Mutual Aid on Lockdown

This entire podcast exists simply to address one question: How do we do mutual aid during a pandemic? You know? Like, how do we organize during a time when we can’t even see one another in person? How are people building social power and social movements in these unprecedented circumstances? The purpose of this podcast is to hear from many different people about how they’re answering that question and what lessons they’re learning along the way. This podcast is meant to be a resource that doesn't require you to sit in front of a screen- listen to it while taking a walk!

Last refreshed: August 17th, 2025 at 7:28 AM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

#13: Wendolyn Omaña from Four Corners Mutual Aid on Intergenerational Trauma, Healing, and Doing Mutual Aid During A Pandemic.

In this episode, I talk with Wendolyn Omaña from Four Corners Mutual Aid. Wendolyn is a racial and social justice activist and former board member of the Colorado Immigrants Rights Coalition who is currently leading programs for the healing of intergenerational trauma within immigrant communities. We have a great discussion about these topics and how they relate to mutual aid! To find out more about Four Corners Mutual Aid, and help them raise needed funds, visit these links! https://fourcorners...

Sep 08, 2020•53 min

#12: LEGAL EPISODE - Michael Haber discusses the new Legal Guide for Groups doing Mutual Aid During COVID, potential legal problems and precautions, and how to do Mutual Aid during a pandemic.

In this special Legal Episode, we are joined by Michael Haber. Michael is a professor at Hofstra Law School, Lawyer and Activist in New York. He has recently published a Legal Guide for Groups Doing Mutual Aid During the Covid-19 Pandemic. We discuss potential legal problems that may arise for groups doing Mutual Aid during these times, as well as possible solutions. A lot is covered in this episode, and Michael does a great job of bringing these issues down to earth and making them understandab...

Sep 03, 2020•53 min

#11: Dean Spade on Motivation, Pacing, Building Capacity for Sustained Movements, and Doing Mutual Aid During A Pandemic.

In this episode, I talk with writer and organizer Dean Spade about some of the more personal aspects of Mutual Aid work. How does one go about finding motivation during a time like this? And how do you know the best way to plug in to groups or projects? And how do we pace ourselves while doing this kind of work? Dean offers a lot of great insight into these personal aspects, and then we talk about the bigger political picture too: How can our Mutual Aid groups be working to build capacity for su...

May 26, 2020•1 hr 7 min

#9: Grand Rapids Mutual Aid Network (GRAMAN) on Handling Cash Distribution, Representation, and Doing Mutual Aid During a Pandemic (Re-uploaded)

In this episode, I talk with LaDonna and Amy from Grand Rapids Mutual Aid Network about the work they're doing in G.R.! Since the beginning of the pandemic, they have worked with 150 volunteers, have given direct cash payments to over 173 families, have given away over $48,000 in those direct payments, and assisted over 245 families with groceries. We have a great discussion about giving away money actually isn't as easy as it may sound, and we also talk about the issue of representation when do...

May 20, 2020•58 min

#10: Ryan from Cooperation Long Island about Coalition Building, Working Across Differences, And Doing Mutual Aid During a Pandemic.

In this episode I talk with Ryan from Cooperation Long Island. Cooperation Long Island is a network of different Mutual Aid groups in the Long Island area, and it's so inspiring to hear what has emerged and what they've been able to accomplish by coordinating their efforts. A great example of building social power through effective organizing! Check out more at cooperationli.org www.mutualaidlockdown.com mutualaidlockdown@gmail.com

May 18, 2020•51 min

#8: Maggie From Cleveland Pandemic Response on Political Education, Working With Other Organizations, and Doing Mutual Aid During a Pandemic

On this episode, I talk with Maggie from Cleveland Pandemic Response. Maggie has been involved in Mutual Aid projects in many different forms, working with Food Not Bombs, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), and more. We talk about the amazing work that Cleveland Pandemic Response is doing, and she teaches me about a very useful platform called recovers.org. We also talk about the importance of Political Education work during times like these, and we discuss what Maggie has learne...

May 10, 2020•49 min

#7: Jeff Smith from GRIID (Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy) on Disaster Capitalism, Anti-Lockdown Protests, and Doing Mutual Aid During A Pandemic.

In this episode, I talk with Jeff Smith from Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy (GRIID). We talk about the ways in which the Capitalist Class (aka the wealthy elite, the billionaires, the top fraction of the 1%, etc.) is organizing to take advantage of this crisis to consolidate their wealth and power. We also talk about the anti-lockdown protests that have been occurring here in Michigan, and their ties to right-wing political ideologies. Jeff is doing an incredibly prolific amoun...

May 05, 2020•1 hr 20 min

#6: The MANY (Mutual Aid Network of Ypsilanti) on Navigating the Non-Profit Industrial Complex and Doing Mutual Aid During a Pandemic

In this episode, we're joined by The MANY: The Mutual Aid Network of Ypsilanti, which is located in SE Michigan. They are a Mutual Aid group that was formed before the Covid-19 Pandemic, and they share the lessons they've learned. They have non-profit status, though they are very critical of the Non-Profit Industrial Complex. We have a great discussion about the ways that this status can be used as a valuable tool, and how they work to avoid the problematic dynamics that often arise when operati...

May 04, 2020•1 hr 2 min

#5: Madeleine from Mutual Aid Katarokwi on Creating Networks Of Neighbors to do Mutual Aid During A Pandemic.

In this episode we talk with Madeleine from Mutual Aid Katarokwi, in Kingston, Ontario. Learn all about the ways that they are connecting neighbors and creating the infrastructure that allows ordinary people to act out their natural tendencies towards Mutual Aid. Learn more at mutualaidkatarokwi.wordpress.com or MutualAidKatarokwi@gmail.com. And this podcast's website is mutualaidlockdown.com! Email mutualaidlockdown@gmail.com if you know a project that should be featured!

Apr 29, 2020•48 min

#3 - Jena from Corona Aid 757 on Corona Response, Big-Picture Perspective, and doing Mutual Aid During A Pandemic

On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Jena who was been involved with Mutual Aid Disaster Relief for years, and is currently involved in CoronaAid 757. https://www.facebook.com/coronaaid757/ We talk about the details of this amazing project, how it got off the ground, and how all of that ties into a big-picture perspective. More info at www.mutualaidlockdown.com or mutualaidlockdown@gmail.com!

Apr 28, 2020•50 min

#3 - Se from Tucson Food Share on Doing Food-Based Mutual Aid During a Pandemic.

For this episode, we are joined by Se who tells us about the amazing things being done in Tucson by a group called Tucson Food Share. For more info, check out www.tucsonfoodshare.org or follow them @foodnotbombs_tucson!

Apr 27, 2020•41 min

#2: Tyler from Mutual Aid Disaster Relief on Community, Disaster Response, and How To Do Mutual Aid During a Pandemic

In this episode, we talk with Tyler from Mutual Aid Disaster Relief. Mutual Aid Disaster Relief is an amazing network of people who have been doing trainings and on the ground responses to natural disasters for years. Hear Tyler's inspiring insights and apt analysis in this episode!

Apr 19, 2020•52 min

#1: Cindy Milstein on Collective Care, Grief, and How To Do Mutual Aid During A Pandemic.

This is the first episode of the Mutual Aid on Lockdown Podcast- a series that exists simply to address one question: How do we do Mutual Aid during a pandemic? In this episode, we're joined by writer and organizer Cindy Milstein, and she shares inspiring and insightful stories about mutual aid during these difficult times. The energy and perspective that Cindy brings to this conversation are the perfect way to kick off a podcast about mutual aid!

Apr 11, 2020•53 min

Hosted on Spotify for Creators (Anchor)

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android