Storytelling For Change: Shanelle Matthews
Future Hindsight
We discuss the building blocks of narrative power and the strategies to succeed in changing hearts and minds. Shanelle’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Share your stories of your experiences in your community 2) Get involved in local government Shanelle Matthews is a leading voice in narrative power and social movement communications and the co-author of Liberation Stories: Building Narrative Power for 21st Century Social Movements. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: Discover new ways to...
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Gun Laws That Work: Emma Brown
Future Hindsight
We discuss the complexity of gun violence in the United States and the reality that strong gun laws save lives. Emma’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Contact your senator to vote NO on concealed carry reciprocity Go to and get involved Emma Brown is the executive director of GIFFORDS, an organization whose mission is to save lives from gun violence in America. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: Follow Mila on X: Follow...
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Understanding the Infodemic: Pauline Hoffmann
Future Hindsight
We discuss how we can tell the truth, how we can speak the truth, and how we can avoid misinformation and disinformation. Pauline’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Maintain a degree of curiosity! Care before you share. Pauline Hoffman, also known as the Data Doyenne, is an esteemed infodemiologist and the author of Fake News, Witch Hunts, and Conspiracy Theories: An Infodemiologist’s Guide to the Truth. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: Follow Mila on...
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AI for the Public Interest: Bruce Schneier
Future Hindsight
We discuss how AI can both serve the public interest and advance the goals of our democracy, despite the misgivings about the current state of AI. Bruce’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Use the tools of AI! 2) Use assistive tech to write to your elected representatives Bruce Schneier is an internationally renowned security technologist, chief of security architecture at Inrupt Inc, a lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School, and the co-author of Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government, and Citizenship. Let’s connect!...
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How Underdogs Build Power: Stephanie Luce
Future Hindsight
We discuss Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies to Change the World—a guide for a new generation of activists seeking not just to understand power, but to build it. Stephanie’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Learn a new skill, like non cooperation or mutual aid 2) Find organizations that align with your values and check if they offer trainings Stephanie Luce is Professor of Labor Studies at the School of Labor and Urban Studies and Professor of Sociology at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. She’s also the co-author of Practical Radicals:...
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The Pathway to Citizenship: Todd Schulte
Future Hindsight
A fair, humane, and orderly immigration system should think of the US as the top destination for top talent from around the world, as well as a beacon of hope. Changing the law to give permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship would fix the current failed immigration system. Todd’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Post know-your-rights material at your place of worship or local grocery store Ask your HR to have legal resources for immigrant employees Todd Schulte is the President of FWD.us, where he has directed successful efforts to make the case...
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Small Dollars, Big Strategy: Brian Derrick
Future Hindsight
We discuss how the everyday voter can make strategic political campaign donations just like a billionaire. Brian’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Find an election you’ve never participated in before and get involved 2) Check out the Supreme Court races in Pennsylvania, governor’s races in NJ and VA, and the California redistricting ballot measure Brian Derrick is the co-founder of Oath, a donor advising platform whose mission is to empower donors to participate in our democracy by offering civic education and helping users manage their political giving...
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Following the Money in Politics: Hilary Braseth
Future Hindsight
We discuss the unavoidable intersection between our capitalist economy and democratic governance, and how their relationship plays out through campaign finance and other political transactions. Hilary’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Get the data of your state, locality, and elected officials at Piece together what is happening your state Hilary Braseth is the executive director of OpenSecrets, the nation's premier research and government transparency group tracking money in politics and its effect on elections and policy. VOTE FOR FUTURE...
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Holding Democracy Accountable: Miranda Spivack
Future Hindsight
We discuss how the struggle for transparency is really a struggle for the soul of American democracy. Miranda’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Look up the agendas of your local school board and city council, and attend the public meetings Learn how your local and state governments make decisions Miranda S. Spivack is a veteran reporter and editor who specialized in government accountability, as well as the author of Backroom Deals in Our Backyard: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities and the Local Heroes Fighting Back. Let’s...
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Turning Hope Into Action: Michael Ansara
Future Hindsight
We discuss the basics of organizing and the fruits of that work. Michael reminds us that “organizers organize organizations.” Michael’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Gather 4-5 friends to talk about what’s happening 2) Share ideas on what you can do to resist Michael Ansara is a seasoned community organizer and the author of The Hard Work of Hope: A Memoir. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: Follow Mila on X: Follow Michael...
info_outlineWe discuss deliberative polling as a way to assess the will of the people and then to make it consequential. This is what democracy is all about.
James’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:
1) Question your own beliefs and assumptions
2) Learn to listen to people whom you would not normally talk to
James Fishkin is the Director of the Deliberative Democracy Lab at Stanford University and the author of Can Deliberation Cure the Ills of Democracy?
Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/
Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:
https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark
Follow Mila on X:
Read Can Deliberation Cure the Ills of Democracy?:
https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight
Sponsor:
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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:
https://patreon.com/futurehindsight
Credits:
Host: Mila Atmos
Guests: James Fishkin
Executive Producer: Mila Atmos
Producer: Zack Travis