The Cowboy Myth Every Activist Believes with Shane Lukas

Shane Lukas is the owner and creative strategist of A Great Idea (AGI), an LGBTQ+-owned brand communications agency he founded in 2015, based in Greensboro and Durham, North Carolina, working with purpose-driven nonprofits and for-profit companies in healthcare and education across the country.

He is also a two-time TEDx speaker (his second talk focuses on values), an author with a book coming out later this year, and a co-host of Power Beyond Pride, a weekly podcast spotlighting LGBTQ+ changemakers.

Shane's activism started in his teen years and has centered on bodily autonomy and harm reduction, beginning with Planned Parenthood, work he says has shaped both his personal life and how AGI approaches brand strategy for its partners.

Timestamps: 

00:00 What happens when a nonprofit's numbers don't add up?
00:29 Who is Shane Lukas?
00:57 What is A Great Idea?
01:34 Why did Shane become an activist?
02:19 Is every organization "purpose-driven"?
03:44 Why does a food bank need to exist?
05:48 How do you find your real impact story?
10:12 What is the "Amazoning problem"?
13:57 Where's the line between values and manipulation?
16:54 Which values are rising and falling?
19:47 Why don't we agree on facts anymore?
23:05 Should social media follow publisher rules?
28:47 Can lived experience alone show you truth?
30:35 What should a young activist learn first?
34:03 Why shouldn't you do this work alone?
36:14 What impact has A Great Idea had?
38:25 Where does Shane want to be in 10 years?
41:07 Where can you learn more about Shane?
42:09 What's Shane's closing message?

Guest Links:

GTZP Links:

Featured Organization
A Great Idea

Mission

To translate complex social and community issues into clear, inspiring strategy and design that honors the dignity of every story. Through authentic connection and creative problem-solving, we celebrate the fact that greatness lives in every body, working alongside our partners to turn bold visions into meaningful community actions.

About

A Great Idea is a brand, design, and content communications partner to grow, empower, and activate advocates. - We are the advocate experts. Our solutions deliver meaningful advocate engagements through professional, innovative, and successful creative and content strategy, design, and development. Our communications services include: brand design, content strategy, content creation, web development, email marketing, social media, print collateral, website design, video creation - We deliver quality, community-informed solutions. Our approach connects to the power and possibilities of brand solutions created ‘with’ and not ‘for’ every person invested in your vision, values, and success. A Great Idea’s diverse network of talented creative solutions experts are committed to getting you top-notch results that engage your advocates, expand your reach, and advance your mission through proven strategies, award-winning design and development, and responsive support. - We are a trusted partner for organizations nationwide. Our clients include community-based organizations and foundations, health and care industry leaders, and education innovators. - We model movement transformation. Our own initiatives—funded from 5% of all company income—include the Out.Vote election engagement initiative for LGBTQ+ people (out.vote), the weekly podcast about queer changemaking Power Beyond Pride (powerbeyondpride.com), awareness campaign advancing bodily autonomy called Freedom For Every Body (freedomforeverybody.com), an online repository of materials to advocate for an an end to the ICE raids and community harms done by targeting and vilifying immigrants and refugees called End ICE (end-ice.com), and our annual Ideation Microgrant initiative providing funds for grassroots organizers (idealist.agreatidea.com).
LGBTQ+
Diversity & Inclusion
Healthcare
Entrepreneurship

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