Anchor Change with Katie Harbath
Welcome to Anchor Change, where we help you panic responsibly in a chaotic world. I’m Katie Harbath—a Midwesterner living in DC who’s spent two decades navigating impossible tradeoffs at the intersection of tech, politics, and democracy. Each week, I’ll break down the headlines, talk with people forging bold paths, and explore how we can face disruption with clarity and courage. This isn’t about hot takes—it’s about finding steady ground when everything feels uncertain. In a world of complexity, you don’t have to navigate it alone. anchorchange.substack.com
Episodes
In this episode, Katie talks with Charley Johnson about his leap into independent work through his newsletter, Untangled, and what it takes to build a life and career outside traditional structures. Charley breaks down how power actually moves through technology, why many leaders still misread the systems they operate within, and how imagination—not just strategy—shapes better futures. He shares the blind spots he sees most often i...
In this episode, Katie talks with Clare O’Donoghue Velikić about the shifting landscape of political advertising in Europe—and what’s driving those changes. They trace how Brexit, the Cambridge Analytica scandal, and rising public scrutiny of tech platforms set the stage for today’s regulatory environment. Clare breaks down the stark differences between U.S. and European campaign practices, the ripple effects of GDPR and data rules...
In this episode, Katie Harbath sits down with Michelle O’Grady of Team Friday to unpack how culture, identity, and technology are transforming the way brands and civic leaders connect with younger generations. They explore the rise of mixed-race identities, the fluid ways Gen Z and Gen Alpha see themselves, and what this means for marketers who want to stay relevant. Michelle shares how her work at the intersection of academia and ...
In this episode, Katie Harbath sits down with Sarah Hunt, President of the Rainey Center, for a wide-ranging conversation about the energy system powering the AI era. They dig into why AI’s rapidly growing electricity needs are now a national security issue, how state legislators are shaping the future of infrastructure, and what the U.S. must do to stay competitive as countries like China scale their energy capacity at unprecedent...
Join us for a critical conversation at the intersection of ethics, journalism, and technology as we explore how the digital age is challenging foundational values.
This episode features leading experts: Katy Culver (UW-Madison, School of Journalism and Mass Communication) and Rob Reich (Stanford University, Political Science & Center for Ethics in Society).
The worlds of reporting and technology are colliding, forcing us to confront ...
In this episode, Jeff Berkowitz shares his journey from politics to founding Delve, a consultancy that leverages AI to transform public affairs. He discusses the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into public affairs, the development of Delve’s AI platform, and insights into the future of AI technology in the industry.
Some of the topics we talk about include:
* Jeff’s transition from politics to AI consultancy.
* The role...
In this episode, I interview Bill Skelly about the intersection of AI, data, and the entertainment industry, specifically Hollywood. We discuss the evolution of data usage from politics to entertainment, the role of AI in democratizing data, and the challenges and opportunities in the entertainment industry. Skelly shares insights on how data-driven strategies are transforming film marketing and the importance of proactive policy d...
In this episode of Anchor Change, I talk with Daphne Keller, Director of Platform Regulation at Stanford and former Google attorney, about how laws shape what we can say—and see—online.
We unpack how evolving regulations influence content moderation, the growing role of AI in shaping speech policies, and the challenges of balancing free expression with safety in a global context. Daphne shares what she’s learned from years at the fr...
After spending the last few weeks listening to Q3 earnings calls and product launches from the Magnificent 7 and their orbit, I think it’s safe to say:
We’re approaching a fundamental shift where AI doesn’t just scale operations—it enables radical personalization at scale. And this tension between “more” and “customized” will reshape how we communicate, campaign, and connect.
Hi, are you new to Anchor Change? I’m Katie Harbath. Most ...
In this episode of Anchor Change, I interview Sarah Stamper, Chief Research Officer at Murmuration, about the organization’s work in community-focused research and insights. We discuss the importance of civic engagement, the role of third spaces in communities, and the unique perspectives of Gen Z on civic life and work. Our conversation also touches on the challenges of the current information ecosystem and the need for sustainabl...
Welcome to Season 5 of the Anchor Change podcast! For the next few months, I’m excited to engage in conversations about Gen Z, artificial intelligence, and, of course, politics. For my first episode, I’m talking to Cory Ondrejka, the chief technology officer of SmartNews, where we explore the intersections of technology, creativity, and community. We also reflect on our shared experiences in Madison, Wisconsin.
We cover Cory’s early...
What happens when a single poem changes everything—and also, not quite in the way you’d expect?
This week, I sit down with poet and author Jennae Cecelia, whose piece “Meeting My Younger Self for Coffee” went viral earlier this year. We talk about what it’s like to watch your words take on a life of their own online, the surprising reality of going viral, and why Jennae still believes in self-publishing as a launchpad.
We also dive i...
What if tarot wasn’t about predicting the future—but about helping you tell your story?
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by writer, tarot coach, and Substack author Chelsey Pippin Mizzi for a conversation that bridges the spiritual and the practical, the mystical and the creative. Chelsey’s approach to tarot isn’t about fortune-telling—it’s about reflection, imagination, and accessing the parts of ourselves we’ve forgotten how to ...
How do you build a life that unfolds like a story worth telling?
This week, I sit down with the inimitable Kate Hill—writer, cook, mentor, and founder of the creative retreat Camont in Southwest France. Kate has lived many lives: as an art curator, barge navigator, cookbook author, and now as a Substack writer sharing deeply personal reflections on food, place, and creative practice.
In this episode, we talk about:
* The thread of sto...
What if your business could be both wildly successful and soulfully aligned? In this episode, I talk with Rachael James, the founder of Wild Alabaster and Urban Alchemy Coffee Co., about building brands that are both beautiful and healing, crafting a life that fits your actual needs, and how to panic responsibly when the momentum takes off faster than you planned.
We talk about:
* How she accidentally became a crystal dealer and made...
Trust and safety is often misunderstood—seen as reactive, political, or merely procedural. But for those doing the work, it’s something much deeper: a profession built on care, resilience, and community.
Charlotte Willner, Executive Director of the Trust and Safety Professional Association (TSPA), joins Katie to share how she got into the field, what it was like writing the first rules of the internet at Facebook, and why building p...
When headlines fuel distrust in government and disruption feels more chaotic than constructive, how do we hold onto hope—and channel it into real reform?
This week on Anchor Change, I talk with Jen Pahlka—founder of Code for America, author of Recoding America, and former U.S. Deputy CTO—about what it means to not just criticize the system, but to fix it. We dive into:
* Why public servants feel both unseen and indispensable—and how ...
Steve Grove has had a front-row seat to the evolution of the internet, from his early days at YouTube shaping the political division to navigating crisis in state government, and now—reinventing local journalism as publisher of the Star Tribune.
In this episode, I talk with Steve to talk about the through lines in his career, what led him to leave Silicon Valley for his home state of Minnesota, and why going local may be the most ov...
In this conversation, Katie Harbath speaks with Hamish McKenzie, co-founder of Substack, about the transformative role of the platform in the media landscape. They discuss how Substack is redefining trust in journalism, the impact of AI on content creation, and the importance of direct relationships between creators and their audiences. McKenzie shares insights on the evolution of media from centralized control to a more democratic...
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