In this debut episode of How We Build This, host May Boeve is joined by Alicia Garza—co-creator of Black Lives Matter and one of the most influential movement architects of our time. Together, they talk about the origin stories behind BLM, what it really means to build people power, and the personal and political moments that shaped the movement. Alicia also shares unexpected reflections, from imagining a dream job naming nail polish with Rihanna, to unpacking the 2024 election. It’s a raw, hopeful, and necessary conversation about how movements rise, fall, evolve—and persist.

To dig deeper on topics discussed in this episode:

Alicia Garza's book: The Purpose of Power

About “I believe Anita Hill” 

About the Ferguson uprising

Heather McGhee's book, The Sum of Us

How We Build This is created and hosted by May Boeve

Producer: Phil Surkis

Theme music: ‘Within’, composed by Ruthie Dineen, and performed by Negative Press Project.

Instagram & Bluesky: @hwbtpod

can find us on Instagram and Bluesky at HWBT Pod, and on Linked in and Substack at How We Build this Pod. 

Thank YOU for taking the time to tune in and helping build the movement!