ChangeMakers

In September, Alternative for Germany (the AfD) dominated two regional elections. Ahead of the next federal election, it is polling well ahead of its political rivals. When far-right populism takes hold in Germany, as it is in most Western Countries, it needs to be taken seriously.In this conversation, Samuel shares what he has learnt from working in Germany over the past decade while Amanda translates and explores some of what is happening in Australia with the rise of One Nation, particularly drawing on her work in the Hunter region.Like usual, the digest isn't a space for hot-takes and quick fixes but a conversation about exploring what this might mean - both trying to understand how these parties are working, and what it means for how more progressive forces might work in response.====For more on ChangeMakers check us out:Via our Website - https://changemakerspodcast.org (where you can also sign up to our email list!)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangeMakersPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changemakerspodcast/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@changemakerspodcastBlue Sky: https://www.threads.com/@amandatattersall.bsky.socialFor more about Samuel:Personal site: https://www.samuelmchu.comThe Campaign for Hong Kong: https://www.thecampaignforhongkong.orgDemocracy in Flight: https://www.democracyinflight.orgLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelmchuTwitter/X: https://x.com/samuelmchuFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/samuelmchuInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/samuelmchuFor more about Amanda:Personal site: https://amandatattersall.com/On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandatattersall/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.tattersallBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amandatattersall.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@amandatattersallHer new books are called People Power in Cities & Conscious Tribes: thinking differently about making a difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary Gerstle is one of the most important historians of twentieth century America. He developed the concept of a "political order" to define longer stretches of political consensus that retain beliefs, approaches and methods for government behind the whims of elections.In this conversation, recorded with the support of the UCL Policy Lab and in front of a live audience of policy fellows, we talk about the transitions between the Real Deal and neoliberalism and what they might mean for the emerging political order we are now entering - that has certainly begun but is not yet formed.This is an important conversation for putting the hasty hot-takes of social media pundits in perspective - and learning from history.Gary will be visiting Sydney in October, speaking at an event with the UTS Democracy Forum on Wednesday 14th October at the University of Technology Sydney. You can get tickets here:https://events.humanitix.com/uts-democracy-forum-with-gary-gerstlePhoto credit Jørn Tomter.========For more on ChangeMakers check us out:Via our Website - https://changemakerspodcast.org (where you can also sign up to our email list!)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangeMakersPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changemakerspodcast/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@changemakerspodcastBlue Sky: https://www.threads.com/@amandatattersall.bsky.socialFor more on the books and Amanda’s writing, have a look at:Amanda’s website - https://amandatattersall.com/ Conscious Tribes: thinking differently about making a difference - here People Power in Cities - here and via Oxford Uni PressOn Substack - https://substack.com/@amandatattersallAmanda is on Socials here:On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandatattersall/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.tattersallInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandatattersall/BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amandatattersall.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@amandatattersallTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amanda.tattersall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In August, ChangeMakers Podcast host Amanda Tattersall released a new book called Conscious Tribes: Thinking Differently about Making a Difference. It is available in Australia and New Zealand in physical and audio formats.On 12 August it was launched at Gleebooks with an interview by Craig Reucassel (ABC Breakfast, Chaser, War on Waste).This episode is a recording of that conversation.For more about the book and how to order it - https://conscioustribes.net/=====For more on ChangeMakers check us out:Via our Website - https://changemakerspodcast.org (where you can also sign up to our email list!)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangeMakersPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changemakerspodcast/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@changemakerspodcastBlue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/changemakerspod.bsky.socialFor more on the books and Amanda’s writing, have a look at:Her latest book Conscious Tribes: thinking differently about making a difference, and her book with Kurt Iveson -  People Power in Cities - here and via Oxford Uni Press.Amanda’s website is here https://amandatattersall.com/  - on Medium and Substack And - her much earlier book about coalition building - Power in Coalition and via Cornell Uni PressAmanda is on Socials here:On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandatattersall/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.tattersallInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandatattersallBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amandatattersall.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@amandatattersallTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amanda.tattersall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer Robinson has spent her career working at the intersection of law, power and social change.An Australian barrister based in the UK, Jennifer is a leading media and human rights lawyer. She represented Amber Heard in Johnny Depp’s UK defamation case against The Sun, acted for Julian Assange for 14 years, and has become a prominent advocate for women confronting violence, abuse and legal systems that too often silence them. She is the co-author of How Many More Women? and features in the documentary Silenced. In November 2026, she will receive the Sydney Peace Prize in recognition of her work.In this ChangeMaker Chat, Jennifer talks about the experiences that drew her to the law and shaped her approach to movement lawyering: working in the law not simply to win individual cases, but as part of a broader effort to change systems and shift power. She explores what #MeToo revealed about the failures of legal systems, including the ways defamation and other laws can be used by powerful people to silence women and journalists.This is a conversation about what it takes to make a difference when the systems you are trying to change are powerful, entrenched and often stacked against you. Jennifer reflects on the role of law, but also on its limits — and on why lasting change depends on people organising, building movements and working together to shift what is possible.You can find out more about the Sydney Peace Prize and how to get tickets to be part of the ceremony with Jennifer in November:https://sydneypeacefoundation.org.au/sydney-peace-prize-gala-dinner-2/For more information about Silenced and where you can go and see the documentary see:https://www.silenced-film.com/where-to-watchYou can find out about How many more women - now in its full uncensored version:https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Jennifer-Robinson-and-Keio-Yoshida-How-Many-More-Women-9781761471797Several people mentioned in this episode have previously been on ChangeMakers, and you can listen to their episodes here:Chanel ContosGrace TamePhoto credit: Mark Rogers========For more on ChangeMakers check us out:Via our Website - https://changemakerspodcast.org (where you can also sign up to our email list!)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangeMakersPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changemakerspodcast/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@changemakerspodcastBlue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/changemakerspod.bsky.socialFor more on the books and Amanda’s writing, have a look at:Her latest book Conscious Tribes: thinking differently about making a difference, and her book with Kurt Iveson -  People Power in Cities - here and via Oxford Uni Press.Amanda’s website is here https://amandatattersall.com/  - on Medium and Substack And - her much earlier book about coalition building - Power in Coalition and via Cornell Uni PressAmanda is on Socials here:On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandatattersall/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.tattersallBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amandatattersall.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@amandatattersallTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amanda.tattersall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week in Hong Kong, long time democracy advocates - including Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung - were found guilty of inciting subversion. Along with hundreds of others who were part of the 2019 protests against the Extradition Bill, they have been in jail for many years, imprisoned under the Chinese National Security Law.Samuel leads a discussion to try and digest what their sentencing means to him, as someone that has not only been inspired by both of these leaders, but has had a long close relationship with Lee Cheuk-yan since he was a child.In the conversation w explore what their experience might teach us about the qualities that shape why we try to make a difference.We look at a new book - On Courage by Julia Angwin and Ami Fields-Meyer - and debate its claim that to make a difference requires personal acts of courage and bravery.In reflecting on Lee and Chow's experience we countenance a different way to look at the qualities we might need to make a difference. We explore whether courage is perhaps best seen as something gathered with others rather than simply a personal quality. Rather than the idea that we need more courage - perhaps we need stronger and better organisations that can help nurture our sense of power and courage together.The article in the Guardian about Chow Hang-tung is here.====For more on ChangeMakers check us out:Via our Website - https://changemakerspodcast.org (where you can also sign up to our email list!)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangeMakersPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changemakerspodcast/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@changemakerspodcastBlue Sky: https://www.threads.com/@amandatattersall.bsky.socialFor more about Samuel:Personal site: https://www.samuelmchu.comThe Campaign for Hong Kong: https://www.thecampaignforhongkong.orgDemocracy in Flight: https://www.democracyinflight.orgLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelmchuTwitter/X: https://x.com/samuelmchuFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/samuelmchuInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/samuelmchuFor more about Amanda:Personal site: https://amandatattersall.com/ On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandatattersall/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.tattersallBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amandatattersall.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@amandatattersallHer new books are called People Power in Cities & Conscious Tribes: thinking differently about making a difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.