Oh This World

It's a special July 4 edition of OH THIS WORLD, featuring our own co-host Lucas Schaefer as our guest, talking about community centers like your local boxing gym! Lucas recently published his debut novel, The Slip, which centers around the fictional Terry Tucker's Boxing Gym. It's based on a real life boxing gym where Lucas was a member some twenty years ago, and in our conversation we...

Despite a terrible internet connection, I managed to interview Houston Big Brain Chase Sloan for this episode with only one weird recording glitch about 20 minutes in (be prepared). We cover a lot of ground on this topic of community, from the powerhouse historic Third Ward in Houston to finding community as an adult to the importance of looking, seeing, being real, and engaging authentically with...

Five years ago, the world as we knew it changed in an instant. Sheltering in place against the COVID pandemic meant a lot more time with the ones we knew best, and a lot less time with everyone else. It’s no surprise that we may not have transitioned back to engaging at the same level with the groups of people we knew. In other words, our communities may have weathered, splintered, and possibly fa...

In this episode, we dive deep into "Activism for Introverts" with Rachel Carneglia . We explore how introverts can meaningfully engage in activism despite potential discomfort with traditional organizing methods. Rachel shares her personal journey as an introvert navigating community activism, discussing the internal struggles introverts face when called to action and offering practical...

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Kavita Patel to discuss Resistance Reader , an evolving online document filled with resources for informed activism. When I first shared it with Kavita, the list had about 25 links — a week later, it had doubled. This rapid growth reflects how much we’re learning and adapting in this moment. Our conversation dives into media literacy — the ability to assess...

This episode, let's talk about going to protests alone, and creating a personal activism plan! Protests and Safety When Going Solo   Here are ideas for staying safe:   - Try to connect with someone attending in advance.   - Park a few blocks away for an easy exit if needed.   - Observe who else is heading toward the protest.   - Take note of counterprotesters—how many, how organized?   - Pay a...

Welcome to Season 3 of Oh This World ! This season is all about action — asking tough questions, challenging old playbooks, and pushing beyond reaction into purpose-driven activism.   Today, we’re diving into media diets — how we consume news, manage emotional spirals, and stay informed without burning out. If you’ve been doomscrolling or feel overwhelmed by constant updates, it’s time to curate y...

It's been almost 5 years since this podcast debuted. Our lives have changed. Oh, this world continues to change! Obviously. In Season 3, let's catch up, get current, and figure out crucial next steps to maintaining sanity in this wacky, upside-down world.

In a bonus episode, Antoinette and Lucas talk about their own experiences during last week's Texas freeze, how the state got into this situation, and where we go from here. To assist those still recovering, you can find a list of volunteer opportunities in Austin here . To share your own story or thoughts, we're on Twitter @OhThisWorldPod or call us at (702) 907-RAGE. We may share your m...

In our season two finale,  we talk to local activist and therapist Jason Sugg on what his work has been like the last four years, what he expects going into the future, and how we can be good citizens in 2021. We also close out discussion of our most recent OTW Book Club selection, GOOD CITIZENS by Thich Nhat Hanh; Lucas goes on one final TX21 rant; we talk about what we're watching and readi...

We recorded this special episode Christmas Day to talk about the stories that stuck with us from this strange and hideous year, and to offer our best-of-2020 recs for Coping with Our Tizzies --the books, music, movies, etc. that helped us get through this mess. Among the writing we reference on today's show, you can find Katherine Morgan's essay "White Rage, White Guilt" from B...

On today's episode we discuss Texas Monthly's annual Bum Steer of the Year , which they gave to the Texas Democratic Party, Lucas goes on an old-fashioned rant about gerrymandering, and we dive into this month's OTW Book Club choice, Good Citizens , by Thich Nhat Hanh. You can read the Katherine Morgan essay from LitHub, "About That Wave of Anti-Racist Bestsellers Over the Summ...

Antoinette and Lucas talk Texas and national election results. To listen to the OTW interview we mentioned on this episode with newly elected State Board of Ed member Rebecca Bell-Metereau, listen to it here . This episode was recorded Thursday, November 5, 2020. 

On today's episode, Antoinette and Lucas check in with each other two weeks before the election. We talk early voting, the energy in Texas, and what voters need to do to flip the state. We also call attention to two recent election-related interviews: our conversation with Rebecca Bell-Metereau , the Democratic candidate for Texas State Board of Education, District 5, and our talk with Mathew...

This week a caller to our RAGE line asks an important question about relational organizing. With only a few weeks until Election Day, we turn to an expert: Mathew Ruberg, DigiDem for the Wendy Davis for Congress campaign here in TX21. Mathew takes us through what relational organizing is, how it works on the Davis campaign, how to get over awkward feelings about talking politics with your friends...

Today we sit down with the Democratic candidate for the Texas State Board of Education in District 5, Rebecca Bell-Metereau . We talk about why Rebecca is running, how you can help, and how the decisions the State Board makes affect everyone, in Texas and across the country. For more on Rebecca, or to get involved with her campaign, visit her website . Have thoughts or questions about today's...

We start today's episode with a caller to our RAGE line, which kicks off a conversation about the highs and lows of phonebanking and what we're doing to flip Texas blue in November. The majority of our show this week is dedicated to our OTW book club selection, Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen. We talk about the book, how we teach history in America , and why it matters . The NPR...

On today's episode we discuss the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and its implications, listen and respond to our first Rage Line callers , and offer final thoughts on "White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo . We also unveil our OTW Book Club selection for the next month: Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong , by James Loewen. In addition to...

This week we're joined by Angela de Joseph to continue our discussion of white fragility in progressive spaces and to explore how the media covers women of color and race generally. Angela is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, health advocate, and the founder of Women of Color Roar Media .  Learn more about Women of Color Roar Media here , and follow them on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . You c...

After two weeks apart, Antoinette and Lucas reunite to discuss the news and recent forays into activism. (To see the recent Statesman story that drove Lucas straight up the wall, go here ). For our main topic today, Antoinette interviews Fort Worth native Alexander Montalvo , a longtime volunteer, advocate and activist, about white fragility in progressive activism , as our OH THIS WORLD book club...

In this special episode, Lucas looks at how Wendy Davis and Chip Roy - the Democratic and Republican Congressional candidates in TX21 - have responded to COVID-19, and the strategies Rep. Roy and other Republicans are using to distract from their failures to lead during this pandemic. For a timeline of how the candidates responded, including screenshots from social media and links to the articles...

Welcome to Season Two of OH THIS WORLD! This season, we're focused on the big picture: for the rest of 2020, we'll be dedicating each month to an urgent issue facing Texas, and America. We'll interview activists, thinkers and citizens about how to engage on the biggest challenges facing the country. And we'll spotlight a book at the start of the month that will help inform our...

Antoinette and Lucas give a preview into Season 2 of OH THIS WORLD, coming August 2020! 

In our final episode of season 1, we take a look at the week in numbers , talk about what we learned and what surprised us during this inaugural Oh This World season, and share our recs for what we're listening to, reading and watching to stay grounded in this unsettling time. The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center dashboard is available here . You can read the Kyle Swenson story on th...

Lucas read every single one of his far-right Congressman's tweets for a year. On today's episode he talks about why he did it , what he learned , and how citizen-activists across the country can use those lessons. Before we dive in, Antoinette follows-up on Monday's Confederate monuments episode with a story from the UK via Smithsonian Magazine . Then Lucas offers nine lessons he le...