How to Share Advocacy

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“A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love.” – Stendhal

There are two guys I regularly see at Starbucks. I’m guessing they are in their late 60’s. One gestures animatedly and with disgust at the paper and his friend patiently listens.

Once I heard the patient one suggest to the animated one that he get involved.

The animated one replied, “But the system is broken!”

I hope next time that I see them that I have a copy of Sam Daley-Harris’ book Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy with me. Sam gives us a great formula for overcoming cynicism and hopelessness and suggestions for how to get started.

Vicki Atkinson and I were recently lucky enough to be able to talk with activist and author Sam Daley-Harris on the How to Share podcast. In this episode, we discuss his journey in advocacy, the importance of facing hopelessness, and the power of transformational advocacy.

We also explore the difference between transactional and transformational approaches, the impact of cynicism on political engagement, and the necessity of community support in advocacy efforts.

Sam shares personal stories and insights on how individuals can reclaim their power and make a difference in their communities and the world.

Takeaways

  • Advocacy requires facing our own hopelessness to find purpose.
  • Transformational advocacy involves deeper engagement than transactional actions.
  • Cynicism can lead to inaction; we must choose to engage.
  • Community support is crucial for effective advocacy.
  • Building relationships with legislators can lead to meaningful change.
  • The state of democracy is influenced by citizen engagement and activism.
  • Progress and positive changes are not often featured in today’s news reporting.
  • We need to encourage optimism and action in our communities.
  • Commitment to advocacy can lead to personal transformation.
  • Every individual has the power to make a difference.

Here’s a preview of Sam’s powerful story-telling and encouragement to get involved:

Here are some ways you can listen and watch this incredible episode:

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

How Writing Helps Us Survive Chronic Illness and Loss – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What does it means to keep showing up when life asks more of you than seems possible?In this episode of The Life of Try, Wynne Leon talks with Kathryn M. B. Johnson, author of Invisible, Until I’m Not, a memoir-in-essays about chronic illness, caregiving, grief, and resilience. Together, they explore what it means to live with fibromyalgia and invisible illness, how caregiving reshapes identity, and why being seen matters so deeply when pain is hard to explain. This conversation offers honest insight, emotional validation, and hope for anyone navigating chronic pain, caregiver burnout, loss, or the daily work of endurance. If you’re looking for a thoughtful podcast episode about chronic illness, caregiving, trauma, faith, and finding strength in difficult seasons, this episode is for you.In this episode, we discuss: → Chronic illness can reshape identity, relationships, and daily life in ways that are often invisible to others. → Caregiving is an act of love, but it also carries grief, exhaustion, and the need for self-compassion. → Writing can become a lifeline—a way to process pain, preserve connection, and reclaim a sense of self. → Being believed and truly seen matters deeply for people living with chronic pain or complex health conditions. → Rest is not laziness; caring for yourself is part of being able to care for others.📘 Order Invisible, Until I'm Not: https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Until-Im-Not-Illness-ebook/dp/B0GSB7QQMH/🌍 Show notes and more inspiration: https://wynneleon.com🔔 Subscribe to The Life of Try for more conversations on: personal growth, creativity, reinvention, resilience, writing, and mindset.📌 Subscribe & Stay Updated: → https://www.youtube.com/@thelifeoftry?sub_confirmation=1ABOUT ME Hi, I’m Wynne Leon — host of The Life of Try, a personal growth and self-improvement podcast exploring resilience, reinvention, uncertainty, and the courage to keep trying. Through thoughtful interviews, reflective conversations, and real-life stories, I share insights to help you navigate change, get unstuck, and move forward with more intention.🎥 Watch Next➡️ Letting Go Of Outcomes: The Mindset That Keeps You Moving➡️ 48: How to Get Unstuck: Michael Yang on Saying Yes, Resilience and Coming Alive
  1. How Writing Helps Us Survive Chronic Illness and Loss
  2. Near Death, Deep Faith, New Life | Liza Anderson’s Extraordinary Story
  3. Encouraging Effort, Not Outcome: The Secret to Helping People Keep Trying
  4. How to Celebrate the Try
  5. How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life; Michael Rucker, PhD on Joy, Burnout, and The Fun Habit

Links for this episode:

Sam’s Sign-up Sheet for resources on how to get started

Reclaiming Our Democracy website

Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy, 2024 Edition on Amazon

(featured photo from Pexels)

51 thoughts on “How to Share Advocacy”

  3. Talking with Sam and reading his book? Civic fuel injection…reminding me of the power of synergy. Instilling hope. Thank you for the privilege of sitting with both of you, Wynne. A welcome dose of empowerment. 💕💕💕

    Liked by 3 people

  4. “Progress and positive changes are not often featured in today’s news reporting.”

    Mmm Hmmm… we are a society that prefers the polarized and sensationalized. But the good happens every day, everywhere. And, we can be part of that if we want. Thanks for this reminder, Wynne!

    Liked by 3 people

  8. I am not sure which of the two Starbuck’s patrons I am. After over two decades of partisan bickering, I’ve stopped listening. I’ve given up. I’ve lost my trust in the government and the media and I don’t know who to believe. We’ve lost our ability to compromise and that’s our biggest problem. Maybe Sam is right, I need to advocate. Your podcasts always encourage me and I’ll give it a spin. Thanks.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I totally hear you, Clay. But I’m inspired by Sam and he makes such a good point about facing that hopelessness. It’s not that we don’t have solutions but we need to help create the political will. A hard one to jump on. Hope you enjoy the podcast – I so appreciate you listening and your feedback!

      Liked by 2 people

  9. Thank you for choosing this topic and Sam Daley-Harris.for participating. I hope that is the first of many podcasts on the broad subject of the condition of our democracy and what is needed in response.

    Among the issues might be how to build trust in a world in which trust has been compromised by social media, money, algorithms that fuel anger and mistrust, and multiple versions of so-called “truth.”.

    Again, thank you Wynne, Vicki, and Sam!

    Liked by 3 people

  11. During the last EU Parliament elections, the slogan was “Every vote counts”. More and more people don’t go to vote, but this is where the change can start. Very useful reminder Wynne, that everyone has the power to make a difference, there is always a choice.

    Liked by 2 people

  14. love this topic and this has worked for me personally in these challenging times that we are living in. I can’t wait to listen to the whole conversation –

    Liked by 2 people

  15. Great conversation, Wynne – and so nice to see Vicki guest host with you.

    You three nailed in around the need to be engaged, connect with community and to keep the faith. Cynicism kills movement, action and hope. And sadly, that is what’s happening with the current administration. To creat cynicism in government and the media to erode democracy.

    Love the insight on transformational vs transactional advocacy – and often times organizations and government focus on the latter because it’s cheaper and easier but often doesn’t lead to long lasting change.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It doesn’t lead to long lasting change — exactly. Thank you for listening and these incredible insights, Ab. I hope we all learn from Sam’s example that advocacy does matter!

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  17. Yeah its so true Wynne, cynicism can be such a roadblock, Sam’s approach to transformational advocacy sounds super empowering. You always bring so much hope into the conversation 🙌💛

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Super welcome – you and another reader prompted me to write about the importance of staying positive in your community – so I’ll post about it in early September (where has this year gone!?!?) and include a link back here. Sending positivity, always, Linda xx

        Liked by 1 person

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