Let's Give A Damn

On May 5, Let's Give A Damn co-sponsored an event in NYC called Palestine: The Moral Issue Of Our Time with Gabor Maté and Chris Hedges. It was a sold-out event with 800 attending in persons and hundreds more attended online via our livestream.Most importantly we raised tens of thousands of dollars for Middle East Children's Alliance! MECA works to protect the rights and improve the lives of children in the Middle East through aid, empowerment and education. In the Middle East, MECA provides humanitarian aid, partners with community organizations to run projects for children, and supports income-generation projects. In the US and internationally, MECA raises awareness about the lives of children in the region and encourages meaningful action.This is a unique podcast episode where I'm not interviewing anyone. It's just Gabor and Chris. Oh, and the wonderful Aaron Maté introducing these legends. Listen! Be inspired! Take action! Give A Damn!✅ Donate to MECA! They're incredible.✅ Follow Gabor

It’s Maggie Smith Day on the podcast! Maggie Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful; My Thoughts Have Wings, a picture book illustrated by SCBWI Portfolio grand prize winner Leanne Hatch; the national bestsellers Goldenrod and Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change; as well as Good Bones, named one of the Best Five Poetry Books of 2017 by the Washington Post and winner of the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal in Poetry; The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison, winner of the 2012 Dorset Prize and the 2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal in Poetry; and Lamp of the Body, winner of the 2003 Benjamin Saltman Award.In 2016 Maggie Smith’s poem “Good Bones” went viral internationally, receiving coverage in the Washington Post, theGuardian, the Telegraph, Slate, Huffington Post Italia, and elsewhere. To date it has been translated into nearly a dozen languages; interpreted by a dance troupe in Chennai, India; and set to music by multiple

It’s Ed Begley Jr. Day on the podcast!  Ed Begley, Jr. recently starred in Hallmark film, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, and was a fan favorite on the very popular series Young Sheldon and Better Call Saul and was recently a series regular on Netflix’s Future Man.  On the environmental front, he is one of the foremost environmentalists in Hollywood, supporting and advocating for multiple eco-initiatives and charity organizations.  He is also the name and face behind the successful ⁠Begley’s Earth Responsible Products⁠, a line of plant-based eco-friendly cleaning and pet supplies.     Begley is a Golden Globe and seven-time Emmy nominated actor who for decades, has been a champion and educator for causes dedicated to protecting the earth.  In support of this work, he starred opposite his lovely wife and daughter on the hit eco-reality shows Living With Ed and On Begley Street. Begley has appeared in the Christopher Guest films A Mighty Wind, Best In Show, and For Your Consideration. Other feature film

It’s Mara Kronenfeld Day on the podcast!  As the Executive Director of UNRWA USA, Mara Kronenfeld leads the strategic vision, operations, and fundraising efforts of the nonprofit organization that supports the humanitarian and human development work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Middle East. With over 20 years of experience in international development, Mara is a Fulbright Scholar and an expert in designing, implementing, and leading public private partnerships supporting youth development programming in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). UNRWA USA supports the humanitarian work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) through fundraising, advocacy, and community engagement in the United States. UNRWA USA lifts up the voices, experiences, and humanity of Palestine refugees to secure American support for resources essential to every human being, for the promise of a better life. ✅ Download UNRWA USA

It’s Lauren Paul & Molly Thompson Day on the podcast!  Lauren Paul is the co-founder of Kind Campaign and Director, Writer and Producer of Kind Campaign's award-winning documentary, Finding Kind. Finding a way to start a conversation about bullying has been on Lauren’s heart ever since her own life-altering experience in middle school. After studying film at Pepperdine University, Lauren joined forces with her friend and fellow filmmaker, Molly Thompson and founded Kind Campaign, a multi-platform movement that has changed and saved hundreds of thousands of lives, friendships, classrooms and communities around the world. Kind Campaign is the nation's premier anti-bullying movement for girls and has impacted millions through their school assemblies, documentary film, Kind Club Curriculum and global movement. Since 2009, Lauren and Molly have been on the forefront of this conversation, personally speaking in over 776 schools across 26 Founders Tours. Lauren has been awarded with the Public Education Award by

Munther Isaac is a Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian. He now pastors the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem and the Lutheran Church in Beit Sahour. He is also the academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College, and is the director of the highly acclaimed and influential Christ at the Checkpoint conferences.  He speaks locally and internationally and has published numerous articles on issues related to the theology of the land, Palestinian Christians and Palestinian theology, holistic mission and reconciliation. He is the author of The Other Side of the Wall: A Palestinian Christian Narrative of Lament and Hope and the forthcoming Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and the Genocide in Gaza which will release in March of 2025. Munther originally studied civil engineering in Birzeit University in Palestine. He then obtained a Master in Biblical Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary and then a PhD from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. During our conversation, we discuss his

Jess Natale is the creator of the Instagram account @so.informed. Her background is in marketing, journalism, political volunteering, and activism. She’s dedicated the So page to educating millions of people around the world on topics ranging from politics and reproductive rights to criminal justice reform and more. She is actively involved in political protests and organizing, focusing on efforts on the ground to effect change. She also works with nonprofits and groups focused on prison abolition and criminal justice reform. During our conversation, we discuss what it was like growing up on the poor side of a Connecticut town, why she dropped out of high school, how she got involved in politics, why she started @so.informed, the genocide in Gaza, and so much more. ✅ Follow Jess on Instagram. ✅ Follow @so.informed on Instagram. ✅ Support her work by buying her a coffee (or two). --- ✊

It’s Daniel Maté & Aaron Maté day on the podcast! Let’s get this out of the way — yes, they are the sons of Dr. Gabor Maté.  Daniel is a composer, lyricist, and playwright for musical theatre. He is also a mental chiropractor. And he is one of the hosts of Bad Hasbara - The World’s Most Moral Podcast. Lastly, he coauthored a book with his dad called The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture. Aaron is a terrific writer and journalist. He hosts the show Pushback with Aaron Maté on The Grayzone and is a cohost on the Useful Idiots Podcast. Watch Aaron in action on Piers Morgan Uncensored.  During our conversation, we discuss what it was like growing up with Gabor Maté as a father, going to Jewish summer camp, the genocide in Gaza, the fascinating work they do, and so much more.  Listen to their podcasts! Buy their books! Listen to their music! Read their newsletters! Support these incredible folks! ✅ Follow Daniel on Instagram and Twitter. ✅ Follow Aaron on Instagram and Twitte

It’s Lily Greenberg Call day on the podcast! Remember a couple of months ago when we heard on social media that a Biden appointee had resigned over his atrocious handling of and his complicity in the genocide in Gaza? Lily is *that* staffer! Lily is a former Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff at the Department of Interior. She has nearly a decade of experience in politics, movement organizing, and domestic and international human rights work. She worked on President Biden's 2020 campaign and served in the administration until May 15, 2024, when she became the first Jewish political appointee to resign in protest of US policy in Gaza. Lily grew up doing pro-Israel advocacy with AIPAC and other organizations throughout high school and college, and later became invested in Palestinian rights and Jewish anti-occupation movements. She has appeared as a guest on MSNBC, CNN, NBC, and given commentary for the Washington Post, Politico, and the Associated Press. Lily holds a B.A. in Political Science and Pub

Genesis Be, a dynamic artist and activist, harnesses the power of music to amplify marginalized voices and advocate for social change. Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, her music blends elements of hip-hop, soul, and spoken word, creating a powerful platform for storytelling and empowerment.  With lyrics that confront systemic oppression and celebrate resilience, Be's artistry transcends entertainment, serving as a catalyst for dialogue and action. As an outspoken advocate for racial and gender equality, she was an outspoken creative who lobbied to have the Confederate flag removed from the design of the Mississippi state flag. Through her music and activism, Be continues to inspire and ignite conversations that resonate far beyond the stage. ✅ Order Genesis Be’s latest book, People Not Things: Love Poems and Paintings for Humanity. ✅ Read more about The Philosophy and Practice of People Not Things. ✅ Visit Genesis Be’s website to learn about all the things. ✅ Support Genesis Be on Patreon. --- ✊

Born and raised in the Bronx, Joél Leon is a performer, author, storyteller, and damn-giver extraordinaire.  “Joél’s words are where I go when I need some inspiration. And he never lets me down.” — Lin-Manuel Miranda “In each generation, there are only a few authors who are gifted with the ability to fully capture the best parts of the human condition. Joél is one of those authors.” — Frederick Joseph I’m so glad we get to be alive at the same time as Joél Leon. Preorder his brand new book—Everything and Nothing At Once: A Black Man’s Reimagined Soundtrack for the Future—right now from bookshop.org or buy it from your local bookstore. And make sure to ask your local library to buy a few copies, as well!  Subscribe to Joél’s Subtack, The Politics of Love. And visit Joél’s Linktree for links to all the rest of the good stuff! --- ✊

t’s been a few weeks but we’re back! My guest this week is the brilliant Katie Bogen. In her own words, Katie is a clinical psychology PhD student, a trauma therapist, a sex researcher, a rad Jewess, a queer activist, and a cottagecore rabble-rouser. Katie is truly a wonderful soul. Over the past few months, ever since this horrific genocide began, she has been one of the most helpful voices on social media. She has made loads of content to share the truth about Zionism at its goals, to give a clear headed picture about what’s actually going on in Gaza, to debunk bullshit lies floating around on the internet, and so much more. And she does it with such clarity, intelligence, passion, and grace! If this is your first time encountering Katie and her work, I hope you’ll begin following her on Instagram and TikTok immediately. Also, if you want to read more about her professional work and to read her dozens of published papers, click here. Katie is a certified badass.  ---

I know it’s a bit late—hello 2024!—but I wanted you to experience some of my favorite moments and some of your favorite moments in 2023. I spoke with some incredible folks last year and I learned so much from them. Here’s to many more incredible conversations in 2024! If you want to skip around this episode, here are the timestamps for each highlight: Simran Jeet Singh - 8:07  Rachelle Lefevre - 16:54 Megha Desai - 24:18 Rainn Wilson - 31:16 Patricia Velázquez - 38:09 Noor Tagouri - 47:45 Listen to my full conversations with Simran Jeet Singh, Rachelle Lefevre, Megha Desai, Rainn Wilson, Patricia Velásquez, and Noor Tagouri. And if you’ve already listened to all of these conversations, check out the more than 250 other conversations on the pod! ---

Noor Tagouri’s name literally  means “Guiding Light.” And a guiding light she is! Noor is back for a second time. Her first appearance was for episode 19 of the podcast in the summer of 2017!  At 29, Noor is an award-winning journalist and producer, a touring speaker for over 15 years, and has told stories in every medium from radio and print, to documentaries and brand campaigns. In 2019 Noor founded At Your Service Media, a consulting and production company telling representative stories as a form of service. In 2022 Noor launched her investigative series “REP”, in partnership with iHeartMedia. The series explores the concepts of representation and objectivity in media, and received a Webby Award Nomination: Best Limited Series. With a finger on the pulse of people’s concerns, Noor’s storytelling is recognized for her innovative approach to fostering relationships across lines of difference. Visit Noor’s website to learn more about her work.  Listen to the REP investigative series. It’s so good! Follow Noor

Meike Ziervogel is a German-British novelist with five novels to her name. She is the founder of an award-winning publishing company in the UK and a fluent Arabic speaker. Since 2018 she has lived in Lebanon. From 2018 to 2019 she transformed a failing needle art workshop in the Shatila refugee camp into a sustainable independent business, providing a monthly income to 100 refugee women. In January 2020 she set up Alsama Project with Kadria Hussien, a Syrian refugee living in Shatila. Meike is now the CEO of Alsama Project and has shaped it into one of the most innovative and successful NGOs serving Syrian refugees in the Middle East. Follow Meike on Twitter! Make a donation to Alsama Project! Follow Alsama on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! ---

My guest this week is my friend and incredible human, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis. Jacqui is an author, activist, preacher, and public theologian toward creating an antiracist, just, gun violence free, fully welcoming, gender affirming society in which everyone has enough. Read the rest of her bio here.  Watch or listen to Jacqui’s Listen, Learn, Lean Into Peace series. Learn more about Freedom Rising 2024! Follow Jacqui on Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube. ---

My guest this week is the esteemed Tim Wise. Tim is among the most prominent anti-racist educators and authors in the United States. He has spoken to audiences in all 50 states and internationally about systemic racism, inequality, and methods for dismantling racism in institutions from workplaces to schools to law enforcement.  He is the author of nine books including his most recent essay collection, Dispatches from the Race War, and his highly acclaimed memoir, White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son.  He tweets (or Xes, pardon how that sounds) here and posts regular commentary on Instagram here. During our chat, we talk about being a Jewish person raising in the South, how he got into anti-racist work, the horrific war happening in Palestine and Israel currently, Zionism, where we go from here, and so much more. ---