In this episode, co-host Omezzine Khelifa turns the mic on her fellow presenter, Jon Alexander. Before founding the New Citizenship Project and writing Citizens, Jon spent a decade in the world of advertising — helping big brands sell more stuff. So how did he make the leap from marketing to reimagining democracy?
Omezzine asks the thoughtful (and tough) questions as we trace Jon’s journey from consumer culture to citizen action — as they explore what it really means to tell a hopeful new story about democracy’s future.
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23:50
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23:50
Meet Omezzine
We’re figuring out how to fix democracy. Not by talking about it from a distance, but by meeting the people doing the work. In this episode, you have the chance to get to know co-host, Omezzine Khelifa — someone who’s lived every facet of this fight: reformer, revolutionary, politician, and practitioner. Omezzine proudly calls herself French-Tunisian, and her story begins in the heart of the 2010 Tunisian Revolution — what would become known to the world as the Arab Spring. From the frontlines of protest to the halls of parliament, from activism to tech, and even acting, Omezzine brings a rare mix of insight, experience, and conviction.
Chapters
(00:00:03) - How to Save Democracy(00:01:11) - How I became involved in the revolution in Tunisia(00:11:51) - Tunisia's first year under democratic rule(00:15:26) - Tunisia's opposition to authoritarian rule(00:19:54) - The 2019 Tunisian election(00:28:30) - How to Save Democracy
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30:44
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30:44
Citizen is a Verb
Back in September 2024, as the US election took an unexpected turn, we gathered at the Conduit Club in London with Baratunde Thurston and Elizabeth Stewart — the powerhouse duo behind How To Citizen. Since launching their project in 2020, they’ve been telling the stories of the “next democracy,” spotlighting people who are already reimagining civic life. In this episode, we explore their radical, hopeful idea: that being a citizen is something we do, not something we are. It’s a call to action and a reminder that democracy is not a product, but a practice.
Chapters
(00:00:02) - A New Democracy: How to Save Democracy(00:07:26) - Democracy and the Story of It(00:14:42) - The Politics of Intuition(00:21:43) - Invest in Relationships With Yourself(00:26:22) - The inner struggle of Tunisian protesters(00:29:42) - We Need to Understand Power(00:33:29) - 3 pillars of the Commit to the Collective(00:37:31) - The Story of Broadband in America(00:42:18) - 4 Pillar of the Engagement Plan(00:44:22) - The Case for a Democracy(00:54:41) - What I Found So Empowering About The Night(00:57:13) - How to Save Democracy
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58:00
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58:00
Facing the Menace
In this episode, we’re not looking away. We’re acknowledging the cracks in our democracies and asking what can still be done. Recorded live at the Conduit Club in early 2024, this powerful conversation brings together two sharp, prescient voices: political strategist and pollster Paul Hilder, and author and journalist Ece Temelkuran. Paul has worked on elections across Europe, uncovering the deeper trends shaping our politics. Ece, whose book How to Lose a Country warned of creeping authoritarianism back in 2019, draws urgent lessons from Turkey and beyond. Their insights feel even more vital now than they did then.
Chapters
(00:00:02) - How to Save Democracy(00:01:31) - Poland's election result(00:03:49) - Paul Krugman on the UK election(00:12:01) - The challenges of right-wing populism(00:14:59) - Germany's huge demonstrations against immigration plan(00:18:25) - This is What Politics Might Look Like in 2030(00:19:59) - How the Polish election affected the election(00:30:43) - Dissolving the Democracy(00:37:19) - The European establishment's choice between socialism and fascism(00:44:51) - Democracy in the age of Trump(00:51:06) - The role of faith(00:55:12) - AJ on Hope and Its Impact(00:59:48) - How to Save Democracy
Democracy is in trouble. Around the world, trust is breaking down, systems are creaking, and people are walking away. But we still believe in it. Not as something we have, but as something we do.
How To Save Democracy is a podcast about repairing our relationship with democracy, hosted by Omezzine Khelifa and Jon Alexander, with producer Jo Barratt. We hold space for the hard conversations — the ones we all know we need to have.
We’re starting with four pilot episodes — a Season Zero. But this is just the beginning. if you want more, we need your help. Sign up, spread the word, and if you can, support us. Let’s rebuild democracy together.
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