Anat Shenker-Osorio examines why certain messages falter where others deliver. We talk about why fabulously fighting fascism - together - is the thing that matters most right now. She emphasizes the importance of direct political action and the need to promote positive messaging rather than just reacting to opposition narratives. Anat discusses effective communication strategies, the flaws of conventional polling, and the power of social proof. She also highlights the 3.5% rule: "no government has withstood a challenge of 3.5% of their population mobilized against it" (credit to Erica Chenoweth of the Harvard Kennedy School) and the significance of local involvement and visible resistance in dismantling authoritarian regimes. She calls for living your beliefs openly. Anat is the author of "Don't Buy It: The Trouble with Talking Nonsense About the Economy" and host of the "Words to Win By" Podcast. Check out her "Ways to Resist" and "Freedom Over Fascism Toolkit."
00:00 Introduction to People in Common
00:16 Meet Anat Shenker-Osorio
02:11 Anat's Early Activism Story
05:58 Philosophy and Inspiration
07:26 Challenges in Political Messaging
11:32 The Role of Public Opinion
20:00 The Fiction of Just Voting Our Way to Democracy
27:20 The Power of Joy and Proactive Campaigns
32:36 Challenging Norms and Living Your Beliefs
33:15 Strategies for Persuasion
37:14 Historical Context and Lessons
41:59 The Power of Social Proof
57:44 Local Action and Collective Effort
01:00:51 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Host of the Words to Win By podcast and Principal of ASO Communications, Anat Shenker-Osorio examines why certain message falter where others deliver. She has led research for new messaging on issues ranging from freedom to join together in union to clean energy and from immigrant rights to reforming criminal justice. Anat's original approach through priming experiments, task-based testing and online dial surveys has led to progressive electoral and policy victories across the globe.
Anat delivers her findings packed in snark at venues such as the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Centre for Australian Progress, Irish Migrant Centre, Open Society Foundations, Ford Foundation and LUSH International.
Her writing and research is profiled in the New York Times,The Atlantic, Boston Globe, Salon, The Guardian and Grist among others. She is the author of "Don't Buy It:The Trouble with Talking Nonsense About the Economy."
