The Practivist Pod

Arts & Culture Podcasts

Democracy is hanging by a thread, but our work as citizens is about being resilient and persistent so that together, we can build the future we want to see. That’s why every week we bring you The Practivist Pod — the practice of activism made practical. If you’re looking for ways to get engaged, or just looking for ways to stay sane… we want to help you navigate what comes next. Hosted by former candidate for CA Assembly and Executive Director of Blue Wave California, Steve Pierson, and grassroots organizer and Executive Director of Field Team 6, Jason Berlin. Each week on The Practivist Pod, we’ll share important conversations with changemakers, give you practical ways to make an impact, have some fun, and inspire hope. This is more than a podcast — it's a place for our community to grow our practice of advocacy for justice, equity, and progress. Action is the best antidote for anxiety, and joy is a revolutionary act, so subscribe to The Practivist Pod today.

Location:

United States

Genres:

Arts & Culture Podcasts

Description:

Democracy is hanging by a thread, but our work as citizens is about being resilient and persistent so that together, we can build the future we want to see. That’s why every week we bring you The Practivist Pod — the practice of activism made practical. If you’re looking for ways to get engaged, or just looking for ways to stay sane… we want to help you navigate what comes next. Hosted by former candidate for CA Assembly and Executive Director of Blue Wave California, Steve Pierson, and grassroots organizer and Executive Director of Field Team 6, Jason Berlin. Each week on The Practivist Pod, we’ll share important conversations with changemakers, give you practical ways to make an impact, have some fun, and inspire hope. This is more than a podcast — it's a place for our community to grow our practice of advocacy for justice, equity, and progress. Action is the best antidote for anxiety, and joy is a revolutionary act, so subscribe to The Practivist Pod today.

Language:

English

Website:

https://art19.com/shows/swing-left

Email:

dustin@kastmedia.com

Episodes

Primary Wins with John Feinblatt

3/5/2026

Today we have our first primary results of the midterms! The midterms are here!!! So we will talk about the state of the Texas Senate race against a backdrop of our war with Iran and Trump’s extreme dog wagging. Then Steve has a great conversation with one of the leaders fighting to protect our communities from the epidemic of gun violence, President of Everytown for Gun Safety, John Feinblatt. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Steve Linktree Jason Linktree Everytown For Gun Safety www.practivistpod.com Hosted by Steve Pierson and Jason Berlin Produced by Steve Pierson and Trudi Roth Video Edited by Kanai Title Song by Steve Pierson performed by Melinda McGraw Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:48:49

Fake It till You Make It with Kate Barr

2/26/2026

Today Jess is back from DC and Steve is back from the CA Dem Convention so we catch up on all things Democrats and no things State of The Union (except for how badly it sucked). Of course we will also talk about Republicans’ attempts at voter suppression 2.0. Then Steve has a fascinating conversation with a woman who is shaking up a North Carolina Congressional race in a deep red district by running as a self proclaimed fake Republican, Kate Barr. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree www.katebarrcanwin.com www.practivistpod.com Hosted by Steve Pierson and Jess Craven Produced by Steve Pierson and Trudi Roth Video Edited by Kanai Title Song by Steve Pierson performed by Melinda McGraw Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:48:16

Practical Defiance with Jiggy Geronimo

2/19/2026

Today Jason Berlin fills in for Jess and we talk about Trump's efforts to censor dissent and disrupt our elections, both of which will backfire spectacularly. Then Steve has an important conversation about our country’s move towards authoritarianism and how we beat it back with narrative communications expert, and author of “The Defiance Dispatch”, Jiggy Geronimo. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree defiancedispatch.substack.com BlueWaveCalifornia.org FieldTeam6.org Indivisible.org www.practivistpod.com Hosted by Steve Pierson and Jason Berlin Produced by Steve Pierson and Trudi Roth Video Edited by Kanai Title Song by Steve Pierson performed by Melinda McGraw Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:56:09

Together, We Are America with Emiliana Guereca

2/12/2026

Today we are joined by guest co-host and the Executive Director of Field Team 6, Jason Berlin. We are still celebrating Bad Bunny’s fantastic and MAGA melting performance at the Super Bowl as we call on Congress to protect the vote for millions and ramp up our work to win huge in the midterms. Then we hear from one of our Los Angeles persistence she-ros, the founder and Executive Director of Women’s March Foundation and Women’s March Action, Emiliana Guereca! Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree No Kings on March 28th Field Team 6 Blue Wave California Women’s March Foundation www.practivistpod.com Hosted by Steve Pierson and Jason Berlin Produced by Steve Pierson and Trudi Roth Title Song by Steve Pierson performed by Melinda McGraw Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:48:59

Color of Change with Nadine Smith

2/5/2026

Today we talk about Trump’s attacks on our elections and how we can fight back, the new Epstein files drop, the Senate’s DHS negotiation ramp-up and why Black History month matters now more than ever. Then, Steve has a conversation with civil rights leader, host of “Wide Awake America” and President of Color of Change, Nadine Smith. Jess Linktree Steve Linktree colorofchange.org 5calls.org www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:00:14

The Plan with Ezra Levin

1/29/2026

Today as we are grieving yet another killing at the hands of Trump’s gestapo in Minneapolis we are also witnessing cracks in the republican coalition and an ever growing opposition to the Trump regime’s fascist aspirations. To help us break down what is happening on the ground and how we fight back in the leadup to the midterms and beyond, is the co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, Ezra Levin. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree indivisible.org www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:43:00

End Citizens United! with Tiffany Muller

1/22/2026

Today we talk about America’s shifting place on the world stage, ICE’s continuing mayhem, and Trump’s approval ratings hitting a new low. Meanwhile, republicans continue to search for their balls. Then we talk about campaign finance reform with the President of End Citizens United, Tiffany Muller. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree www.endcitizensunited.org www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:50:16

Trump Doesn’t Care About Humanity with Grant Stern

1/15/2026

Today we ask for a refund on our 14 day free trial of 2026. But since we didn’t read the fine print, we are going to talk about the horrific ICE escalations in Minneapolis, hear about a focus group with disaffected Trump voters, and also talk about what’s going on in Capitol Hill. Then we catch up on the state of independent media and get a rundown on Trump’s failures in Venezuela with the Executive Editor of Occupy Democrats, Grant Stern. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:49:18

Courage Begets Courage with Deirdre Schifeling

1/9/2026

We start off the new year mourning the tragic murder of Renee Nicole Good at the hands of an ICE agent in Minneapolis, watching Trump try to literally take over the western hemisphere, and hoping that congress will pass an ACA premium tax credit extension. Welcome to 2026! Then we get ready for the work ahead of us this year with the ACLU's Chief Political and Advocacy Officer, Deirdre Schifeling. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree www.aclu.org www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:41:48

Brave of Us with Anat Shenker-Osorio

12/18/2025

It’s been a horrific week. We’ll talk about the series of tragedies we witnessed over the weekend, Trump’s repugnant response… and the response to his response. The Vanity Fair bombshell (or was it)? And another overperformance in a downballot special election. Then Steve has a powerful discussion with communications expert, Anat Shenker-Osorio, about the rise of authoritarianism and weaponisation of hate all around the world, and how we stand up against it, not just by winning elections but by building a movement for real change. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree ASOCommunications.com www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:10:57

Undefensible with Joel Rubin

12/11/2025

Today we talk about more big wins for Democrats in special elections, Trump’s latest racist, xenophobic, frankly completely unhinged rant, the affordability “hoax,” and the big healthcare vote coming up this week. Then we talk about the Trump regime’s disastrous foreign policy shift and what it means for us here and abroad with national security expert and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Joel Rubin. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:52:49

Get Out the Vote with Tom Lopach

12/4/2025

Today while Hegseth tries to shift blame on heinous war crimes, and Trump sleeps through cabinet meetings, we are going over the results of yet another huge Democratic overperformance, this time in Tennessee. Then we hear about the national effort to register and turn out under-represented voters from the Executive Director of the Voter Participation Center, Tom Lopach. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree voterparticipation.org www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:41:59

Giving Thanks with Ellen Gavin and Natasha Estrada

11/27/2025

Today we are giving thanks for you, our listeners, and everyone who is stepping up, however they are able, to fight back against the Trump regime and help us build a better future for us all. And Steve shares an inspiring interview with activist, writer, producer Ellen Gavin, and director, actor, Natasha Estrada. The two of them teamed up to create a powerful video featuring Civil Rights and labor icon, Dolores Huerta, to shed light on the truth and use their skills to make an impact. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPJh4EaFO-g Jess Linktree Steve Linktree www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:25:44

Popular Votes with Alyssa Cass

11/20/2025

Congress finally passed the Epstein bill overwhelmingly, dealing a huge blow to Trump and a long awaited win for the survivors. And in another blow to the Trump regime, the Texas gerrymandered maps are struck down. What a week! We discuss it all and then hear from veteran campaign consultant and communications expert Alyssa Cass about how we are closer than you think to ditching the electoral college with the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree www.nationalpopularvote.com www.aftynforcongress.com www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:45:21

Verified Voting with Pamela Smith

11/13/2025

Today we’ve got a wild week to discuss as we are still reveling in our election day wins while grappling with the repercussions of the end of the budget fight. Then as Trump continues to make false claims about our elections, we talk about how safe our voting systems actually are with the President and CEO of Verified Voting, Pamela Smith. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree verifiedvoting.org weaintbuyingit.com www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:41:13

How We Win with DNC Chair Ken Martin

11/6/2025

Today we are celebrating our huge wins all over the country in a clear repudiation of Trump and his brutal destructive policies. Democrats continue to overperform expectations. What a night! To further breakdown all of our wins and what this means for Democrats moving forward into the midterms, we speak with the Chair of the DNC, Ken Martin! Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:01:00

Marching Orders with Maya May

10/30/2025

We are now 30 days into the Trump shutdown but while Republicans enjoy their paid vacation at the expense of our health care and food assistance, it is GOTV time all over our Country! We are just days away from Election Day, so we are going to talk about how you can get involved and make an impact. Jess is traveling today so joining to help us out this week is the host of “Punching Up” on Lincoln Square Media and co-host of “The Breakdown” with Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson, as well as "Protect & Serve" with former police officer Michael Fanone, Comedian and writer, Maya May! Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree mayaonstage.com Volunteer on Prop 50 GET-OUT-THE-VOTE ELECTION DMS www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:32:44

No Kings!

10/23/2025

Today we are still riding the high from our historic No Kings day of protest while the trump regime keeps the government closed, ratchets up the corruption and demos the east wing of the White House. They’re doing everything they can to stomp on our buzz, but we won’t let them! Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree Volunteer on Prop 50 Local Election Cheat Sheet www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:34:52

Minority Rule with Ari Berman

10/16/2025

Today we talk about the heinous young Republican group chat uncovered by Politico and what it means about the GOP, and our young men. We also look at where we are with the Trump shutdown and what’s happening in the “hellscapes” of Portland and Chicago. Then, Steve has a conversation about voting rights and the Republican power grab with Mother Jones correspondent and author of “Minority Rule - The Right Wing Attack on the Will of the People - and the Fight To Resist It”, Ari Berman. Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree Oct. 18th No Kings Day CA Prop 50 - Volunteer www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:56:42

Persuasion 2025 with Jenifer Fernandez Ancona

10/9/2025

Today, as the Trump regime ramps up National Guard deployments in American cities, we are talking about Democratic wins, both electorally and in messaging. Then we have a great conversation with the founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Way to Win, and host of “Charting The Way Forward”, our friend Jenifer Fernandez Ancona! Practivist Call in Number: ‪(818) 824-4286 Jess Linktree Steve Linktree Oct. 18th No Kings Day CA Prop 50 - Volunteer www.votefwd.org https://www.instagram.com/threepointfivepercent/ www.practivistpod.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:00:20