advocates

Both species of rhinoceros in Africa are endangered, in large part due to the value of rhino horn on the black market. In the western part of South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park, a group is working to keep these animals safe in spite of the bounties on their horns. The Black Mambas are a woman-only group of rangers that patrol the wildlife reserve to protect against poaching. 

Tsakane Nxumalo, a ranger with the Black Mambas, joins host Jay Ruderman to talk about their rigorous training process, the role of education in conservation work, and what role her gender plays in her work.

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Bobby Farrelly’s movies are well-known for their comedy - Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, and, most recently, Champions. They’re also well-known for something else - featuring actors with disabilities in prominent roles. For Bobby, this isn’t activism. It’s making sure the world he creates on-screen looks like the one he lives off-screen.

Bobby joined host Jay Ruderman to talk about what casting has looked like over the course of his career, what it was like to shoot Champions, and where he hopes to see Hollywood in the future.

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In his career, Michael Maren has been a relief worker, war correspondent, and film director. Michael’s book, The Road to Hell, took a hard look at NGOs operating in a development context, and how good intentions aren’t enough to affect positive change. 

On this episode of All About Change, Michael joins host Jay Ruderman to discuss his time working in development in countries in east Africa, and how it informed his stance on international aid. The two get into the problems with humanitarian aid and food relief programs, highlighting how they often support the status quo and fail to address the root causes of poverty.

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Do you ever think about angels or just wonder about divine mysteries?

In this fascinating episode, we hear from Msgr. Brian Bransfield who served as the General Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2015 to 2020.  He's a priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, has his doctorate in moral theology,  and is the author of many books including his recent Angels: Our
Guardians in Spiritual Battle, which he describes as “a user-friendly, easy to
read map” that can help us see where the angels lead us.

Msgr. Bransfield tells of first meeting angels as a child and continues with an
exploration of the role angels play in our lives, their power, and what their
invisibility suggests to us.

We learn what angels aren’t - ghosts, phantoms, fiction - and what they are
- real, personal beings, created by God who are present to assist us.
“The holy angels always begin something in us and they beckon us farther and
they serve as our guardian,” states Msgr. Bransfield. He lists the three
common misconceptions regarding angels and how misguided expectations
can place a burden upon us.

Jesus was ministered to by angels when he hit rock bottom and we can be
sure that God has given us these special helpers as well to challenge, coach,
protect and help us to follow the light of Jesus.
Don’t wing it in your assumptions about angels. Listen and understand the
the reality of these unseen beings.

Find Msgr. Bransfield's book  Angels: Our Guardians in Spiritual Battle
Meet us in Austin

Join us at one of our other Freedom in Christ conferences in 2024
Check out Unbound and find other resources

Release: January 2024
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm
Production by Henry Aquino

With antisemitism on the rise, the need for Holocaust education has never been more important. That’s where Emmy award-winner Julianna Margulies comes in. In 2022, Julianna helped to found the Holocaust Educator School Partnership, an initiative to help train undergraduate and graduate students in how to teach about the Holocaust in the classroom. 

In this episode, Julianna Margulies sits down with host Jay Ruderman to discuss the misconceptions and challenges facing the Jewish community today, and what allyship means to her.

Please fill out the Listener Feedback Form - Linked Here

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Golden Rule: Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today. 

Come with me as we honor Martin Luther King Day by highlighting a lesser known Civil Rights Activist husband and wife duo who made a huge impact on Black Floridian's.

Victims: Harry and Harriet Moore
Suspects: Ku Klux Klan

Case Sources
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/the-groveland-four-1949/

https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/moore-home-bombed/

httpshttps://www.npr.org/2022/02/01/1076141993/black-history-harry-hariette-moore

https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/harry-t-and-hariette-moore

https://www.biography.com/activists/harry-t-moore-timeline-accomplishments-artifacts

https://www.justice.gov/crt/case-document/harry-t-moore-harriette-v-moore-notice-close-file

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/education/2021/02/23/brevard-school-board-acknowledges-unjust-firing-civil-rights-leaders/4554057001/

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/01/1076141993/black-history-harry-hariette-moore

https://www.newspapers.com/
https://www.pbs.org/harrymoore/harry/mbio.html

https://www.holidaysmart.com/holidays/monthly/january/personal-self-defense-awareness-month

https://www.wucf.org/community/themooreproject/the-investigators/

https://www.justice.gov/crt/case-document/harry-t-moore-harriette-v-moore-notice-close-file

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/harriette-vyda-simms-moore-1902-1952/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6820079/harry-t-moore

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6820096/harriette-vyda-moore

Nas Daily has been an internet sensation since its inception. But the man behind it all is a bit less well known. Nuseir Yassin left a well-paying job at Venmo to travel the world, and do 1,000 videos in 1,000 days about the places and people he encountered. Since then, he’s built a company founded on community, positivity, and storytelling.

Nuseir sat down with host Jay Ruderman to talk about growing up in Israel, how he keeps his company community-minded, and how he’s building a culture that lasts.

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In this episode from the All About Change vault, Jay Ruderman sits down with iconic actor and activist Fran Drescher. Fran tells Jay the story of getting The Nanny off the ground, and what it took to make sure that Fran Fein made it to air as a Jewish woman.

In the years since The Nanny, Fran has battled uterine cancer, and founded the Cancer Schmancer Movement to encourage women to advocate for themselves in the doctor’s office. Fran and Jay talk about all of this, and more.

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The correlation between boxing and rescuing stray dogs isn’t one that’s clear at first glance. But for Chrissy Beckles, founder of the Sato Project, the connection is one she makes each and every day. 

Since 2011, the Sato Project has rescued more than 8,000 dogs in Puerto Rico. With nearly half a million stray dogs roaming the island, there’s no one knockout solution. Chrissy sat down with host Jay Ruderman to talk about the long journey,  from gaining feral dogs’ trust, to finding funding, to weathering a category 5 hurricane. 

Please fill out the Listener Feedback Form - Linked Here

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Chelsea Miller may be young, but she’s already had a lifetime full of activism. Perhaps more impressive than the work itself is the intentionality, care, and thoughtfulness she brings to it all.  

Listen to the latest episode of All About Change as Chelsea delves into her childhood in Brooklyn’s “Little Caribbean,” interning at the Obama White House, and founding Freedom March NYC in response to George Floyd’s murder.

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On this week’s episode of Lever Time, news editor Lucy Dean Stockton is joined by researcher Rosanna Landis Weaver and Andrew Behar, CEO of the non-profit shareholder advocacy organization As You Sow, to discuss how they’re using stock ownership in publicly-traded companies to promote corporate change from within. 

50 years ago, economist Milton Friedman argued that a corporation’s “greatest responsibility lies in the satisfaction of the shareholders.” In other words, the primary goal of every business is to increase its profits and maximize returns to investors. But in hindsight, even Fortune magazine acknowledges that the ideology of “shareholder primacy” has extensively damaged society. 

That’s where shareholder advocates come in, since they use their ownership in publicly traded companies to influence company decision-making. Whether it's pushing for transparency, addressing ethical concerns, advocating for sustainable practices, or curtailing CEO pay, shareholders have the ability to shape the companies in which they own stock. 

In today’s interview, Rosanna and Andrew explain how their organization As You Sow practices shareholder advocacy, including a recent win at Starbucks to reduce their plastic waste. They break down their annual list of “The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs,” which details how some of the highest paid CEOs actually underperform for their companies. And they discuss how the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee recently opened an investigation into As You Sow along with other organizations, as part of their culture war against ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) investments. 

A transcript of this episode is available here.

Links:

• As You Sow
• The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs (As You Sow, 2023)

BONUS: On Monday's bonus episode of Lever Time Premium, exclusively for The Lever’s supporting subscribers, we’ll be publishing our interview with journalist and author Cole Stangler about his new book Paris Is Not Dead: Surviving Hypergentrification in the City of Light, which explores how gentrification has affected the cultural makeup of Paris, and the public housing policies that have helped maintain the city’s diverse, working-class character.

If you'd like access to Lever Time Premium, which includes extended interviews and bonus content, head over to LeverNews.com to become a supporting subscriber.

If you’d like to leave a tip for The Lever, click the following link. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. levernews.com/tipjar

Some people may see J.R. Martinez's burn scars and think that he is defined by that single day in his life. But J.R.'s journey towards vulnerability and resilience began long before his time in the military and the twists and turns it’s taken since nearly defy imagination.

Listen to the latest episode of All About Change as J.R. describes his trajectory to Jay. He’s gone from recovering in a military burn unit to becoming a motivational speaker, actor, winner of Dancing with the Stars, and advocate for veterans and other charitable causes.

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Your loyal customers are your advocates and can be a powerful marketing force for your brand. By showing appreciation, you not only strengthen your relationship with them but also boost your bottom line.

In this episode, Jordan West dives deeper into BFCM discussion to help you make the most out of this year's holiday season. He also shared that having a clear plan helps everyone stay on track and make informed decisions. Staying agile and adaptable based on customer response and market dynamics is essential. You must possess the ability to adjust your strategies because it will help you optimize your sales and achieve better results.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Loyal customers should be given special treatment and incentives such as early access, better discounts, referral codes, and bonus points in customer loyalty programs. 
• The importance of being organized, particularly for visionary-minded individuals. 
• A planned sales map and clear communication within the team are essential.
• Transparency and visibility within the team, even for smaller teams, are crucial for effective communication and coordination. 
• The ability to pivot and make changes based on performance is important, even with a planned sales strategy.

Recommended App/Tool:

PostPilot: https://www.postpilot.com/

Sendlane: https://www.sendlane.com/

Klaviyo: https://www.klaviyo.com/

This episode’s sponsor is Finale Inventory- the ultimate solution for accurate and efficient inventory management. Trusted by thousands of brands, Finale offers seamless integrations with over 80 sales channels and platforms.

With customizable workflows and reporting features, Finale empowers you to streamline operations and scale your business with ease, preventing overselling and maximizing profitability.

Whether you're juggling multiple platforms, expanding your product range or just looking for a way to reduce operational chaos, Finale has the tools you need to succeed. Step into the future of e-commerce with Finale Inventory.

Learn more here: Finale Inventory

In the early years of the Iraq War, thousands of Americans enlisted to fight for their country, fully aware of the dangers of that decision. Or so they thought. But one insidious threat had long-lasting impacts on the health of American troops: burn pits. Meant to provide an efficient way for soldiers to get rid of their waste, burn pits instead pumped tons of toxins into the air that found their way into the lungs of nearby service members. Service members like Beau Biden, President Biden’s son, and Le Roy Torres. Le Roy remembers the smell, and the almost immediate respiratory infections and headaches that followed. Now, more than 15 years later, he’s still dealing with the fallout.

Le Roy joins Jay to discuss his trajectory from deployment until now, and the work he’s doing to ensure that veterans aren’t left to deal with mounting disabilities and health costs alone.

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Listen to this special episode of All About Change as Linor gives an intimate look at the aftermath of Hamas' attack on Israel.

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It is said military veterans account for 1% of the American population, and certainly, women have been a part of that number, stepping up to the challenge of defending their country for generations. But when their service ends, they often find themselves without meaningful support, unable to attain the most basic levels of assistance offered to their male counterparts.

Jas Boothe was in a similar situation. A single mother living in Louisiana, she was hit hard by two events: The diagnosis of an aggressive cancer, and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Homeless and jobless, she was turned away when she sought help. Jas speaks to Jay about how she turned her struggle into a beacon of hope for female veterans in need.

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Life isn’t fair. Perhaps that is why we love sports. In sports, the aspiration at least, is to even the playing field. But that endeavor in and of itself, poses many challenges. What does the inclusion of transgender athletes mean for sports? For ESPN’s Katie Barnes, a journalist who covers the intersection of gender and athletics, the answers here are never simple. 

Katie joins Jay to discuss the gender politics of sports at all levels of performance, as they break down in their new book, Fair Play: How Sports Shapes The Gender Debates. This conversation distills the complex and often-sensitive questions around transgender competitors, many of whom are kids who simply want to enjoy the sport they love.  

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Through the efforts of Lucifer by way of this demonic agenda, he has created many false ways that provide with them a false Christ, with the people who have been deceived and captivated by these impostering counterfeits, not realizing that the Christ they are believing in, and worshipping, is really Lucifer. 

Each false way, and false Christ this enemy of God has orchestrated has been leading up to the melding of all demonic imposters into the Cosmic Christ who will manifest into the persona of the final Man of Lawlessness – The Antichrist.

It will be through this tyrannical agent of darkness that Lucifer will finally gain the world’s worship he has longed for – but not for long. Because in Isaiah 14:15 his final outcome is prophesied:

“Nevertheless, you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.”

Lucifer - a.k.a - Satan, will be thrown into the Lake of Fire at the end of the Millennial Reign of Lord Jesus, the true and only Christ. And he will never rob, kill, or destroy again.

But until we reach that glorious moment in time when Eternity is launched in the new Heavens and new earth, the battle over souls rages on; and we, as God’s Holy Remnant are being alerted to contend even more earnestly for the true Faith that reveals the One Who alone is the Truth – and the Way – and the Life - Yeshua Jesus – the Living Word – and Great I AM!

So, come with me as we expose, contend, and shine the Light of God’s Truth!

Visit our website: https://agapelightministries.com/

Always having a love for the sea, Emily Penn took a journey from Shanghai to Melbourne, Australia that would change her life, as she saw first-hand the extent of pollution in the world’s oceans.

Since then, she has organized the largest ever community-led waste cleanup operation, completed a trip around the world solely using biofuel, and created various avenues for people—from ordinary citizens to filmmakers—to discover and document the damage microplastics have done to our oceans. Emily also runs eXXpedition, a series of sailing voyages where crew members—all women—focus on researching the connection between pollution and female health. 

Emily joins Jay to share her insights into ocean advocacy, what lessons we can learn from the past, and how governments, companies, and communities can reimagine the way we create and consume products.

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While certain areas of Haiti remain picturesque, it’s hard to find a place within the beleaguered island nation untouched by the trifecta of violence, pollution, and corruption. 

Serving as executive director of the Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité Marine, or FoProBiM, Jean Wiener is considered by many to be Haiti’s foremost environmentalist, and the expert in all matters concerning the Haitian coast. 

But Activism is not something that happens in a vacuum. Jean’s decades-long efforts to clean, restore, and preserve the fragile ecosystem, is a constant balancing act between the country’s environmental issues and the basic survival needs of its impoverished population. How do you convince a fisherman struggling to put food on his family’s table that it's within his own best interest to engage in sustainable practices?  

This important conversation between Jay and Jean deals head on with some of those challenges - challenges that are both unique to Haiti but hold relevance for any kind of activism and advocacy.

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