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.

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.

• (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

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.

• (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