🎧 Full Episode: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

What happens when you combine the power of pop culture with tough global issues like extreme poverty, climate-related problems, or lack of educational opportunities?

In the case of Michael Sheldrick and Global Citizen, big, tangible change happens that makes lives better. Over 1.3 billion lives, in fact.

Global Citizen has mobilized over 12 million citizens worldwide, generating actions that have unlocked more than $43 billion for essential causes.

Michael Sheldrick, co-founder and Chief Policy, Impact, and Government Affairs Officer at Global Citizen, has been at the forefront of this innovative approach since he started building its structure while still attending university twelve years ago.

Michael is a self-described policy entrepreneur, a term he defines as someone who navigates gridlock and drives meaningful policy change in unconventional ways.

Global Citizen is the world's largest action-taking platform focused on eradicating extreme poverty, leveraging the power of popular culture to drive policy change. By engaging celebrities and influencers, Global Citizen amplifies important issues and mobilizes millions of people worldwide.

In this episode, Michael discusses the importance of pragmatic idealism, coalition building, and the role of implementers in turning ideas into tangible impact. Michael's work emphasizes that anyone, regardless of their background or resources, can contribute to meaningful change.

“We often say action is our currency. The core tenet of my belief is having a bias for action and that there's always something we can do to propel us forward.” - Michael Sheldrick

His new book, "From Ideas to Impact: A Playbook for Influencing and Implementing Change in a Divided World," is a comprehensive playbook for anyone looking to influence and implement change in today's divided world.

Through vivid storytelling and practical steps, Michael outlines how to navigate gridlock, build coalitions, and create actionable solutions. The book is a profound meditation on the power of collective action and the importance of holding leaders accountable.

In the book, Michael shares how Global Citizen has worked with other policy entrepreneurs to drive significant policy changes. He discusses the importance of pragmatic idealism, coalition building, and the role of implementers in turning ideas into tangible impact.

Michael's work emphasizes that anyone, regardless of their background or resources, can contribute to meaningful change.

🎙️ Hear my full interview with Michael Sheldrick: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

Michael’s Journey: Michael discusses his path as a policy entrepreneur and the founding of Global Citizen, emphasizing the importance of navigating gridlock and driving policy change through unconventional methods.
Pop Culture Meets Policy: Learn how Global Citizen leverages the power of popular culture to amplify important issues and mobilize millions of people worldwide.
Impactful Campaigns: Michael highlights successful campaigns, such as addressing period poverty in South Africa and transitioning coal communities to renewable energy in Australia, demonstrating the power of collective action.
Navigating Gridlock: Insights on bringing people on board, even when they don’t agree 100%, and building consensus through pragmatic idealism.
Role of Social Media: Discussing the dual role of social media as both a distraction and a tool for real, impactful actions.
Policy Entrepreneurship: Key themes from Michael’s book, including the importance of coalition building and the role of implementers in ensuring that commitments translate into real-world impact.
Leadership and Hope: Exploring authentic hope grounded in reality and the concept of "optopia" – achieving the most optimum outcome with available resources.