Future Hindsight

We discuss how AI can both serve the public interest and advance the goals of our democracy, despite the misgivings about the current state of AI. Bruce's civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Use the tools of AI! 2) Use assistive tech to write to your elected representatives Bruce Schneier is an internationally renowned security technologist, chief of security architecture at Inrupt Inc, a lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School, and the co-author of Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government, and Citizenship. Let's connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/ Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark Follow Mila on X: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Bruce on X: https://x.com/schneierblog Sponsor: Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful. Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight Credits: Host: Mila Atmos Guests: Bruce Schneier Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies to Change the World—a guide for a new generation of activists seeking not just to understand power, but to build it. Stephanie's civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Learn a new skill, like non cooperation or mutual aid 2) Find organizations that align with your values and check if they offer trainings Stephanie Luce is Professor of Labor Studies at the School of Labor and Urban Studies and Professor of Sociology at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. She's also the co-author of Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies to Change the World. Let's connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/ Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark Follow Mila on X: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Stephanie on X: https://x.com/stephanie_luce_ Sponsor: Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful. Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight Credits: Host: Mila Atmos Guests: Stephanie Luce Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us, champions a fair immigration system that offers permanent legal status and citizenship pathways to immigrants. He discusses the challenges of the current system, including legal barriers that leave many undocumented, and the economic benefits immigrants bring to the U.S. Todd shares practical civic actions for local communities and highlights the importance of nurturing talent and strengthening civil rights. His insights shed light on the need for reform and the hopeful steps we can take to support immigrants.

We discuss how the everyday voter can make strategic political campaign donations just like a billionaire. Brian's civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Find an election you've never participated in before and get involved 2) Check out the Supreme Court races in Pennsylvania, governor's races in NJ and VA, and the California redistricting ballot measure Brian Derrick is the co-founder of Oath, a donor advising platform whose mission is to empower donors to participate in our democracy by offering civic education and helping users manage their political giving to maximize impact. Let's connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/ Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark Follow Mila on X: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Brian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianderrick_/ VOTE FOR FUTURE HINDSIGHT! https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting?utm_campaign=signal4_finalists_finalistnotification_092325&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cio#/2025/individual-episodes/genre/news-politics Sponsor: Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful. Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight Credits: Host: Mila Atmos Guests: Brian Derrick Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the unavoidable intersection between our capitalist economy and democratic governance, and how their relationship plays out through campaign finance and other political transactions. Hilary's civic action toolkit recommendations are: Get the data of your state, locality, and elected officials at opensecrets.org Piece together what is happening your state Hilary Braseth is the executive director of OpenSecrets, the nation's premier research and government transparency group tracking money in politics and its effect on elections and policy. VOTE FOR FUTURE HINDSIGHT! https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting?utm_campaign=signal4_finalists_finalistnotification_092325&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cio#/2025/individual-episodes/genre/news-politics Let's connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/ Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark Follow Mila on X: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow OpenSecrets on X: https://x.com/OpenSecretsDC Sponsor: Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful. Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight Credits: Host: Mila Atmos Guests: Hilary Braseth Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss how the struggle for transparency is really a struggle for the soul of American democracy. Miranda's civic action toolkit recommendations are: Look up the agendas of your local school board and city council, and attend the public meetings Learn how your local and state governments make decisions Miranda S. Spivack is a veteran reporter and editor who specialized in government accountability, as well as the author of Backroom Deals in Our Backyard: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities and the Local Heroes Fighting Back. Let's connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/ Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark Follow Mila on X: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Miranda on X: https://x.com/mirandareporter Read Backroom Deals in our Backyards: https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight Sponsor: Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful. Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight Credits: Host: Mila Atmos Guests: Miranda Spivack Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the basics of organizing and the fruits of that work. Michael reminds us that "organizers organize organizations." Michael's civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Gather 4-5 friends to talk about what's happening 2) Share ideas on what you can do to resist Michael Ansara is a seasoned community organizer and the author of The Hard Work of Hope: A Memoir. Let's connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/ Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark Follow Mila on X: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Michael on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelansara.bsky.social Read The Hard Work of Hope: https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight Sponsor: Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful. Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight Credits: Host: Mila Atmos Guests: Michael Ansara Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the enduring power of protesting and the significance of the Ferguson uprising in the long arc of the Black liberation movement. Jonathan's civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Speak with a young person in your life about what they're wrestling with 2) Emphasize community engagement Jonathan Pulphus is an organizer from St. Louis, Missouri, Co-founder of the community organization Tribe X, and the author of With My People: Life, Justice, and Activism Beyond the University. Let's connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/ Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark Follow Mila on X: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Jonathan on X: https://x.com/pulphusj Read With My People: https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight Credits: Host: Mila Atmos Guests: Jonathan Pulphus Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the importance of shifting our mindset to one that is infused with hope. Positive change comes when we choose hope. Though nobody can fix it all, we can all do something and make an impact. Sharon reminds us that if something is worth doing for everyone, it's worth doing for one person. Sharon's civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Choose hope. 2) Get involved in an issue that is important to you because your actions do matter. Sharon McMahon is the creator of "Sharon Says So" and host of the "Here's Where it Gets Interesting" podcast. She's also the author of The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement. Let's connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/ Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark Follow Mila on X: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Sharon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonsaysso/ Read The Small and the Mighty: https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight Sponsor: Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful. Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight Credits: Host: Mila Atmos Guests: Sharon McMahon Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

Hajar Yazdiha, an Associate Professor of Sociology at USC Dornsife, dives into the fascinating intersection of collective memory and American exceptionalism. She dissects how historical narratives shape contemporary movements like Black Lives Matter, emphasizing the need for truthful storytelling. Hajar advocates for a civic action toolkit—Advocate, Relate, Create—to inspire change. She also challenges listeners to confront uncomfortable truths about America’s racial history, revealing both the struggles and hopes of a multiracial democracy.