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I just had the pleasure of traveling to New Orleans to take in the art, music, museums, and culture that the city has to offer. And trust me, it has a lot to offer. A city that old and with so much history has so much to offer on so many levels that it would take a lifetime to explore, let alone even attempt to understand. During my trip, I chatted with a lot of people who were from there or moved there, talking about what the city is like 20 years after Hurricane Katrina. Parts of the city, like the Lower Ninth Ward, are still reeling from the impacts of the hurricane and flooding. The whole city is still being impacted by the financial mismanagement and theft allegations that happened after the storm. If you ask people (or don't even ask them) about it, they will tell you about it. Despite the empty buildings and empty storefronts and empty homes, there is still life in the city, as there has been for centuries. The legacy of New Orleans is full of different moments that define different periods. The more dramatic the hardship, the greater the opportunity for the return. And it seems like the potential for hardships is only going to increase for all of us given the climate changes we have seen taking place, with Katrina being perhaps an early harbinger of things to come. My guest today on Experience by Design is here to talk about the trajectory we are on, and what it will mean for all of us. Gerry McGovern has had a career working with organizations to identify customer needs and how to position themselves for digital transformation. Now he is leading with a different message about how we need to address the impacts of techno-capitalism for this generation and future ones as well. His book “99th Day: A Warning about Technology” was published in February 2026. In it, Gerry talks about the impending environmental and social collapse brought on by data centers, AI, and other technologies that take our shared resources for the pursuance of individual greed. We cover a lot of territory in our conversation. We discuss how we are risking life on Earth to create AI slop. Gerry calls out the promises of a brighter technological future given the actual impacts. His initial explorations of digital waste led to a greater realization regarding the impacts of mining waste and other byproducts of unrestrained profit seeking and growth. As he observes, we are on a fast train to a massive crash unless we start to re-evaluate our priorities, policies, and positions on techno-capitalism. And we all play a part in terms of our patterns of consumption and the marketing engines that drive it. Ultimately, Gerry calls for us to give up and grieve for the civilization that we currently have in order to bring into existence the civilization that we need in this moment. But like with New Orleans, the more desperate the situation, the greater the opportunity for the recovery and rebirth. That is, only if we do the work necessary to bring it into being and become Good Ancestors to future generations. Gerry McGovern website: https://gerrymcgovern.com/ “99th Day” Book: https://gerrymcgovern.com/books/99th-day/ Gerry McGovern Insights: https://gerrymcgovern.com/new-thinking/
Margaret continues her interview with author and activist Cory Doctorow about the role of fiction in making a better worldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
"Catastrophe and Social Change Based Upon a Sociological Study of the Halifax Disaster" by Samuel Henry Prince offers a profound examination of the social dynamics that emerged following the catastrophic explosion in Halifax in 1917, the largest man-made explosion before the atomic bomb. Rather than recounting the history of the disaster itself, Prince delves into the shock, disintegration, and subsequent social organization that unfolded in its wake, providing an insightful analysis of individual and group reactions through a sociological lens.
Margaret interviews the author and activist Cory Doctorow about the role of fiction in making a better worldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In a world drowning in noise, the most radical thing a woman can do is tell the truth and refuse to stop until someone listens.In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James sits down with Tamara Banks, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist & Documentary Filmmaker, for a bold, honest conversation about what conscious media actually looks like. Cynthia and Tamara dig into what it means to be a truth-teller in an era of media consolidation, corporate ownership, and algorithmically curated reality. Tamara breaks down how two major conglomerates now control the majority of national and local news in America and why the rise of independent journalism is not a crisis but a correction.You'll hear Tamara's message for every woman who has been waiting for permission: stop waiting. If you have ever been inspired by the women who are choosing to show something different, this episode will light a fire in you. Tune in and visit https://www.cynthiajames.net/Remember that you matter, your voice matters, and you are on this planet because you are essential.Enjoy the podcast? Subscribe and leave a 5-star review on your favorite Platforms.Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-awakening-with-cynthia-james/id1479431168Tamara Banks is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, international freelance TV news correspondent, producer, talk show host, and documentary filmmaker dedicated to social justice and transformative storytelling. She has worked with PBS, CNN, ABC, BBC, NPR, Al Jazeera, and Fox News, among many others. She is the creator and host of From Moment to Movement with Tamara Banks, originally launched on PBS 12, now produced independently. A former board member and current member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Tamara lives by the motto: one person can make a difference.Connect with Tamara Banks:LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamarabanks/?isSelfProfile=false X: https://x.com/iamtamarabanks Cynthia James is a transformational speaker, emotional integration coach, and host of the Women Awakening podcast. With a background as a former actress and Star Search champion, she brings creativity and depth to her work. Cynthia holds master's degrees in consciousness studies and spiritual psychology. Author of 6 bestselling and award-winning books, including I Choose Me: The Art of Being A Phenomenally Successful Woman at Home and at Work. Through her global retreats, coaching, and speaking, she helps women step into their power, live authentically, and lead with purpose.Connect with Cynthia James:Website: https://www.cynthiajames.net/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cynthia-james-enterprises/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WhatWillSetYouFreeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthiajames777/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthiajamestransforms
Every so often, a leader steps into a moment that seems built for them. New CEOs appointed days before the COVID pandemic, or during economic volatility, or any number of other challenges — and it's like they were made to be there, in that moment, to steer the ship calmly through the uncertainty.Ike Anand is one of those leaders. He is the president and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a seat he stepped into a year ago, after joining the organization in 2020.That work reaches well past Memphis. Mission Partners' research with nonprofits and foundations last year found the sector split roughly down the middle on AI: half ready to lean in and trust that it's part of their future, half not willing to go there at all. Anand's answer starts with how rather than whether, and it rests on the principles he brought with him to the job. The first of them gives this episode its name. Get a little bit better every day. You aren't competing against anybody else, Anand says; you're competing against yourself, and the race is long.Which suits an organization whose reputation was built the same way — a game of inches, every day, for more than sixty years. Anand describes himself as carrying that brand for a period of time, with a responsibility to hand it on in good condition to whoever comes next. (00:00) - Welcome to Mission Forward (05:44) - Trust (11:31) - Governance (19:29) - Scaling and the Four Principles
A while back we shared the story of how Breaking Ice, a theater company working out of an arts based social service agency called Pillsbury House and Theater in Minneapolis, joined up with a large health care system in St. Louis to provide a powerful boost to their diversity, equity and inclusion program. That led to a and exploration of what neuroscience can contribute to understanding and dealing with the human struggle with difference. Dopamine, synapses, and the prefrontal cortex might sound like a science fair project gone wild, but trust me, they're crucial when we dive into the colorful world of art and social change! In this episode, we're unpacking how the brain's wiring and our creative expressions are intertwined, and how that connection can help us tackle the ever-pressing issues of diversity and social justice. We'll explore the magic of storytelling and empathy, revealing how art can literally change the way our brains perceive and react to the world around us. Buckle up, because we're taking a wild ride through neuroscience, creativity, and the transformative power of community art—a journey that's not just enlightening but also a whole lot of fun. So grab your thinking caps and get ready to dance with some brainy ideas!In this episode we explore:The intersection of neuroscience and creativity can help us understand the human struggle with difference.Empathy is not just a buzzword; it's a fundamental part of our humanity that artists can harness to create impactful work that can change the way people think about each other.Art is not just about aesthetics; it's a powerful tool for social change that can rewire how we think about ourselves and each other, ultimately driving cooperation.Spending time with the Breaking Ice theater based diversity, equity, and inclusion program gave rise to a question: How might new insights about how the brain works might help us better understand the how and why of our continuing struggle with difference? Here is what ensued.LISTEN TO Breaking Ice Chapter 1LISTEN TO Breaking Ice Chapter 2ART IS CHANGE / All Episodes ART IS CHANGE Collections - Our full catalogue of Episodes in 12 Collections: Justice Arts, Art & Healing, Cultural Organizing, Arts Ed./Children & Youth, Community Arts Training, Music for Change, Theater for Change, Change Making Media, Creative Climate Action, Art of the RuralNotable MentionsBreaking Ice is the award-winning program of Pillsbury House Theatre that for over 20 years has been “breaking the ice” for courageous and productive dialogue around issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. A diverse company of professional actors portrays real-life situations that are customized to meet the goals, needs and culture of each unique organization we serve.Pillsbury House and Theater is a groundbreaking “new model for human service work that recognizes the power of the arts and culture to stimulate community participation, investment and ownership.”Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: was a Hungarian-American psychologist. He recognized and named the psychological concept of "flow", a highly focused mental state conducive to productivity.[1][2] He was the Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University. He was also the former head of the department of psychology at the University of Chicago and of the department of sociology and anthropology at Lake Forest College.[3]SourcesQuestion 2: How does our environment influence what we think and believe? 1.Lobel, T. (2014) Sensations: The New Science of Physical Intelligence, Simon & Schuster.2 Eagleman, David. The Brain: The Story of You. Pg., 105, Vintage Books, 2017Question 4: Why are stories important? 3.Hamlin, JK, Wynn, K & Bloom, P (2007) “Social evaluation by preverbal infants.” Nature, 450(7169), 557-59.Question 5: What is empathy and what does it have to do with artmaking?4 Eagleman, David. The Brain: The Story of You. Pg., 143, Vintage Books, 20175 Ibid.Question 11: If human cooperation and connection are so important, why do we struggle so with difference? 6. How do children develop a sense of self? - The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/how-do-children- develop-a-sense-of-self-56117. Toddler | Preschool & Daycare | The Montessori Centre St Lucia. http://www.themontessoricentre.com/toddlers/8. Eagleman, David. The Brain: The Story of You. Pg., 143, Vintage Books, 2017Question 13: Why is play so important to human development? 9 Asma, Steven The History of Imagination, pg., 84, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 201710 Asma, Stephen, The Evolution of Imagination, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2017Question 15: How Can human creativity help us out of this mess?11 Boyd, Brian, On the Origin of Stories, Harvard University Press, Boston, 2010*******Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you're an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.
“We were not really talking about sort of that messy middle, perhaps the much less exciting, much less headline grabbing set of stories about what ordinary people are doing here and now to use these tools to solve problems in their communities.” – Dr. Beth Simone Noveck Today's featured author is a professor, former U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer, director of The Governance Lab, and director of the Burnes Center for Social Change, Dr. Beth Simone Noveck. Dr. Beth and I had a fun on bun chat about her new book, “Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy”, common misconceptions surrounding AI, and more!!Key Things You'll Learn:How Dr. Beth's mother's use of early technology for business sparked her interest in tech for social goodHow AI can strengthen democratic institutions and empower communitiesSome positive uses of AI beyond the common apocalypse or hype narrativesWhat AI tools does she use in her daily lifeDr. Beth's Site: https://rebootdemocracy.ai/Dr. Beth's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JS8BOY/allbooksThe opening track is titled, “Unknown From M.E. | Sonic Adventure 2 ~ City Pop Remix” by Iridium Beats. To listen to and download the full track, click the following link. https://www.patreon.com/posts/sonic-adventure-136084016 Please support today's podcast to keep this content coming! CashApp: $DomBrightmonDonate on PayPal: @DBrightmonBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dombrightmonGet Going North T-Shirts, Stickers, and More: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dom-brightmonThe Going North Advancement Compass: https://a.co/d/bA9awotYou May Also Like…1027 – How Viral Beliefs Sparked a Nationwide Culture Clash with Alison Lea Sher: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-1027-how-viral-beliefs-sparked-a-nationwide-culture-clash-with-alison-lea-sher/356 – The Relentless Pursuit of Greatness with Thomas R. Williams (@MrTRWilliams): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-356-the-relentless-pursuit-of-greatness-with-thomas-r-williams-mrtrwilliams/792 – Growing Up in Haiti, Promoting Health Equity, and Navigating Entrepreneurship with Venchele Saint Dic (@VencheleD): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-792-growing-up-in-haiti-promoting-health-equity-and-navigating-entrepreneurship-with-venchel/433 – Ticking Clock: Behind the Scenes at 60 Minutes with Ira Rosen: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-433-ticking-clock-behind-the-scenes-at-60-minutes-with-ira-rosen/671 – The Last Ark with Guy Morris (@guymorrisbooks): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-671-the-last-ark-with-guy-morris-guymorrisbooks/628 – Inside the Secret World of Corporate Spying with Robert Kerbeck (@robertkerbeck): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-628-inside-the-secret-world-of-corporate-spying-with-robert-kerbeck-robertkerbeck/
7/31 Hosts: Josh Silver & Buz Eisenberg Max Page of The Mass Teachers Assoc w/ Jim Baude of Boston Public Radio & Renee Loth of The Boston Globe: Reforming the ballot process & rules that effect election ethics David Detmold: Walking for social change Carolyn Misch, Northampton Director of Planning & Sustainability: Picture Main Street Project Artbeat w/ Donnabelle Casis & guests Danielle Amodeo of Arts Equity Group and Multimedia artist Angelica Olstad: The current exhibition, Music for Healing, at PaperCity Clothing Gallery in Holyoke
Jennifer takes you through a season of conversations with philosophers, teachers, and artists through the lens of a central koan: do we save or savour a world in a state of collapse? She revisits three core movements: The importance of feeling, especially the emotions and sensations we want to avoidLetting go and softening our attachments to identity, being right, or particular outcomesThe idea that there are no guarantees in this life, no matter how earnest or enlightened we areBringing you into a current challenge of hers, Jennifer illuminates how the tension between saving and savouring is working her, as she embraces new questions on how to dance with uncertainty in a heart-breaking, surprising world. Gratitude for this show's theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.
In this episode of Where Work Meets Life, Dr. Laura sits down with Dr. Max Klau, author of Developing Servant Leaders at Scale and founder of the Center for Courageous Wholeness, to explore why leadership begins with the courage to look inward. They explore the often overlooked concept of shadow, the parts of ourselves we deny, avoid, or leave unexplored, and how these hidden aspects can influence the way we lead and exercise power. Drawing on decades of experience developing leaders in organizations and public service, Max shares why confronting our shadow is essential for creating more compassionate, grounded, and effective leadership in today's world. Max has worked with organizations, civic leaders, and aspiring public servants, which has led him to understand how servant leadership requires more than good intentions. It calls for an ongoing commitment to self-awareness, humility, and personal growth. He and Dr. Laura discuss the relationship between power and purpose, the difference between leading from service versus ego, and why organizations benefit when leaders are willing to acknowledge both their strengths and their blind spots. Together, they explore how greater compassion and integrity can help create healthier workplaces, stronger communities, and a more hopeful future for our world. "The most dangerous people are the folks who are absolutely convinced that they are pure light." - Max Klau About Max Klau: Dr. Max Klau is an author, consultant, coach, developmental psychologist, and founder of the Center for Courageous Wholeness. His work sits at the intersection of inner development and service to others, helping organizations and individuals practice shadow-integrated servant leadership. After more than two decades designing transformational leadership development programs at City Year and the New Politics Leadership Academy, Dr. Klau developed an approach that views leadership as a dual journey of both inner and outer change. He believes that integrating personal development with meaningful impact is essential in a time of increasing complexity, uncertainty, and social change. Central to his work is the practice of confronting shadow, the aspects of ourselves we often avoid acknowledging because they make us uncomfortable, yet profoundly influence how we lead and serve. Dr. Klau is the author of Developing Servant Leaders at Scale: How to Do It and Why It Matters, which explores the practical methodology he developed through years of experimentation, innovation, and leadership development practice. The book outlines how organizations can cultivate servant leaders while fostering both personal growth and collective impact. Through the Center for Courageous Wholeness, Dr. Klau offers coaching, retreats, keynote presentations, and organizational consulting, all grounded in the belief that inner and outer change are deeply interconnected. He partners with values-driven organizations, leaders, teams, and communities that are committed to confronting their shadow as they seek to serve others. Resources: Dr. Max Klau LinkedIn Center for Courageous Wholeness LinkedIn “Developing Servant Leaders at Scale: How to Do It and Why It Matters” by Max Klau “Servant Leadership” by Robert K. Greenleaf Podcast: Pulling the Thread by Elise Loehnen “I Wish I'd Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss” by Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett Dr. Laura on LinkedIn Where Work Meets Life™ on YouTube Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live For more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career Counselling Synthesis Psychology Order Dr. Laura's new book today: I Wish I'd Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Mark Lewis (@giveadamnbook) is a professional speaker, hiring expert and leadership coach who facilitates multiple CEO Round tables. He is the author of the best-selling book “GIVE A DAMN! - The Ticket to Cultural Change” and in 2019 Mark was Louisiana's Entrepreneur of the Year. He is now the CEO of a patented AI startup company. We discuss some of the things that hold us back as a people, and how we can benefit humanity as a whole. You can find Mark at MarkLewisLLC.com & on LinkedIn Join the FREE Facebook group for The Michael Brian Show at https://www.facebook.com/groups/themichaelbrianshow Follow Mike on Facebook Instagram & X
Trevor talks to Thomas Westrbrook, aka Holy Koolaid about how to influence change, being able to ask questions, growing up a missionary kid, and so much more. Support Belief It Or Not Created by Trevor Poelman Produced and Edited by Jamie Carlisle Produced by Michael Mongiardi Art by Joel Jackson Music by Devon Hyland Special Thanks to The Sonar Network Visit https://www.beliefitornot.com/ Email enquiries to Trevor.Poelman@BeliefItOrNot.com Follow Belief It Or Not: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beliefitornot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beliefitornotpodcast/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/beliefitornot.bsky.social TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@beliefitornot Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/beliefitornot Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
Forty years into leading one of the country's pioneering community development financial institutions, Elyse Cherry has changed nearly everything about how BlueHub Capital does its work — and nearly nothing about why. In this week's reflection, Carrie Fox sits with what that distinction makes possible, and why the leaders who last tend to be fixed on a question rather than attached to a product.It's a short conversation about proximity, persistence, and a particular kind of courage — the quiet kind that looks less like defiance and more like refusing to stop. If you've ever felt forced to choose between staying true to your mission and adapting to the moment, Cherry has a reason to think you've been asked the wrong question. (00:00) - Welcome to Mission Forward (00:56) - Why Makes the How Possible (01:56) - Proximity is a Pre-Condition for Impact (03:10) - Courage Cannot be Silent
Rest to Return is a podcast for a restless world. Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife is your host. This series is rooted in Shabbat, an ancient Jewish practice that teaches us how to belong to time. Here, rest is a sacred rhythm woven into who we are. We continue by gathering around a single question: Who do we become when we rest? Lecha Dodi is the song that ends Kabbalat Shabbat (the service that helps us transition into Shabbat) before we move into the Ma'ariv prayer service. The idea that Creator finished creation on the seventh day comes from Genesis 2:2. Tranquility, satisfaction, calm, and quiet being created on the seventh day comes from Genesis Rabbah 10:9. The idea of creating change that's “slow, deep, and irreversible” comes from artist and activist Ricardo Levins Morales. I learned the mussar practice of clarifying our ratzon by asking “what do I want? What do I really want?” from Rabbi David Jaffe of Kirva. You can learn more in Chapter 1 of his book, Changing the World from the Inside Out: A Jewish Approach to Personal and Social Change. This quote has been misattributed to Courtney Carver. It is instead referenced by Carver in her book, Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less and Live the Life You Actually You Want. The quotation itself comes from Psychologist Nicola Jane Hobbs who teaches, “Instead of asking, 'Have I worked hard enough to deserve rest?' ask, 'Have I rested enough to do my most loving, meaningful work?'” Enjoy the live version of Lay it Down, Let it Go here. Check out the Rest to Return webpage for photos, info about the Rest to Return retreat, and more! This episode is brought to you by the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Rest to Return exists because we believe slowing down is a spiritual act. IJS believes that too. For over two decades, IJS has been helping people go deeper, through Jewish mindfulness meditation, contemplative prayer, sacred text study, and embodied practice. Their offerings range from online courses and silent retreats to immersive cohort programs for seekers of all experience levels, clergy, and spiritual leaders who are ready to live and lead from a more grounded place. Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife is part of IJS's core faculty, and the wisdom you'll hear in this series is very much in that spirit. If this podcast is stirring something in you, IJS is a place to go further. Explore their programs, and more ways to learn and practice with Keshira, at jewishspirituality.org, including: View the latest offerings from IJS in our program catalog Join Keshira and others on retreat this August: Returning Anew Learn more about Keshira's latest class at IJS on Mindful Speech as a Spiritual Practice Learn more about Shevet, IJS's community for younger adults (20s-30s) IJS has several online free practices with Keshira and our other faculty including our live Daily Sit, our weekly Shevet Sit for younger adults (under 40), and monthly Affinity Sits for Jews of Color, LGBTQ+, and individuals with disabilities. Click here for more information. Join our mailing list to be notified about our upcoming fall courses, including Keshira's Earth, Moon, Mindfulness year-long class.
This month on Laura Flanders & Friends we're lifting up the people, the stories, and the ideas driving disability justice forward. This week we celebrate the life and legacy of Alice Wong with two of her closest collaborators, reflecting on the movement she helped to build. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate Description: Alice Wong lived longer than she expected, but not long enough. The celebrated disability activist lived by the principle that disability justice is integral to all liberation movements, and centered disabled stories with the Disability Visibility Project. When Alice Wong died on November 14 at the age of 51, people across social movements shared their grief and awe for her work, such as her bestselling 2022 memoir, “Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life”. She has been called an oracle, visionary, unapologetic and fearless, and our guests, Wong's dear friends and collaborators, are committed to lifting up her legacy. Sandy Ho is the Executive Director of the Disability & Philanthropy Forum and partner with Alice Wong and Mia Mingus in the Access is Love campaign. She was asked by Alice Wong to post her letter after she passed, where Wong writes “. . . our wisdom is incisive and unflinching.” Steven Thrasher is an acclaimed journalist, professor and author of “The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality & Disease Collide”. He was suspended from teaching classes after speaking out — as Wong also did — on Palestine. Join us as we celebrate Alice Wong and ask what is the work to be done when it comes to healthcare and civil rights for disabled people. Plus a commentary from Laura on imagining the next 100 years. “A lot of Alice's advocacy was focused around the systems that force disabled people to be at the margins . . . Whether it is the Black Lives Matter movement or the pandemic, we see the ways in which our society and political systems respond, and not in ways that prioritize those who are least privileged and have the least amount of power.” - Sandy Ho “I remember talking to [Alice Wong] about the ways she had been conditioned as a disabled Asian American woman to try to accept crumbs, to not complain, to be very docile. I thought that she was really brilliant in bridging together not just Asian American communities, but queer communities, LGBTQ communities, all the communities where your body is made to feel like it doesn't belong.” - Steven Thrasher Guests: • Sandy Ho: Executive Director, Disability & Philanthropy Forum • Steven Thrasher: Daniel Renberg Chair of Social Justice in Reporting, Northwestern University; Author, The Viral Underclass & The Overseer Class *Recommended books: “Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life” by Alice Wong, *Get the book “The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide” by Steven Thrasher, *Get the book (*Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. The LF Show is an affiliate of bookshop.org and will receive a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.) Watch the episode released on YouTube; PBS World Channel 11:30am ET Sundays and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio (check here to see if your station airs the show) & available as a podcast. Full Episode Notes are located HERE. Music Credit: 'Thrum of Soil' by Bluedot Sessions, 'Steppin' by Podington Bear, and original sound design by Jeannie Hopper Support Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends RESOURCES: Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes: • “The Future is Disabled”: Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha: Watch / Listen: Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation • The New Disabled Population in Gaza: Comedian & Disability Advocate Maysoon Zayid: Watch / Listen: Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation • Anita Cameron & Keith Jones on The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Civil Rights Milestone With Miles To Go: Watch / Listen: Episode Cut Related Articles and Resources: • Disability Visibility Project, Founder: Alice Wong • DisabledWriters.com • Access Is Love • A Tribute to an Oracle, Alice Wong, by Rebecca Cokley, November 26, 2025, The Nation • Trump Gutted AIDS Health. Care at the Worst Possible Time, by Steven W. Thrasher & Afeef Nessouli, December 1, 2025, The Intercept • On Valentine's Day, Let's Recognize Why #AccessIsLove, by Alice Wong, February 14, 2019, Rooted In Rights • Remembering Alice Wong: Writer, Advocate, Friend, by Steven W. Thrasher, November 17, 2025, LitHub • Crips for eSims for Gaza, chuffed.org • Alice Wong Interview with Steven Thrasher with subtitles, Watch • Alice Wong, 2024 MacArthur Fellow, MacArthur Foundation Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. 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This month on Laura Flanders & Friends we're lifting up the people, the stories, and the ideas driving disability justice forward. This week we celebrate the life and legacy of Alice Wong with two of her closest collaborators, reflecting on the movement she helped to build. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate Description: Alice Wong lived longer than she expected, but not long enough. The celebrated disability activist lived by the principle that disability justice is integral to all liberation movements, and centered disabled stories with the Disability Visibility Project. When Alice Wong died on November 14 at the age of 51, people across social movements shared their grief and awe for her work, such as her bestselling 2022 memoir, “Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life”. She has been called an oracle, visionary, unapologetic and fearless, and our guests, Wong's dear friends and collaborators, are committed to lifting up her legacy. Sandy Ho is the Executive Director of the Disability & Philanthropy Forum and partner with Alice Wong and Mia Mingus in the Access is Love campaign. She was asked by Alice Wong to post her letter after she passed, where Wong writes “. . . our wisdom is incisive and unflinching.” Steven Thrasher is an acclaimed journalist, professor and author of “The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality & Disease Collide”. He was suspended from teaching classes after speaking out — as Wong also did — on Palestine. Join us as we celebrate Alice Wong and ask what is the work to be done when it comes to healthcare and civil rights for disabled people. Plus a commentary from Laura on imagining the next 100 years. “A lot of Alice's advocacy was focused around the systems that force disabled people to be at the margins . . . Whether it is the Black Lives Matter movement or the pandemic, we see the ways in which our society and political systems respond, and not in ways that prioritize those who are least privileged and have the least amount of power.” - Sandy Ho “I remember talking to [Alice Wong] about the ways she had been conditioned as a disabled Asian American woman to try to accept crumbs, to not complain, to be very docile. I thought that she was really brilliant in bridging together not just Asian American communities, but queer communities, LGBTQ communities, all the communities where your body is made to feel like it doesn't belong.” - Steven Thrasher Guests: • Sandy Ho: Executive Director, Disability & Philanthropy Forum • Steven Thrasher: Daniel Renberg Chair of Social Justice in Reporting, Northwestern University; Author, The Viral Underclass & The Overseer Class *Recommended books: “Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life” by Alice Wong, *Get the book “The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide” by Steven Thrasher, *Get the book (*Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. The LF Show is an affiliate of bookshop.org and will receive a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.) Watch the episode released on YouTube; PBS World Channel 11:30am ET Sundays and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio (check here to see if your station airs the show) & available as a podcast. Full Episode Notes are located HERE. Full Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. Music Credit: 'Thrum of Soil' by Bluedot Sessions, 'Steppin' by Podington Bear, and original sound design by Jeannie Hopper Support Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends RESOURCES: Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes: • “The Future is Disabled”: Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha: Watch / Listen: Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation • The New Disabled Population in Gaza: Comedian & Disability Advocate Maysoon Zayid: Watch / Listen: Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation • Anita Cameron & Keith Jones on The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Civil Rights Milestone With Miles To Go: Watch / Listen: Episode Cut Related Articles and Resources: • Disability Visibility Project, Founder: Alice Wong • DisabledWriters.com • Access Is Love • A Tribute to an Oracle, Alice Wong, by Rebecca Cokley, November 26, 2025, The Nation • Trump Gutted AIDS Health. Care at the Worst Possible Time, by Steven W. Thrasher & Afeef Nessouli, December 1, 2025, The Intercept • On Valentine's Day, Let's Recognize Why #AccessIsLove, by Alice Wong, February 14, 2019, Rooted In Rights • Remembering Alice Wong: Writer, Advocate, Friend, by Steven W. Thrasher, November 17, 2025, LitHub • Crips for eSims for Gaza, chuffed.org • Alice Wong Interview with Steven Thrasher with subtitles, Watch • Alice Wong, 2024 MacArthur Fellow, MacArthur Foundation Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. 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In this episode of Platemark, we sit down with exceptional artist, printmaker, animator, and educator Jenny Schmid for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersections of history, art, and activism. We explore how historical figures like Käthe Kollwitz and José Posada influence Jenny's contemporary practice, delve into her fascinating project "Disembodied Reembodied," and celebrate the vital role of the Minnesota printmaking community in resisting oppressive systems. Jenny also shares a glimpse into her upcoming work examining midwifery, witch accusations, and women's labor history. Show me the images !! https://jennyschmid.com/ https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/cf19f0b0a7414dceb28f1fcd0dbd1ac7 https://vimeo.com/1087246787?fl=pl&fe=sh Please note: This episode contains sensitive discussions regarding the history of violence and racism in America, the murder of George Floyd, ICE, and the current socio-political landscape; listener discretion is advised.
Show NotesIn this episode of Edgy Ideas, Simon Western is joined by Maria Guerrero - social entrepreneur and leadership educator - to explore leadership, power and human development.Starting from Maria's work in education, faith-based institutions and social transformation, the conversation asks what kind of leadership is needed when expertise and authority are no longer enough. Drawing on Adaptive Leadership, Maria asserts that many of today's challenges require collective learning, shared responsibility and the willingness to engage with uncertainty rather than seeking quick answers.Simon and Maria examine how power operates in organisations, churches, universities and society, often shaping whose voices are heard and whose knowledge is valued. They discuss the importance of recognising lived experience alongside expertise and explore how leadership can emerge from unexpected places.The conversation also moves into the embodied and spiritual dimensions of leadership. Through stories of facilitation, peacebuilding and contemplative practice, they reflect on silence, discernment, movement, fragility and interdependence. In a time marked by polarisation and rapid change, Maria offers a vision of leadership rooted in connection, purpose and our shared humanity.Key Reflections Leadership is less about position or authority and more about the capacity to help individuals and communities navigate meaningful change. Many of today's challenges are adaptive rather than technical, requiring participation, experimentation, and collective learning rather than expert solutions. Power is often embedded in organisational cultures and social norms, influencing whose voices are heard and whose perspectives are overlooked. Real transformation requires the ability to stay with uncertainty, discomfort, and not-knowing instead of rushing towards certainty and control. Embodied practices such as movement, silence, and deep listening can reveal forms of wisdom that are inaccessible through rational analysis alone. Human fragility and interdependence are not weaknesses to overcome but realities that can deepen connection, compassion, and collaboration. Engaging constructively with difference is essential for leadership, peacebuilding, and creating communities capable of addressing complex challenges. Spirituality, understood as connection to self, others, nature, and something beyond ourselves, remains a vital but often neglected dimension of leadership development. KeywordsLeadership Development, Adaptive Leadership, Power & Authority, Human Development, Embodiment, Interdependence, Spirituality, Social Change. Brief BioMaría Guerrero is a social entrepreneur, leadership educator, and facilitator working at the intersection of social change, collective learning, and human development. Trained as a lawyer and economist, she began her career in corporate law before leaving the profession to found Acción por la Música, a pioneering organization in Spain that uses collective music-making as a platform for inclusion, community building, and social transformation.Over the past decade, María has combined her practical experience leading social innovation initiatives with a deep exploration of how people, organizations, and societies navigate complexity. Her work draws on Adaptive Leadership, collective sensemaking, adult development, conflict transformation, and traditions of spiritual discernment. She has designed and accompanied large-scale participatory processes in educational, social, and faith-based institutions, helping communities engage difficult questions, navigate polarization, and develop the capacity to learn their way forward together.María teaches leadership at Comillas University and works internationally as a speaker, facilitator, and advisor. She is part of global leadership networks connected to Harvard Kennedy School and Acumen, and is currently pursuing doctoral research on leadership development and organizational transformation in complex systems.At the heart of her work is a simple conviction: many of the challenges that matter most cannot be solved by expertise alone. They require people to learn, adapt, and discover new possibilities together.
In Brockton, Massachusetts, a Cape Verdean grocery store sits next door to a community health center. They're side by side on purpose. When BlueHub Capital looked at the neighborhood, it saw residents wrestling with food and health and decided those weren't two problems but one, so it financed the store and the clinic together and put them within a few steps of each other. A small decision. It also explains how an organization stays alive for forty years.Elyse Cherry co-founded BlueHub in 1985 with $3,500 and a single idea: build healthy communities where people of limited income live and work. The idea has never changed. Almost everything else has. Over four decades the organization has run a loan fund, a venture fund, a utility-cost company, a foreclosure-relief program, and a one-percent loan to cover the cost of citizenship. Cherry separates the why from the how. The why is fixed. The how gets reinvented whenever the work demands it.Which raises the obvious question: how do you know when to change the how? Cherry's answer isn't vision or instinct. It's location. BlueHub keeps its offices inside the neighborhoods it serves, because the people who live there understand what they need before anyone downtown does. They may not know how to build a capital structure. They know which corner needs a grocery store. Sit close enough and the next move tends to announce itself.The longest test of the idea is Roxbury, where BlueHub has been headquartered for twenty-five years. A new 40-year impact study counts $147 million in financing, another $910 million leveraged on top of it, and more than 3,200 homes, along with childcare, schools, and job training. Numbers like that come from the same nerve that, during the 1992 banking collapse, led a then-tiny BlueHub to buy its own distressed loans back from the federal government at ten cents on the dollar and rewrite them so families stayed housed. When you're making something that has never existed, Cherry figured, you have nothing to protect, so you may as well be bold.All of which brings up courage, a word Cherry uses carefully. Courage can be quiet, she says, but it can't be silent. Stop moving, and the people who don't share your values win without a fight. It's a modest creed for a hard season, and a workable one. The leaders who last are the ones who stay close — to the community they serve, and to the financial realities that let them keep serving it. (00:00) - Welcome to Mission Forward (07:29) - Proximity (13:14) - CDFIs (21:42) - The Roxburry 40-Year Impact Study (28:12) - "Courage can be quiet. It can't be silent."
What makes the difference between a community where artists simply survive… and one where creativity becomes part of the living infrastructure of democracy?Today we're continuing our series exploring the building blocks of effective community arts practice. Joining me once again are activist poet, performer, educator, and creative change agent Alice Lovelace, along with educator, cultural strategist, and longtime arts and democracy leader Barbara Shaffer Bacon.Together we tackle a deceptively simple question: What are the essential ingredients of a healthy and thriving art and social change ecosystem?We Explore:Why healthy arts ecosystems don't happen by accident.The false assumption that cultural health is defined by economic development.Why the strongest cultural ecosystems reach far beyond the arts themselves—connecting artists with public health, education, environmental justice, youth development, and other sectors that shape the well-being of a community.This is a conversation about community, stewardship, and what it really takes to build an ecosystem where artists—and the communities they serve—can flourish together.Notable MentionsPeopleAlice Lovelace: Poet, educator, Executive Director of ArtsXchange, and longtime leader in community-based arts, cultural organizing, and social justice.Barbara Shaffer Bacon: Cultural policy leader, educator, and founding co-director of Animating Democracy, widely recognized for advancing arts-based civic engagement and cultural policy.Lenny Sloan: Beloved community arts advocate, cultural organizer, and longtime colleague remembered as one of the inspirations behind this conversation series.Maynard Jackson: Atlanta's first African American mayor, remembered for expanding civic participation and public investment in the arts.Shirley Franklin: Former mayor of Atlanta whose administration continued significant investment in the city's cultural infrastructure.Robert Peters: Mashpee Wampanoag artist, writer, and cultural leader whose work integrates Indigenous traditions, storytelling, ceremony, and community healing.Roberta Uno: Founder of New WORLD Theater and one of America's leading advocates for culturally specific and community-based theater.Organizations & InitiativesCenter for the Study of Art & Community: Producer of ART IS CHANGE and advancing arts-based community development and cultural organizing.ArtsXchange: Atlanta-based interdisciplinary arts organization dedicated to community cultural development, creative leadership, and social justice.Animating Democracy: National initiative advancing civic engagement, community development, and social change through the arts.New WORLD Theater: Groundbreaking multicultural theater that elevated artists and communities of color while reshaping American theater.Public Art Network: National professional network supporting public artists, public art programs, and civic arts leadership.Arts on Prescription: An emerging healthcare movement integrating arts participation into medical care through clinician referrals and social prescribing.PlacesAtlanta, Georgia: Principal case study illustrating strengths and vulnerabilities of long-term community arts ecosystems.New Bedford, Massachusetts: Example of a city where artists, government, and community organizations have built a collaborative cultural ecosystem.Alameda, California: Home base of host Bill Cleveland and the Center for the Study of Art & Community.Minneapolis, Minnesota: Referenced as an example of a deeply interconnected community arts ecosystem.Key Concepts & PracticesArts Ecosystems: The interconnected relationships among artists, organizations, funders, institutions, and communities that collectively sustain creative life.Cross-sector Collaboration: Partnerships linking artists with public health, education, environmental justice, youth development, and community planning.Creative Commons (Community Sense): Bill Cleveland's metaphor describing artistic communities where collaboration, mentoring, reciprocity, and mutual aid become cultural norms.Arts on Prescription: A growing international practice in which healthcare professionals prescribe arts participation as part of treatment for physical, mental, and social well-being.*******Art Is CHANGE is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and gain the skills and strategies they need to thrive as agents of social change.Through compelling conversations with artist activists, artivists, and cultural organizers, the podcast explores how art and activism intersect to fuel cultural transformation and drive meaningful change. Guests discuss the challenges and triumphs of community arts, socially engaged art, and creative placemaking, offering insights into artist mentorship, building credibility, and communicating impact.Episodes delve into the realities of artist isolation, burnout, and funding for artists, while celebrating the role of artists in residence and creative leadership in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Whether you're an emerging or established artist for social justice, this podcast offers inspiration, practical advice, and a sense of solidarity in the journey toward art and social change.
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‘We are always talking about outward change in the social structure, either through violence or through peaceful means. The problem is much deeper than mere social change.' This episode on Activism & Social Change has three sections. The first extract (2:48) is from the third discussion with young adults in Saanen 1968, and is titled: Where Should Change Begin? The second extract (24:20) is from Krishnamurti's first talk in Rome 1968, and is titled Can We Change the Social Order? The final extract in this episode (57:55) is from the first talk in New York 1971, and is titled: You Are Totally Responsible for What Is Happening in the World. The Krishnamurti Podcast features carefully selected extracts from Krishnamurti's recorded talks. Each episode highlights his different approaches to universal, timeless themes that affect our everyday lives, the state of the world, and the future of humanity. This episode's theme is Activism & Social Change. Upcoming themes are Children, Detachment and Harmony. This is a podcast from Krishnamurti Foundation Trust, based at Brockwood Park in the UK, which is also home to the Krishnamurti Retreat Centre. Situated in the beautiful countryside of the South Downs National Park, The Krishnamurti Centre offers retreats individually and in groups. The focus is on inquiry in light of Krishnamurti's teachings. Please visit krishnamurticentre.org.uk for more information, including our volunteer programme. You can also find our regular Krishnamurti quotes and videos on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook at Krishnamurti Foundation Trust. If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review or rating on your podcast app.
In 2020, the emergency announced itself. The need was visible, the urgency undeniable, and that clarity gave leaders permission to act — to move a million dollars across town before lunch and hand-walk the check to a barely-open UPS store.Five years later, Carrie Fox reflects on her conversation with Tanir Ami of the CARESTAR Foundation and lands on a tricky puzzle: the urgency hasn't gone away, but it has gone quiet. The systems are still shifting, but they're shifting in ways that are less visible, and that invisibility is what makes them so hard to act against. This is where a North Star stops being a poster on the wall and becomes an operational imperative.This week, takeaways from an important and ongoing conversation: clarity of purpose makes action possible, strategic planning is a lifeline rather than a luxury, and the most meaningful impact is the momentum you've created, and then leave behind. And for CARESTAR, that momentum has a name — eliminating racial disparities in emergency medical services. What they measure as achievement isn't just in the form of grants or the dollars deployed. It's that an organization sitting just outside the center created the space for a statewide conversation no one else could convene, and then committed to keeping that conversation alive long after its own work is done.If you haven't listened to the main conversation with Tanir, it's a good one. You can find it right here. (00:00) - Welcome to Mission Forward
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Voices of Change: A Community's Festival of Democracy Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-06-20-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个炎热的夏日,龙舟节的气息弥漫在空气中,村里的投票站热闹非凡。En: On a scorching summer day, the spirit of the Dragon Boat Festival filled the air, and the voting station in the village was bustling with activity.Zh: 五彩斑斓的横幅装饰着这个地方,桌上摆满了宣传册,义工们热情地为来者准备糯米粽。En: Colorful banners decorated the place, tables were filled with brochures, and volunteers enthusiastically prepared sticky rice dumplings for visitors.Zh: 梁是一个热心的社区志愿者,他始终相信可以通过投票推动更包容的政策。En: Liang was an enthusiastic community volunteer, always believing that voting could drive more inclusive policies.Zh: 这次,他在投票站忙前忙后,想要鼓励更多人投票。En: This time, he was busy at the voting station, aiming to encourage more people to vote.Zh: 这对梁来说,是一个重要的日子。En: For Liang, it was an important day.Zh: 他站在桌旁,微笑地欢迎每位投票者。En: He stood by the table, smiling as he welcomed each voter.Zh: 梅,一位年轻的职场女性,站在投票站门口,犹豫不决。En: Mei, a young career woman, stood hesitantly at the entrance of the voting station.Zh: 她总是怀疑自己的声音是否有分量。En: She always doubted whether her voice carried any weight.Zh: 眼前的宣传册多得让她眼花缭乱,她不知道手中的选票能否改变什么。En: The brochures before her were overwhelming, and she wasn't sure if her ballot would make any difference.Zh: 而金,退休教师,坚定不移地相信公民责任的重要性。En: Meanwhile, Jin, a retired teacher, firmly believed in the importance of civic duty.Zh: 他一直努力,希望年轻人能意识到投票的重要。En: He always strived for young people to realize the significance of voting.Zh: 今天,他依旧精神抖擞地站在投票站,耐心地向每个人讲解投票流程的重要意义。En: Today, he was as enthusiastic as ever, patiently explaining the importance of the voting process to everyone.Zh: “你好,梅,”梁走到她身边,试图与她交流。En: "Hello, Mei," Liang approached her, trying to engage in conversation.Zh: “你的声音很重要,这影响着我们的未来。”En: "Your voice is important; it influences our future."Zh: 梅沉默片刻,低声说:“我不知道我一个人的力量能做什么。”En: Mei was silent for a moment and said softly, "I don't know what I, alone, can achieve."Zh: 此时,金正在对一群首次投票的年轻人热情地分享他的观点:“每一张选票都是一个声音。你们的声音可以塑造一个更好的社区。”En: At this moment, Jin was passionately sharing his views with a group of first-time voters: “Every ballot is a voice. Your voices can shape a better community.”Zh: 梅不由得被这一幕打动。En: Mei was moved by the scene.Zh: 她看到那些年轻人脸上的希望,仿佛看到了自己最初的信念。En: She saw the hope on the young people's faces and seemed to rediscover her original beliefs.Zh: 梅深吸一口气,走向投票箱。En: Mei took a deep breath and walked toward the ballot box.Zh: 她终于意识到,改变从每一个个体开始。En: She finally realized that change begins with each individual.Zh: 梁也注意到,投票站的人流渐渐增多。En: Liang also noticed the increasing flow of people at the voting station.Zh: 他感到一种新的希望正在涌现。En: He felt a new hope emerging.Zh: 投票结束时,金微微一笑,他知道自己的努力没有白费。En: By the end of the voting, Jin smiled slightly, knowing that his efforts were not in vain.Zh: 梅走出投票站,心中充满了新的动力和责任感。En: Mei left the voting station filled with a new sense of motivation and responsibility.Zh: 梁看着人们充满期待地离开,心中对社区的未来充满了信心。En: Liang watched as people left with anticipation, feeling confident about the community's future.Zh: 龙舟节的日子结束了,社区中每个人的努力仿佛划出了新的方向。En: The day of the Dragon Boat Festival came to an end, and it seemed as though everyone's efforts in the community had charted a new course.Zh: 改变从未如此真实,村里的每一个人,都是推动这股力量的源泉。En: Change had never felt so real, and every person in the village was a source of this driving force. Vocabulary Words:scorching: 炎热的bustling: 热闹非凡brochures: 宣传册enthusiastically: 热情地inclusive: 包容的hesitantly: 犹豫不决overwhelming: 眼花缭乱的ballot: 选票civic duty: 公民责任strived: 努力engage: 交流carry weight: 有分量realize: 意识到passionately: 热情地rediscover: 重新发现motivation: 动力responsibility: 责任感anticipation: 期待emerging: 涌现in vain: 白费confidence: 信心chart: 划出real: 真实source: 源泉filled: 弥漫volunteer: 志愿者influence: 影响firmly: 坚定不移地explaining: 讲解voter: 投票者
In honor of Juneteenth ...... from 2017 ..... Max Klau, author of "Race and Social Change: A Quest, a Study, a Call to Action."
Rebecca Smith Pollard published a book of poems to mark the U.S. centennial in 1876, and also a novel with some questionable messages. She also developed a method to teach children to read that was ahead of its time. Research: Chetwynd, Sally Morong “Sam.” “Birth of Rebecca Smith Pollard, Education pioneer – Sept. 20, 1831.” Brass Castle Arts. 9/20/2014. https://brasscastlearts.blogspot.com/2014/09/birth-of-rebecca-smith-pollard.html The Writer’s Almanac. “Tuesday, September 20, 2011.” https://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php%3Fdate=2011%252F09%252F20.html History of Literacy. “Pollard Nominated to Reading Hall of Fame.” History of Reading News. Vol.XXVI No.1 (2002:Fall). Via Archive.org Wayback Machine. https://web.archive.org/web/20160729031119/https://historyliteracy.org/scripts/search_display.php?Article_ID=240 Haefner, Marie. “An American Lady.” The Palimpsest. The State Historical Society of Iowa. April 1957. The Palimpsest archive 38(4), 129-176. doi: https://doi.org/10.17077/0031-0360.22585 Pollard, Rebecca S. “The Prayers of Eleven Hundred Children.” Our Dumb Animals. Vol. 24, No. 8. January, 1892. https://archive.org/details/sim_animals_our-dumb-animals_1892-01_24_8/ The Catholic Educational Review. “Phonetics, Their Origin and Function.” Vol. 24. May 1926. https://archive.org/details/sim_catholic-educational-review_1926-05_24/ “Pollard’s Advanced Speller.” Education. Vol. 18, Issue 1. September 1897. https://archive.org/details/sim_education-us_1897-09_18_1/ Pollard, R.S. “Educational Appliance.” U.S. Patent No. 375,095. December 20, 1887. Heilman, Arthur W. “Principles and practices of teaching reading.” Columbus, Ohio, C. E. Merrill Books. 1961. Huey, Edmund Burke. “The History And Pedagogy Of Reading With A Review Of The History Of Reading And Writing And Of Methods Texts And Hygiene In Reading.” The Macmillan Company. 1915. “A New Road to Learning.” The Des Moines Register. Page 23. 12/3/1911. Wheatley, Jeffrey. “The Wrong Feeling of Feeling Right: Fanaticism and Sentiment in Anti-Abolitionist Novels.” From Religion and Social Change. Edited by Sabrina Danielsen. Journal of Religion and Society. Supplement 26 (2025.) Harrington, Kate and Miss M.E. Wilson. “The Moonlight Tryst.” Louisville Journal. 1/7/1854. Pollard, Rebecca S. “Emma Bartlett: or, Prejudice and fanaticism.” Cincinnati, Moore, Wilstach, Keys & Overend. 1856. “Emma Bartlett: or, Prejudice and Fanaticism.” Ottumwa Semi-Weekly Courier. 4/16/1857. Pollard, Rebecca S. “Centennial and Other Poems.” Philadelphia : Lippincott. 1876. Kirkham, Samuel. “English Grammar in Familiar Lectures.” New York. Robert B. Collins. “Portrait and Biographical Album of Lee County, Iowa.” Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887. https://sites.rootsweb.com/~iabiog/lee/pbh1887/pbh1887-s.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
‘One of the indications of sanity is that there is no contradiction within oneself, no imbalance, where thought and action correspond to each other.' This episode on Sanity has four sections. The first extract (2:36) is from Krishnamurti's first talk in Madras 1977, and is titled: Sanity in Observation and Communication. The second extract (18:07) is from the second talk in Santa Monica 1972, and is titled: Sane Action in an Insane World. The third extract (55:23) is from Krishnamurti's fourth talk in Paris 1965, and is titled: Sanity and Virtue Go Together. The final extract in this episode (1:11:00) is from the first talk in Amsterdam 1969, and is titled: Krishnamurti, Are You Crazy? The Krishnamurti Podcast features carefully selected extracts from Krishnamurti's recorded talks. Each episode highlights his different approaches to universal, timeless subjects that affect our everyday lives, the state of the world, and the future of humanity. This episode's theme is Sanity. Upcoming themes are Activism & Social Change, Children and Detachment. This is a podcast from Krishnamurti Foundation Trust, based at Brockwood Park in Hampshire, UK. Brockwood is also home to Brockwood Park School, a unique international boarding school offering a personalised, holistic education inspired by Krishnamurti's teachings. Please visit brockwood.org.uk for more information. You can also find our regular Krishnamurti quotes and videos on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook at Krishnamurti Foundation Trust. If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review or rating on your podcast app.
Rebecca Morrison is healthy by many measures. But like millions of people today, she finds herself wondering whether or not she should be taking a GLP-1 drug. What's the right thing to do? This episode explores how this new class of weight loss drugs is reshaping our healthcare choices, and the landscape in which we make them.You can read more about Rebecca Morrison's story in her novel, The Blue Dress, released March 2026. This episode features:Rebecca K. Morrison: Writer.Mara Gordon, MD: Primary Care Physician at Cooper University Hospital and Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.Alexandra Brewis, PhD: Regents Professor and President's Professor at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University.Jeffrey Kahn, PhD, MPH: Andreas C. Dracopoulos Director of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics.“playing god?” is a podcast by the iDeas Lab at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. To read a transcript of this episode, visit the iDeas Lab website at https://bioethics.jhu.edu/pgs2e5.The Johns Hopkins University Sesquicentennial is proud to support this podcast. JHU celebrates 150 years of pioneering education and research—advancing knowledge to meet the challenges of every generation. Learn more at 150.jhu.edu.
Can artificial intelligence completely replace a manufacturing workforce, and how are massive manufacturing plants adapting to the modern skill gap? In this episode of Manufacturing Talk Radio, host Lewis Weiss sits down with Tanushree Ghosh, the Senior Director leading site operations at Medtronic's Tempe complex. Managing a population of nearly 800 people across a nine-building facility, Tanushree oversees the production of critical cardiovascular, neurovascular, and pelvic health medical devices. Drawing from her PhD background in science and material chemistry—alongside a 17-year career at Intel—she delivers an authentic look into running a complex manufacturing ecosystem. Tune in as Lewis and Tanushree break down the actual reality of AI proliferation on the factory floor, separating the media hype from cost-effective operational constraints. Tanushree shares how large companies effectively manage long-term internship and workforce models to upskill the next generation. Finally, explore her parallel career as an author and the founder of the non-profit Her Rights, where she targets gender parity, workforce diversity, and social activism. Timestamps to Watch: 00:00 – Meet Guest Tanushree Ghosh: Senior Director at Medtronic 02:15 – Inside the Tempe Complex: Medical Device Manufacturing at Scale 03:41 – Addressing the Skill Gap, Obsolete Equipment, and Workforce Realities 05:06 – Developing Long-Term Interships & Mentorship Programs 08:47 – The Real Impact of AI vs. AI Hype in 2026 Manufacturing 13:17 – Capital Equipment Depreciation and the Mathematics of Automation 16:14 – Leveraging AI and Startups for Small to Medium-Sized Companies 19:59 – Social Activism: Founding "Her Rights" and Fostering Gender Equality 21:35 – Authorship & Literature: Navigating Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Social Change 24:54 – Ruthless Efficiency: Work-Life Balance and Finding Personal Success 29:05 – The Struggle of the "Stanford Duck": Being Vulnerable About Mental Health Continued Reading + Resources Queer Chronicles Book: https://mybook.to/queerchronicles Beyond #MeToo Book: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-MeToo-Ushering-Womens-Noise-ebook/dp/B0CN4GJVFN Her Rights Advocacy: https://www.herrights.org/ Thoughts & Rights Platform: https://www.thoughtsandrights.com/ Connect with our Guest Instagram: @thoughtsrightsnimages X: @thoughtsnrights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Real Truth About Health Free 17 Day Live Online Conference Podcast
Public outrage and policy shifts offer hope. Learn how awareness, advocacy, and plant-based diets can drive real environmental change. #AtrazineBan #PublicAction #CleanWater #HealthTalks
You probably know the dream where you need to run and your legs won't obey. Carrie names that dream halfway through her conversation with Tanir Ami this week, and from there it's hard to let the idea go. What Tanir describes, and what the whole nonprofit and foundation sector seems to be describing right now, is the waking version of it.In 2020, leadership looked like a million-dollar check hand-walked to a closed UPS office. Decisiveness was the whole job. The uncertainty was acute but legible: a virus, a curve, a set of immediate needs. You moved, or people died. Today's uncertainty is different. Tanir calls it "quieter." The threats are diffuse, the timelines unclear, the systems shifting in ways that might not surface for months or years. The instinct to charge forward survives. The sense of which way to charge does not.Tanir, in the middle of all this, did the opposite of what the field expected. She narrowed. While other leaders were being told that strategic planning had become too hard to attempt, she and her team spent the year writing one. Not a sprawling, hedge-everything plan. The CARESTAR Foundation's new strategic plan turns on a single sentence: eliminate racial disparities in emergency medical services care across California.The 2026 Insights on Purpose research that anchors this season found that most leaders are making major changes to grantmaking or fundraising, and most are doing it without a strategic plan at all. The reasoning is easy to follow: when the ground keeps moving, why commit to a destination? Tanir's answer runs the other way. When the ground keeps moving, the destination is the only stable thing on the horizon. The path will change. The collaborators will undoubtedly change. The question of what you are trying to alter about the world only gets sharper under increasing pressure.When Tanir shared this new, tighter focus publicly, nobody backed away. They moved toward her. Committing publicly to one specific thing made her easier to find, and the plan turned into an invitation. In this week's Research Brief, Matt Price points the same direction: health-focused nonprofits report the lowest optimism of any subsector in the study, and they are the ones who most need a funder willing to cover work that is, as he puts it, "sometimes under attack."Carrie's dream, the one where you run and stay in place, marks one texture of leadership in 2026. This conversation points to another. Choose one thing, say it out loud, and build the plan around it. The legs start moving again. The dream hasn't ended. You've just stopped trying to outrun it. (00:00) - Welcome to Mission Forward (01:18) - Introducing Tanir Ami (04:42) - Why is Racial Justice so important to Pre-Hospital Care? (05:54) - Reflections on Leadership Today... versus 2020 (13:35) - Reimagining Creativity and Collaboration (16:22) - The Strategic Plan (23:05) - The Ten-Year Retrospective (27:55) - Research Briefs with Matt Price
Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself!Join Wendy for her dreamy Summer Solstice White Party on Saturday June 20, 2026 —an al fresco evening of delicious food, intention-setting, and celebration at the Phineas Wright House. Wear white, gather at the long table in the field, and toast to the season ahead. Save you seat here: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/summer-solstice-white-partyIn this episode, Wendy sits down with Lynn Harris, founder of Gold Comedy and an industry veteran who's spent her career at the intersection of entertainment and social change. After 5 years of eldercare and other demands, Lynn is saying yes to herself again by setting boundaries, scheduling creative projects, and pursuing her own work.They explore:How comedy works as a delivery system for challenging conversations and cultural shiftWhy the specificity of storytelling creates unexpected connection across differenceWhat it means to set boundaries and reclaim your creative life after burnoutLynn talks about the social contract of comedy and when you attend a show, you're required to listen to someone, even if they don't look like you or share your background. That simple act normalizes different perspectives and creates the possibility for cultural change. She's built Gold Comedy to help women and underrepresented voices succeed in comedy and entertainment, because the industry hasn't evolved enough since the 90s. Her insight is clear: it's not that women need to speak up more. It's that people need to listen.Connect with Lynn:GoldComedy.comDiscount Code Coming Soon!Youtube.com/GoldComedyInstagram: instagram.com/goldcomedyReferenced in this Episode:Boundary Boss by Terri Cole: amazon.com/dp/1683647688?tag=syty-20A Course in Miracles Links:amazon.com/Course-Miracles-Combined-Quality/dp/1883360242?tag=syty-20marianne.com/acim/apps.apple.com/us/app/acim-remind/id737568020________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with Wendy:LinkedinInstagram: @wendy.harropFacebook: Phineas Wright HouseWebsite: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm StaysPWH Curated Experience and TravelInterested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.comPodcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat!If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a 5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.
BE Alink, inventor and founder of The Alinker, discusses why she invented the remarkable walking bike, where it's made, where it's sold, what it means to be a Certified B Corporation, and how The Alinker is life-changing for its customers in more ways than she could have ever imagined.
Today on Uncommon Sense, we're discussing the tragic state of the modern world.From the protests in Ireland to growing frustration across Western nations, many people feel as though their voices are no longer being heard by the institutions that claim to represent them. I'll share why I support the right of people to protest and why I believe the demonstrations in Ireland have resonated with so many people around the world.We'll also discuss what I see as a deeper spiritual crisis affecting modern society. Many of the political, cultural, and social problems we face today are symptoms of a broader moral and spiritual decline, one that cannot be solved through politics alone.In this episode:My thoughts on the protests in IrelandWhy so many citizens now feel disconnected from their governmentsThe growing divide between ordinary people and powerful institutionsThe role of faith, morality, and personal responsibility in rebuilding societyWhy I believe many of today's crises point to a deeper spiritual battleWhether you agree or disagree, this episode is an invitation to think critically about the direction of our culture, our governments, and our future.--https://www.youversion.com/bible-app
Former Deputy Chief Technology Officer for President Obama, professor, and director of The Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University, Beth Simone Noveck discusses how artificial intelligence can be designed and governed to strengthen democracy, as explored in her new book, Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Revolutionary New York: 250 Years of Social Change (SUNY Press, 2026), edited by Bruce Dearstyne and published by SUNY Press, examines what the volume calls the “unfinished revolutions” of the Empire State. In sixteen essays by a varied cast of authors, the book explores efforts to achieve what the editor describes as the full promise of the revolution. Central to the book are ordinary New Yorkers who faced great challenges, such as the Oneida who tried to maintain sovereignty in the era of the American Revolution, women winning the vote, and African American soldiers who served in the United States Army in World War I. Together, Dearstyne writes, they tell a story of “the two-and-a-half century struggle to realize the Revolution's ideals and bring increased freedom and opportunities to marginalized populations.” Dearstyne is the editor of this volume and the author of several books, including The Spirit of New York: Defining Events in the Empire State's History and The Crucible of Public Policy: New York Courts in the Progressive Era. Robert Snyder, interviewing for the New Books Network and the Gotham Center for New York Cit History, is professor emeritus of Journalism and American Studies at Rutgers University. He is the author of When the City Stopped: Stories from New York's Essential Workers (Cornell, 2025), winner of the Fiorello LaGuardia Book Prize. rwsnyder@rutgers.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies
Revolutionary New York: 250 Years of Social Change (SUNY Press, 2026), edited by Bruce Dearstyne and published by SUNY Press, examines what the volume calls the “unfinished revolutions” of the Empire State. In sixteen essays by a varied cast of authors, the book explores efforts to achieve what the editor describes as the full promise of the revolution. Central to the book are ordinary New Yorkers who faced great challenges, such as the Oneida who tried to maintain sovereignty in the era of the American Revolution, women winning the vote, and African American soldiers who served in the United States Army in World War I. Together, Dearstyne writes, they tell a story of “the two-and-a-half century struggle to realize the Revolution's ideals and bring increased freedom and opportunities to marginalized populations.” Dearstyne is the editor of this volume and the author of several books, including The Spirit of New York: Defining Events in the Empire State's History and The Crucible of Public Policy: New York Courts in the Progressive Era. Robert Snyder, interviewing for the New Books Network and the Gotham Center for New York Cit History, is professor emeritus of Journalism and American Studies at Rutgers University. He is the author of When the City Stopped: Stories from New York's Essential Workers (Cornell, 2025), winner of the Fiorello LaGuardia Book Prize. rwsnyder@rutgers.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Revolutionary New York: 250 Years of Social Change (SUNY Press, 2026), edited by Bruce Dearstyne and published by SUNY Press, examines what the volume calls the “unfinished revolutions” of the Empire State. In sixteen essays by a varied cast of authors, the book explores efforts to achieve what the editor describes as the full promise of the revolution. Central to the book are ordinary New Yorkers who faced great challenges, such as the Oneida who tried to maintain sovereignty in the era of the American Revolution, women winning the vote, and African American soldiers who served in the United States Army in World War I. Together, Dearstyne writes, they tell a story of “the two-and-a-half century struggle to realize the Revolution's ideals and bring increased freedom and opportunities to marginalized populations.” Dearstyne is the editor of this volume and the author of several books, including The Spirit of New York: Defining Events in the Empire State's History and The Crucible of Public Policy: New York Courts in the Progressive Era. Robert Snyder, interviewing for the New Books Network and the Gotham Center for New York Cit History, is professor emeritus of Journalism and American Studies at Rutgers University. He is the author of When the City Stopped: Stories from New York's Essential Workers (Cornell, 2025), winner of the Fiorello LaGuardia Book Prize. rwsnyder@rutgers.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history
Revolutionary New York: 250 Years of Social Change (SUNY Press, 2026), edited by Bruce Dearstyne and published by SUNY Press, examines what the volume calls the “unfinished revolutions” of the Empire State. In sixteen essays by a varied cast of authors, the book explores efforts to achieve what the editor describes as the full promise of the revolution. Central to the book are ordinary New Yorkers who faced great challenges, such as the Oneida who tried to maintain sovereignty in the era of the American Revolution, women winning the vote, and African American soldiers who served in the United States Army in World War I. Together, Dearstyne writes, they tell a story of “the two-and-a-half century struggle to realize the Revolution's ideals and bring increased freedom and opportunities to marginalized populations.” Dearstyne is the editor of this volume and the author of several books, including The Spirit of New York: Defining Events in the Empire State's History and The Crucible of Public Policy: New York Courts in the Progressive Era. Robert Snyder, interviewing for the New Books Network and the Gotham Center for New York Cit History, is professor emeritus of Journalism and American Studies at Rutgers University. He is the author of When the City Stopped: Stories from New York's Essential Workers (Cornell, 2025), winner of the Fiorello LaGuardia Book Prize. rwsnyder@rutgers.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/native-american-studies
Revolutionary New York: 250 Years of Social Change (SUNY Press, 2026), edited by Bruce Dearstyne and published by SUNY Press, examines what the volume calls the “unfinished revolutions” of the Empire State. In sixteen essays by a varied cast of authors, the book explores efforts to achieve what the editor describes as the full promise of the revolution. Central to the book are ordinary New Yorkers who faced great challenges, such as the Oneida who tried to maintain sovereignty in the era of the American Revolution, women winning the vote, and African American soldiers who served in the United States Army in World War I. Together, Dearstyne writes, they tell a story of “the two-and-a-half century struggle to realize the Revolution's ideals and bring increased freedom and opportunities to marginalized populations.” Dearstyne is the editor of this volume and the author of several books, including The Spirit of New York: Defining Events in the Empire State's History and The Crucible of Public Policy: New York Courts in the Progressive Era. Robert Snyder, interviewing for the New Books Network and the Gotham Center for New York Cit History, is professor emeritus of Journalism and American Studies at Rutgers University. He is the author of When the City Stopped: Stories from New York's Essential Workers (Cornell, 2025), winner of the Fiorello LaGuardia Book Prize. rwsnyder@rutgers.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies
A novel and scientific approach to creating transformative social change—and the surprising ways that each of us can help make a real difference. Changing the world is difficult. One reason is that the most important problems, like climate change, racism, and poverty, are structural. They emerge from our collective practices: laws, economies, history, culture, norms, and built environments. The dilemma is that there is no way to make structural change without individual people making different—more structure-facing—decisions. In Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change (MIT Press, 2025) Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva, and Daniel Kelly show us how we can connect our personal choices to structural change and why individual choices matter, though not in the way people usually think. The authors paint a new picture of how social change happens, arguing that our most powerful personal choices are those that springboard us into working together with others—warehouse worker Chris Smalls's unionization at Amazon is one powerful example. Taking inspiration from the writer Bill McKibben, they stress how one “important thing an individual can do is be somewhat less of an individual.” Organized into three main parts, the book first diagnoses the problem of “either/or” thinking about social change, which stems from the false choice of making better personal choices or changing the system. Then it offers a different way to think about social change, anchored in a new picture of human nature emerging across the social sciences. Finally, the authors explore ways of putting this picture into practice. Neither a how-to manual nor an activist's guide, Somebody Should Do Something pairs stories with science (plus some jokes) to help readers recognize their own power, turning resignation about climate change and racial injustice into actions that transform the world. My guests today are Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva and Daniel Kelly. Michael is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at John Jay College and Professor of Philosophy at the Graduate Center, Cuny. Alex is Professor of Philosophy, Director of the California Center for Ethics and Policy, and Co-Director of the Digital Humanities Consortium at Cal Poly Pomona. Daniel is Professor of Philosophy at Purdue University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
A novel and scientific approach to creating transformative social change—and the surprising ways that each of us can help make a real difference. Changing the world is difficult. One reason is that the most important problems, like climate change, racism, and poverty, are structural. They emerge from our collective practices: laws, economies, history, culture, norms, and built environments. The dilemma is that there is no way to make structural change without individual people making different—more structure-facing—decisions. In Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change (MIT Press, 2025) Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva, and Daniel Kelly show us how we can connect our personal choices to structural change and why individual choices matter, though not in the way people usually think. The authors paint a new picture of how social change happens, arguing that our most powerful personal choices are those that springboard us into working together with others—warehouse worker Chris Smalls's unionization at Amazon is one powerful example. Taking inspiration from the writer Bill McKibben, they stress how one “important thing an individual can do is be somewhat less of an individual.” Organized into three main parts, the book first diagnoses the problem of “either/or” thinking about social change, which stems from the false choice of making better personal choices or changing the system. Then it offers a different way to think about social change, anchored in a new picture of human nature emerging across the social sciences. Finally, the authors explore ways of putting this picture into practice. Neither a how-to manual nor an activist's guide, Somebody Should Do Something pairs stories with science (plus some jokes) to help readers recognize their own power, turning resignation about climate change and racial injustice into actions that transform the world. My guests today are Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva and Daniel Kelly. Michael is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at John Jay College and Professor of Philosophy at the Graduate Center, Cuny. Alex is Professor of Philosophy, Director of the California Center for Ethics and Policy, and Co-Director of the Digital Humanities Consortium at Cal Poly Pomona. Daniel is Professor of Philosophy at Purdue University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory
A novel and scientific approach to creating transformative social change—and the surprising ways that each of us can help make a real difference. Changing the world is difficult. One reason is that the most important problems, like climate change, racism, and poverty, are structural. They emerge from our collective practices: laws, economies, history, culture, norms, and built environments. The dilemma is that there is no way to make structural change without individual people making different—more structure-facing—decisions. In Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change (MIT Press, 2025) Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva, and Daniel Kelly show us how we can connect our personal choices to structural change and why individual choices matter, though not in the way people usually think. The authors paint a new picture of how social change happens, arguing that our most powerful personal choices are those that springboard us into working together with others—warehouse worker Chris Smalls's unionization at Amazon is one powerful example. Taking inspiration from the writer Bill McKibben, they stress how one “important thing an individual can do is be somewhat less of an individual.” Organized into three main parts, the book first diagnoses the problem of “either/or” thinking about social change, which stems from the false choice of making better personal choices or changing the system. Then it offers a different way to think about social change, anchored in a new picture of human nature emerging across the social sciences. Finally, the authors explore ways of putting this picture into practice. Neither a how-to manual nor an activist's guide, Somebody Should Do Something pairs stories with science (plus some jokes) to help readers recognize their own power, turning resignation about climate change and racial injustice into actions that transform the world. My guests today are Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva and Daniel Kelly. Michael is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at John Jay College and Professor of Philosophy at the Graduate Center, Cuny. Alex is Professor of Philosophy, Director of the California Center for Ethics and Policy, and Co-Director of the Digital Humanities Consortium at Cal Poly Pomona. Daniel is Professor of Philosophy at Purdue University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies
In this episode, Dr. Baron sits down with Rabbi Megan and Paige GoldMarche, a dedicated couple working within the Jewish communal space, to discuss the deeply personal and complex realities of their family-building journey. Together, they share the emotional, physical, and financial hurdles of facing infertility as a queer couple while holding a profound desire to build their future family. Megan and Paige reflect on the early days of their relationship, tracing the path from their initial meeting at a Shabbat dinner to a shared realization that they wanted to build a life together. Driven by a poignant sense of urgency tied to family health history and a deep desire for their future children to know their grandparents, they set out with a clear timeline. However, their plans were quickly challenged by the clinical realities of donor selection, expensive medical protocols, and the physical toll of consecutive unsuccessful intrauterine inseminations (IUIs). The conversation also explores the complex logistics unique to family building in LGBTQ+, including navigating insurance gaps, utilizing the open healthcare marketplace for secondary coverage, and shifting from local sperm banks to larger cryobanks in search of matching backgrounds. As the journey progressed from IUIs into the world of IVF, the physical and emotional burdens mounted for both partners. This episode captures the heart-wrenching moment of finally receiving a positive pregnancy test, only to immediately face the agonizing anxiety of non-doubling beta numbers and the impending grief of early loss. If you are navigating the heavy intersecting roads of LGBTQ+ family building, medical fertility treatments, or the quiet grief of early pregnancy loss, this episode is for you. About Rabbi Megan GoldMarche: Rabbi Megan grew up in the Chicago suburbs where she found her voice as a Jewish leader at her Conservative youth group and Reform summer camp. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 with a B.A. in Psychology and Women's Studies. Megan then went to work for the Hillel at Yale University where she discovered her passion for working with young people, and realized that rather than pursuing a PhD in Clinical psychology she wanted to use the Jewish tradition as a source of meaning to empower young adults to create their own rich Jewish identities and communities. Megan was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2014 and also received an MA in Jewish Gender and Women's Studies and a certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Megan is an alumna of the Wexner graduate fellowship. Megan served as Senior Base Rabbi at Metro Chicago Hillel where she spent six years leading and building the thriving Base network for Jews in their 20s and 30s. She also has a passion for travel and outdoor adventure- which has currently led her to forty-eight of the fifty states in the US. Megan and her wife Paige, and their daughters Bri and Rori, live in Mt. Airy and loves hosting folks in their home for Shabbat and Holidays! Connect with Rabbi Megan GoldMarche: Instagram About Paige GoldMarche: Paige (she/her) is the mom of two kiddos, a Jewish professional and a challah baker. She is the Director of the Meyer-Gottesman Kol Koleinu Teen Feminist Fellowship at Moving Traditions, working with teens all over the US to building feminist community and learn about activism through a Jewish and feminist lens. Paige is also the Mt Airy Challah Fairy, baking and selling challah for local Philly non-profits. She has a BA in International Development and Social Change from Clark University, an MA in Jewish Communal Service from Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University, and a certificate in Non-Profit Studies from Johns Hopkins University. Paige is an active member of Germantown Jewish Center. Connect with Paige GoldMarche: Instagram Connect with us: Website Instagram - send us a message YouTube Facebook TikTok LinkedIn
What happens when a soldier comes home from war and discovers that music can heal the wounds the doctors missed?In this episode, I sit down with musician, songwriter, veteran, and outspoken truth-teller Sean Martin. Sean's journey takes us from the redwood coast of Northern California to the battlefields of Iraq, through the struggles of PTSD, and ultimately into a creative practice rooted in honesty, healing, and a band named the Quarintened.Along the way, Sean shares how music became more than an art form. Through cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and years of songwriting, he discovered that creative practice could become a way of confronting fear, questioning assumptions, and reclaiming agency over his life.We also explore two of his songs, Skeleton Chair and Unspoken, conversations about war, trauma, truth-telling, James Baldwin, and the responsibilities artists have when they choose to speak about the difficult realities that many people would rather avoid.You'll discover:• How music, cognitive behavioral therapy, and disciplined creative practice helped Sean navigate PTSD and reclaim a sense of agency after war.• Why confronting “the unspoken”—personally, culturally, and politically—lies at the heart of both healing and artistic practice.• How art can become a vehicle for critical thinking, helping people examine the invisible forces that shape their beliefs, fears, and relationships.Notable MentionsMusic & Creative PracticeThe Quarantined (Spotify Artist Page) — Sean Martin's grunge, punk, and metal project. Through The Quarantined, Martin explores trauma, war, resilience, addiction, politics, and recovery through deeply personal songwriting.“Skeleton Chair” — The Quarantined on Spotify — A song inspired by Martin's experiences in Iraq and the emotional aftermath of combat. During the interview, Martin describes the song as emerging from therapy work focused on a specific combat experience and the psychological realities of war.“Unspoken” — The Quarantined on Spotify — A song exploring truth-telling, civic responsibility, and the consequences of silence. The recording incorporates the voice and ideas of James Baldwin and reflects on what happens when difficult truths remain unspoken.The Quarantined on Bandcamp — Direct support platform where listeners can purchase music and follow future releases.Ideas & Practices DiscussedCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — Martin describes CBT as a turning point in understanding the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and physiological responses to trauma.Exposure Therapy — A therapeutic approach that helped Martin confront traumatic memories and transform them into creative material.Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) — A central topic throughout the conversation, explored not only as a diagnosis but as a lived experience that shaped Martin's understanding of fear, identity, and recovery.People MentionedJames Baldwin — Baldwin's words and ideas provide both inspiration and a direct artistic influence on Martin's song Unspoken. His reflections on truth, identity, and democracy remain highly relevant today.The Baldwin EstateChristopher Goldsmith — Mentioned by Martin as an example of veterans doing difficult work confronting extremism and defending democratic values.Task Force ButlerRichard Ojeda — Cited as an example of a veteran leader bringing a direct, no-nonsense approach to public service and democratic engagement.Richard Ojeda Official WebsiteRelated ResourcesNational Center for PTSD (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) — Research, educational materials, and treatment resources related to PTSD and trauma recovery.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Overview (American Psychological Association) — Introduction to CBT and its use in treating trauma and anxiety disorders.Musicians Institute — Contemporary music school in Hollywood where Sean Martin studied after leaving military service.YUNGBLUD Official Website — Contemporary musician cited by Martin as an artist whose independence, honesty, and willingness to challenge expectations has been inspiring.
‘When the response is equal to the challenge, there is harmony, there is integration between challenge and response.' This episode on Challenge has four sections. The first extract (2:45) is from Krishnamurti's first talk at Brockwood Park in 1978, and is titled: Challenging Ourselves Deeply. The second extract (33:41) is from the eleventh talk in Ojai 1949, and is titled: Meeting a Challenge Adequately. The third extract (44:42) is from the question and answer meeting at Rajghat in 1964, and is titled: Are Challenges Needed? The final extract in this episode (51:58) is from the second talk in New Delhi 1965, and is titled: Responding to a Challenge from Attention and Silence. The Krishnamurti Podcast features carefully selected extracts from Krishnamurti's recorded talks. Each episode highlights his different approaches to universal and timeless subjects that affect our everyday lives, the state of the world and the future of humanity. This episode's theme is Challenge. Upcoming themes are Sanity, Activism & Social Change and Children. This is a podcast from Krishnamurti Foundation Trust, based at Brockwood Park in the UK, which is also home to The Krishnamurti Centre. The Centre offers a variety of group retreats, including for young adults. There is also a volunteer programme. The atmosphere at the Centre is one of openness and friendliness, with a sense of freedom to inquire with others and alone. Please visit krishnamurticentre.org.uk for more information. You can also find our regular Krishnamurti quotes and videos on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook at Krishnamurti Foundation Trust. If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review or rating on your podcast app.
‘The past is always overshadowing the present, the past memories, the pleasures, the flattery or insults. The past touches the present and gives it a twist. This episode on The Past has three sections. The first extract (2:49) is from Krishnamurti's second talk in New Delhi 1962, and is titled ‘Can the Past Be Dissolved?' The second extract (26:13) is from the first talk in New York 1971, and is titled ‘The Movement of the Past.' The final extract in this episode (55:43) is from Krishnamurti's sixth talk in Saanen 1967, and is titled ‘The Observer Is the Past'. The Krishnamurti Podcast features carefully selected extracts from Krishnamurti's recorded talks. Each episode highlights his different approaches to universal and timeless themes that affect our everyday lives, the state of the world and the future of humanity. This episode's theme is The Past. Upcoming themes are Challenge, Sanity and Activism & Social Change. This is a podcast from Krishnamurti Foundation Trust. Please visit our website at kfoundation.org, where you can find a popular collection of quotes, a variety of featured articles, along with a wide selection of curated material in the Index of Topics. This Index allows easy access to book, audio and video extracts. Our online store stocks the best of Krishnamurti's books and ships worldwide. We also offer free downloads, including a selection of booklets. You can also find our regular Krishnamurti quotes and videos on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook at Krishnamurti Foundation Trust. If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review or rating on your podcast app.
Changing the world is difficult. One reason is that the most important problems, like climate change and democracy reform are structural. They are larger than any one person can solve on their own, yet we're bombarded with information about individual actions like attending a public meeting or lowering your carbon footprint. Do these individual actions even matter? Should we focus instead of fixing broken systems? For our final episode of the season, we explore how individual actions and structural reform can work together to create lasting social change on a range of issues, including democracy. Our guests offer a way out of the either-or thinking and a framework for creating lasting social change. In Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change, Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva, and Daniel Kelly show us how we can connect our personal choices to structural change and why individual choices matter, though not in the way people usually think. Brownstein and Kelly join us on the show to discuss examples of how individual actions leveled up to create larger-scale change, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the milk pasteurization movement in the early 20th century. We also discuss how the lessons from these movements can be applied to democracy reform campaigns like campaign finance reform and ranked-choice voting. Brownstein is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at John Jay College and Professor of Philosophy at The Graduate Center, CUNY.. Kelly is Professor of Philosophy at Purdue University, where he is also the Director of the Cognition, Agency, and Intelligence Center. This is our final episode before our summer break. Thank you to Brandon Stover for editing the show this year, to WPSU for production and promotional support, and to Michael Berkman, Chris Beem, Cyanne Loyle, and Candis Watts Smith for sharing their insights on the show. We'll see you in September! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Benoit Denizet-Lewis, author of You've Changed: The Promise and Price of Self-Transformation, joined us on the Guy Benson Show today to discuss his new book, which explores how and why people change their identities and belief systems, from politics and spirituality to gender and race, during this destabilizing period of cultural and political change. Guy and Denizet-Lewis discuss what points in an individual's life might push them towards change, why Denizet-Lewis reveals that he is slowly turning into his father, and more! Listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices