Podcast Summary: All Of It - "How to Build a Better World"

Release Date: June 12, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Adam Met, Musician, Academic, Climate Activist, and Author

1. Introduction

In this episode of ALL OF IT, hosted by Alison Stewart, the spotlight is on Adam Met, a multifaceted individual known for his contributions to music, academia, climate activism, and his latest endeavor as an author. The episode delves into Adam's newly released book, "How to Use the Power of Connection to Engage, Take Action, and Build a Better World," offering listeners a comprehensive exploration of his insights on effective activism and community building.

2. Adam Met Discusses His Book

a. Background and Motivation

Adam Met introduces his diverse background, emphasizing his journey from being a member of the band AJR to pursuing a PhD and becoming a climate activist. He shares the inspiration behind his book, which serves as a toolkit for emerging activists seeking to make impactful changes.

[04:26] Adam Met: "I liked to do so many different things when I was a kid. People say nowadays they love portfolio careers. I had a portfolio childhood, honestly. I loved theater. I loved music... I love doing 50 things at the same time."

Adam explains that his experiences on tour, witnessing firsthand the effects of climate change in various cities, motivated him to leverage his platform for activism.

[05:10] Adam Met: "Seeing these things firsthand... made me realize that it was something I loved studying and also that I had to use the platform that we had built."

b. Key Concepts

Adam outlines the core components of his book, which include:

• Identifying Personal Passions: Helping individuals discover causes they care deeply about.
• Engagement Strategies: Offering a blueprint for gaining support and mobilizing communities.
• Practical Tools: Including interviews and stories from diverse figures such as Andrew Yang, Chi O Se, and Glenn Beck.

He emphasizes the importance of connection and community in driving meaningful change.

[16:49] Adam Met: "As a musician, one of the things that we care about the most is how to move people through emotional resonance... we need to take that model and apply it to building better movements."

3. Listener Calls and Activism

Throughout the episode, Alison Stewart invites listeners to share their passions and how they contribute to various causes. Several callers provide inspiring examples of grassroots activism:

a. Plastic Reduction Efforts

Chrysanthe from North Salem discusses her initiative to combat plastic waste by creating large-scale art installations from collected plastic debris.

[09:28] Chrysanthe: "I made an enormous... plastic tidal wave... We've got to get our legislators to act now."

b. Animal Rescue Initiatives

Michelle from Goshen shares her dedication to animal rescue, highlighting the need for legal reforms to better protect animals.

[11:05] Michelle: "Animals are classified as property... they need to be reclassified as sentient beings with their own rights."

c. Furniture Donation

Chris from White Plains talks about his organization's efforts to donate gently used furniture to individuals transitioning out of homelessness and foster care.

[14:00] Chris: "We furnish their apartments with gently reused furniture... keeps this furniture out of the waste stream."

d. Repair Cafes

Roger from Jersey City introduces listeners to the concept of repair cafes, where volunteers help fix broken household items, promoting sustainability and community engagement.

[15:00] Roger: "Repair cafes are international... we repair everything for free."

4. Strategies for Building Effective Movements

a. Voting and Local Elections

Adam emphasizes the significant impact of participating in local elections, where votes can decisively influence community policies.

[12:46] Adam Met: "You are so powerful in your vote at the local level... These are the people who decide where the next petrochemical plant is being built."

b. Gamification and Storytelling

Drawing from his experience in the music industry, Adam discusses how gamification and storytelling can foster community and engagement.

[17:34] Adam Met: "We took our track list and turned it into a jigsaw puzzle... fans felt ownership over the album as well as the cause."

c. Collective Effervescence

Adam introduces the sociological concept of collective effervescence, highlighting the power of in-person gatherings to build cohesive movements.

[19:35] Adam Met: "Concerts bring that kind of idea... We need to create spaces that are fun, engaging, where people are taking action together."

d. Engaging with Opposing Views

In a notable segment, Adam shares his experience interviewing Glenn Beck, a conservative commentator, to illustrate the importance of finding common ground despite ideological differences.

[24:35] Adam Met: "We needed to treat each other as equal humans and focus on the things that connected us."

This approach underscores the necessity of building broader alliances to amplify impactful small agreements.

5. Insights on Effective Activism

Adam discusses the balance between various forms of activism, asserting that while protests are essential, building positive and engaging community spaces is equally important for sustaining movements.

[19:35] Adam Met: "Protest is an absolutely necessary part of any movement... We also need to be building more of those community-based spaces that are really positive."

He warns against the potential negativity that can arise from too much focus on anger and frustration, advocating instead for creating environments that inspire and motivate sustained action.

[21:34] Adam Met: "The collective wave... has gone towards depression and a feeling of giving up. But we're seeing a move towards in-person interaction, which has great potential."

6. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with reflections on the diverse methods individuals employ to contribute to societal change. Adam reinforces the idea that everyone has a unique role to play in building a better world, and his book serves as a guide to harnessing personal passions into collective action.

[26:46] Alison Stewart: "The name of the book is How to Use the Power of Connection to Engage, Take Action, and Build a Better World. It is by Adam Met."

Listeners are encouraged to explore their passions, engage with their communities, and utilize the strategies outlined in Adam's book to effect meaningful change.

Notable Quotes

• Adam Met on Multitasking Passion:
  "[05:04]... I like doing 50 things at the same time."

• On the Importance of Local Voting:
  "[12:46]... These are the people who decide where the next petrochemical plant is being built."

• Regarding Collective Effervescence:
  "[19:35]... We need to create spaces that are fun, engaging, where people are taking action together."

• On Engaging with Opposing Views:
  "[24:35]... We needed to treat each other as equal humans and focus on the things that connected us."

Final Thoughts

Adam Met's insights offer a valuable roadmap for activists and community builders aiming to create lasting and inclusive movements. By blending emotional resonance, strategic engagement, and inclusive dialogue, "How to Use the Power of Connection to Engage, Take Action, and Build a Better World" provides actionable strategies to foster positive societal transformation.

Listeners interested in Adam Met's work and his book can find more information and resources by following the episode's call-to-action segments and engaging with the ALL OF IT community on WNYC.