When I Gave Up Trying to Be Impressive… Ed Begley Jr. Sat Next to Me

Did you know the Jacob Javits Center in NYC is LEED Gold certified—one of the highest sustainability ratings a building can earn?

I didn’t—until I heard it firsthand from celebrity Ed Begley Jr., who just so happened to sit right next to me at the Green Media Summit this year!

Let me back up.

I’d never been to an environmental networking event before.

I signed up for the Green Media Summit because I wanted to meet other people who care about the earth.

I also wanted to feel like I belonged somewhere in that space.

But if I’m being honest, I felt anxious the second I walked through the door.

Right away, they asked if I “got there by train or car.”

I nervously admitted, “I drove.”

They smiled and marked it down on their carbon tracker, but I instantly felt like I was doing it all wrong.

Then came the real challenge: being in a room full of total strangers.

I did my usual deep breaths.

Told myself to stay calm.

But after a few awkward interactions and a spiral of inner doubt, I gave up.

Not on the event—but on pretending.

I stopped trying to say the right thing. I stopped trying to be impressive.

I just decided to sit down and be me, drink some coffee, and eat a sandwich.

That’s when Ed Begley Jr., famous actor and environmental activist, sat down next to me!

Most people didn’t even recognize him, but I had looked him up beforehand. I introduced myself, and we started talking.

And suddenly, everything shifted.

Just like that, Ed dropped an idea from the past into the future!

He told me about his early activism work in the 1970s, when LA was drowning in smog and “Earth Day” was a brand new thing!

He talked about how people across party lines—Republicans and Democrats—came together to fight for clean air in Los Angeles.

They didn’t just fight… they WON!

The new policies created a sweeping change across the auto industry forever after.

One of the biggest supporters of environmental policy back then?

Jacob Javits. Yes, the same conservative senator who the Javits Center is named after.

That history blew my mind.

Because now? Everything feels so divided. So performative.

But back then, people found common ground through shared purpose over political identity.

And honestly, it reminded me of something even more personal:

How much stronger we all are when we drop the mask.

That day, I saw how many people were “networking,” but clearly nervous. Hiding behind elevator pitches and business cards.

And I get it. I’ve done the same thing.

But when we let ourselves just be, something opens up.

Not just inside of us—but in the people around us.

I think the universe responds to that. I really do.

⚠️PLEASE READ Before You Go!

I live near the Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge, and places like it have shaped who I am.

These lands aren’t “empty and useless” parks… these are living, sacred lands.

Home to an amazing variety of birds, foxes, and forests that have stood untouched for generations.

And once they’re gone, we don’t get them back.

Do you care about protecting our land, keeping our air and water clean, and ensuring a safe future with AI?

Please take a second to look beyond headlines and party lines… review these bills and oppose or support them on https://5calls.org/ .

It’s so easy. If no one answers, just leave a voicemail!

Some of the bills being pushed through Congress right now will affect all of us, no matter where we live or who we vote for. Please know them inside and out before letting them happen behind the scenes!

This is not about Democrat or Republican. It’s about common-sense protections for your family, your health, the community, and everyone’s future.

These proposals threaten to:

Increase exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in our air

Allow drilling and logging on fragile public lands

Sell off public lands that belong to you

Strip away local control over AI regulation (there’s no federal regulations, either!)

Cut funding for education, arts, and healthcare for sensitive communities like the impoverished and elderly

I implore you to please care, no matter who you are, about the impact of what’s going on.

Dive deep… because what happens now is going to have big impacts on the future.

And if you are a Trump supporter looking at this and rolling your eyes, I want you to take a second to look deeper into these bills and decide if you want to take a stand on what your republican representatives are doing.

Watching the news is one thing, but knowing what’s exactly happening is another.

That’s more important to me than any party politics.

Check https://5calls.org/ and read through some of what’s about to get passed on the destruction of environmental protections, public education, and so much more!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Sincerely,

Briana

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And if you’ve ever felt awkward in a room full of strangers…

If you’ve ever longed to get involved in the world but felt frozen in fear…

You’re not alone.

That’s why I’m creating something I wish existed years ago, and online course called CRUSH Social Anxiety.

It’s about overcoming fear to live your life, your purpose, and the people you’re meant to connect with—regardless of the fear!

If you’ve already subscribed, I’ll keep you posted when it’s released!

Thanks for reading, it means a lot!