In this final episode of season two I continue discussing the relationship between the Bible and organizing. I begin by talking to Keisha Krumm, who opened the first episode of season one (you can hear more about her journey there). Here she gi

S2.E8: The Bible & Democratic Organizing - Part 1

Dec 10th, 2022 1h 2m

In this and the final episode of this second series I discuss the relationship between the Bible and organizing. The turn to Scripture to imagine and narrate politics is often assumed to be the preserve of authoritarian theocrats. But since the

S2.E7: Bernard Crick on Politics & its Enemies

Nov 29th, 2022 1h 15m

This episode discusses the work of British philosopher Bernard Crick, with a particular focus on is his seminal essay “In Defence of Politics.” In clear prose and with sharp insight, Crick sets out a definition of politics and an account of why

S2.E6: Sheldon Wolin & Radical Democracy

Oct 21st, 2022 1h 28m

This episode discusses the work of the influential American political thinker, Sheldon Wolin. Wolin is one of the foremost theorists of radical democracy. His insights are also extremely helpful in naming the contemporary forces and dynamics th

S2.E5: Hannah Arendt

Sep 24th, 2022 1h 39m

This episode discusses the work of the hugely influential political theorist, Hannah Arendt, and how it provides profound insights into the nature and purpose of both politics and democratic organizing. Arendt's books include the Origins of Tot

S2.E4.2: Bayard Rustin - Part 2

Sep 8th, 2022 1h 12m

Building on the previous episode, this one continues to discuss the work of Bayard Rustin and the overlapping struggles that shaped his vision of democracy and his approach to organizing. I do so with Harry Boyte. We focus on Rustin’s practice

S2.E4.1: Bayard Rustin - Part 1

Aug 29th, 2022 1h 16m

This episode discusses the remarkable figure of Bayard Rustin who pioneered many of the tactics and strategies still used in large scale organizing work. A lifelong and committed Quaker, Rustin is in many ways a paradoxical figure. A utopian re

Ep3.2: Ella Baker - Part 2

Aug 18th, 2022 44m 20s

In this second part of the episode on Ella Baker, I talk to Gerald Taylor. We discuss the influence Baker’s approach and vision had on him as an organizer, how he sees her understanding of organizing play out on the ground, and his own involvem

S2.E.3.1: Ella Baker - Part 1

Aug 18th, 2022 1h 26m

This episode discusses the work of Ella Baker and the different traditions and influences that shaped her organizing and her understanding of democracy. Baker didn’t write much and what she did write is not widely available. Instead, her approa

S2.E2.2: Saul Alinsky - Part 2

Jul 23rd, 2022 52m 10s

This two-part episode discusses the work of Saul Alinsky, the “dean of community organizing” and the different traditions and influences that shaped his democratic vision. The key texts discussed are his two books: “Reveille for Radicals” publi

S2.E2.1: Saul Alinsky - Part 1

Jul 21st, 2022 45m 9s

This two-part episode discusses the work of Saul Alinsky, the “dean of community organizing,” and the different traditions and influences that shaped his democratic vision. The key texts discussed are his two books: “Reveille for Radicals” publ

S2.E1: Thucydides and the Athenian-Melian Dialog

Jul 15th, 2022 1h 15m

With Jed Atkins, I discuss Thucydides understanding of politics, how he has shaped the history of political thought, and the context for him writing "The History of the Peloponnesian War." We then focus on a passage from "The History" known as

Introduction to Season 2

Jul 7th, 2022 2m 25s

A brief introduction to the new season of the Listen, Organize, Act! Podcast. This season explores the people, texts, and ideas that organizers have turned to again and again to inspire shared action and explain the meaning, purpose, and charac

S1.E11: Campaigns as Public Action

May 5th, 2021 1h 14m

This episode discusses the process of identifying an issue, developing a campaign to address that issue, and the kinds of public action a successful campaign involves. How organizing develops and conducts campaigns is different to how many oth

S1.E10: Strategy, Tactics, & Direct Action

Apr 22nd, 2021 1h 12m

This episode examines the ways organizing develops a strategy to bring about change, the kinds of tactics used to achieve change, and the different kinds of democratic action involved in moving from the world as it is towards a more just and ge

S1.E9: Organized Money II: Economic Democracy & the Solidarity Economy

Apr 14th, 2021 1h 6m

This episode focuses on is how to organize money so that it fosters the flourishing of where we live and work through generating different kinds of institutions and ways of building wealth in a community to those that dominate the existing econ

S1.E8: Organized Money I: Money Power & Fundraising

Apr 7th, 2021 1h 1m

This episode discusses the positive and negative ways money and politics connect and the means to organize money through politics so it serves human flourishing. Democratic politics has always involved a struggle to ensure money serves people r

Mar 30th, 2021 44m 52s

This episode focuses on popular education, discussing what it is and why it’s key to good democratic organizing with Ernesto Cortes, Jr. Alongside organized money, organized people, and organized action, building power to effect change requires

S1.E6: Institutions: Why They're Vital for Democratic Politics

Mar 25th, 2021 1h 1m

Building on the previous episodes on power and leadership, in this episode I examine the place of institutions in organizing, discussing what is an institution, what makes for a healthy institution, how and why institutions are central to the k

S1.E5: Leadership, But Not As You Know It

Mar 16th, 2021 1h 2m

This episode discusses the nature and purpose of leadership in organizing, how it is defined and understood, who are leaders, the difference between leaders and organizers, and what their respective roles are in the shared work of organizing. T

S1.E4: The Ability to Act: Power Over and Power With

Mar 9th, 2021 1h 9m

This episode discusses power, defined simply as the ability to act. It focuses on the relationship between power and democratic politics, the distinction between "power over" or unilateral power and "power with" or relational power, and questio

S1.E3: The Other Basic Tool of Organizing: House Meetings

Mar 2nd, 2021 1h 1m

In this episode I examine the second key tool organizing uses for listening, building relationships, and effecting change: the house meeting. As a form of democratic politics that begins with listening and is attentive to the experience, condit

S1.E1: What is Community Organizing? And Why is it Needed?

Feb 15th, 2021 1h 4m

In this, the first episode, I talk to Keisha Krumm and Mike Gecan about what is community organizing, what it involves, and why it matters. Community organizing can also be referred to as broad-based organizing, institution-based organizing, f

S1.E2: The Basic Tool of Organizing: The One to One or Relational Meeting

Feb 15th, 2021 49m 18s

This episode discusses why and how listening is the beginning point of democratic organizing and the role of the one-to-one or relational meeting in that work. The first part is a discussion with Lina Jamoul about what is a one to one, what it

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