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Transcript

The Power of Voting · Responsibly Different™

• 0:19
  Benn Marine: Welcome to Impact Chats, a responsibly Different podcast sharing conversations with industry leaders, leveraging business as a force for good.
• 0:28
  Benn Marine: Hey everyone, welcome back to Responsibly Different.
• 0:45
  Benn Marine: This is a special episode, not one of our typical impact chats.
• 0:49
  Benn Marine: Today I'm here with Chris, the founder of Campfire, to talk about something big that's on all of our minds the upcoming election.
• 0:57
  Benn Marine: Chris and I were in the office on Friday and wanted to help give you all some action steps for this final week of the election cycle you all some action steps for this final week of the election cycle.
• 1:06
  Benn Marine: As someone who used to work professionally on political field campaigns for various issues across the United States, I hope some of the insights that we share help to inspire and mobilize you and your circles to get involved in this final push towards election day.
• 1:18
  Benn Marine: With that, let's dive on in.
• 1:24
  Chris Marine: Ben, excited to have this conversation with you because we are right up against it, with this election coming up, less than two weeks out from when we're recording this, and I know you have always been and are currently very active and it's super inspiring.
• 1:40
  Chris Marine: You're active in canvassing, getting out, knocking on doors, you're lighting up the phones when you can in your spare time and so, from your perspective, what's the most influential way people can make a difference in the outcome of what's coming up?
• 1:57
  Chris Marine: And when we're recording this 12 days, 12 days away.
• 2:03
  Benn Marine: Yeah, that's real and a really important question too.
• 2:06
  Benn Marine: I mean, honestly, the most important thing everyone can do is vote.
• 2:11
  Benn Marine: Make sure that you know if you're eligible to vote early.
• 2:15
  Benn Marine: If you are, I highly encourage you to vote early.
• 2:17
  Benn Marine: A lot can happen on election day Family members can get sick.
• 2:22
  Benn Marine: Life happens that a lot of things can happen to prevent you from getting to the polls voting early.
• 2:27
  Benn Marine: You lock it in.
• 2:28
  Benn Marine: You don't have to worry about it, right?
• 2:30
  Benn Marine: So encourage folks to vote, vote early.
• 2:33
  Benn Marine: Check out vote early dayorg to find out what your voting early options are in your state.
• 2:39
  Benn Marine: So voting is one.
• 2:41
  Benn Marine: The second thing you can do that's super important also is getting your friends and family to vote Right, making sure that they have a plan to get to the polls.
• 2:48
  Benn Marine: Make sure folks know where their polling location is, how they're going to get there, when they're going to go.
• 2:54
  Benn Marine: If you can build an accountability systems, great, like, if you're going, can you bring people with you at the same time, right?
• 3:03
  Benn Marine: That's going to be really critical and important in terms of those get out the vote efforts.
• 3:07
  Benn Marine: And then, once we go beyond you picture yourself in almost like a little target, right?
• 3:15
  Benn Marine: So if you're in the middle of that target, your vote, the people in your sphere of influence, your friends, your family, your coworkers, your colleagues.
• 3:22
  Benn Marine: Right, talking about getting out to vote is nonpartisan.
• 3:25
  Benn Marine: Right, we all need to do it.
• 3:27
  Benn Marine: Then you, when you go outside of those circles, reaching out to people that you don't know is also really important and super helpful.
• 3:35
  Benn Marine: We know that field programs can influence and when I say field, I mean things like knocking on doors, calling voters on the phones.
• 3:43
  Benn Marine: Those sorts of things can influence an election by up to five points.
• 3:47
  Benn Marine: And I may be thinking, geez, ben, five points isn't a lot.
• 3:50
  Benn Marine: But if you look at all the polls right now, we are neck and neck and five points can and will likely mean the difference between winning or losing on the issues and candidates that you care about.
• 4:02
  Benn Marine: So, and then, when we look at those tactics right, when we look at direct voter contact, a lot of studies have shown that in-person, face-to-face, so knocking on doors is the most effective way to reach a voter and move them and create a plan with them.
• 4:22
  Benn Marine: I'll also say my just personally, I prefer doors because, uh, people are I have found a lot more eager to talk and um, are, I'm just gonna say kinder.
• 4:34
  Benn Marine: On doors too, right Like cause, you're a real human in front of them.
• 4:37
  Benn Marine: There's a human connection piece there that's very different, um and and harder to build that trust when you're on the phone with somebody.
• 4:45
  Benn Marine: That being said, phones are right behind doors.
• 4:48
  Benn Marine: Phones are also very effective and very important.
• 4:50
  Benn Marine: In fact, special shout out to Surge, showing up for racial justice.
• 4:54
  Benn Marine: They've got phone banks where they've been reaching out to undecideds in key states.
• 4:59
  Benn Marine: They're doing an incredible job and they have a lot of great studies showing that they're actually one of the most well-performing phone banks.
• 5:07
  Benn Marine: So if you're looking for a phone bank, highly recommend them.
• 5:09
  Benn Marine: We'll make sure that a link to them lands in the show notes.
• 5:12
  Benn Marine: And then, of course, you know until October 29th you can write letters to voters Right that there's also data to show that voters who historically haven't turned out to vote low propensity voters.
• 5:23
  Benn Marine: When they receive handwritten notes to help them get to the polls and they hear other people's why as to why voting is important to them, that it does actually increase voter turnout.
• 5:32
  Benn Marine: So writing those letters is also super important and you can do that through voteforwardorg and we'll make sure that ends up in the show notes too.
• 5:40
  Benn Marine: So those are three or several ways really.
• 5:44
  Benn Marine: If we go into, like your personal networks and all of that, several ways that folks can really have a huge impact this cycle and every vote's going to count, y'all.
• 5:52
  Chris Marine: And so for people that haven't been involved, before knocking on doors or calling that can sound super intimidating.
• 5:58
  Chris Marine: Tell us what that looks like.
• 6:01
  Chris Marine: What's a typical conversation look sound like?
• 6:04
  Chris Marine: I know for me personally I've only done some light, voluntary knocking on doors for the marriage quality in Maine many years ago.
• 6:13
  Chris Marine: It's scary to think of rejection or what that might look like, but I know from talking with you that oftentimes it's really about informing people who might even already be open to what you have to say.
• 6:28
  Chris Marine: It's not just doors being shut in your face, house after house or call after call.
• 6:33
  Chris Marine: So just like, paint the picture for folks that haven't been involved like, what does that actually look, sound, feel like?
• 6:39
  Benn Marine: yeah, I mean so a few things.
• 6:41
  Benn Marine: Like you know, and I think it's super common, a lot of folks are like, oh, phones, doors I think especially post-pandemic that interacting with strangers is really intimidating and that's super valid, and so I totally hear that.
• 6:55
  Benn Marine: And what I will say is that a lot of these actions, regardless of the organization, most organizations have a really robust training program.
• 7:05
  Benn Marine: So when you go, so if you sign up for a three-hour shift, typically the first 30-45 minutes can be a training um, and then you're out talking to voters for roughly an hour, hour and a half or more, depending doors, it tends to be a little bit longer, but um, and then, because you got to drive there, you got to get back all the things, and then you come back and you debrief and you get to shake off what was maybe hard and you get to celebrate the wins.
• 7:27
  Benn Marine: What I'll say, too, is that, and also, if you go to, if you volunteer and there is no training or you don't feel set for success and you're still nervous, you have every right to walk away and find another organization to volunteer with.
• 7:39
  Benn Marine: There are plenty of really great organizations that are really setting folks up for success.
• 7:43
  Benn Marine: There are plenty of really great organizations that are really setting folks up for success well, and I encourage you to, to volunteer with those folks and have a great experience, because I have found that actually having those conversations is really powerful and empowering.
• 7:58
  Benn Marine: I'm not going to lie, I still get nervous every time.
• 7:59
  Benn Marine: Every time I go to knock doors, the first few doors of every shift, I'm always like, ok, here we go, and I think people have this picture in their minds that, like doors are going to slam in their face, people are going to be mean and rude, and I'll just say that hasn't been my experience.
• 8:12
  Benn Marine: Like, sure, sometimes people are short or they're busy or they ignore the knock because you know, you know they don't want to be bothered and that's all fair, right?
• 8:28
  Benn Marine: I think the really important thing to remember when we're doing voter contact is that we are contacting people in their everyday lives while they're doing other things, and so if somebody is short or they don't answer or whatever, um, try really hard not to take that person, cause it's not, it has nothing to do with you, it has nothing to do with your cause or the candidate or any of the things that you stand for.
• 8:41
  Benn Marine: It's literally that they've got a lot of other things going on.
• 8:44
  Benn Marine: Um, I like to usually just I'll, just, I don't know.
• 8:48
  Benn Marine: Should I share a story?
• 8:49
  Benn Marine: Yes, I think that's helpful context.
• 8:52
  Benn Marine: Yeah, I mean I'll, I'll share.
• 8:54
  Benn Marine: So this is one of my favorites.
• 8:55
  Benn Marine: It's like one of my favorite stories and, um, folks who know me well may have probably heard this story before, but I remember working on marriage equality, um, back in 2013 in rhode island.
• 9:09
  Benn Marine: I remember knocking on this one door and this woman swings the door open and she screams at me to get off her property and slams the door shut and I was just like whoa, kind of blown away because that it's I.
• 9:19
  Benn Marine: I know, if you've never canvassed, you're probably like, oh my gosh, isn't that every door?
• 9:22
  Benn Marine: It's actually very rare that people are that rude and abrupt and um, and then so I'm like, oh, whatever, like, and I'm like, but I was like really upset by it.
• 9:30
  Benn Marine: I kept walking and then I was coming back, looping around my turf towards the end of my shift and the woman who had done that was actually walking down the street towards me and I was like, no, like I just had.
• 9:44
  Benn Marine: You know, your mind just goes to the scariest places and um, and she, she comes right up to me and, um, and I just freeze, kind of like a deer in the headlights, and she says I'm so sorry, and I just was like not really really know what to do with myself.
• 10:06
  Benn Marine: She goes.
• 10:06
  Benn Marine: I'm so sorry, um.
• 10:10
  Benn Marine: When you called and she started to get really choked up and she goes.
• 10:14
  Benn Marine: When you called, I had just gotten off the phone and found out that my mom died and she just started to cry and I hugged her and I'm getting choked up, um, um, and it was just this like really powerful reminder that like we're, as beings, very complicated and we have a lot going on all at any time, and, um that if someone's you know, especially when we're contacting strangers, like we don't know what's happening in their lives, at that time try to offer a little grace and remind yourself, like I don't know what that person's going through and you know what, if they're that rude to me like I, I you know I feel bad for them, right, like I don't know what they're going through, I don't know what's going on in their life that they feel they have to treat another human that way.
• 10:59
  Benn Marine: Um, it doesn't make it okay.
• 11:00
  Benn Marine: It doesn't make it okay for people to treat us that way, uh, and it can offer a little bit of perspective.
• 11:06
  Chris Marine: So it's powerful and I recommend folks give it a shot and when you're going out, are you going with friends?
• 11:13
  Chris Marine: Are there other people with you?
• 11:14
  Chris Marine: What's that?
• 11:15
  Chris Marine: What's that look like?
• 11:16
  Chris Marine: I know you're kind of like a lone wolf.
• 11:18
  Chris Marine: You are.
• 11:18
  Chris Marine: You are out there on a mission when you go, so you might be different, but like, are you typically with other people or by yourself?
• 11:24
  Benn Marine: yeah, I mean so, typically when you, especially with canvassing, typically they'll pair you up and so you go out in pairs.
• 11:31
  Benn Marine: Um, I have, this is, I think.
• 11:34
  Benn Marine: I think actually this might be the first time.
• 11:36
  Benn Marine: This cycle is maybe the first time I've ever been sent out solo.
• 11:41
  Benn Marine: Um, and I think part of that is that I was showing up at actions.
• 11:48
  Benn Marine: I went just solo by myself and when they asked like, are you comfortable going by yourself?
• 11:53
  Benn Marine: I was like oh well, actually yes, I am because I've I've probably not, I don't even know how many thousands of doors, but I'm sure you know.
• 12:03
  Chris Marine: Um, also, I think to know too, is when you're out there like you get to decide for yourself when you feel safe and when you don't.
• 12:09
  Benn Marine: If you ever feel unsafe, don't knock on that door like, just keep moving.
• 12:13
  Benn Marine: You know?
• 12:14
  Benn Marine: Um, and so yeah, so I, I myself have been doing a lot of solo shifts.
• 12:20
  Chris Marine: That being said, I encourage folks to bring a friend and do it together, um, and if you're like, and if that's an option you're like none of my friends are going to do that with me.
• 12:28
  Benn Marine: Ben, totally hear that too.
• 12:30
  Benn Marine: When you go to tell the organizer hey this is my first time.
• 12:32
  Benn Marine: I really don't feel comfortable going out alone.
• 12:33
  Benn Marine: Can you make sure to buddy me up, and they totally will 100%.
• 12:37
  Chris Marine: So that's a good segue.
• 12:38
  Chris Marine: What are you hearing from folks that you're talking with this year?
• 12:47
  Chris Marine: Uh, in particular because, um, it's been a relatively I mean short cycle, considering one of the candidates came in a little over what?
• 12:52
  Chris Marine: 100 days ago, um, so there's a lot of education that has been needed to be done by um for folks.
• 12:58
  Chris Marine: So what's what?
• 12:59
  Benn Marine: are you hearing?
• 12:59
  Benn Marine: Yeah, um, okay.
• 13:01
  Benn Marine: So I want to preface this with the phone banks, and the canvases that I've been participating in have been very specifically targeting undecided voters.
• 13:12
  Benn Marine: So I'm talking to a lot of undecided voters.
• 13:17
  Benn Marine: Right, that doesn't mean everybody's undecided.
• 13:20
  Benn Marine: It doesn't mean right Like I don't, and there are still a lot of undecided folks.
• 13:24
  Benn Marine: It doesn't mean right Like I don't and there are still a lot of undecided folks.
• 13:29
  Benn Marine: I, I think what has been challenged.
• 13:33
  Benn Marine: I'm just going to be super honest.
• 13:34
  Benn Marine: I think what's been hard for me is hearing how many folks, um, maybe don't want to vote because they feel like they're choosing between the lesser of two evils.
• 13:48
  Benn Marine: And I hear that, and I think for me and this is, and this is how I talk to voters too right, like I'm not coming at people with facts and numbers, and right, cause we know facts don't move people.
• 14:00
  Benn Marine: There's a lot of data to back that up, and so I just share with people why I think voting is important and why I'm supporting Harris, and I'll share that with all of you.
• 14:12
  Benn Marine: I think for me, while I may not agree on every policy and all of that, there is a very.
• 14:21
  Benn Marine: It is.
• 14:22
  Benn Marine: There are two we have in my mind, we there are two choices on the ballot.
• 14:26
  Benn Marine: I recognize that there are third party candidates and, in my mind, voting for a third party candidate is voting for Trump.
• 14:33
  Benn Marine: This is my perspective.
• 14:34
  Benn Marine: This is my opinion.
• 14:35
  Benn Marine: Take that for what you will.
• 14:37
  Benn Marine: This is between Trump and Harris.
• 14:41
  Benn Marine: One of the two of them will be our.
• 14:43
  Benn Marine: We will be electing for our president in this country, for the people who I, I actually, I talked to one voter.
• 14:55
  Benn Marine: Uh, last well, not last weekend, weekend before um I talked to this one voter.
• 14:59
  Benn Marine: He was a young, young kid, probably in his mid-20s, and this one voter.
• 15:01
  Benn Marine: He was a young, young kid, probably in his mid twenties, and this was his concern.
• 15:04
  Benn Marine: He was like you know I.
• 15:05
  Benn Marine: You know deep moral values and I just don't think that either candidate aligns with my values, and so I'm just not, I'm not going to vote.
• 15:13
  Benn Marine: I can't bring myself to support either of those candidates.
• 15:16
  Benn Marine: To him was I I hear you um, and that's super valid and um, because the other thing he shared with me, too, is he just didn't, he didn't feel like there would be an impact on him either way, right, that, like both were terrible choices, which I do not agree with.
• 15:34
  Benn Marine: I don't think they're both terrible, um, but he didn't feel like he was going to be impacted one way or the other.
• 15:40
  Benn Marine: So my response was that I'm happy for you that you don't feel as though you're going to be impacted by the next presidency.
• 15:50
  Benn Marine: I'm out here knocking doors and talking to folks because I can speak only for myself and I know that I likely will be greatly impacted by who we elect for our next president.
• 16:04
  Benn Marine: I'm a trans man, right, I worry about my access to healthcare, which this is all very true.
• 16:09
  Benn Marine: I do worry about my access to healthcare.
• 16:12
  Benn Marine: I worry about my ability to be as open about who I am as I have been in my communities.
• 16:20
  Benn Marine: I worry about my own safety and the safety of folks in my community.
• 16:25
  Benn Marine: I think specifically of, like you know, trans women of color and and the queer community at large.
• 16:31
  Benn Marine: I really my heart really breaks, um for queer youth and what our future might mean under, uh, another Trump presidency, um.
• 16:42
  Benn Marine: So I have a lot of concerns there that directly impact me and I shared those with him and I also said there's a lot of people I'm in community with that.
• 16:51
  Benn Marine: I worry about how this is going to impact them.
• 16:53
  Benn Marine: Access to health care is important to a lot of people.
• 16:56
  Benn Marine: There's just a lot on the line and I would rather choose a candidate like Harris, where I know we can organize and we can hold her accountable and we can push for progress, rather than electing somebody like Trump, which is going to radically change our organizing field.
• 17:17
  Benn Marine: Right, we're going to be put on the defensive.
• 17:18
  Chris Marine: We're going to be having to defend the rights that we have Forget trying to progress.
• 17:23
  Benn Marine: you know, in expanding rights and access to things.
• 17:26
  Benn Marine: We're going to be fighting to keep what we have and as an organizer, I would rather be able to fight for progress.
• 17:33
  Chris Marine: I think that's a good kind of transition to where I wanted to go next with this, because I think one of the most powerful things for me is thinking back to 2016, because I just remember so vividly that evening being filled with so much hope and thinking that Hillary has this.
• 17:56
  Chris Marine: Like it just seemed, there was so much momentum.
• 17:59
  Chris Marine: All the press it even seemed like all the press across the board was like she has this, and then, you know, as a evening got later to that 10, 11 o'clock it's like oh okay, well, lost a little bit of ground there.
• 18:11
  Chris Marine: It's fine, it's gonna be made up.
• 18:12
  Chris Marine: Midnight rolls around, then one o'clock.
• 18:15
  Chris Marine: I just remember sitting at that point.
• 18:17
  Chris Marine: Friends had left.
• 18:19
  Chris Marine: Um, uh, elise went up to bed, so sitting in the living room by myself, I turned off the lights, I had the fire going, so just the glow of the fire going, and I had the TV on.
• 18:31
  Chris Marine: And then two o'clock and two thirty came and I'm the most emotional thing about it, because it was just it.
• 18:38
  Chris Marine: I just couldn't believe it when she came out and gave her speech at that time and it seemed like, even though there was a lot more work happening the following days, that it was what was done was done, and it was like there seemed to be so much momentum.
• 18:57
  Chris Marine: It was like how could this happen?
• 18:59
  Chris Marine: Like how could this happen?
• 19:01
  Chris Marine: And that sometimes that false security is what I hope doesn't happen this time around, because I know there are so many people that say they want this to turn out one way or the other.
• 19:15
  Benn Marine: But then to your point that you're mentioning, from talking with people there's a lot of people that don't think that their individualized impact actually matters, that my vote doesn't matter, because my friends are going to vote, my family's going to vote.
• 19:25
  Chris Marine: Like, what is my one vote going to do?
• 19:27
  Chris Marine: So I just know I have 2016 because it was such a.
• 19:32
  Chris Marine: It was such a feel of literal heartbreak and anger and sadness and all the things and obviously cause you're my brother.
• 19:41
  Chris Marine: I thought of you through a lot of it, um, but I don't know what's your I mean you're to get back to why voting matters what's your?
• 19:51
  Chris Marine: Why, beyond everything that you just mentioned to us, sharing a lot about your story?
• 19:56
  Chris Marine: I mean, what's fueling you to be so active in breaking through when you might feel anxious about going out and pick up the phone?
• 20:03
  Chris Marine: I know there must be, you must be, in some respect, anxious a little bit whenever you have to pick up the phone or go out there.
• 20:09
  Chris Marine: Um, what, what's your why?
• 20:12
  Chris Marine: What's helping you break through that?
• 20:15
  Benn Marine: Yeah, oh man, you got me all like choked up already.
• 20:17
  Benn Marine: Um, I mean, in a lot of ways, 2016 is my why.
• 20:23
  Benn Marine: Because I remember so the 2016 cycle.
• 20:28
  Benn Marine: I was the deputy field director for a referendum here in Maine to pass background checks on firearm sales and I remember on election day I went out with the team to knock doors and you know, I wasn't even.
• 20:43
  Benn Marine: Also, I've never done candidate work I've never all the campaigns I ever worked on were issues.
• 20:48
  Benn Marine: It was like marriage, equality, non-discrimination, rank choice, voting right.
• 20:51
  Benn Marine: It was all like all of my.
• 20:53
  Benn Marine: You know, all the work I've done has been on issues, um, mainly because I candidates are people and people are imperfect, and when you're working on a campaign, it's your blood, sweat, tears, it's your whole life, and if I'm going to give my life to something, it's going to be an issue and not something as imperfect as a person.
• 21:11
  Benn Marine: Yet, on doors in 2016, something that I heard all day was people saying that they weren't going to vote day was people saying that they weren't going to vote because because of the presidential race, you know, and, of course, like, oh, you can vote on the issues, you don't have to vote on the, you know, whatever the presidential race, and but but then I, I you know, but I also I would press people on it and you know, I started asking folks like how are you going to feel?
• 21:40
  Benn Marine: Cause?
• 21:42
  Benn Marine: A lot of what I was hearing is I can't bring myself to vote for Hillary, which not going to lie.
• 21:46
  Benn Marine: I feel like I'm hearing a lot of that this cycle too.
• 21:48
  Benn Marine: They couldn't bring themselves to support Hillary and my response was just how are you going to feel if Trump wins?
• 21:56
  Benn Marine: Every person I asked that to everybody that I, and of course, this was off script.
• 22:00
  Benn Marine: I asked that to everybody that I and of course this was off script, but like every person I posed that to came back with he can't win, he's not going to win, it doesn't matter, hillary's going to win and I don't want to have to vote for her.
• 22:15
  Benn Marine: And everyone just assumed that he couldn't win.
• 22:18
  Benn Marine: And then he did.
• 22:23
  Benn Marine: So my why this cycle is we've I know we've been down this road before and I was so afraid in 2016 that he was going to win that I had my name legally changed.
• 22:36
  Benn Marine: I never had any intention of legally changing my name.
• 22:39
  Benn Marine: Um, that was kind of like my own little like queer protest to like I know it's not common, that's my own stuff, but like, I legally had my name changed just so that I could be more legally stealth because I was afraid Trump was going to win.
• 22:53
  Benn Marine: Um, and so this cycle.
• 22:56
  Benn Marine: What motivates me is I need to be able to wake up after we know the results and the outcome of this election, and I need to be able to look in the mirror and know I did everything I could do.
• 23:09
  Benn Marine: I want no regrets.
• 23:12
  Benn Marine: I want to know I did everything in my power.
• 23:14
  Benn Marine: Um, yeah, and that's what's every time.
• 23:21
  Benn Marine: I have a thought of like maybe I'll just skip this phone bank.
• 23:24
  Benn Marine: Or maybe I'm like, how am I, how am I going to feel the day after the election If, worst case scenario, if Trump wins?
• 23:33
  Benn Marine: How am I going to feel?
• 23:34
  Benn Marine: I'm going to regret not going to that phone bank.
• 23:37
  Benn Marine: So I go.
• 23:39
  Chris Marine: And the neat thing is when you're talking about going, these are virtual, so like people don't have to think about even going anywhere, which I didn't realize because again, the only which I'm ashamed to say, but we're all being vulnerable here but the only campaign I volunteered on was that marriage call in 2012.
• 23:57
  Chris Marine: And that was very much like that was all in person.
• 23:59
  Chris Marine: So it is neat to say, like you're going, but people don't have to go anywhere, like a lot is virtual?
• 24:08
  Benn Marine: yeah it's.
• 24:08
  Benn Marine: You literally just have to find a cozy place with your fur babies and jump on a computer and have your phone handy.
• 24:16
  Chris Marine: It's very easy and if you're worried about people knowing your number.
• 24:19
  Benn Marine: It's all auto, auto dialer.
• 24:20
  Benn Marine: No one will know your number.
• 24:22
  Benn Marine: It's very.
• 24:22
  Benn Marine: They make it very easy.
• 24:27
  Chris Marine: I will get involved.
• 24:28
  Chris Marine: I'm going to join you on Sunday, I'm going to join you on one of these days and like, get out there.
• 24:32
  Chris Marine: But you do bring people a lot of hope with your, with your actions.
• 24:38
  Chris Marine: But what brings you hope?
• 24:45
  Benn Marine: with your, with your actions, um, but what brings you hope?
• 24:47
  Benn Marine: Honestly, I think what's really exciting and what inspires me especially this cycle is I've I mean it always, you know every, every campaign there's always like new people that have like never done this before and that's always like that is the best, like just seeing people do something and surprise themselves and be like, oh I didn't know I could do that, and they do the thing.
• 25:04
  Benn Marine: It's always beautiful and amazing and inspiring, and this cycle in particular.
• 25:09
  Benn Marine: I am so impressed and so blown away with the number of people who are phone banking for the first time, canvassing for the first time and then coming back for more Like I you know, come election day, win or lose.
• 25:30
  Benn Marine: What gives me hope is that there are so many, so many people that care so deeply about each other and this country, cause I think that gets lost a lot.
• 25:45
  Benn Marine: You know, I think we get caught up in the division and we all we hear in the new, all we hear in the new cycles, the division and the rhetoric and the yelling at the raw, and it's so intense and y'all, there are hundreds of thousands of millions of people out there organizing, advocating, picking up a pen for the first time to write letters for the first time.
• 26:06
  Benn Marine: Mom wrote 200 letters this cycle.
• 26:09
  Benn Marine: She's no, I know.
• 26:11
  Benn Marine: Go, mom, go right.
• 26:12
  Benn Marine: Like where everyone is chipping in and doing what they can.
• 26:15
  Benn Marine: And you know, and I, and I don't and I'm not saying that to shame anybody if you're, if you're listening to this, you're like, oh shoot, I haven't done anything.
• 26:20
  Benn Marine: Like there time.
• 26:22
  Benn Marine: And like also sometimes like self-care is a radical act, right.
• 26:27
  Benn Marine: And like that's okay too.
• 26:29
  Benn Marine: I think you know, do what you can in a way that feels um, in a way that feels good for you, right, stretch a little, but also don't shame yourself, right?
• 26:45
  Benn Marine: There is a mass of people that care so deeply about one another and this country and that's inspiring.
• 26:54
  Benn Marine: And win or lose.
• 26:55
  Benn Marine: That will continue on and we will continue to work towards a brighter future for everybody.
• 27:03
  Benn Marine: As cheesy as that sounds, I do believe it.
• 27:07
  Chris Marine: I do love the cheese.
• 27:08
  Chris Marine: We both love the cheese, so that's okay.
• 27:09
  Chris Marine: I think that's a great place to end now with this conversation.
• 27:13
  Chris Marine: People should know we'll be sharing on our Campfire pages resources for people to better understand how they can get involved.
• 27:24
  Chris Marine: Ben already mentioned a couple organizations that you can uh find out information from.
• 27:30
  Chris Marine: We'll also be sharing, because we understand a lot of folks that follow this responsibility for podcasts or business leaders.
• 27:35
  Chris Marine: We are also thinking about the communications um leading up to election day and following election day.
• 27:46
  Chris Marine: So just follow along.
• 27:48
  Chris Marine: Ben puts a lot of thought and it comes from a lot of experience from his time at Campfire, but also all his time with community organizing pre being at Campfire all his time with community organizing pre being at campfire.
• 28:04
  Chris Marine: So I think a really important thing is to what you mentioned, where people do have to take care of themselves through this, because this is a very anxiety inducing time for folks.
• 28:12
  Chris Marine: So, everyone, I'm going to let you end with the final word, but my thing is cause you always end with a nice response.
• 28:19
  Chris Marine: You know, like your response, a different tag there, but I just encourage everyone to like take care of your, your mental health through all of this because there is a lot of noise out there right now.
• 28:30
  Chris Marine: So take care of yourself, take care of each other, and and you gave us a lot of reasons to have hope.
• 28:40
  Benn Marine: So thank you.
• 28:41
  Benn Marine: Yeah, absolutely.
• 28:42
  Benn Marine: And that mental health piece is really important.
• 28:44
  Benn Marine: I mean I'm willing to share that.
• 28:46
  Benn Marine: I'm really excited I'm starting therapy next week, Right?
• 28:51
  Benn Marine: So, like, do what you need to do, you know.
• 28:53
  Benn Marine: Um, uh, you know, I think, taking care of yourself, taking care of each other, unplugging, right?
• 29:01
  Benn Marine: I mean, if you're somebody who's like obsessed with the polls, maybe make a rule for yourself that you don't look at the polls after 4 pm, right?
• 29:09
  Benn Marine: Think about the information that you're consuming.
• 29:12
  Benn Marine: So, for me, I think about if the information I'm consuming isn't something that I can act on, right, If it's not something that I can make a difference on in the moment.
• 29:23
  Benn Marine: Like it's important to be informed, right.
• 29:25
  Benn Marine: Like we do want to stay informed and know what's happening.
• 29:27
  Benn Marine: And there comes a point where you know you can listen to the talking head so much that it can just work you into a tizzy.
• 29:34
  Benn Marine: I know that happens to me.
• 29:35
  Benn Marine: So, as long as I know just kind of the key things that are happening in the world I love the BBC.
• 29:39
  Benn Marine: They also have you know that.
• 29:41
  Benn Marine: Just kind of the key things that are happening in the world, I love the BBC.
• 29:42
  Benn Marine: They also have.
• 29:43
  Benn Marine: You know that.
• 29:43
  Benn Marine: God, I love that accent.
• 29:44
  Benn Marine: It's so good, right, Like they can tell me what's happening in the world.
• 29:46
  Benn Marine: I listen to NPR.
• 29:47
  Benn Marine: I get that like five minute like download of all that's happening and then I try to disconnect from the news and I try not to let all of the fire and fury of this cycle get to me as best as I can, because I know I'm doing everything I can Right.
• 30:05
  Benn Marine: So take that for what it's worth.
• 30:09
  Benn Marine: Take care of yourself, protect your mental space, um, take care of each other, check in on each other.
• 30:14
  Benn Marine: We'll also, um, I'll also find some good mental health resources, just links to hotlines and things for folks.
• 30:21
  Benn Marine: So just be sure to check the show notes and the links for all of those resources and take care of yourself and each other.
• 30:38
  Benn Marine: A few key takeaways I want to leave you all with First and foremost, vote and vote early if you're eligible.
• 30:45
  Benn Marine: If you want to leave it all on the field, I encourage you to explore ways you can help other people get to the polls and vote as well.
• 30:51
  Benn Marine: Canvas phone bank.
• 30:53
  Benn Marine: If you're listening to this, on Monday, the 28th, you can write letters today so long as they are in the mail tomorrow.
• 31:00
  Benn Marine: Talk to your friends and family and make sure they have a plan to vote.
• 31:04
  Benn Marine: Make sure they know where they're going, how they're going to get there.
• 31:07
  Benn Marine: Maybe they'll go with you right.
• 31:09
  Benn Marine: Work through some of those vote plans with friends and family and take care of yourself.
• 31:15
  Benn Marine: Take digital breaks.
• 31:16
  Benn Marine: Limit news and social media intake to specific times.
• 31:20
  Benn Marine: Each day, Over-consuming news can increase stress, so creating those boundaries is really important.
• 31:25
  Benn Marine: Stay active.
• 31:26
  Benn Marine: Physical activity, whether it's a walk or a run or just some simple stretches at your desk, helps relieve tension and boost mood.
• 31:33
  Benn Marine: Even a few minutes of movement can make a big difference.
• 31:38
  Benn Marine: And maybe practice some grounding techniques.
• 31:39
  Benn Marine: Try a quick breathing exercise Inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four and repeat.
• 31:47
  Benn Marine: Grounding practices like this can calm nerves and bring you back to the present moment.
• 31:52
  Benn Marine: Connect with your friends and family.
• 31:54
  Benn Marine: Spend time with people who support and uplift you.
• 31:57
  Benn Marine: Having open conversations or even lighthearted moments can help manage the intensity of election season and remember your impact.
• 32:04
  Benn Marine: Reflect on what you're doing to make a difference, no matter the size.
• 32:09
  Benn Marine: It's all really important.
• 32:11
  Benn Marine: Thank you, we appreciate you, and until next time, be responsibly different.
• 32:18
  Benn Marine: This content is made possible by Campfire Consulting, a strategic communications company on a mission to turn consumers into activists, one purchase at a time.
• 32:31
  Benn Marine: To learn more about Campfire Consulting, visit the link in the show notes.
• 32:35
  Benn Marine: This episode was produced by yours truly.
• 32:37
  Benn Marine: Ben Marine Music was licensed by B Corp certified Marmoset Music.
• 32:41
  Benn Marine: To access more resources, visit responsiblydifferentcom.