I’m an inquisitive, open-minded, and easy-going Floridian who has lived in both Turkey and Japan. Having also traveled to 20 countries, my unique background allows me to view the lived experiences of others through a different lens and interpret them in a meaningful way. With a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics and a fascination with language, I understand the power of words and how important they are in the healing process that stems from storytelling. There is undeniable value in being heard and sharing one’s own experience of personal growth. I joined Better Because Collective to assist and support others in developing their stories in their own voice, and now I help other editors learn to do the same.

Hi! My name is Jack Brandenburg, and I’m from Annapolis, Maryland, currently living in Baltimore, Maryland. I earned my bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. After graduating, I began consulting in marketing for small businesses and now lead marketing efforts for a mental health startup. At Better Because Collective, I oversee our marketing campaigns and work to increase our story contributors and readers. I joined the team because I strongly believe that sharing post-traumatic growth success stories can inspire and uplift others who may be struggling. In my free time, I love staying active, playing pickleball, and raising my blood pressure when watching the Ravens play.

I’m a happy-go-lucky California girl who’s lived in or traveled to 20+ countries on every continent except Africa and Antarctica (so far). I hold a BA in English and did my graduate studies in feminism and social justice. I have co-authored two Amazon bestsellers as well as edited three bestselling books. I’ve helped more than a dozen people craft their stories in memoir form, including with ghostwriting. I joined Better Because Collective as a story editor because I have seen firsthand the transformative power that telling one’s story can have, and I hold this kind of work very dear to my heart. I’m also a relationship coach for all genders, skilled at creating a safe space for people to dig deep and fly high. When I’m not chasing solar eclipses or indulging in solo femme travel, I’m in the San Francisco Bay Area picnicking in cemeteries with a real-life fairytale prince.

I’m a creative communicator (you can usually find me behind a camera) born and raised in Los Angeles, but with chapters of my life in Massachusetts and D.C.. For undergrad, I attended UMass Amherst, where I majored in both journalism and resource economics. For Better Because Collective, I’m serving as a Digital Marketing Coordinator, where I mainly execute email-based collateral. I decided to join Better Because Collective because I am currently navigating through my own story of post-traumatic growth. What’s helped me the most during this period of healing has been connecting with other people and hearing stories that are unique, but similar to mine. Additionally, I am currently taking a career break and looking to pivot into the mental health space. Better Because Collective is a one-of-a-kind organization where I can use my communications skills to build community and tell the inspiring stories of other people.

I earned a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication and Media Studies from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and I’ve published 29 military veterans’ service stories with an Arizona nonprofit. I’ve been writing since I was a kid and crafted stories with friends both online and on the schoolyard. As a transracial adoptee, writing helps me process adoption’s complexities, and I hope to one day add my voice to a reinvigorated anthology with adoptees at the helm. I’m a Story Editor here at Better Because Collective—we get to foster an open environment for our Contributors to share their journeys of trauma and healing, and I’m honored to be one piece of this eclectic puzzle. When I’m not jotting down random bits of ideas or character development at 2 a.m., I’m usually found in book and record stores, listening to scream-y music, and hanging out with my rescue pup, Oli

I am an inspired creative born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. I bring a grounded perspective and creative heart to everything I do. With a BFA in Graphic Design, I’ve built a career as a Marketing Designer in real estate—where I blend strategy, visual storytelling, and thoughtful design to bring agent personalities and properties to life. Here at Better Because Collective, I am both the Graphic Designer and a Story Editor, where I am honored to help shape meaningful narratives that inspire healing and connection. My work is guided by the belief that design is more than visual. An avid reader, I’m especially drawn to stories that reflect resilience, authenticity, and growth. Outside of design, I enjoy the new restaurant scene in town and family weekends at the lake.

By day, I’m a senior communications specialist with expertise in executive-level speechwriting (aka a word nerd). By night, I’m a copyeditor and developmental story editor for Better Because Collective, which means I help get stories ready for publication. I joined the team to put my writing and editing skills to work for a good cause, but I also appreciate that it offers me the opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself. Many drops make an ocean!

Hi! My name is Christine and I was born and raised in the Bay Area. I have a B.A. in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing and Information Systems from the University of Washington. After graduating, I worked in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) space and have since joined the Better Because Collective team as a Digital Marketing Coordinator. Through executing email campaigns and helping shape brand voice, I strive to empower others to share their post-traumatic growth stories. As I’m a strong believer in the power of human connection through vulnerability, I joined Better Because Collective to help contribute to an organization that’s dedicated to providing safe spaces for personal growth. In my free time, I love exploring cafes and visiting craft fairs to support local businesses!

Hi, I’m Amanda! I’m a story editor based in Phoenix, Arizona, although I grew up near Detroit, Michigan. I’m a high school English teacher by trade, but my true passions are creative writing and editing. I studied English and secondary education at Michigan State University and Ohio State University. In graduate school, I researched using creative writing as a form of trauma recovery in secondary ELA classrooms— a practice that I get to apply every day in my classroom. I joined Better Because Collective because I am a firm believer in using creative writing as a form of trauma recovery. I am excited to help people tell their stories of post-traumatic growth and become better writers in the process. When I’m not teaching or writing, I might be ballroom dancing, hiking, or practicing to be a baker on the first season of the Great American Bake Off.

As a web developer and digital marketer, I’ve helped businesses build online strategies since 2015 through my company, MooDesigns, LLC. With over two decades of experience as an environmental consultant, I’ve developed a strong foundation in skills that benefit my clients, including project management, teamwork, and problem-solving. A website is more than just a digital brochure—it’s a tool to solve business problems and a critical piece of an organization’s overall marketing strategy. Outside of work, I’m a rowing coach and an avid skier, and I enjoy life with my wife, two kids, and a chocolate lab. I volunteer with the Better Because Collective because learning another’s story can spark great insight.

I am an independent writer, editor, and content developer specializing in educational, trade, and specialty books and materials. I have a B.S. in Journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications from Southern Illinois University and an M.A. in the Social Sciences from the University of Chicago. I consider myself a lifelong learner with a passion for service, constantly pursuing new experiences and ways to volunteer. I believe in the power of storytelling and derive great joy and purpose from helping others share their uniquely human stories. My work as a story editor with Better Because Collective allows me to make the best use of my professional skills, personal passions, and life purpose—in service to people with a desire to share their stories of personal growth and triumph, in their own authentic, empowering voices.

I have always loved to write, and I especially like to edit others’ work. I have a unique journalism ethics Ph.D. from Ohio University. For this degree, I completed a master’s in philosophy and a doctorate in mass communications. I also have master degrees in English and journalism studies. I retired as professor emerita from the University of Northern Colorado’s Journalism and Media Studies in 2017. However, I immediately started at Colorado State University as their media ethics instructor. I taught my final course in June 2022. I am particularly proud of my co-edited textbook titled Media Ethics at Work: True Stories from Young Professionals; it is now in its fourth edition. In 1996, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I have secondary progressive MS and use a cane occasionally, but for now, I am well and have the time to spend as a story editor with Better Because Collective.

My name is Kirbi Tharp, and I am a stay-at-home mom who lives in Chicago with my husband and two daughters. I have lived in three cities in the past four years, and I have a dream of living in Europe at some point in the future. I started as a copy editor with Better Because Collective because I enjoy editing and revising, as well as being a part of an amazing cause. I also recently became a developmental story editor as a result of my passion for people and their unique life experiences, and I feel honored to be a part of this team!

Hi, I’m Heather! I am a former Special Education teacher turned copyeditor. My true passion has always been working with the written word—whether writing or editing—so I made a mid-life career pivot to pursue my dream of working as a full-time editor. I honed my copyediting skills through UC Berkeley’s Sequence in Professional Editing and since have enjoyed working as a ghostwriter, copyeditor, and developmental editor. I joined the Better Because Collective team to contribute to a meaningful cause and to support people who want to share their stories through writing.