Building Bridges, Breaking Cycles: Personal Stories of Healing, Social Justice & Activism

How do our personal relationships affect political movements and activism? What can we learn from Native American tradition to restore ecological balance? How can transforming capitalism help address global inequality and the environmental crisis?

DEAN SPADE (Author of Love in a F*cked-Up World: How to Build Relationships, Hook Up & Raise Hell Together) shares his reflections on the importance of understanding common relational patterns within activist movements. He emphasizes the need for solidarity and collective action in response to global crises like the conflict in Gaza and ecological disasters. Spade argues for resilience and mutual support within activist communities as essential for sustained efforts toward systemic change.

TIOKASIN GHOSTHORSE (Founder, Host, Exec. Director of First Voices Radio, Founder of Akantu Intelligence · Master Musician of the Ancient Lakota Flute) discusses the often-overlooked Native history and the Western historical domination that has shaped contemporary educational perspectives. He highlights the need for reconnection to Native perspectives, acknowledging the spiritual and cultural richness lost through historical & ongoing colonial practices.

ALEXI HAWLEY (Showrunner, Writer, Creator of The Rookie, The Recruit) explores the complexities and challenges of depicting policing on television. Reflecting on the creation of his show The Rookie in the aftermath of Philando Castile's murder, Hawley discusses the show's evolution in addressing injustice in the justice system and the effort to portray an aspirational version of policing that acknowledges real-world issues.

JERICHO BROWN (Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet, Director of Creative Writing Program, Emory University, Editor of How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice & Skill) delves into the complexities of being a Black writer, emphasizing the importance of embracing one's identity rather than trying to transcend it. He discusses how blackness enriches his craft.

PAUL SHRIVASTAVA (Co-President, THE CLUB OF ROME) analyzes the need for collaborative efforts across various sectors—businesses, governments & individuals—to address global inequalities & environmental challenges.

To hear more from each guest, listen to their full interviews.

Episode Website

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