People in Common

Key TakeawaysThe Isolation TrapWe're stuck. Millions of us share the same concerns. We even agree on most goals. But isolation prevents action. Shaka Senghor understands isolation better than most. Nineteen years in prison. Seven and a half in solitary confinement. During the pandemic, successful investors and professional athletes called him for help navigating their own isolation. His insight: we all carry hidden prisons. Grief. Anger. Shame. Trauma. Self-doubt. These invisible barriers hold us back more than any external circumstance. When we recognize this shared truth, it changes how we treat ourselves and each other. This is what People in Common addresses: the isolation that keeps people stuck despite shared goals. Community creates possibility. Shaka's work shows what happens when we move from individual concern to collective action.Freedom Is an Inside Job"I was incarcerated before I ever was arrested and I was free long before they let me out of prison. Freedom really is an inside job."This is the foundation of everything Shaka teaches - and why it matters right now when so many of us feel stuck. After his second parole denial following 18 years behind bars, he faced a choice: surrender to despair or transform from within. He chose hope.Through daily practices of journaling, meditation, and creative expression, Shaka discovered that "the most important is the conversation I have with myself." Internal dialogue shapes everything. Hidden Prisons We All Carry - And Practices That Free UsThe practices that sustained Shaka through solitary confinement work for everyone. When people say they're too busy for the work that would end suffering, Shaka pushes back: "Intention creates the time." He journals whether for 10 minutes or an hour. The practice matters more than the duration.He says the unhealed part of us causes harm "until people are courageous enough to say, I'm going to break the cycle."Respect and Curiosity Bridge EverythingWhether he's talking to Oprah Winfrey or Joe Rogan, Shaka approaches every conversation with respect and curiosity. Not because he agrees but because he'll have a conversation with anyone, as long as it's not "performative...I would rather us be completely disagreeable and authentic. That's an interesting conversation." This practice of genuine curiosity bridges supposedly unbridgeable divides. His work on criminal justice reform with both parties proves it: "When you start getting into how do we save kids dying from opioids and fentanyl, how do we allocate taxes well, how do we make sure people are being taken care of in our community? Those conversations without a doubt are always the same. We really want the same thing. We just don't know how to get there."The Literary Lounge: Individual Liberation Made RealOn February 3rd, 2026, the Shaka Senghor Literary Lounge opened at Michigan Central Station in Detroit. His actual handwriting covers the walls - journals from prison, his first piece of fiction written on Michigan Department of Corrections paper.Books helped set Shaka free. Now he's built infrastructure where 1,000+ young people annually discover that same freedom. Individual liberation leads to collective transformation.‍‍‍Action OpportunitiesRead "How to Be Free" and subscribe to the "Hidden Prisons" newsletter at shakasenghor.comWatch "Why Your Worst Deeds Don't Define You" (TED Talk with 1.8M views)Visit and support the Shaka Senghor Literary LoungePractice the work that frees you and others: journal, have "the most important conversation" with yourself, approach difference with respect and curiosity, recognize the hidden prisons others carry and let it change how you treat themJoin People in Common's listener-matching system to connect with others ready to act locally (email [email protected] or reply "MATCH" to any episode post)

Action OpportunitiesStart something local this week: You don't need a budget, a board, a brand. Just one or two people who know good people, a room with good coffee, and the discipline to show up. Jama's playbook is available -- email her at [email protected] to request it.Try the problem-solving format: Gather five to ten people you trust across different industries. Give one person with a real problem 45 minutes of the group's focus. Watch what happens. The framework is simple, the trust, curiosity, and a little bit of structure is key.Share this episode with someone who's overwhelmed: Know someone who cares deeply but feels overwhelmed by the stakes or the scale? This episode is for them.Connect with Jama: Follow her work at jamaadams.com or on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jamaadams. If something in this episode sparks an idea for your own corner of the world, please share.Follow People in Common: New episodes drop every other Tuesday through November. Each one is a different answer to the same question: What can WE do? Follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.Key Takeaways‍This episode is a little different. Jama's friend and Innovators community member Jon Bonanno turns the microphone around and interviews her -- and they end up going somewhere unexpected.Two years ago, Jama co-founded a monthly gathering in her hometown: entrepreneurs, builders, and community leaders, once a month, helping each other work through real problems. No budget. No pitch. Just a tight structure, a room full of generous people, and one rule: bring something you haven't figured out yet.One meeting became a community of 44. Twenty-two gatherings. Ten structured problem-solving sessions that changed real businesses, careers, and civic projects. A restaurant owner raised non-dilutive capital weeks before opening day using an idea the group generated in 45 minutes. A founder navigating a complex merger said a single session was "one of the most impactful things that shaped my trajectory as a leader." A group on the other side of the country adopted the model using Jama's documents, and held a successful first session without ever having seen it in person.The conversation covers how the community started, the "Help Me Solve This" framework, and what 25 years of coalition-building at the highest levels (Giving Pledge, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, the launch of a national Responsible AI Framework) taught Jama about what actually moves people. The answer keeps coming back to the same thing: values, trust, and showing up for each other.Near the end, Jama says something she keeps coming back to. When enormous stakes make any effort feel inadequate, the antidote is not doing more. It is doing something local. That is where it all begins. And it is replicable anywhere -- including your town, this week, with people you already know.

"We spend the same amount on maintaining our parking facilities as we do on running elections." Elections are "the load-bearing beam of democracy and the civil rights issue of our time." Tiana Epps-Johnson, CEO of the Center for Tech and Civic Life, uses technology to prevent that beam from cracking under coordinated attacks targeting 8,000 election offices that represent the scaffolding of our democracy.‍Action OpportunitiesSupport CTCL's work: Donate to the Center for Tech and Civic Life at techandciviclife.org to help protect election infrastructure and support officials under threat.Volunteer as a poll worker: The single thing that most increases confidence in elections is a positive interaction with your local poll worker. Be that person. Get a front-row seat to democracy in action.Share accurate information: Combat chaos by helping people in your networks understand how elections actually work‍.Subscribe to CTCL's newsletter: Stay current with election administration stories, trainings, best practices, and updates from the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence at techandciviclife.org/our-work/election-officials/electricityConnect with Tiana: Follow her work on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/tianaej Key Takeaways‍1. Elections are the scaffolding holding democracy together. The 8,000 election offices nationwide operate as an interconnected web, the load-bearing beam of how we make decisions as a country. But this infrastructure runs on massive resource gaps - from $2 per voter in some jurisdictions to $60 in others - and officials increasingly under attack for doing their jobs. When the foundation cracks, everything falls.2. Chaos itself is the weapon. Tiana draws a parallel to tactics used in the tobacco industry: when you can't win on facts, you make things so confusing that people give up and look away. Make the system overwhelming enough that people disengage entirely. The pattern is clear: 2016 cyber attacks, 2018 disinformation, 2020 pandemic exploitation, 2022 vitriol driving officials out, 2024-2025 foreign interference. Each wave designed to overwhelm, confuse, and break trust in the systems holding us together.3. Translation work is the antidote. Tiana takes overwhelming election systems and helps people understand and engage with them - the same work this podcast tries to do with activism. CTCL publishes civic information accessed over 200 million times. Making the invisible visible, the complex actionable. Meeting people where they are with what they actually need.4. Building networks vs. building walls. In 2022, Tiana launched the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence, an $80 million, five-year program bringing together election officials, technologists, and designers across all 50 states. Officials from red counties and blue counties work together because they share something more fundamental than politics: commitment to protecting democracy's infrastructure through peer support rather than top-down mandates.5. Defending democracy comes at a personal cost. In 2020, CTCL distributed $350 million to help local election offices run safe elections during COVID. The attacks that followed were unprecedented. Staying focused on mission when protecting democracy makes you a target requires resilience most of us don't have. Tiana and thousands of election officials do this work every day, often without recognition, frequently under threat.

Carolina Lopez leads the Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions (PLEJ), a national network supporting the officials who run elections for more than 123 million Americans. When election officials face threats, natural disasters threaten polling places, or misinformation spreads, Carolina and her network are the first responders. It's all about "agility, resilience, and network." We talk about why elections matter to everything we hold dear, how PLEJ builds trust across deep political divides, and what it looks like when Republicans and Democrats work together to protect the foundation of our democracy. Carolina shares stories from her decade running elections in Miami-Dade County, explains how peer support works when officials come under attack, and offers concrete ways we can all show up for the people protecting democracy at the local level.The conversation gets real about the challenges election officials face, from armed interference to misinformation campaigns. And it also highlights an incredible network of dedicated public servants who refuse to be divided, who show up for each other across partisan lines, and who are more prepared than ever to protect our collective ability to participate in democracy.Action Opportunities Be a Prepared Voter: Ensure your voter registration is accurate. Confirm your polling location. Check your local election office website. Support Your Local Elections:Become a poll worker (there's a critical shortage) at powerthepolls.orgFollow your local elections office; they're the subject-matter experts in your communityWhen your local office is strapped for resources, show up: write a proactive op-ed, volunteer, send a letter to the board, or speak at a budget hearingSupport the Work:Donate to PLEJ at taketheplej.orgFollow @taketheplej on social media to stay informedFor Election Officials:PLEJ-eligible election offices: Consider joining the networkAll election offices: Access PLEJ's nonpartisan, publicly available resources and operational forecasting tools at taketheplej.orgKey TakeawaysIn a world where the integrity and efficiency of elections are crucial, Carolina Lopez is a beacon of hope and innovation. As the founding executive director of PLEJ, she is leading a transformative movement that connects large election jurisdictions across the United States.1. The Birth of PLEJ: A Network for Election OfficialsCarolina Lopez founded PLEJ to create the first national nonprofit network for large election offices. The goal: foster collaboration and share best practices on things like "How do we get [voters] in and out the door quicker?" 2. The Village of Support: A Unique Approach Carolina describes a collaborative environment where election officials can share knowledge and resources. This collaborative approach not only enhances problem-solving but also builds a community among election officials, enabling them to navigate challenges more effectively.3. Addressing Challenges to ElectionsCarolina highlights the importance of preparedness, especially in the face of threats, whether natural disasters, pandemics, or cybersecurity threats. She emphasizes the need for early detection of potential issues. "How do you communicate transparently?"4. Continuous Improvement: Learning from Each Election"You're only as good as the last [election]." PLEJ serves as a platform for learning and sharing experiences, helping election officials adapt and grow with each election cycle. The focus on best practices ensures that every election is more efficient and voter-friendly than the last.Carolina Lopez is all about the power of collaboration and continuous improvement in elections. By fostering a support network among large election jurisdictions, PLEJ makes elections more efficient and ensures that the voices of voters are heard and respected. In an increasingly complex electoral landscape, the principles of transparency, preparedness, and community support are essential.

Picking up where they left off dancing on stage, Baron tells Jama: "I think that's what dance has taught me is just like sports, be comfortable being uncomfortable."Baron Davis is a two-time NBA All-Star who led the league in steals twice and now invests in 26+ companies. He founded Business Inside the Game (BIG), connecting athletes, creators, and entrepreneurs, and Sports, Lifestyle in Culture (SLIC), which empowers creators through original content and IP development.Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable"I was just having fun. I was just kind of doing something that people wouldn't expect. I think it's overall just conquering the fear, like living outside your comfort zone." Baron's philosophy isn't just about movement. It's about taking action despite fear and learning faster by throwing yourself to the wolves.Show Up Ready, No Matter Who Shows Up"I was ready for 400 people but only four people showed up. If I'm ready like this every time, you never know when the 40 to the 400 are going to show up." You don't wait for perfect conditions. You show up prepared, stay consistent, and welcome whatever comes as a chance to learn rather than failure. Baron talks about the reality checks, the days that aren't the greatest. The question is: how do you overcome? How do you continue to push through? The answer is readiness. Present moment awareness. Always be learning.The 5%"The 5% in the corner having a good time become the gravitational pull for the other 95%." Change doesn't happen by convincing everyone. It happens when a core group is so aligned and energized that others naturally want to join.Media That Honors PeopleToo much media focuses on "argumentative, debating, knocking people down" instead of honoring people's stories, their sacrifice, their full humanity. Baron's calling for media that celebrates the complete story. Where people come from, what they've sacrificed, who they are. "A lot of that makes up your story and your DNA." Quality and substance over noise.Learn From Mistakes"Here are the mistakes that I made...Here are the ways that I would definitely tell you to go the other way." The most valuable thing you can give someone isn't just your wins. It's the honest account of what didn't work, how you learned the hard way so they don't have to. Real roadmaps.Baron's Leadership Lessons"Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable""Champions are made when nobody's around, when you're putting in the work behind closed doors""Throw me to the wolves. I learn faster when I'm around wolves and sharks""There is no failure, only incremental stages on the way to success"Action OpportunitiesLearn more: Business Inside the Game at bigsummits.com and @BIGsummits, SLIC Studios at slicsports.com, @BaronDavis on InstagramBe part of the 5%: Be comfortable being uncomfortable. Practice curiosity. Show up ready. Give someone the ball.Support entrepreneurs: Invest in companies from underrepresented founders. Attend BIG Summit events. Amplify creators through SLIC. Support companies that serve everyone, not just shareholders.Chapters00:00 The Power of Dance and Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable02:54 Cultural Shifts and the 5% Influence05:53 Leadership vs. Individual Talent08:40 The Responsibility of Storytelling11:32 The Impact of Information Overload14:34 Legacy and the Future of Culture19:53 The Value of Storytelling in Community22:17 Building Beloved Communities23:51 The Shift in Community Engagement26:20 Reevaluating Personal Values and Community29:16 The Entrepreneurial Journey and Community Support32:02 Navigating Entrepreneurship and Investor Relationships34:56 Meeting People Where They Are36:56 "There is no failure, only incremental stages on the way to success"

Mel Allbright opened her Arizona home to Jama Adams for five weeks before the 2024 election, not because she's a professional organizer, but because she believes in showing up for people. A retired Kyrene School District professional and baseball coach, she and her husband Al, an Air Force veteran, embody grassroots democracy: meaningful welcome, homemade meals, looking out for each other at rallies, and maintaining relationships across political divides. We talk about respecting differences and meaningful dialogue, bridging divides, and the joy of 'finding our people.' Through Mel's story, we discover how small acts of care sustain movements, why respect means standing against bullies, and how eight years of community building in Serbia enabled people to stand together against Milosevic. Strong communities built on trust and care are how we get through tough times, together.## Chapters00:00 - Introductions and BackgroundJama introduces Mel, who was her host during the 2024 election campaign in Arizona.02:00 - How It All StartedMel shares the story of how she decided to open her home to a stranger for the campaign.05:00 - First Rally ExperienceThey recount their first political rally together in Maricopa's intense heat.08:00 - Obama Rally MagicMel describes her crowd control role at the Obama rally and her emotional reaction to Gabby Giffords.14:00 - The Power of Small GesturesDiscussion about how simple kindness and smiles can change people's lives.19:00 - Finding Common GroundMel explains how she connects with people across political divides through shared humanity.26:00 - Standing Against BulliesThey discuss respect, dignity, and why certain behaviors are unacceptable in leaders.35:00 - Encouragement and CommunityMel offers advice on making a difference and the importance of local community involvement.5:00 - Closing and GratitudeHeartfelt goodbyes and expressions of mutual appreciation for their friendship.## Guest BiographyMel Allbright spent over 24 years with Kyrene School District in Arizona. Before that, she was a Lead Document Specialist at BP, held positions at Alaska Airlines, and has had jobs across the spectrum, including bread truck driver, experiences that taught her how to connect with all kinds of people. Now retired, she and her husband Al (a Navy veteran and longtime volunteer umpire) are beloved in their community as baseball coaches who've spent decades building relationships across divides. When Mel opened her home to organizer Jama Adams for five weeks before the 2024 election, she demonstrated what grassroots democracy looks like, with welcome messages, homemade meals, and genuine relationships built on shared humanity. Her gift for connecting across political divides shows the joy of finding our people in challenging times.

Col. Pam Stevenson is Kentucky's House Minority Floor Leader and U.S. Senate candidate. She founded the Stevenson Law Center providing pro bono legal services, serves as an ordained minister, and is the first Black woman to lead a legislative caucus in Kentucky. Col. Pam brings 27 years of Air Force service as a Judge Advocate General who negotiated in 11 countries, and learned "there's more than one way to do everything" and "you've got to treat people with a lot of respect." Her approach starts with one simple question: "What can I do to serve you?"‍Action OpportunitiesLearn more about Col. Pam Stevenson: stevensonforsenate.com @ColPamStevenson "Stand up. Find joy. Every day." Start with one—donate one dollar, do one thing that gives you joyCreate your own narrative (vs. respond to others' frameworks)Ask "What can I do to serve you?" in your next difficult conversationFind ways to work with "all people, not just your people" in your community. Support veterans and seniors through pro bono services or advocacyCarry forward Col. Pam’s grandmother’s legacy of sacrifice and generational investment: “Whose ‘Lucy’ will you be?” How are you going to show up in such a big way for somebody?The "Lucy" Example: How to Approach Change"Let me give you an example. There was a leader, Lucy. Lucy was born in the early 1800s. And Lucy dropped out of the sixth grade, got married at age 14, had 15 kids. And when Lucy had a grandchild, she decided that she was going to save 10 cents a month to pay for an insurance policy so her grandkid could go to college. She did extra stuff to earn that 10 cents a month…She dreamed a whole world for me that she knew she couldn't be for herself. She couldn't go downtown, she couldn't file a police report, she could do none of those things. But she did what she could do to make sure I could…And when I turned 18, the insurance company gave me the policy because Lucy was my grandmother."Whose Lucy are you? Who are you standing for? That's where we've got to start. You don't have to do everything. Just do one thing. One thing that gives you joy. One thing that fills your soul. One thing that's of use to another human. One thing!"‍Democratic Leadership PrinciplesCol. Stevenson's core leadership lessons from 11 countries:"There's more than one way to do everything""You've got to treat people with a lot of respect"Start every conversation with "What can I do to serve you?""Living for something bigger than self"‍Spiritual FoundationsPractice asking "What can I do to serve you?"Respect is the foundation of all successful negotiationsFind joy daily to sustain over the long-term"Whose Lucy will you be? How are you going to show up in such a big way for somebody?" Chapters00:00 Setting the Stage00:58 The Power of Community and Support04:01 Personal Background and Military Service06:56 Vision for Kentucky and Leadership09:48 Responsibility in Society13:08 Overcoming Division and Promoting Unity15:59 The Role of Love in Addressing Challenges18:54 Creating Our Own Narrative20:49 The Power of Community Engagement23:44 Meeting People Where They Are29:24 Lessons from Global Experiences34:46 Living for Something Bigger Than Self36:16 Faith and Service: The Foundation of Action37:19 America's Ideals and Inconsistencies38:47 Leading from Where You Are and Taking Action Now42:38 The Power of One: Small Actions, Big Impact44:37 Engaging the Disengaged: Building Community46:17 Fighting for Future Generations48:57 Duty, Honor, and Collective Power

'From Values to Action: The Craft of Democratic Organizing' with Marshall GanzMarshall diagnoses our democratic crisis through hard-won wisdom from decades of organizing—from the Civil Rights Movement to the Obama campaign. "We look for hope in the wrong place—out there in the great hero," he explains. "What we should be doing is connecting with each other to create the kind of hopeful imagination and willingness to take risks." His framework for change starts with three simple questions: Who are my people? What change do we need? How do we turn resources into power? Action Opportunities:• Marshall’s Latest Book: "People, Power, Change: Organizing for Democratic Renewal" - https://bookshop.org/p/books/people-power-and-change-organizing-for-democratic-renewal-marshall-ganz/20658319• Website: https://marshallganz.scholars.harvard.edu/• Leading Change Network: https://leadingchangenetwork.org/ Organizing Principles:Marshall's core organizing questions:1. Who are my people?2. What is the change we need?3. How do we turn our resources into the power we need to achieve that change? Spiritual Foundations:Hillel the Elder's three questions that guide Marshall's work:"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" For Organizers:• Leading Change Network offers training, coaching, and resources for organizers worldwide• Public Narrative workshops available through LCN• Harvard Kennedy School executive education programs on leadership and organizing Connect:Learn more about Marshall's ongoing work in democratic organizing, public narrative training, and movement building through the Leading Change Network and his courses at Harvard Kennedy School. Key Topics Discussed:• The three interlocking problems facing democracy: structural inequality, lack of collective capacity, and fragmented identity• Public Narrative framework: Story of Self (purpose), Story of Us (community), Story of Now (urgency)• How organizing differs from mobilizing and why it matters for sustainable change• How to diagnose power structures and turn resources into collective power• The importance of civic infrastructure and local organizing capacityRecommended Reading:• "People, Power, Change: Organizing for Democratic Renewal" by Marshall Ganz https://bookshop.org/p/books/people-power-and-change-organizing-for-democratic-renewal-marshall-ganz/20658319• "Caste" by Isabel Wilkerson https://www.isabelwilkerson.com/• "The Tyranny of Structurelessness" by Jo Freeman - https://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm About Marshall Ganz Marshall Ganz is Senior Lecturer in Leadership, Organizing and Civil Society at Harvard Kennedy School, where he teaches, researches, and writes on leadership and strategy in social movements. Growing up in Bakersfield, California, where his father was a Rabbi and mother an educator, he entered Harvard College in 1960 but left before graduating to volunteer with the 1964 Mississippi Summer Project. He found his "calling" as an organizer with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, then joined Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers for 16 years, becoming Director of Organizing. After designing innovative voter mobilization strategies throughout the 1980s, he returned to Harvard, completing his undergraduate degree after a 28-year absence and earning his PhD in sociology in 2000. He was instrumental in designing the grassroots organizing model for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and founded the global Leading Change Network.

Welcome to People in Common, where we break down what's really happening – and what WE can do about it. Together, we're building a community where we turn insights and shared values into action for the common good. Our Mission:‍  1. Be A Beacon - Highlight meaningful action opportunities      2. Simplify Action - Make it easy to speak out, show up, and stand together  3. Connect Resources - Support effective frontline organizationsJoin host Jama Adams – a coalition builder with 25 years of experience solving problems in climate innovation, responsible AI, and public service – as we discover how to do hard things together, joyfully. ‍Join Our Community here and listen here: 🎧 Spotify 🎧 YouTube 🎧 Apple

Anat Shenker-Osorio examines why certain messages falter where others deliver. We talk about why fabulously fighting fascism - together - is the thing that matters most right now. We begin with Anat's motivations and her journey in political activism, starting in kindergarten. She emphasizes the importance of direct political action and the need to promote positive messaging rather than just reacting to opposition narratives. Anat discusses effective communication strategies, the flaws of conventional polling, and the power of social proof. She also highlights the 3.5% rule: "no government has withstood a challenge of 3.5% of their population mobilized against it" (credit to Erica Chenoweth of the Harvard Kennedy School) and the significance of local involvement and visible resistance in dismantling authoritarian regimes. She calls for living your beliefs openly. Anat is the author of "Don't Buy It: The Trouble with Talking Nonsense About the Economy" and host of the "Words to Win By" Podcast. She delivers her findings packed in snark in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Boston Globe, Salon, The Guardian and Grist. Check out her "Ways to Resist" and "Freedom Over Fascism Toolkit" for more. 00:00 Introduction to People in Common00:16 Meet Anat Shenker-Osorio02:11 Anat's Early Activism Story05:58 Philosophy and Inspiration07:26 Challenges in Political Messaging11:32 The Role of Public Opinion20:00 The Fiction of Just Voting Our Way to Democracy27:20 The Power of Joy and Proactive Campaigns32:36 Challenging Norms and Living Your Beliefs33:15 Strategies for Persuasion37:14 Historical Context and Lessons41:59 The Power of Social Proof57:44 Local Action and Collective Effort01:00:51 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Reggie Hubbard is a political activist turned yogi turned activist yogi. We explore how our spiritual problems are at the root of our political problems. He shares his personal transformation journey, triggered by professional setbacks, leading him to adopt yoga and meditation as life-changing practices. Through a spiritual and holistic approach, Reggie emphasizes resilience training, the importance of dealing with hard truths, and the power of healing. He talks about how his stroke was a great teacher. Reggie's approach focuses on grounding, fostering creative brilliance, and addressing systemic societal issues with personal spiritual transformation. Reggie is the founder and chief serving officer of Active Peace Yoga. Check out his upcoming workshops, meditations, and wisdom at Active Peace Yoga (activepeaceyoga.com).00:00 Introduction: Shifting from Politics to Spirituality00:23 Meet Reggie Hubbard: Activist Turned Yogi00:48 Guided Meditation with Reggie03:44 Reggie's Journey: From Politics to Yoga04:52 Facing Adversity: Reggie's Story06:45 The Turning Point: Embracing Yoga08:30 Building Active Peace Yoga13:03 Resilience and Devotion: Reggie's Philosophy22:35 Overcoming Challenges: Reggie's Stroke and Recovery27:45 Cultural Inability to Deal with Hardships28:09 Understanding Anger and Social Justice29:08 Confronting Racial Discomfort32:28 Spiritual Problems and Healing33:52 Stroke as Teacher34:29 Radical Acceptance and Recovery40:08 Resistance and Resilience Training49:27 Closing Reflections and Meditation53:57 Creative Destruction and Rebuilding

This trailer introduces the People in Common podcast, where we speak with inspiring leaders about what we can do about the urgent and overwhelming problems of the world. With powerful stories and recommendations for action, we bridge the gap between movement leaders and those of us who care but aren’t sure what to DO.

Desmond Meade is Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. He led the historic 2018 victory of Florida Amendment 4, which restored voting rights to more than 1.4 million Floridians with previous felony convictions, the largest expansion of voting rights in a half-century. The grassroots citizen initiative won by nearly 65 percent of the vote - and as Desmond says, “won with love.” In 2019, Time magazine named Desmond one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Father Greg Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world. Homeboy received a $20M from MacKenzie Scott the week we spoke. Father Boyle is the author of the New York Times-bestseller Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion and two other books. He has received the California Peace Prize and been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. In 2014, President Obama named him a Champion of Change.Takeaways​Tenderness is the connective tissue that joins people.​Joy is essential in service and connection.​We must cherish each moment and each person we encounter.​Every human being is unshakably good, with no exceptions.​Demonizing others is always untruthful and harmful.​Healing should be prioritized over punishment in society.​We belong to each other, and recognizing this is crucial.​Mutuality in relationships leads to transformation.​Separation is an illusion; we are all connected.​Hope and optimism can emerge from challenging times.Chapters00:00 The Power of Tenderness02:04 Joy and Delight in Service05:59 Navigating the Messiness of Life10:11 Principles of Inclusion and Kinship13:58 The Importance of Diagnosis17:48 Belonging and Connection22:11 Mutuality and Transformation26:01 Hope and Optimism in a Changing WorldQuotes​"You have to cherish with every breath you take."​"Demonizing is always untruth."​"Separation is an illusion."​"You want to stand with the disposable."​"People were starting to notice each other."Keywordstenderness, joy, service, inclusion, kinship, diagnosis, belonging, connection, mutuality, hope

Kelly Ward Burton is the founding President of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) and its affiliates, the National Redistricting Foundation and All On The Line. Under the leadership of NDRC's Chairman Eric Holder, Kelly has led NDRC and affiliates to become the first-ever centralized hub for a comprehensive redistricting strategy, resulting in the fairest maps this country has seen in decades. Prior to leading NDRC, she was the Executive Director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and managed several campaigns for U.S. Senate and House. Kelly has a long history as a political entrepreneur, helping to launch several advocacy organizations to expand the number of women running for office and help nonprofit leaders leverage their power for impact.