What Mom and Dad Taught Me about Activism, Empathy, and Play: Lessons from two lives lived in Service

Join Kristine Michie for this year-end episode, a heartfelt and inspiring conversation with her parents, Jim and Kathleen Stiven. As they reflect on decades of activism, advocacy, and art education, this episode beautifully weaves together lessons on empathy, resilience, and the transformative power of play. Whether you're a change-maker or someone seeking joy in meaningful work, this episode will leave you motivated and ready to step into 2025 with renewed purpose and connection.

Key Takeaways:

• War itself might be the greatest argument against war. 
• And an anti-war bumper sticker can launch a lifetime of activism.
• Being a Marine, lawyer, judge, law school professor, and father, can combine to fuel a life of service. So can being a mom and spending 25 years as a museum docent guiding people around the world from within the four walls of a gallery.
• If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.
• The importance of forging deep connections when doing change work, with Kathleen highlighting the role of storytelling, and Jim sharing about how he found work outside of work to fuel his passion for changing the world.
• The importance of breaks and balance; with our guests urging activists to preserve their energy and maintain personal boundaries to avoid burnout.
• Empathy and meaningful conversation can bridge cultural and ideological divides, fostering understanding among those with different backgrounds or beliefs.
• Play provides a “portal” to increase accessibility and collaboration among people and groups, offering a unique way to overcome barriers and foster creativity.
• Small moments of connection, shared humor, or light-heartedness will sustain morale and build vital bonds among activists and volunteers.

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