You voted (again), you protested (again), you posted on social media (again), yet you’re still reeling from all the terrible news. But…what else can you do?

We’ll help you figure that out! Each week hosts Kelly Therese Pollock and Lila Nordstrom interview activists working on a range of issues, from national policy to local concerns, not about why but about how they took action: What got them started, who helped them along the way, and what they’d do differently if they had to do it all again. In the process, we’ll offer concrete advice on how to take the leap from freaking out on Twitter to making a difference, building community, and finding joy in getting involved.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/1520fa4e-5f47-4a84-a32a-f80128b17474_SHVA6143896978.mp3

Are you looking for some hope and next steps when it comes to combatting gun violence in your community and nationally?
This week we spoke to Angela Ferrell-Zabala from Mom’s Demand Action to dig into the seemingly intractable issue of gun violence and learn about how Mom’s Demand Action, their affiliated organization Students Demand Action, and the larger ecosystem of gun violence prevention organizations are working together, advocating for better policy, and, most importantly, supporting volunteer actions at the local level that you (yes you!) can get involved in. Beyond the headlines there’s progress getting made on this issue all over the country, and Angela told us how Mom’s Demand can help interested “mothers and others” get involved in lobbying and learn how to take smaller, more approachable actions in their communities.

Episode Links:


Mom’s Demand Action: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter



Take Action: Text “Ready” to 64433



Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.



“What can we do as community to protect each other?” (w/ Angela Ferrell-Zabala, ED of Mom’s Demand Action)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/b91b4d42-6243-46c9-95a8-92a05a885dd4_SHVA3272683177.mp3

Are you retired and looking for a way to get involved?
A few weeks ago we heard from a listener looking for information about how to approach activism as a retired person. She was sick of postcarding and other activities that don’t feel effective, so we decided to chat with the busiest retired activist we know…Lila’s mother, Carla Nordstrom! In our wide-ranging conversation, we talk about the many skills retired people bring to the table, how they’re uniquely situated for effective community organizing, and what kinds of things Carla does to keep her community informed and promote the candidates and causes she’s working on.

Episode Links:

Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at:  hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 




“There's somebody in every town who is a busybody.” (w/ Carla Nordstrom, Retired Teacher and Community Activist)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/54ae839c-83f3-45c7-a8ec-1b50bcbb8028_SHVA9280737878.mp3

Are you interested in aiding in the fight to make the vote more accessible in your state or community?
Hannah Fried is a lawyer by trade who worked for the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama before founding All Voting is Local, a non-profit that works in eight states to protect the vote at the local level. She talks us through the founding of All Voting is Local, including how she funded the organization and assembled her team in the early days, as well as what their work entails and how regular people can step up to protect the vote in their communities.

Episode Links:

All Voting is Local: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter



Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.
Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.


"Can I actually bring something to this work to this fight? That is going to add value?" (w/ Hannah Fried, Executive Director of All Voting is Local)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/21bc2d6b-1f77-4852-b6a2-051d965a4bae_SHVA7685141727.mp3

Are you a part of a fan community and wondering how to use your passion and interest to make the world a better place? 
Sabrina Cartan and Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael are organizers, creatives, fans, and believe communities organized around pop culture are inherently political and ripe for organizing. Sabrina talks about the power of fan movements and how they are harnessed through her work with Fandom Forward, an organization that connects causes to fan communities. Eliyannah talks to us about how her political and fan interests inform her work as a creative and how her activism and work are often one in the same. A really inspiring and timely episode for anybody looking for ways to connect their activism to their other interests!

Episode Links:


Sabrina Cartan: Website | Instagram | Twitter



Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael: YouTube | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter



Fandom Forward: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter




Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.


“At the end of the day, when you're talking about activism, it's just a bigger word for care.” (w/ Sabrina Cartan of Fandom Forward and director Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/5ff6bd68-1e3d-4e8a-abf2-19258451b134_SHVA4946928924.mp3

Thinking about how to effectively use graphic design in your organizing work?
Innosanto Nagara is a designer who has long used his visual communication skills in his organizing, but found a unique way to help the next generation join the fight by writing and illustrating the best-selling board book A is For Activist. So began a successful second career as a children’s book author. Inno’s books cover the topics he wanted to teach his own child about, things like taking action, being part of a community, learning about legacies of colonialism, and understanding how movement’s are constructed and how they succeed. We talk about effective graphic design, why he began writing books for children, and how we can help the next generation learn about the issues that matter.

Episode Links:


Innosanto Nagara: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter



Buy the Books: Bookshop | Seven Stories Press




Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at:  hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 


“Think of graphic design not as self-expression but as visual communication.” (w/ Innosanto Nagara, graphic designer and best-selling author and illustrator of children’s books about activism and organizing)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/288a3271-13a4-4207-aca0-a1d8886a4df2_SHVA9592354668.mp3

Terrified about the state of SCOTUS and the courts and wondering how you can take action to support court reform?
We started this podcast in the days after Dobbs, so we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Brett Edkins from Stand Up America to chat about his journey from law school to advocacy, how lawyers can use their skills to advocate for and support court reform, and the role regular people can play in standing up to corruption in the American courts. He’s got advice on everything from simple actions you can take right now to policy changes regular citizens and politicians alike can pursue at the local and national level.

Episode Links:


Action Items: Text “Stand” to 63033 | Email Your Representatives



Follow Stand Up America: Website | TikTok | Instagram | Twitter


Follow Brett Edkins: Twitter




Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 


“One of the best things lawyers can do is have the courage to speak out.” (w/ Brett Edkins, Managing Director for Policy & Political Affairs at Stand Up America)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/6a908d9f-fd8f-4045-bc60-5c392633b2e3_SHVA8669686534.mp3

Watching Hot Labor Summer unfold and interested in learning more about how to unionize your workplace or support the labor movement?
Maggie Carter, a single mom and college student, had worked as a Starbucks partner for years (including through the entire pandemic) when she saw union drives working in far-away stores and wondered if she could help bring that kind of change to her own door. She’s now a staff organizer with the Starbucks Workers United and talks about how the union vote came together, the roadblocks Starbucks threw up in their way, and how much things have changed since her store became the first in the south to unionize.

Episode Links:


Follow the Starbucks Workers Union: Website | TikTok | Instagram | Twitter


Follow the Southern Starbucks Workers Union: Twitter


Follow Maggie Carter: Twitter




Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at:  hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 


“If you treat me like a problem, maybe I should turn into one.” (w/ Maggie Carter, Staff Organizer at the Starbucks Workers United)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/a9ff09d9-a6ff-4b66-bbc4-b7295eb30c8e_SHVA8500587680.mp3

Looking for a way to build community and make political change using your artistic skills or an interest in crafting? 
Jayna Zweiman was an architect recovering from a life-changing head and neck injury when she found the knitting and crocheting community. It became a critical part of her recovery, and, ultimately, activism. Since then she’s founded multiple projects focused on giving crafters a political community that helps educate people through art and provides real, tangible resources to people in need. After co-founding the Pussyhat Project in 2016, she created the Welcome Blanket Project, which gives knitters the chance to create blankets that are turned into educational exhibits, then sent to refugees and asylum seekers through a network of organizations serving the immigrant community. Jayne talks about the logistics of starting and managing a project of this scope, the challenges of making that project sustainable in the long-run, and the joys of creating political communities that welcome introverts.

Episode Links:


Welcome Blanket Project: Website | Facebook | Instagram


Jayna Zweiman: Website




Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.


“My goal is to make this an American tradition.” (w/ Jayna Zweiman, founder of the Welcome Blanket Project, co-founder of the Pussyhat Project)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/46066a1b-d90b-43b2-baf6-29e2a766b0b2_SHVA1019780780.mp3

What does it take to overcome your anxieties and concerns about canvassing, public speaking, and more?
Jade Pacheco gives us an unfiltered look at how she went from being a shy, passive citizen to a builder of communities through her work with ACT 4 SA, the first grassroots organization in San Antonio to focus on policing the police. In the process she talks about developing the confidence to canvas for candidates and causes, the training and support that allowed her to take the leap, the medical barriers that kept her from getting diagnosed with ADHD, the accommodations she now requests to ensure she can do her community work well, and so much more. 

Episode Links:

Follow ACT 4 SA: Website | Facebook | Instagram



Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at:  hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 


“My job is to see who’s ready to start speaking up and help them use their voice.” (w/ Jade Pacheco, Community Builder at ACT 4 SA)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/7b79d7c7-c6aa-47e0-a5df-70305eb65506_SHVA4314263495.mp3

Does it seem like being an engaged citizen is starting to feel like a full-time job? Are you looking for ways to cut down on the costs, both in terms of time and resources, that it takes to make your voice heard?
Kevin Elliott, lecturer in ethics, politics and economics at Yale University and author of Democracy for Busy People knows you’re not alone. We talk to him about how to create space for busy people to participate in our democracy, the seemingly positive democratic innovations can actually create more problems than they solve, and what it means for a government to be truly inclusive.

Episode Links:

Buy Democracy for Busy People: Publisher | Amazon | Barnes &amp; Noble


Kevin J. Elliott: Website | Twitter




Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 


Does it seem like being an engaged citizen is starting to feel like a full-time job? Are you looking for ways to cut down on the costs, both in terms of time and resources, that it takes to make your voice heard?
Kevin Elliott, lecturer in ethics, politics and economics at Yale University and author of Democracy for Busy People knows you’re not alone. We talk to him about how to create space for busy people to participate in our democracy, the seemingly positive democratic innovations can actually create more problems than they solve, and what it means for a government to be truly inclusive.

Episode Links:

Buy Democracy for Busy People: Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Kevin J. Elliott: Website | Twitter




Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 


"We have to always bear in mind who is not here with us, who is not in the room.” (w/ Kevin J. Elliott, author of Democracy for Busy People)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/9a078d42-7eb8-45c3-aeea-d810305d1001_SHVA7472427933.mp3

So you’re thinking of getting involved, but you’re not sure how to find your place as an activist?
Have no fear! The attendees and speakers of this year’s Netroots Nation are here to help. In this episode we compile the stories of everybody from members of Congress to local candidates to state-level Democratic activists to hyper-local community activists and learn how they got involved and what their work has taught them.

Episode Links:

Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12): Website | Twitter


Rep. Maxwell Frost (FL-10): Website | Twitter


Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35): Website | Twitter


Rep. Delia Ramirez (IL-3): Website | Twitter


Sean Frame (Founder, The Six PAC): Website | Twitter


Carlyn Cowen (Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Chinese-American Planning Council): Website | Twitter


Karen Gamez Lopez (Engagement Director, Fuse WA): Website | Twitter


Kristin Foster (Deputy Executive Director, Get Loud Arkansas): Website | Twitter




Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at:  hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 




“I came here to do something new.” (Live from Netroots Nation with stories from Reps. Summer Lee, Maxwell Frost, Greg Casar, and Delia Ramirez, plus activists Kristin Foster, Karen Gamez Lopez, Carlyn Cowen, and Sean Frame)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/d781cb83-5082-4e0f-93a5-b6bc10f82369_SHVA5287088028.mp3

So you want to fight climate change but you’re feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem?
Margaret Klein Salamon is a clinical psychologist turned climate activist eager to help people overcome inertia and fear so they can get involved in the climate movement. We talk about how to activate “emergency mode” instead of “panic mode” to face some of the biggest challenges of our time, and what’s at stake if we don’t.

Episode Links:


Learn more about Margaret / Climate Awakening: Website | Twitter



Facing the Climate Emergency: Read A Free Chapter | Buy




Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at:  hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 


“Step one: Face the climate emergency.” (with Margaret Klein Salamon, Founding Principal of Climate Awakening, and author of Facing the Climate Emergency: How to Transform Yourself with Climate Truth.)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/b3dd89e2-2bf4-4633-b419-b0e3df8f6690_SHVA9611695225.mp3

So you’re interested in running for state assembly?
In 2021, Irene Shin took on an incumbent Delegate in Virgina’s 86th district and won! Now embarking on her second campaign for the VA House of Delegates, we talk about how she got involved in state-level politics, how she decided to run for office, the first steps she took to declare and build a campaign staff, and what life looks like in a part-time state assembly. In the process we talk about the challenges of being a historic “first,” why it’s so important to make state positions accessible, and the excitement of running in a bellwether state.
Episode Links:
Connect to Irene Shin’s Campaign: Website | Twitter | Instagram 



Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 


“It doesn’t matter, just run.” (With Irene Shin, Delegate in the Virginia House of Delegates and ED of the Virginia Civic Engagement Table)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/777b7ae1-3665-46f0-861b-e03daf503ac7_SHVA1040274137.mp3

So you’re a journalist interested in using your skills to amplify new narratives and voices and promote a more just, more equitable world?
This wide-ranging, incredibly thoughtful conversation with journalist and Long COVID activist Fiona Lowenstein is all about the power of storytelling, using journalism for good, the importance of accessibility, and how to use privilege and access constructively in one’s activist work. Fiona talks about how their skills as a communicator have helped them not just write about their own experiences, but pass the mic to the voices we might not otherwise hear from, and reflect on about how activism has changed in the COVID era, as well as what we can all do to make sure our work and life in general is accessible to all.

Episode Links:

Fiona Lowenstein: Website | Twitter | Instagram 


The Long COVID Survival Guide: Publisher | Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes &amp; Noble



Long COVID Justice / JD David’s Organization




Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at:  hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 




So you’re a journalist interested in using your skills to amplify new narratives and voices and promote a more just, more equitable world?
This wide-ranging, incredibly thoughtful conversation with journalist and Long COVID activist Fiona Lowenstein is all about the power of storytelling, using journalism for good, the importance of accessibility, and how to use privilege and access constructively in one’s activist work. Fiona talks about how their skills as a communicator have helped them not just write about their own experiences, but pass the mic to the voices we might not otherwise hear from, and reflect on about how activism has changed in the COVID era, as well as what we can all do to make sure our work and life in general is accessible to all.

Episode Links:

Fiona Lowenstein: Website | Twitter | Instagram 


The Long COVID Survival Guide: Publisher | Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble



Long COVID Justice / JD David’s Organization




Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at:  hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 




“Journalism is supposed to be about speaking truth to power” (With Fiona Lowenstein, journalist and editor of The Long COVID Survival Guide)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/183d1732-c63e-4a2b-8851-52b5bbf2bce2_SHVA1694043580.mp3

So you’re hoping to meet other activists, learn about their work, and figure out how you can join forces or support each other’s work? 
Netroots Nation 2023, the largest annual conference for progressives in America, is almost here! We spoke to longtime program communications director Mary Rickles Conley about the value of building a progressive community, how she got involved with Netroots, how their speakers and panelists are selected, and what attendees can gain from attending, both in person and online. This year’s conference, which will take place in mid-July, will feature appearances from some of this year’s most exciting and impactful progressive champions and elected officials, not to mention bring together thousands of activists to meet, mingle, strategize, and support progressive action. 

Episode Links:
Netroots Nation 2023: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube



Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.



“The community is critical” (With Mary Rickles, Director for Communications and Politics for Netroots Nation)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/fc78423f-340d-4191-81e3-3437d71c59e8_SHVA1044780583.mp3

So you’re hoping to propel a cause into the public eye in a way that’s thoughtful and effective? What do you do?
For David Fenton, the longtime progressive PR guru who began his activist work in the late 1960s alongside figures like Abbie Hoffman and Yoko Ono, the answer has been to stick to some simple rules: straightforward and understandable messaging, repetition, effective storytelling, and the other principles that he lays out in his book, The Activist&#39;s Media Handbook. We spoke about his activist origin story and how he’s paying forward his decades of experience, as well as how he’s continuing to put the PR rules he writes about into practice to fight climate change.

Episode Links:

David Fenton: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


Buy The Activist’s Media Handbook



Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at:  hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 




So you’re hoping to propel a cause into the public eye in a way that’s thoughtful and effective? What do you do?
For David Fenton, the longtime progressive PR guru who began his activist work in the late 1960s alongside figures like Abbie Hoffman and Yoko Ono, the answer has been to stick to some simple rules: straightforward and understandable messaging, repetition, effective storytelling, and the other principles that he lays out in his book, The Activist's Media Handbook. We spoke about his activist origin story and how he’s paying forward his decades of experience, as well as how he’s continuing to put the PR rules he writes about into practice to fight climate change.

Episode Links:

David Fenton: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


Buy The Activist’s Media Handbook



Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at:  hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 




“In the progressive community, we tend to dislike the idea of selling ideas.” (With David Fenton, author of The Activist’s Media Handbook)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/8d438800-eb43-4e2b-b736-b9c8ae13cd66_SHVA8423501808.mp3

So you’re thinking about your place in larger political systems and wondering how your own biases are showing up in your work. What do you do?
For Jessica Nordell, a journalist who has extensively covered the fallout of our political and social biases, the answer was the dig into how they’re formed, how they impact our lives, and how we can change our minds and the minds of others. Her book, The End of Bias, forced her to confront not only our larger cultural biases, but her personal biases as well. She delivers into the research regarding how to make change by starting with the very thing that prompts us to try: our minds.

Episode Links:
Jessica Nordell: Website | Newsletter | Twitter | Instagram



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Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.


“There’s one statistic I came across that suggested that 90% of people think they're more objective than average. And I wouldn't you know, I put myself in that category.” (With Jessica Nordell, author of The End of Bias)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/7c86c0b5-3c02-4786-b337-7cbab0a78ffd_SHVA7983474073.mp3

So, the election is over, political changes are afoot, and you’re looking to help people take action into their own hands. What do you do?
For Elyssa Feder and her team at Rising Organizers, the answer was to teach emerging activists the tools they need to change their communities, policies, and the world. By focusing on issues instead of elections, Rising Organizers helps people take steps towards making this change whether or not an election is on the horizon.

Episode Links:

Rising Organizers: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 

Elyssa Feder (personal): Twitter 

Mentioned in the Episode: Deepa Iyer’s (@deepaviyer) Social Change Ecosystem Map




Follow Lila on Twitter

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Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at:  hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 




“If we’re going to win, organizing is going to be key to getting us there” (With Elyssa Feder of Rising Organizers)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/33364b12-34e4-4495-9ac9-f52909361dd7_SHVA2877691213.mp3

In this special post-election edition of TL;DL, we’re looking back at the action items we discussed on the most recent seven episodes of “What Can I Do” featuring: Candice Kerestan of Democrats Abroad, Chloe Maxmin and Canyon Woodard of Dirt Road Revival, Rev. Angela Williams of SACReD, Amanda Litman of Run for Something, Don Hebbard of Compressor-Free Franklin, Rosie Torres and Susan Zeier of Burn Pits 360, and New York City Councilman Chi Ossé.
In this episode we’ll be focusing on actions you can take AFTER election day is done.
Episode Links:

Unsung History

Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. The mid-episode audio is &#34;OctoBlues&#34; Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0. The audio clip is from &#34;The Politics of Reproductive Rights in 1960s &amp; 1970s New York,&#34; the October 31, 2022, episode of Unsung History and is used with permission of Kelly Therese Pollock.
Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.


In this special post-election edition of TL;DL, we’re looking back at the action items we discussed on the most recent seven episodes of “What Can I Do” featuring: Candice Kerestan of Democrats Abroad, Chloe Maxmin and Canyon Woodard of Dirt Road Revival, Rev. Angela Williams of SACReD, Amanda Litman of Run for Something, Don Hebbard of Compressor-Free Franklin, Rosie Torres and Susan Zeier of Burn Pits 360, and New York City Councilman Chi Ossé.
In this episode we’ll be focusing on actions you can take AFTER election day is done.
Episode Links:

Unsung History

Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. The mid-episode audio is "OctoBlues" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0. The audio clip is from "The Politics of Reproductive Rights in 1960s & 1970s New York," the October 31, 2022, episode of Unsung History and is used with permission of Kelly Therese Pollock.
Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.


ICYMI - Recap 2 (aka, What Can I Do After the Midterms)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/12/29/23/e6b6513e-17b9-4c0b-803a-be4c08bf7f89_SHVA6262774645.mp3

So, you’re campaigning for a timely but hot-button ballot initiative and need to reach voters without eliciting knee-jerk reactions. What do you do?
For Ashley All and the many coalition partners working with Kansans for Constitutional Freedom, the answer was to empower local activists to reach out in their communities and work together to message that protecting a woman’s right to have an abortion is one way to protect something Kansans of all political stripes value: Freedom. Kansas was the first state to defeat an abortion ban via popular vote after the Dobbs ruling, and the campaign has helped shape campaigns in other states, with several voting on the issue this month.

Episode Links:

Kansans For Constitutional Freedom: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 

Ashley All (personal): Twitter 



Follow Lila on Twitter

Follow Kelly on Twitter

Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod


To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at:  hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. 


Please rate and review and tell your friends!


Credits:
To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat.

Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission. 


