In this episode, Dr. Zeitz is joined by Vinay Orekondy, an Australian-born attorney, mediator, and democracy innovator now working at the heart of America’s civic renewal movement. Vinay wears multiple hats as he serves as the Partnerships Director, Better Together America; Co-Chair, Braver Network (Braver Angels); and the Director of Programs and Engagement, Grand Bargain Project.

Vinay takes us on a journey from his early political work in Australia, through his disillusionment with the U.S. electoral system, to his leading-edge efforts to create an inter-partisan citizen-driven democracy rooted in community, deliberation, and shared power.

Together, they unpack the failures of winner-takes-all politics, the transformational potential of ranked choice voting and proportional representation, and the rising movement of civic hubs that are stitching together a new fabric of democracy—one that isn't driven by dark money or partisan games, but by everyday people.

Can we rescue American democracy before it’s too late? In this episode, Dr. Paul Zeitz sits down with renowned legal scholar and democracy innovation entrepreneur and leader, Professor Lawrence Lessig of Constitutional Law at Harvard University, to explore a bold path forward. From unraveling the corrupting influence of Super PACs and dark money to defending the Constitution against authoritarian overreach, Lessig offers clarity, urgency, and an inspiring vision for revolutionary reform of the Constitution.

Together, they dig into:

• Why Lessig believes the Constitution is in collapse—and what we must do now
• A groundbreaking legal strategy to dismantle SpeechNOW and weaken Citizens United
• How Citizens’ Assemblies could revolutionize democratic participation and safeguard reform
• The dangers and potential of an Article V Convention in the hands of the people
• Why Lessig says, “Donald Trump is the bus” hitting our already ailing democracy—and what comes next.

This is a masterclass in democracy renewal. Tune in, get informed, and join the movement for a citizen-driven future.

Are you ready to join #unifyUSA? Learn more about the transformational movement at https://unify-usa.org/

Get your copy of Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy here!

Get your copy of Revolutionary Optimism: Seven Steps for Living as a Love-Centered-Activist here.

Revolutionary Optimism is hosted by Dr. Paul Zeitz.

Is America at a breaking point—or at the cusp of a breakthrough? In this episode, Dr. Zeitz sits down with Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign and director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice. A lifelong theologian and anti-poverty organizer, Rev. Dr. Liz shares why we are living in a Kairos moment—a time of both crisis and profound possibility.

Together, they unpack the growing attacks on democracy, the war on the poor, and the billionaire class’s grip on our government. And they also lift up the fierce grassroots resistance blooming across the country: movements led by those most impacted, from diaper banks to climate justice fights in Cancer Alley. Liz shares the power of moral fusion organizing, the heart behind her new book “You Only Get What You’re Organized to Take,” and how survival itself is sparking a revival.

If you're feeling despair, this conversation offers a bold, grounded, and faith-infused path toward action, justice, and transformation.

• Learn more about the Kairos Center: https://kairoscenter.org/
• Learn more about the Poor People's Campaign: https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/