What does it take to confront racism without falling into despair and instead transform our institutions for equity and justice? In this episode, Dr. Zeitz speaks with Professor Susan Sturm of Columbia Law School, a leading scholar and changemaker whose work bridges law, education, and community action. Drawing from her new book, What Might Be: Confronting Racism to Transform Our Institutions, Sturm unpacks the paradoxes at the heart of American democracy, the persistence of racial caste, and the urgent need for participatory democracy. Together, they explore:

• How personal history and contradictions can fuel a lifelong commitment to justice
• The Constitution’s paradox of freedom and slavery and why it still matters today
• Why movements, not laws, are the true drivers of change
• How “linked fate” reveals our interdependence across race, class, and identity
• The potential of citizens’ assemblies and local democracy to reimagine our future

At a time when progress is under attack, Sturm offers a hopeful call to action: despair is not a strategy.

Are you ready to join #unifyUSA? Learn more about the transformational movement at https://unify-usa.org/

Get your copy of Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy here!

Get your copy of Revolutionary Optimism: Seven Steps for Living as a Love-Centered-Activist here.

Revolutionary Optimism is hosted by Dr. Paul Zeitz.

Trust in our democracy is collapsing, but history shows that when ordinary people rise up, real change becomes inevitable. In this episode, Dr. Paul Zeitz issues a bold call to action: join a nationwide movement to refresh and renew American democracy before it’s too late. From the Freedom Charter to the vision of a National Citizens Assembly, Dr. Zeitz lays out a concrete plan for how everyday Americans—not politicians or lobbyists—can lead the charge. Tune in to learn how you can take part in this urgent mobilization for democratic renewal and help shape the future of our nation.

Sign #unifyUSA's Freedom Charter here: www.unify-usa.org/freedom_charter

Are you ready to join #unifyUSA? Learn more about the transformational movement at https://unify-usa.org/

Get your copy of Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy here!

Get your copy of Revolutionary Optimism: Seven Steps for Living as a Love-Centered-Activist here.

Revolutionary Optimism is hosted by Dr. Paul Zeitz.

Journalist and author Osita Nwanevu joins Dr. Paul Zeitz to unpack a hard truth: the United States was never designed to be an authentic democracy. Drawing from his book The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding, Osita explains why our system fails the tests of equality, responsiveness, and majority rule—and how we might reinvent it for the 21st century. The conversation dives deep into the history of America’s anti-democratic foundations, the promise of citizens’ assemblies, the role of economic democracy, and the collective wisdom of ordinary people.

Get Osita's book here: penguinrandomhouse.com/the-right-of-the-people-by-osita-nwanevu/

Sign #unifyUSA's Freedom Charter here: www.unify-usa.org/freedom_charter

Are you ready to join #unifyUSA? Learn more about the transformational movement at https://unify-usa.org/

Get your copy of Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy here!

Get your copy of Revolutionary Optimism: Seven Steps for Living as a Love-Centered-Activist here.

Revolutionary Optimism is hosted by Dr. Paul Zeitz.

In this episode, Dr. Zeitz is joined by Vinay Orekondy, an Australian-born attorney, mediator, and democracy innovator now working at the heart of America’s civic renewal movement. Vinay wears multiple hats as he serves as the Partnerships Director, Better Together America; Co-Chair, Braver Network (Braver Angels); and the Director of Programs and Engagement, Grand Bargain Project.

Vinay takes us on a journey from his early political work in Australia, through his disillusionment with the U.S. electoral system, to his leading-edge efforts to create an inter-partisan citizen-driven democracy rooted in community, deliberation, and shared power.

Together, they unpack the failures of winner-takes-all politics, the transformational potential of ranked choice voting and proportional representation, and the rising movement of civic hubs that are stitching together a new fabric of democracy—one that isn't driven by dark money or partisan games, but by everyday people.

Are you ready to join #unifyUSA? Learn more about the transformational movement at https://unify-usa.org/

Get your copy of Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy here!

Get your copy of Revolutionary Optimism: Seven Steps for Living as a Love-Centered-Activist here.

Revolutionary Optimism is hosted by Dr. Paul Zeitz.

Can we rescue American democracy before it’s too late? In this episode, Dr. Paul Zeitz sits down with renowned legal scholar and democracy innovation entrepreneur and leader, Professor Lawrence Lessig of Constitutional Law at Harvard University, to explore a bold path forward. From unraveling the corrupting influence of Super PACs and dark money to defending the Constitution against authoritarian overreach, Lessig offers clarity, urgency, and an inspiring vision for revolutionary reform of the Constitution.

Together, they dig into:

• Why Lessig believes the Constitution is in collapse—and what we must do now
• A groundbreaking legal strategy to dismantle SpeechNOW and weaken Citizens United
• How Citizens’ Assemblies could revolutionize democratic participation and safeguard reform
• The dangers and potential of an Article V Convention in the hands of the people
• Why Lessig says, “Donald Trump is the bus” hitting our already ailing democracy—and what comes next.

This is a masterclass in democracy renewal. Tune in, get informed, and join the movement for a citizen-driven future.

Are you ready to join #unifyUSA? Learn more about the transformational movement at https://unify-usa.org/

Get your copy of Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy here!

Get your copy of Revolutionary Optimism: Seven Steps for Living as a Love-Centered-Activist here.

Revolutionary Optimism is hosted by Dr. Paul Zeitz.

Is America at a breaking point—or at the cusp of a breakthrough? In this episode, Dr. Zeitz sits down with Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign and director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice. A lifelong theologian and anti-poverty organizer, Rev. Dr. Liz shares why we are living in a Kairos moment—a time of both crisis and profound possibility.

Together, they unpack the growing attacks on democracy, the war on the poor, and the billionaire class’s grip on our government. And they also lift up the fierce grassroots resistance blooming across the country: movements led by those most impacted, from diaper banks to climate justice fights in Cancer Alley. Liz shares the power of moral fusion organizing, the heart behind her new book “You Only Get What You’re Organized to Take,” and how survival itself is sparking a revival.

If you're feeling despair, this conversation offers a bold, grounded, and faith-infused path toward action, justice, and transformation.

• Learn more about the Kairos Center: https://kairoscenter.org/
• Learn more about the Poor People's Campaign: https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/

Are you ready to join #unifyUSA? Learn more about the transformational movement at https://unify-usa.org/

Get your copy of Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy here!

Get your copy of Revolutionary Optimism: Seven Steps for Living as a Love-Centered-Activist here.

Revolutionary Optimism is hosted by Dr. Paul Zeitz.

Welcome to season three of Revolutionary Optimism! In this episode, producer Cee Cee Huffman talks with Dr. Paul Zeitz and social impact filmmaker Leigh Blake to discuss the launch of #unifyUSA, a groundbreaking movement dedicated to refreshing the U.S. Constitution through citizen-led action. With a shared history of tackling the global HIV/AIDS crisis and driving social change, Paul and Leigh explain why now is the time for Americans to reclaim their power and rebuild a citizen-driven democracy through Citizens’ Assemblies.

Discover how #unifyUSA aims to transcend political divides, foster unity, and create a government that truly serves the people. Whether you're frustrated with the current system or seeking hope for a better future, this conversation will inspire you to join the movement for transformative change.

Are you ready to join #unifyUSA? Learn more about the transformational movement at https://unify-usa.org/

Get your copy of Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy here!

Get your copy of Revolutionary Optimism: Seven Steps for Living as a Love-Centered-Activist here.

Revolutionary Optimism is hosted by Dr. Paul Zeitz.

Dr. Paul Zeitz is talking with philosopher and legal scholar Alex Guerrero, author of Lottocracy: Why Lottery Should Replace Elections. Alex delves into the bold concept of lottocracy, a reimagined form of democracy by lottocracy where randomly selected citizens replace traditional elections to create more equitable and accountable leadership.

Drawing on over 15 years of research, Alex shares the flaws of electoral democracy in the U.S. and the transformative potential of citizen assemblies. From the practicalities of implementing lottocracy to its ability to foster diverse perspectives, Alex paints a vision for our broken U.S. democratic system rooted in fairness and inclusivity. Together, they explore the growing global movement for lottocracy, its implications for tackling urgent crises like climate change and economic inequality, and how it can unlock our collective imagination for a better future.

Alex’s call to action? Envision and experiment with new democratic models that transcend polarization and build hope.

Are you ready to join #unifyUSA? Learn more about the transformational movement at https://unify-usa.org/

Get your copy of Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy here!

Get your copy of Revolutionary Optimism: Seven Steps for Living as a Love-Centered-Activist here.

Revolutionary Optimism is hosted by Dr. Paul Zeitz.