Food not only connects us, it also plays a pivotal role in some of humanity’s greatest challenges: from climate change and biodiversity loss, to health and healing, to social justice and inclusion.
In The Food Principle, we explore this idea together with our viewers, transporting them into adventures side-by side visionaries fighting at the front lines of conservation & community. Our expert guides in this quest range from indigenous farmers to world-renowned chefs, from coastal fishermen to crop scientists, from food waste entrepreneurs to social impact restaurateurs, and many more.
The global backdrop for this vivid gustatory expedition is equally wide-ranging: from tropical rainforests to urban jungles, seed labs to secret gardens, and from lofty mountains to the high seas. Throughout, we hope to inspire wonder, empathy and action, and to learn how each of us can make a difference, whether at home in our communities or halfway around the world. Together, let’s plant a better planet!
The Food Principle Season 1 airs on PBS stations and streams for free on PBS online as well as on PBS Food’s YouTube Channel. Production for Season 2 begins in May 2024.
In this award-winning national TV series Modern Pioneering, chef, best-selling author and outdoor expert Georgia Pellegrini teaches what she calls ‘manual literacy.’ In each cinematic episode, Georgia highlights unique people who are artisans and craftsmen, preserving the traditions of their cultures. In an age of the information highway, social networks, entertainment junkies, and the blurry line between reality and virtual reality—all sedentary pastimes—Georgia teaches useful ways for people to access what is real and lasting and tangible, to access the DIY values and can-do, improvisational spirit of our grandparents’ generation, to extinguish the manic flicker of the computer screen and learn how to use our hands again.
Modern Pioneering won “Best New Series” at the 12th Annual Taste Awards. Nominated alongside other high profile contenders from HBO, Netflix and other cable and network television, we are honored that the work of our small crew is recognized and thank all of the artisans and small businesses for allowing us to tell their stories.
With its cinematic production value, Modern Pioneering was among the highest voted shows when American Public Television offered it to stations across the country. It continues to have impressive numbers, with U.S. Coverage of 94% reaching 45 states, 172 markets, 16,244 telecasts to-date. It’s market reach is 100% of Top 25 Markets, and 96% of Top 26-50 Markets. In addition to being available on public television stations nationwide, it is also on Create TV, and streaming online on PBS Passport. It is also distributed in select international markets.
Here’s a special deal for anyone who would like another season of Modern Pioneering by this producer: Make a tax-deductible donation of $500 or more, and we will send you a password to watch Episode 7. Enjoy, and thank you!
“This is so big, and it doesn’t have a name,” said a student to me back in 2013 when we were editing our film Celling Your Soul explains No App For Life founder Joni Siani. Siani found that when she was trying to explain the harmful elements of our new digital world, she would get caught up in the either good or bad elements of technology. “We have to make a distinction between the utilitarian uses of technology as a tool of mass communication, and the way we use these tools to develop relationships and how we process the values and norms of a society.”
With the support of Filmmakers Collaborative, Celling Your Soul, went on to win more than 20 film awards. The cautionary tale of the first digitally socialized generation and their courage to speak out to say “something just didn’t feel right,” was the power of Celling Your Soul.
When the truth is known it can no longer be ignored, just denied.
We now have a young population more anxious, stressed, depressed – and, ironically, the most digitally connected generation are now the loneliest.
The stories and awareness of our mission now continues with our No App For Life Podcast. As big tech continues to squash and hide the damaging and harmful elements social media poses as a part of life, The No App For Life Podcast offers a powerful voice for those who want to feel a little less alone, learn the shocking activities that are a part of a teens experience, and how to address the mental health issues that have been connected to digital socialization.
In our series – The Harms – you’ll hear from parents who bravely share their stories of how they lost a child to some “silly” online challenge, anonymous apps that exacerbate bullying behavior, deadly drugs that are sold online, even advertised by drug dealers without any accountability.
You’ll also hear from teens and college age students who had no idea that their online behavior was linked to their struggles with depression and anxiety. We’ll also bring you conversations with the leading authorities on digital use and the human experience.
You can support our efforts with your donation. You can also sponsor a production! If you have a like-minded organization that meets the mission of the podcast, contact me directly if you’d like to be a guest!
Learn more at: NoAppForLife.Com
Contact: NoAppForLife@gmail.com
Listen on Apple – Spotify – Audio Boom: https://audioboom.com/channels/5032239
We are all getting swept up in a tidal wave of change called ‘progress.’ But somewhere among all this upgrading, updating, and modernizing, it might be a good idea to take a deep breath and check in on what is being lost.
Life is moving forward so fast, both technologically and culturally. How do we stay attached to the roots that made us? That’s what Reconnecting Roots is all about— taking a moment to reflect on the heritage that is still all around us, and using it to spark conversation across generations.
We are committed to sharing the stories that can illuminate the past and guide us forward.
Reconnecting Roots is a half-hour docu-series about American history and progress. We liken it to a Ken Burns meets Bill Nye the Science Guy take on history, but Reconnecting Roots has a flavor all its own. In each episode, we explore history, culture, and music; and encourage the viewer to ask questions and strive to learn more.
My name is Nicole Amelio-Casper and I am a veteran’s spouse. I am a documentary filmmaker and freelance producer for ABC News National.
I spent over 2 decades traveling with my family in the military. There were many years of good times. There was so much excitement moving from state to state and meeting new friends. Each community had its own tight knit military community. We even lived in Europe for almost 3 years which was such an adventure. We flew on military planes to different countries and sometimes we were the only family on the plane! The pilot would take my kids to cockpit – it was a C17 and if you know anything about military planes, they are mammoth. So We made a lot good memories. But then there were the deployments…
I am NOW a veteran spouse, – I was one of the many military spouses on the other side of the pond supporting my close girlfriends, my husband’s colleagues and friends and my husband as they endured deployments.
When they returned home with wounds, some were seen, some were unseen. Some came home with wounds so deep, they withdrew from others, and lost their a sense of normalcy.
These are the men and women with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Currently, medical professionals give antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, and even Botox to alleviate PTSD symptoms. However, sometimes masking the symptoms with medication doesn’t attack the issue(s) head on. And as many can attest, Veterans of the Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam wars and are scarred with wounds that are hard to cope with and sometimes they fester inside; but once they do surface, many veterans conceal the symptoms as they reintegrate with their families, and in their communities, and in the workplace. I know this to be true because of my conversations with those in the film and with many conversations with my close friends and military family.
THE VA generally does offer trauma focused psychotherapies such as Prolonged Exposure therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and others. The VA has incredible resources and the therapies. However, they may not be effective for everyone.
This really hit home when one of my best friends in North Carolina who was in the Army for 24 years revealed to me she had PTSD. She told me her story – every single detail-from the moment of when the trauma occurred overseas, to what she copes with every day. She also stopped taking medication because there were negative side effects. My heart just went out to her and I wanted to help her and others like her in that very moment.
Wen we moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, from Fort Bragg, North Carolina I felt more than compelled to film a documentary that would explore different therapies to heal veterans and others with PTSD. I started connecting with non-profits in the Kansas City area that offered complementary therapies for veterans. When I shared my vision with the directors, they were on board right away to be part of this project.
After months of planning, my Journey began filming “The Journey Back to Normal – A Look at Complementary Therapies to Combat PTSD.” This film sheds light on truly effective complementary therapies in which veterans are immersed, to combat the adverse effects of PTSD. The film documents how these therapies can aid in the healing process in a holistic way AND it shows how these community heroes step in and step up to help our warriors in their hour of need. It’s important to mention some VA facilities do offer complimentary therapy programs – but there is NOT enough funding.
Testimonies shared in the film are focused more on present positive experiences rather than their past trauma. It is truly a hope-filled film and it really shows how men and women exiting the military can have a second LIFE – service members have such a strong sense of identity through the military and it IS literally what defines them. When they exit the military, they not only have some issues, but some have an identity crisis as well. These therapies can really give them a 2nd life in more ways than one!
There is some reality woven into the film-the statistics I include in the film are a bit shocking, but I wanted to make sure the audience realizes the critical nature of this issue.
Our ultimate goal AND mission IS to create awareness about true healing through this film –
I filmed on location at 4 non- profit organizations founded by veterans and families who were connected in some way to the military and the veteran community.
The non-profit organizations are located in the Fort Leavenworth area and in Dallastown, Pennsylvania. These outstanding non-profits are Camp Valor Outdoors, Horses and Heroes, Warriors Best Friend, and Equiteam Support Services. They provide outdoor recreation therapy, Eagala equine-assisted psychotherapy, canine therapy, and one other therapy I won’t reveal. It is surprising to me and it may be for you too. Please contact them for more information on how to be part of their amazing programs! www.campvaloroutdoors.org, www.horsesandheroes.org, www.warriorsbestfriend.org, and www.equiteam.org.
“The Journey Back to Normal – A Look at Complementary Therapies to Combat PTSD” documents how these therapies can aid in the healing process in a holistic way and it shows how these community heroes step in and step up to help our warriors in their hour of need. Testimonies that are shared by veterans are positive and do not focus so much on their PTSD and their trauma, but rather veterans speak on the effectiveness of these complementary therapies.
Many ask me why I wanted to film this documentary. My answer is this: 20 veterans a day. That is 20 veterans who commit suicide every day as well as active duty military. Over 6000 veterans committed suicide in 2018.
I had friends who were married to soldiers with PTSD after coming home from war and I had close girl friends with PTSD who also served overseas. Their lives were broken. Some marriages ended and some lives ended because of PTSD.
Our goal is to educate and enlighten the public and to save lives in our military and veteran communities and beyond!
Website: https://www.thejourneybacktonormal.com
Bina McLoughlin
“She was a queen by name and nature.”
“She was one hell of a woman.”
The Queen of the Connemara is the narrative account of one woman’s extraordinary life on the Maanturk mountains in Country Galway, Ireland. Dressed in flowing colorful shawls with dark black ringlets and a booming voice, Bina McLoughlin seems like a character from a different era – or straight out of a fairytale. Much more than a biography, Queen of the Connemara is an expose of a vivid life shrouded in mystery, magic and hidden money. . Bina was part shepherdess, storyteller, ballad singer, actress, local celebrity, animal lover, political aficionado and – some say – even a witch.
She was as loved as she was feared. A true enigmatic personality.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos won international praise for signing a peace agreement to end five decades of civil war that left some 260,000 people dead and 8 million displaced. His persistence transformed a country that was once the murder capital of the world into a global destination for investment and tourism. Port of Destiny tells the story of Santos’ path to peace: As Defense Minister he waged war on FARC, a terrorist guerrilla movement; as President, he brokered peace—but paid a steep political price. Featuring interviews with former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, the films draws on deep access to its Colombian subjects to tell the story of how this former military hawk risked his career and his legacy to bring peace to his people.
SellersEaston Media, together with the film team of Emmy-award winning director Robert Abbott, traveled to Bogota, Colombia, and the formerly FARC-controlled surroundings to interview President Juan Manuel Santos, his family, political leaders on all sides of the spectrum, and victims of the 50 years of violence. Former President Clinton and Prime Minister Blair, also interviewed by SellersEaston, offer intimate perspectives on their friend and fellow statesman, and reflect on the lessons his struggle holds for other conflicts around the globe.
www.portofdestiny.com
Has Dream of Italy or Under The Tuscan Sun inspired you in your life? Has a trip to Italy changed your life? Here’s a chance to give back and pay it forward by supporting public television and the new special Dream of Italy: Under The Tuscan Sun.
The book and movie Under The Tuscan Sun – Frances Mayes true story of renovating a villa in Tuscany – have captivated millions around the world. Mayes’ real life second act in life is the quintessential dream of Italy…Tens of thousands travel each year to the hilltop town of Cortona just to catch a peek at Bramasole, perhaps the most famous home in all of Italy. In this half-hour special, Dream of Italy host Kathy McCabe visits with Frances and her husband, for an exclusive tour of Bramasole, including the rarely seen interior. Ed even takes her into the olive grove for the harvest! Then Frances introduces Kathy and viewers to her Cortona, a place where visitors can feel an authentic sense of community in just a few days. The best thing about Cortona, the locals – Frances introduces Kathy to chef Silvia for a cooking lesson with local ingredients and master jeweler Sebastian demonstrates Tuscany’s gold-smithing tradition.
Fans love Dream of Italy and Under the Tuscan Sun and Mayes and McCabe make a powerhouse duo inspiring the traveler or just any viewer who aspires to make a dream come true, even later in life. This will be a cherished special for years to come as it will air and repeat on PBS/Create TV/online for at least four years.
Public television programming is made possible by YOU, corporate sponsors and individual donors. We can’t create this inspirational and informative programming without your support. Your tax-deductible donation of at least $2,500 will be acknowledged on-screen before and after every airing.
$2500 Tax-Deductible Donation Includes Your Name on Screen Before/After Every Airing
BONUSES:
Copy of Under The Tuscan Sun book signed/personally dedicated by Frances Mayes
Bottle of Bramasole olive oil
One-year digital membership to Dream of Italy
Exclusive online preview screening months before special airs on broadcast.
Invitation to premiere party if one is thrown (each season we have had one so very likely).
Your name will appear something like this
$15,000 Tax-Deductible Donation Includes Six Seconds Total of Messaging Before/After Every Airing
BONUSES:
Copy of Under The Tuscan Sun book signed/personally dedicated by Frances Mayes
Bottle of Bramasole olive oil
One-year print membership to Dream of Italy
One-hour travel consultation with host Kathy McCabe
Exclusive online preview screening months before special airs on broadcast.
Invitation to premiere party if one is thrown (each season we have had one so very likely).
Your message will appear like one of these messages or simply as your name on screen for six seconds total.
If you would prefer to remain anonymous (no name on screen) with your donation, you may. If you would prefer to make your donation by check, email kathy@dreamofitaly.com for details.
With searing candor, veterans share personal stories from their deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and explore the epic tragedy of their wars.
Executive producers: Travis Weiner and Tommy Furlong
Producer / director: Catie Foertsch
Travis Weiner served with the 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, from 2004-2009. During that time, he deployed twice to Iraq. Both deployments were to rural farmland areas outside of Baghdad. Travis left the army in 2009 as a Sergeant.
Tommy Furlong served as an Infantry Officer with 3rd Battalion 6th Marine Regiment from 2008-2011. During that time he deployed to Marjeh, Afghanistan as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander and Fire Support Team Leader. Tommy left the Marine Corps in 2011 as a Captain.
Catie Foertsch is an veteran commercial filmmaker.
Synopsis
After the 9/11 attacks, the United States rallied a great coalition of allies and sent military forces into Afghanistan. Two years later, President George W. Bush told the nation that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and had to be preemptively stopped. Then the US invaded Iraq.
The 13 veterans featured in this film trusted trusted their leaders and believed what they were told about why they needed to go fight and possibly die: to protect America, defend American freedoms, and help the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. But what they found on the ground was shockingly different. The endless cycles of searching for IEDs and getting blown up. The raids against civilians in their homes that terrorized women and children, and turned more civilians into insurgents. The anger civilians felt against US troops as Iraqi and Afghan men, women and children were killed or maimed, by insurgents, the Taliban, or in some cases by US troops and US airstrikes. The despair and anger US troops felt as buddies were injured or killed and civilians turned their backs. For twenty years, the wars and the carnage rolled on. The inescapable conclusion these veterans faced day after day was that the lessons of Vietnam had been forgotten.
The veterans in this film, like so many other veterans of these wars, brought home physical and mental injuries that will be lifelong. They also suffered moral injuries from the terrible things they saw and did, and from their sense of having been betrayed by their leaders. Their suffering is compounded by questions they can’t stop asking themselves, even as people thank them for their service and tell them they’re heroes: Why were we lied to? What was it all for? What’s to stop it from happening again?
What I Want You To Know is a courageous and unblinking look at the cost and consequences of war, and the moral tragedy of sending America’s young men and women to fight wars their country has no need to fight.
Status
We began production in 2018 and completed the film in Spring 2023. Currently we’re entering festivals and developing an impact campaign to connect the film with communities that are interested in its message, including veterans and veteran families, mental health professionals interested in veteran mental health and moral injury, and those who questioned the wars or are interested in social justice and human rights. You can find out more about the film on our website (link = https://www.WhatIWantYouToKnow-film.com )
Don’t Take That Receipt! is a public health and environmental justice campaign based around a humorous 3 minute video about BPA in receipts. Our mission is to educate vulnerable populations — those who work in stores and restaurants – and the general public, about the presence of bisphenol-A (BPA) (and bisphenol-S (BPS) in receipts. We also provide tips and assistance for reducing exposure and creating systems changes that benefit the health of workers and customers.
BPA and BPS are used to coat thermal receipt paper and rubs off onto skin with contact. Counterintuitively, using hand sanitizer increases the rate of absorption. These phenols can interfere with hormonal regulation and are associated with nearly a dozen health problems; they are most harmful to women, pregnant women, teens, and kids. Our goal is to educate about this widely unknown issue that affects nearly everyone. After creating a humorous video, an educational website and handouts, and an outreach strategy, we are now launching our campaign.
We will be addressing several audiences through this campaign:
- Our regional store-to-store outreach will focus on having face to face conversations with cashiers and store/restaurant managers, beginning in Holyoke this summer and expanding to regional towns throughout the fall, winter and spring. We will be providing bilingual tip-cards to cashiers and managers, and will be tracking and evaluating tangible steps that are taken to make employees and stores safer.
- Our online outreach to share our video and informational website will strategically reach Massachusetts-based nonprofits, environmental health groups, businesses, unions, schools, activists, cashiers, fast food workers, healthcare professionals, bank tellers, librarians, and customers, as they have a vested interest in understanding and sharing this information. Our social media outreach aims to garner over 100,000 views of the video in the state and nation-wide.
- Our online outreach in collaboration with our partners will also focus on two specific state and national corporations, TJX Company which has over 40 stores in MA and is headquartered in Framingham, and Target, which has nearly 20 stores in the state. Our joint efforts with Safer Chemicals, Heathy Families, Ecology Center, Green America, and Mamavation will engage the public to sign petitions and share social media messages to encourage these companies to switch to phenol-free receipts and paperless POS technology. An early adopter of these better protocols, in response to this group pressure, is Trader Joe’s, which also has nearly 20 stores across MA.
- We aim to garner regional and statewide print, radio, television, podcast, and online media coverage of our campaign and video, our messaging for how to reduce exposure, and our campaign success stories.
Video and website: www.bpa-free.me
