What Can I Do

Has anybody ever told you that you should run for office? What did you do or say in response? This week we spoke to Sara Guillermo, the CEO of IGNITE, which trains and empowers young women to become advocates and political leaders. We spoke to Sara about her own journey to supporting women’s political power, some of the challenges women face in both elected office and advocacy environments, and how IGNITE approaches training, support, and building community for young leaders. In the process we discussed why it’s so important that women get this kind of support and what kinds of opportunities become available when they do. Episode Links: IGNITE: Website | Twitter/X | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok Follow Lila on Twitter/XFollow Kelly on Twitter/XFollow the podcast on Twitter/X at @WhatCanIDoPodTo contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Upbeat Energetic Rock by Vivaleum and we hold a license for use of the song through Pixabay. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Do you remember the slogan of the American colonists "no taxation without representation" and want to ensure that American citizens today all have that representation? This week we spoke to Kelsye Adams, Director of DC Vote, about her work as an artistic activist, advocating for the fundamental rights of DC residents to equal representation in Congress via statehood. She discussed where the fight for DC statehood is, what it will take to get it over the finish line, and how she incorporates art and especially go-go music into her work. Episode Links: DC Vote: Website | Twitter/X | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok Follow Lila on Twitter/XFollow Kelly on Twitter/XFollow the podcast on Twitter/X at @WhatCanIDoPodTo contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Upbeat Energetic Rock by Vivaleum and we hold a license for use of the song through Pixabay. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Are you interested in learning more about coalition-building and how to contribute to the creation of a more representative government? This week we spoke to DaMareo Cooper, one of the co-Executive Directors of Popular Democracy (formerly the Center for Popular Democracy or CPD), about how different layers of individual involvement and action can help transform government into something that works for us all. He talks about his background as an organizer, how Popular Democracy works with their local affiliates to build networks, share information, and empower community organizations, and where people can slot into that work. Episode Links: Popular Democracy (Former Center for Popular Democracy): Website Follow Lila on Twitter/XFollow Kelly on Twitter/X@WhatCanIDoPodhello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. rate and review Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Upbeat Energetic Rock by Vivaleum and we hold a license for use of the song through Pixabay. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

It’s a special episode of What Can I Do Junior, hosted by Teddy and Arthur! Are you a young person looking to make a difference? Do you have kids in your life who are eager to make their voices heard? This week we spoke to Joan Galat, author of Make Your Mark, Make a Difference—A Kid’s Guide to Standing Up For People, Animals, and the Planet, about all of the ways young people can get engaged and get active! Joan spoke about the many kinds of political action available to children, how young people can choose an issue to get involved in, and what other kids are doing to make a change in their communities and the world. A great listen for kids and adults alike! Episode Links: Joan Galat: Website | Instagram | Twitter Buy Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: Website Follow Lila on Twitter/XFollow Kelly on Twitter/XFollow the podcast on Twitter/X at @WhatCanIDoPodTo contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Upbeat Energetic Rock by Vivaleum and we hold a license for use of the song through Pixabay. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Wondering how to protect your mental health during this election season? This week we spoke to Dr. Deborah Vinall, a psychologist and author based in Southern California, about how to engage in the political process in a way that’s both productive and protective of your mental health. She shared tips for how to check in with yourself as you do political work, how to protect yourself from the stress of a major electoral cycle, how to keep perspective despite the constant torrent of frustrating and scary news, and how to talk to others about how you’re feeling. Episode Links: Dr. Deborah Vinall: Website Books: Website Follow Lila on Twitter/XFollow Kelly on Twitter/XFollow the podcast on Twitter/X at @WhatCanIDoPodTo contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Upbeat Energetic Rock by Vivaleum and we hold a license for use of the song through Pixabay. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Wondering how to do effective Democratic organizing in rural red states? This week we spoke to Jane Kleeb, the Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, about the innovative work she and the Nebraska Dems are doing to bring Democratic victories to supposedly deep red, rural states. We talked about how Democrats can reach out to rural voters, the similarities between urban and rural communities, and the really exciting and innovative projects the Nebraska Democratic Party is undertaking to empower their volunteers and Democratic volunteers all over the nation. Don’t miss our discussion of the Block Captain Program, which gives local and county parties a roadmap for developing effective voter communication, and Jane’s dos and don'ts for canvassing and reporting on politics in rural areas. We were so inspired by this conversation! Episode Links: Jane KleebTwitterBlock Captain Program and the Nebraska State DemocratsWebsiteBold AllianceWebsiteBuy Harvest the VoteWebsite Follow Lila on Twitter/XFollow Kelly on Twitter/X@WhatCanIDoPodhello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. rate and review Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Upbeat Energetic Rock by Vivaleum and we hold a license for use of the song through Pixabay. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Wondering what canvassing for a candidate and organizing in-person voter outreach actually involves? This week we spoke to Maggie O’Keefe, a community activist who is part of a new generation of Democratic Committee members organizing the vote in Chicago. Have you been thinking of volunteering for a candidate but are nervous about the idea of knocking on a stranger’s door? Maggie gives insight into what canvassing actually entails, how new canvassers are trained, and what is rewarding about this kind of person-to-person outreach are. She also shares a little about her role as a committeeperson, what it’s like to be a younger member of the local party leadership, and her work getting young people registered and ready to vote. A must-listen for anybody looking to volunteer for a campaign the first time or wondering how to reach out to young voters! Episode Links: Maggie O’KeefeWebsiteTikTokInstagramTwitter Follow Lila on Twitter/XFollow Kelly on Twitter/X@WhatCanIDoPodhello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. rate and review Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Upbeat Energetic Rock by Vivaleum and we hold a license for use of the song through Pixabay. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

This week we spoke to Anat Shenker-Osorio, Democratic campaign consultant, messaging researcher, founder of ASO Communications, and host of the excellent podcast Words to Win By. In this episode Anat shares crucial wisdom on how to have meaningful conversations about our political future in real life and on social media. She examines common campaign messaging pitfalls and how to avoid them, provides lessons from her past work, and shares research about what kinds of communication actually changes minds. Most importantly, she gives specific examples about what to do when family and friends say something weird on the internet and in real life! Don’t miss this funny, impactful, and incredibly helpful interview as you head out to knock doors, make phone calls, and engage with family and friends about the 2024 race! Episode Links: Anat Shenker-OsorioTwitterWords to Win By PodcastWebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitterAmplify Freedom Project:WebsiteASO CommunicationsWebsite Follow Lila on Twitter/XFollow Kelly on Twitter/X@WhatCanIDoPodhello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. rate and review Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Upbeat Energetic Rock by Vivaleum and we hold a license for use of the song through Pixabay. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

While we gear up to bring you Season 3 of What Can I Do, focused on how to take action in a presidential election year, please enjoy this episode of Unsung History focused on antiwar activism. In 1971, a group of performers calling themselves the Free Theatre Associates (FTA), including Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland, began putting on popular antiwar shows for audiences of active-duty GIs. Over 10 months they performed near military bases all over the United States and in the Pacific Rim. The Pacific Rim tour led to a documentary, which was released briefly in July 1972 and then quickly yanked from theaters. To help us learn about the FTA, Kelly is joined by theater historian Dr. Lindsay Goss, Assistant Professor in the School Of Theater, Film And Media Arts at Temple University and author of F*ck the Army!: How Soldiers and Civilians Staged the GI Movement to End the Vietnam War. Complete Show Notes: https://www.unsunghistorypodcast.com/FTA/

Are you looking for some hope and next steps when it comes to combatting gun violence in your community and nationally? This week we spoke to Angela Ferrell-Zabala from Mom’s Demand Action to dig into the seemingly intractable issue of gun violence and learn about how Mom’s Demand Action, their affiliated organization Students Demand Action, and the larger ecosystem of gun violence prevention organizations are working together, advocating for better policy, and, most importantly, supporting volunteer actions at the local level that you (yes you!) can get involved in. Beyond the headlines there’s progress getting made on this issue all over the country, and Angela told us how Mom’s Demand can help interested “mothers and others” get involved in lobbying and learn how to take smaller, more approachable actions in their communities. Episode Links: Mom’s Demand Action: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Take Action: Text “Ready” to 64433 Follow Lila on Twitter Follow Kelly on Twitter Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Are you retired and looking for a way to get involved? A few weeks ago we heard from a listener looking for information about how to approach activism as a retired person. She was sick of postcarding and other activities that don’t feel effective, so we decided to chat with the busiest retired activist we know…Lila’s mother, Carla Nordstrom! In our wide-ranging conversation, we talk about the many skills retired people bring to the table, how they’re uniquely situated for effective community organizing, and what kinds of things Carla does to keep her community informed and promote the candidates and causes she’s working on. Episode Links: Follow Lila on Twitter Follow Kelly on Twitter Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Are you interested in aiding in the fight to make the vote more accessible in your state or community? Hannah Fried is a lawyer by trade who worked for the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama before founding All Voting is Local, a non-profit that works in eight states to protect the vote at the local level. She talks us through the founding of All Voting is Local, including how she funded the organization and assembled her team in the early days, as well as what their work entails and how regular people can step up to protect the vote in their communities. Episode Links: All Voting is Local: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Follow Lila on Twitter Follow Kelly on Twitter Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Are you a part of a fan community and wondering how to use your passion and interest to make the world a better place? Sabrina Cartan and Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael are organizers, creatives, fans, and believe communities organized around pop culture are inherently political and ripe for organizing. Sabrina talks about the power of fan movements and how they are harnessed through her work with Fandom Forward, an organization that connects causes to fan communities. Eliyannah talks to us about how her political and fan interests inform her work as a creative and how her activism and work are often one in the same. A really inspiring and timely episode for anybody looking for ways to connect their activism to their other interests! Episode Links: Sabrina Cartan: Website | Instagram | Twitter Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael: YouTube | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Fandom Forward: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Follow Lila on Twitter Follow Kelly on Twitter Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Thinking about how to effectively use graphic design in your organizing work? Innosanto Nagara is a designer who has long used his visual communication skills in his organizing, but found a unique way to help the next generation join the fight by writing and illustrating the best-selling board book A is For Activist. So began a successful second career as a children’s book author. Inno’s books cover the topics he wanted to teach his own child about, things like taking action, being part of a community, learning about legacies of colonialism, and understanding how movement’s are constructed and how they succeed. We talk about effective graphic design, why he began writing books for children, and how we can help the next generation learn about the issues that matter. Episode Links: Innosanto Nagara: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Buy the Books: Bookshop | Seven Stories Press Follow Lila on Twitter Follow Kelly on Twitter Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Terrified about the state of SCOTUS and the courts and wondering how you can take action to support court reform? We started this podcast in the days after Dobbs, so we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Brett Edkins from Stand Up America to chat about his journey from law school to advocacy, how lawyers can use their skills to advocate for and support court reform, and the role regular people can play in standing up to corruption in the American courts. He’s got advice on everything from simple actions you can take right now to policy changes regular citizens and politicians alike can pursue at the local and national level. Episode Links: Action Items: Text “Stand” to 63033 | Email Your Representatives Follow Stand Up America: Website | TikTok | Instagram | Twitter Follow Brett Edkins: Twitter Follow Lila on Twitter Follow Kelly on Twitter Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Watching Hot Labor Summer unfold and interested in learning more about how to unionize your workplace or support the labor movement? Maggie Carter, a single mom and college student, had worked as a Starbucks partner for years (including through the entire pandemic) when she saw union drives working in far-away stores and wondered if she could help bring that kind of change to her own door. She’s now a staff organizer with the Starbucks Workers United and talks about how the union vote came together, the roadblocks Starbucks threw up in their way, and how much things have changed since her store became the first in the south to unionize. Episode Links: Follow the Starbucks Workers Union: Website | TikTok | Instagram | Twitter Follow the Southern Starbucks Workers Union: Twitter Follow Maggie Carter: Twitter Follow Lila on Twitter Follow Kelly on Twitter Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Looking for a way to build community and make political change using your artistic skills or an interest in crafting? Jayna Zweiman was an architect recovering from a life-changing head and neck injury when she found the knitting and crocheting community. It became a critical part of her recovery, and, ultimately, activism. Since then she’s founded multiple projects focused on giving crafters a political community that helps educate people through art and provides real, tangible resources to people in need. After co-founding the Pussyhat Project in 2016, she created the Welcome Blanket Project, which gives knitters the chance to create blankets that are turned into educational exhibits, then sent to refugees and asylum seekers through a network of organizations serving the immigrant community. Jayne talks about the logistics of starting and managing a project of this scope, the challenges of making that project sustainable in the long-run, and the joys of creating political communities that welcome introverts. Episode Links: Welcome Blanket Project: Website | Facebook | Instagram Jayna Zweiman: Website Follow Lila on Twitter Follow Kelly on Twitter Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

What does it take to overcome your anxieties and concerns about canvassing, public speaking, and more? Jade Pacheco gives us an unfiltered look at how she went from being a shy, passive citizen to a builder of communities through her work with ACT 4 SA, the first grassroots organization in San Antonio to focus on policing the police. In the process she talks about developing the confidence to canvas for candidates and causes, the training and support that allowed her to take the leap, the medical barriers that kept her from getting diagnosed with ADHD, the accommodations she now requests to ensure she can do her community work well, and so much more. Episode Links: Follow ACT 4 SA: Website | Facebook | Instagram Follow Lila on Twitter Follow Kelly on Twitter Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

Does it seem like being an engaged citizen is starting to feel like a full-time job? Are you looking for ways to cut down on the costs, both in terms of time and resources, that it takes to make your voice heard? Kevin Elliott, lecturer in ethics, politics and economics at Yale University and author of Democracy for Busy People knows you’re not alone. We talk to him about how to create space for busy people to participate in our democracy, the seemingly positive democratic innovations can actually create more problems than they solve, and what it means for a government to be truly inclusive. Episode Links: Buy Democracy for Busy People: Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble Kevin J. Elliott: Website | Twitter Follow Lila on Twitter Follow Kelly on Twitter Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.

So you’re thinking of getting involved, but you’re not sure how to find your place as an activist? Have no fear! The attendees and speakers of this year’s Netroots Nation are here to help. In this episode we compile the stories of everybody from members of Congress to local candidates to state-level Democratic activists to hyper-local community activists and learn how they got involved and what their work has taught them. Episode Links: Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12): Website | Twitter Rep. Maxwell Frost (FL-10): Website | Twitter Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35): Website | Twitter Rep. Delia Ramirez (IL-3): Website | Twitter Sean Frame (Founder, The Six PAC): Website | Twitter Carlyn Cowen (Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Chinese-American Planning Council): Website | Twitter Karen Gamez Lopez (Engagement Director, Fuse WA): Website | Twitter Kristin Foster (Deputy Executive Director, Get Loud Arkansas): Website | Twitter Follow Lila on Twitter Follow Kelly on Twitter Follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhatCanIDoPod To contact us with questions or guest suggestions, email us at: hello@WhatCanIDoPodcast.com. Please rate and review and tell your friends! Credits: To the best of our knowledge, all audio used by What Can I Do is in the public domain or is used with permission. Our theme song is Good Deeds by Serj Anto, and we hold a license for use of the song through PremiumBeat. Original artwork is by Matthew Weflen and used with express permission.