EP035: What Can I Do?

As citizens of a community, whether you define that as your neighborhood, or your city, state, or, our American nation, what role, as citizens, do each of us play? This question is not in regards to our personal needs and wants, but rather to the collective health and welfare of all of us. Today, do the words shared by President John F. Kennedy, 65 years ago, "ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country," still strike a chord and urge us into civic action? Specifically, do we feel a pull to be included in the solutions around our biggest societal issues, such as homelessness. On this episode we discuss with Eric Liu, what it means to be a citizen. Eric is the co-founder and CEO of Citizen University. He is the author of numerous acclaimed books, including most recently Become America: Civic Sermons on Love, Responsibility, and Democracy — a New York Times New & Notable Book — and, Live Like a Citizen: 8 Ways to Change Your Mindset and Our Country, to be published in October 2026. Eric served as a White House speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and as the President’s deputy domestic policy adviser. He was later appointed by President Barack Obama to the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service. A graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School, Eric was elected in 2020 to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and co-chairs its ‘Our Common Purpose’ commission. He lives in Seattle, where he has served on the boards of the Seattle Public Library and the Washington State Board of Education. Join in on the conversation on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/goodoldlistening/ More can be found at www.youknowmenow.com/