Turning Hope Into Action: Michael Ansara

We discuss Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies to Change the World—a guide for a new generation of activists seeking not just to understand power, but to build it.   Stephanie’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:  1) Learn a new skill, like non cooperation or mutual aid 2) Find organizations that align with your values and check if they offer trainings   Stephanie Luce is Professor of Labor Studies at the School of Labor and Urban Studies and Professor of Sociology at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. She’s also the co-author of Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies to Change the World.     Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark    Follow Mila on X:  https://x.com/milaatmos    Follow Stephanie on X:  https://x.com/stephanie_luce_   Sponsor:  Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.   Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight  Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Stephanie Luce Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

A fair, humane, and orderly immigration system should think of the US as the top destination for top talent from around the world, as well as a beacon of hope. Changing the law to give permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship would fix the current failed immigration system.   Todd’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:  Post know-your-rights material at your place of worship or local grocery store Ask your HR to have legal resources for immigrant employees   Todd Schulte is the President of FWD.us, where he has directed successful efforts to make the case that immigrants and immigration power the US economy, help us win the global race for talent, and strengthen the American workforce.      Woohoo! We took home the Silver Medal in the Signal Awards:  https://www.signalaward.com/winners/details/#future-hindsight/future-hindsight-maurice-mitchell-working-families-party/0/613058   Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark    Follow Mila on X:  https://x.com/milaatmos    Follow Todd on X:  https://x.com/TheToddSchulte    Sponsor:  Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.   Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight  Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Todd Schulte Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss how the everyday voter can make strategic political campaign donations just like a billionaire.   Brian’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:  1) Find an election you’ve never participated in before and get involved 2) Check out the Supreme Court races in Pennsylvania, governor’s races in NJ and VA, and the California redistricting ballot measure   Brian Derrick is the co-founder of Oath, a donor advising platform whose mission is to empower donors to participate in our democracy by offering civic education and helping users manage their political giving to maximize impact.     Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark    Follow Mila on X:  https://x.com/milaatmos    Follow Brian on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/brianderrick_/   VOTE FOR FUTURE HINDSIGHT!  https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting?utm_campaign=signal4_finalists_finalistnotification_092325&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cio#/2025/individual-episodes/genre/news-politics   Sponsor:  Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.   Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight  Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Brian Derrick Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the unavoidable intersection between our capitalist economy and democratic governance, and how their relationship plays out through campaign finance and other political transactions.   Hilary’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:  Get the data of your state, locality, and elected officials at opensecrets.org Piece together what is happening your state   Hilary Braseth is the executive director of OpenSecrets, the nation's premier research and government transparency group tracking money in politics and its effect on elections and policy.   VOTE FOR FUTURE HINDSIGHT!  https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting?utm_campaign=signal4_finalists_finalistnotification_092325&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cio#/2025/individual-episodes/genre/news-politics   Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark    Follow Mila on X:  https://x.com/milaatmos    Follow OpenSecrets on X:  https://x.com/OpenSecretsDC    Sponsor:  Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.   Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight  Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Hilary Braseth Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss how the struggle for transparency is really a struggle for the soul of American democracy.    Miranda’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:  Look up the agendas of your local school board and city council, and attend the public meetings Learn how your local and state governments make decisions   Miranda S. Spivack is a veteran reporter and editor who specialized in government accountability, as well as the author of Backroom Deals in Our Backyard: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities and the Local Heroes Fighting Back.     Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark    Follow Mila on X:  https://x.com/milaatmos    Follow Miranda on X:  https://x.com/mirandareporter    Read Backroom Deals in our Backyards:  https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight    Sponsor:  Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.   Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight  Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Miranda Spivack Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the basics of organizing and the fruits of that work. Michael reminds us that “organizers organize organizations.”   Michael’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:  1) Gather 4-5 friends to talk about what’s happening 2) Share ideas on what you can do to resist    Michael Ansara is a seasoned community organizer and the author of The Hard Work of Hope: A Memoir.     Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark    Follow Mila on X:  https://x.com/milaatmos    Follow Michael on BlueSky:  https://bsky.app/profile/michaelansara.bsky.social    Read The Hard Work of Hope:  https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight    Sponsor:  Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.   Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight  Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Michael Ansara Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the enduring power of protesting and the significance of the Ferguson uprising in the long arc of the Black liberation movement.    Jonathan’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:  1) Speak with a young person in your life about what they’re wrestling with 2) Emphasize community engagement   Jonathan Pulphus is an organizer from St. Louis, Missouri, Co-founder of the community organization Tribe X, and the author of With My People: Life, Justice, and Activism Beyond the University.     Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark    Follow Mila on X:  https://x.com/milaatmos    Follow Jonathan on X: https://x.com/pulphusj   Read With My People: https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight    Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight  Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Jonathan Pulphus Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the importance of shifting our mindset to one that is infused with hope. Positive change comes when we choose hope. Though nobody can fix it all, we can all do something and make an impact. Sharon reminds us that if something is worth doing for everyone, it’s worth doing for one person.    Sharon’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:  1) Choose hope. 2) Get involved in an issue that is important to you because your actions do matter.   Sharon McMahon is the creator of “Sharon Says So” and host of the “Here’s Where it Gets Interesting” podcast. She's also the author of The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement.     Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark    Follow Mila on X:  https://x.com/milaatmos    Follow Sharon on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sharonsaysso/    Read The Small and the Mighty:  https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight    Sponsor:  Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.   Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight  Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Sharon McMahon Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the role of collective memory in the myth-making of American exceptionalism.    Hajar’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:  1) Advocate 2) Relate 3) Create   Hajar Yazdiha is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences and the author of The Struggle for the People’s King: How Politics Transforms the Memory of the Civil Rights Movement.     Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark    Follow Mila on X:  https://x.com/milaatmos    Follow Hajar on X:  https://x.com/HajYazdiha    Read The Struggle for the People’s King:  https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight    Sponsor:  Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.   Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight  Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Hajar Yazdiha Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss how ungoverning is the equivalent of a bull in a china shop. We have already seen the destruction of many institutions and many functions of the administrative state, but we don't yet know how much there is still to come.   Nancy’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:  1) Don’t let unpredictability strip you of your agency 2) Vote in local, county, and state elections   Nancy Rosenblum is the Senator Joseph Clark Professor of Ethics in Politics and Government Emerita at Harvard University, and the co-author of Ungoverning: The Attack on the Administrative State and the Politics of Chaos.     Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark    Follow Mila on X:  https://x.com/milaatmos    Follow Nancy on X:  https://x.com/Nlrosenblum    Read Ungoverning:  https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight    Sponsor:  Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.   Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight  Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Nancy Rosenblum Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis