Ep. 39 - Creative Jobs, Life Balance, & Working towards a Liberatory Future within Capitalism

BrownTown on BrownTown. The fellas take an introspective look at
their own lives, analyzing the strategies (for better or worse)
for managing time, money, and relationships while running
SoapBox, building power with activists, and working in creative
fields and other industries under capitalism.


BrownTown goes macro before micro, discussing how the Bourbon 'n
BrownTown podcast functions within SoapBox's larger multimedia
framework as well as the outside perspectives of SoapBox's work
itself. Caullen quickly explains the importance of language in
how we talk about and value work (what is "work?" Is it a
"weekend" if you're still working?), noting 9-5p salaried job
normalization versus creative fields and freelance work. Both
David and Caullen talk about their life outside of SoapBox as
David brings up the struggle between financial security and
following creative passions. BrownTown goes on to cover
filmmaking/movement-buildling as collaborative work; being new to
the non-profit funding world; and their personal strategies on
how they (attempt to) balance their lives between work, time with
loved ones, hobbies, and even (and especially) sleep. The duo
lands on a notion which should be at the forefront of our lives:
happiness is a priority. But under capitalism, which prioritizes
profit over people, profit over the planet, and constantly
commodifies and brainwashes our desires, how do independent
creatives get paid without their work being co-opted by
elites/corporate powers? How do activists avoid burnout while
working towards a liberatory future? How do we simultaneously
fight the power while operating within the power to dismantle the
power? Here's BrownTown's take.


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Mentioned in episode: Ben Bernstein for inspiring the topic,
Chicago actor Isis Mollinedo, Chi DNA alum Rio Mutasim, audio
engineer Genta Tamashiro and his work with Masego, and Andrew
Merz for taking photos during the session.


CREDITS: Intro/outro song Success by
Heavy Crownz ft. Joel Q. Audio engineered by Genta Tamashiro.
Episode art and Bourbon 'n BrownTown logo by Desirae Gladden.


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