the roots of change podcast

Hi Y’all! 👋🏽2020 was the year of protests, but the summer of 2024 is shaping up to be just as electric. Campus’ are filled with young folks speaking out for justice and liberation despite the violent crackdown by police and counter protestors. My conversation with Taj Smith and Emily Weltman about digital activism is more relevant today then when we had it in March! The ceasefire comments are even more prescient today. As we gear up for a hot summer of activism, this listen is a nice balm for the skin before we get out there. The second half of our conversation includes:Speaking up on Big Tech dominated channelsMoving digital activism into the “real world”Using the grassroots techniques of voter outreach for digital activismRegulating and validating the feelings come up while posting onlineHow to be in spaces where people disagree with youI hope you enjoy the conversation!Learn more: www.rootschangemedia.com/taj-em2/

Hi Y’all! 👋🏽Last month, I spoke on a LinkedIn Live discussion with Taj Smith and Emily Weltman about digital activism today and what it takes to speak up and protect yourself while doing it. I loved the depth that we all brought to the conversation and thank you to Alyssa and Tristan who pop in for questions. How did we each get into activism and how has activism shaped our livesWhat does leading with purpose mean in a 2024 digital world with fewer guardrails and more exposure?Why speak up about issues online in the first place?How can community help build energy for the movement and protection in the digital age?How do we channel anger and other emotions for our activism in today’s world?We were so in sync that many times Taj and Em would say exactly what I was thinking. You know you've found good people when you want to keep chatting for 90 minutes, but don't worry! Part 1 is our usual 20-30 minute episode and we'll be back in tw0 weeks for part 2. I hope you enjoy the conversation!Learn more and subscribe: www.rootschangemedia.com/taj-em1/About Taj SmithFollow Taj on LinkedInLearn more about Rootid RespiteBook time with the activist burnout coachAbout Emily WeltmanFollow Emily on LinkedInLearn more about coFLOWcoSubscribe to her Info Dumpster Fire newsletter

Hi Y’all! 👋🏽 I am back with social change communicator, Joe Cardillo (they/them)! We pick up on our conversation about social movements in today’s tech world by looking forward to what we can intentionally build and how we as people interact with social media and platforms and take care of our wellbeing.Future visioning for a humanized tech and worldWhy decentralized platforms can a big shiftTalking about our own inner growth and journeyThe unique challenges of being white & queer anti-racist activists“I'm not really sure” dot dot I think that's one of the most powerful pieces of grammar that we have besides the question is the ellipses because it's the suggestion that we don't know there's more to come we might have to keep thinking about or talking about it.”Read the full transcript at rootschangemedia.com/jcardillo2/About Joe CardilloJoe Cardillo (they/them) is the founder of The Early Manager, a coaching and training company. Previously, they were a marketer, journalist, and operator in startups and tech for 14+ years, and have deep expertise in how to hire, build, and scale inclusive teams and operations. Joe also serves as a lead for Coffee + Creatives, community lead for the Albert's List Jobs & Career Community, and advisor to Black Remote She, NM Local News Fund, and Fundada Labs.Learn More About JoeFollow Joe on MastodonFollow Joe on LinkedInAbout Sam & Roots of ChangeNavigating heart-first activism & storytelling. We explore the 🌱 roots of our world to support organizations and activists 🥵 avoid burnout and 📚 tell empathetic stories that cultivate connections that 🌍 empower ✊🏽 social change. Sam Chavez is a storyteller, strategist, and curious human. She founded Roots of Change, a storytelling agency for activists, non-profits, and political organizations in 2020. Sam is a queer, white, LatinX activist who’s passionate about a livable planet & equitable societies.Subscribe to the roots of change newsletterWe are 100% reader supported, consider donating to support our work.Explore the roots of change agency

Hi Y’all! 👋🏽 I am back to talk with social change communicator, Joe Cardillo (they/them), to talk about navigating social change and communications in ourJoe has an amazing perspective about communications and branding and how we can reshape our world through those mediums. As our tech landscape has incentivized inauthentic behavior, we discussed how organizations and movements can overcome disintermediation, disinformation, and the enshitification of the Internet.“When we think about communicating organization to audience, we also need to think about it as just being in a relationship. Communication is important in any relationship.” - SamWe also discussed:How ‘Discovery’ has been taken over by capitalist, profit-driven thoughtBuilding relationships outside of extractive fundraisingGetting sucked into oversimplication of the Alexa-fying of our movementsEnthusiastic Consent - rethinking relationships with mass communicationsThe relief of unsubscribing to bad political emails and why I’m still subscribed to AOC and Corrie Bush’s listserv.I hope you enjoy our conversation!About Joe CardilloJoe Cardillo (they/them) is the founder of The Early Manager, a coaching and training company. Previously, they were a marketer, journalist, and operator in startups and tech for 14+ years, and have deep expertise in how to hire, build, and scale inclusive teams and operations. Joe also serves as a lead for Coffee + Creatives, community lead for the Albert's List Jobs & Career Community, and advisor to Black Remote She, NM Local News Fund, and Fundada Labs.Learn More About JoeFollow Joe on MastodonFollow Joe on LinkedInAbout Sam & Roots of ChangeNavigating heart-first activism & storytelling. We explore the 🌱 roots of our world to support organizations and activists 🥵 avoid burnout and 📚 tell empathetic stories that cultivate connections that 🌍 empower ✊🏽 social change. Sam Chavez is a storyteller, strategist, and curious human. She founded Roots of Change, a storytelling agency for activists, non-profits, and political organizations in 2020. Sam is a queer, white, LatinX activist who’s passionate about a livable planet & equitable societies.Subscribe to the roots of change newsletterWe are 100% reader supported, consider donating to support our work.Explore the roots of change agency

I had an amazing chat with political organizer, Natalie Burdick, where we discussed the upcoming election, Democratic messaging, and the importance of strategic campaign efforts in Arizona and the California Central Valley. Focusing on Impactful Campaign Efforts The 3 Messaging Strategies to Remember: Don’t repeat MAGA talking points, Talk about us and our vision, & Repetition, repetition, repetition Economic Messaging & Democratic Party Strategy Unprecedented Victories in Local and State Elections Strategies for Political EngagementI love talking to Natalie because she can share complex electoral stakes in the simplest of terms. I hope you enjoy the conversation!About Sam & Roots of ChangeNavigating heart-first activism & storytelling. We explore the 🌱 roots of our world to support organizations and activists 🥵 avoid burnout and 📚 tell empathetic stories that cultivate connections that 🌍 empower ✊🏽 social change. Sam Chavez is a storyteller, strategist, and curious human. She founded Roots of Change, a storytelling agency for activists, non-profits, and political organizations in 2020. Sam is a queer, white, LatinX activist who’s passionate about a livable planet & equitable societies.Subscribe to the roots of change newsletterWe are 100% reader supported, consider donating to support our work.Explore the roots of change agencyAbout Natalie BurdickFollow Natalie on TwitterLearn more about Sister District San FranciscoLearn more about Swing Left San Francisco

In our first podcast of 2024, we spoke with Sharon Hurley Hall, Mission Equality founder, about her organization’s mission to build an anti-capitalist approach to organizations. Sharon recounted her journey from freelance writer to anti-racism advocate and co-founder of Mission Equality.We explored the impact of the 2020 uprisings had on her shift to being more publicly vocal about her experiences of racism. Eventually leading to her collaboration with co-founder Lea Jovy. We explored the differences between equity and equality and what that means in the work of Mission Equality. Mission Equality works with start-ups, non-profits and progressive organisations to create a more sustainable approach to leadership and business. They use progressive education to work at all levels (individual, collective and systemic) to build an alternative to capitalism that we call Equalism.Learn more about Mission EqualityLearn more about SharonFollow Sharon on LinkedInSubscribe to the roots of change newsletterFollow roots of change media on Instagram

Hi Y’all! We pick up from my conversation with organizer, Nadia Rahman.In the second half of our conversation, we focused on the implications for progressives in the U.S. and how we can approach the 2024 election to better hold lawmakers accountable and see the change we deserve. What I loved most was the message of hope that kept emerging. We can stay empowered in the fight for liberatory change. I hope you enjoy our conversation!About Nadia RahmanNadia is a skilled communicator, activist, and organizer. She has 17 years of experience in digital marketing and strategy spanning diverse specialty areas, including content strategy & messaging development, search, social media, email, measurement & analytics, and digital research. An organizer at heart, Nadia is skilled in advocacy, community relations, and bringing people together to work successfully toward shared goals. She has worked in agencies, on in-house marketing teams, and on political campaigns, and has led and managed teams of people, projects, and programs.Learn MoreFollow Nadia on InstagramFollow Nadia on MediumAbout Roots of Change MediaSam Chavez is a storyteller, strategist, and curious human. She founded The Roots of Change Agency, a storytelling agency for activists, non-profits, and political organizations in 2020. Sam is a queer, white, LatinX activist who’s passionate about a livable planet & equitable societies.Subscribe to Roots of Change newsletterExplore Roots of ChangeSupport my work to support & resource social change communicators

Hi Y’all! Last week, I had an amazing conversation with communications expert and organizer, Nadia Rahman. We talked about her lived experience of visiting Israel and Gaza in 2022, what has shifted for her as an organizer in this moment, how people in the U.S. can take action, and what this means as organizers going into the 2024 election.Before we jump into the podcast, I want to acknowledge the emotions and grief surrounding the events in Israel and Gaza. My heart is with everyone who is suffering in this moment. At Roots of Change, we lead with heart and empathy in a path towards liberation for all including Israelis, Palestinians, and anyone who is oppressed world.My conversation with Nadia primarily centered around her experience as a Pakistani American, an organizer, and her 17 years working in digital marketing. I understand one podcast cannot fully express the deep, painful history in the region, the anti-semitism that has surged since Trump’s election, and the Islamaphobia that has only become more visible again.Today’s conversation is going to center around the conflict in Israel and Palestine and our role in the U.S. Then we will return next week, to finish our conversation about what this means for the 2024 election and what we as activists can do to move towards progressive change. I hope you enjoy our conversation!Learn MoreFollow Nadia on InstagramFollow Nadia on Medium