The Response

On November 20, 2025, we hosted activist, organizer, and writer Dean Spade to lead a Mutual Aid 101 session about navigating conflict. So many of our mutual aid groups and solidarity economy projects are dealing with burnout, conflict, and the pressure of doing real care work with limited capacity. We currently find ourselves in a particularly " horrible f#ck*ng moment in the history of humans," to quote Dean Spade. And it's leading many of us to feel judgmental, aggravated, and resentful, which, in turn, can strain our relationships to the brink. But Dean was also quick to remind us that internal conflict has always been part of movement work, and will always be. So we'd best lean into it. This workshop focused on practical tools for staying grounded, building trust, and keeping our groups strong. The video version, slide deck, human-edited transcript, and all resources shared during the session are available here: https://www.shareable.net/podcasts/navigating-conflict-when-building-power-with-dean-spade/ Whether you've attended our Mutual Aid 101 sessions, used our Mutual Aid 101 Toolkit, or enjoy listening to The Response, resources like these are only possible because folks like you donate to Shareable. Please take a minute while you're listening to click the link in the show notes to donate $5, $10, or $50. Every bit helps! https://www.shareable.net/donate/ Episode credits: Hosted and executive produced by Tom Llewellyn Produced and edited by Paige Kelly Theme Music by Cultivate Beats

When floods, fires, freezes, or other extreme weather rip through our communities, the fallout goes far beyond damaged homes and downed power lines. As we've established on The Response Podcast, the climate crisis touches everyone—especially women and gender-diverse people—yet sexual and reproductive health rarely makes the checklist. Stores, pharmacies, and clinics close or run out of supplies. Roads and other forms of transit shut down. And with worsening disasters comes a longer length of time to be self-reliant. Gone is the advice to have three days of food and water. Now the reality for many communities is to expect little to no support for up to two weeks! Without a plan, it's harder to manage menstrual periods, get sexually transmitted infection testing, or refill birth control. Survivors may face increased violence and reduced privacy, which compounds the risk. These gaps aren't inevitable, and as you'll learn, there are things you can do now to be better prepared while supporting others in your community at the same time. For this episode of The Response, we brought on Kelley Dennings and Kyliah Hughes from The Center for Biological Diversity (Kelley is also a member of Shareable's Board of Directors). They recently collaborated on a new how-to guide for creating and distributing Sexual Health Emergency Preparedness Kits. [PODCAST] About the speakers: Kelley Dennings (she/her) works in the Population and Sustainability program at The Center for Biological Diversity, developing and executing advocacy and outreach initiatives addressing the connections between reproductive health, gender equity, endless growth, inequitable consumption, and the climate and extinction crises. She's also a Shareable board member. Kyliah Hughes (she/her) is a sexual health emergency preparedness campaign intern at The Center for Biological Diversity and is currently working towards a Master's in Public Health at Howard University. Resources Sexual Health Emergency Preparedness Kits Webinar: Reproductive Health Preparedness in Climate Emergencies on 11/17 2:00 PM ET Next Mutual Aid 101 event, "Navigating Conflict" with Dean Spade on 11/20 at 3:00 PM ET Shareable's Mutual Aid 101 Toolkit Support The Response with a monthly or 1-time donation Episode credits: Hosted and executive produced by Tom Llewellyn Produced and edited by Paige Kelly Theme Music by Cultivate Beats

On October 21, 2025 Shareable and the Tool Library Alliance hosted a crossover event of the Mutual Aid 101 Learning Series and Library of Things Co-Lab for "Tool Libraries, Mutual Aid & Community-Led Disaster Response." A panel of practitioners from tool libraries and mutual aid groups discussed the intersection of resource sharing and mutual aid. This session featured a particular focus on the role tool libraries can play during disasters, like last year's collaboration between the Asheville Tool Library, WNC Repair Cafe, and Mutual Aid Disaster Relief during the response to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. Today's episode is an edited recording of the inspiring event. About the speakers: Rachel Kinbar (they/zey/all) is actively engaged in building a new commons while exploring what it means to be human, heal lineage, and honor ancestors. Zey are working for collective liberation as a local community and mutual aid organizer with Central Florida Mutual Aid, Alternative Economy Fellow with the Center for Biological Diversity and Shareable, director of operations for Beautiful Trouble (and until recently as director of operations for the Jews of Color Mishpacha Project). They are also a writer, gardener, artist, half of noise/poetry duo Unfade, and co-editor of Bonk! magazine. Shelby Treichler is a volunteer with Asheville Tool Library and the Western North Carolina Repair Café. Ben Wyatt has been a volunteer and organizer with Mutual Aid Disaster Relief since 2017. He was part of the initial crew that set up the MADR Smith Mill Works hub (sharing space with the Asheville Tool Library) immediately after Helene that has been operating ever since to receive and deliver household necessities, building materials, first aid and cleanup supplies to direct distribution sites throughout the region. Ben works full time as the Project Manager for the Asheville Coalition for Home Repair (ARCHR) as an employee of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Resources Video recording of "Mutual Aid 101: Tool Libraries, Mutual Aid & Community-Led Disaster Response" Next Mutual Aid 101 event, "Navigating Conflict" with Dean Spade on 11/20 at 3:00 PM ET Tool Library Alliance Winter Weatherization Session on Wednesday, December 10 at 1:00 PM ET Central Florida Mutual Aid Central Florida Mutual Aid link tree Central Florida Mutual Aid Tool Library link tree Asheville Tool Library WNC Repair Cafe Meshtastic.org Mutual Aid Disaster Relief Mutual Aid Disaster Relief Smith Millworks Distrobution Hub "Hub Guide" Shareable's Library of Things Toolkit Shareable's Mutual Aid 101 Toolkit The Response podcast: Fighting misinformation in the aftermath of the Mexico City earthquake Link document shared with participants Episode credits: Hosted and executive produced by Tom Llewellyn Produced and edited by Paige Kelly Theme Music by Cultivate Beats

In this episode of The Response, we hear from Jordan Seaberry, co-director of the US Dept of Arts and Culture (USDAC). In addition to being a working artist and a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, he has built a career as a grassroots organizer and legislative advocate, helping to pass multiple criminal justice reform milestones, including probation reform, the Unshackling Pregnant Prisoners Bill, and the statewide Community-Police Relationship Act. And that's just a small example of his organizing and mutual aid experience. We discuss the genesis of the US Department of Arts and Culture, the role of artists during fascism, and how to bring movement organizers and artists together to drive culture shifts. About Jordan Seaberry Jordan Seaberry is a painter, organizer, legislative advocate and educator. He is also the co-director of the US Department of Arts and Culture. Learn more about Jordan and view his work here. Resources: US Department of Arts and Culture Vital Conversations series: "The Role of the Artist During Fascism" (Comic) Artists and Cultural Workers Against Authoritarianism Workshop recording and resources Tool Libraries, Mutual Aid & Community-led Disaster Response (Tue, Oct 21st 2025 at 4:00 PM EDT) Mutual Aid 101: Navigating Conflict w/ Dean Spade (Thu, Nov 20th 2025 at 3:00 PM EDT) Mutual Aid 101 Toolkit from Shareable Episode credits: Hosted and executive produced by Tom Llewellyn Produced and edited by Paige Kelly Theme Music by Cultivate Beats Follow The Response on Twitter and Instagram for updates, memes, and more. Our entire catalog of documentaries and interviews can be found at theresponsepodcast.org — or wherever you get your podcasts. The Response is an award-winning podcast series produced by Shareable exploring how communities respond to disaster — from hurricanes to wildfires to reactionary politics and more. Want to help spread the word? Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify — it makes a huge difference in reaching new people who may otherwise not hear about this show.

The Response is back after a two-month hiatus. For today's show, we resumed our interview format and welcomed two of the seven co-founders of Survival Bloc, Daisy Carter and Aracely Jimenez-Hudis. Survival Bloc is a BIPOC-led network of leaders, movement organizations, and grassroots groups building power and community alternatives to survive the climate crisis. Survival Bloc recently released a new free guidebook, How to Build a Survival Program, filled with "insights, tools and practices for communities to build their own survival programs and other strategies for climate resilience." Daisy Carter (she/they) is a queer multi-disciplinary artist, yogi and climate justice organizer working at the intersections of grassroots leadership development, disaster resiliency, and mutual aid infrastructure. They work to implement strategies for self-determination, cultural revival, and alternative care that aim to protect frontline, ВІРОС (black, brown, and people of color) communities who are most vulnerable to climate disaster and political violence. As a movement consultant, they have trained over 500+ leaders in power-building strategies across the country, and worked for organizations such as CODEPINK, The Poor People's Campaign, The Climate Mobilization Project, and more. Born in New Orleans, LA, they are currently based in Louisville, KY. Daisy is a co-founder of Survival Bloc and works as Network Organizer. Aracely Jimenez-Hudis (she/they) is a queer community organizer and facilitator born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Over the years, they have led strategic communications + grassroots mobilizations for major movement organizations and campaigns, including The Sunrise Movement and Los Angeles Tenants Union. As a certified yogi with a background in sociology, they are mostly interested in how to build up marginalized communities capacities for intergenerational healing, processing systemic and disaster related traumas, and cultivating resilience within the body. Aracely is also a co-founder of Survival Bloc, and holds down Communications Support. Resources: Survival Bloc Survival Bloc Network Member Application - for folks interested in joining the network, cross-movement collaborations, or building their own survival program Free Zine: How To Build a Survival Program Mutual Aid 101 Toolkit from Shareable Support The Response: https://www.shareable.net/donate/ Episode credits: Hosted and executive produced by Tom Llewellyn Produced and edited by Paige Kelly Theme Music by Cultivate Beats Follow The Response on Twitter and Instagram for updates, memes, and more. Our entire catalog of documentaries and interviews can be found at theresponsepodcast.org — or wherever you get your podcasts. The Response is an award-winning podcast series produced by Shareable exploring how communities respond to disaster — from hurricanes to wildfires to reactionary politics and more. Want to help spread the word? Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify — it makes a huge difference in reaching new people who may otherwise not hear about this show.

We're back with the fifth installment in our Mutual Aid 101 mini-series. This episode is going to be a little different from what we've shared before. Rather than extended presentations, you'll hear six 5-10 minute "Rad Talks" covering examples of mutual aid in action. We welcomed Sanae Lahgazi Alaoui from Metro Atlanta Mutual Aid Fund; Alexa Baiano and Rain from Mutual Aid Disaster Relief; Valinda Chan from Mutual Aid Eastie; Laurie Bertram Roberts from Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund; and writer, organizer, and agitator Vicky Osterweil. These short talks explore the trans and queer underground, reproductive justice, immigration support, and community-led disaster response. At the live event, they were followed by breakout sessions on each topic, which were not recorded. So if you feel like the speakers were a bit reserved, it's because what they are up to may or may not be suitable for the public record… Resources: Mutual Aid Session 4 video recording Mutual Aid Session 4 transcript Mutual Aid Session 4 public slides Mutual Aid Session 4 link document Mutual Aid 101 Learning Series Mutual Aid 101 Community Canvas Donate to The Response Episode credits: Hosted and executive produced by Tom Llewellyn Produced and edited by Paige Kelly Theme Music by Cultivate Beats Follow The Response on Twitter and Instagram for updates, memes, and more. Our entire catalog of documentaries and interviews can be found at theresponsepodcast.org — or wherever you get your podcasts. The Response is an award-winning podcast series produced by Shareable exploring how communities respond to disaster — from hurricanes to wildfires to reactionary politics and more. Want to help spread the word? Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify — it makes a huge difference in reaching new people who may otherwise not hear about this show.

Today, we're sharing excerpts from Shareable's Mutual Aid 101 Learning Series' third session. Elijah Baucom of Everyday Security & UC Berkeley Cybersecurity Clinic discusses security for mutual aid groups before Sarah Philips of Fight for the Future shares the current state of mutual aid financial surveillance and privacy tech. The third speaker from Session 3, Erika Sato from Sustainable Economies Law Center, opened with a 30 minute overview of legal basics and the benefits and limitations of formal structures for mutual aid groups. We've left it out of this episode, but you can watch/listen to the video on Youtube. Resources: Mutual Aid Session 3 video recording Mutual Aid Session 3 transcript Mutual Aid Session 3 public slides Mutual Aid Session 3 link document Mutual Aid 101 Learning Series Mutual Aid 101 Community Canvas Donate to The Response Episode credits: Hosted and executive produced by Tom Llewellyn Produced and edited by Paige Kelly Theme Music by Cultivate Beats Follow The Response on Twitter and Instagram for updates, memes, and more. Our entire catalog of documentaries and interviews can be found at theresponsepodcast.org — or wherever you get your podcasts. The Response is an award-winning podcast series produced by Shareable exploring how communities respond to disaster — from hurricanes to wildfires to reactionary politics and more. Want to help spread the word? Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify — it makes a huge difference in reaching new people who may otherwise not hear about this show.

Julian Rose, an organizer with the New Economy Coalition and EndState ATL, dives into the complexities of collective governance and power dynamics. They discuss the importance of intentional power work in democratic decision-making. Julian contrasts different decision methods like consensus and majority voting while emphasizing the need for clarity around personal relationships to power. They also challenge groups to examine resource allocation practices and the potential harm of traditional nonprofit dynamics, advocating for genuine participation and thoughtful governance structures.

We're back with the second installment in our Mutual Aid 101 Learning Series. Today, we're sharing the audio from the half of Session 2, and will be joined by Stephanie Rearick, to discuss how to start and build momentum for a new, or (re)newed mutual aid group. She's a longtime organizer and advocate for cooperative economies, and the founder of the international Humans United for Mutual Aid Networks. We had Stephanie as a guest on the show a couple of years ago and knew she would have an important voice to feature in this series as well. Stephanie starts with a 25-minute presentation before addressing questions submitted by the live audience. Next week on The Response, we'll feature Julian Rose from the New Economy Coalition and EndState ATL, who focussed on power dynamics and how to work with others during Session 2. Our next live event is tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5th, where we'll focus on the benefits and limitations of formal structures, financial basics, and fintech for mutual aid, as well as how to understand risk and safety protocols for mutual aid projects. Presenters include: Erika Sato, Attorney of Sustainable Economies Law Center; Elijah Baucom, Founder of Everyday Security & Director of UC-Berkeley Cybersecurity Clinic; and Sarah Philips, a Campaigner at Fight for the Future. Resources: Mutual Aid 101 Learning Series Mutual Aid 101 Community Canvas Mutual Aid 101 Session 2 w/ Stephanie Rearick and Julian Rose (Video) Mutual Aid 101 Session 2 w/ Stephanie Rearick and Julian Rose (Transcript) Mutual Aid 101 Session 2 w/ Stephanie Rearick and Julian Rose (Slides) Mutual Aid 101 Session 2 w/ Stephanie Rearick and Julian Rose (Links from Stephanie, Julian + chat) Donate to The Response Episode credits: Hosted and executive produced by Tom Llewellyn Produced and edited by Paige Kelly Follow The Response on Twitter and Instagram for updates, memes, and more. Our entire catalog of documentaries and interviews can be found at theresponsepodcast.org — or wherever you get your podcasts. The Response is an award-winning podcast series produced by Shareable exploring how communities respond to disaster — from hurricanes to wildfires to reactionary politics and more. Want to help spread the word? Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify — it makes a huge difference in reaching new people who may otherwise not hear about this show.

Dean Spade, an organizer and author renowned for his work on mutual aid and trans liberation, shares powerful insights on collective action. He distinguishes mutual aid from charity, emphasizing its focus on systemic change rather than individual blame. Spade highlights historical instances like the Montgomery bus boycott and critiques government disaster response as inadequate. He stresses the importance of building relationships, embracing imperfection, and fostering joy in organizing, ultimately framing mutual aid as essential for survival and resilience in challenging times.