Shows
People Place PowerEp 6: The Trap Tracy ChapmanWhen Joy Oladokun was 10 years old, she saw a performance that made her realize she wanted to play music.Today, she has been named the top LGBTQ+ artist to watch and calls herself the Trap Tracy Chapman. Her music, from folk songs to ballads, resonate with sadness, optimism, and poetry. Joy writes music to process her experiences being gay in the church, living as a Black person in the USA, and even having an obsession with puppets. She hopes her music can help you, too. In Episode 6, we talk to Joy about three of her songs to...
2021-11-1530 min
People Place PowerActivist Chat: Nikil SavalSenator Nikil Saval represents several neighborhoods of Philadelphia on the Pennsylvania State Senate. He has worn many hats, including author, editor, and community organizer, before he was elected as the first Asian American Ward Leader in Philadelphia. Tune in to learn about what inspires Senator Saval as he works hand in hand with social movements to push for progressive causes as an elected representative.
To support Senator Saval's vision, consider learning about and donating to UNITE HERE!, a movement of people committed to changing lives in the hospitality industry by making sure jobs are safe, respected, and...
2021-11-0816 min
People Place PowerEp 5: An App for AccountabilityHow can we hold our governments accountable? It’s a fundamental question of democracy, one that humans have been wrestling with for millenia. But recently, technology has disrupted the way we think about this problem and its potential solutions.
In this episode, we’ll explore how online platforms enable citizens to keep their representatives in check, from New York City to Kabul, Afghanistan. In Kabul, activist Sara Wahedi is at the forefront of the emerging field of civic technology. Join us as Sara tells us about growing up in Canada as a refugee, returning to Afghanistan and work...
2021-11-0131 minPeople Place PowerActivist Chat: Finn LauFinn Lau is an activist-in-exile fighting for democracy in Hong Kong. What does accountability look like when officials evade the consequences of their decisions? How can you build international solidarity from outside your home country? Benjamin spoke with Finn about his work both within and outside Hong Kong, and his hopes for the future of Hong Kong democracy. Please consider supporting Finn's work through his personal Ko-Fi here. You can also stay up-to-date with his work by following him on Twitter.
This episode is the fourth installment of Activist Chats, a bonus series in which we have...
2021-10-2518 min
People Place PowerEp 4: Across The River, Worlds AwayFor Abby Stein, home was the insulated Hasidic neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She came from a lineage of prominent religious figures, and grew up speaking mostly Yiddish, avoiding any and all pop culture, and believing that most of the world was Ultra-Orthodox Jewish. Eventually, she was ordained as a Rabbi and started a family.
The only problem? Everyone thought she was a man.
In this episode, we'll hear about Abby's experiences as an author, model, speaker, rabbi, and the first openly transgender woman raised in a Hasidic community. She'll tell us how she left her h...
2021-10-1933 minPeople Place PowerActivist Chat: Marisa RandoAs the founder of The Pact Collective, Marisa Rando is determined to change the face of effective altruism to a more inclusive and community-based model. Tune in to dive into the philosophies and strategies behind Marisa's work in bringing much needed support to the organizations who are the most closely tied to their communities in New York City.
You can support Pact by committing to a monthly sponsorship level of $3, $10, or $25 a month with confidence that your contribution is supporting reputable NYC nonprofits working on the most urgent causes of that month. Pact will do in-depth research...
2021-10-1116 min
People Place PowerEp 3: An Accidental ActivistUp in the snowy mountains of Colorado, in a little group of buildings many call a ghost town, there is a man named billy.
billy’s a bit of a legend. He lives alone, and during the winter, he doesn’t see anyone for months on end. But from his unique, solitary, hermit-like lifestyle, he has somehow changed the face of climate science.
Tune into episode three to find out how.
2021-10-0426 minPeople Place PowerActivist Chat: Nixon BoumbaNixon Boumba is a Haitian activist working to combat proposed gold mining in Haiti. What does it look like to build international solidarity networks to challenge powerful corporations? Benjamin spoke with Boumba about his experiences with mining and tourism in Haiti, and his thoughts on building successfully alliances. Please consider donating to Haitian-driven earthquake recovery efforts here.
This episode is the second installment of Activist Chats, a bonus series in which we have short, candid conversations with activists we admire about why they do what they do.
2021-09-2713 min
People Place PowerEp 2: We Are All Manorama's MothersOver six decades— that’s how long the Indian state of Manipur has been under the Indian government’s martial law. That means the army can kill, torture, or arrest anyone for mere suspicion.
When the law doesn’t protect you, how do you protect yourself from the law? The Indigenous women of Manipur have been defending themselves and their communities from one of the largest armies in the world for decades using the power of their own bodies.
Tune in to our second episode to hear from Binalakshmi Nepram, one of today’s leaders in the str...
2021-09-2150 minPeople Place PowerActivist Chat: Ximena OspinaXimena Ospina is the only undocumented trans woman in law school in the entire United States. What is like to be the only one? Trisha spoke with Ximena about her childhood in Colombia, her experience coming out, and how her identity influences her dreams of law school. Please consider donating to Ximena's GoFundMe for law school here.
This episode is the first installment of Activist Chats, a bonus series in which we have short, candid conversations with activists we admire about why they do what they do.
2021-09-1314 min
People Place PowerEp 1: Can Humor Heal?Adrianne Chalepah was never afraid to speak out. Growing up, she couldn’t keep quiet when her teachers brushed over Native American history and tradition, calling Native Peoples “basically Asian.” Adrianne talked back and was punished by her teachers for having a big mouth.
Today, Adrianne brings her “big mouth” to the stage as a comedian. She jokes about being Native in the US not only as a way to release all that energy, but to help her communities heal from the trauma, past and present, that the US government has inflicted on Native people.
Listen to...
2021-09-0631 minPeople Place PowerIntroducing People Place PowerIntroducing People Place Power: a podcast that explores the big questions around global activism through the eyes of activists creating change in underreported and unprecedented ways.
2021-08-3002 min