The Battles We Pick Podcast Artwork Image

The Battles We Pick

David Shorr

What can we learn about making social and political change from talking to people who do that work for a living? Making change takes a combination of persistence, shrewdness, and luck. On the Battles We Pick podcast, we hear skilled advocates and organizers talk about how these elements played into their efforts. 

Theme music by generous permission of recording artist Stephen.

"Community foundations have committed themselves to such broad missions, taking interest in government policy is necessary." — Stephen SaloomApril 12, 2024
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"When key words mean the same thing to all of us, we’re more likely to have the desired impact." — Sarah StachowiakMarch 16, 2024
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The social worker's skill: "Creativity to innovatively pull resources together." — Sadie Bender ShorrNovember 27, 2023
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"A core part of the story of marriage equality is how people change their opinions." — Sasha IssenbergNovember 12, 2023
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"Confidence in elections means participation and every vote counting" — Yael BrombergOctober 27, 2023
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"This is what it takes for policy change to be authentic to the impacted community" — Kathleen SullivanOctober 20, 2023
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"The most useful part of military thinking is the difference between a battle and the war." — Richard HealeySeptember 20, 2023
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"The nature of power is what's interesting to me." — Clarence EdwardsAugust 30, 2023
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"You want to mobilize something that outlasts. That's the ideal." — Eileen HershenovJuly 28, 2023
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Communities in Crisis: "Twenty years left, and we'd be shutting the whole thing down" — Terry WoodburyJuly 18, 2023
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"The long-term aim can help unite and bring people around the table." — Sandra Ionno ButcherJune 19, 2023
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"Flexibility and opportunism in advocacy is a value." — Gawain KripkeJune 09, 2023
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"You have to speak in the language that the audience hears." — Adotei AkweiJune 04, 2023
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"My job is to build and maintain relationships." — Bob WalshMay 24, 2023
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Racism in the Development Field: "Ten years ago, I would never have been able to be so vocal." — Angela Bruce-RaeburnMay 18, 2023
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"Chutzpah and humility are the twin virtues of the work of making change." — Elisa MassiminoMay 14, 2023
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