Words To Win By* takes listeners on a journey around the globe with renowned communications researcher and campaign advisor Anat Shenker-Osorio as she unpacks real-world narrative shifts that led to real-world victories. *Formerly called Brave New Words
…
continue reading
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 agai ...
…
continue reading
Living Through It with ECM is a podcast dedicated to survival, activism and change in the current political moment. With weekly interviews with guests who are changing the world and advice on how to continue working toward a better future in the face of burnout and exhaustion, Living Through It inspires, creates hope, and shares a vision for a more just and equitable world. Formerly known as the Women’s Leadership Podcast, Living Through It is hosted by Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin and broug ...
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“Words mean things” (w/ Anat Shenker-Osorio, Host of Words to Win By, Principal of ASO Communications)
43:05
43:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:05
This week we spoke to Anat Shenker-Osorio, Democratic campaign consultant, messaging researcher, founder of ASO Communications, and host of the excellent podcast Words to Win By. In this episode Anat shares crucial wisdom on how to have meaningful conversations about our political future in real life and on social media. She examines common campaig…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“I listen to the people that these elections are truly life and death for.” (w/ Maggie O’Keefe, Chicago 40th Ward Committeeperson, community organizer.)
35:10
35:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:10
Wondering what canvassing for a candidate and organizing in-person voter outreach actually involves? This week we spoke to Maggie O’Keefe, a community activist who is part of a new generation of Democratic Committee members organizing the vote in Chicago. Have you been thinking of volunteering for a candidate but are nervous about the idea of knock…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The FTA & Antiwar Protests in 1971 (Cross-Post from Unsung History)
47:31
47:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:31
While we gear up to bring you Season 3 of What Can I Do, focused on how to take action in a presidential election year, please enjoy this episode of Unsung History focused on antiwar activism. In 1971, a group of performers calling themselves the Free Theatre Associates (FTA), including Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland, began putting on popular ant…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
From the Fight for $15 to Hot Labor Summer: Working Class Wins to Win Over the Working Class - United States
38:49
38:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:49
In 2012, the Fight for $15 and a Union launched, catalyzing a mass movement of low wage working people that helped raise wages across the country and plant the seed for today's resurgence of the power of working people in union. In this episode, hear how the Fight for $15 and a Union got folks across the country to walk out despite the precarity of…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Don't Buy It: The Trouble With Talking Nonsense about the Economy - United States
42:13
42:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
42:13
Voters consistently rank the economy as their top issue. And despite the fact that Democratic administrations routinely deliver far better economic outcomes, voters credit Republicans with better handling of the economy over Democrats. In this episode, we delve into what it means to manage the economy well, what’s behind voters’ distrust of Democra…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Speak Yourself: Mobilizing Youth to Win Elections - Brazil
34:06
34:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:06
In 2022, Brazilians faced a match-up between far-right incumbent, Jair Bolsonaro, aka ‘Trump of the Tropics’, and progressive Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In the end, Lula triumphed by a fraction of a percent. That hard fought victory was thanks in no small part to youth voters and the campaign that increased their participation by 47%. Listen in on …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Maintaining a Ban on Fossil Fuel Exploration - Costa Rica
34:59
34:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:59
Costa Rica is an international icon in all things environmental, and mitigating climate change is no exception. But when Rodrigo Chaves Robles assumed the presidency in 2022, he put this policy into peril. Savvy strategists and campaigners have flexed the power of Costa Rican identity and dedication to conservation to get businesses, activists and …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Can You See Me Now? Legal Status for Ireland’s Undocumented Immigrants - Ireland
32:01
32:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:01
In 2022, Ireland granted legal status to undocumented immigrants who had been in the country for at least four years. This landmark achievement was ten years of fearless undocumented leadership and constant campaigning in the making. Thanks to the courageous coming out of undocumented leaders, supported and sustained by Migrant Right Centre Ireland…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Protecting Our Freedoms: Defeating MAGA Republicans in the 2022 Midterms - United States
41:45
41:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:45
In the 2022 Midterms, Americans defied polling, pundits and precedent to stave off the predicted Republican “Red Wave” takeover. Despite significant challenges, Democrats were able to hold the Senate, minimize House losses, and flip or retain key battleground state legislatures and governorships. In this episode, we delve into why conventional wisd…
…
continue reading
We’re back again with Season 3 of Words to Win By. We head to Brazil where young people sealed the deal to oust Bolsonaro and bring Lula back to power, unpack how Democrats won across battlegrounds in the 2022 US Midterm, consider what comes in Costa Rica’s fight to ban fossil fuel extraction and trace how undocumented immigrants in Ireland won leg…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“What can we do as community to protect each other?” (w/ Angela Ferrell-Zabala, ED of Mom’s Demand Action)
30:17
30:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:17
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…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“There's somebody in every town who is a busybody.” (w/ Carla Nordstrom, Retired Teacher and Community Activist)
47:23
47:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:23
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 …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
"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)
31:46
31:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:46
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 foundin…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“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)
41:50
41:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:50
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 …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“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 ...
33:06
33:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:06
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 car…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“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)
37:28
37:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:28
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 su…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“If you treat me like a problem, maybe I should turn into one.” (w/ Maggie Carter, Staff Organizer at the Starbucks Workers United)
26:52
26:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:52
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 b…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“My goal is to make this an American tradition.” (w/ Jayna Zweiman, founder of the Welcome Blanket Project, co-founder of the Pussyhat Project)
34:37
34:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:37
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…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“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)
30:26
30:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:26
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 …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
"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)
39:41
39:41
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:41
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 alon…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“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 ...
33:01
33:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:01
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 acti…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“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 ...
30:32
30:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:32
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 so…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“It doesn’t matter, just run.” (With Irene Shin, Delegate in the Virginia House of Delegates and ED of the Virginia Civic Engagement Table)
37:01
37:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:01
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 ca…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“Journalism is supposed to be about speaking truth to power” (With Fiona Lowenstein, journalist and editor of The Long COVID Survival Guide)
38:36
38:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:36
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, a…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“The community is critical” (With Mary Rickles, Director for Communications and Politics for Netroots Nation)
31:23
31:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:23
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 com…
…
continue reading
Thanks for listening to Living Through It.We're going to take a brief hiatus, but we'll be back with lots of timely and inspiring interviews before too long.Follow Me at:https://twitter.com/ECMcLaughlinhttps://www.instagram.com/ecmclaughlin/https://mstdn.social/@ecmclaughlinElizabeth on Post.NewsBy Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S101 E19: Dr. Fabienne Doucet: How to Save Education from the Far Right
43:35
43:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:35
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.In this episode, Elizabeth interviews Dr. Fabienne Doucet, Executive Director of New York University’s Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools, and Associate Professor of Early Childhood and Urban Education. Join us as we discuss Ron DeSantis…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S101 E18 Leah Greenberg: Indivisible, Nationwide Organizing, Motherhood and the Quest to Save Democracy
55:09
55:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:09
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.In this episode, Elizabeth interviews Leah Greenberg, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Indivisible. Join us as we discuss how Indivisible came to be, the rocketship of Indivisible’s expansion nationwide, motherhood and work, and how to save democracy. Hit that subscribe b…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S101 E17 Deputy Executive DNC Chair Roger Lau: On the American Story and the Future of Democracy
1:02:35
1:02:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:35
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.In this episode, Elizabeth interviews Roger Lau, the former Campaign Chair for Elizabeth Warren’s presidential run and current Deputy Executive Director of the DNC. Join us as we discuss our interlocking American immigrant stories, the future of democracy and fighting back again…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S101 E16 Wajahat Ali: Masculinity, Fatherhood and Hope
57:22
57:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:22
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.In this episode, Elizabeth interviews Wajahat Ali, best-selling author, columnist, and political commentator. Join us as we discuss masculinity and emotion, how fatherhood impacts political choices, why humor is a key to defeating fascism, and how joy and faith play a role in fu…
…
continue reading
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.In this episode, Elizabeth offers up five themes for growth in 2023, including why we all need to learn persuasion, reinvigorate kindness, and foster reinvention. Hit that subscribe button and join us as we work for a better future. And join us on Patreon to get future episodes …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S101 E14 Jadah Sellner: Vision, Future, and Living By Your Values
57:35
57:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:35
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.In this episode, Elizabeth interviews Jadah Sellner, author, entrepreneur, and advocate for building, not burning out. Join us as we discuss how entrepreneurship for women offers opportunities and challenges, how knowing what you stand for and where you are in life allow you to …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S101 E13 Toby Gialluca: Can Florida Be Saved?
49:29
49:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:29
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.In this episode, Elizabeth interviews Toby Gialluca, the Voter Protection Head for St. Johns County, Florida and a decades-long Florida activist. Join us as we discuss voter protection and suppression efforts in Florida, Warnock’s win in Georgia, the looming threat of DeSantis r…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S101 E12 Brandon Wolf: On the Front Lines of LGBTQ+ Rights and Gun Safety
50:16
50:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:16
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.In this episode, Elizabeth interviews Brandon Wolf, co-founder of The Dru Project, Press Secretary for Equality Florida, and Pulse Nightclub survivor. Join us as we discuss the battle for LGBTQ+ rights in Florida, the progress we’ve made on gun safety legislation and what we nee…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“In the progressive community, we tend to dislike the idea of selling ideas.” (With David Fenton, author of The Activist’s Media Handbook)
29:58
29:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:58
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 mess…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S101 E11 Anat Shenker-Osorio: How We Message to Win
1:07:39
1:07:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:07:39
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.In this episode, Elizabeth interviews Anat Shenker-Osorio, Principal and Founder of ASO Communications and renowned progressive messaging Guru. Join us as we discuss why “resistance” alone doesn’t move the needle, how defiance and imagination pair together in effective messaging…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“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 ...
29:38
29:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:38
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 o…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S101 E10 Rep. Joaquin Castro: The Fight for Democracy Continues
31:00
31:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:00
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.In this episode, Elizabeth interviews Representative Joaquin Castro as he heads into his tenth year in the House of Representatives from Texas’ 20th District. Join us for this critical conversation about immigration as a weapon of the far right, how to combat the challenge of a …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S101 E9 Bonus Episode! AG and ECM’s Post-Election Roundup
39:23
39:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:23
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.Welcome to a special joint bonus episode of Living Through it with AG from #TheDailyBeans. In this episode, we’re rounding up the election results, talking about this week’s big legal developments (Trump’s taxes!) and forecasting the next session of Congress that starts in Janua…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
“If we’re going to win, organizing is going to be key to getting us there” (With Elyssa Feder of Rising Organizers)
32:56
32:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:56
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,…
…
continue reading
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.In this episode, Elizabeth interviews author, speaker, and racial equity expert Minda Harts. Join us for a lively conversation about why diversity is the future, how to handle a workplace that won’t change, and why creating companies that look like America is good for all of us.…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
ICYMI - Recap 2 (aka, What Can I Do After the Midterms)
34:10
34:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:10
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-…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S101 E7 Election Roundup! Santiago Mayer of Voters of Tomorrow
39:49
39:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:49
Welcome to Living Through It with ECM: A Podcast for Interesting Times.In this episode, Elizabeth interviews Santiago Mayer, the Founder of Voters of Tomorrow. Join us as we discuss the 2022 midterm elections, key takeaways from turnout and results, how Gen Z is mobilizing to create a more equitable world for all of us, and the key role played by T…
…
continue reading