Eitan Hersh is a faculty member in the Department of Political Science at Tufts University, and he's the author of the book Politics Is For Power. In his book, he discusses what he calls "political hobbyism," which the host of this podcast all too often engages in when he gets into arguments in comment threads on Facebook. In one demographic respect, Sargent's doing so is not that surprising. But in another respect, it is a bit more unusual. To learn more, listen to the episode. You'll also hear about compelling stories of people who aren't "slacktivists," who aren't mere hobbyists, but who instead engage politics in deep and meaningful ways that actually build power. You should read Hersh's book too.

--Eitan Hersh's Tufts University web profile

--Politics Is For Power: How to Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real Change, by Eitan Hersh

--"How do you change voters' minds? Have a conversation" (New York Times Magazine article about deep canvassing, and Dave Fleischer)

--Changing the Conversation

--Voice of Westmoreland

--Website of U.S. Representative Conor Lamb

--"Bernie Sanders only had eyes for one wing of the Democratic Party" (the New York Times article by Thomas B. Edsall that brought Hersh to my attention)

Special Guest: Eitan Hersh.