What If We? is a new podcast about advocacy, persuasion, and the messages that move us. Hosted by Kaitlin Funaro from advocacy agency RALLY, each episode features real talk with advocates and strategists working on issues like marriage equality, education equity, climate action, racial justice, and many others. Follow wherever you get your podcasts, and reach out to us at pod@wearerally.com.
What if We?
Claim This Podcastby RALLY
5.0(6 reviews)
20 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors
Podcast Overview
What If We? is a new podcast about advocacy, persuasion, and the messages that move us. Hosted by Kaitlin Funaro from advocacy agency RALLY, each episode features real talk with advocates and strategists working on issues like marriage equality, education equity, climate action, racial justice, and many others. Follow wherever you get your podcasts, and reach out to us at pod@wearerally.com.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
6/18/2025
1 verified contact email on file for What if We?
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Recent Episodes
June 18, 2026
America at 250: What Young People See Ahead
<p>As America approaches its 250th anniversary next month, one question looms large: what does the future look like for the generation that will inherit it? Young Americans are living through rising costs, political polarization, and growing skepticism about institutions—but they haven’t checked out.</p><p>In this episode of What If We?, Kaitlin Funaro talks with Benjamin Oh, Senior Data Director at the Alliance for Youth Action, about what young people actually think about democracy, opportunity, and civic engagement. Drawing on new research, Benjamin shares what’s driving young people’s hopes, frustrations, and priorities—and why many remain determined to help shape the future.</p><p>It’s a conversation about the next 250 years, and the generation already working to define them.</p><p><strong>In This Episode:</strong></p><ul><li>How young people see America at its 250th anniversary and the tensions shaping their outlook</li><li>Whether the American Dream means the same thing today as it did for previous generations</li><li>What research reveals about youth participation in voting, civic engagement, and political action</li><li>How economic concerns influence the way young people think about politics and democracy</li><li>What messages are most effective at motivating young people to participate in civic life</li><li>What advocates, organizers, and institutions can learn from youth attitudes toward leadership and change</li><li>Why authenticity, accountability, and bold ideas resonate with younger generations</li><li>What gives us hope for the role young people will play in America's future</li></ul><br/>
May 14, 2026
The Hidden Power of Memes
<p><strong class="ql-size-small">Episode Description:</strong></p><p><span class="ql-size-small">In this episode of </span>What If We?<span class="ql-size-small">, host Kaitlin Funaro sits down with internet culture writer and editor Aja Romano to explore how memes shape the way we communicate, organize, and understand the world around us.</span></p><p><span class="ql-size-small">What may appear trivial or disposable on the surface often carries deep cultural meaning. From catchphrases and reaction images to political symbols and online movements, memes function as shared cultural language that evolves as people remix, reinterpret, and redistribute them across communities. Together, Kaitlin and Aja unpack how memes gain traction, why authenticity matters, and what happens when ideas lose their original context as they spread online.</span></p><p><span class="ql-size-small">Drawing on examples ranging from Pepe the Frog and “Dark Brandon” to the evolution of terms like “woke” and “cancel culture,” the conversation explores how memes can both build connection and distort meaning. Aja explains why memes are difficult to engineer intentionally, why brands and institutions often struggle to participate authentically, and how marginalized communities frequently shape internet culture before their contributions are absorbed into the mainstream.</span></p><p><strong class="ql-size-small">In This Episode:</strong></p><ul><li><span class="ql-size-small">What gives memes their staying power while so many internet trends quickly disappear</span></li><li><span class="ql-size-small">How memes evolve as they move between communities and platforms</span></li><li><span class="ql-size-small">Examples of memes shaping political movements, public discourse, and collective identity</span></li><li><span class="ql-size-small">Why authenticity and spontaneity are essential to successful memes</span></li><li><span class="ql-size-small">How organizations and advocacy campaigns can participate in meme culture and the risks it involves</span></li><li><span class="ql-size-small">How memes change meaning as they move across different online communities and audiences</span></li><li><span class="ql-size-small">Whether memes can engage serious issues without trivializing them</span></li></ul><br/><p><span class="ql-size-small">Tap into more online culture via </span><u class="ql-size-small"><a href="http://fansplaining.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fansplaining.com</a></u><span class="ql-size-small">. </span></p><h2></h2>
April 16, 2026
Wear Orange: How a Movement Begins
<p>How does a simple color become a national symbol for change? In this episode of What If We?, host Kaitlin sits down with Nza-Ari, Founder of Project Orange Tree, and RALLY Senior Director Jason Rzepka to unpack the origins and evolution of the Wear Orange campaign.</p><p>What began as a grassroots response to tragedy, honoring the life of Hadiya Pendleton, a victim of gun violence, grew into a powerful cultural movement rooted in visibility, shared humanity, and belonging. Drawing inspiration from hunting culture, where orange signals “don’t shoot,” the campaign reframed the color as a symbol for the value of human life.</p><p>Together, Jason and Nza-Ari explore how Wear Orange moved beyond policy into culture and community, creating accessible ways for people to participate, connect, and take ownership of change. From local beginnings in Chicago to a decentralized national movement, this episode reveals how identity, storytelling, and collective action can shift norms over time.</p><p><strong>In This Episode:</strong></p><ul><li>The origin story behind the Wear Orange campaign</li><li>The goals of the campaign and the audience it set out to reach</li><li>The role of culture alongside policy in addressing gun violence</li><li>Whether the campaign was designed to shift cultural norms and perceptions</li><li>How the strategy evolved as the movement grew beyond Project Orange Tree</li><li>The signs that the campaign was gaining traction and shifting norms</li><li>Why belonging is essential to building and sustaining a movement</li><li>How people can get involved and participate today</li></ul><br/><p>Learn More:</p><p>Check out Project Orange at <u><a href="https://wearorange.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">wearorange.org</a></u></p><p>The 12th National Gun Violence Awareness Day will be June 5, 2026.</p>
20 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is What if We??
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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