Blockchain Chickens and Empathetic Tech Workers (with Xiaowei Wang)

Blockchain Chickens and Empathetic Tech Workers (with Xiaowei Wang)

Author: iHeartPodcasts December 23, 2021 Duration: 48:01
How To Citizen with Baratunde
SocietySociety & CultureCultureNewsTechnology

Baratunde is reminded that “tech companies” are really just people and asks what it would mean for tech employees to think critically about their work and its impact and use that power to remake the industry from the ground up? He talks with Xiaowei Wang, whose work at Logic School helps workers answer those questions. They also discuss blockchain, rice farming in rural China, and tarot. It’s all connected. 


Guest: Xiaowei Wang

Bio: Lead steward of Logic School, author of Blockchain Chicken Farm 

Online: Logic School website; Xiaowei on Twitter @xrw


Go to howtocitizen.com for transcripts, our email newsletter, and your citizen practice.


ACTIONS

 

- PERSONALLY REFLECT 

Consider consent and care

Think of what consent and care mean to you, and think of what consent-ful and careful tech would look like, function like, feel like. What relationships would be strengthened? Shattered?

 

- BECOME INFORMED

Learn about critiques and better ways

Read this explainer on Platform Co-ops, which are digital platforms collectively owned and governed by the people who depend on and participate in them. And follow the work of The Gig Worker’s Collective which is shining a light on and advocating for the people who work at the other end of our smartphone taps and swipes. 

 

- PUBLICLY PARTICIPATE

Support the alternatives and whistleblowers

Support community internet and technology groups like the Detroit Community Technology Project, NYC Mesh, and Oakland Mesh. And check out The Tech Worker Handbook, a collection of resources to better prepare and support tech workers considering whether to speak out on issues that are in the public interest. Recommend it to a tech worker near you, but don’t send it to their work email!

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Finding your place in a world that often feels broken can be disorienting. How To Citizen with Baratunde, from iHeartPodcasts, tackles that confusion head-on by treating "citizen" not as a static label but as a series of actions we can all learn. This podcast moves beyond the headlines and the outrage to explore the tangible, often surprising ways we can participate in shaping our communities and systems. Each episode is a deep dive into the mechanics of collective power, featuring conversations that span society, culture, technology, and news. You'll hear from people who are actively redefining what it means to belong and contribute, offering practical insights that replace helplessness with agency. The discussions remind us that while voting is crucial, a functioning democracy requires much more from all of us. This isn't about abstract theory; it's about the real-world application of citizenship. Tune in for a thought-provoking and actionable guide to wielding your influence, discovering how to move from being overwhelmed to being effectively engaged. The entire premise of this podcast is built on the idea that we can learn to citizen better, together.
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