Change comes when you’re proactive. Cici Manwa is a public speaker and one of the youngest elected councillors in the United Kingdom.

To get connected with Cici, find her on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

Follow Be the change. Podcast on Instagram: @bethechangepodcast.

If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at lily@bethechangepodcast.org.

Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.

Change comes through community. As 2025 comes to a close, I'm taking a moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead to 2026.

In this special New Year’s Eve episode, I'm stepping away from my usual interviews with changemakers to record a solo episode reflecting on a year shaped by political uncertainty, personal and professional growth, and an enduring commitment to hope.

In this episode, I reflect on why “hope” was my guiding word for 2025 and how that belief shaped a year of small, intentional actions and meaningful change. Looking ahead to 2026, I explore my new guiding word, “community", as well as my vision for Be the change. Media Network.

This episode is a reminder that, while the work of creating change can feel heavy sometimes, none of us are meant to do it alone.

Click here to listen to "Evergreen Strong: Lessons from Tragedy, Healing Together, and Building a Better Future" with my dad, Chad Mott.

Click here to listen to "Lessons in Democracy" on The Political Dispatch with my co-hosts Tom Spare and Sidd Kurapati, featuring my dad, Chad Mott.

If you're interested in joining Be the change. Media Network, please fill out this form to express interest: https://forms.gle/z62trdo5nzd2e6uq6

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

Follow Be the change. Podcast on Instagram: @bethechangepodcast.

If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at lily@bethechangepodcast.org.

Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.

Change comes when you’re open to sharing your story. Puneet Singh Singhal is working at the intersections of disability, the climate crisis, inhumane urbanization, and mental health.

To get connected with Puneet, find him on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Learn more about Green Disability here: https://linktr.ee/GreenDisability.

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

Follow Be the change. Podcast on Instagram: @bethechangepodcast.

If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at lily@bethechangepodcast.org.

Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.

Change comes when you’re ready to listen and learn. Molly Taylor and Nathaniel King joined me to talk about their experiences as estranged students, following Estranged Students Solidarity Week 2025.

Content warning: This episode features personal experiences of domestic abuse. Listener discretion is advised.

To get connected with Molly, find her on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

Follow Be the change. Podcast on Instagram: @bethechangepodcast.

If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at lily@bethechangepodcast.org.

Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.

Change comes when you love your work. Simon Klinga is the CEO of LASAR. LASAR is based in the Czech Republic and was founded by a team of high school students to develop advanced laser systems for orbit cleanups and satellite recovery.

To get connected with Simon, find him on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

Follow Be the change. Podcast on Instagram: @bethechangepodcast.

If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at lily@bethechangepodcast.org.

Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.

Change comes when you’re willing to listen. Millicent Wenlock is an advocate for social justice, sustainability, and inclusivity. Millicent is also an estranged and care-experienced young person, so she joined me for Estranged Students Solidarity Week to discuss her experiences and her advocacy.

To get connected with Millicent, find her on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

Follow Be the change. Podcast on Instagram: @bethechangepodcast.

If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at lily@bethechangepodcast.org.

Change comes from being on the right side of history. Beata Jonite is a policy expert on gender-based violence and human trafficking, who is based in Latvia.

Beata has been heavily involved in organizing protests, following a recent vote by Latvian Members of Parliament to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. Despite Latvian Members of Parliament voting 56 to 32 to leave the treaty, Latvia did not withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, which is aimed at protecting women from violence, including domestic abuse.

This episode was recorded on November 12th, 2025.

To get connected with Beata, find her on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

Follow Be the change. Podcast on Instagram: @bethechangepodcast.

If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at lily@bethechangepodcast.org.

Change comes when you cause a little bit of mischief. Kaz Chu-Foon is a youth voice activist and a Member of the UK Youth Parliament for Essex, as well as being involved with FlippGen, Bite Back, the Epping Forest Youth Council, the Jack Petchey Foundation, and other organizations.

To get connected with Kaz and to watch their speech, find them on Instagram.

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

Follow Be the change. Podcast on Instagram: @bethechangepodcast.

If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at lily@bethechangepodcast.org.