Bad Faith Episode 512 - Make it Make Sense (w/ Amanda Seales)
11 snips
Sep 25, 2025 
Comedian and cultural commentator Amanda Seales shares her journey from Hollywood to political activism. She discusses her radicalization following the events of October 7th, leading her to advocate for Palestine. Amanda reveals the personal costs of speaking out, including being canceled by her industry. She recounts a tense dinner with political figures, including her direct confrontation with Kamala Harris about accountability. The conversation also touches on her shift towards community organizing and using art and comedy as tools for political education.
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Choosing Knowledge Beyond Academia
- Amanda Seales considered pursuing a PhD and attended a colloquium where she felt she'd have to "get small" to fit in.
- She realized institutional knowledge wasn't the only route and felt the knowledge she wanted was outside the academy.
Spirituality Strengthens Movements
- Amanda argues movements fail because they lack spiritual and metaphysical grounding beyond organized religion.
- She believes reconnection to land, ritual, and alternative knowledge can strengthen resistance movements.
The Katy Perry Dinner Turning Point
- Amanda recounts being invited to a Katy Perry dinner as a deliberate gadfly and clashing with Caitlyn Jenner and others over Trump.
- A clip of her confronting Jenner went viral and dramatically increased her social media following.
