The Civics Factor

Democracy goes to those who show up - Interview #14: Ilona Dougherty

Ilona Dougherty is the co-founder of Apathy is Boring (apathyisboring.com), a non-profit dedicated to preparing young Canadians for engaging in democratic politics. Ilona is Managing Director of the Youth & Innovation Project at the University of Waterloo and active contributor to a larger intergenerational discourse about democracy and societal participation that is badly needed. We talk about apathy, engagement, and how democracy goes to those who show up. The engagement and involvement of youth is part of a larger trend in de-emphasizing the importance of civics and civic literacy that has in part led to our current predicament.

Science literacy to survive the 21st century - Interview #13 - Claire Scavuzzo, PhD

Claire Scavuzzo, PhD, collaborated with experts to deliver a freely available course on Science Literacy. Among the literacy that people need to elect good leaders, an appreciation for science and what it means is essential for good citizens. Find the free course here: https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/science-literacy.html The Civics Factor is a podcast about the ideal civic education if democracy wasn't screwed. Like a lot of education, civics was politicized under a flawed paradigm that doesn't do what we desperately need democracies to do: elect good leaders who will follow-through on solving problems. Subscribe or add wherever you find podcasts and on YouTube! www.civicsfactor.com

Public opinion is not the public's opinion - Interview #12 - James Hoggan

James Hoggan, public relations expert and co-founder of DeSmogBlog, talks with me about the impact of PR to persuade people to pick up opinions that preserve a status quo that is trending poorly for the future of the planet. James is author of "I'm Right and You're An Idiot: The Toxic State of Public Discourse and How to Clean It Up". It's a great book full of great science on human psychology, political and economic behaviour, and in particular, justifications for why people in power do the things they do and why people support them even when it hurts them. The Civics Factor is a podcast about the ideal civic education if democracy wasn't screwed. Like a lot of education, civics was politicized under a flawed paradigm that doesn't do what we desperately need democracies to do: elect good leaders who will follow-through on solving problems. Subscribe or add wherever you find podcasts and on YouTube! www.civicsfactor.com