The stories we’re told & tell about ourselves shape the ways we act and how we citizen. And the story we’ve been living in for decades now is one of consumerism and self-interest. Baratunde talks with reformed ad-man and author of CITIZENS: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of UsJon Alexander about how we can tell a new story rooted in community and interdependence. 



SHOW ACTIONS 

Internally Reflect - Tell a new story 

Think about the three stories – Subject, Consumer, and Citizen. Where do they show up in your life? Maybe you’re a subject with your parents or a consumer in your neighborhood. In what spaces, communities or realms are you already living the Citizen Story? Where else could you show up that way?  

Become Informed - Learn about the Citizen Story

Check out Jon’s book CITIZENS: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us and this BBC article. Also, check out The New Citizenship Project to find out how you or your organization can learn to tell a different story. 

Publicly Participate - Practice asking for help 
Think about Jon’s question: What are you trying to do in the world that’s so big, you actually need other people to do it with you? It can actually be small, but just too big for you alone. It could be fixing the fence around your yard, organizing a fundraiser at your school, or envisioning a future for your company. Ask someone to help you do it! We know asking for help can be hard, so start by asking those in your sphere, “is there something you’re trying to do that I can help you with?”



SHOW NOTES 

Check out our episode with Audrey Tang to hear more about how we can leverage tech & digital tools to strengthen democracy. 

Listen to the podcast episode where Baratunde and Jon first connected: From What If To What Next hosted by Rob Hopkins.

Read this New York Times article to learn more about the America In One Room experiment.

Find How To Citizen on Instagram or visit howtocitizen.com to join our mailing list and find ways to citizen besides listening to this podcast! 

Please show your support for the show by reviewing and rating. It makes a huge difference with the algorithmic overlords and helps others like you find the show!

How To Citizen is hosted by Baratunde Thurston. He’s also host and executive producer of the PBS series, America Outdoors as well as a founding partner and writer at Puck. You can find him all over the internet. 



CREDITS

How To Citizen with Baratunde is a production of iHeartRadio Podcasts and Rowhome Productions. Our Executive Producers are Baratunde Thurston and Elizabeth Stewart. Allie Graham is our Lead Producer and Danya AbdelHameid is our Associate Producer. Alex Lewis is our Managing Producer. John Myers is our Executive Editor. Original Music by Andrew Eapen and Blue Dot Sessions. Our Audience Engagement Fellows are Jasmine Lewis and Gabby Rodriguez. Special thanks to Joelle Smith from iHeartRadio and Layla Bina.

Additional thanks to our live audience voices Janine D., Martha T., Ray K., and Jonathan F. 

The stories we’re told &amp; tell about ourselves shape the ways we act and how we citizen. And the story we’ve been living in for decades now is one of consumerism and self-interest. Baratunde talks with reformed ad-man and author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/citizens-why-the-key-to-fixing-everything-is-all-of-us-jon-alexander/17476117?aid=14797&amp;ean=9781912454846&amp;listref=season-4-culture-of-democracy">CITIZENS: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us</a> <a href="https://www.jonalexander.net/">Jon Alexander</a> about how we can tell a new story rooted in community and interdependence. 
 
SHOW ACTIONS 
Internally Reflect - Tell a new story 
Think about the three stories – Subject, Consumer, and Citizen. Where do they show up in your life? Maybe you’re a subject with your parents or a consumer in your neighborhood. In what spaces, communities or realms are you already living the Citizen Story? Where else could you show up that way?  
Become Informed - Learn about the Citizen Story
Check out Jon’s book <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/citizens-why-the-key-to-fixing-everything-is-all-of-us-jon-alexander/17476117?aid=14797&amp;ean=9781912454846&amp;listref=season-4-culture-of-democracy">CITIZENS: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us</a> and this <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220803-citizen-future-why-we-need-a-new-story-of-self-and-society">BBC article</a>. Also, check out <a href="https://www.newcitizenship.org.uk">The New Citizenship Project</a> to find out how you or your organization can learn to tell a different story. 
Publicly Participate - Practice asking for help Think about Jon’s question: What are you trying to do in the world that’s so big, you actually need other people to do it with you? It can actually be small, but just too big for you alone. It could be fixing the fence around your yard, organizing a fundraiser at your school, or envisioning a future for your company. Ask someone to help you do it! We know asking for help can be hard, so start by asking those in your sphere, “is there something you’re trying to do that I can help you with?”
 
SHOW NOTES 
Check out our <a href="https://www.howtocitizen.com/episodes/fast-fair-fun-with-digital-minister-audrey-tang">episode</a> with Audrey Tang to hear more about how we can leverage tech &amp; digital tools to strengthen democracy. 
Listen to the podcast episode where Baratunde and Jon first connected: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/04na2GZ5qpHdZeHBudeVee">From What If To What Next hosted by Rob Hopkins.</a>
Read <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/02/upshot/these-526-voters-represent-america.html">this New York Times article</a> to learn more about the America In One Room experiment.
Find How To Citizen on <a href="https://baratun.de/howtocitizen-ig-shownotes">Instagram</a> or visit <a href="https://baratun.de/howtocitizen-dotcom-shownotes">howtocitizen.com</a> to join our mailing list and find ways to citizen besides listening to this podcast! 
Please show your support for the show by reviewing and rating. It makes a huge difference with the algorithmic overlords and helps others like you find the show!
How To Citizen is hosted by Baratunde Thurston. He’s also host and executive producer of the PBS series, <a href="https://baratun.de/americaoutdoors-shownotes">America Outdoors</a> as well as a founding partner and writer at <a href="https://baratun.de/puck-shownotes">Puck</a>. You can find him all over <a href="https://baratun.de/linktree-shownotes">the internet</a>. 
 
CREDITS
How To Citizen with Baratunde is a production of iHeartRadio Podcasts and Rowhome Productions. Our Executive Producers are Baratunde Thurston and Elizabeth Stewart. Allie Graham is our Lead Producer and Danya AbdelHameid is our Associate Producer. Alex Lewis is our Managing Producer. John Myers is our Executive Editor. Original Music by Andrew Eapen and Blue Dot Sessions. Our Audience Engagement Fellows are Jasmine Lewis and Gabby Rodriguez. Special thanks to Joelle Smith from iHeartRadio and Layla Bina.
Additional thanks to our live audience voices Janine D., Martha T., Ray K., and Jonathan F.

How To Citizen with Baratunde reimagines the word “citizen” as a verb and reminds us how to wield our collective power. So many of us want to do more in response to the problems we hear about constantly, but where and how to participate can leave us feeling overwhelmed and helpless. Voting, while critically important, simply isn’t enough. It takes more to make this experiment in self-governance work! Listen in to learn new perspectives and practices from people working to improve society for the many. Join writer, activist, and comedian Baratunde Thurston on a journey beyond politics as usual that will leave us all more hopeful, connected, and moved to act.

How To Citizen with Baratunde

Crafting a Citizen Story (Jon Alexander)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/35465226-be9d-45bc-8d10-af950140ef5a/transcript

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