1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, it's Sophia and welcome to another bonus episode 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: of Work in Progress. In all of my regular episodes, 3 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 1: we get to delve deeply into what my guests are 4 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: up to, but I don't get to talk as much 5 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,319 Speaker 1: to all of you directly, or talk to you about 6 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,600 Speaker 1: what's going on in my head. So that's really been 7 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,599 Speaker 1: the idea behind doing these episodes every so often, And 8 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 1: for this exclusive, I thought I would tell you guys 9 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 1: about some of my favorite organizations and activism opportunities. And 10 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: the reason we decided to focus the whole episode on 11 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: this is that I get so many amazing questions from 12 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: all of you about where to start, where to find 13 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: an organization you're passionate about, or cause your passionate, about 14 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: how to begin donating time or available funds, or your 15 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: energy or attention your platform to things that matter to 16 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: you and that matter to the world. And I thought 17 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: it would be really nice to answer some of those questions, 18 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: especially the ones that pertain to specifically getting involved in causes. 19 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: And I've been keeping a running list of these in 20 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: my notebook. So all of the questions I'm going to 21 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: get to first are essentially an aggregate of the things 22 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: you guys ask me the most. So before I talk 23 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: about my inspiration, I just want to say how inspired 24 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: I am by all of you. The fact that so 25 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,919 Speaker 1: many of you dm me, tweet me, asked me questions 26 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 1: on Instagram about dedicating yourselves to your community and making 27 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: the world around you a better place basically just reinforces 28 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: the feeling I have that my audience is the best audience. 29 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: So you guys rock and let's get to it. Okay, 30 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: So this is a question that comes up a lot. 31 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: What was it that really inspired me to get involved 32 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: in politics? And was there a specific moment? So I 33 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:11,279 Speaker 1: gotta go back, way back to get to this specific 34 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: public political moment um, back when I was a kid 35 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: growing up in Southern California and spending so much time outside. 36 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: I mean, you guys, this place is magical. And for 37 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: anyone who lives here, I know you know what I'm 38 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: talking about, But for anyone who doesn't, Southern California is 39 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: this incredibly vast, diverse ecosystem. You can be in the desert, 40 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:40,399 Speaker 1: literally amidst cacti and uh and desert rock, and two 41 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 1: hours later you can be in the canyons of Los 42 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: Angeles hiking through forests and running into little critters, and 43 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 1: then in another hour you can be in the ocean. 44 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: You could be, you know, diving off of Santa Barbara 45 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: or Catalina Um, exploring what's going on under the sea. 46 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: It's it's us such a rich ecological wonderland. And I 47 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: think it's all of that, the things that I was 48 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 1: so lucky as a resident here to have access to 49 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: as a kid, that made me really passionate about the environment. 50 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: And in sixth grade, I think it was sixth grade, 51 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: it actually might have been fifth grade, I tried to 52 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: start a beach clean up club at school and shocker, 53 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 1: there aren't many ten year old who want to spend 54 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: their days at the beach picking up trash. So my 55 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: mom used to take me with trash bags by myself 56 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: to go to the beach with me, and really really 57 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: leaned in in her encouragement of that passion and just said, look, 58 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: if this matters to you, it doesn't matter if anybody 59 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: comes with you, you can do the work. And I 60 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: think that's probably where those seeds were born in my 61 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: little brain. And it was the environment that really got 62 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: me active. You know, Once I was a working lady 63 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: and I was doing a lot of work with a 64 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: great organization call Global Green at the time, and when 65 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: the Deepwater Horizon oil spill happened, they had some attorneys 66 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: who helped to fight for environmental legislation and protection that 67 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 1: were based in New Orleans, Louisiana, and I had lived 68 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: out there for a summer making a movie actually right 69 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: before Hurricane Katrina. So the ecological devastation the impacts of 70 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: climate change on that area really hit home for me 71 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: because so many of my friends have been affected, and 72 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 1: we had the science even then that could trace the 73 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: effects of climate change to devastation, superstorms, all all of 74 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,679 Speaker 1: the things that we're seeing. But you know, what's affecting 75 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 1: the coasts also through weather patterns, affects our farmers in 76 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: the heart of America, affects folks in the Pacific Northwest. 77 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: We see um different kinds of ecological occurrences in each place, 78 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: but they're all really interconnected. And I think the sooner 79 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: we can catch up to that reality and and understand 80 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: that if some terrible thing happens on the West Coast 81 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: or in the Heartland, or you know, in northern Eastern States, 82 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 1: all of it's connected and it's connected to countries around 83 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: the world as well, and we owe it to ourselves 84 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: and our neighbors and our neighboring countries to do better. 85 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: So that's a little side note. But it was those, um, 86 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 1: those attorneys who talked to me about what was happening 87 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: on the ground in Louisiana, and they just said, listen, 88 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 1: what's going what you see on the news is not 89 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,119 Speaker 1: what's going on down here. It's really really bad. And 90 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 1: activists and lawyers and scientists are being held out of 91 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 1: these beach zones where this oil spill is so devastating, 92 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 1: and they're basically being held out by people who were 93 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: paid by the companies that brought the devastation in the 94 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: first place. And I remember thinking to myself, you know, 95 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: you'd never let a murder suspect go into the house 96 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: where someone was murdered and clean up the crime scene 97 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: before you let the investigators in. And that's what this 98 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: felt like to me, And it really didn't sit right 99 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: with me. So I flew out there, and it was 100 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: actually gearing up for that trip that I decided to 101 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: open a Twitter account. I always thought, what do I 102 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: want to open my life up to? You know, this 103 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 1: weird website for and for people to be mean, and 104 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,840 Speaker 1: I play other people for a living. You know, I don't. 105 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: I don't do reality TV. I'm not trying to put 106 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 1: my life out there. And then I realized, oh, if 107 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 1: there's people impersonating me on Twitter, and by the way, 108 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: like early Twitter days, folks who were pretending to be 109 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: me and accounts y'all didn't spell check. And my people 110 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: know me better than that, so that's on you. But 111 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:50,480 Speaker 1: I I realized that opening a Twitter account, in all seriousness, 112 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 1: could be a really excellent way to disseminate information. I 113 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:56,679 Speaker 1: could essentially run it like a news channel. I could 114 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: go down to Louisiana and tell the truth about what 115 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: was happening to the communities of fishermen and the coastal 116 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: communities that were so affected by this horrible event. And 117 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: so I did, And that was really the start of 118 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: the way. So many of you know me as a 119 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: an outspoken political activist because I took to social media 120 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: to do the work I've been doing behind the scenes, 121 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: to have the conversation I'd been having in like minded 122 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: communities of activists around my dinner table at home. I 123 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: took it public with all of you, and you all 124 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: have been so incredible to do this with, So thank 125 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: you for caring about the planet and about people, and yeah, 126 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: that that was my very specific moment. So there's this 127 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: incredible John Muir quote, and he's one of my favorite 128 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: writers and thinkers on nature in general, and he says, 129 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: when we try to pick out anything by itself, we 130 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: find it hitched to everything else in the universe. And 131 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: when I think about what that means, I think about 132 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 1: the image of you know, pulling a thread in a 133 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: sweater and then you know, the whole sweater comes undone. 134 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: The planet is deeply connected. And environmental justice and focusing 135 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: on issues of gender, and you know, the elevation of 136 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: women stopping the subjugation of women lead me to everything else. 137 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: You know, environmental justice is racial justice. Justice for women 138 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: is environmental justice, It is racial justice. Everything exists in 139 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:43,239 Speaker 1: a nexus where it's connected. And so many times places 140 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: that are harmed have the same types of communities of 141 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: people that are harmed. And people ask me a lot 142 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: about how can you be so into all these things? 143 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: You know, you can't really care this much about all 144 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: of these things. And the thing I try to luminate 145 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 1: for people or teach people, is that all of these 146 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 1: things are actually the same. They're all one long, connected thread. 147 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: There is a through line in all of this, and 148 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: that that through line is us and the systems that 149 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: oppress us, and the systems that do more harm to 150 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:22,319 Speaker 1: certain communities than others, the systems that don't value the environment, 151 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: the planet on which we all live as guests, as 152 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: being as valuable as us in the moment. And I 153 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:34,559 Speaker 1: think there's deeper truth to how we can do this better. 154 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: I think there's a reality of how we can do 155 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: this better, and it requires a lot of hope, but 156 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: it also requires a lot of honest observation of what's 157 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: going on out there. And those things go hand in 158 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: hand to me, you know, the honesty the revelation of 159 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: fact can be heavy sometimes. But I'm also very hopeful 160 00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: that as genius little human innovators can figure out better 161 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: ways to do things. So yeah, it uh, it all 162 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: feels connected to me, and that's why I try to 163 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: hustle so hard for all of us and for this 164 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:18,319 Speaker 1: place that we live in. Next question, This is when 165 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: I actually often ask guests on my show, and I 166 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: will go ahead and uh and take a run out 167 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: it myself. Um many many of you sent in versions 168 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: of this question which said, do you have any advice 169 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: for anyone who wants to give back but doesn't know 170 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: where to start? Yes, So what I think is incredibly important. 171 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: If you have the inclination or the spirit to give back, 172 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: you're you're already doing great. You care about the world 173 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: around you, You are concerned with equity, um with with 174 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: human betterment. You have to care about people in their 175 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: lives to want to give back. So I applaud you 176 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,319 Speaker 1: for that, and I also will say it's incredibly important 177 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 1: for all of us, and it was for myself at 178 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: the start of this journey, and and always to self 179 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 1: interrogate and check in as I'm on it to make 180 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: sure that we are helping in ways that don't accidentally 181 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,439 Speaker 1: do harm. And the reason that I say that is 182 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 1: it's important to show up but also slow your role. 183 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: You need to identify what is it that you care about? 184 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: You know what causes really make you angry when you 185 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:38,119 Speaker 1: hear about them. Is it environmental injustice? Is it racial oppression? 186 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: Is it the pay gap for women? What really bothers you? 187 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: What do you recognize as being patently unfair? Unjust and 188 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: if you can recognize it, what do you want to 189 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: do about it. My suggestion is, first you research organizations, 190 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: whether it's nationally or in your area, that are working 191 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: on the issue that you care about out and figure 192 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: out how to show up when whether you are going 193 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: to donate some money if you can afford to, whether 194 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: you are going to donate your time, whether you call 195 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: up and find out if you can volunteer or help 196 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: run an event, or you know, contribute some of your skills, 197 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: whether that's creating artwork for them if you are a 198 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: graphic designer or an artist, or if it's maybe helping them, uh, 199 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: you know, with some legal counsel. Whatever it is that 200 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: you do, figure out what you can offer, and when 201 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 1: you start volunteering with an organization or working with an organization, 202 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 1: listen to the people who have been in it. Listen 203 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: to the folks who know so that you can learn 204 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: from them. It's the whole idea of help the helpers. 205 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: You've got to show up and learn how to help 206 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 1: the helpers to become a helper. So I think it's 207 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 1: really valuable to give of yourself and also hold on 208 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: to the fact that you probably have a lot to learn. 209 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: And the fun thing is we all do even for 210 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,559 Speaker 1: me in areas in which I'm now you know, called 211 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: on as an expert. That feels crazy to me, guys 212 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 1: the notion of being an expert. I feel like I 213 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: have so much left to learn. And I will say, 214 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 1: if you can hold onto that curiosity and that willingness 215 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: to learn, the willingness to adjust your opinions as you 216 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:25,920 Speaker 1: learn new information, you will be in such excellent service 217 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: to the organizations and the people that you care about. Oh, 218 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 1: this is a great one. What is an issue that 219 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: you have come to learn more about and appreciate as 220 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 1: a result of hosting work in progress? There are so 221 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 1: many issues. I think that this question is meant to ask, 222 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 1: is there a cause? Is there an organization that you 223 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: didn't know about? I think, though, the thing that feels 224 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:55,320 Speaker 1: really important to highlight, the thing that comes to mind 225 00:13:55,360 --> 00:14:00,080 Speaker 1: when I read this is the issue of fear and 226 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 1: self doubt. Everyone is afraid that they're getting it wrong, 227 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: and everyone wonders if they're ever going to make it, 228 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: or if their life is going to fall apart, or 229 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 1: if today is going to be the day that everybody 230 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 1: figures out. I actually have no idea what I'm doing. 231 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: Everyone has that. The most impressive people I have interviewed 232 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: say yeah, I don't know. I'm just still figuring it out. 233 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 1: I'm the one who's a work in progress. And I 234 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: think that's something really important to hold onto, especially because 235 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 1: in the world we live in with all of this 236 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: digital connectivity, we see a lot of people in two D. 237 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: And what I mean by that is that we see 238 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: people on a screen, we see them on Instagram, we 239 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: see them online. We don't see the complexity of their 240 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 1: lives or the questions they ask themselves, or the ways 241 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: that they deal with their insecurities, or their failures because 242 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: everybody has them. Failures are just part of the road 243 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: to success. We assume everyone else has it all figured 244 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: out and no is what they're doing, and then it 245 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: often makes us feel really bad about ourselves. And to 246 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: learn that everyone is just a little human on this 247 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 1: journey has been really helpful to me, and it has 248 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: actually given me more grace for myself. But it's also 249 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: given me so much more grace for people that I 250 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: patently don't agree with, and even for some of the 251 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 1: leaders who I'm so angry at. You know, the people 252 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: who pedaled disinformation, who have made people feel afraid of 253 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: science and medicine, who just plain lie. Being part of 254 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: this experience has given me the ability rather than to 255 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 1: say I can't believe you would behave this way, It's 256 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 1: given me just enough space to say, I think you 257 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: want the best for people, and if that's true, why 258 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: would you lie to them? And the energy of that exchange, 259 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: I realize is kinder. I realized it allows me to 260 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: offer someone the room to change or to do better, 261 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 1: and it also just makes me less angry, which feels 262 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: nice because we're all trying to deal with our stress. 263 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: So for me, I really think that's kind of the issue, really, 264 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: the truth of the human experience that maybe I thought 265 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: some people outgrew. You know, we're all just in it 266 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: and we're all in it together, and that's been a 267 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 1: really special thing to learn about and I deeply appreciate 268 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: it in the time since I've started this podcast. And 269 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: then in terms of the kinds of you know, quote 270 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: unquote issues causes, Oh my goodness, I mean, I don't 271 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 1: know how I could pick one. I really am so 272 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: impressed by the things that the folks have come on 273 00:16:55,160 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: the show are working on and dedicating themselves to it. 274 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 1: It's something that's given me so much hope and appreciation 275 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: and faith in us being able to, you know, bend 276 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 1: that moral arc of the universe towards justice. As Dr 277 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 1: King said, this is a really good follow up to 278 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 1: is there an issue that you wish people were more 279 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:24,920 Speaker 1: aware of or active about in the US? I think 280 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: a lot of people are aware of what is happening 281 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:33,679 Speaker 1: with the attempts at voter suppression in the country. I 282 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:37,199 Speaker 1: wish we were much more vocal about it. You know, 283 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: we should be hitting the streets over these draconian voter 284 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:43,719 Speaker 1: suppression laws in the way that we hit the streets 285 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:48,120 Speaker 1: last summer. This is a very terrifying moment for us. 286 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 1: There are people in this country who are trying to 287 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: end democracy. They're trying to end the very founding principle 288 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,919 Speaker 1: of this country that it is for the people. Because 289 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: they make a lot of money and they retain a 290 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 1: lot of power by suppressing the vote. They don't want 291 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 1: to see this country become more equitable for the vast 292 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: majority of us. And that is very scary. You know, 293 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: when you hear people say that these are the most 294 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 1: aggressive voting restriction laws since the Jim Crow era that 295 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 1: this is Jim Crow two point oh. That is very 296 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: very serious. So I would really encourage everyone who's listening, 297 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: you know, I know that that can feel scary or 298 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: overwhelming to think about. Don't let it. Let it give 299 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,920 Speaker 1: you that kind of sacred rage, you know that like fire. 300 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 1: Let's think about it like fuel and start calling your 301 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: elected officials. Call your congress people, call your senators. Jump 302 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:49,639 Speaker 1: on the petitions that are circulating around the internet to 303 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: end this stuff that are calling on the government to 304 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: take action, Call on senators to end the filibuster so 305 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 1: that we can achieve better democratic practices for everyone in 306 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 1: this country. That's the whole point of living here is 307 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 1: that everyone gets to vote, everyone gets to participate. And 308 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 1: the idea that we're trying to disenfranchise our citizens in 309 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 1: many areas are most disadvantaged citizens by taking away their 310 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: right to vote. It's just unacceptable. It's unacceptable, and there's 311 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 1: a lot we can do about it, and it's really 312 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,640 Speaker 1: important to remind people who want to say things like well, 313 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:29,640 Speaker 1: if we you know, if we nuke the filibuster for this, 314 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: then what's going to prevent them from doing it to us? 315 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 1: They've already done it. Mitch McConnell rammed through Supreme Court 316 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: nominees after withholding Merritt Garland's nomination for nearly a year. 317 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: He rammed through Supreme Court nominees by nu king the 318 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: filibuster to pass those votes. He just said, nope, on 319 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: this vote, We're not honoring the filibuster. So they do 320 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: it to us all the time. It's time for us 321 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: to fight fire with fire and do it to protect America, 322 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: not to try to change the electorate and to change 323 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: who justice applies to. So you know, light a fire 324 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 1: under the asses of your elected officials and tell them 325 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: to get to work. Actually, these are really related to 326 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: that last point. And uh, what advice do I have 327 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 1: for making a habit of social and political activism. I 328 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: actually have scheduled in my calendar a weekly call to 329 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: my elected reps. It doesn't take me very long, you know, 330 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 1: depending on the issues that I need to talk about 331 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: to whoever at their office answers the phone to take notes. 332 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: I'd say, you know, between ten and twenty minutes. And 333 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: I do it once a week and it's really really 334 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: great call up and just say what are we doing 335 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: about climate? What are we doing about a green New Deal, 336 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,719 Speaker 1: how are we prioritizing the ocean, and what's going on 337 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: with voting, stand Up for Us past the four the 338 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 1: People Act. These are the issues obviously that I'm calling 339 00:20:56,160 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 1: about right now. Um, but every you know, every couple months, 340 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,639 Speaker 1: depending on what's happening in in the political landscape, they 341 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,679 Speaker 1: might change. But it's a really, really great habit to 342 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:09,159 Speaker 1: get into. And it's been really cool to see my 343 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: friends with young kids do it when their kids are 344 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 1: home and say, hey, this is what we do. This 345 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: is how you participate, This is how you call the 346 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: people who are supposed to take care of you and 347 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: let them know what you care about. And I just 348 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: think it's such a great habit to get into. So 349 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: if you use any kind of calendar app on your phone, 350 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: try plugging it in and then report back to us 351 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 1: and tell us how it's going. So now, because so 352 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:42,640 Speaker 1: many of you ask about organizations to get involved in 353 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: and about the things that I care about, and for 354 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 1: recommendations of what you might be inspired by, I thought 355 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 1: it might be really cool to highlight five organizations that 356 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:58,639 Speaker 1: are just doing such cool work in the world. The 357 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: first feels really important to talk about especially a year 358 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,440 Speaker 1: and a half into this pandemic. You know, so many 359 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 1: young people have had their lives turned upside down. School 360 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 1: is such an important part of kids lives, their cognitive 361 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 1: development and their social skills and all of it. And 362 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: they've had to do school on zoom. And I will say, 363 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 1: shout out to every single teacher out there who has 364 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,399 Speaker 1: just been doing such great work to entertain the kiddos 365 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 1: in your classrooms and to make them feel engaged and loved. 366 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: It's it's so special. One of which I have to say, 367 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 1: Donovan Taylor Hall. You are such an amazing advocate for 368 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:42,400 Speaker 1: youth empowerment, So thank you. Um the videos of you 369 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 1: and your classroom on zoom really are are some of 370 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:48,160 Speaker 1: the things I tune into to brighten my day. UM, 371 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 1: So shout out to you and to all the other teachers. 372 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: One of the things that teachers are talking a lot 373 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,919 Speaker 1: about and parents are talking a lot about is kids 374 00:22:56,920 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: mental health. And I actually think the silver lining of 375 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: the year. Thank God, kids are so resilient by the way. 376 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 1: I think one of the silver linings of this year 377 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 1: is a we've seen the ways that kids are managing 378 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 1: to continue thriving and be we're finally talking about children's 379 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: mental health and breaking through that stigma. Kids have struggled 380 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: with mental health issues since long before this pandemic, and 381 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 1: for whatever reason, we seemed really nervous to talk about that. 382 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: And that's where an organization called On our Sleeves comes in. 383 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: On our Sleeves is a national movement to break those 384 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 1: stigmas around children's mental health issues. No family is supposed 385 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 1: to struggle alone in their journey, and their mission is 386 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 1: to provide free mental health educational resources to every community 387 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 1: in America to educate families and empower advocates, and they 388 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 1: also support access to services by connecting families to trusted 389 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: local resources. On our Sleeves launched an incredible initiative called 390 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:00,200 Speaker 1: one Million Classrooms, and they are working on getting mental 391 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 1: health tools into classrooms so that teachers can support their 392 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,679 Speaker 1: students and also let parents know when a student might 393 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 1: be struggling, which is so incredibly important considering that kids 394 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 1: in school spend so much time in their classrooms away 395 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:17,280 Speaker 1: from their parents. So whether you are a parent, a teacher, 396 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:19,400 Speaker 1: or you have a friend with a kid, check out 397 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: on our Sleeves. It is a wonderful organization. And there's 398 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 1: a couple of ways to get involved. If you go 399 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:29,120 Speaker 1: to their website on our Sleeves dot org, there are 400 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 1: links to pledge to do one Small Thing. There are 401 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 1: links to plan an event and even to plan a fundraiser. 402 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 1: So if you're looking for a way to dedicate your time, 403 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 1: this could be a really really great thing. UM The 404 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 1: pledge to Do One Small Thing page feels really important. 405 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:50,680 Speaker 1: It's all about taking one small action, because that's really 406 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:52,919 Speaker 1: all it takes to start your journey to become a 407 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 1: mental health advocate. And the first action is to start 408 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:00,920 Speaker 1: a conversation. So they have a whole list here of 409 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 1: what you can do, and it's about checking in with someone, 410 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 1: whether it's sending a text or an email, going for 411 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 1: a coffee, UM, unplugging at a dinner, and having a conversation, 412 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:14,719 Speaker 1: you know, simple everyday conversations when a child has your 413 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 1: full attention can really open doors to them revealing what 414 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 1: they're going through. You can resolve not to use stigmatizing language, 415 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 1: you know, throwing around casual terms like nuts are crazy, 416 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 1: or or even technical terms that seem to have become 417 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 1: inappropriate buzzwords like bipolar UM can really do a great 418 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 1: deal of harm and so you can watch the words 419 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:41,159 Speaker 1: you use and educate yourself about them, and you can 420 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,359 Speaker 1: perform a random act of kindness. This is one of 421 00:25:43,359 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: my favorite things that they do. Um they inspire all 422 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 1: of us to go out and just do something like 423 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: holding a door for someone you know, smiling at a stranger, 424 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:55,400 Speaker 1: or striking up a conversation in line, lending someone a hand. Uh. 425 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: Kindness can really help someone who is struggling. And you 426 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 1: can also encourage people well to pass that kindness on 427 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 1: to others. So check out the website. Like I said, 428 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:08,160 Speaker 1: it's www. Dot on our Sleeves dot org. You can 429 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:11,880 Speaker 1: follow them on Twitter as well, and you can check 430 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:14,879 Speaker 1: out some resources about the organization in our stories this 431 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,879 Speaker 1: week next up, and this really relates to the conversation 432 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:23,640 Speaker 1: we were just having about activism in terms of defending voting. 433 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 1: I am a voter. I am actually incredibly proud to 434 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 1: say that I am one of the co founders that 435 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:32,919 Speaker 1: I am a voter. We are a nonpartisan movement that 436 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:35,840 Speaker 1: is aimed at creating a cultural shift around voting and 437 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:39,920 Speaker 1: civic engagement by unifying all of us around a central truth. 438 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 1: Our democracy works better when we all participate, and there 439 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: are ways in which we all describe ourselves, right I 440 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 1: am a friend, I am a daughter, I am an actor, 441 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:53,680 Speaker 1: I am an activist, I am a podcast host, and 442 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,439 Speaker 1: I am a voter. Being a voter is actually a 443 00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 1: huge part of our identity, and it's actually the part 444 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: of our identity that gives us the strongest representation and 445 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 1: also a guarantee that we can uphold democracy, that we 446 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 1: can live in a society that functions. And I hope 447 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 1: that you guys feel really really inspired about being civically engaged. 448 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 1: I hope that when you describe yourself, you all would 449 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: say I am a voter too. You can get involved 450 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:26,200 Speaker 1: in a couple of ways. The way that I'm probably 451 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 1: the most proud of is that we built a chatbot. 452 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:31,720 Speaker 1: And you guys, there's nothing I hate more than getting 453 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:33,920 Speaker 1: a bunch of messages that A, I don't need, be 454 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 1: are repetitive or c or honestly just annoying. So I 455 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:40,399 Speaker 1: helped do this because I wanted it to be great, 456 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 1: and I wanted it to be really, really, really clean 457 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 1: and effective. All of us at the team really oversaw 458 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:50,119 Speaker 1: how this thing would communicate with you, and it is 459 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 1: literally the easiest. You just text the word voter v 460 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 1: O t e R two to six seven nine seven. 461 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:03,400 Speaker 1: Voter to to six seven nine seven. Are you doing 462 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:05,439 Speaker 1: it right now? I mean, if you're driving, don't do it. 463 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 1: But if you're like sitting somewhere listening to this podcast, 464 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:11,920 Speaker 1: open your phone, open your text app and text voter 465 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:15,800 Speaker 1: to to six seven seven. You will get a quick 466 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:18,400 Speaker 1: text message and the text sign will remind you when 467 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 1: elections are coming up in your area. It will let 468 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 1: you know if you're pulling place is changed. You can 469 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:25,359 Speaker 1: check in and make sure you have not been purged 470 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:27,840 Speaker 1: from your voter roles, which, by the way, huge scandal 471 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:31,719 Speaker 1: happening right now. Our chat line will make sure you 472 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 1: have exactly the information that you need and none that 473 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:37,200 Speaker 1: you don't, so make sure you sign up for your 474 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 1: election reminders. You can also go to the website at 475 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 1: I Am a Voter dot com and you can follow 476 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 1: us on Instagram at I Am a Voter. And if 477 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 1: you're feeling inspired and you love democracy as much as 478 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: I do, you can go to the website and donate 479 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 1: anything that you're able to. Next up and many of 480 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 1: you know that this is an issue that is incredibly 481 00:28:57,240 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 1: close to my heart. I want to talk to you 482 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: all about every Town and Mom's Demand. Every town is 483 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 1: on a mission to change gun violence in America. Gun 484 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 1: violence touches every town in America, and for too long, 485 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:11,480 Speaker 1: life saving laws have been thwarted by the gun lobby 486 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:14,640 Speaker 1: and by leaders who refuse to take common sense steps 487 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:18,240 Speaker 1: that will save lives. But something is changing. More than 488 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 1: six million mayors, moms, teachers, survivors, gun owners, students, and 489 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 1: everyday Americans have come together to make change in their 490 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 1: own communities and make their own communities safer. Every town 491 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 1: starts with you, and it starts in your neighborhood. By 492 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: introducing evidence based solutions in every town, we can end 493 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 1: gun violence. And the ways that you can get involved. 494 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:44,480 Speaker 1: Go to the website every town dot org. You can 495 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 1: download their volunteer app, which happens to be the same 496 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 1: as the Mom's Demand app, and I'm just about to 497 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 1: tell you about Mom's Demand. You can, of course donate 498 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 1: or this is one of my favorite things to do 499 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:56,320 Speaker 1: because I love to help print phone banks. You can 500 00:29:56,400 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 1: volunteer on their text or their call team so is. 501 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:03,240 Speaker 1: Check out every town dot org online, go follow them 502 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:08,080 Speaker 1: on Twitter and on Instagram. At every Town and one 503 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 1: of their partner organizations run by my dear friend, Shannon Watts, 504 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 1: who is literally a Mamma Warrior. She is so impressive 505 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:19,480 Speaker 1: and committed to her advocacy. Mom's Demand Action is a 506 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 1: grassroots movement for Americans fighting for public safety measures that 507 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 1: can protect people from gun violence. We can pass stronger 508 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,600 Speaker 1: gun laws and work to close the loopholes that jeopardize 509 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 1: the safety of our families. We can also work in 510 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:35,360 Speaker 1: our own communities and with business leaders to encourage a 511 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:39,520 Speaker 1: culture of responsible gun ownership. We know that gun violence 512 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 1: is preventable, and we are all committed to doing what 513 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 1: it takes to keep families safe. That is the mission 514 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,880 Speaker 1: statement of Mom's Demand and I am slow clapping over here, 515 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 1: except you know not so that I don't ruin the sound. 516 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:56,080 Speaker 1: Please go to Mom's Demand Action dot org and if 517 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:58,200 Speaker 1: you want to get involved, you can also download their 518 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:00,640 Speaker 1: volunteer app. Same as every Town, they share an app. 519 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: It's incredible. You can email to become on volunteer. You 520 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 1: can call your senators, which, like I said earlier, makes 521 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 1: a huge difference. There are events and virtual events, and 522 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 1: there is even a Student's Demand Action network for younger 523 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:17,560 Speaker 1: listeners and students who are fed up with going to school, 524 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 1: terrified of gun violence. Mom's demand is just unbelievable, you guys, 525 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: I don't have enough good words to say about them. 526 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:28,480 Speaker 1: I could talk about them for ages. I really really 527 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 1: believe in their mission, and I really believe that there 528 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: is a solution for all. So let's do it. Next up, 529 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you about the Urban Ocean Lab. 530 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:41,680 Speaker 1: The Urban Ocean Lab was co founded by Work in 531 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 1: Progress guest and dear friend dr Ianna Elizabeth Johnson, and 532 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 1: they cultivate rigorous, creative, equitable, and practical climate and ocean 533 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:55,960 Speaker 1: policy for the future of coastal cities. Now, coastal cities 534 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 1: are leaders in climate and ocean policy, obviously, as they're 535 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:02,560 Speaker 1: on the coasts, in plementing science based and forward thinking strategies, 536 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 1: ensuring environmental justice for coastal communities, and serving as a 537 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:09,200 Speaker 1: laboratory for state and federal initiatives. Now, even if you 538 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 1: don't live on a coast, and we were talking about 539 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:14,200 Speaker 1: this earlier, I think you would love to get involved 540 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,920 Speaker 1: with the Urban Ocean Lab because, as we discussed before, 541 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 1: if there is a weather event on the coast, it 542 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 1: also affects our inland communities. We're seeing changes in weather 543 00:32:25,400 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 1: patterns and extreme heat and droughts that are affecting our farmers. 544 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 1: We saw those daio's last year that ravaged Middle America 545 00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 1: and destroyed crops and upset the economy. All of this 546 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 1: is connected and if we can protect our oceans, we 547 00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:46,080 Speaker 1: can protect our country and we can protect our planet. 548 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:48,880 Speaker 1: Ianna and some of the episodes that she's done for 549 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 1: us here at Work in Progress has really explained how 550 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:54,720 Speaker 1: this works. You can check out our episode from earlier 551 00:32:54,760 --> 00:32:57,520 Speaker 1: this year and our Well and Good series where there's 552 00:32:57,520 --> 00:33:01,160 Speaker 1: even a video interview to learn about how important ocean 553 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 1: cities are to all of America and about how as 554 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:09,280 Speaker 1: we move forward into this new phase of our humanity, 555 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:13,080 Speaker 1: the oceans and the climate research that comes out of 556 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:16,360 Speaker 1: them and the jobs that they can create are actually 557 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:19,360 Speaker 1: going to be huge industries for us, and they're going 558 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:21,960 Speaker 1: to support the economy and incredible ways, so we can 559 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:23,880 Speaker 1: be good to the environment, good to the economy, and 560 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:26,080 Speaker 1: good to each other all at the same time. Honestly, 561 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 1: it's incredible. So visit Urban ocean Lab dot org. You 562 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:33,400 Speaker 1: can follow at Urban Ocean Lab on Twitter, and you 563 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:36,440 Speaker 1: can get involved. They are actually hiring right now, guys. 564 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 1: They're hiring project managers in coastal cities. These are paid, 565 00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:44,120 Speaker 1: full time jobs. So go to Urban Ocean Lab dot org. 566 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:46,719 Speaker 1: If that sounds interesting to you, you might get hired. 567 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:50,080 Speaker 1: You can also donate because they're doing great work and 568 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 1: get passionate about the ocean. Last Up is an organization 569 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:57,160 Speaker 1: I have been obsessed with for so many years and 570 00:33:57,440 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 1: finally managed to have the founder of come on Work 571 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 1: and progress as well. That's Jose Andres, and the organization 572 00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:06,760 Speaker 1: is the World Central Kitchen. The World Central Kitchen uses 573 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:10,399 Speaker 1: the power of food to nourish communities and strengthen economies 574 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:14,920 Speaker 1: through times of crisis and so far beyond. Jose Andres 575 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:17,920 Speaker 1: is often first on the ground with w c K, 576 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:23,280 Speaker 1: supporting communities and disaster zones and also running culinary training 577 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:26,960 Speaker 1: programs and social enterprise ventures. They have activated in communities 578 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:29,640 Speaker 1: around the United States and all over the world to 579 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:31,759 Speaker 1: meet the daily needs of families that are in need 580 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 1: of a warm plate of food, and they have supported 581 00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:37,719 Speaker 1: thousands of local restaurants in the process. They kept so 582 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 1: many restaurants up and running through this pandemic. Guy's World 583 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:44,960 Speaker 1: Central Kitchen is truly amazing, and they've responded to natural 584 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:48,799 Speaker 1: and man made disasters in countries on five continents. They 585 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:52,279 Speaker 1: worked to help during the massive bushfires in Australia, they 586 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:55,279 Speaker 1: offered assistance after a deadly explosion in Lebanon, and they 587 00:34:55,280 --> 00:34:59,799 Speaker 1: were on the ground helping Central America recover from devastating hurricanes. 588 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:02,760 Speaker 1: They are fighting to feed hungry people around the world, 589 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:05,680 Speaker 1: and at the same time they continue planting roots in 590 00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:09,080 Speaker 1: the communities where they work with a food producer network 591 00:35:09,120 --> 00:35:11,359 Speaker 1: which is helping to create food resilience in the face 592 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:15,920 Speaker 1: of future disasters. In Haiti, for example, aspiring chefs are 593 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:18,560 Speaker 1: obtaining the skills and confidence they need to elevate their 594 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:22,279 Speaker 1: careers and the country's tourism sector. They have shown that 595 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:24,879 Speaker 1: there is no place too far or a disaster too 596 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:27,480 Speaker 1: great for their chefs to show up with a hot 597 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:30,880 Speaker 1: plate of food when it is needed most. So please 598 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:34,359 Speaker 1: consider checking out the World Central Kitchen. You can go 599 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:37,600 Speaker 1: to w c K, which obviously stands for a World 600 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:41,040 Speaker 1: Central Kitchen w c K dot org. You can follow 601 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:46,200 Speaker 1: them on Twitter at w c Kitchen, and you can volunteer. 602 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 1: You can donate. Also check out that website because they 603 00:35:49,719 --> 00:35:53,279 Speaker 1: are hiring right now, and I honestly can't imagine a 604 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:56,680 Speaker 1: kinder person to work for than Jose Andres. If you 605 00:35:56,680 --> 00:35:59,480 Speaker 1: haven't listened to his episode of this podcast, you absolutely 606 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:02,520 Speaker 1: should because I would wager that you're going to feel 607 00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:06,439 Speaker 1: the same way. So everyone, I hope that this has 608 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:10,000 Speaker 1: been an inspiring episode of the show. I hope that 609 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:13,400 Speaker 1: those little previews into five of my favorite organizations have 610 00:36:13,600 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 1: you furiously searching through Google right now and following people 611 00:36:17,239 --> 00:36:20,799 Speaker 1: on Instagram and on Twitter, because if you follow these organs, 612 00:36:20,920 --> 00:36:23,879 Speaker 1: I promise you're going to get even more committed, even 613 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:26,680 Speaker 1: more inspired, and I bet you're going to help change 614 00:36:26,719 --> 00:36:29,440 Speaker 1: the world. Thank you so much for your great questions. 615 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:32,200 Speaker 1: Keep them coming, and we'll see you next week. I 616 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:33,080 Speaker 1: work in progress.