Natasha Explains It All

What’s the power of a name? Today’s episode explores the impact of the names colonial powers gave to various indigenous groups around the world and the ripple effects still felt today. All of the examples came from different experiences I had recently, and I noticed a common thread worth exploring. Join me as I talk about the Maya, the Maori, and the Tupi and how these names we know them by today...

Today’s episode is part 2 of my series on the process for getting my book published. I have an exciting update! In the episode, I also mention that I have launched a Substack called Thoughts from Natasha . Would love your follow. I also shared a few podcasts on the writing and publishing process that I find helpful: Print Run The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Simply Write

After a brief discussion of current events and what you can do (call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 to be connected to your Congressional representatives), I delve into a new series about the process of getting my book, Get Well: How the Pandemic and the Wellness Industry Make the Case for Prison Abolition, published. I’m learning as I go, and I thought it would be fun and a good accounta...

2026 is not starting out quietly. Here are some thoughts on the US abducting Venezuela's president and his wife.

Back in 2023, I did an episode on Postcards to Voters, an organization that writes to registered Democratic voters to boost turnout and win elections. Now, I interview the founder of Postcards to Voters, Tony the Democrat, to catch us up on what Postcards to Voters is working on and how to get involved. Action is the antidote to despair and who couldn’t use a little hope right now? To volunteer, e...

In today's episode, I interview Joshua Barousse, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit news outlet San Jose Spotlight . We discuss the importance of local, independent journalism. Looking for your local nonprofit newspaper? Check out the Institute for Nonprofit News to find yours.

I review the excellent, Oscar-nominated film Ainda Estou Aqui (I'm Still Here) about Brazil's military dictatorship and what it says about the current regime in the US.

Continuing on the theme of navigating modern times and the importance of our closest relationships, particularly friendship, I share a piece I wrote recently: Playing Capoeira in Beirut .

I did not buy this book to get through the current moment, but it is helping me get through the current moment. A beautiful story of how to live through dictatorship, particularly about the role of friendship. “The question, arguably the most important question of all, is how to escape the demands of unreasonable men.” My Friends by Hisham Matar *sorry if you can hear a faint noise in the backgrou...

We're a week away from the inauguration, and I keep thinking about my recent visit to the Equal Justice Initiative's Legacy Sites in Montgomery, Alabama. That visit made it all make sense.

I'm back. In the era of billionaire bros, voting with our dollars has taken on great importance. I share some thoughts on how to do that and why there is reason for hope as we go through this Gilded Age reboot. Bookshop.org alternative to Amazon for books The StoryGraph alternative to GoodReads for book reviews and tracking Fossil Free Funds for sustainable investment options Muckraking journalism...

We are a few days away from the end of voting in the United States, and many are facing long lines to vote. Pizza to the Polls is here to help, by sending pizza to voters facing long lines. Facing an 1+ hour long wait to vote? Request pizza from Pizza to the Polls here . Pizza to the Polls is available in all states for this election except Georgia, which criminalized the provision of food and wat...

Welcome to Season 5! If you're feeling election anxiety, I've got a way for you to direct that energy towards winning in November. In addition to winning the White House, we also need to retake the House and keep the Senate; the change we need requires a blue trifecta. With that in mind, here are a few places where you can donate to key congressional races, i.e. races that are really close and und...

I have collaborated again with Mike Pinto, host of the Singing for Survival capoeira history podcast. This time, we discuss sexual abuse in capoeira and what we as capoeiristas can do to address the wrong that has happened and how to prevent it moving forward. One of those ways is to support CapoeirAcolher , an organization in Brazil that supports victims of such abuse.

My thoughts on voting no on Prop. 36. More information: LA Times Editorial Board piece on No on Prop. 36 Stop Prop. 36 campaign Independent journalist Judd Legum has done several pieces on retail theft and Prop. 36: California's shoplifting laws are not broken. California is "fixing" them anyway A closer look at California's $267 million war on "organized retail crime" UPDATE: The truth about Targ...

I will be doing a two-part series on why to vote NO on Prop. 36. Part one is a quick share on some upcoming opportunities to learn about Prop. 36 from reputable criminal justice organizations. Wednesday, September 25th at 5:30pm PST (virtual) - Initiate Justice's No on Prop. 36 Workshop Thursday, October 3rd at 6pm PST (in-person in Oakland) - Ella Baker Center and Urban Peace Movement Prop. 3...

With the November election coming up soon, it's time to get out the vote! In this episode, I share some ways you can help boost voter turnout. register to vote check your voter registration status save the Election Protection Hotline number to your phone: 866-687-8683 Vote Save America's Empower GOTV initiative - get paid to get out of the vote in swing states North Carolina - register to...

As part of my election series, today's episode is about why I am voting for Nikki Bas for Alameda County Supervisor, District 5. To hear directly from the candidates, check out the  ⁠candidate forum on zoom⁠  on September 5th from 4-5:30pm. I discuss the  ⁠Oakland Reimagining Public Safety Task Force Report⁠  that Nikki was highly involved in and why that's a great thing. I talk about the...

A gorgeous work of historical fiction that tells the story of a woman born during the Spanish flu pandemic and who dies during the coronavirus pandemic 100 years later. Allende introduces us to multiple generations of a family and their loves and losses, hopes and disasters, while exploring historical events like the military dictatorships in Chile and Argentina during the 1970s and 80s. I reflect...

My reflections on the 2024 US presidential election.

In California, slavery is still legal — as long as you're incarcerated. Incarcerated people are forced to labor for little-to-no-pay under threat of punishment. In November, California voters have the opportunity to change that by voting YES on Prop 6 (formerly ACA 8), the End Slavery in California Act. I mentioned the Foresty & Fire Recruitment Program, which was founded by formerly incar...

You may have heard recently about #flaggate - the scandals related to Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito flying flags at his homes in support of the Jan. 6th insurrection and Christian nationalism. More news has also come out about Justice Thomas' corruption, specifically around his receipt of millions of dollars worth of gifts from GOP donors. All of these developments are more reason to put pre...

Did you know you can call your elected officials and share your thoughts on what matters to you? In this episode, I explain how to do that, why it matters, and how to stay informed on what your elected officials are up to. To be connected to the offices of your federal elected officials, you can dial the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121. A couple of options of newsletters to sign up for t...

I'm back with another book report and this one is all about family, love, activism, identity, politics, and American and Puerto Rican culture. Other resources mentioned in the episode: The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein Independent reporter Bianca Graulau @biancagraulau Author and poet Elisabet Velasquez @elisabetvelasquezpoetry

It's an election year and the deluge of negative news can make it easy to feel disillusioned and want to check out. I offer some tips and tools to help you feel informed, engaged, and yes, even hopeful. Tldr: pick a handful of journalists and/or a podcast or two to follow and one cause or campaign to support. And set a daily timer on your news apps! Quality over quantity is the key here. Folks...