In this gripping episode of "And Now, Love," Cynthia Marks sits down with Owen Hanson, author of The California Kid, to unpack his extraordinary life story. Owen takes listeners on a journey through his transformation from a USC athlete to running a high-stakes underground betting empire. The conversation dives into his struggles with identity, the pursuit of belonging, and the adrenaline-fueled decisions that led him to incarceration. Owen reflects on his time in confinement, his eventual path to self-reform, and his remarkable ability to rebuild his life. This episode offers an unflinching look at the consequences of ambition, the pursuit of redemption, and the lessons that come from finding purpose against all odds.

In this powerful episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks speaks with Devi Jags, producer, writer, activist, and host of Sparkle On. Devi shares her journey from being a competitive runner whose identity was wrapped up in athletics to becoming an outspoken advocate for gender-based violence awareness and mental health. She opens up about the traumatic experiences she endured during college, how those shaped her advocacy, and how she transformed her pain into purpose. Together, Cynthia and Devi explore the meaning of “sparkle” — happiness, passion, and self-worth — and how creativity can be a vital force for healing. Devi explains how writing, storytelling, and activism became her new form of expression, and why empowering others to discover their inner sparkle is central to her mission. The conversation touches on the complexities of sexual violence, breaking generational trauma, the importance of listening to young people, and the role of creativity as resistance and renewal. Ultimately, Devi reminds us that love and self-expression are essential tools for resilience.

• 00:00 | Defining Sparkle: From Running to Self-Worth

• 07:00 | College Trauma, Sexual Violence, and Speaking Out

• 14:00 | Transforming Anger into Advocacy and Finding Voice

• 21:00 | Creativity, Writing, and the Power of Story

• 28:00 | Healing, Dreams, and Expressing Trauma Through Art

• 35:00 | Sex Education, Consent, and Rape Culture

• 42:00 | Generational Trauma, Ancestry, and Reclaiming Identity

• 49:00 | The Sparkle Movement, Legacy, and Love as Resistance

In this rare and intimate episode of And Now Love, host Cynthia Marks turns the mic toward the crew behind the camera: Bobby, Ian, Whitley, and Denis — the creative team responsible for bringing the podcast’s message to life visually and emotionally. This isn't just a conversation about production. It’s a reflection on how the mission of And Now Love — with its core focus on healing, emotional imprinting, and generational transformation — has impacted those working to share it with the world.

The team opens up about their own struggles with vulnerability, the tension between authentic storytelling and digital attention spans, and what it means to market a message they themselves are still processing. This episode explores the emotional labor of content creation, the challenge of translating deep ideas into digestible formats, and the surprising ways the show’s message has changed them.