TROUBLEMAKERS

Ep25: Participatory Action Research with Abel Sibanda

In this episode of Troublemakers, we dive into Participatory Action Research (PAR) with Abel Sibanda, exploring how research needn't be divorced from reality but can actually foster social transformation and systems change, especially when it's not separated from our complex realities and the actions of our movements. We discuss the nuances of solidarity when carrying out research together with social movements, and the many perils of academic extraction, including gatekeeping. We explore the idea of non-academics as researchers and knowledge-producers.
We also touch on the knowledge commons, looking at creative ways people are reclaiming access to information—liberated archives, inclusive attribution, or unconventional repurposed platforms like the famous cooperative sandbox game Minecraft where gamers have built a library that provides universal access to banned books.
We also interrogate the relationship between research and AI, AI as mass plagiarism, and the blind spots of AI with the assumption that communities hold and code knowledges that big tech fails to absorb.
Participatory action research is one of the many tools in the Beautiful Trouble toolbox.
Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Trouble Makers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media.
Our podcast is inspired by the Beautiful Trouble toolbox.
Resources & Links:
Minecraft’s banned book libraries.
Directory of Open Access Journals
Open-access knowledge repositories.
Our episode with Dalit knowledge-producer polymath Sarita Pariyar.

TM Smoke Signals: Crisis in Congo

In this first episode of TM Smoke Signal, we sit down with Stewart Muhindo to discuss the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo. From the root causes fueling the conflict to the devastating impacts on communities, we break down the complexities of the situation. How can the world step in? What role do international powers and regional actors play?

Ep24: Cultural Disobedience with Phionah Kyokusiima

If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.— Maya Angelou
Phil sits with a longtime comradely fellow organizer Phionah Kyokusiima from Solidarity Uganda. Together they delve into the tactic of cultural disobedience, which has just as much subversive power—sometimes more—as civil disobedience. Kyokusiima is a seasoned organizer with the powerful Solidarity Uganda network (solidarityuganda.org). She enlightens us on how
women are proliferating the spaces they have been excluded from and seizing their power through breaking traditional gender taboos.
Can culturally profane expressions serve as a mobilization tool for social change? Are they inherently powerful in themselves? Join us as we unpack these questions and more in a conversation that bridges questions of tradition and transformation.
Learn more about Cultural disobedience in the Beautiful Trouble toolbox, the inspiration for our podcast.
Connect with us by email at troublemakersthepodcast@gmail.com or via Instagram and FaceBook @troublemakers.podcast

Ep23: Practice Digital Self-Defence

And when they spy on us, let them discover us loving.
— Alice Walker
Our guest helps us answer many of the questions activists have about privacy and digital security. He has chosen to remain anonymous to share his insights on protecting oneself online, avoiding surveillance, and practicing safe digital habits.
From understanding encryption to safeguarding your personal data, this conversation equips listeners with essential tools for navigating the digital landscape securely.
Some of the tools listed include Signal, Tor Browser and VPN (s).
This episode is free to use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License with proper attribution to Trouble Makers (the podcast).
Our work is inspired by the Beautiful Trouble toolbox.
 
You can also learn more about Practicing Digital Self-Defence by reading through the principle.
 
Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook @troublemakers.podcast or write us an email via troublemakersthepodcast@gmail.com

Ep22: Use the law, don’t be afraid of it (pt 2)with Victoria Whalen

In this second part of our series on "Use the law, don't be afraid of it," we speak with climate justice lawyer Victoria Whalen, who offers a refreshingly positive perspective on what the law is and what it can do. She puts law in the hands of the people as a tool to mould new realities, and frames the history of legal rights as a living archive of movement victories.
Victoria Whalen is such a dynamic force in climate justice. With a background in biology, urban sustainability, and environmental law, Victoria is deeply committed to progressive climate policy, and on the front lines of cases and documentation projects that have the potential to provide a basis for people around the entire world to pressure their local and national governments more effectively, even as individuals or small groups affected by climate change.
She shares her insights on youth-led activism, indigenous legal frameworks, and bridging the gap between law and community organizing. We never wanted to be paralegals or lawyers, but after this chat with Victoria, now we're not so sure.
To learn more about Victoria's work, visit https://www.futuregenerationstribunal.com/ 
Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Troublemakers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media.
Learn more about Use the law, don’t be afraid of it in the Beautiful Trouble toolbox, the inspiration for our podcast.
Connect with us by email at troublemakersthepodcast@gmail.com or via Instagram and FaceBook @troublemakers.podcast

EP21: Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army with Angus Joseph

How does storytelling reshape movements? What role does humor play in activism? How can we clown a hostile moment, a climate protest, a global convening sold out to the billionaires? Do children understand political expediency better — should we all be clowns and ninjas and unashamed painters instead of activists and campaigners?
 
In this episode of Troublemakers, we sit down with Angus Joseph to explore the intersections of satire, absurdity, neoliberalism, and movement culture.
 
We also promised to link to research by Sophia McClennen, Srdja Popovic, and Joseph Wright about how satirical dilemma actions provide a 11-16% success rate boost to campaigns. That research can be found through CANVAS.
 
And speaking of Jedis, learn how to use their mind trick.
Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Troublemakers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media.
Learn more about Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army in the Beautiful Trouble toolbox, the inspiration for our podcast.
Connect with us by email at troublemakersthepodcast@gmail.com or via Instagram @troublemakers.podcast

Ep20: Burn brightly, but don’t burn out with movement psychologist Cristel Montenegro

Pain is often treated as something to suppress, avoid, or silence. But what if true healing comes from embracing it fully—together? We sit down with Nicaraguan movement psychologist Cristel Montenegro to explore the power of collective trauma processing. We examine how communities facing deep wounds caused by violence and systemic oppression can embrace healing through storytelling and welcoming emotion.
 
We discuss the role of anger in social movements, and why true self-care isn’t just a beach vacation—it’s about reconnecting with our senses. Cristel also reflects on the tension between grassroots activism and institutional change, and emphasizing joy, pleasure, and human connection in the fight for justice.
 
Cristel Montenegro is a social psychologist, researcher, and systemic psychotherapist specializing in trauma healing, community empowerment, and emotional well-being. She coordinates the Community Care Project on Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast and is the founder of Enraizar, providing accessible mental health services for women and communities engaged in social transformation.
 
Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Troublemakers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media.
Learn more about Burn brightly, but don’t burn out in the Beautiful Trouble toolbox, the inspiration for our podcast.
Connect with us via Instagram @troublemakers.podcast

Ep19: Al faza’a (a surge of solidarity) with Manzur Al Matin

"Beware the level-headed person if they’re angry." — Arabic proverb
What happens when a nation reaches its breaking point?
In this episode of Trouble Makers, we sit down with Manzur Al Matin, an Advocate in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and Senior Presenter at Channel 24. During the Monsoon Revolution, Manzur took a bold stand—filing lawsuits against the detention of student leaders, defending their rights, and challenging unlawful government actions.
Drawing from his firsthand experience, Manzur unpacks how everyday fear transformed into mass resistance—much like the Arab concept of Al Faza’a, a spontaneous surge of solidarity triggered by collective crisis. He reflects on the emotional flashpoints behind Bangladesh’s uprising and how decentralized leadership made the movement unstoppable.
We also dive into the challenge of sustaining momentum when the urgency fades—and the risks of speaking truth to power in a system where even civil society is compromised.
Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Trouble Makers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media.
Our podcast is inspired by the Beautiful Trouble toolbox.

E18: Story of Self, Us, and Now with Yomna Ahmed

"If I am not for myself, who will be? And if I am for myself alone, what am I? And if not now, when?" — Rabbi Hillel the Elder.
Yomna Ahmed, a Harvard-trained community organizer, empowers activists through Public Narrative and Community Organizing. She co-founded Athar Network, uniting activists across seven Arab countries.In this episode, Yomna explores the Story of Self, Us, and Now framework—how storytelling builds trust, mobilizes communities, and challenges power structures. We discuss ethical narratives, moving beyond hero stories, and how storytelling fosters collective leadership.This episode is for activists, educators, and organizers seeking to inspire change. Listen, learn, and harness the power of public narrative.Read more about Story of Self, Us, and Now and stay updated on how you can harness the power of public narrative.Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Trouble Makers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media.Our podcast is inspired by the Beautiful Trouble toolbox.

E17: Build People Power, then Negotiate with Gino Govender

What does it take to challenge powerful systems and win? In this episode, we explore the power of grassroots organizing, worker solidarity, and strategic negotiations in the fight for justice.
Veteran trade unionist and activist Gino Govender reveals how people power can bring even the most oppressive systems to their knees. From building worker power to outmanoeuvring employers and governments, this episode is a masterclass in activism, where we also explore the complex nexus of resistance and negotiation with our opponents — in workplaces, nations, and on a global scale. Gino takes us on a journey of reflections from the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, across international working-class mass organizations, and in other spheres of his experience. We grapple with age-old conversations of revolution versus reform and try to find common ground regarding movement strategies in our complex world.
Read more about Build people power, then negotiate and stay updated on how you can build people's power.
Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Trouble Makers (the podcast). It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media.
Our podcast is inspired by the Beautiful Trouble toolbox.