Citizen is a Verb

Back in September 2024, as the US election took an unexpected turn, we gathered at the Conduit Club in London with Baratunde Thurston and Elizabeth Stewart — the powerhouse duo behind How To Citizen. Since launching their project in 2020, they’ve been telling the stories of the “next democracy,” spotlighting people who are already reimagining civic life. In this episode, we explore their radical, hopeful idea: that being a citizen is something we do, not something we are. It’s a call to action and a reminder that democracy is not a product, but a practice.

Chapters

• (00:00:02) - A New Democracy: How to Save Democracy
• (00:07:26) - Democracy and the Story of It
• (00:14:42) - The Politics of Intuition
• (00:21:43) - Invest in Relationships With Yourself
• (00:26:22) - The inner struggle of Tunisian protesters
• (00:29:42) - We Need to Understand Power
• (00:33:29) - 3 pillars of the Commit to the Collective
• (00:37:31) - The Story of Broadband in America
• (00:42:18) - 4 Pillar of the Engagement Plan
• (00:44:22) - The Case for a Democracy
• (00:54:41) - What I Found So Empowering About The Night
• (00:57:13) - How to Save Democracy