Welcome to People in Common


On People in Common, we break down what's really happening – and what WE can do about it. Together, we're building a community where we turn insights and shared values into action for the common good.

Our Mission:‍
 1. Be A Beacon - Highlight meaningful action opportunities    
 2. Simplify Action - Make it easy to speak out, show up, and stand together
 3. Connect Resources - Support effective frontline organizations

Join host Jama Adams – a coalition builder with 25 years of experience solving problems in climate innovation, responsible AI, and public service – as we discover how to do hard things together, joyfully.

‍Join Our Community here and listen here: 🎧 Spotify 🎧 YouTube 🎧 Apple

Military Service, Spiritual Calling, and Political Courage' with Col. Pam Stevenson

Col. Pam Stevenson is Kentucky's House Minority Floor Leader and U.S. Senate candidate. She founded the Stevenson Law Center providing pro bono legal services, serves as an ordained minister, and is the first Black woman to lead a legislative caucus in Kentucky. Col. Pam brings 27 years of Air Force service as a Judge Advocate General who negotiated in 11 countries, where she learned "there's more than one way to do everything" and "you've got to treat people with a lot of respect." Her approach starts with one simple question: "What can I do to serve you?"

Community
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51 Minutes
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'Values in Action: The Craft of Democratic Organizing' with Marshall Ganz

Marshall diagnoses our democratic crisis through hard-won wisdom from decades of organizing, from the Civil Rights Movement to the Obama campaign. "We look for hope in the wrong place, ‘out there’ in the great hero," he explains. "What we should be doing is connecting with each other to create the kind of hopeful imagination and willingness to take risks." His framework for change starts with three simple questions: Who are my people? What change do we need? How do we turn resources into power?

Activism
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74 Minutes
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'From Activism to Spiritual Healing' with Reggie Hubbard

Reggie Hubbard is a political activist turned yogi turned activist yogi. We explore how our spiritual problems are at the root of our political problems. He shares his personal transformation journey, triggered by professional setbacks, leading him to adopt yoga and meditation as life-changing practices. Through a spiritual and holistic approach, Reggie emphasizes resilience training, the importance of dealing with hard truths, and the power of healing. He talks about how his stroke was a great teacher. Reggie's approach focuses on grounding, fostering creative brilliance, and addressing systemic societal issues with personal spiritual transformation. Reggie is the founder and chief serving officer of Active Peace Yoga. Check out his upcoming workshops, meditations, and wisdom at Active Peace Yoga (activepeaceyoga.com).

Community
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57 Minutes
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'Fabulously Fighting Fascism' with Anat Shenker-Osorio

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."

Activism
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64 Minutes
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'We Belong to Each Other' with Father Greg Boyle

Father Greg Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world. Homeboy received a $20M gift from MacKenzie Scott the week we spoke. Father Boyle is the author of the New York Times-bestseller Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion and other books. He has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the California Peace Prize. He has been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. In 2014, President Obama named him a Champion of Change.

Community
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35 Minutes
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'How to Win With Love' with Desmond Meade

Desmond Meade is Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, which was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He led the historic victory of Florida Amendment 4, which restored voting rights to more than 1.4 million Floridians with previous felony convictions, the largest expansion of voting rights in a half-century. The grassroots citizen initiative won by nearly 65 percent of the vote - and as Desmond says, “won with love.” Desmond Meade is a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, a Ford Foundation Global Fellow, one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Democracy
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50 Minutes
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'Do Democracy to Save Democracy' with Kelly Ward Burton

Kelly Ward Burton is the founding President of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) and its affiliates, the National Redistricting Foundation and All On The Line. Under the leadership of NDRC's Chairman Eric Holder, Kelly has led NDRC and affiliates to become the first-ever centralized hub for a comprehensive redistricting strategy, resulting in the fairest maps this country has seen in decades. Prior to leading NDRC, she was the Executive Director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and managed several campaigns for U.S. Senate and House. Kelly has a long history as a political entrepreneur, helping to launch several advocacy organizations to expand the number of women running for office and help nonprofit leaders leverage their power for impact.

Democracy
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40 Minutes
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'Welcome to People In Common' with Jama

This trailer introduces the People in Common podcast, where we speak with inspiring leaders about what we can do about the urgent and overwhelming problems of the world. With powerful stories and recommendations for action, we bridge the gap between movement leaders and those of us who care but aren’t sure what to do. So glad you joined us.

Community
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1 Minute
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Let's build together

Connect with Jama
speaker [at] jamaadams [dot] com
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