THRIVING IN TIMES OF STRUGGLE
What does it mean to flourish when the systems we depend on are under strain?
Flourish in Times of Struggle is a new podcast series for people who want to move beyond personal resilience and grapple with the deeper structures that shape our lives. In this opening episode, Michael C. Patterson introduces the series’ focus on systems, legitimacy, and collective action—and invites listeners to think together about how healthier, more democratic forms of governance might emerge.
Earlier Flourish As You Age podcasts focused more on personal change and development to promote brain health and mental management.
Podcasting since 2020 • 213 episodes
THRIVING IN TIMES OF STRUGGLE
Latest Episodes
#6 Positive Freedom: Resistance Isn't Enough
Drawing on historian Timothy Snyder's book On Freedom, this episode explores why resistance alone is never enough. Using the story of Mariia, an 85-year-old Ukrainian woman living in the aftermath of Russian occupation, Snyder introduc...
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Season 7
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Episode 6
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13:46
#5. Movement Ecology: The Work of Social Movements
What does it really take to resist authoritarianism and sustain democracy over time? This episode introduces Movement Ecology—a practical framework for understanding the different kinds of work that go into building a successful social...
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Season 7
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Episode 5
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19:55
#4 Beyond No: Building YES Coalitions for What Comes Next
In this episode of Flourish in Times of Struggle, Michael C. Patterson explores the difference between NO coalitions and YES coalitions—and why democratic renewal requires both. Drawing on contemporary activism and movement strategy, t...
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Season 7
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Episode 4
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12:32
#3 Lessons from MLK's LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL
Written from a jail cell in 1963, Letter from Birmingham Jail remains one of the most rigorous moral arguments in American history. This episode explores what King meant by just and unjust laws, why civil disobedience must be disciplin...
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Season 7
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Episode 3
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14:10
#2 - How Your Zip Code Influences Longevity and Well-Being
In this episode of Flourish As You Age, Michael C. Patterson explores the research of Jennifer Karas Montez, showing that life expectancy in the United States is increasingly determined by state-level public policie...
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Season 7
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Episode 2
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15:52
