Mia Birdsong

Mia Birdsong, a culture change visionary and author, challenges conventional notions of success by emphasizing the importance of community and relationships. She shares her journey in redefining success, discussing the transformative power of mutual support and the intricate bond between friendship and freedom. Mia also explores how individualism can lead to isolation and the necessity of standing together for collective well-being. Her insights on asking for help and fostering genuine connections provide a refreshing perspective on achieving true fulfillment.

Trailblazers Mia Birdsong, Dr. Marisa Franco, and Dr. Joy Bradford discuss redefining family, profound platonic connections, and the restorative magic of women's circles. They share insights on initiating authentic friendships, resolving conflict with empathy, and creating safe spaces for meaningful relationships.

The values of individualism that encourage us to go it alone are in constant tension with the desire for community that many people crave. But when attempting to do things on our own, we may miss out on the joys of coming together.This season’s finale conversation features writer Mia Birdsong, who highlights the cultural and philosophical roots of Americans’ struggle to build community. In a culture pushing us to put our own oxygen mask on first, Mia argues for the quiet radicalness of asking for help and showing up for others.This episode was produced by Rebecca Rashid and is hosted by Julie Beck. Editing by Jocelyn Frank. Fact-check by Ena Alvarado. Engineering by Rob Smerciak. Special thanks to A.C. Valdez. The executive producer of Audio is Claudine Ebeid; the managing editor of Audio is Andrea Valdez.Be part of How to Talk to People. Write to us at howtopodcast@theatlantic.com. To support this podcast, and get unlimited access to all of The Atlantic’s journalism, become a subscriber.Music by Arthur Benson (“Organized Chaos,” “Charmed Encounter”), Alexandra Woodward (“A Little Tip,” “Just Manners”), Bomull (“Latte”), Tellsonic (“The Whistle Funk”), and Yonder Dale (“Simple Gestures”). Also: If you have any comments or suggestions about the show, submit feedback at theatlantic.com/listener-survey. We'd love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Mia Birdsong, author of 'How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community', discusses the importance of building healthy communities and reevaluating societal values. They explore the impact of capitalism on our ability to connect and support one another, the meaning of showing up for someone, setting boundaries without bosses or policing, and cultivating a collective vitality for a liberated future.

Mia Birdsong, a culture-change visionary and author of How We Show Up, shares radical insights on rethinking success and building community. She explores how the American ideal of independence can lead to isolation and emphasizes the importance of interdependence. Mia discusses the transformative power of asking for help, and she highlights the benefits of mutual care over reciprocity. Through practical daily changes, she illustrates how shared childcare strengthened community bonds, urging everyone to embrace grace and vigilance in relationships.