Amy here, creator of The Art of Resistance Podcast. We’ve reached the end of our first season! So I wanted to bring a few threads together, and chat about what’s next.
Want to support the show, and the next seasons? Here’s some things you can do:
Rate and review the show in your favorite podcast player.
Share the show with your friends
Share a story about making art as resistance that we should feature on the show, one from the past, or one from today.
And if you’re able, sign up for a paid subscription at our site. This is an independent production, made just by me. And subscribing helps keep the show going!
FROM THE EPISODE
First, thank you for listening!
As I prep season 2, I’ll be releasing some things to tide you over. Bonus episodes, along with a new addition to the weekly newsletter.
Before we talk about that. I’m always curious about the creators behind the things I like. After I watch a good movie, or a show, or read a book, I head to the internet to learn more about the actors, the writers, the producers, and it deepens my love.
So I thought I’d tell you a bit about why and how this show came to be.
And you’ll hear special appearances by the podcats: Ziggy Stardust, Winona Ryder, and Louise.
QUITTING
When the MAGA crowd won again last year, I wasn’t too surprised. When organizations and media started self-censoring earlier this year, I was not surprised. And when the company I worked for, a global corporation that was very proud of its record of allyship and DEI, began to stop talking about allyship and DEI, I was not surprised.
But I was also…just done. As a writer and podcaster and creative, I’d made an agreement with myself that I would keep the job for the money, but not give them my enthusiasm and energy. I’d use the money to fund the work I wanted to do. I was incredibly privileged that I could do that.
But something shifted this year. I couldn’t even do the minimal pretending anymore. I couldn’t spend one more minute writing about how rich executives could avoid risk. I couldn’t attend one more meeting filled with only white men. One day I was done, and I just…quit.
For 25 years, I’d done many of the things you’re supposed to do. I was the first in my family to go to college, and move away, and I’m the weirdo that never wanted kids or marriage. But when it came to work and money, I still internalized their lessons about being practical and realistic. Art and writing are not valid career paths, but fun little hobbies. So I sold bits of myself to advertising firms, academia, and corporate communications, using some of my hard fought creativity and writing skills to sell shit. Because you grit your fucking teeth and you work, bitch.
But this year, I ignored practicality. I quit, and I did the thing you’re not supposed to do and cashed in my meager 401K. Because I could die tomorrow and what good would that money soaked in stock market blood do then?
Fuck it.
I thought I’d take a little break before figuring out my next move. But immediately, as I rid myself of corporate bullshit, my brain started boiling over with ideas.
NEURODIVERGENCE + ACTIVISM
So that’s one thing to know about how this show came to be. Another is that I finally figured out why I’m bad at traditional activism.
I discovered in my forties that I’m autistic. Among the many, many things that made me understand about myself, it gave me a reason for something I felt deep shame about. I tried again and again, for decades, to volunteer with the progressive causes and organizations I support deeply. But the minute they told me I had to knock on doors, or call people, or navigate big crowds in a protest, or show up at senators’ offices to lobby, I fled.
It was beyond preference, or a deep fear of conflict. It felt literally impossible and painful. And for years, I thought I was just weak. A failure. A bad, hypocritical activist.
Once I learned that my brain was just wired differently from the norm, I rethought all that. I wasn’t a failure at activism… I was just trying to do it like normal people. And I’m not normal.
When I quit my job, I immediately started thinking about this. Because I may not be able to knock on doors, but I can help a progressive organization doing great work make a podcast. I may not be able to lobby and protest in the streets, but I can write some messaging like a boss.
So I started Rebel Yell Creative, where I can use some of my creative skills to help progressive organizations, business owners, and individuals. I can help people fight for a better world in nontraditional ways, especially if, like me, the traditional means are just impossible.
And one of those ways is through art.
In my first weeks of freedom after quitting, I read a book called Acts of Resistance by Amber Massie-Blomfield. And she mentioned a group I’d never heard of – Gran Fury. How did I not know about this small group of artists that powered ACT UP?
Amber also talked about Claude Cahun & Marcel Moore. How the fuck did I not know about these amazing middle-aged queer pioneers that convinced the Nazis they were an entire anti-war movement?
So I started reading all the books Amber referenced. And the books they referenced.
Reading about these people who used art to resist the status quo, but also to save themselves, I felt … better. Like all wasn’t lost. Like we could survive this moment.
And then I wanted everyone to feel this way.
Hence, this podcast.
BONUSES + SEASON 2
In season 1, we heard how artists across the twentieth century, across the world, across genres of art, fought against tyranny and the status quo. And there’s so many more stories to tell.
As I said, I’m working on Season 2, with stories about: singing the truth about racist violence, crafting in horrific regimes, and even the radical movement behind the little movie called 9 to 5.
But in the meantime, I’ll also be releasing bonus episodes. The Modern Mini series will take short, brief looks at modern artists fighting back.
Also, I’ll be sending out a beefed-up newsletter. If you signed up at The Art of Resistance Podcast.com, you’ve been getting weekly emails with links to episode art, music, transcripts, and more. In our break before Season 2, the newsletter will share links to good news and stories, recommended reading and listening, and more. I’ll be sharing the things that are keeping me connected and committed, including mission-driven journalism and artists and reporters on Substack.
So be sure to sign up at the site for free. Link in show notes.
SUPPORT
Now – let’s say you’re a fan of the show and want to support the work. Here’s some things you can do:
Rate and review the show in your favorite podcast player.
Share the show with your friends
Share a story about making art as resistance that we should feature on the show, one from the past, or one from today.
And if you’re able, sign up for a paid subscription at our site. This is an independent production, made just by me. And subscribing helps keep the show going!
WHAT DO WE DO FROM HERE?
To wrap up, just like in each episode, let’s summarize all the ways we learned to fight back with art this season.
Because we are all creative. We can all finds ways to resist.
So here’s what we do from here:
We prize the truth, and we tell the truth.
We tell our stories. The ones you’ve been putting off, the ones you think are too weird or loud or scary.
We tell them in our way. Think zines and blogs, think audio and visual, think social and analog. Get creative and get weird, and work to reach the person and people who need to see it and hear it.
We understand the power of using our voice and making our art for our own survival.
We find others. We look for the people we can collaborate with, create with, commiserate with.
We lean in to the things we think are drawbacks.
We embrace our cultures, and create work to honor them.
We create revolutionary art to reach the people who need to see it and hear it.
We lean in to unrespectability. We don’t owe anyone good behavior. And we can use that mandate to act out in powerful ways.
We use play, and fun, as a tool. As you’ve no doubt seen on social media, joy is an act of resistance. So is theater, and art, and making things, for protest and for life.
We appropriate insults. People think independent, childless, old women like me are useless? That just means I’m free. So I’m a witch, I’m a bitch, I’m a cunt. And I’m coming for you.
And we don’t think of this as short term. Even if we get a new administration in 2028, even if we miraculously come out of this terrifying, tyrannical moment, there is so much to fight against and for. This is a long-term commitment to making art for a better world.
CREATE YOUR ART
Do you need some help bringing your ideas to life? Been wanting to make a podcast, or write a book, or make something super weird? Or reframe your creative work as resistance? Email me! I can help you make art as resistance.
The Art of Resistance is a podcast from Rebel Yell Creative, which is creative consulting, courses and community for good work, good art, and good people.
This is Amy Lee Lillard, and I wrote, narrated, and produced this show.
I’ll see you next time.
If you like The Art of Resistance, the best way to show your support is a paid subscription. This is independently produced art, and subscribing helps keep the show going!
Other ways to show your support: Share the show with your friends; order original art and goods; buy a book; and/or join the Rebel Yell Creative community!