Why Protest Works—The 3.5% Rule with Erica Chenoweth

Why Protest Works—The 3.5% Rule with Erica Chenoweth

Author: Treat Media and Glennon Doyle July 8, 2025 Duration: 56:25
426. Why Protest Works—The 3.5% Rule with Erica Chenoweth Harvard professor and leading expert on political resistance, Erica Chenoweth, joins us to answer a critical question: Is the United States still a democracy, or have we already slipped into authoritarianism? Professor Chenoweth lays out where we stand—and shares a powerful, evidence-based strategy for reclaiming our collective power while we still can. -The warning signs of democratic decline—and how they’re unfolding in America right now -How just 3.5% of the population can spark unstoppable, long-term change -Why nonviolent resistance works—and why it’s our most underused superpower -What it really means to defect—and how to reclaim power from authoritarian forces Erica Chenoweth is professor at Harvard University who studies political violence and its alternatives. Erica directs the Nonviolent Action Lab, an innovation hub that provides empirical evidence in support of movement-led political transformation. Erica has authored nine books including, with Maria Stephen, Why Civil Resistance Works and Civil Resistance: What Everyone Needs to Know. Erica maintains the NAVCO Data Project, one of the world’s leading datasets on historical and contemporary mass mobilizations around the globe.

Life is rarely simple, and the conversations on We Can Do Hard Things reflect that beautiful, messy reality. Hosted by Glennon Doyle, her wife Abby Wambach, and her sister Amanda Doyle, this podcast creates a space where the difficult, tender, and triumphant parts of being human are examined without flinching. The dynamic between the three hosts-their laughter, debates, and shared vulnerability-turns each episode into a genuine conversation you’re invited to overhear. They tackle topics spanning relationships, societal expectations, personal growth, and the quiet struggles often faced alone, all with a blend of raw honesty and unexpected humor. This isn’t about abstract advice; it’s about real people navigating real life, which is why the community around this podcast, known as the Pod Squad, has become such a powerful force for connection and tangible change. The title is a mantra put into practice, a reminder that strength isn’t about avoiding hardship but about moving through it together. Tuning in feels like joining a candid kitchen-table talk where pretense is left at the door. You’ll find a unique mix of comfort and challenge in every episode, a combination that has resonated deeply, leading to an incredible collective impact far beyond the audio itself. For anyone looking for a thoughtful, unvarnished, and compassionate take on modern life, this podcast offers a refreshing perspective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

We Can Do Hard Things
Podcast Episodes
Family Roles: Which Part Did YOU Play? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:51
428. Family Roles: Which Part Did YOU Play? Amanda, Abby, and Glennon take a close look at the roles we’re assigned—or take on—within our families of origin. They unpack how these childhood roles stick with us, shape who…
The One Way to Get the Truth from Someone (Best Of) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:26
Amanda shares the one proven way to get the truth from someone – plus: Why Glennon calls her lying style “The Puppeteer” – and why you’ll never know what Amanda’s really feeling. Amanda defends our right to lie, and debu…
Is Work Stress Sabotaging Your Relationships? | Dr. Alexandra Solomon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:24
427. Is Work Stress Sabotaging Your Relationships? | Dr. Alexandra Solomon Renowned relationship expert, Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon, returns to help us navigate one of the most common—and least talked about—sources of rela…
How to Stay Soft AND Strong: Our Virtual Event [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:26
425. How to Stay Soft AND Strong: Our Virtual Event Live from the We Can Do Hard Things book tour, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda share an unfiltered, heart-opening conversation about what it means to be fully alive in a worl…
Don’t Tread on Me: A July 4th Wake-Up Call [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:29
Listen to this 8-minute rally cry before Independence Day. 250 years into the American experiment, it's time to remember: July 4th isn’t about loyalty—it’s about resistance. About dissent, demand, and dignity. About over…
We’re Taking Patriotism Back with Heather Cox Richardson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:48
424. We’re Taking Patriotism Back with Heather Cox Richardson Historian, writer, and truth-teller Heather Cox Richardson joins us to expose how patriotism has been hijacked by those undermining democracy, equality, and t…
Christen Press & Tobin Heath Protect What Matters Most (Best Of) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:31
Three soccer legends and Glennon go on an epic double date! Our beloved Pod Squader, Christen Press, is back with Tobin Heath to share their revolutionary reimagining of what life and love look like when you protect the…
What Is Our Rage Telling Us? with Dr. Becky Kennedy (Best Of) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:03
Dr. Becky Kennedy is back to discuss something rarely talked about: “mom rage” – and the crucial connection between anger and our unmet needs. What leads to these explosive moments – and why it's more common than we migh…
Mean Girls & Mothers-in-Law: HOW TO DEAL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:36
423. Mean Girls & Mothers-in-Law: HOW TO DEAL Amanda, Glennon, and Abby talk parenting through kid conflict, why girls are taught to avoid confrontation, and how to raise kids who trust themselves. They dig into the real…