Podcast
How To Citizen with Baratunde
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts · EN
How To Citizen with Baratunde reimagines the word “citizen” as a verb and reminds us how to wield our collective power. So many of us want to do more in response to the problems we hear about constantly, but where and how to participate can leave us feeling overwhelmed and helpless. Voting, while critically important, simply isn’t enough. It takes more to make this experiment in self-governance work! Listen in to learn new perspectives and practices from people working to improve society for the many. Join writer, activist, and comedian Baratunde Thurston on a journey beyond politics as usual that will leave us all more hopeful, connected, and moved to act.
13episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
We're Gonna Need Some Builders — Live in London with Jon Alexander
2w ago01:09:53Tap to summarizeRecorded live at The Conduit in London in September 2024, Baratunde and Elizabeth Stewart sit down with their friend and longtime collaborator Jon Alexander, author of CITIZENS and co-host of the podcast How To Save Democracy, for a conversation about citizen as a verb: the radical, hopeful idea that democracy isn't something we have, it's something we do. They get into the story we inherited about independence, the older and truer story about interdependence, the four pillars of citizening, and why a moment when so much feels like it's collapsing is exactly the moment to start building. The timing is no accident. On Saturday, June 13, 2026 Jon takes the TED Democracy stage in Philadelphia at the birthplace of American independence, during America's 250th, to make the case for interdependence. A British man crossing the Atlantic to tell us the move is getting back together. Keep practicing democracy. The verb, not the noun. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 "We're gonna need some builders" (cold open)00:02:11 Welcome to How To Save Democracy00:02:45 How this London night came together00:03:40 Citizen as a verb, and the shift from head to heart00:05:40 Latent love: citizen, not consumer00:07:25 Story as the most powerful technology we have00:09:45 Consumer democracy and the only restaurant in town00:10:59 Why the vote still matters00:12:06 Head, heart, and gut00:16:24 Co-authors of this world: nature, each other, machines00:20:29 The four pillars, one at a time00:21:00 Pillar 1 - Invest in relationships (including with yourself)00:29:45 Pillar 2 - Understand power (and your attention)00:33:35 Pillar 3 - Commit to the collective (Bahrain and Broadband Bruce)00:44:10 Pillar 4 - Show up and participate00:44:25 Questions from the room00:46:42 Belonging, authoritarianism, and the case for builders00:49:38 Burnout, rupture, and repair00:52:35 Doomsday Preppers: two ways to survive00:54:10 How might we live together, period00:56:35 Citizens, not just consumers LINKS How To Save Democracy with Omezzine Khelifa & Jon Alexander: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-save-democracy/id1823945285 American Indigenous Democracy: A Call for Interdependence — the book from Haudenosaunee elders and wisdom keepers: https://americanindigenousdemocracy.com Jon Alexander / CITIZENS: https://jonalexander.netSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Sacred Lessons in Masculinity, AI, and Democracy (with Mike de la Rocha)
3w ago01:14:38Tap to summarizeSacred Lessons: Masculinity, AI, and the Great Law of Peace (with Mike de la Rocha) What if the story we inherited — that being a man, or a nation, means holding it all together alone — is exactly backwards? Recorded live at the BOOST Conference in Baratunde's adopted hometown of Palm Springs, this is his conversation with Mike de la Rocha on Mike's podcast Sacred Lessons. They get into masculinity and America's founding story, the doctrine that justified conquest, and the much older democratic wisdom that was already here: the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace, and what changes when you put peace, care, and women at the center of how we govern ourselves. Then they follow it into the present: broken men in power, the men building our AI, and whether this technology pulls us apart or finally forces us to reconnect. Before you listen: Baratunde is co-hosting a virtual gathering, Declaring Interdependence, with Valarie Kaur and Indigenous elders José Barreiro and Katsi Cook on Tuesday, June 9 (5pm PT / 8pm ET) — the live companion to everything in this episode. Register below. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome back — and an invitation to Declaring Interdependence03:49 Sacred Lessons begins: the story we inherit about being a man07:31 America's big awkward birthday party08:07 The country as a story — and the doctrine of discovery10:20 The Haudenosaunee and the Great Law of Peace16:55 The book: American Indigenous Democracy19:25 The five principles, starting with women at the center24:34 Spirit, the unseen, and what his mother taught him29:30 Practicing interdependence (yes, even with the moths)31:07 Broken men, power, and refusing to mirror the cruelty36:55 AI, Elon, and the trap of control44:25 A better use of the tech: self-knowledge as a shield48:14 Living with AI: agency vs. power55:25 For the young man who idolizes the billionaire57:55 Prepping for the apocalypse — with guns, or with neighbors01:01:50 From a declaration of independence to interdependence01:02:39 The Sacred Five01:13:00 Closing: the book, June 9, and what's next on the feed LINKS Declaring Interdependence (virtual, June 9, 5pm PT / 8pm ET): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/declaring-interdependence-a-gathering-for-the-250th-tickets-1990529062008American Indigenous Democracy: A Call for Interdependence (foreword by Baratunde): https://americanindigenousdemocracy.comSacred Lessons with Mike de la Rocha: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-sacred-lessons-with-mike-304426528/Life With Machines: https://lifewithmachines.mediaEverything Baratunde: https://baratunde.com Recorded live at the BOOST Conference. Next up on the feed: my friend Jon Alexander, ahead of his turn on TED's democracy stage in Philadelphia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →When the Military Is in the Streets w Gen. Stan McChrystal
Nov 2600:35:06Tap to summarizeBaratunde returns to the How To Citizen feed with a conversation that sits right at the intersection of character, democracy, and what it means to citizen in this moment. This episode features Baratunde in a live discussion with retired U.S. General Stanley McChrystal at the 2025 Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco. The two dig into the responsibility of leaders in a time of democratic crisis, the historic norms around deploying the U.S. military inside American cities, and why character is not something we simply “have” but something we practice. They talk about the pressures facing the country, the role of national service, and how AI is changing the speed and stakes of decision-making in military and civic life. Stan shares candid reflections from his own experiences, including moments when he fell short of the character he expected from himself, and what it takes to recover and stay aligned with one’s convictions. This conversation originally aired on the Rapid Response podcast from the Masters of Scale network. Special thanks to their team for allowing it to run here. Baratunde closes with reflections on the polycrisis we’re living through, the people who continue to speak up for what’s right, and the power we still have to shape the next chapter of this country. For more from Baratunde, see his substack newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →The true story of who we really are
May 1, 202500:05:41Tap to summarizeThis is our wrap of our Week of Citizening that I've been doing with Jon Alexander. We found 8 stories from across the U.S. — across sectors, communities, and divides — where people are coming together to make life better, together. See them all here. See the visuals for this story and all our Week of Citizening stories here: https://linktr.ee/weekofcitizening Join our mailing list and share the stories you’re seeing. stories.howtocitizen.com The story is everywhere.It’s happening in libraries, tech hubs, small towns, and fire-stricken neighborhoods.It’s happening in real politics, real businesses, and real lives.It’s what humans do — when given the chance.🌎 We believe it’s time to tell a bigger, truer story about who we are.💥 We’re just getting started — and we need you with us.👉🏽 Sign up to get all 8 films + hear what’s next.Let’s tell this story. Let’s be this story. Video Produced by: Chilli.app and Summer Solstice Week of Citizening Collaborators: Baratunde Thurston, Jon Alexander, Shira Abramowitz, Elizabeth StewartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →We Know how to Rebuild Our Democracy - final story
Apr 21, 202500:08:08Tap to summarizeThere is a model for how we rebuild and heal after the human-made disaster being inflicted on the USA right now. Welcome to Dena Heals—a mutual aid marketplace and wellness center born in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena. See the visuals for this story and all our Week of Citizening stories here:https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/this-is-how-we-recover-from-disasters This is our final story (for now) in the Week Of Citizening. Join our mailing list and share the stories you’re seeing. stories.howtocitizen.com When the 💩 hits the fan, we are told people become selfish and look after themselves alone. Every disaster ever proves otherwise including after the most devastating fire to hit Los Angeles. Something extraordinary took root. Not fear. Not isolation. But care for each other. Rebecca Solnit said it well: “When all the ordinary divides and patterns are shattered, people step up—not all, but the great preponderance—to become their brothers’ keepers. And that purposefulness and connectedness brings joy even amidst death, chaos, fear and loss.” Rooted in Indigenous wisdom and the Black Panther 10-Point Program, Dena Heals is a blueprint for what happens when we lead with love, show up for each other, and practice power together. They’ve supported 3,500+ people from over 500 families. This is what it looks like to citizen in the midst of disaster. Not with despair—but with collective action, healing, and hope. We saved this story for last in our Week Of Citizening series because it reflects all the pillars of How to Citizen: 🌱 Show up & participate ⚡ Understand power 🤝 Commit to the collective ❤️ Invest in relationships (including nature) This is how we rise. This is how we rebuild. This is how we citizen. Happy Earth Day Sign up to share and discover more stories like this: https://stories.howtocitizen.com Video Produced by: Revolve Impact Week of Citizening Collaborators: Baratunde Thurston, Jon Alexander, Shira Abramowitz, Elizabeth StewartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →How we gather is how we citizen
Apr 20, 202500:04:20Tap to summarizeWe head to Eliot, Maine, where a multiracial, multidisciplinary group of artists have reimagined what a conference can be. At SeaCHANGE, creativity isn’t an afterthought—it’s the starting point. The gathering opens with movement and dance. It invites deep connection through shared meals, collaborative workshops, and artistic expression. And it creates space for belonging, especially for artists of color. Full video viewing options for this story plus links to the Instagram and LinkedIn versions: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/how-we-gather-is-how-we-citizen-7th 🧭 More stories and updates: https://stories.howtocitizen.com 🎙️ This story series is a collaborative effort by Shira Abramowitz, Jon Alexander, Elizabeth Stewart, and Baratunde Thurston. Video produced by Tess Novotnoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Don't Wait for New Leaders. BECOME Them
Apr 19, 202500:06:47Tap to summarizeToday we bring you Story #6 in our Week of Citizening. We’ve already shown you how people are rethinking democracy through libraries, labor, and school boards. Now we’re headed to a place often overlooked but brimming with democratic possibility: West Virginia. See the visuals and links to all these stories here: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/dont-wait-for-better-leaders-become We’re told politics is about picking the lesser of evils. Ordering off a fixed menu. But what if we left the table… and headed for the kitchen? That’s what the folks behind West Virginia Can’t Wait are doing. And it’s a clear sign that democracy is evolving. They’ve passed legislation that’s rare even in liberal strongholds They don’t run candidates but communities They help hold elected officials accountable and offer ongoing support This is what Jon Alexander calls the shift from Consumer Democracy to Citizen Democracy. Not just new processes like Citizens’ Assemblies or Participatory Budgeting (though we love those too) — but real people getting a grip on the systems we’ve got, starting from where we are. “One of the things I’m most proud of in my career is helping to demystify politics. It’s just everyday work for everyday folks.” — Rosemary Ketchum, West Virginia Can’t Wait This isn’t happening in some liberal stronghold. This is Appalachia — a place many assume to be too red, too rigid, too far gone. But that’s just not the whole story. I’ve seen firsthand the level of commitment and creativity in Appalachia through my recent travels there for my PBS America Outdoors show. Trust me, these stories are happening in all sorts of underestimated places. 💬 Who else is opening politics to everyday people? Sign up to share and discover more stories like this: https://stories.howtocitizen.com Video Produced by: Tess Novotnoy Week of Citizening Collaborators: Baratunde Thurston, Jon Alexander, Shira Abramowitz, Elizabeth StewartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →We found the Anti-DOGE in Chicago
Apr 18, 202500:06:37Tap to summarizeToday, we head to Chicago, where a civic gathering called Chi Hack Night is bringing technologists, designers, policy nerds, and everyday residents together to build a better city. Access to visuals for this story are here: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/we-found-the-anti-doge-in-chicago and that conversation on Life With Machines with Deb Roy is here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-with-machines/id1766829040?i=1000703577941 mRelief, a woman-led initiative that’s made it easier for people to access food benefits. Since 2018, it’s helped unlock $2 BILLION (yes, with a B) in SNAP support for people across the country. In a time of DOGE and digital distrust, it’s tempting to think all tech can do is tear things down. But this is what happens when we invite everyone—not just the billionaires—into the process of shaping solutions. This is what citizening looks like: 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People-powered innovation 🏙️ Tech rooted in place 💡 Making tools with communities, not just for them 💬 Seen something like this in your community, an org that asks first? Visit https://stories.howtocitizen.com, join our list, and let us know you have a story to share. These stories are everywhere — and we need them more than ever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →People Know What They Need
Apr 17, 202500:06:42Tap to summarizeWe’re told some people just need to be saved. But what people really need is to be needed. This community of young single mothers in Lexington, Kentucky reveals a version of this story. Full video viewing options for this story plus links to the Instagram and LinkedIn versions: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/young-mothers-asked-to-lead-and-they-did This episode features Tanya Torp, Executive Director of Step by Step, a nonprofit that chose to stop assuming what young mothers needed—and started asking. These moms didn’t just receive support. They shaped it. They requested Narcan training. They showed up. They led. They built trust and built community. And in the process, they reminded us: People need dignity. Agency. The opportunity to contribute. More stories and updates: https://stories.howtocitizen.com 🎙️ This story series is a collaborative effort by Shira Abramowitz, Jon Alexander, Elizabeth Stewart, and Baratunde Thurston. Video produced by Alexa Lim.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Can a School Board Teach Us to Overcome Division?
Apr 16, 202500:06:38Tap to summarizeWe’re told America is hopelessly divided. But zoom in—like, say, to a school board in South Central Pennsylvania—and a different story emerges. Full video viewing options for this story plus links to the Instagram and LinkedIn versions:https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/proof-we-can-overcome-division-3rd This episode features Steph and Lance: one conservative, one liberal, both neighbors, both school board members. With the support of Urban Rural Action, they chose relationship over partisanship. Listening over labeling. Curiosity over contempt. And the result? A school board that works. For the kids. For the community. For all of us. This is what it looks like to citizen: Listen deeply. Speak honestly. Resist the pull to polarize. Build something different—together 🧭 More stories and updates: https://stories.howtocitizen.com 🎙️ This story series is a collaborative effort by Shira Abramowitz, Jon Alexander, Elizabeth Stewart, and Baratunde Thurston. Video produced by Anne Gutteridge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →