Better Future with Michael Mezz

Episodes

• 013 - Olivier De Schutter on Why the Economy Creates Poverty – and How To Fix It 13.05.2026 1h 3m

  My guest today is Olivier De Schutter – UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, and one of the most important voices in the global movement to redesign the economy around human wellbeing rather than endless growth for the ultra-rich.We recorded this conversation at the +Wellbeing Economy Forum in Iceland, and our discussion covers a lot of ground – the myths that prop up capitalism; the winners and losers of globalization; the case for economic democracy; how to direct capital toward care work and the solidarity economy; and what a post-growth transition would actually look like.For a detailed picture of the policies that can guide this transition, you can view the newly-released roadmap “Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth” here: https://www.neep-poverty.org/roadmap-for-eradicating-poverty-beyond-growth/Support the Better Future podcast by becoming a paid subscriber on Substack: https://betterfuturemedia.substack.com/Learn more about the Wellbeing Economy Forum, an annual conference in Iceland for the wellbeing economy movement: https://www.wellbeingeconomyforum.com/Subscribe to the Better Future podcast on your preferred platform:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezz Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Follow Olivier on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivier-de-schutter-83990552/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/odeschutter/X: https://x.com/DeSchutterOFollow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MICHAEL__MEZZ/Watch our clips on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterfuturepod/00:00 Intro: The economy panders to the rich 00:58 Introducing Olivier De Schutter01:47 Why capitalist efficiency is a myth 07:19 Has capitalism actually defeated poverty? 12:27 The commodification of life and the dismantling of the commons 16:28 The winners and losers of growth and globalization22:21 The progressive alternative to protectionism 30:38 Why we need economic democracy 35:46 The Easterlin paradox: growth without happiness 39:34 Post-growth as a culture shift 43:10 How international debt traps the Global South 50:43 Care work, wages, and the solidarity economy59:00 Recessions are not post-growth 01:02:45 ConclusionHost/Creator: Michael Mezzatesta Guest: Olivier De Schutter Editor: Nuria Salgado Designer: Amea WadsworthThanks for watching episode 013. Stay tuned for more!
• 012 - Rob Hopkins on Radical Imagination & Falling in Love with the Future 29.04.2026 48m

  My guest today is Rob Hopkins – co-founder of the Transition Network, a global movement supporting communities to reimagine and rebuild their local economies in response to climate and economic crisis. He's the author of several books, including his most recent, How to Fall in Love with the Future, which makes the case that imagination – not fear – is the most powerful force for change we have. We discuss the limits of the climate movement’s fear-based narrative, Afrofuturist and other resistance movements bringing Rob and Michael hope, and what it means to build a mass longing for a better world. We also did a live imagination exercise with the audience – and you'll want to stick around for it.This was the first-ever live interview on the Better Future podcast, recorded at ChangeNOW in Paris.Learn more about Rob and his work: https://www.robhopkins.net/ Find his new book, How to Fall In Love With The Future, on Spotify and Bookshop.Support the Better Future podcast by subscribing: Substack:⁠ https://michaelmezzatesta.substack.com/⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezz Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Follow Rob on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robhopkins5085/X: https://x.com/robintransitionLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-hopkins-09442948/Learn more about ChangeNOW, an annual climate solution conference in Paris: https://www.changenow.world/Timestamps:00:00 Filling our minds with stories of hope00:53 Introducing Rob Hopkins 02:14 Why the future is being canceled (and colonized)03:34 The problem with the climate movement08:02 Afrofuturism, Sun Ra, and filling the future with stories 12:15 What “longing” means - and why it matters 16:43 Filling our minds with better stories21:39 Is climate optimism naive?26:04 Evidence-based dreaming 29:21 Stopping the rise of the far right: the UK Green Party33:10 Why fascism hates creativity 38:33 Afrofuturist history & reimagining the future from the US43:20 Live exercise: Imagining a better future48:27 ConclusionCredits:Host/Creator: Michael Mezzatesta Guest: Rob Hopkins Editor: Nuria Salgado Designer: Amea WadsworthThanks for watching, and see you soon!
• 011 - Dr. Butch Ware on Dismantling the US Empire and the Two-Party System 10.04.2026 1h 16m

  My guest today is Dr. Butch Ware – historian, professor, and Green Party candidate for Governor of California. In this episode, Dr. Ware argues that the Democrat-Republican duopoly serves the same corporate donors, wages the same wars, and has delivered the same failed outcomes for working people – and that California's 2026 governor's race is a chance for something better. We get into why the lesser-of-two-evils argument keeps well-intentioned voters trapped, what a world built around universal healthcare, housing, and human rights could look like, and how the ongoing collapse of the US empire might be the political opportunity progressives have been waiting for.Support the Better Future podcast on Substack: https://michaelmezzatesta.substack.com/Support Dr. Ware’s campaign for California Governor: https://www.butchware4gov.comNote: Dr. Ware is currently appealing a legal decision (made after we recorded) that would remove his name from the California ballot. His social media channels will have updates on the status of his appeal 👇Follow Dr. Ware on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butchwareX: https://x.com/butchwareTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@butch.wareSubscribe to the Better Future podcast:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezzSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Follow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael__mezz/Follow the Better Future podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterfuturepod/00:00 Intro: The extinction burst of American empire00:58 Introducing Dr. Butch Ware01:34 The viability of third party politics in California08:00 The “lesser of two evils” trap14:53 The corporate power behind both major parties21:17 The extinction burst of the American empire & what comes next24:52 What comes after empire? A vision for a care economy35:39 Why a care economy is better for everyone39:28 The stock market is not the economy44:22 War, capitalism and resource extraction49:37 Investing in wellbeing instead of empire55:15 The UK Green Party breakthrough1:01:05 Policy Vision: Healthcare, Housing, and Human Rights1:10:41 Why Dr. Ware & the Greens can win1:15:08 ConclusionHost/Creator: Michael MezzatestaGuest: Dr. Butch WareEditor: Nuria SalgadoDesigner: Amea WadsworthThanks for watching episode 011. Lots more on the way.
• 010 - Greg Stoker on Iran, U.S. Imperialism, and Why the Wars Never Stop 16.03.2026 58m

  My guest today is Greg Stoker, a former U.S. Army Ranger who has become a prominent anti-imperialist activist, journalist, and geopolitical commentator. In this conversation, we discuss the escalating conflict in Iran and the broader forces driving U.S. military intervention abroad. Greg shares an insider perspective on how soldiers are taught to understand America’s role in the world, the pervasive influence of evangelical Christianity within the military, and the ideological forces behind U.S. foreign policy. Finally, we talk about his run for Congress (TX-31), and what ordinary people can do to challenge imperialism and build a more peaceful and democratic world.Support the Better Future podcast on Substack: https://michaelmezzatesta.substack.com/Support Greg’s campaign for Congress: https://www.stokerfortexas.com/Follow Greg on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greg.j.stoker/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greg.j.stokerX: https://x.com/gregjstokerFollow Greg’s podcast Colonial Outcasts:Youtube: https://youtube.com/@colonialoutcastsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1o0MF5fJM6Wjdhm0vjx4ToSubscribe to the Better Future podcast:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezzSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/podcast/2559a4c0-39f4-013e-1c18-0acc26574db2Follow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael__mezz/Follow the Better Future podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterfuturepod/You can email Michael at michael@betterfuture.media0:00 This is a war on the working class1:41 Introducing Greg Stoker2:39 Why the U.S. & Israel are waging war in Iran6:08 U.S. capitalist imperialism and wars on the working class11:49 Why the U.S. needs homelessness15:32 Debunking justifications for this war in Iran24:42 The role of radical Christian evangelicalism29:31 Israel’s role in the “rapture”33:20 Why evangelical ideology is useful to billionaires37:36 AI for military targeting40:50 Pathways toward a better future46:24 Building coalitions across movements57:25 ConclusionHost/Creator: Michael MezzatestaGuest: Greg StokerEditor: Nuria SalgadoDesigner: Amea WadsworthThanks for watching episode 10. Lots more on the way :)
• 009 - Saikat Chakrabarti on Billionaires, AI, and How to Reclaim Democracy 12.02.2026 1h 4m

  My guest today is Saikat Chakrabarti – former chief of staff to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, co-founder of Justice Democrats, co-author of the Green New Deal, and now a candidate for Congress running to replace Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco. We discuss whether the Democratic Party can be transformed from within, why corporate money has hollowed out American politics, and what it would take to build an economy that works for everyone. We also dive deep into AI – who should control it, and why leaving decisions about humanity’s future in the hands of a handful of tech CEOs may be the most dangerous form of deregulation yet.Support Saikat’s campaign for Congress: https://www.saikat.us/Support the Better Future podcast on Substack: https://michaelmezzatesta.substack.com/Follow Saikat on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saikatforcongressTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@saikatforcongressX: https://x.com/saikatcSubscribe to the Better Future podcast:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezzSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Follow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael__mezz/Follow the Better Future podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterfuturepod/0:00 Who controls AI’s future?0:46 Intro: Saikat Chakrabarti1:19 Corporate capture in the democratic party7:03 From tech millionaire to “class traitor”10:57 Scapegoating immigrants and abolishing ICE13:48 Reagan’s neoliberal legacy and the case for public investment22:02 The “March for Billionaires” and wealth inequality31:33 Building a net zero, high wage economy42:00 A new foreign policy beyond colonialism48:43 AI, China, and democratic control of technology56:46 Replacing corporate Democrats1:00:16 Cutting funding to Israel1:02:46 Supporting SaikatHost/Creator: Michael MezzatestaGuest: Saikat ChakarbartiEditor: Nuria SalgadoDesigner: Amea WadsworthThanks for watching episode 009. Lots more on the way :)
• 008 - Lessons From Resisting ICE — Strategies That Work for the Left (with Aru Shiney-Ajay) 29.01.2026 37m

  My guest is Aru Shiney-Ajay, Executive Director of the Sunrise Movement. We spoke while Aru was on the ground in Minneapolis during an unprecedented wave of ICE raids that have shaken the city – and sparked a powerful, decentralized organizing response.We go beyond the headlines to what’s actually working: neighborhood-level organizing, mutual aid networks, logistical disruption, and new strategies for building power. We also zoom out to reflect on what this moment means for the broader left: how movements can shift from defense to offense, and what lessons from Minneapolis can be applied elsewhere as people across the country (and the world) grapple with authoritarianism, repression, and political paralysis.Join the Sunrise Movement and/or learn more about their work: https://www.sunrisemovement.org/Follow Aru on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aru_sa/Support the Better Future podcast on Substack: https://michaelmezzatesta.substack.com/Subscribe to the Better Future podcast:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezzSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Follow Sunrise Movement on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunrisemvmt/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sunrisemvmtX: https://x.com/sunrisemvmt/Follow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael__mezz/Follow the Better Future podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterfuturepod/0:00 ICE targets mutual aid deliveries0:44 Intro: Aru Shiney-Ajay1:45 On the ground in Minneapolis6:13 Organizing: What’s working?13:40 Going on the offensive20:58 Strikes & worker power24:54 Lessons for the broader movement34:12 How to get involved37:22 ConclusionHost/Creator: Michael MezzatestaGuest: Aru Shiney-AjayEditor: Nuria SalgadoDesigner: Amea WadsworthThanks for watching episode 008. Lots more on the way :)
• 007 – Steven Donziger on Chevron, Corporate Retaliation, and Climate Justice 07.01.2026 1h 15m

  My guest today is Steven Donziger, a human rights and environmental lawyer best known for leading a historic legal case against Chevron on behalf of Indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon.We discuss Chevron’s environmental crimes, the weaponization of the legal system, the implications of the recent $600+ million verdict against Greenpeace USA, and what all of this means for climate activism, democracy, and political resistance today.Support the campaign to restore Steven’s law license: https://chuffed.org/campaign/standwithdonzigerSign Greenpeace’s open letter against the Energy Transfer verdict: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/energy-transfer-lawsuit/Read Steven’s writing on Substack: https://substack.com/@stevendonzigerFollow Steven on social media:Twitter: https://x.com/SDonzigerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevendonziger/Support the Better Future podcast by subscribing:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezzSubstack: https://substack.com/@michaelmezzatestaSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael__mezz/The Better Future podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterfuturepod/00:00 Chevron doesn’t want you to hear this00:34 Introducing Steven Donziger02:12 The legal battle against Chevron09:05 Chevron’s power in Ecuador11:28 Shifting the cultural narrative 17:05 The legacy of the Ecuadorian people’s win18:59 Chevron’s retaliation strategy against Donziger24:10 Personal struggles & resilience27:43 House arrest & disbarment34:40 History repeats: Energy Transfer vs. Greenpeace39:34 The ongoing criminalization of climate advocacy44:00 The lack of opposition & what to do about it 52:06 Elite capture & lessons from history54:42 A movement towards democratic socialism?58:38 Reasons for hope (& skepticism)1:02:20 Historical examples of political transformation1:07:06 Actions to take now1:10:15 Self-care, resilience & solidarity1:12:18 The campaign to restore Steven’s law license1:14:58 Conclusion & linksHost/Creator: Michael MezzatestaGuest: Steven DonzigerEditor: Nuria SalgadoDesigner: Amea WadsworthThanks for watching episode 007. Lots more on the way :)
• 006 – Donnie Maclurcan on Post-Growth Economics & the Future Beyond Capitalism 11.12.2025 1h 19m

  My guest today is Donnie Maclurcan, founder of the Post Growth Institute and a thinker who played a major role in my own journey. In this episode, Donnie breaks down why money accumulation under capitalism necessarily produces rising debt and inequality, leading to human suffering and ecological breakdown. We also go deep into possibilities for a better future – including the ways not-for-profit business models are quietly succeeding inside capitalism, what a post-capitalist economy could feel like, and what we can do now to participate in a post-growth future.Thanks to Vista House Marin for providing us with such a lovely space for this shoot.Follow Donnie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donniemaclurcan/Dive into the work of the Post Growth Institute: https://postgrowth.org/Read their writing on Medium: https://medium.com/postgrowthSupport the Better Future podcast by subscribing:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezzSubstack: https://substack.com/@michaelmezzatestaSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Follow the PGI on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/postgrowth/X: https://x.com/postgrowthBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/postgrowth.orgMichael Mezz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael__mezz/The Better Future Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterfuturepod/I originally discovered Donnie and his work thanks to the Denizen community and podcast. Learn more about Denizen here: https://www.becomingdenizen.com/00:00 Intro: Planting seeds for the future01:04 Introducing Donnie Maclurcan02:38 What is post-growth?06:37 Capitalism's inherent inequality and debt10:06 The monetary system and debt creation18:49 The human and ecological impacts of debt28:08 Why efficiency can’t solve the climate crisis30:21 Why inequality is inherent to capitalism33:39 Imagining a post-capitalist future37:25 Existing examples of post-capitalist businesses47:37 Why money circulation is key51:58 How to participate in post-capitalism now57:18 The importance of indigenous wisdom1:06:00 The wisdom of marginalized communities1:08:32 Collapse and post-capitalism1:18:28 ConclusionHost/Creator: Michael MezzatestaGuest: Donnie MaclurcanEditor: Nuria SalgadoDesigner: Amea WadsworthSorry I forgot to put on socks before starting the shoot 😅Thanks for watching episode 006. Lots more on the way.
• 005 - Grace Blakeley on Power, Inequality, and How Elites Captured Capitalism 22.10.2025 1h 18m

  My guest today is Grace Blakeley – UK-based political economist and author of three books, including her most recent: Vulture Capitalism. We discuss how political and corporate elites work together to protect their interests, why governments prop up monopolies, and how “the system” isn’t broken – in fact, it’s working exactly as it’s designed. We also touch on the history of capitalism and enclosure, the global legacy of imperialism, and why the struggle for a better future is ultimately a struggle over power.Learn more about Grace, her work, and her books: https://graceblakeley.co.uk/Read Grace’s writing on Substack: https://graceblakeley.substack.com/ Support the Better Future podcast by subscribing:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezzSubstack: https://substack.com/@michaelmezzatestaSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Follow Grace on social media:Twitter: https://x.com/graceblakeleyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace.blakeley/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@graceblakeley000:00 Intro: Rich people don’t create jobs01:16 Introducing Grace Blakeley03:05 The system isn’t broken – it’s working as designed10:46 Keynesianism, Marxism, and dialectical materialism16:45 How state and corporate elites work together22:44 The moral hazard of neoliberal capitalism27:26 Who actually takes risk?31:19 The history of enclosure & primitive accumulation37:09 Capitalism’s expansion through colonialism & imperialism43:40 The myth of “prosperity for all” under capitalism51:28 The myth of innovation under capitalism56:22 Trumpism’s destruction of visions for the future59:08 The importance of unions & collective action1:05:33 The importance of community & mutual aid1:12:12 Diagnosing the recent success of the right1:14:24 Embedding democracy in work & politics1:18:24 ConclusionHost/Creator: Michael MezzatestaGuest: Grace BlakeleyEditor: Nuria SalgadoSound editor: Andre CoreaDesigner: Amea WadsworthThanks for watching episode 005. Lots more on the way :)
• 004 - Elizabeth Booker Houston on Race, Class, and the Future of the Left 04.09.2025 51m

  My guest today is Elizabeth Booker Houston – lawyer, comedian, and political commentator based in Washington DC. We discuss white supremacy in US politics, how to integrate class consciousness with anti-racism, the false myth of “rugged individualism,” and how to build a bridge between identity politics and class politics within the progressive movement.Follow Elizabeth Booker Houston on social media:Substack: https://bookersquared.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookersquaredTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookersquaredFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.booker.houstonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bookersquaredSupport the Better Future podcast by subscribing:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezzSubstack: https://substack.com/@michaelmezzatestaSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Note: This conversation was recorded before the recent Wired article about Chorus – a liberal content creator incubator program, of which Elizabeth is a member – so I didn’t ask about it during this interview.00:00 Introduction: leftism & whiteness03:18 White supremacy in MAGA & US politics07:23 Bridging the gap between race & class politics13:57 Intersections between race & other leftist issues17:20 Black leadership in the history of US leftism20:43 The politics of disability & neurodivergence23:43 The myth of rugged individualism30:42 Elizabeth is MAGA-coded?32:08 Do souls exist?34:08 Raw milk and micro-aggressions36:36 Politician lightning round: RFK & Elon Musk38:49 Politician lightning round: Newsom, Harris, Booker41:42 AOC, Mamdani, Buttigieg, Crockett45:26 The progressive movement needs leaders48:32 What a better future looks like50:03 ConclusionHost/Creator: Michael MezzatestaGuest: Elizabeth Booker HoustonVideo editor: Nuria SalgadoSound editor: Andre CoreaDesigner: Amea WadsworthThanks for watching episode 004. Lots more on the way :)
• 003 - Jason Hickel on Post-Capitalism, Degrowth, and Why Capitalism Can’t Solve Climate Change 31.07.2025 1h 16m

  My guest today is Jason Hickel, Professor at the Institute for Environmental Science & Technology (ICTA) at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, and author of two books: The Divide and Less is More. We discuss why a growth-based capitalist economy is incompatible with a livable planet, and what a truly democratic, post-capitalist economy could look like. We cover lots of topics – including degrowth, AI, the history of capitalist imperialism, and how to achieve a democratic ecosocialist transition.Thanks to Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) for generously providing us with a space for this interview.Learn more about Jason Hickel and his work: https://www.jasonhickel.org/Check out https://globalinequality.org/ to view Jason’s recent project (created in collaboration with a team of fellow researchers) which visualizes data and research on global inequality. Support the Better Future podcast by subscribing:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezzSubstack: https://substack.com/@michaelmezzatestaSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Follow Jason Hickel on social media:Twitter: https://x.com/jasonhickelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjasonhickel/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jasonhickel.bsky.social00:00 Introduction: the climate crisis myth00:35 Introducing Jason Hickel02:07 The disconnect between GDP and wellbeing04:08 Capitalism's flawed production priorities07:05 The need for economic democracy11:04 Public finance and climate mitigation16:12 AI and capitalism20:52 Building political power for change25:04 The public job guarantee34:06 Taxing the rich for a better future37:00 The benefits of an ecosocialist transition43:42 Imperialism and the military-industrial complex48:54 US foreign policy and imperialism57:31 The hypocrisy of liberalism1:06:42 Some questions from the audience1:08:48 Gramsci & other historical figures1:15:18 ConclusionHost/Creator: Michael MezzatestaGuest: Jason HickelEditor: Nuria SalgadoDesigner: Amea WadsworthThanks for watching episode 003. Lots more on the way :)
• 002 – Building Community Power in a Failing System (with Raymond Wei) 10.07.2025 1h

  My guest today is Raymond Wei – filmmaker, community organizer, and co-founder of The Conscious Citizens. Ray creates sharp, accessible videos about everything from geopolitics to community organizing, and his work is rooted in on-the-ground experience. In this episode, we talk about building community power, the rise of the authoritarian police state, and how to lay the bricks for a better future – even when it feels like things are going in the wrong direction.Support the Better Future podcast by subscribing:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezzSubstack: https://substack.com/@michaelmezzatestaSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Follow Ray and his work:The Conscious Citizens: https://www.theconsciouscitizens.org/Ray on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raytrospectively/Ray on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@raytrospectivelyRay on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@raytrospectivelyThanks for watching episode 002. Lots more on the way :)Host/Creator: Michael MezzatestaGuest: Raymond WeiProducer: Andre CoreaDesigner: Amea WadsworthIntro/Outro music: Carlos Carty0:00 Intro1:56 Hypernormalization explained6:53 Capitalist realism12:42 What would a better future look like?16:42 Shifting our values21:25 The solidarity economy25:36 Is capitalism required for innovation?35:06 Everything is connected to Palestine39:29 The rise of the surveillance state49:33 Concrete steps toward building a better future59:21 Outro
• 001 — Is Capitalism Compatible with a Green Future? (with Aru Shiney-Ajay) 25.06.2025 1h 12m

  Welcome to the Better Future podcast. My guest today is Aru Shiney-Ajay, Executive Director of the Sunrise Movement. We discuss the state of the left, the importance of activism, the future of the Democratic Party, and how to align our political and economic systems with a better future.To join the Sunrise Movement and/or learn more about their work, visit their website.Support the Better Future podcast by subscribing:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezzSubstack: https://substack.com/@michaelmezzatestaSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833Host/Creator: Michael MezzatestaGuest: Aru Shiney-AjayProducer: Andre CoreaDesigner: Amea WadsworthIntro/Outro music: Carlos CartyThanks for watching episode 001. Lots more on the way :)