We the People Rise

What if your anger isn’t the real issue — but a mask for fear you haven’t named yet? In this powerful conversation, conflict management expert Shai Tamari shares how walking away from global political conflict led him to a deeper realization: the real battleground is internal. You’ll learn practical tools to manage both interpersonal and inner conflict, build courage through vulnerability, and move from reaction to intentional leadership. If you’re ready to stop being triggered and start being sovereign, this episode will change how you see yourself — and everyone else.

Meet Andrew Otazo — the man who turned a simple walk in the mangroves into an eight-year mission to remove nearly 40,000 pounds of trash from South Florida’s delicate coastal ecosystems. In this episode of We the People Rise, we dive into his story of persistence, purpose, and real-world change. Learn why you don’t need a PhD or a superhero cape to make a difference, how small actions ripple into big impact, and why leadership starts with showing up. Follow Andrew on Instagram: @andrewotazo

What happens when a single moment stops you in your tracks—and forces you to question the world you’re quietly accepting?

In this episode of We The People Rise, Kristin Hiemstra sits down with author and cultural disruptor Jodi Bondy Norgaard, whose life changed in a toy store aisle when she realized what we were teaching girls about beauty, worth, and identity—without ever saying a word.

What began as a mother’s discomfort became More Than a Doll, a movement challenging the hidden messages baked into our culture and empowering parents, leaders, and communities to push back.

Together, Kristin and Jodi explore how gender stereotypes are normalized early, why “harmless” products aren’t actually harmless, and how ordinary people can create extraordinary cultural change—starting right where they are.

This is a conversation about courage, consciousness, and the power of noticing what others overlook.

Because culture doesn’t change itself.
It changes when someone decides they won’t look away.

This is how We The People Rise.

What if the power you’re looking for isn’t hidden in Washington—but already in your hands?

In this episode of We The People Rise, Kristin Hiemstra sits down with North Carolina State Senator Graig Meyer for an unfiltered conversation about what real power looks like in a democracy—and how everyday citizens can actually use it.

From elections to advocacy, from community care to system change, Graig breaks down where power really lives, why so many people feel powerless right now, and the concrete ways you can plug in—even when it’s not election season. This isn’t theory. It’s a practical roadmap for becoming an informed, engaged, and effective citizen at the local, state, and national level.

Together, they explore:

How citizens influence government between elections

Why service and care are political acts

How accountability actually works in a democracy

When to work inside systems—and when to push from the outside

What it takes to turn concern into meaningful action

This episode is for anyone who feels frustrated, disconnected, or overwhelmed by the political landscape—but still believes in the promise of civic power.

Because democracy doesn’t run on apathy.
It runs on people who choose to show up.

This is how We The People Rise.