What if We? – Details, episodes & analysis

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What if We?

RALLY

Business

Science

Frequency: 1 episode/17d. Total Eps: 13

What If We? is a new podcast about advocacy, persuasion, and the messages that move us. Hosted by Kaitlin Funaro from advocacy agency RALLY, each episode features real talk with advocates and strategists working on issues like marriage equality, education equity, climate action, racial justice, and many others. Follow wherever you get your podcasts, and reach out to us at pod@wearerally.com.

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Data updated on 14/07/2026

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http://wearerally.com/
13 shares
https://harmonylabs.org/
1 share
https://www.nextchapterpodcasts.com/reimaginingus
1 share

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Score global : 59%

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15-Min FAQ: What Stan Culture Can Teach Us About Movement Building

Season 2 · Episode 1

Thursday, January 8, 2026 • Duration 17:08

What if fandoms are doing what traditional movements struggle to achieve—building belonging, joy, and coordinated power at scale?

In this episode of What If We?, Kaitlin Funaro sits down with Destiny Willis and Lillian Greer to explore what stan culture can teach organizers, advocates, and movement builders about identity, engagement, and collective action. From the origins of the term “stan” in Eminem’s song to today’s highly organized digital fandoms, the conversation unpacks how online communities evolved from passionate fans into sophisticated networks capable of real-world impact.

Using examples like Swifties taking on Ticketmaster—sparking congressional hearings and newer artist-led fan mobilizations—Destiny and Lillian examine how fandoms turn shared frustration into coordinated strategy. Together, they explore why joy, humor, merch, and being “in on the joke” can be powerful tools for sustaining engagement, especially among Gen Z.

In This Episode:

What fandoms understand about belonging and shared purpose that traditional movements often overlook
How movements can adopt fandom strategies without feeling cringe or inauthentic
The idea of “creating your own algorithm” to build issue-based communities
Which principles are universal—and which are specific to Gen Z digital culture
Why identity, joy, and shared culture drive sustained engagement
The risks of applying stan culture to advocacy spaces—and how to do it responsibly
What the next generation of movements might look like

About RALLY:

RALLY is an advocacy communications firm that works with foundations, nonprofits, businesses, and campaigns to change the way people think and act around today’s biggest social and political challenges.

Where you can find us:

wearerally.com
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Instagram

Do you have an idea for an episode or want to connect with us? Say hello at pod@wearerally.com.

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Metrics Don’t Create Community: Engagement Tips for Advocacy Communications

Thursday, November 13, 2025 • Duration 20:36

Storytelling moves people — but it’s not enough on its own. The real magic happens when stories spark engagement and build community. That’s why one of our persuasion principles is “storytelling needs engagement.”

In this episode, host Kaitlin Funaro talks with content creator Benjamin Coy and Dr. Ashley Elliott, a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and content creator better known as Dr. Vivid, about what it takes to turn storytelling into connection. From reclaiming queer narratives online to bringing those stories to life offline, they explore how authentic engagement transforms content into community — and why that’s where real change begins.

In This Episode:

The importance of cultivating online and offline connections
The emotional cost of chasing metrics and numbers over meaning and impact
Engagement is a two-way street to cultivate belonging for your followers
Why marginalized creators need safe, inclusive spaces to tell their stories
Advice for creators and organizations building authentic community on social media

Links:

Learn more about Dr. Vivid at doctorvivid.com and Benjamin Coy at linktr.ee/benjiecoy

About RALLY:

Where you can find us:

wearerally.com
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Instagram

Do you have an idea for an episode or want to connect with us? Say hello at .

Main Character Energy: The Psychology of Audience Identity

Thursday, October 30, 2025 • Duration 21:28

What if we stopped thinking about audiences as demographics and started seeing them as heroes of their own stories? In this episode of What If We?, guest host, Sheri Klein, Senior Director of Research and Strategy at RALLY, sits down with Principal Hillary Moglen and Riki Conrey, Principal Scientist at Harmony Labs, to unpack how audience identity shapes persuasion.

From the shows we watch to the personal conflicts we face, our media choices reflect more than just preferences; they reveal our values, aspirations, and worldviews. Together, Hillary and Riki explore how advocates and communicators can move beyond “reaching everyone” to instead meet audiences where they are, address their concerns, and craft stories that resonate deeply.

They also share why the “movable middle” isn’t about convincing people to agree, but about understanding their internal conflicts and helping them see the choices in front of them.

If you’ve ever wondered how to tailor messages that move people toward shared understanding and action, this episode offers both the art and the science behind it.

In This Episode:

What “audience identity” really means.
How the shows we watch reflect our values and worldview
Why advocates should explore different media segments to understand different audiences
The biggest mistake communicators make: trying to “reach everyone”
How to think about the “movable middle” through the lens of identity and conflict
Why conflict is not something to avoid—but to embrace as a path to persuasion
What the future of audience engagement looks like in an era of AI and changing media habits

About RALLY:

Where you can find us:

'No One Trusts a Phony:' What Authenticity in Action Looks Like

Thursday, October 16, 2025 • Duration 19:42

Authenticity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the foundation of trust, influence, and real persuasion. In this episode of The Art and Science of Persuasion series, Kaitlin Funaro sits down with RALLY Principal Latia Curry Harrison to talk about why authentic, genuine communication matters more than ever in a world flooded with polished messaging.

They explore how leaders and organizations can show up authentically—even within the guardrails of talking points—by embracing vulnerability, rejecting jargon, and backing up words with meaningful action. From public figures like AOC and Charlamagne tha God to lessons from the advocacy space, this episode unpacks real examples that make messages feel real and what makes them fall flat.

In This Episode:

Why authenticity is the foundation of persuasion and trust
The dangers of jargon and over-filtered messaging
Why unfiltered, emotionally honest communication connects with audiences
What we can learn from leaders who speak with consistency and conviction
The role of vulnerability in building trust and influence
Why actions must match words to sustain credibility

About RALLY:

Where you can find us:

wearerally.com
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Instagram

Do you have an idea for an episode or want to connect with us? Say hello at pod@wearerally.com.

Emotions > Facts: How MTV’s 16 & Pregnant and Jersey Shore became an advocacy juggernaut

Season 1 · Episode 8

Thursday, October 2, 2025 • Duration 20:14

Why do we remember stories, not statistics?

Persuasion isn’t just about presenting the facts—it’s about connecting with people on an emotional level. Today in our series The Art and Science of Persuasion, Kaitlin Funaro talks with Stephen Friedman, former president of MTV and adjunct professor at Columbia University, and Jason Rzepka, Senior Director at RALLY, to discuss how storytelling and emotional engagement can drive real-world impact. From MTV campaigns that shaped cultural conversations to lessons for today’s advocacy work, they reveal why tapping into emotion often works better than relying on data.

In This Episode:

How MTV used reality TV like 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom, and Jersey Shore to connect with audiences through story and emotion
Why connecting emotionally—rather than overloading with facts—can change minds, especially among audiences that aren’t already convinced or aware
The role of authentic, relatable storytelling in shaping public opinion and fostering social change
Strategies for advocates to integrate emotional storytelling without sacrificing credibility or forcing a narrative
Lessons from reality and scripted TV on how narrative can spark awareness, action, and empathy
How partnering with professional storytellers and showing social issues through personal journeys engages, educates, and inspires audiences

Media Influences on Social Outcomes: The Impact of MTV’s 16 and Pregnant on Teen Childbearing

About RALLY:

Where you can find us:

The Art & Science of Persuasion: How We Change Minds

Thursday, September 18, 2025 • Duration 26:42

What does it mean to be persuaded? And why do so many of us resist the idea of changing our minds?

Persuasion isn’t just about convincing—it’s about influence, connection, and building shared understanding. And in today’s polarized world, it might be one of the most important tools advocates have.

This episode kicks off a special series on persuasion. Over the next six episodes, we’ll explore the principles that make persuasion possible—how identity shapes who we listen to, how emotions matter more than facts, and how we can use connection and storytelling to bridge divides and make progress on sticky issues.

Today, Kaitlin talks with research director Sheri Klein and Dr. Nichole Argo, social psychologist and founder of the TogetherUp Institute. They unpack what persuasion really means in advocacy today, why going on the attack often backfires, and what the research tells us about how people actually change their minds. From sacred values to the power of community, they explore how communicators can use persuasion to build a “bigger we.”

In This Episode:

What persuasion really is—and why it’s more common in daily life than we think
The three M’s of persuasion: message, messenger, and medium
How authentic connection, curiosity, and listening can move people more than logic
Lessons from deep canvassing: why persuasion often works best when you’re not trying to persuade
The importance of building a “bigger we” in advocacy and communications

To hear more conversations about community and belonging, check out the podcast Reimagining Us with Nichole Argo & Scott Hutcheson.

About RALLY:

Where you can find us:

wearerally.com

15 Min FAQ: Becoming A LinkedInfluencer & Cracking the LinkedIn Algorithm

Thursday, September 4, 2025 • Duration 16:35

LinkedIn—it’s not just an online résumé. It’s a platform for storytelling, visibility, and connection. When used strategically, it helps decision-makers, partners, and allies find you, learn from you, and amplify your work.

RALLY's Kaitlin Funaro chats with the pod's favorite digital expert Elyse Dickson Becker and thought leadership extroidinare René Verma to break down all the essentials of LinkedIn — from what the algorithm rewards, to the role of video, visuals, and engagement, in just 15 minutes (well, almost!).

In This Episode:

What quality thought leadership looks like on LinkedIn
Practical tips to make your posts stand out
The value of engagement: commenting, sharing, and interacting to boost your presence
Video? Photos? Emoji lists? What kind of content the algorithm rewards
Why the "golden hour" of a LinkedIn post is so important for visibility

How the LinkedIn algorithm works in 2025

LinkedIn Algorithm Explained & How It Works

What LinkedIn Golden Hour Algorithm Means for Early Engagement

About RALLY:

Where you can find us:

wearerally.com
Follow us on LinkedIn

Building a Digital Community - Part 2

Thursday, August 21, 2025 • Duration 13:27

Episode Summary

In part two of our series, Building a Digital Community, RALLY’s Kaitlin Funaro is back with Jack Spiegelman and Maha Ghandour from our digital team to dive into what it takes to build strong digital communities. This episode is all about community management — the often invisible, always essential work of building digital culture that can handle the heat. From moderating comment sections to managing a viral moment gone wrong, this is your blueprint for turning followers into a values-aligned, engaged community.

In This Episode:

Why community management is more than just moderating comments
How to assess risk in real-time and decide when (and if) to engage
Why your message shouldn’t aim for consensus — but clarity
How to stay narrative-driven in a hot take era

About RALLY:

Where you can find us:

wearerally.com
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Instagram

Do you have an idea for an episode or want to connect with us? Say hello at pod@wearerally.com.

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Building a Digital Community (Without Feeding the Trolls) - Part 1

Thursday, August 7, 2025 • Duration 13:07

When you're trying to break through online, playing it safe doesn't always cut it. In part one of this two-part series, RALLY's Kaitlin Funaro sits down with Jack Spiegelman and Maha Ghandour from our digital team to talk about how to embrace controversy strategically. From knowing when to lean in to how to prep your team for the reaction, they unpack what it takes to post with purpose and build power, not just attention.

In This Episode:

How to lean into controversy without being reckless
What makes a post worth pushing and when to sit one out
Why first-person storytelling is your secret weapon
The case against chasing virality (and when to ride the wave)
How authenticity and values create staying power online

About RALLY:

Where you can find us:

wearerally.com
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Instagram

Do you have an idea for an episode or want to connect with us? Say hello at pod@wearerally.com.

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15 Min FAQ: Influencers & Digital Advocacy

Thursday, July 24, 2025 • Duration 15:32

Are influencer campaigns worth it? If you’ve ever asked yourself (or your comms team) that question, this episode is for you. From how to find the right creators to how much budget you really need, RALLY's Elyse Dickson Becker and Maha Ghandour break down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about influencer engagement for advocacy campaigns…in just 15 minutes.

In This Episode:

Influencer vs. content creator: what’s the difference, and why it matters
How to find the right creators to reach your audience
What kind of budget you actually need—and how to scale
Why smaller creators can be more impactful than big names
What long-term investment in creators could look like for issue advocacy

About RALLY:

Where you can find us:

wearerally.com
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Instagram

Do you have an idea for an episode or want to connect with us? Say hello at pod@wearerally.com.

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What if We? – Details, episodes & analysis

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What if We? – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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