Oh This World

It's a special July 4 edition of OH THIS WORLD, featuring our own co-host Lucas Schaefer as our guest, talking about community centers like your local boxing gym!

Lucas recently published his debut novel, The Slip, which centers around the fictional Terry Tucker's Boxing Gym. It's based on a real life boxing gym where Lucas was a member some twenty years ago, and in our conversation we explore the surprising and enduring bonds that can come of communities of people who seem to be nothing like us.

In case you didn't know, we and people we love are increasingly at risk of, shall we say, lower quality of life due to <> things happening in the U.S. It's no understatement that we need each other now, more than ever.

The time to find your people is now. The time to invest heavily in your communities is now. Let's go.

You can buy The Slip wherever you buy books. And you'd best read it or be left out of all the conversations of this summer's must-read's!

Despite a terrible internet connection, I managed to interview Houston Big Brain Chase Sloan for this episode with only one weird recording glitch about 20 minutes in (be prepared). We cover a lot of ground on this topic of community, from the powerhouse historic Third Ward in Houston to finding community as an adult to the importance of looking, seeing, being real, and engaging authentically with an IRL community or two.

Let’s make purposeful moves to connect with people around us, in real life. 

ACTION

Dig in. And let's pick up some threads and strengthen all the areas where this fabric has frayed. We will need each other in the coming months and years, more than ever.

Five years ago, the world as we knew it changed in an instant. Sheltering in place against the COVID pandemic meant a lot more time with the ones we knew best, and a lot less time with everyone else. It’s no surprise that we may not have transitioned back to engaging at the same level with the groups of people we knew. In other words, our communities may have weathered, splintered, and possibly fallen away.

Well, it’s time to brush up on those community building skills. Because our best defense against autocracy is power in numbers. In this episode, we are joined by mental health professional, activist, and all around excellent human Nanette Fodell. We talk about her experiences as a community member, and helping all kinds of people act from hope for themselves and for the world. 

As this is the first of several planned episodes on various aspects of community, it is helpful to do an honest self-check of your own communities:

1. Do you simply spend your days with people, or are you part of at least one community where you support others and also receive support?

2. Are you part of at least one local community, in addition to others that may be virtual in nature?

3. Do you connect with people using language of later (let’s make a plan to get together) or the language of now (can you meet tomorrow or the next day)?

And one action: Reach out today to reconnect with someone, using the language of now. Or, if you can’t think of one person to reconnect with, strengthen a newer connection – bake something and share it with a neighbor you don’t know well just yet.

Have thoughts on this episode? Call our BIG QUESTIONS / REAL TALK hotline at (781) 649-6753 (7-8-1-OHWORLD) to leave a voicemail we might feature in an upcoming episode!

In this episode, we dive deep into "Activism for Introverts" with Rachel Carneglia. We explore how introverts can meaningfully engage in activism despite potential discomfort with traditional organizing methods. Rachel shares her personal journey as an introvert navigating community activism, discussing the internal struggles introverts face when called to action and offering practical strategies for involvement.

Whether you identify as an introvert or not, this conversation provides valuable insights on balancing personal comfort with community engagement during critical times. Rachel also highlights the appeal of behind-the-scenes community organizing for those who prefer less public-facing roles.

Calls to Action for everyone (introverts especially):

1. Start with low-anxiety activities: Use ResistBot, send postcards, share on social media, or join online organizing spaces—then challenge yourself to do more!

2. Take the next step: Identify one or two uncomfortable actions (like visiting elected officials or attending protests) and bring a friend along. This transforms new experiences into more comfortable ones over time.

3. Contribute behind-the-scenes: Offer your skills to grassroots groups or nonprofits whose missions align with your values.

Have thoughts on this episode? Want an "Activism for Extroverts" episode? Call our BIG QUESTIONS / REAL TALK hotline at (781) 649-6753 (7-8-1-OHWORLD) to leave a voicemail we might feature in an upcoming episode!

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Kavita Patel to discuss Resistance Reader, an evolving online document filled with resources for informed activism. When I first shared it with Kavita, the list had about 25 links — a week later, it had doubled. This rapid growth reflects how much we’re learning and adapting in this moment.

Our conversation dives into media literacy — the ability to assess information critically — and why it’s crucial now more than ever. We explore questions like:

• How can we decide if a resource like Resistance Reader is credible?

• What’s the connection between media literacy and being open to new ideas?

• How can we challenge our own biases and resist feel-good headlines that may be misleading?

This week’s actions:

✅ Fact-check headlines that confirm your biases.

✅ Prioritize neutral, reliable news sources.

✅ Engage with others in good faith — and know when to disengage.

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts or suggest future topics by calling our BIG QUESTIONS AND BIG ANSWERS hotline: (781) 649-6753 — that's 7-8-1-OHWORLD!

This episode, let's talk about going to protests alone, and creating a personal activism plan!

Protests and Safety When Going Solo 

Here are ideas for staying safe:  

- Try to connect with someone attending in advance.  

- Park a few blocks away for an easy exit if needed.  

- Observe who else is heading toward the protest.  

- Take note of counterprotesters—how many, how organized?  

- Pay attention to law enforcement’s presence and interactions.  

- If anything feels off, trust your instincts and leave.  

And remember: Not knowing the organizers of a protest doesn’t make it less valid. Supporting grassroots efforts expands community — so if you can go, go.

Building a Personal Activism Plan

Ask yourself: How effective has my activism been? If it’s not yielding results, shift your focus.  

Challenge yourself:  

- If you always work solo, try organizing within a group.  

- If you avoid political conversations with loved ones, start learning new approaches.  

- If you can’t imagine a full boycott, start cutting back—there’s still time to go zero in 2025.

- Diversify your activism: work alone, with friends, with groups, and in mass actions.  

Action Item: Create Your Personal Activism Plan  

- Evaluate what you’ve been doing.  

- Do more or do something different.

- Diversify your engagement. 

Call Us!

What’s working in your activism? What’s frustrating? Leave us a voicemail at (781) 649-6753 (7-8-1-OHWORLD!) and let’s figure this out together. 

Welcome to Season 3 of Oh This World! This season is all about action — asking tough questions, challenging old playbooks, and pushing beyond reaction into purpose-driven activism.  

Today, we’re diving into media diets — how we consume news, manage emotional spirals, and stay informed without burning out. If you’ve been doomscrolling or feel overwhelmed by constant updates, it’s time to curate your news intake.  

Key Takeaways:  

🔹 A good media diet balances awareness, emotional regulation, and action.  

🔹 Cut down on excessive sources — stick to a mix of breaking news, investigative journalism, and analysis.  

🔹 Turn off news notifications and switch to a daily digest for clarity.  

🔹 Unfollow rage-bait and focus on information that fuels action, not just anxiety.  

Action Item:  

Start your media diet today. Make small adjustments — turn off alerts, unsubscribe from outrage cycles, and help friends do the same. Thoughtful, sustainable engagement is how we fight authoritarianism.  

📞 Call Us! 

What’s on your mind? How’s your media diet going? Leave a message at (781) OH-WORLD (781-649-6753).

Let’s take action together!

Resources:

Good Citizens: Creating Enlightened Society by Thich Nhat Hanh

It's been almost 5 years since this podcast debuted. Our lives have changed. Oh, this world continues to change! Obviously.

In Season 3, let's catch up, get current, and figure out crucial next steps to maintaining sanity in this wacky, upside-down world.

In a bonus episode, Antoinette and Lucas talk about their own experiences during last week's Texas freeze, how the state got into this situation, and where we go from here.

To assist those still recovering, you can find a list of volunteer opportunities in Austin here.

To share your own story or thoughts, we're on Twitter @OhThisWorldPod or call us at (702) 907-RAGE. We may share your message in a future episode. 

This episode was recorded on Monday, February 23, 2021.

In our season two finale,  we talk to local activist and therapist Jason Sugg on what his work has been like the last four years, what he expects going into the future, and how we can be good citizens in 2021. We also close out discussion of our most recent OTW Book Club selection, GOOD CITIZENS by Thich Nhat Hanh; Lucas goes on one final TX21 rant; we talk about what we're watching and reading during this trying time; and offer a quick preview of season three. 

We'll catch you in a few weeks. In the meantime, let us know how you're feeling and what you're thinking by calling our RAGE Line: (702) 907-RAGE. 

Thanks for listening and be safe out there, y'all!