A Couple Thinks Podcast

This week’s episode of A Couple Thinks dives into the land of hot takes—those quick, confident opinions that dominate the news cycle and social media, often delivered with more certainty than the facts warrant. From speculative health diagnoses about Donald Trump’s swollen legs to breathless predictions about NPR’s demise, we’re surrounded by voices who seem to know what's going to happen next. Bu...

When Protest Isn’t Enough This week on A Couple Thinks , we’re revisiting a topic from one of our earliest episodes: the relationship between protest, resistance, and disruption—and how that dynamic is shifting in this very urgent moment. It started with a conversation between us about whether calling our elected officials is still effective. The recent passage of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill...

What if the problem with American democracy isn't just polarization, corruption, or disinformation—but sheer size? In this week’s episode of A Couple Thinks , we take on a provocative hypothesis: Democracy might not work at the scale of 340 million people spread across a huge country. Lisa walks us through her research into the world’s top-performing democracies, and what they all seem to have in...

As fireworks light up the sky and grills get fired up this week, we’re taking a moment to ask: what does patriotism mean in 2025 ? In this episode of A Couple Thinks , we reflect on our childhood memories of the 4th of July—bicycle parades, sticky nights, firework shows, and explore how those feelings of civic pride have evolved as we’ve learned more about America’s history and reckoned with its p...

In this week’s episode of A Couple Thinks , we dove into a topic that caught both of us off guard in the best way: what if Trump voters can be kind, but only inside a narrow circle? The episode was sparked by a TikTok from Sara J. McCord (and her business substack Sara McCord ) who broke down why some MAGA supporters feel confused when they're treated with suspicion by people outside their politic...

We’re still buzzing. No Kings Day was everything we hoped for, and so much more. In over 2,000 locations across the U.S., people showed up with energy, with purpose, and with love for democracy. We were part of the massive Oakland march and rally, and we’re not exaggerating when we say it was one of the most moving civic moments of our lives. From the speakers (Barbara Lee! Latifah Simon! Buffy Wi...

This is a slightly unusual mashup episode. Part of this one was recorded way back on January 1st , when we were riding a wave of hope (and maybe a little mischief) after noticing some early cracks in the Trump–Musk alliance. We were trying to get a few episodes under our belt before we launched so kept it slightly generic but we never found a good moment to release it and in fact, thought it might...

In this episode of A Couple Thinks , we’re doing two things: breaking down how to take meaningful local action, even if politics feels like too much, and finding the good news that helps balance out the doom-scroll. Aaron kicks things off with a challenge: If you’re someone with the privilege and comfort to be politically visible, get out there. Join a protest. Write to your representatives. But i...

Have you ever stopped to think about what sparked your political awareness? In this episode of A Couple Thinks , we (Aaron and Lisa) take a step back from the chaos of current events and trace our personal paths through politics and activism, from childhood memories to adulthood engagement. Lisa remembers canvassing with her aunt and being involved in student government. Aaron recounts tagging alo...

Wow — 20 episodes! Join us for this milestone check-in. In this week’s conversation, we take a breath and take stock. What’s worse than we expected at this point in Trump’s second term? (Spoiler: quite a bit.) What’s better than we expected? (Not quite so much, but still some things made the cut.) And what’s keeping us from going full despair mode this time around? We talk about the slow pace of t...

We often talk about national politics; the chaos in Washington, big-name politicians, and sweeping federal decisions. But the truth is, the government decisions that shape much of our daily lives including our schools, policing, public safety, housing, and civil rights are mostly made much closer to home. In this week’s episode of A Couple Thinks , we dive into the famous Tip O’Neill quote: “All p...

What if the Serenity Prayer and Angela Davis had a conversation? That’s kind of where we found ourselves in this week’s episode of A Couple Thinks . We’re revisiting the theme of “keeping your peace”—but this time we’re framing it with a mix of Stoic philosophy, political frustration, and a healthy dose of pragmatic hope. We talk about what’s within our control (our values, our actions) and what’s...

In this week's episode of A Couple Thinks , we dive into a question that's been popping up everywhere lately: Is there a right way to protest? We've seen a lot of chatter, both online and off, about how protests should look, who should show up, and whether nonviolent protests actually work. Some folks criticize protests for being too tame, too broad, too white, too much fun (yes, really). Others a...

Lately, we've been thinking a lot about due process; not just as a legal principle, but as a foundational promise of a just society. When that promise is broken for some, it's broken for all of us. This week's episode of A Couple Thinks is a winding, but heartfelt conversation about what happens when people are denied access to lawyers, to fair hearings, to even knowing the charges against them. L...

We know—we usually start by diving into the latest news or a recent headline, but this week we took a different approach. After hearing from friends who are actively avoiding the news (and, yes, even avoiding our podcast), we wanted to offer something lighter, warmer, and perhaps more useful for those feeling overwhelmed. So we started with Passover. Last weekend, we hosted our annual Passover Sed...

This past Saturday, we joined thousands of others in downtown Oakland—and millions more around the country and world—for the Hands Off day of protest. It was a beautiful, energizing, empowering day. In this week’s episode of A Couple Thinks , we talk about what it felt like to be there, what inspired us, and why this kind of joyful resistance matters now more than ever. From the pointed (and somet...

Two and a half months into this presidency, we’re watching key public institutions come under full-scale attack. From reckless decisions at the Social Security Administration to the broader dismantling of agencies meant to serve the public, it’s clear: we are in a moment that demands action. In this podcast episode, we talk about what’s already happened — and what’s at risk if we don’t push back n...

This week’s episode is emotional and urgent. It centers around the famous poem First They Came by Martin Niemöller—a powerful reflection on silence, complicity, and the terrifying ease with which authoritarianism can rise when too many people look the other way. We talk about what the poem meant in post-Nazi Germany, and what it means now in the United States. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Find an action n...

In this episode we explore the influence of culture war rhetoric in today's political scene. Join us as we dissect how the GOP and MAGA have successfully spotlighted hot-button topics like abortion, often pulling focus away from critical issues that affect most citizens. The Rhetoric Reality From slippery slopes to exaggerated edge cases, topics like abortion dominate over discussions about the ec...

When something unjust happens in front of you, how do you respond? Do you freeze? Do you act? Do you wish later that you had done something? The reality is, in high-pressure situations—whether it’s witnessing an act of public harassment or facing institutional pressure to compromise values—our ability to respond effectively often comes down to one thing: preparation. Resources Mentioned: Right To...

In this episode of the podcast, we dive into the challenge—and necessity—of growing the coalition in these turbulent political times. While we both agree that expanding our movement is essential, we also wrestle with the emotional and strategic hurdles that come with it. The Dilemma: Frustration vs. Empathy Let’s be real: It’s hard to feel patient and welcoming when faced with people who either sa...

Lisa and Aaron shared their thoughts and key takeaways from two impactful books: "On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder and "Why Civil Resistance Works" by Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. Stefan . These books delve into the concepts of tyranny, resistance, and the importance of action in safeguarding democratic principles. Understanding "On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder: 1. Do Not Obey in Advance: Aaron highlig...

With so much happening, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but we’ve refined our approach to sorting through the noise. Our updated categories: Noise, Wait and See, Take Action, and Talk about it with others. Don’t forget to add your comments! Sorting Through the Chaos 🔹 Noise & Distractions – The idea of renaming the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" is nothing more than a political stunt designed...

In today's world, understanding how to effectively engage in protest, resistance, and disruption is more important than ever. These actions can help us navigate social and political challenges and lead to meaningful change. Here's a friendly guide to these concepts and how you can contribute to making a difference. Please consider adding your thoughts to the comments below. Why Taking Action Matte...

In times of uncertainty, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and unfocused. In this episode, we remind you (and ourselves) that it's crucial to channel our emotions into constructive actions to protect our country's values. Recorded on Sunday, February 2nd, as another week of Trump’s chaos unfolds, we provide a detailed guide on how individuals can effect change, emphasizing that every contribution matt...