The Butterfly Forecast

Today, we sit for a special episode with our friend and legendary talent manager, David Smith. We walk through his winding path, from modeling to acting to management, and how he uses these threads to guide artists today.

Today, Melody and Julie return for a one on one conversation on love and how its many expressions can change our lives.

Today, we wanted to revisit one of our favorite talks with our good friend Jon Gray. Jon is a co-founder of the Bronx based collective Ghetto Gastro. If you've ever seen or experienced one of their food presentations—it's like art. We hope you enjoy our talk!

Today we sit for a special talk with Jeff Staple, diving into near-death experiences, how they change our perspectives on life, and reflections from these pivotal moments.

This week, we share a special talk honoring the great people and forces that form the foundation of our knowledge, spirituality, and energy today.

Today, Melody and Julie sit one on one to examine the local, national, and international news affecting us today.

Our guest today is extraordinary athlete and founder of https://saysh.com/ (Saysh), Allyson Felix. We discuss her early memories playing sports, growing through failure, and the powerful journey of motherhood.

Today, Melody and Julie sit one on one for an essential conversation about movement and stillness—in our lives, work, and the world.

Today, we're joined by friend and excellent visual artist Paula Henderson. We reflect on art-making, the power of our bodies, and how we move through the world.

Today, the wonderful Jerrika Hinton joins us on the podcast! We talk about the value of acceptance, flow, and transitions.

We're back! With brilliant singer-songwriter and actor, Keri Hilson. We discuss the story of how we met, Keri's early years writing, and her many incarnations today—in performance and the personal.

How does one trust their intuition and follow their instincts while navigating all the complexities of life? Today, we revisit one of our favorite talks with Anthony Kiedis, about how he stays in himself and true to his design—even when it's hard.

Welcome to today's special episode, featuring Marcia Pinna! Marcia's talents span many arenas, including stage set, color, and design for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. As you'll hear, she brings her architectural, technological, and artistic multi-medium background and knowledge to a variety of roles and capacities, making her, truly, a Jill of all trades.

This week, we're revisiting our episode from last season with Afshin Shahidi. Afshin has been a storyteller since birth and served as Prince's personal photographer for twenty years. So, to commemorate Prince's birthday last week, we wanted to replay this special talk about Afshin's work behind the lens. We'll be back next week with a new episode. Enjoy!

Today— we discuss our shifts in life, the importance of diverse relationships, and how news travels and affects us.

In today's talk, Melody and Julie address the recent tragedies due to gun violence, how we make sense of this moment, and the way it can guide us toward peace.

Today! Join us for a special conversation with nail artist and designer, Chanell Boyd.

What is life for, but uncovering reality? Join us today for a special talk unpacking fate, purpose, and excellence.

On today's episode, we look at what blocks us from attaining and claiming a consciousness and movement towards world peace. Could it be a fear of losing what we think we have?

Yaani King Mondschein is a well established actor and a hidden gem in the industry! What a pleasure to have a conversation that reveals the incredible strengths that are her real talent; the constant in her ever-evolving career.

Today, Melody and Julie sit together for a special episode. They unpack how we often leave our decisions up to the divine, believing it will make the right choice for us, and what may be in store when we choose our own path.

On this episode, we are joined by our good friend Jon Gray. Jon is a co-founder of the Bronx based collective http://ghettogastro.com/ (Ghetto Gastro). If you've ever seen or experienced one of their food presentations, it's literally like art. After his tumultuous upbringing, Jon found a calling in fashion and combined food with art and design. His collective of Ghetto Gastro with his partners have created many tables big enough for everyone to sit at, encouraging and cultivating conversations about inclusion, race, and economic empowerment — traveling the world, taking the Bronx to the world, and introducing the world to the Bronx. In this episode Jon talks a little bit about his why. We hope you enjoy it.

In this episode, our guest Keri Shahidi is in conversation with us about her family upbringing and how it shaped her foundation for paying it forward in life. We were really inspired by Keri's refined business acumen that centers people over profit. Whether it's in her role as a film/tv producer or as a mom — it makes no difference, she is continually finding creative ways to create a bigger table and make every project meaningful.

On today's episode, we are joined by Angelo Baque. Angelo is the creative director of the clothing brand Awake NY and founder of Baque Creative, a boutique creative agency. We talk about how our beliefs shape our reality, finding inner peace, and the journey of finding tools and resources to help us move forward in this journey called life.

In this episode, Melody and Julie discuss how cultural or mental beliefs manifest in the body — and what they can mean. Julie shares health trends she's tracked for decades working with populations all over the world, and Melody explores trends she's noticed in US culture and how she translates them to design. Together, they highlight how keeping track of trends can bring you on a quest of self-actualization, which leads to world and inner peace.

Today, self-taught painter Jammie Holmes in conversation about how his life experiences informed his work and how contrast led him to creating the kind of life that would create a long lasting legacy for himself and his family. 

Sam Fragoso, host of Talk Easy, returns to the show today! We talk about the importance of everyday connection, what it means to excavate lives on a microphone, and how the quest for world peace begins simply—with awareness. To hear Sam's program, visit talkeasypod.com.

The Butterfly Forecast is back! We discuss the pursuit of world peace, as the individual and collective, lessons on mindfulness from Thich Nhat Hanh, and the difficult questions that guide us to change.

The Butterfly Forecast returns next week! Today, we're reflecting on Season 1 with excerpts from three of our favorite conversations. Tune in Tuesday, March 8th for the S2 premiere. Brendon Babenzien — 0:45–15:35 Lauren London and Jada Pinkett Smith — 15:43–32:20 Tricia Hersey — 32:30–48:54

It seems as though Afshin Shahidi has been a storyteller since birth. We follow his journey of how he has used film and photography to share those stories with us through his lens. With his work ranging from serving as personal photographer to Prince for 20 years to spending 7 years creating a documentary for Olympian Tommy Smith, we look forward to the next part of his expression of telling his own stories.

What a dreamy time we had with our incredibly talented friend Travis Van Winkle—actor, activist, builder—where we talked about developing ourselves, as we invest in others.

In an era where so many people identify as multi-hyphenates, Claudia is an inspiring model of how she's stitched together all the seemingly contrasting aspects of herself in life and work into one beautiful patchwork quilt.

Today, Lauren London and Jada Pinkett Smith join us to talk about the unusual powers of one true friend.

Smooshie and I return to the never ending reality of death, but this time from the unexpected gifts it brings.

How does one trust their intuition and follow their instincts while navigating all the complexities of life? We talk to Anthony about how he stays in himself and true to his design, even when it's hard.

Today: Join the Smooshies for an exploration into the differences between living life, and living survival.

Today, we're joined today by our dear friend and extraordinary poet Ruth Forman—where we discuss the recalibrating, transformative power of words.

Today, Melody and Julie unpack the role of mentors in our lives.

Jocy and Trae share their Native American roots and culture—reclaiming what was tried to be erased by colonization and living the fruits of the true legacy they inherited.

What hidden mythologies are you living with? Join us and find out.

Join Melody and Julie in this episode where they explore the roots of freedom, and how to establish it within individuals - as well as for us as a species.

On the Butterfly Forecast today, we are joined with the beautiful, extraordinarily gifted artist, quilter, and educator Bisa Butler.

Today, the Smooshies crack the door open (just a little bit) to explore how we approach our own evolution—and its opposite.

Today, the Smooshies take a look at the possibility of humans being designed as mirrors for the infinite.

What an incredible conversation we had, when Melody traveled to North Dakota and joined hoop dancer, healer, singer, and artist Jackie Bird at the Earth Lodge. Together, we discuss the importance of staying connected to the great spirit, ancestors, and our gifts.

This week, singer and songwriter Andy Grammer returns! We discuss his songwriting process, creating in the pandemic, and the work it takes to find oneself.

Today, Melody and Julie sit with singer, songwriter, and long-time friend Andy Grammer. He unpacks early influences in film and sports, the evolution of his performing career, and how money and spirituality affect his creative process.

Today we're joined by poet, activist, and founder of The Nap Ministry, Tricia Hersey. We discuss sleep deprivation as a racial and social justice issue, rest as a form of resistance to white supremacy and capitalism, and napping as the portal to our greater reality.

Centered around the subject of truthfulness, Melody and Julie discuss what we can learn from a 2nd grade classroom, an inspiring passage from Nelson Mandela, and how we must hold onto honesty in the face of projections and deception.

We're joined by long-time friend Justin Baldoni—actor, writer, director, producer, and author of the book Man Enough—to try to unpack just a little bit of what's behind his incredible energy.

Our guests this week are Aloe Blacc and Maya Jupiter. They talk about building a new world informed by multiple cultures — birthed from one family.