Los Angeles? In this fascinating episode, we sit down with Dr. Emily Lindsey, paleoecologist, Assistant Curator, and Excavation Site Director at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. Emily takes us behind the scenes of this world-famous fossil site, sharing how the Tar Pits are not just a museum but a living laboratory...

We’re so honored to welcome Meg LeFauve, the Academy Award–winning writer behind Inside Out, Inside Out 2, and The Good Dinosaur from Disney and Pixar. In this special episode, Meg joins host Bessy Adut for a warm, wise, and deeply philosophical conversation about emotions, goodness, environmental issues, and even the fascinating intelligence of crows. Meg is currently developing a feature screenp...

S2, E18, All You Need Is Love (with Martin Lewis)   In this wide-ranging episode, Bessy and Armin are joined by the polymathic Martin Lewis: producer, humorist, writer, TV/radio host, marketing strategist and acclaimed Beatles scholar. As the co-creator (with Monty Python’s John Cleese) and producer of the “Secret Policeman’s Ball” series of benefit shows, albums and films, his work with Pete Town...

In this thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation, Bessy sits down with acclaimed film and television editor Julie Antepli to explore what it means to live a good life in today's world. Together, they reflect on the meaning of goodness, the importance of kindness to animals, and the personal responsibility we all share in addressing environmental issues. The episode also dives into the complexities...

In this deeply moving episode, we welcome Bessy and Trish from Safe Passage Heals, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping survivors of domestic violence reclaim their lives with dignity and hope. Through open and honest conversation, we explore the power of faith, patience, and resilience in the healing journey. Trish shares the story behind her inspiring book, Mind of Steele, and how writing...