Oh This World
78 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 12 ratingsA podcast for those inclined to take action. Our mission is to help Texans and people across the country hold our leaders accountable, and build an America that leaves no one behind. Join hosts Antoinette Perez and Lucas Schaefer as they explore the best actions to take as responsible citizens in this supremely uncertain new world (dis)order.
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Episodes
Ep. #19: Expanding our Political Imagination
May 20, 2020 20:00 - 52 minutes - 35.9 MBThe COVID-19 catastrophe has highlighted major problems in America that existed well before the pandemic did, from a broken health care system to vast (and rising) inequality. But what if out of this crisis came the chance to create big change? Today our focus is on expanding our political imaginations and beginning to think about what a post-pandemic America should look like. First, a quick follow-up, as Antoinette gives us an important update on vote by mail in Texas. Next, we jump into...
Ep. #18: Our Government Isn't Holding Corporations Accountable. Can We?
May 18, 2020 21:00 - 51 minutes - 35.4 MBToday, Antoinette does a deep-dive into how we can hold corporations accountable for their actions in the COVID-19 era. Before we leap into the corporate world, Lucas looks at the latest ways Republicans are distorting information to distract from their own incredible unpreparedness on Coronavirus. He points to recent Republican insistence that red states shouldn't be "responsible" for blue states when, in fact, blue states are the ones who usually subsidize their red counterparts. (The Dav...
Ep. #17.5: Oh This Small World - No One Is Coming To Save Us
May 16, 2020 18:00 - 5 minutes - 3.64 MBGOP voter suppression efforts in Texas continue their slog. It would be nice to not think about this for a day, but since we can't do that, let's turn our frustration into action and step up for every Texan. Texans, please make two calls on Monday to fight for our voting rights: Gov. Greg Abbott -- 800-843-5789 Secretary of State Ruth Hughs -- 512-463-5555 After you get to the person who's going to take your message for Gov. Abbott and then SOS Hughs, say this short script: “Keep voters ...
Ep. #17: Weekend Grab Bag
May 15, 2020 22:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBWe start our Weekend Grab Bag with some follow-ups on stories throughout the week, including an update to our disinformation episode. Lucas points to two stories related to his Oh This Small World mini-episode addressed to his fellow white people: a disturbing piece from the New York Times about armed "protesters" in Texas, and an article on the cancellation of the legislative session in Michigan. For listeners - especially white listeners - interested in further exploring how whiteness an...
Ep. #16: Disinformation: we can't avoid it, so now what?
May 13, 2020 21:00 - 52 minutes - 36 MBOn this episode, Antoinette and Lucas explore the disinformation that bad actors are spreading about coronavirus, and what all of us can do to combat it. We start by looking at the differences between misinformation and disinformation, and recount our own experiences falling for, or dealing with people who have fallen for, false material. We also recommend this must-read Twitter thread from Andy Slavitt on how the Trump administration will try to discredit scientists in the coming days and...
Ep. #15: How Can We Treat Our Essential Workers as if They're Actually Essential (Which They Are)?
May 11, 2020 20:00 - 50 minutes - 34.4 MBIn today's episode we look at what types of work are considered essential, how we treat our essential workers (spoiler: poorly), and what all of us can do to support America's essential workforce. Before diving in, Antoinette calls attention to an A+ video about vote-by-mail from TX-10 Democratic candidate Mike Siegel, and Lucas gives an update on the never-ending Dallas hairdresser saga, now revealed to be (predictably) a stunt. We also take listeners through TX-21 Rep. Chip Roy's latest...
Ep. #14: Weekend Grab Bag, ft. The Mocktale Hour!
May 08, 2020 21:00 - 42 minutes - 29.4 MBFor our weekend grab bag we're joined by special guest Sunny Merry, co-host of the The Mocktale Hour, a new podcast "for the sober-curious and the alcohol-free." Before talking to Sunny, Antoinette follows up on her social distancing bonus episode with news of changes to the rules for visiting certain Austin parks, and she and Lucas discuss Lucas' message to his fellow white people from yesterday. Next, Sunny Merry joins OTW to talk about her new podcast, The Mocktale Hour. Sunny helps u...
Ep. #14: Weekend Grab Bag, ft. The Mocktale Hour!
May 08, 2020 21:00 - 42 minutes - 29.4 MBFor our weekend grab bag we're joined by special guest Sunny Merry, co-host of the The Mocktale Hour, a new podcast "for the sober-curious and the alcohol-free." Before talking to Sunny, Antoinette follows up on her social distancing bonus episode with news of changes to the rules for visiting certain Austin parks, and she and Lucas discuss Lucas' message to his fellow white people from yesterday. Next, Sunny Merry joins OTW to talk about her new podcast, The Mocktale Hour. Sunny helps u...
Ep. #13.5: Oh This Small World - ATTN: White People
May 08, 2020 01:00 - 5 minutes - 3.98 MBHours after the Texas Supreme Court ordered the hairdresser who broke stay-at-home measures released from jail, Lucas has a brief message to share with his fellow white people. This episode was recorded on Thursday, May 7, 2020.
Ep. #13: How Can We Communicate Effectively with the Other Side? (& is it even worthwhile?)
May 06, 2020 20:00 - 49 minutes - 33.8 MBA wide-ranging conversation about how to talk to people we disagree with and if that is a worthy goal in the first place. First, Antoinette gives a quick update on yesterday's vote-by-mail episode, calling attention to this helpful explainer from the Mike Siegel (TX-10) campaign, and Lucas revisits Texas AG Ken Paxton's 2014 Pen-gate incident and offers a poignant mea culpa about something he said on yesterday's show. Some essential context for our show today is understanding the way the...
Ep. #12.5: Oh This Small World - Keep Your Distance!
May 05, 2020 19:00 - 5 minutes - 4.03 MBWhen state and local orders on public safety no longer align, confusion is an expected outcome. And folks who have been itching for a "return to normal" might see this confusion as a convenient excuse to make individual decisions that risk everyone else's health. Even if you and I stay the course by adhering to safe public health practices, people we know and care about might not. And we must call in our people. This mini-episode was inspired by a recent story in the Austin American-Statesm...
Ep. #12.5: Oh This Small World - Keep Your Distance!
May 05, 2020 19:00 - 5 minutes - 4.03 MBWhen state and local orders on public safety no longer align, confusion is an expected outcome. And folks who have been itching for a "return to normal" might see this confusion as a convenient excuse to make individual decisions that risk everyone else's health. Even if you and I stay the course by adhering to safe public health practices, people we know and care about might not. And we must call in our people. This mini-episode was inspired by a recent story in the Austin American-Statesm...
Ep. #12: Vote By Mail: Why We Need It, How to Make It Happen
May 04, 2020 19:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MBAntoinette and Lucas explore why making vote-by-mail accessible to all is so important in the age of COVID-19, and what we need to do to make it happen. Before diving into mail-in voting, we introduce a new feature: Oh This Small World, occasional five-minute bonus episodes we'll release on days we don't record. You can check out the first one here. We also have a special call to action for our friends in #TX21. On Wednesday, May 6, Rep. Chip Roy - who failed to advocate for ramped-up test...
Ep. #11.5: Oh This Small World - Cover Your Trap!
May 03, 2020 04:00 - 5 minutes - 3.62 MBOn days when we don't record, expect the occasional mini-rant or quick call to action from Antoinette or Lucas. Today, on this second day of Texas' partial "re-open," Lucas has a thing or two to say about masks and our elected officials (hint: cover your trap, Congressman!) The original story that provoked this mild rage, "Restaurants open, and Chip Roy takes his family for Tex-Mex," by Jonathan Tilove, appeared in the Austin American-Statesman on May 1, 2020. This bonus episode was record...
Ep. #11.5: Oh This Small World - Cover Your Trap!
May 03, 2020 04:00 - 5 minutes - 3.62 MBOn days when we don't record, expect the occasional mini-rant or quick call to action from Antoinette or Lucas. Today, on this second day of Texas' partial "re-open," Lucas has a thing or two to say about masks and our elected officials (hint: cover your trap, Congressman!) The original story that provoked this mild rage, "Restaurants open, and Chip Roy takes his family for Tex-Mex," by Jonathan Tilove, appeared in the Austin American-Statesman on May 1, 2020. This bonus episode was record...
Ep. #11: Weekend Grab Bag
May 01, 2020 21:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MBEvery Friday, we follow up on our previous episodes from the week, and talk about what we're doing to stay grounded in this unsettling time, including sharing what we're listening to, reading and watching. Today we start with follow-ups on recent segments about writing letters to the editor; the partial Texas "re-open," which begins today; and playing the political long game. You can find Lucas' recent letter to the Statesman here. Antoinette and Lucas next explore those things we've start...
Ep. #11: Weekend Grab Bag
May 01, 2020 21:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MBEvery Friday, we follow up on our previous episodes from the week, and talk about what we're doing to stay grounded in this unsettling time, including sharing what we're listening to, reading and watching. Today we start with follow-ups on recent segments about writing letters to the editor; the partial Texas "re-open," which begins today; and playing the political long game. You can find Lucas' recent letter to the Statesman here. Antoinette and Lucas next explore those things we've start...
Ep. #10: What the Heck is Greg Abbott Doing? And How Can We Respond?
April 30, 2020 23:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MBAntoinette and Lucas look at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to allow some businesses—including restaurants and malls—to re-open at 25% capacity on Friday, why that’s bad for workers and for business owners, and how we can respond. First, Antoinette catches us up on her own activism this week, highlighting a Zoom meeting she participated in between her Congressman’s constituents and one of his staffers, and we discuss the highs and lows of grassroots activism, which is now more important ...
Ep. #9: Save the Post Office!, Part Two
April 29, 2020 01:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBToday Antoinette takes us on a deep-dive into the history of the USPS, a vital American institution in financial peril. She focuses on the wild 2006 law that, in addition to COVID-19, has been the reason for many of the post office's recent troubles. Before jumping back into USPS-land, Antoinette and Lucas first discuss the big Texas news of the week - Gov. Greg Abbott is allowing various businesses, including restaurants and malls, to open at 25% capacity on Friday - and ask of the governo...
Ep. #8: How Do We Get Out the Vote in November When We Can't Get Out?
April 28, 2020 01:00 - 43 minutes - 29.6 MBIn this episode we explore what each of us can do to secure Democratic victories at all levels in November when we can't engage in many of the activities - like canvassing - that we would be doing if not for COVID-19. First, Antoinette and Lucas reminisce about a few beloved Austin institutions that have been forced to close as a result of coronavirus - and more specifically because of the GOP failure on testing - and how this relates to 2020. Next, we take a look at the stakes for Texas ...
Ep. #7: Weekend Grab Bag
April 25, 2020 02:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBEvery Friday, we'll follow up on our previous episodes from the week, and talk about what we're doing to stay grounded in this unsettling time, including sharing what we're listening to, reading and watching. Today we started with an update from yesterday's episode on testing, and talked about how there is so little moral leadership in our country that the tremendous toll the coronavirus has taken here - 50,000 Americans are now dead - is not being treated with the seriousness this dark mom...
Ep. #6: Where Are The Tests?
April 23, 2020 22:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBToday's episode is about how we know when it's OK to "re-open" society, and what we can do to make sure it's done safely (hint: we need more tests). First, Antoinette and Lucas explore the GOP's war on experts, and how misinformation has made it difficult for many Americans to know where to turn for basic facts. With what we know about COVID-19 changing every day, who do you trust? Then, we jump into what we do know about when it'll be safe to loosen stay-at-home measures. Antoinette take...
Ep. #5: Astroturfin' USA
April 22, 2020 22:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MBIn recent days, the GOP has tried to paint small protests against stay-at-home measures as a mass movement. In this episode, Antoinette and Lucas look at who's behind these rallies, what they're hoping to accomplish, and what we can do about it. After Antoinette gives a quick update on last episode's Maskapalooza, we jump into an exploration of astroturfing: when events organized by political operatives or other outside forces are made to appear as if they've bubbled up from the grassroots...
Ep. #4: Maskmaker, Maskmaker (Make Me a Mask...!)
April 21, 2020 18:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBIn Austin, as in many communities around the country, we're now required to wear a face mask or clothing covering whenever we leave the house. In this episode, we do a deep-dive into all things mask-related, starting with Antoinette's initial attempts to make masks from home and a Lucasian mini-rant about mask-wearing as a patriotic act. Then we jump into the nitty-gritty, highlighting a must-see video making the rounds that delves into why masks are important and what they do. Antoinette...
Ep. #3: Is There a "Right" Way to Get Groceries?
April 19, 2020 22:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBIn a functioning democracy, our state and federal leaders might use their platforms to educate Americans about how best to handle and consume food during Coronavirus. They might even dispel misinformation on the topic. But that is neither the Texas nor the America we live. In this Texas, in this America, it too often seems like we're all on our own. So today, Antoinette and Lucas consider those questions and others in a food-themed episode. After reminiscing about the first instructional ...
Ep. #2: Won't You Be My Neighbor (From Six Feet Away)?
April 19, 2020 22:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBIn this episode, Antoinette and Lucas riff on how we keep time in these uncertain times, before launching into an exploration of mutual aid networks. These are grassroots groups, operating online, that match people looking for support (elderly folks in need of grocery delivery, for example) with volunteers ready to lend a hand. A recent NYT story on mutual aid networks can be found here. Come for the heartwarming story of mutual aid, stay for a Lucasian mini-rant on GOP attempts to repla...
Ep. #1: Save the Post Office!
April 18, 2020 22:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBIn our inaugural episode we discuss the uncertainty, anxiety and frothing rage that Coronavirus - and our government's response to it - has provoked, and of our desire to take concrete action to hold our leaders accountable. Across America, there's no shortage of ways to get involved, and that's doubly true here in Texas, where Democrats have a real chance to win the Texas House and flip key Congressional seats, including in Antoinette and Lucas' home district, TX21. Next we jump into why...
Ep. #1: Save the Post Office!
April 18, 2020 22:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBIn our inaugural episode we discuss the uncertainty, anxiety and frothing rage that Coronavirus - and our government's response to it - has provoked, and of our desire to take concrete action to hold our leaders accountable. Across America, there's no shortage of ways to get involved, and that's doubly true here in Texas, where Democrats have a real chance to win the Texas House and flip key Congressional seats, including in Antoinette and Lucas' home district, TX21. Next we jump into why...