TROUBLEMAKERS

Beautiful Trouble
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Bimonthly

At TROUBLEMAKERS, we explore how to rebel in an age when a few elite have so much control. We speak with inspiring people from all walks of life across the planet on the tools they use to subvert and seize power for the transformation of our world. TROUBLEMAKERS is a place to learn from each other about how to make change. This podcast is a transcontinental operation brought to you by Beautiful Trouble, MOVE the Global Social Movement Centre, MS TCDC, and Global Platforms.

  1. 1d ago

    EP51: Healthcare, Corruption & Gen Z: What Kenya Must Fix Next with Dr Morgan Omondi

    Can Kenya's healthcare system be fixed—and who should lead that change? In this episode of Troublemakers, Monica Kamandau speaks with pharmacist, healthcare consultant, and activist Morgan Derek Omondi about the future of healthcare in Kenya, the impact of corruption on public services, and the role Gen Z can play in shaping better systems. Drawing from his experience in the Gen Z protests, healthcare policy, and community work, Morgan reflects on accountability, civic responsibility, and why data-driven decisions could transform healthcare delivery across the country. Meet the Guest Morgan Derek Omondi is a pharmacist, healthcare consultant, and regulatory affairs specialist. He is also involved with Spurgeons Child Care Kenya, supporting vulnerable children through education and community initiatives. What We Unpack in This Episode Why Morgan joined the Gen Z protests The challenge of working with the government after protesting against it Corruption and its impact on healthcare delivery "We should all take responsibility for the change we need in our communities. If it means going to the streets, then we have to go to the streets."  Morgan Derek Omondi Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Troublemakers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media. Our podcast is inspired by the Beautiful Trouble toolbox. Resources & Show Links Troublemakers Podcast Links Follow Morgan Derek Omondi on LinkedIn

    34 min

  2. May 15

    Ep 50: The Stop EACOP Project with Ziada

    What does “development” really mean—and who is forced to pay for it? Meet the Guest Ziada is a climate and gender justice advocate working at the frontlines of renewable energy and community resistance. Trained in medicine, her activism was shaped by real encounters with inequality, environmental breakdown, and lives lost to preventable conditions. What We Unpack in This Episode What is EACOP, really? A massive oil pipeline from Uganda to Tanzania—sold as progress, contested on the ground. The real cost of “development” Displacement. Lost livelihoods. Closed schools. Communities cut off from land and identity. Why women are hit hardest Economic exclusion, social disruption, and power imbalances intensified inside homes and communities. Key Takeaway “We don’t lack solutions—we lack implementation.” Licensing Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Troublemakers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media. Acknowledgment Our podcast is inspired by the Beautiful Trouble toolbox. Resources & Show Links Green Conservers – connect via social media to support or collaborate

    25 min

  3. May 8

    Smoke Signals: "Vous Allez-vous" A poem by Franck Amani & Sylvie Baziga.

    What happens when poetry becomes testimony? What happens when a voice carries the grief, rage, memory, and survival of an entire people? In this deeply emotional and politically charged episode of Troublemakers, we journey through “Vous allez où?”, a haunting spoken-word piece that confronts war, displacement, colonial violence, exile, and the persistence of hope in places the world often chooses to ignore. Through vivid imagery and painful truths, the poem paints a world where mothers bury children, rivers carry bodies instead of songs, and children draw rifles instead of suns. Yet even within devastation, there remains resistance the stubborn insistence on dignity, memory, and life itself. This episode reflects on: War as a lived daily reality, not a distant headline Forced displacement and the psychology of exile The silencing of oppressed voices Colonial legacies and systems of domination At its core, this episode asks: Where do people go when home itself becomes unlivable? And what does it mean to continue dreaming in a world built to erase you? This is not just poetry. It is testimony. It is mourning. It is resistance. Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Troublemakers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media.

    7 min

  4. Apr 28

    Ep 49: Why do stories matter in social change work? With ActionAid Global Staff.

    How do we move from gathering stories to creating impact? How can we be more strategic about story gathering? And who truly owns the narrative - organisations or the communities themselves? In this episode of Troublemakers, we explore the role of storytelling in activism and development, featuring insights from practitioners working across Brazil and Nepal within ActionAid. This conversation unpacks how stories are gathered, shaped, and used. It explores the role of ActionAid in story gathering and reflects on why rethinking storytelling is essential for justice-driven work. Guest Host ● Joan Njoroge – Moderator of this conversation, guiding a deep dive into how storytelling shapes advocacy, impact, and community voice within global movements. Guest Speakers ● Erika Azevedo – Coordinator of Public Engagement at ActionAid Brazil, with a background in journalism and documentary storytelling. ● Anish Shrestha– Communications Manager at ActionAid Nepal, working closely with grassroots communities to amplify lived experiences. Reflections This episode highlights a key shift: storytelling must be decolonial, feminist, and human-centred. It’s not just about telling better stories — it’s about better planning and collaboration to avoid overload, more focus on agents of change, and amplifying people’s voices to different audiences. License Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Troublemakers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media. Resources & Show Links ● Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/troublemakers.podcast ● ActionAid Global: https://www.actionaid.org ● Beautiful Trouble Toolbox: https://beautifultrouble.org/toolbox/

    1h 4m

  5. Apr 17

    Ep 48: Truth, Power, and Human Rights in the Age of Social Media with Josué Mutanava

    How do we defend rights in a world full of misinformation? In this episode, guest host Jesué Mutanava speaks with Steward Muhindo, a human rights activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo and member of Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA). They explore how social media shapes activism, the dangers of disinformation, and how young people can push for change through peaceful action. Steward also shares simple ways to verify information and why truth is essential in the fight for human rights. Key Takeaways Human rights are universal. Peaceful action drives change. Misinformation can cause real harm. Truth is the foundation of activism. Licensing: Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Trouble Makers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media.

    23 min

  6. Apr 10

    TM Smoke Signals: Superhero. A poem by Phindu Banda

    In Super Hero, Phindu Banda honors the quiet courage of everyday people who rise, endure, and keep going. From childhood dreams to life’s hardest moments, this piece reminds us that survival, resilience, and showing up are acts of heroism. You didn’t wait to be saved. You became the hero. About the Poet Phindu Banda is a Malawian poet, performer, and activist whose work explores identity, feminism, and social justice. Through spoken word, she amplifies everyday experiences and transforms them into powerful reflections on resilience, healing, and change. Licensing: Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Trouble Makers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Resources & Show Links: https://www.instagram.com/phinduzaie/

    4 min

  7. Apr 3

    Ep47: Practice What You Preach: Why Movements Fail From Within with Dale McKinley

    Why do movements that aim to transform the world so often fall apart from within? And what happens when the gap between our values and our actions becomes too wide to ignore?   In this episode of Trouble Makers, we sit down with Dale McKinley, a veteran activist with over 35 years of experience across South Africa’s most influential social movements. From the Communist Party to the Anti-Privatisation Forum and the Right to Know Campaign, Dale has witnessed firsthand how movements rise and how they implode.   Together with Phil Wilmot, they explore one of the most critical tensions in activism: the balance between changing the world and changing ourselves.   Key Conversations & Insights: The “personal vs political” gap—and how it destroys movements from the inside Why failing to confront internal issues (corruption, abuse, dishonesty) leads to collapse The danger of “don’t air dirty laundry” culture in activist spaces Real stories of movement breakdowns due to a lack of accountability How trust, relationships, and internal culture shape long-term impact   Licensing: Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Trouble Makers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media.

    34 min

  8. Mar 22

    Ep 46: Kenya’s Gen Z Voter Movement: How "Tukokadi" Is Changing the 2027 Elections

    “The secret is numbers.” What happens when ordinary citizens decide to take democracy into their own hands? In this episode of the Trouble Makers Podcast, host Tatiana Gicheru sits down with Kenyan journalist and civic mobilizer Ademba Alanns, the mind behind the fast-growing Tukokadi movement, an initiative pushing millions of young Kenyans to register as voters ahead of the 2027 general elections. What started as a simple tweet has now become a nationwide movement, mobilising thousands across all 47 counties. Ademba shares how one small action sparked a ripple effect, turning civic duty into a collective, youth-driven force. Together, they unpack: The power of grassroots organising in the digital age. Why voter registration is just the beginning of civic engagement. The role of civic and political education in shaping informed voters and so much more. Beyond Kenya, this conversation reflects a broader shift across Africa and the world, where young people are reclaiming their role in shaping governance, one vote at a time. This episode is a reminder: democracy is not passive. It is built, protected, and sustained by those who show up.

    22 min
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About

At TROUBLEMAKERS, we explore how to rebel in an age when a few elite have so much control. We speak with inspiring people from all walks of life across the planet on the tools they use to subvert and seize power for the transformation of our world. TROUBLEMAKERS is a place to learn from each other about how to make change. This podcast is a transcontinental operation brought to you by Beautiful Trouble, MOVE the Global Social Movement Centre, MS TCDC, and Global Platforms.

Information

  • Creator
    Beautiful Trouble
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    TROUBLEMAKERS