Connecting Through Podcasting: A New Era of Advocacy. With Carlos Gomez

At what point do we stop pretending the system is working? That’s the question I kept coming back to in this conversation with Carlos Gomez, better known as Coconut Justice. Carlos walked away from corporate advertising and started using his creative skills to support grassroots political candidates, independent media, and real community advocacy. Why? Because too many people with power are protecting themselves instead of helping the people they claim to represent.We talked about education, activism, media manipulation, and why so many communities feel abandoned right now. Carlos made a point that hit me hard: we actually have far more power than we think we do — but we’ve been conditioned to stay distracted, disconnected, and exhausted. So what happens when people start building community instead of outrage? What happens when we stop waiting for permission to care?We also got into some deeply personal territory — identity, allyship, conversion therapy, race, class, and the importance of creating spaces where people can exist safely and authentically. Real dialogue matters. Compassion matters. And shaming people into silence has never created understanding.This episode is challenging in all the right ways. Because if we want a better society, we’re going to have to stop outsourcing humanity to politicians, algorithms, and culture wars. We have to start showing up for each other again.Find more info on Carlos at Coconut Justice here: Website: Gomez Creative LabsYouTube: Coconut Justice Podcast & VideosShop: Carlos' StoreFacebook: Coconut Justice Instagram: Coconut Justice Twitter: Coconut Justice Chapters00:00 Introduction to Carlos Gomez and His Journey06:02 Background and Early Life Experiences17:56 Challenges in Political Advocacy24:07 The Future of Advocacy and Change36:10 Challenging Rape Culture and Promoting Allyship40:13 The Role of Money in Social Dynamics41:37 Midwestern Resilience and Community Spirit44:41 Awakening to Collective Power52:08 Unmasking Hypocrisy in Society55:40 The Journey of Deconstruction01:06:20 Rethinking Representation01:11:49 The State of Our Communities01:19:10 The Importance of Compassion in Identity01:21:27 Challenging Conversion Therapy and Misunderstandings01:30:29 Creating Safe Spaces for Others01:39:09 The Value of Life ExperiencesContact Tabitha:[email protected]://tabithazeigler.com/