We recently had the chance to connect with Lisa Brat Martinez and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Lisa Brat, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Who are you learning from right now?
Right now, I’m learning from people who live their values out loud and with intention. Along the journey with Buddhist monks during their Walk for Peace—particularly learning from Aloka—has deeply impacted me. Their discipline, humility, and commitment to presence has taught me that true strength doesn’t need to be loud. Peace is practiced moment by moment, even in chaos, and service can be quiet yet powerful.
At the same time, I’m learning from survivors, advocates, and frontline workers through my work with Hugs & Kisses Foundation. They continue to teach me what resilience truly looks like—how compassion paired with action can change lives, and how showing up consistently matters more than recognition.
I’m also learning through my work as an actor and storyteller, especially as I develop and participate in projects centered on human trafficking awareness. These stories require deep listening, responsibility, and respect for lived experiences. They remind me that storytelling isn’t just entertainment—it’s a tool for education, healing, and change.
In this season, I’m learning that leadership means remaining a student: grounded, open, and always willing to grow while serving others.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Lisa “Brat” Martinez, a Houston-based actor, entrepreneur, and community advocate. My work lives at the intersection of storytelling, service, and social impact. I’m the founder of Hugs & Kisses Foundation, where we support vulnerable communities through outreach, resources, and education—especially women, children, seniors, and families in need.
Alongside my foundation work, I’ve been deeply impacted by my involvement and support of Buddhist monks during their Walk for Peace, learning from leaders like Aloka about presence, discipline, and service without ego. Those experiences have shaped how I move through both my advocacy and my creative work.
As an actor and producer, I’m currently developing and participating in projects that focus on human trafficking awareness and survivor-centered storytelling. I believe stories have the power to shift perspective, spark conversations, and inspire action—and I’m intentional about using my platform to amplify voices that are often overlooked.
What makes my journey unique is that I don’t separate my art from my activism. Everything I do is rooted in community, accountability, and purpose—whether it’s on screen, on the ground, or behind the scenes.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
For me, bonds are broken when trust is compromised—especially through dishonesty, manipulation, or repeated disregard for boundaries. I learned early on that trust isn’t something to give freely, and once it’s broken, I don’t try to force reconciliation. I choose peace over proximity, and sometimes walking away is an act of self-respect, not resentment.
What restores bonds isn’t words or apologies—it’s consistency, accountability, and changed behavior over time. In my experience, not every relationship is meant to be repaired, and that’s okay. Some people come into our lives to teach us discernment rather than permanence.
Through my advocacy work with Hugs & Kisses Foundation, my time supporting Buddhist monks on their Walk for Peace, and my work in survivor-centered storytelling, I’ve learned that healthy bonds are built on honesty, presence, and mutual respect. When those elements exist, connection can grow. When they don’t, letting go can be the most compassionate choice—for everyone involved.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Some of the most defining wounds of my life come from experiences I carried quietly for many years. I survived domestic violence within my marriage, and I want to be honest—I don’t believe healing from that is linear or ever truly “complete.” I’m still healing. What I’ve learned is that healing doesn’t mean forgetting or pretending it didn’t happen; it means choosing myself, my safety, and my peace every day, even when it’s hard.
Another wound I lived with in silence for most of my life was being molested as a child. I kept that truth buried for a very long time, doing my best to forget it and move forward. While I don’t live in that pain daily, there are moments when it resurfaces—and I’ve learned to meet those moments with compassion rather than shame.
These experiences profoundly shaped who I am today. They are the reason I am so fiercely protective of children and so committed to advocacy. Through my work with Hugs & Kisses Foundation, my involvement in human trafficking awareness, and the stories I choose to tell as an actor, I channel my pain into purpose.
Healing, for me, looks like truth, boundaries, faith, and service. I may still be in the process, but I’ve learned that surviving, speaking up, and protecting others is its own form of healing—and I’m proud of the woman I’ve become through it.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes—but it’s not the whole picture. The public version of me is rooted in truth, purpose, and service, but it’s also a curated version of myself. Like anyone, there are parts of my life and healing that I keep private because not everything needs to be shared to be real.
What people see publicly is my commitment to advocacy, storytelling, and community—through my work with Hugs & Kisses Foundation, my support of peace efforts, and my work in human-centered film projects. What they don’t always see is the quiet work: the boundaries, the reflection, the healing that happens off camera and away from platforms.
Authenticity, to me, doesn’t mean access to every part of my life. It means alignment. The values I live by privately—integrity, protection of the vulnerable, honesty, and compassion—are the same values that guide the work I share publicly. In that sense, the public version of me is real—it’s just intentionally incomplete.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m outdoors and surrounded by animals. Nature has always been my sanctuary. I’ve felt a deep connection to animals my entire life, and I genuinely feel calmer, more present, and more myself in their presence. My home is a safe space for all of Mother Nature, and creating an environment where animals feel protected brings me a sense of purpose and quiet joy.
I’ve learned that animals respond to energy and intention, and there’s an honesty in that connection that I deeply value. Being in nature grounds me, slows my thoughts, and reminds me to breathe.
At the same time, peace isn’t something I only find externally. Through experience and healing, I’ve learned to cultivate peace within myself as well. Whether I’m outside tending to animals or sitting quietly in reflection, peace for me is about alignment—being in a place where my heart, values, and actions are in harmony.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.LisaBratMartinez.com
- Instagram: @LisaBratMartinez
- Linkedin: @LisaBratMartinez
- Twitter: @LisaBrat_
- Facebook: @LisaBratMartinez
- Youtube: @LisaBrat
- Other: Linktr.ee@LisaBratMartinez
TikTok@LisaBratMartinez
Image Credits
Majestic Management Group LLC
Quail Whistle Productions
Coastline Films
Epic Motion Pictures
