About Orphans and Empires
Stories shape reality. The most powerful ones in our culture—from Star Wars to Spider-Man, The Wizard of Oz to The Lord of the Rings—share a striking pattern: they’re about orphans fighting empires.
Why do these stories resonate so deeply? Because, on some level, we all feel like orphans—separate, untethered, searching for connection. In our loneliness, we often face the temptation to conform, to fit in, just to ease the ache. But deep down, we know there’s a better path—a way this wound can help us awaken to a more profound reality, one rooted in what my friend Valarie Kaur calls revolutionary love.
Over my career, I’ve harnessed the power of stories of orphans facing off with empires to drive cultural change. As the co-founder of the Harry Potter Alliance (now Fandom Forward) and beyond, I’ve helped mobilize fans to fight injustice and alienation. At Avaaz, I worked across continents to design campaigns that counteract toxic narratives and protect democracy, our planet, and our shared story as humanity itself.
Now, with Orphans, Empires, and the Search for a Better World, I aim to stitch together the ancient and the modern, weaving stories we love into a unifying narrative that can help us navigate this pivotal moment in both American and global history. Through personal essays, cultural analysis, and community dialogue, we’ll:
Decode the hidden patterns in our most beloved stories
Examine how narrative shapes power—and resistance
Reimagine relationships centered on love, interdependence, and connection to our planet
Draw wisdom from pop culture, ancient traditions, and beyond
Explore how collective storytelling can rebuild our democratic imagination
Create new myths for a world in desperate need of them
Join us as we search for hope in the darkness, meaning in the chaos, and the stories that could save us all. Like Luke Skywalker and Rey, we’re all orphans now—seeking to belong in a world of crumbling empires. But perhaps, by stitching together the stories we’ve always loved, we can midwife a new narrative—one that guides us into a better future, grounded in revolutionary love and a renewed connection to our planet.
Together, let’s write the next chapter.
