The PlayFull Podcast with Kristine Michie: Bringing Fun to the Serious Work of Changing the World

Hosted by Kristine Michie

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Jun 2026

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Whether you’re ladling soup at a local shelter or attending a UN Peace Conference, those who devote their lives to the service of others are often exhausted and in need of a little break. Welcome to the PlayFull Podcast, bringing fun to the serious work of changing the world. I’m Kristine Michie, myself 5 decades into trying to make the world a better place. Join PlayFull as we meet movement builders from around the world and learn about the problems they’re solving, the systems they’re disrupting, and the ways they take breaks in the midst of it all.

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June 11, 2026Episode 15744 min

Jeremiah Lee and Evan Prodromou: Money, Justice, and the Future of the Social Web

In this episode, Kristine talks to Jeremiah Lee and Evan Prodromou of the Interledger Foundation and Social Web Foundation to explore how to shift power away from gatekeeper platforms and toward creators and communities. Diving deep into the intersection of technology, equity, and global access, they emphasize how every small, intentional choice online can add up to big shifts in autonomy. They delve into how “web monetization” creates a middle path between invasive ads and subscription fatigue, why open social networks protect creator-audience relationships, and why distributing digital economic power globally is a radical step toward financial inclusion for everyone.Key Takeaways:The modern internet is no longer separate from “real life”; it’s the infrastructure for how people connect, express themselves, and earn a living.Open standards for social networking can let people choose the platforms that reflect their values while keeping their audiences and relationships intact.Web monetization proposes a middle path between invasive ads and subscription fatigue, using passive micropayments to support the creators we spend time with.Financial exclusion and high remittance fees show how today’s digital money networks leave billions behind, especially in lower-income countries.Small, values-aligned choices like where you host your content, which financial institutions you use, or how you use AI can cumulatively challenge existing power structures and build a more just web."The power of the internet came from all of the smaller networks coming together to interconnect with each other, and what we have started as local communities who had agency in their own space now suddenly able to take that thing that connects them locally and connect to other people globally." — Jeremiah Lee"What matters to them is connecting to the creator, and if your deal with your platform isn't good enough, you can move to another platform and take your audience with you and that's really the goal here." — Evan ProdromouEpisode References: Web Monetization: webmonetization.org About The Interledger Foundation: Interledger Foundation believes payment networks should be interoperable to remove barriers to participating in the global financial ecosystem.  Since 2020, the Interledger Foundation has awarded $20 million in over 40 countries, supporting organizations researching and building Open Payments solutions using the Interledger Protocol (ILP). The Interledger network connects financial infrastructure to make payments easier, faster, and less expensive. About the Social Web Foundation:The Social Web Foundation works to advance an open, interoperable, and decentralized social web through research, standards development, and community collaboration.Connect with Jeremiah Lee:  Website: https://interledger.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiah-x-lee/ Connect with Evan Prodromou:  Website: https://socialwebfoundation.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanprodromou/ Connect with Kristine:The PlayFull Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-playfull-podcast-with-kristine-michie-bringing-fun/id1676838213?action=write-reviewWebsite: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_incLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. Sign up for Kristine's Elder Academy workshop The Power of Play in Santa Fe, NM, Sept 10-13. https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-play-unlock-your-story-purpose-for-whats-next-sept/

June 4, 2026Episode 15626 min

Dreamers & Doers: Shawn Dove: I, Too, America – Love, Leadership, and Black Male Achievement

In Part 2 of Kristine’s conversation with Shawn Dove, founder of the Corporation for Black Male Achievement and Managing Partner at New Profit, they explore how a simple invitation to play can spark a national movement that reshapes lives, systems, and stories. Diving deep into the intersection of play, imagination, and philanthropy, Shawn emphasizes how trust—both trusting oneself and extending “unrestricted trust capital” — fuels a lifelong mission. They delve into Shawn’s work with the My Brother's Keeper initiative, how focusing on proximity rather than problems can revolutionize grant-making, and why sharing honest stories of struggle and recovery is a radical act of love that reminds us our final chapters have not yet been written.Key Takeaways:Trust is not only essential between people; trusting oneself unlocks the courage to dream boldly, imagine radically, and play without fear.Movements for social change often begin with a simple invitation to come out and play, to walk toward one another across divides, and to join a shared mission.Identity is shaped through play and imagination, and the stories people tell about themselves can either confine them or set them free.Philanthropy that is grounded in humility, proximity, and unrestricted trust capital can shift focus from problems and punishment to asset-based investment in human potential.Sharing honest stories of struggle, recovery, and survival can literally save lives, reminding listeners that their story is still unfolding and that help and hope are available."We live the lives of the stories we tell ourselves." — Shawn Dove"Stay true to your mission, focus on the work." — Shawn Dove"Trust in ourselves gives us permission to dare to dream." — Shawn DoveAbout Shawn Dove: Shawn Dove’s leadership mission mantra is “there is no cavalry coming to save the day. We are the iconic leaders that we have been waiting for; curators of the change we are seeking to see.”The co-author of I Too Am America: On Loving and Leading Black Men & Boys, Dove is the founder of the Corporation for Black Male Achievement, a coaching and publishing firm that facilitates leadership development engagements that amplify stories of loving, learning, and leading by and for Black men and boys.Dove also currently serves as Managing Partner for New Profit, a venture philanthropy firm that invests in breakthrough social entrepreneurs advancing strategies that address systemic injustice across the nation.He served as CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA), which launched in 2008 at the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and spun off into an independent entity in 2015. CBMA invested close to $250 million to support and connect leaders and organizations working on behalf of the field of Black Male Achievement.Connect with Shawn Dove:  Website: https://newprofit.org/ Book: https://dovesoars.com/book/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-dove/ Connect with Kristine:The PlayFull Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-playfull-podcast-with-kristine-michie-bringing-fun/id1676838213?action=write-reviewWebsite: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_incLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. Sign up for Kristine's Elder Academy workshop The Power of Play in Santa Fe, NM, Sept 10-13. https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-play-unlock-your-story-purpose-for-whats-next-sept/

May 28, 2026Episode 15537 min

Dreamers & Doers: Shawn Dove: From Freeze Tag to Freedom

In Part 1 of this 2-part episode, Kristine Michie sits down with Shawn Dove, an emerging elder leader and champion of Black Male Achievement, to discuss what it takes to unfreeze joy, imagination, and leadership. Shawn shares how his journey, from a childhood game of freeze tag to maintaining 37 years of sobriety after overcoming deep personal despair, led to a breakthrough realization: joy and imagination are not luxuries, but essential tools of resistance that can unfreeze those trapped by depression, racism, and isolation. They delve into how leaders can use games and play as activators for social justice, the importance of marginalized communities becoming masters of their own media to shift cultural narratives, and why embracing elderhood offers a vital framework for intentional, intergenerational "refirement".Key Takeaways:Resilience is not about how far someone falls, but about cultivating the inner and communal resources to bounce back higher than before.Joy and imagination are not luxuries; they are essential tools for resisting oppression and reclaiming a sense of possibility about the future.Acts as simple as mentorship, connection, and resource-sharing can “unfreeze” people trapped in cycles of isolation, poverty, and racism.Telling one’s own story and enabling young people to do the same is a powerful way to build agency, shift narratives, and seed future leadership.Elderhood can be a season of “refirement,” where wisdom, experience, and intergenerational relationships fuel new forms of contribution and impact."One of my mantras is not how far you fall, it's how high you bounce, and I have a lot of bounce to the ounce, and I share with leaders that there is someone that is watching you that you don't even know that is rising up in their leadership calling only because they're watching you rise. Up in yours." — Shawn Dove"I think imagination and play are opposite sides of the same forever flipping a coin. I don't think you can have one without the other." — Shawn Dove"I believe that we need to start creating this framework, less of retirement and more of refirement." — Shawn DoveAbout Shawn Dove: Shawn Dove’s leadership mission mantra is “there is no cavalry coming to save the day. We are the iconic leaders that we have been waiting for; curators of the change we are seeking to see.”The co-author of I Too Am America: On Loving and Leading Black Men & Boys, Dove is the founder of the Corporation for Black Male Achievement, a coaching and publishing firm that facilitates leadership development engagements that amplify stories of loving, learning, and leading by and for Black men and boys.Dove also currently serves as Managing Partner for New Profit, a venture philanthropy firm that invests in breakthrough social entrepreneurs advancing strategies that address systemic injustice across the nation.He served as CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA), which launched in 2008 at the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and spun off into an independent entity in 2015. CBMA invested close to $250 million to support and connect leaders and organizations working on behalf of the field of Black Male Achievement.Connect with Shawn Dove:  Website: https://newprofit.org/ Book: https://dovesoars.com/book/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-dove/ Connect with Kristine:The PlayFull Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-playfull-podcast-with-kristine-michie-bringing-fun/id1676838213?action=write-reviewWebsite: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_incLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. Sign up for Kristine's Elder Academy workshop The Power of Play in Santa Fe, NM, Sept 10-13. https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-play-unlock-your-story-purpose-for-whats-next-sept/

May 21, 2026Episode 15444 min

Dreamers & Doers: Dani Klein Modisett: The ROI of Laughter

What if laughter wasn’t just entertainment, but a practical tool for building trust, easing burnout, and sustaining change-makers through the heaviest work? In this episode, you’ll hear how comedy, courage, and everyday joy can transform Alzheimer’s care, corporate culture, and social impact leadership.In this episode, Kristine Michie sits down with Dani Klein Modisett, Founder and CEO of Laughter On Call, to discuss the profound ROI of Laughter. Dani shares how her journey, from stand-up comedian to Alzheimer’s caregiver, led to a breakthrough realization: humor is a bridge that can cross even the widest gaps of isolation and cognitive decline. They delve into how leaders can use "intentional laughter" to lower team stress, the importance of authenticity over "being funny," and why joy is a radical act of endurance in the face of hardship.Key Takeaways:Laughter can be intentionally used as a tool to create trust and deepen connection, especially in high-stress environments like caregiving, healthcare, and social impact work.You don’t need to be a professional comedian to use humor effectively; what matters most is authenticity, presence, and a willingness to reveal something true and specific about yourself.In leadership, self-awareness is critical: humor lands best when leaders acknowledge how they’re perceived and use lightness in a way that aligns with their own style and their team’s reality.Joy and humor are not a denial of hardship or injustice; they are often what make it possible for people to endure difficult conditions and continue doing hard, necessary work.In times of crisis, play and laughter can become powerful community builders, bridging isolation, crossing cultures, and helping teams feel human, seen, and connected."It's very hard to feel joy when you don't have health care [for example]. And so that's where I think [joy] becomes a social responsibility. If we believe that joy is part of human condition, how do we as a nation support all our people in having access to that?" — Dani Klein Modisett"After they laughed, she handed my mother a glass of water, and my mother took the water because trust had been created, because that's one of the byproducts of sharing laughter." — Dani Klein ModisettAbout Dani Klein Modisett: Dani Klein Modisett is the Founder/CEO of Laughter On Call. She is also a comedian/actor and author of the book, “Take My Spouse, Please” (Shambhala Press, 2015), a part-memoir, part how-to for creating shared laughter to keep your marriage happy and healthy. Dani taught Stand-Up at UCLA for 10 years and has coached keynote speakers, business leaders, and Congressional candidates to use more humor in their communication. She has been a speaker at CALA, ICAA, Stanford, MIT, Columbia, UCLA, Dartmouth, Fuqua, and Harvard Business School, where Laughter On Call is used as a case study. Her writing has appeared in AARP, the NY Times, the LA Times, and Parents Magazine. Dani is part of the Milken Alliance for Better Aging and has been named to the Forbes 50>50 list.Connect with Dani Klein Modisett:  Website: https://www.laughteroncall.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laughteroncall/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laughteroncall Twitter: https://twitter.com/laughteroncall LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laughter-on-call YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6CpHvRdIgr0X7mh7kaWsMQ/videos TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laughteroncall Connect with Kristine:The PlayFull Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-playfull-podcast-with-kristine-michie-bringing-fun/id1676838213?action=write-reviewWebsite: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_incLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. Sign up for Kristine's Elder Academy workshop The Power of Play in Santa Fe, NM, Sept 10-13. https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-play-unlock-your-story-purpose-for-whats-next-sept/

May 14, 2026Episode 15345 min

Dreamers & Doers: Tracee Worley: How Imagination Today Creates a Better Tomorrow

What happens when we treat imagination as a form of resistance and ask, “What if everything goes right?” In this conversation, we explore matriarchal futures, women as the largest holders of wealth, and how play, artifacts, and design can help us midwife a more just world into being.In this episode, Kristine Michie speaks with Tracee Worley, a futurist and experience designer, about how imagination helps people and communities navigate uncertainty and shape the future. They explore the growing economic influence of women, the impact it could have on leadership and funding, and Tracee’s work creating “artifacts from the future” through projects like “Letters from the Future” and Seneca Falls 2048. The conversation also touches on play, community trust, and why imagination is a practical, collective tool for building what comes next.Key Takeaways:By 2035, women in the United States are projected to be the largest holders of wealth, which could significantly shift what gets funded, supported, and brought to life.Creating “artifacts from the future” is a powerful way to materialize bold, liberatory visions and make distant possibilities feel tangible in the present.Imagination can function as a survival tool and a form of resistance, especially for those historically denied power, allowing them to claim a seat at the table where the future is being made.Charging for visionary and movement-aligned work while using sliding scales and values-based pricing honors both the labor involved and the emotional, spiritual value participants receive.Play lowers the stakes, quiets the fear response, and helps adults access deeper imagination, but it must be grounded in trust, especially in communities carrying active harm and historical trauma."Imagination is also a form of resistance. It is a way for me to claim a seat at the table where the future is getting made, and we all have the ability to do that." — Tracee Worley"No future is already written. It's up to us at any given moment to decide the dream that we want to move towards." — Tracee Worley"Play shuts off the fear response, so that imagination can actually happen when you're playing." — Tracee WorleyAbout Tracee Worley: Tracee Worley is an experiential futurist and designer dedicated to "midwifing" more just and imaginative worlds into being. As the Founder and Creative Director of Radical Futures, she creates immersive, participatory experiences that help individuals and organizations move beyond traditional planning toward a practice of collective dreaming.Drawing on a rich background in design strategy and cultural insight—including work with IDEO and Emerson Collective—Tracee specializes in creating "artifacts from the future." Through projects like Seneca Falls 2048, she uses worldbuilding and play to bypass the brain’s fear response, allowing people to rehearse possible futures and claim their seat at the table where the future is made.Her work is grounded in the belief that imagination is not a luxury but a vital form of resistance and a survival tool for navigating uncertainty. Tracee’s practice sits at the intersection of strategy and social transformation, helping communities turn "what if" into tangible, liberatory action.Connect with Tracee Worley:  Website: https://radicalfutures.studio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traceeworley/ Connect with Kristine:The PlayFull Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-playfull-podcast-with-kristine-michie-bringing-fun/id1676838213?action=write-reviewWebsite: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_incLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. Sign up for Kristine's Elder Academy workshop The Power of Play in Santa Fe, NM, Sept 10-13. https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-play-unlock-your-story-purpose-for-whats-next-sept/

May 7, 2026Episode 15239 min

Candidate Series: Rimga Viskanta: Giving Bureaucrats and Peacemakers a Chance to Govern

What happens when an empathic peacemaker steps into the rough-and-tumble world of modern politics? In this episode, a mayoral candidate shares how deep listening, local action, and respect for “beautiful bureaucrats” can heal division and make democracy work where we live.About Rimga Viskanta: Rimga Viskanta is a public sector leader and elected school board trustee known for her work in local government, sustainability, and community-focused leadership. With a background spanning public administration, environmental policy, accounting, and civic engagement, she has built a career focused on strengthening public institutions and the communities they serve. Rimga currently serves as a trustee on the San Dieguito Union High School District Board, where she has also served multiple terms as Board President, focusing on governance, student well-being, fiscal stewardship, and collaborative problem-solving. Through her work, she is recognized for combining analytical expertise with a people-first approach, bringing practical solutions to complex challenges while advocating for sustainable and inclusive progress.Key Takeaways:Real bridge-building starts by refusing to see every issue as two opposing sides and instead looking for shared values and common goals.Campaigning rewards loud, uncompromising salesmanship, but effective governing often requires quiet listening and evaluating ideas on their merits rather than their source.Local action like city-level environmental policies can both ease personal anxiety about global crises and “trickle up” to influence state and national change.Bureaucrats and public servants, when trusted and given flexibility, are often the ones who know how to turn lofty resolutions into practical, effective steps.To sustain the emotional weight of public life, it is essential to step away, feel your feelings fully, and intentionally refill your energy through grounding practices like time in nature."The people who are the best salesmen and the best packagers of themselves are [often] the ones who are elected; that doesn't mean they have the skills for good governance." — Rimga Viskanta"Democracy is local." — Rimga ViskantaAbout Rimga Viskanta: Rimga Viskanta is a civic leader and public sector professional with experience in local government, education, sustainability, and community development. A longtime Encinitas resident and mother of three, she currently serves on the San Dieguito Union High School District Board of Trustees and previously served on the Encinitas Union School District Board, including as Board President during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her professional background spans both the public and private sectors, including work with the City of Solana Beach on sustainability initiatives, homelessness, and government services, as well as experience in property management and accounting. Rimga holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia.Connect with Rimga Viskanta:  Website: Voteforviskanta.com Connect with Kristine:Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_incLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. Sign up for Kristine's Elder Academy workshop The Power of Play in Santa Fe, NM, Sept 10-13. https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-play-unlock-your-story-purpose-for-whats-next-sept/

April 30, 2026Episode 15146 min

Candidate Series: Hector Mujica: Playing, Connecting, and Leading in a Moment of Change

In this episode, Kristine Michie speaks with Hector Mujica, a first-gen Venezuelan American running for Congress in Florida (FL-28). They explore how community, play, and ethical technology can shape civic life. Hector frames today’s challenges as overlapping inflection points—democratic, social, economic, and technological—and argues that leadership must meet these moments with both vision and practical solutions.Through stories of his upbringing in a faith-centered, service-oriented home and his work at Google.org, Hector demonstrates how joy, connection, and shared human experiences can rebuild trust, bridge divides, and prepare Americans for the next technological era. He discusses the critical role of AI guardrails, workforce preparation, economic safety nets, voter access, and government accountability in ensuring opportunity and equity.At its heart, this conversation invites listeners to reimagine civic engagement as a practice of human connection, collective responsibility, and proactive leadership.Key Takeaways:Civic engagement starts with connection, not agreement; play and shared joy humanize divisions and build trust.Today’s moment is a convergence of inflection points: democratic, social, economic, and technological, accelerated by AI.Leadership must pair vision with practical guardrails to ensure technology serves people, not just power.Workers need early warnings, reskilling pathways, and economic safety nets to face automation disruptions.Voting systems must balance integrity and accessibility; the government should provide free IDs to all eligible citizens.Strong floors and no ceilings: no one should fall through the cracks, and ambition should be unhindered.Ethical AI, economic justice, and accountable governance are intertwined priorities for a healthy society.Human connection, play, and joy are strategic tools for building resilient, inclusive civic life.“Loving your neighbor is not a sign of weakness. It’s truly how you build community and how you build a nation.” — Hector Mujica“Guardrails are not the enemy of innovation… they create the right environment for innovation to succeed.” — Hector Mujica“What we need in this country are strong floors and no ceilings.” — Hector MujicaAbout Hector Mujica: Hector Mujica is a first-generation American, father, and bridge-builder raised in South Florida after his family immigrated from Venezuela. For the past 15 years, Hector worked at Google, where he helped deploy nearly $1 billion in investments to expand job training, support small businesses, and strengthen local economies across the United States and the Americas. His work focused on a simple idea: economic growth only works when opportunity is broadly shared. Hector is running for U.S. House to bring a pragmatic, results-oriented mindset to Florida’s 28th District, restoring common sense and rebuilding trust in politics. Learn more about Hector at hectormujica.com.Connect with Hector Mujica:  Website: https://hectormujica.com/ X: http://x.com/hectormujicafl BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/hectormujicafl.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.com/@hectormujicafl  Instagram: http://instagram.com/hectormujicaflTikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@hectormujicaflFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HectorMujicaforFL Connect with Kristine:Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_incLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. Sign up for Kristine's Elder Academy workshop The Power of Play in Santa Fe, NM, Sept 10-13. https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-play-unlock-your-story-purpose-for-whats-next-sept/

April 23, 2026Episode 15041 min

Candidate Series: Michael Roth on Play, Power, and Rebuilding an Economy That Works

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie speaks with congressional candidate Michael Roth about why he’s running for Congress—and why play, trust, and people-powered leadership matter in politics right now. Drawing from decades of work supporting small businesses and economic opportunity, Michael reflects on what it means to rebuild public systems that actually serve working families, how concentrated power drains joy and voice from civic life, and why storytelling, transparency, and authentic connection are essential for restoring trust in government. Together, they explore how reinvention—not restoration—can open space for hope, agency, and shared responsibility.Key Takeaways:The economy is rigged, but it can be rebuilt. Michael argues that today’s systems favor billionaires and large corporations over working families and Main Street, and that real change requires designing new structures rather than returning to what already failed.Trust grows from listening, not hierarchy. Political leadership rooted in deep listening and transparency creates space for people to feel seen, heard, and involved, even when answers are imperfect.The opposite of play is concentrated power. Rigid, top-down systems silence creativity and joy, while playful, human moments restore agency and participation in civic life.Small businesses are community anchors. From family history to policy impact, Michael sees small businesses as trusted local institutions, and the first to feel when government fails.Stories reveal the stakes of policy. Personal encounters, such as families choosing between healthcare and marriage and businesses struggling post-COVID, shape priorities more honestly than abstractions.Hope is built through presence. Grassroots energy, shared mission, and frequent in-person connections sustain resilience in the face of high political stakes."Government has to deliver for people constantly. When we rebuild, we don’t just rebuild what was there and what was not working for people, but we reinvent something that is far better than what was there before." — Michael Roth“It’s not about being in an enclosed room with a bunch of policy experts drawing things out. It’s about being connected with community.” — Michael Roth"Small businesses are cornerstones of our main streets, of our communities. They are what make home feel like home." — Michael RothAbout Michael Roth: Michael Roth is the former head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, a CEO with nearly 20 years of economic development experience, and is now running as a Get-Stuff-Done Democrat for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District to unseat Tom Kean Jr. and deliver real results for working people in New Jersey.Connect with Michael Roth:  Website: https://www.michaelrothforcongress.com/ Instagram: instagram.com/michaelrothnj Twitter: twitter.com/michaelrothnj Facebook: facebook.com/michaelrothnj Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelrothnj.bsky.social Connect with Kristine:Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_incLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.Sign up for Kristine's Elder Academy workshop The Power of Play in Santa Fe, NM, Sept 10-13. https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-play-unlock-your-story-purpose-for-whats-next-sept/

April 16, 2026Episode 14954 min

Innovators & Disruptors: Aparna Rae: We’re Sick at Work – and Why This Matters

In this episode, Kristine Michie talks with Aparna Rae to unpack systems shaping modern work—and why people feel exhausted and disillusioned. From the language of “joy” being co-opted by institutions to normalized burnout, she challenges the idea that workplace dysfunction is accidental.She reframes work as more than a place for earning and productivity, calling it a training ground where people are conditioned to accept surveillance, hierarchy, and authoritarian dynamics. Through critique and lived experience, she exposes contradictions within philanthropy, leadership, and “progressive” spaces that fail to bring justice.She also offers a path—rooted not in nostalgia, but in the courage to reimagine something better. Through collective action and a new relationship to labor, she invites listeners to see joy not as decoration, but as evidence of justice taking root.Key Takeaways:Treating seriousness as the only form of professionalism strips work of humanity and makes justice work harder to sustain.“Joy” is often used as branding by institutions that fail to deliver material change, especially around wages and benefits.Nostalgia for a “better past” often reflects privilege, overlooking harm experienced by marginalized groups.Workplaces condition people to accept authoritarianism, surveillance, and class hierarchy.Transforming work is essential to protecting democracy, as people cannot practice freedom in society if they are denied it at work.Real change requires collective organizing, boundary-setting, and letting go of the belief that progress comes without personal cost.Burnout is not a badge of honor, but a signal that systems are broken.Joy is not superficial; it is a practice tied to building a more just and livable future."Nothing changes unless we're willing to change our relationship to work. And we have to stop being proud of how tired we are, how burnt out we are." — Aparna Rae"I would say the real practice of joy is being able to reimagine a future and taking actions to actually make that a reality." — Aparna Rae"The invitation is to be honest with yourself. The invitation is to think about what's possible, not just for you, but for everybody else that's on this planet." — Aparna RaeEpisode References: Circle Back Club – https://circleback.club We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite - https://bookshop.org/p/books/we-have-never-been-woke-the-cultural-contradictions-of-a-new-elite-musa-al-gharbi/34b76557eb96d043What Your Comfort Costs Us: How Women of Color Reimagine Leadership to Transform Workplace Culture - https://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Comfort-Costs-Leadership/dp/B0D9JFX13WAbout Aparna Rae: Aparna Rae is a leader and advocate focused on advancing equity and transforming workplace culture. With experience across philanthropy, nonprofits, and tech, her work sits at the intersection of social impact and organizational change.As host of Circle Back Club, she worked with over 60 organizations to shift more than $300 million in grantmaking toward BIPOC-led and Global South organizations. She has also contributed to the tech sector as a product lead and advisor, including developing India’s first online teacher education platform, Firki.Aparna co-founded Future for Us, supporting 20,000 women of color across multiple cities, and has led initiatives that resulted in millions in pay increases for frontline workers. She continues to advise mission-driven organizations and advocate for more equitable systems of work.Connect with Aparna Rae:  Website: https://www.aparnarae.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/appyrae LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnarae/ Connect with Kristine:Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_incLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. Sign up for Kristine's Elder Academy workshop The Power of Play in Santa Fe, NM, Sept 10-13. https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-play-unlock-your-story-purpose-for-whats-next-sept/

April 9, 2026Episode 14849 min

Innovators & Disruptors: Cate Mayer & Jeanine Abrams McLean: The Power of “Being For Something”

In this episode, Kristine Michie sits down with Cate Mayer of Be the Ones and Jeanine Abrams McLean of Fair Count to explore how joy, play, and creativity can transform civic engagement. Together, they challenge the idea that disengagement is a personal failure, reframing it as a response to systems that leave people feeling unseen and disconnected from power.Through stories like the monks' Peace Walk that captured global attention and rural bus tours filled with moments of wonder, they show how shared experiences rebuild trust and inspire participation. Their work expands civic life beyond voting to include belonging, imagination, and relationships that sustain communities over time.At its core, this conversation invites a shift from being against something to being for something: peace, connection, and shared responsibility, reimagining participation as something people can truly belong to.Key Takeaways:Joy and play are essential tools that build trust, lower barriers, and create entry points for participation.Disengagement is often misread as apathy, when it reflects systems that make people feel their voices don’t matter.People are seeking opportunities to stand for something together, shifting civic energy toward shared purpose.Lasting engagement is built through relationships and trust over time, not rushed efforts in crisis.Expanding beyond traditional tactics opens the door for more inclusive and accessible participation.Shared experiences become identity anchors, turning moments into stories that communities carry forward.Experimentation is essential, requiring a willingness to test ideas and adapt.Hope is not passive but sustained through action, storytelling, and visible change.“I don't believe in voter apathy, because apathy puts the blame on the individual, not the systems and structures that make people feel like they can't participate or their vote doesn't matter.” — Cate Mayer“We are living in a moment where everything feels like we're against something, but this was for something… for peace, for community, for each other.” — Cate Mayer“I think it's okay to go into these spaces with some half-baked ideas… because sometimes, even if the cookies come out kind of off, the dough is still delicious.” — Jeanine Abrams McLean“When I hear people say that my vote doesn't matter… I can give examples from other communities… if we listen and work together, we can bring that hope back.” — Jeanine Abrams McLeanEpisode References: Be The Ones: https://www.betheones.orgFair Count: https://faircount.org/The Center for Artistic Activism (C4AA): https://c4aa.org/The Reimagination Lab: https://www.betheones.org/reimaginationlabC4AA Be The Ones, Fair Count Field Test Report: https://c4aa.org/news/field-tests-event-recap/ About Cate Mayer & Jeanine Abrams McLean:Cate Mayer is the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Ones, a South Carolina–based organization focused on removing barriers to civic participation and building a culture of joyful, community-centered engagement. Her work emphasizes creativity, youth leadership, and reimagining civic systems to be more inclusive and relational.Jeanine Abrams McLean, PhD, is the President of Fair Count, an organization that began with a focus on census participation and has expanded into civic engagement, public health, and power-building work across the South. She leads efforts that blend experimentation, storytelling, and community-centered design to reach underserved populations.Connect with Cate Mayer:Website: https://www.betheones.orgConnect with Jeanine Abrams McLean, PhD:Website: https://www.faircount.org/ Connect with Kristine:Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_incLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. Sign up for Kristine's Elder Academy workshop The Power of Play in Santa Fe, NM, Sept 10-13. https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-play-unlock-your-story-purpose-for-whats-next-sept/