Join or Die: Why Community Might Save Us with Pete Davis

Zac sits down with his friend and new Baltimorean Pete Davis — co-creator of the Netflix documentary Join or Die — to talk about a question that shapes everything else in local government: what actually holds a community together?Pete unpacks the ideas behind Join or Die, built on Robert Putnam's research into declining civic participation, and makes the case that democracy doesn't just run on good government — it runs on clubs, neighbors, and ordinary relationships. They also preview Pete's upcoming second book, working title Hail the Cultivators: Why Slow Culture Is Our Only Quick Fix, which pushes back on the idea that any city problem has a silver-bullet solution.ContactHave a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:Show Website: https://blanchardbaltimore.transistor.fm/Councilman's Official Page: https://www.baltimorecity.gov/city-council/zac-blanchard-district-11Email: [email protected] this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show. (00:00) - – Why Community Comes First (02:05) - – Join or Die: The Documentary (08:08) - – Robert Putnam & the Decline of Civic Life (09:04) - – A Story About What Community Actually Does (18:35) - – Baltimore's Own Neighborhood Culture (18:56) - – Pete's Next Book: Hail the Cultivators (20:05) - – Why There's No Silver Bullet (25:04) - – Building Real Expertise in Community