I Want to Change the World

Janai Gilmore
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Biweekly

Hi! My name is Janai, and I’m the host of the "I Want to Change the World" podcast. That thought, “I want to change the world”, has been a guiding force behind so many decisions in my career and in my life, in general. But what does it really mean? In this podcast I pick at the questions that continue to follow me as I follow the question, “what does it looks like for me- and for all of us who feel called to the task- to actually change the world?” Tune in to to hear me (and sometimes guests!) share stories, ideas, lessons learned, and unanswered questions from my journey.

  1. Sep 11

    Ep 30: Without Politics, We Lose: Beyond Mutual Aid and Nonprofit Do-Gooding w/ Dr. Angel McKissic

    “We cannot mutual aid our way to feed feeding almost 400million people in this country. What we need to be clear about is that we can do all of these programs, we can do mutual aid, we can engage in culture, but those things are not politics. And it's really important that we have politics.” – Dr. Angel McKissic In Episode 30, I’m excited to share my very timely conversation with Dr. Angel McKissic. She’s a scholar, community organizer, and restorative justice practitioner. She’s also the Director of the Damon J Keith Center for Civil Rights at the Wayne State University Law School, where a big part of her work focuses onstrengthening democracy by helping Detroiters expand their thinking around what democracy means and the possibilities of what it can look like when we, as everyday people, actively engage in it.   She is someone who thinks critically about how power moves in government and how we, as citizens, can cultivate our power to shape the system when we expand our political imaginations beyond what we’ve been socialized to believe is acceptable orinevitable. We are living in a time in which a lot of people have lost faithin government and in the political system in the US. If before 2016 many people were passively disillusioned with the state of politics and the dysfunctions of our democracy, by now, a lot of us are actively overwhelmed and horrified. In this context, it’s easy to be seduced by the idea thatsince our democracy is dysfunctional and since governing power is being wielded to cause harm to the most vulnerable in our society while catering to the greedy, self-serving aspirations of the already wealthy and powerful, it would be a better use of time and energy as do-gooders to seek ways of changing the world outside of the system. To focus on our nonprofits and social enterprises and leave politics to those willing to play the game and be corrupted.  Yet, Dr. McKissic invites us to consider what we lose when we take that approach. After you listen to this interview and become super curiousabout Angel’s work, you’ll want to:   Check out the Damon J Keith Center for Civil Rights (www.djkcenter.org) Visit her Substack at https://angelmckissic.substack.com/   Follow her on LinkedIN at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amckissic/ Connect with me, too! LinkedIN @Janai Gilmore Subscribe to my newsletter: https://janai-gilmore.kit.com/   And check out www.MopUpMichigan.org to learn why you should vote YES on Proposal 2 this November.   Last but not least, if you're looking for civic leadership resources: Damon J Keith Center for Civil Rights (www.djkcenter.org) LAHC Civic Leadership Program (DM me for details) League of Women Voters (www.lwv.org)

    Ep 30: Without Politics, We Lose: Beyond Mutual Aid and Nonprofit Do-Gooding w/ Dr. Angel McKissic

  2. Apr 26

    Ep 29: Becoming an Activist w/ Christy McGillivray

    Normally on the podcast, listeners hear me interviewingpeople. But in Episode 29, the tables have turned! I had the honor of being interviewed by Christy McGillivray, Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians (VNP), a Michigan-based nonpartisan advocacy organization. Even though in our conversation Christy was the one askingquestions to learn from me, I definitely felt like a student!  While I’m pretty new to activism, Christy has been in the game a long time. Even as a student, she was organizing, working to shift power to the people least cared for in our society. And that’s been a thread throughout her career, whether as an educator or organizer, or in her role today, leading an organization that engages thousands of volunteers (including me!) to effect structural and systemic democracy reform that restores political power back to the people. Note: The conversation that you hear in the podcast is anedited version of a 45-minute video interview, Unpacking Power: Janai Gilmore on Philanthropy, Class, and Collective Action that I originally did for the VNP Substack channel. After you listen to this interview and become excited tolearn more about Christy and her work at Voters Not Politicians: Visit www.votersnotpoliticians.com andcheck out the VNP Substack at https://substack.com/@notpoliticiansFollow Christy on  LinkedIN @Christy MCheck out the VNP IG @votersnotpoliticians to stay up to date on ways you can take action to strengthen democracy.And, as you will have heard me mention ad nauseam in this episode, check out www.MopUpMichigan.org to learn how you can support the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics campaign! Connect with me, too!   LinkedIN @Janai GilmoreSubscribe to my newsletter: https://janai-gilmore.kit.com/

    Ep 29: Becoming an Activist w/ Christy McGillivray

  3. 08/18/2025

    Ep 28: Beyond Philanthropy w/ Michael Gast

    In Episode 28, I am excited to share my interview with Michael Gast. Mike has spent 20+ years organizing wealthy people like himself to invest not only their dollars but really their whole selves into creating an economy and social contract that works for everyone.   Through the writing and conversations that he puts out into the world as director of a multimedia project called “Organize the Rich”, Mike invites progressives/changemakers/do-gooders (read: all people who want to create a more just, equitable, and humane economy and society) to see beyond the myth that nonprofits are THE WAY to changethe world   the allure of the American individual upwardmobility journeythe idea that organizing/being organized is the sole responsibility of working classthe taboo of talking about money and socialclass. After you listen to this interview and become super curiousabout Mike’s work, you’ll want to: Check out his Substack at https://organizetherich.substack.com/Follow him on LinkedIN @Michael GastTune into his podcasts: Organize the Rich Radio onSpotify or Apple Podcasts Connect with me, too! LinkedIN @Janai GilmoreSubscribe to my newsletter: https://janai-gilmore.kit.com/

    Ep 28: Beyond Philanthropy w/ Michael Gast

  4. 05/19/2025

    Ep 27: "We Gotta Tell the Truth." w/ Mark Greer

    As I’ve contemplated my next career move since returninghome from Ghana, I’ve had to contend with competing thought bubbles floating in my head: “Sign me up to support the revolution!” “Sign me up for financial security!” “Sign me up to drive radical, progressive change in our society!” “Sign me up for the middle class living I thought lie aheadof me once I got this master’s degree!” How do I make these seemingly competing (if not downrightcontradictory!) desires fit neatly together? Is it even possible? In Episode 27, I am fortunate to be joined by Mark Greer,II, who is exceptionally well-qualified to help me unpack these questions. 'Duality' must be Mark’s middle name. Like me, he’s a native Detroit east sider from a working-class family AND he’s a private school graduate with a degree from theUniversity of Michigan. He started his career as a community organizer, AND he holds an MBA. He has worked in justice-centering spaces where he and hispeers openly advocated for reimagining systems like capitalism AND he’s worked at foundations and corporations attached tocompanies that actively reinforce those same systems. I can’t imagine a better person to offer insights into navigating the trade offs and nuances that we, as “professional do-gooders”, face as we build our careers in the social impact sector. Of course, after hearing Mark’s thoughtful reflections on the podcast, you’ll want to know more about him! Learn about his work as a Philanthropic Advisorwith Phila Engaged Giving, where he and his colleagues work with high-net-worth individuals and other donors to them “transform their wealth into justice” https://philagiving.com/mark-greer Read a piece he recently authored: TransformingWealth into Justice: A Call to High-Net-Wealth Changemakers https://philagiving.com/blog/2025/3/3/transforming-wealth-into-justice-a-call-to-high-net-wealth-changemakers Follow him on LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlgreer?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app As always, I would love to hear what this episode brings up for you! Feel free to drop me a line: In the comments on Spotify On LinkedIN On Instagram @missjanaiashley Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter, subscribe to the podcast, review, and share!

    Ep 27: "We Gotta Tell the Truth." w/ Mark Greer

  5. 03/31/2025

    Ep 26: "We Will Win" w/ Amber Hamilton

    “We are going to change the world. We will win. It's just not going to happen tomorrow.I may not happen the day after tomorrow — but we will win.” In Episode 26, it is my pleasure to share my interview with Amber Hamilton, President and CEO of the Memphis Music Initiative/ Philanthropy Disruptor/ Freedom Fighter.   The words that she shared with me were soul food. I’m talking greens, hot water cornbread, and black-eyed peas. In 2025, that’s the kind of rich, hearty food that I need to sustain myself for the battles ahead. I’m not just talking about the fight against the destruction of valued American institutions and of the social safety net which once upon a time made America at least closer to greatness than it is today. I’m talking about the fight against fear and the temptation to silently acquiesce to a new normal which those who are opposed to justice, democracy, unity, and the common good are trying to establish. Of course, after listening to her brilliance on the podcast, you’ll want to know more about Amber and the great work she supports through Memphis Music Initiative! Listen to her TEDxMemphis Talk: A Poker Game and the Quest for Liberation Read about her: Amber HamiltonFollow her on LinkedIN I would loveto hear what this episode brings up for you. Feel free to drop me a line:  In the comments on SpotifyOn LinkedINOn Instagram @missjanaiashley Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter, subscribe to the podcast, leave me a review,and share!

    Ep 26: "We Will Win" w/ Amber Hamilton

  6. 02/28/2025

    Ep 25: How to Cope with Being Human, Part Two

    A LOT has happened since I last started exploring the question“How do we cope with being human?” in my last episode. Chaos and craziness have been unfolding in my country, theUnited States – from the antics of the Trump administration to natural disasters in multiple parts of the country. To say nothing of what’s going on in the broader world (e.g., war in Congo and Sudan, the rightward- political shift in Europe, and the devastating fallout of the dismantling of USAID). In this political/social moment I believe it’s more important than ever for those of us who want a more equitable, humane world to remind ourselves of strategies that we can turn to when we do find ourselves falling into a space of overwhelm, cynicism, resignation, or despair. As you listen to Episode 25, “How to Cope with Being Human –Part Two” and hear me share the last three of my five strategies for how to cope with being human, I invite you to reflect on how YOU cope. Feel free to share your reflections with me: in the comments on Spotify in my inbox at janai@gilmorefacilitationllc.com via LinkedIN @Janai Gilmore via Instagram @missjanaiashley Last but not least, podcast references: A First Hand Account of What Homelessness in America is Really Like by Patrick Fealey (Nov 14, 2024)    The Source of Self Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations by Toni Morrison (Jan 2020) James Baldwin - Frontline Prophet by Sabrina Nelson Please don’t forget to review, share, and subscribe to thepodcast!

  7. 12/28/2024

    Ep 24: How to Cope with Being Human, Part 1

    Before we’re “do-gooders” who want to change the world, we’re human beings. To be a human being means that we have to cope with our own anxieties, insecurities, and disappointments, no matter what’s going on in the world outside of our heads. To be a human being means that we live in a world that we didn't choose and that we have to cope with what author/coach Bina Patel calls “The F*ckery”: all the isms and systems and ways that humans harm other humans. How do we cope with being human —without completely succumbing to cynicism, resignation and despair? In this episode, I share two of my five strategies. Stay tuned for the next three in episode 25 ;). As you listen to episode 24 “How to Cope with Being Human – Part One”, I invite you to reflect on how YOU cope. I’d love to hear your strategies! Please share them with me: in the comments on Spotify in my inbox at janai@gilmorefacilitationllc.com  via LinkedIN @Janai Gilmore or via Instagram @missjanaiashley.

  8. 03/08/2024 ·  Bonus

    Quick Update: Hello from Detroit!

    I'm back home! You can sign up for my newsletter at: https://janai-gilmore.ck.page/d54a8f40a1

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About

Hi! My name is Janai, and I’m the host of the "I Want to Change the World" podcast. That thought, “I want to change the world”, has been a guiding force behind so many decisions in my career and in my life, in general. But what does it really mean? In this podcast I pick at the questions that continue to follow me as I follow the question, “what does it looks like for me- and for all of us who feel called to the task- to actually change the world?” Tune in to to hear me (and sometimes guests!) share stories, ideas, lessons learned, and unanswered questions from my journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Janai Gilmore
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Janai Gilmore
  • Show Website
    I Want to Change the World