Meet the creator: Corinna Belizzi, Care More Be Better

Making the world a better place, one episode at a time

Please join us in welcoming our newest network member, Care More Be Better! Hosted by Corinna Bellizzi, the platform amplifies the voices of environmentalists, activists, scientists, and leading experts who seek to make the world a better place, one day at a time.

Corinna is a natural foods executive who builds regenerative brands. She launched Care More Be Better to amplify the voices of inspired individuals and conscious companies. The show proves to us all that one person with one idea can have a big impact.

She holds a BA with honors from University of California, Santa Cruz, an MBA from Santa Clara University, and a Ph.D. in Sustainability Education at Prescott College.

We caught up with Corinna to talk about Care More Be Better and how social impact relates to democracy.

You built a successful career in business. What made you want to move into podcasting?

I started to feel like I should start a podcast during my MBA coursework, in part because I was an avid consumer of podcasts and had media training. I was also starting to confront issues that I felt were undercovered in the media, namely some of the challenges that we see with the impacts on people of social programs and sustainability issues. 

I also felt we were going to continue to see wealth disparity increase if we didn't address it. I was called to do my part to start a podcast that would educate people about some of those issues and why they should matter to all of us.

You started the show in 2021. How has it evolved since then?

At first, I was inspired by what was happening around George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. I've also led sustainability programs, and have been instrumental in choosing eco-friendly packaging solutions in my professional life – choosing packaging and shipping materials that are post-consumer recycled and recyclable, or that could live a second or third life and be reusable. So the podcast mission became clear. It would serve to invite people to care more about social and environmental issues so we could create a better world together. 

I'm incredibly grateful for my decision to start a podcast. While it has been a lot of work, I have had some of the most inspiring conversations of my life with leaders that I would otherwise never have had the chance to meet. The topic focus and the guests I encounter serve as a guiding light that keeps me inspired to keep going – to invite people to care more so we can create a better world.

How do you think about democracy in the context of your work?

I have friends who work for elected officials, and one of the things they told me long ago, that still carries weight today, is that the decisions politicians make are based on the volume of their constituents’ concerns. Back in the day, it was the thickness of a binder filled with constituent messages. Now, it’s AI scrubbing their emails and cataloging what their constituency thinks about an issue. 

These days I fear that many of the people in office are more focused on what their large donors want than the populace. Understanding that we can change who we vote for, and who we listen to. We can think about who is really working in our community. And if we look at their voting records, we can determine whether the individual we vote for is living the values we expect of them. So with my show, I invite that level of scrutiny to the conversation. 

I’m also saddened by the politicization of certain issues. Take social security and environmental protection. Social security is overwhelmingly popular, and yet, the Republican agenda is focused on dismantling it. Environmental and ecosystem protections have also become politicized, lumped with climate change as polarizing issues. And yet, everyone wants clean air and clean water. Everyone wants beautiful open spaces to enjoy. These issues should not be politicized, and yet they have been. 

I really do hope that we can get back to a more healthy discourse and critical thinking perspective. This is one of the reasons that I'm never afraid to invite somebody in who would sit across the aisle from me. While I sit politically on the left, I don't think any party has it right all the time. There are politicians in almost every corner that have some great ideas that may not necessarily come to the forefront. We need to work to ensure special interests don’t become their only decision drivers - that they listen to their constituents and that our collective priorities are served.

What do you want people to know before they listen to your show?

I want to encourage people to come to my show with a curious, open mind. Exercise your critical thinking. Ask questions. Journal. And if you want to send me your questions, thoughts, or guest suggestions, I’m always here. You can email me at: hello@caremorebebetter.com or reach out on social channels @caremorebebetter. 

And I really think that we need to spend time enjoying our outdoor spaces. Find a favorite meditation spot, and think about how you can be a little happier today than you were yesterday. We need to remain focused on our personal wellness, and that's something I would encourage everybody to do – especially now.

When we enjoy our local environments over time, we will also notice changes. This can help you understand the immediate impacts of ecosystem shifts. I've been in the Northern California region, in Santa Cruz County, since 1997. I've seen how the forests are changing. I'm very concerned about the health of our wildlife and our natural resources – including water. If we can all align behind these issues and make them less politicized, so we can build bridges and march forward in lock-step, that would be a very good thing.

‍