You, Me, Us, Now with Mike McGinn
Summary: 'You, Me, Us, Now' is a podcast about people who try to change things. Who they are, how they became involved, and what they are working on. rnrnThere is a secret to the best way to organize. It's called the story of me, the story of you, the story of us, and the story of now. It's the way we share our histories, find our common dreams and act together on them.rnrnMy story - I became so consumed with the issue of climate change that I dropped everything to pursue political change, and ultimately became the mayor of Seattle. I worked hard and I was changed by the people I met and their stories. Now I want to bring some of their stories to you.
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Podcasts:
Kshama Sawant surprised political observers in Seattle, upsetting an incumbent with a campaign based on her support for a $15 minimum wage. Since taking office she has challenged the status quo and the politicians that support it. Mike and Kshama share their experiences of activists who became elected officials and the unwritten rules that are supposed to govern political behavior in a one-party town. Can you fight the power, represent average working people and win? Kshama has done it so far. Listen in as Mike and Kshama do their best to suppress their earnest lefty rhetoric to deliver an entertaining show.
After a 25 year hiatus from activism, Emily Johnston decided to get arrested at the White House to protest the Keystone XL pipeline. She is now the communications director for 350Seattle, an organization fighting climate change. She drew international attention to that fight by helping organize the kayak protest against Shell Oil's Arctic drilling rig, the Polar Pioneer, harbored in Seattle. This interview was recorded as she awaited word of the Polar Pioneer's departure, as she and others planned to try and stop it through civil disobedience. Why? Well, listen to the podcast.
Sharon, the daughter of Japanese-Americans interned during World War 11, chose to try and make a difference for the marginalized no matter where she worked. Sharon tells great stories about her early activism in the 60's, integrating Seattle public television, rescuing Pacifica Radio, working for the Clinton administration, and most recently, supporting undocumented young immigrants. Mike and Sharon also talk about how Sharon convinced Mike's wife to get arrested, and Sharon's attempt to get appointed to the City Council. It's fun to hear how Sharon's mix of resolve, diplomacy and well-timed provocation helped build a meaningful career.
As a grad student Lisa worked to keep her college from kicking out anti-apartheid activists. Having found her calling, she went to law school instead. While there she worked to bring the rule of law to Guantanamo, where the US was warehousing Haitian refugees with AIDS. As a public defender in Seattle she successfully defended WTO protesters, and fought the police at every turn to end excessive use of force, bias in policing, and the war on drugs. Now she is at the table helping to implement Seattle Consent Decree with the Department of Justice. With cities around the country now going through DOJ investigations, Mike and Lisa talk about their experiences in Seattle, what works and what doesn't, and what it means for places like Ferguson and Baltimore. It might surprise you.
Saitoti Parmelo is a Masai who went off to University then returned to help protect his people from being pushed off their grazing lands in Tanzania. The Masai are pastoralists who rely on on their cattle, who are now working to hold off government officials and foreign investors who want their land.
