The power of storytelling is indisputable, but who is--and isn’t--telling those stories shapes our world far more than how much we simply enjoy a film or book. Bridgit Antoinette Evans and Tracy Van Slyke are leaders in building a more inclusive Hollywood and creating cultural change through storytelling in all its forms. In 2016, they founded the Pop Culture Collaborative, a network of more than 5,000 creators, activists, and philanthropists who are reshaping pop culture. They have worked with America Ferrera, Ava DuVernay, Issa Rae and a long list of other Hollywood icons and trailblazing activists. In 2021, they launched the Becoming America Fund to support creators that celebrate a diverse America and introduce the kind of transformative and often joyful ideas that help us imagine a better society. In this episode, Bridgit and Tracy talk about expanding the definition of pop culture and how it can--and must--be used to build a more just society, making Hollywood more inclusive, the digital water cooler’s impact on cultural narrative, the opportunities in the “big sky moments” that unite us, and the questions we should all be asking when we read, watch, or tell stories. It's a powerful and hopeful conversation.
Key Points From This Episode:
How Bridgit and Tracy learned that they could combine culture and social impact for change.
Solving the challenges of merging fact and fiction by expanding the definition of pop culture.
The importance of intentionally leveraging content and entertainment for social change.
Supporting art and creativity as part of building a more just society.
Reimagining existing Hollywood structures while also building new ones.
How the PCC fosters a community of culture-change artists in the entertainment industry.
The questions we can ask ourselves as we watch or read stories to be part of the change.
Engaging with social justice organizations working on the issues that come up in the stories we read or watch.
How “big sky moments” can unite us despite a fragmented social media landscape.
The impact of Black Panther as an example of transformational narratives.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Pop Culture Collaborative
Pop Culture Collaborative on Instagram
Bridgit Antionette Evans on LInkedIn
Bridgit Antoinette Evans on Twitter
Tracy van Slyke on LinkedIn
Tracy van Slyke on Twitter
Susan Ferry Price website
Susan Ferry Price Instagram
Susan Ferry Price Twitter
The Color of Change
Ava DuVernay
America Ferrara
Anna Deavere Smith
The Domestic Workers Alliance
Pop Culture as a Force for Good