How To Citizen with Baratunde - Unwavering Kindness as Our Pandemic Response (with Dr. Michael Osterholm)

Baratunde reflects on Election Day and contemplates the record set this week for positive COVID cases recorded in a single day. He speaks to his trusted source for all things pandemic response, Dr. Michael Osterholm, and learns about the "pandemic of kindness" that Dr. Osterholm hopes will be more contagious than the virus in the coming weeks. Dr. Osterholm shares how he keeps moving forward despite the dire facts, and he wrestles with the injustice of people of color being disproportionately impacted by the disease. Listen to his weekly COVID podcast, The Osterholm Update, here.

Show Notes + Links

We are grateful to Dr. Michael Osterholm for joining us!

Follow him on Twitter @mtosterholm and @CIDRAP. You can learn more about the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota here

We will post this episode, a transcript, show notes and more at howtocitizen.com.

Please show your support for the show in the form of a review and rating. It makes a huge difference with the algorithmic overlords!

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW. ACTIONS FOR THIS EPISODE. 

This is another critical moment in the pandemic and we can't take our eyes off the ball of suppressing the disease and stopping its spread.  

INTERNAL ACTIONS 

Subscribe to the Osterholm Update podcast. 

It’s weekly. It’s honest. It’s essential. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/podcasts-webinars

Think about the worst and the best with this pandemic. 

What’s the worst you’ve experienced? Job loss. Loss of a loved one? Make a little space to grieve and acknowledge that. What’s the best? Have you had quality time with friends? Did you finally clean your garage? Embrace those positives without guilt or shame. Embrace the good and the bad from this year and know that you are not alone. 

Recommit to suppressing the virus. 

We know it’s hard. We are tired and angry. Let’s remember why we are making sacrifices: to save lives; to keep our healthcare system from being overrun. Keep physical distance. Wear masks. Wash hands. Let’s dig deep and rediscover the spirit of shared sacrifice that has enabled us to rise to other occasions. 

EXTERNAL ACTIONS

If you can, support a local COVID relief fund.

Search for “donate Covid relief fund” and the name of your city. There are so many people in need. If you have something to give to help folks through this please do. 

Be kind. Spread a pandemic of kindness. 

Do something nice and unexpected for someone today. Repeat tomorrow. And tell us about it. Even try to stretch beyond your comfort zone as we live in these unprecedented times.

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If you take any of these actions, share that with us - action@howtocitizen.com. Mention Unwavering Kindness in the subject line. And share about your citizening on social media using #howtocitizen. 

We love feedback from our listeners - comments@howtocitizen.com. 

Visit Baratunde's website to sign up for his newsletter to learn about upcoming guests, live tapings, and more. Follow him on Instagram or join his Patreon. You can even text him, like right now at 202-894-8844.

How To Citizen with Baratunde is a production of I iHeart Radio Podcasts. executive produced by Miles Gray, Nick Stumpf, Elizabeth Stewart, and Baratunde Thurston. Produced by Joelle Smith, edited by Justin Smith. Powered by you.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - Natural Disaster and Revolution

The history of human civilization is, in many ways, a history of conflict. Empires rise and fall, countries come and go, and humanity soldiers on. Yet multiple investigations have found a troubling correlation -- it seems not all revolutions are the result of social instability or external rivals. In fact, the natural world itself may be one of history's most powerful (and dangerous) revolutionaries. Listen in to learn more about natural disaster and revolution -- and what this may mean for a world where natural disasters continue to increase.

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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - CLASSIC: The Pineal Gland Conspiracies

Could the pineal gland really have some sort of spiritual significance? What does it do, exactly, and why do so many people believe there's some sort of conspiracy to alter its function? Tune in as Ben and Matt explore the fact and fiction surrounding the pineal gland.

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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - Strange News: COVID-19 Study, Ex-President of Burundi Gets Prison Time for Murdering Another President, and Female Mutant Crayfish are Taking Over the World (mainly Antwerp)

Former Burundian President Pierre Buyoya received a life sentence in court for the murder of another former President: Melchior Ndadaye. A recent study confirms the issues discussed in the previous COVID series, showing worldwide trends regarding fears and misconceptions about infection. A bizarre invasive species of mutated, clonal, entirely female crayfish have been expanding across Europe -- one graveyard in Antwerp claims they've already lost the battle to this creature that sounds like something straight out of a comic book.

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They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - White Supremacy Infiltrates the Military

The world's most powerful has numerous policies regarding equality -- but how do the policies on paper translate to action? In today's episode, the gang dives into the all-too-often unexplored, ongoing conspiracy taking place within the US Armed Forces: Supremacists and separatists are infiltrating the military, often with the active goal of later using their training and expertise to wage war against the very nation they were sworn to protect.

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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - Listener Mail: Dangers of the Troubled Teen Industry, How the Sun can Destroy Modern Civilization, and Massive Protests in Nigeria

Multiple listeners reach out to share their experiences in the 'troubled teen' industry. The guys explore the fascinating -- and terrifying -- possibility of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Ongoing massive protests in Nigeria prompt a conversation about whether lasting reform is possible. All this and more in this week's edition of Listener Mail.

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How To Citizen with Baratunde - Flexing Our Civil Resistance Muscle (with Jamila Raqib)

Baratunde wrestles with how to handle rising political violence in the U.S. by learning from a leading steward of strategic nonviolent action. Jamila Raqib, executive director of the Albert Einstein Institution, shares lessons on the superiority of nonviolent approaches to change, options for defending democracy against authoritarianism, and tips on what to do if a certain head of state refuses to leave office. Hypothetically. 

Show Notes + Links

We are grateful to Jamila Rahib for joining us!

Follow her on Twitter @jamilaraqib. You can learn more about The Albert Einstein Institute at https://www.aeinstein.org/

We will post this episode, a transcript, show notes and more at howtocitizen.com.

Please show your support for the show in the form of a review and rating. It makes a huge difference with the algorithmic overlords!

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW. ACTIONS FOR THIS EPISODE. 

INTERNAL ACTIONS (Actions that help you reflect and explore your emotions and experiences related to these topics or personal actions that don’t involve others)


Give energy and attention to what you WANT for our country 

If you journal, pray, meditate or do yoga, use your practice between now and the election to center yourself on what you want to happen. Developing that clear picture first will help you emotionally and psychologically prepare to respond if it doesn’t go the way you want. Walk that fine line with me!! 


For a powerful visioning example, see this proposed 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution organized by the Brooklyn Public Library. https://www.bklynlibrary.org/28th-amendment 


Look through the 198 methods at the Albert Einstein Institution https://www.aeinstein.org/nonviolentaction/198-methods-of-nonviolent-action/ 

Identify any you’ve already employed. Congrats! You’re a strategic nonviolent activist already!



EXTERNAL ACTIONS (Public actions that require relationships and interaction with others) 

Contribute to building our collective civil resistance muscle through the actions below.


Share this site that Jamila mentioned with examples and stories about nonviolent action https://wagingnonviolence.org/ 


Attend a Choose Democracy workshop on “How To Defeat An Election-Related Power Grab”

Find trainings at https://choosedemocracy.us/, take the pledge on the home page, and check out the action center. 


Engage in action recommended by “Hold The Line” and tell others about it

https://holdthelineguide.com/

Volunteers created this 55-page guide for the situation we’re in. It includes methods to set up election protection efforts in your community, attend workshops for non-violent resistance, and get your elected officials, police, and military to commit to upholding democracy. 


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If you take any of these actions, share that with us - action@howtocitizen.com. Mention Returning Citizens in the subject line. And share about your citizening on social media using #howtocitizen. 

We love feedback from our listeners - comments@howtocitizen.com. 

Visit Baratunde's website to sign up for his newsletter to learn about upcoming guests, live tapings, and more. Follow him on Instagram or join his Patreon. You can even text him, like right now at 202-894-8844.

How To Citizen with Baratunde is a production of I iHeart Radio Podcasts. executive produced by Miles Gray, Nick Stumpf, Elizabeth Stewart, and Baratunde Thurston. Produced by Joelle Smith, edited by Justin Smith. Powered by you.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - When We Become Our Phones

It's bizarre to think that -- not too long ago -- the idea of having something as powerful as a smart phone in your pocket would seem like something out of Star Trek. But now these handy devices go with us throughout most of our lives. A steady stream of feel-good chemicals from social media, dangerously convenient ways of buying things through apps, health and location tracking and more. And every piece of data is, somehow, tracked. While it's no secret that companies use information like this for targeted advertising, the true potential of this data aggregation, and the true danger this aggregation poses for society, has only recently come to light. Join the guys to learn more about what happens in a world where you become your phone.

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They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - CLASSIC: Exorcisms: An Introduction

You're probably familiar with the horror film version of exorcisms: a righteous priest reciting holy verses as a demon-possessed person writhes and exhibits unholy powers. But what are exorcisms, really? How do they function across cultures? Is there any proof that they're real? Join Ben and Matt to find out in this week's Classic episode.

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They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

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How To Citizen with Baratunde - Making Our Returning Citizens Whole (with Desmond Meade)

Baratunde learns to think about sacrifice and having skin in the game in terms of a ham, egg, and cheese sandwich analogy. Desmond Meade, founder of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), reminds us that to error is human and the need for second chances, and how that reminder mobilized a grassroots citizen’s movement that transcended racial and political lines to restore voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians with past felony convictions. 


Show Notes + Links

We are grateful to Desmond Meade for joining us. 

Follow on Twitter. You can learn more about the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition at https://floridarrc.com/.

Find Desmond on Twitter @DesmondMeade or on instagram @DesmondMeade44

We will post this episode, a transcript, show notes and more at howtocitizen.com.

Please show your support for the show in the form of a review and rating. It makes a huge difference with the algorithmic overlords!

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW. ACTIONS FOR THIS EPISODE. 

INTERNAL ACTIONS (Actions that help you reflect and explore your emotions and experiences related to these topics or personal actions that don’t involve others)

Do you know anyone that you love that’s ever made a mistake?

This is the question Desmond used to erase the lines that separate us, and create a circle of humanity around voting rights restoration. Think about it for yourself. 


Are you the chicken, the cow, or the pig? 

According to Desmond, in a ham and cheese omelet, the cow makes a contribution; the chicken makes a contribution; the pig makes a commitment. We need all three. Put another way, what role are you going to play?


Read Desmond’s Book

Let My People Vote: My battle to restore the civil rights of returning citizens. Find it in our online bookstore at bookshop.org/shop/howtocitizen


EXTERNAL ACTIONS (Public actions that require relationships and interaction with others) 

Support the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition

https://floridarrc.com/volunteer/ Donate or volunteer.


Find other people to take to the polls

We’ve said this before, but talk about voting. All the time. On your Zooms. On the bus! While waving to your neighbors. Make sure people you are interacting with have voted or have a plan to vote and then follow up. 


Spread good news

Even if the victory is small, tell others. We are drowning in depressing information and uninspiring narratives. Be a part of changing that. Find some good news related to this election or our democracy, and tell everyone! Here’s a great resource: https://www.solutionsjournalism.org/hub 


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If you take any of these actions, share that with us - action@howtocitizen.com. Mention Returning Citizens in the subject line. And share about your citizening on social media using #howtocitizen. 

We love feedback from our listeners - comments@howtocitizen.com. 

Visit Baratunde's website to sign up for his newsletter to learn about upcoming guests, live tapings, and more. Follow him on Instagram or join his Patreon. You can even text him, like right now at 202-894-8844

How To Citizen with Baratunde is a production of I iHeart Radio Podcasts. executive produced by Miles Gray, Nick Stumpf, Elizabeth Stewart, and Baratunde Thurston. Produced by Joelle Smith, edited by Justin Smith. Powered by you.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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