How Change Happens: Stories & Insights from Social Justice Changemakers

Create Knowledge
  • 5.0 (1)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

How Change Happens is a podcast for those committed to creating a more just and liberatory world. Join host Kai Fierle-Hedrick of Create Knowledge as they chat with change-makers active in all kinds of spaces about the thinking behind their practice, and discuss real stories of struggles and joys of creating change — in the world and in ourselves.

Episodes

  1. DEC 22

    On Unlocking Access, The Power of Active Listening & Centering Diverse Voices In Policymaking — with Chi Nguyen

    Appropriately timed for the holidays, this episode was a gift — an opportunity to reconnect with an old friend about something that matters deeply to both of us: social change. Join me as I think out loud with Chi Nguyen (she/her) — Member of Parliament for the Spadina–Harbourfront district in Toronto, Canada, the first woman of Vietnamese descent ever elected to political office in Ontario, and mom of two kiddos: Sam and Ellis. Our conversation starts with Chi's literal keys and the importance of unlocking access to decision-making spaces. From there we touch on topics including working inside vs. outside systems, the challenge of governing for the many, learning across constituencies and working with tensions, and the impact of representation and centering diverse voices on policymaking. You'll hear the story of Women in House — a program Chi co-created as a student at McGill University (where we met!) that works to increase female representation in Canadian politics and is open to all students who identify as female, regardless of gender assigned at birth. And you'll hear us chat about how becoming parents has informed our change work. If you appreciate this podcast, please consider sharing it with a friend, colleague, or network, and/or leaving a review. I'm also always happy when people reach out to share feedback with me directly. If this episode resonates with you... Subscribe to the podcast using your favorite podcast app,Support How Change Happens with ratings, sharing feedback with me, and/or by sharing it with a friend, colleague or network, Learn more about Chi's change work at https://linktr.ee/officeofmpnguyen and on their Instagram, and/orLearn more about my (Kai's) change work at www.createknowledge.org, on Substack, and/or on LinkedIn.References Transformative MediationWomen In House

    35 min

  2. OCT 27

    On Art, Community-Building & Owning Our Activism — with Shannon Downey

    This timely episode is, in many ways, a love note to Chicago.  Join me as I get to know Shannon Downey (she/they) — an artist, activist, craftivist, community builder, general instigator, founder of Badass Cross Stitch and Seriously Badass Women, and proud Chicagoan. Among other things, our conversation explores community-building; creative practices as entry points into activism; local organizing and what it takes to identify as an "activist"; how to navigate political violence; and how to grow our capacity for risk-taking. You'll hear some of the stories that inspired Shannon's book Let's Move the Needle: An Activism Handbook for Artists, Crafters, Creatives, and Makers (how Shannon thinks change happens!) — as well as Shannon's inspiring account of how Chicagoans' across the city are organizing right now to resist ICE and protect each other, and how she and other local organizers are helping them build the skills to do that. If you appreciate this podcast, please consider sharing it with a friend, colleague, or network, and/or leaving a review. If this episode resonates with you... Subscribe to the podcast using your favorite podcast app,Support How Change Happens with ratings, sharing feedback with me, and/or by sharing it with a friend, colleague or network, Learn more about Shannon's change work at www.badasscrossstitch.com, follow their Instagram, and subscribe to their Substack, and/orLearn more about my (Kai's) change work at www.createknowledge.org, on Substack, and/or on LinkedIn.References Badass Cross StitchSeriously Badass WomenRita's QuiltEveryone Leads: Building Leadership from the Community Up by Paul Schmitz (correction: Paul Schmitz is the former CEO of Public Allies, not one of the founders)Deepa Iyer's Social Change Ecosystem MapThe Feeling Wheel by the Gottman Institute

    1h 1m

  3. SEP 20

    On Moving Forward with the World We Want To Live In — with Miko Lee

    In this episode I reconnect with my friend and colleague Miko Lee (she/her) — an activist, storyteller, educator, and Director of Programs at Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality. Miko and I roam through a conversation about ancestry and intergenerational patterns; transformative justice, personal responsibility, and self-care; how the U.S. government is disappearing Bhutanese American Refugees; the power of story and the danger of stories going "MIH (missing in history)"; plus some creative ways she and her collaborators are experimenting with cultivating intergenerational connections. You'll hear the stories behind the gorgeous embroidered artworks Miko shared to illustrate how she believes change happens (view images of them here!). And you'll learn about Miko's "change lineage": past and present movement leaders who energize her, and how her parents' civil rights era activism and ethos continue to inspire her own. If this episode resonates with you... Contribute to the GoFundMe campaign to Help Mohan Karki Reunite with His Family — and learn more about Bhutanese Americans here,Subscribe to the podcast using your favorite podcast app,Support How Change Happens with ratings, sharing feedback with me, and/or by sharing it with a friend, colleague or network, and/orLearn more about my (Kai's) change work at www.createknowledge.org, on Substack, and/or on LinkedIn.References Ancestral MathematicsAsian Americans for Civil Rights & EqualityAsian Law CaucusAsian Refugees United'Borges and I' by Frank Bidart Calling In: How to Start Making Change with Those You'd Rather Cancel by Loretta J. RossCry, the Beloved Country by Alan PatonTransformative Justice

    40 min

  4. JUN 15

    On Relationships, Generative Conflict & Planting Seeds — with Aisha Rios of Coactive Change

    This inaugural episode features a wide-ranging conversation with my long-time collaborator and friend Aisha Rios (she/they) — a community organizer, "reluctant anthropologist-evaluator," and Learning & Change Strategist at Coactive Change. Aisha and I reflect on a poem she wrote that represents how she believes change happens, their "change lineage" and how it's inspired them to integrate their organizing and consulting, and the practice and impact of centering deep, authentic relationship-building in change work. We both identify as weavers so of course our conversation connects various people and resources that have influenced our praxis, the full list of which is included below. My AuDHD brain was having an ADHD-forward day when we recorded this episode, so apologies in advance to the folx whose frameworks and book titles I remixed or failed to recall live! If you enjoy this episode... Subscribe to the podcast using your favorite podcast app!Support How Change Happens with ratings, sharing feedback with me, and/or by sharing it with a friend, colleague or network. Learn more about my (Kai's) change work at www.createknowledge.org, on Substack, and/or on LinkedIn.Learn more about Aisha's change work at www.coactivechange.com and/or on LinkedIn (and read the poem she wrote here!). References The Undercommons Poetry CollectiveSpring UpThe "Four Rs" Framework: Reform, Resist, Recreate, Reimagine (credit: Mattice Haynes, Coach & Facilitator)Loving Black Single MothersAja Imani (the person Aisha collaborates with to support Loving Black Single Mothers)A bunch of books, in order of mention:The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: Beyond the Non-Profit Industrial Complex, Edited by INCITE!Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by adrienne maree brownCollaborating with the Enemy: How To Work with People You Don't Agree with or Like or Trust by Adam KahaneEveryday Habits for Transforming Systems: The Catalytic Power of Radical Engagement by Adam KahanePoor People's Movements: Why They Succeed, How They Fail by Frances Fox Piven & Richard A. Cloward

    38 min

  5. SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Introducing — How Change Happens!

    How Change Happens: Stories & Insights from Social Justice Changemakers is a podcast for those committed to creating a more just and liberatory world. When you tune in, you’ll hear conversations with changemakers who work in all kinds of spaces: organizing, DEI, healing justice, learning and evaluation, philanthropy, narrative change, and so on. We’ll explore the thinking behind their practice, and discuss real stories of the complexity, challenges, and joys of creating change — in the world and in ourselves. In short, this is a show about the messiness of praxis and what emerges when our theories meet our day-to-day lives. Credits Music: https://www.marmosetmusic.com/artists/romane-gaelCover Art: Create Knowlege

    3 min

Trailer

About

How Change Happens is a podcast for those committed to creating a more just and liberatory world. Join host Kai Fierle-Hedrick of Create Knowledge as they chat with change-makers active in all kinds of spaces about the thinking behind their practice, and discuss real stories of struggles and joys of creating change — in the world and in ourselves.

Information