In the Meanwhile
In the Meanwhile
Podcast Description
No hot takes. No empty platitudes. No easy hope. Just real talk about how we hold onto our humanity, build something better—and maybe even laugh along the way.
Bring snacks. Bring questions. We’re figuring this out together.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Focuses on societal challenges, civic courage, and personal growth, with episodes exploring topics such as the aftermath of the pandemic, immigration enforcement, and collective endurance in a divided society. Examples include profound discussions on civic bravery in the face of ICE raids and the psychological impacts of 2020 on families and communities.
No hot takes. No empty platitudes. No easy hope. Just real talk about how we hold onto our humanity, build something better—and maybe even laugh along the way.
Bring snacks. Bring questions. We’re figuring this out together.
When politics feels less like a news cycle and more like a full-body stress test, we hit pause and ask the real question: how do we actually defend democracy, right now, with real people?
This week, Nora and Marcus sit down with Hannah Fried, CEO and co-founder of All Voting Is Local, for a conversation that’s sharp, human, and refreshingly free of abstract hand-wringing. Fried breaks down how election interference actually works, not just the unhinged headline moments, but the quieter stuff: bureaucratic choke points, “technical” rule changes, and the slow grind of making voting harder on purpose. And she explains how organizers across the country are fighting back year-round to keep the ballot accessible, secure, and dignified.
It’s urgent without being apocalyptic, hopeful without being naïve, and a reminder that democracy isn’t a vibe, it’s a practice. It lives in communities, relationships, and showing up over and over again. And when someone tries to take your vote? Hannah Fried is very clear: that’s your cue to fight like hell.
Mentioned in the episode:
All Voting is Local | I am Legend | Minneapolis to ICE: Get the Fuck Out
Support the pod:
Donate here to support In The Meanwhile
Follow us:
Read Nora and Marcus’s Books:
Crowded Out: The True Costs of Crowdfunding Healthcare | Readying to Rise
Music: No Tears for a Wolf · Ahamefule J. Oluo · Okanomodé. Used with permission.
Logo by Nikki Barron.
Transcripts are machine-generated and imperfect.
Nora and Marcus’s work on the podcast is separate from their professional roles and does not represent the views of their employers.
Links to bookshop.org are affiliate links.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.