How I Learned to Love Shrimp James on Changed My Mind, talking about disruptive protests and social movements
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May 12, 2025 In a thought-provoking discussion, James O'Brien, Director of Philanthropy at Mobius and former member of Extinction Rebellion, shares his transformative journey through activism. He reflects on the psychological toll of disruptive protests and the evolution of his strategies for fostering change. The conversation dives into the complexities of prioritizing animal welfare versus climate issues and critiques the polarization within social movements. O'Brien emphasizes the ethical implications of disruptive activism and the necessity for collaboration to achieve real progress.
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Use Short Off-Ramps To Explore Options
- Try testing alternatives before quitting: James used a two-month incubator as a low-risk off-ramp to explore other change strategies.
Evidence Is Biased Toward Success
- Social Change Lab found academic evidence that mass protests can affect opinion and policy, though research focuses on notable successes and suffers publication bias.
What Makes Protests Work
- Three factors predict protest effectiveness: nonviolence, size, and the sociological context including elite allies and issue salience.
