Notes from the Edge with Jeff Chang

Just in time for Labor Day, this episode of Notes from the Edge, we ask: why are some kinds of work valued more than others? Where does care fit into our work? And what would it take to build an economy that allows us to take better care of ourselves and each other? 

Jeff Chang talks with the organizer and advocate, Ai-jen Poo (National Domestic Workers Alliance), and the writer and artist, Jenny Odell (How to Do Nothing)about what it means to work, and what it means to care. We'll also dives into the history of the work song and speak with musician Valerie June about her anthem, “Working Woman Blues.”

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GUEST BIOS

Ai-Jen Poo is the President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and the Executive Director of Caring Across Generations. Under her leadership, NDWA has won domestic worker bills of rights in 13 states, two cities, and the District of Columbia. She has been named a MacArthur “Genius,” one of Fortune’s / World’s 50 Greatest Leaders/, and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People. She is the author of an acclaimed book, The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America. She is based in Chicago.

Jenny Odell is a writer, artist, and teacher based in Oakland, California. Her first book How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy, was one of President Obama’s favorites. Her second book, Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock, was also a highly acclaimed bestseller. She has been an artist in residence at Recology SF (aka the dump), the Internet Archive, and the Montalvo Arts Center. She is working on a new book now on the topic of repair.

Valerie June is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and three-time Americana Music Honors and Awards nominee. She has written for Mavis Staples and The Blind Boys of Alabama, and her songs have been praised by Bob Dylan. Her albums have been featured by Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, NPR Music, Vogue, Elle, Mojo, and Uncut, and she’s made television appearances on The Tonight Show, CBS Saturday Morning, PBS, and BBC. She splits her time between Tennessee and New York.

SHOW HOST

Jeff Chang is a writer, host, and a cultural organizer known for his work in culture, politics, narrative strategy, the arts, and music.  His first book, Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation, garnered many honors, including the American Book Award and the Asian American Literary Award. Slate named it one of the best nonfiction books of the past 25 years. His latest book, Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America (Mariner), was named one of 2025’s Best by Publisher’s Weekly, Alta, Vogue, Kirkus, and NPR.