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Josh Morgan

@monarchjogs.bsky.social
35 followers 29 following 81 posts

Applied sociologist and aspiring helper. Boosting kindness and trust. He/Him.

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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
"What would it look like to build a mass movement without an enemy?" This isn't a religious piece. It's about uniting "us" around something other than opposing "them". Profound food for thought here.
open.substack.com
We need to talk about the Devil
Can we build a mass movement without an enemy?
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Julie S. Lalonde @julieslalonde.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
But that's the thing. You can't accumulate that level of wealth without exploiting and oppressing other people. Literally no benevolent person could ever have a bank account that fat.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
@saraemor.bsky.social and I bought a house today with a yard and Google Fiber. I get to garden and do DIY projects again!
Photo of a heterosexual White couple holding a house key
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Violence is a language that should never be used. If you disagree, then we need to talk.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
👏👏👏
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
@roderickstruth.bsky.social and his book "Starting Somewhere" were my favorite discoveries of 2025. I'm grateful our paths crossed. If you haven't bought "Starting Somewhere" yet, check it out at truthispublishing.com. You'll be glad you did.
White man with glasses holding a copy of the book "Starting Somewhere"
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
I've discovered my Best Earworm of 2025 with only a few days left in the year: "Bounce House" by Gelli Haha. What a fun album.
youtube.com
Gelli Haha - Bounce House (Official Video)
YouTube video by Innovative Leisure
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
Six years on Spotify has changed how I listen to music—for the worse, I think. I miss searching through cool artists, reading articles, and listening through full albums instead of leaning on algorithms. I'm gradually weaning off, going back to sites like Bandcamp to find and support musicians.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
Casual reminder that the myth of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is a cruel hoax designed to convince poor people from all walks of life that the injustices they face are a result of their own actions, rather than an oppressive system rigged against them.
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L hale @lhvt.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
You know, a lot of us who were kids in the 80s were told the myth that a stranger in a van was around every corner waiting to get us. Wild that it's actually a problem now and the gov. is the one doing the kidnapping.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
We need trust to reverse polarization & pull our communities from a socioeconomic tailspin. This isn't just a societal issue. You & I need trust to be happier, healthier, & smarter in our daily lives. Like @roderickstruth.bsky.social says, you & I have to start somewhere. What do you think?
joshcmorgan.com
Trust Among Americans Isn’t Over Yet – Josh C. Morgan
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
Q: What else can be done? A: Create space around the positive. Don't devote yourself to fighting the negative. 🏅 Get involved in at least one cause you care about. 🫂 Live the Golden Rule. Support your loved ones and cheer their wins. ("Who can I celebrate today?") 🩼 Ask for help when you need it.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
Q: What can be done to reverse the decline of trust among Americans? A: We need shared wins & shared resources. 📚 Support public education. libraries, & media. Private institutions and mass media push fear to create competition. 🗳️ Support local leaders who offer their values, not fear of others.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
According to 2024 GSS data from @norc.org, social trust among Americans has dropped 5-6 percentage points in the 2020s. Only 1 in 4 Americans now say "Most people can be trusted." Race continues to be the most significant factor, with White trust declining and non-White trust even more rare.
Line chart showing 46.2% of Americans who said "Most people can be trusted" in 1972 versus 25.2% in 2024.Line chart showing a decline of social trust among White Americans from 1972 to 2024. The same chart shows historically low trust among non-White Americans during the same period.
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Decolonize Myself @decolonizemyself.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
seastersjones
keep your mangos in th... @ArcticMangoes
People often mistake socializing regularly for community. If there's no commitment to care, there's no
community, no matter how fun the socializing is.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
I have decided to end The Plural of You podcast—for real this time. There are several reasons why I’m ending it, mostly because I think I’ve reached the ceiling of what I can do with it. Before I go, I thought I’d share the conversation that shaped my beliefs about helping people the most.
pluralofyou.org
[FINALE] Awakening Compassion at Work - Monica Worline (Replay) (POY 68) - The Plural of You
Monica Worline has co-authored a book about the benefits of compassion at work, and about how we can make our workplaces better for everyone.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Trump's military parade has sponsors including Coinbase and the UFC. Yes, I'm sure my grandfathers served specifically to prop up the corporatocracy we have today. Thank you, Mr. Trump.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
The Black Lives Matter / "Defund the police" protests in 2020 had no effect on police budgets in Democrat cities but *increased* those budgets in Republican cities—the opposite of what they were going for. Yikes. doi.org/10.1093/socp...
doi.org
The Effect of the 2020 Black Lives Matter Protests on Police Budgets: How “Defund the Police” Sparked Political Backlash
Abstract. This article investigates whether a core political demand of the 2020 Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests was realized: “defund the police.” Origin
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
We shouldn’t need to supplement our social safety nets with things like Little Free Pantries, but here we are. Alex Forsythe, who stewards these pantries, sees a world where everyone has their needs met. We all rely on people like her to catch us when we fall through society’s cracks.
Quote from Alex Forsythe: "The more we expand the [Little Free Pantries] locally, the stronger the safety net becomes and the more we start thinking about community care as a whole."
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
I’d like to introduce you to Alex Forsythe. With social safety nets stripped, where can people in need turn to? Alex shares her experience with a network of Little Free Pantries in Alabama. Check out our conversation in my monthly newsletter.
open.substack.com
Let's talk about community safety nets 🪢
With social safety nets stripped, where can people in need turn to? Alex Forsythe shares her experience with Little Free Pantries in Alabama.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
I can't believe caring about Palestinian children is now considered anti-Semitic. What a world we live in.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
I've been writing an encyclopedia of American social issues because I haven't seen one written since the 1990s. I'm up to 420 (heh) social issues affecting Americans and have written entries for about a third of them. Below is a preview of my list, broken into 11 categories.
Small screen capture of a spreadsheet with 11 columns and 420 text entries.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
@pewresearch.org published a data-rich essay about social trust among Americans. They point to education, income, and geography as primary factors in the decline of trust. Their state-by-state map is also something I haven't seen before. Interesting and well done.
pewresearch.org
Americans’ Trust in One Another
Americans trust each other less than they did a few decades ago. We explore why this is, and why some are more trusting than others.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
Here's an article related to my recent writing on toxic empathy. Just bewildering.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
@roderickstruth.bsky.social isn't just wise. He's also humble, especially when talking about his book. 😅 You can hear the whole conversation this month on The Plural of You.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
3D charts. Ew!
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
@roderickstruth.bsky.social is a wise person. Being prepared doesn’t mean giving up all of your comforts to be an activist. It means starting with what you have to help the people around you, especially your loved ones and neighbors. Roderick’s book, Starting Somewhere, is full of wisdom like this.
Quote from Roderick Douglass: "This only ends one way: either climate change or revolution. It's probably going to happen in the relatively near future, if not our lifetime then the next generation. This is go-time. We really need to prepare."
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
I’d like to introduce you to @roderickstruth.bsky.social. He’s a community organizer from Binghamton, New York. He also wrote a new book titled Starting Somewhere: Community Organizing for Socially Awkward People Who’ve Had Enough. My chat with Roderick is in my newsletter and podcast.
pluralofyou.substack.com
Organizing for awkward people 📣
Community organizing can be intimidating for many of us who are aspiring helpers. Roderick Douglass wrote a book to share his wisdom about it.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
I wrote recently about how "toxic empathy" is spreading in American culture. Looks like coverage of the issue is picking up steam.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Hard choice for my favorite, but Jet Li vs. Yasuaki Kurata from Fist of Legend may be it.
youtube.com
Jet Li vs. Yasuaki Kurata - Fist of Legend (Original Cantonese and Mandarin Re-Sound)
YouTube video by Jamyang Pelsang - Film Fight Fanatic
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Unofficial Guardian (UK) Bot @guardian-uk-rss.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
What is the meaning of life? 15 possible answers – from a palliative care doctor, a Holocaust survivor, a jail inmate and more
theguardian.com
What is the meaning of life? 15 possible answers – from a palliative care doctor, a Holocaust survivor, a jail inmate and more
I asked some well-known names for their thoughts on the ultimate existential question. Their answers were fascinating, funny – and could help us frame our days on Earth
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
I recently stumbled onto what I call a "Toxic Empathy" movement in our society, led by Elon Musk. Musk and other far-right grifters are pushing the narrative that empathy is no longer a desirable skill. I couldn't shake my disgust, so I wrote a blog post about it.
pluralofyou.org
In Praise of Empathy: Why “Toxic Empathy” Won’t Last - The Plural of You
A subculture is emerging that claims empathy is “progressive,” “sinful,” and “parasitic.” What can aspiring helpers do to outlast the fad?
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
“We all have privilege,” @melaniehood-wilson.bsky.social told me. She said it is the “height of arrogance” to assume we don’t. Some have labelled privilege a dirty word. For us as empathetic people, it shouldn’t be. Being aware of what advantages you may have can help you help others.
Quote by Melanie Hood-Wilson: "Privilege is one of those things you don't notice until you don't have it."
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
That section radicalized how I think about national politics. Great book!
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
@peter-metsopoulos.bsky.social Thank you, Peter. I went in and corrected some of the auto-generated text based on your comment.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
I’d like to introduce you to @melaniehood-wilson.bsky.social. She consults on programs and projects around the country that relate to teaching, learning, diversity, equity, and inclusion. My full conversation with Melanie is available in my monthly newsletter and podcast, The Plural of You.
pluralofyou.substack.com
You can help stop racism. Here's how. ✊
Too many Americans think they can't—or won't—do anything about racism. Melanie Hood-Wilson is building communities to help reach them.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
I'm in shock. I've gone down the rabbit hole of the "toxic empathy" subculture online and I don't want to believe it. Empathy as positive skill seems to be under attack. For all the talk about America's decline, I'd say the labeling of empathy as a bad thing would put us on the fast track.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Check out @5calls.org, too!
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
My old USB mic of 10 years died. Time for an upgrade.
Photo of a Rode PodMic, Scarlett Solo audio mixer, and an XLR cable
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Scene on Radio @sceneonradio.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Latest newsletter: The New Old Racism. Eight years after our "Seeing White" series, whiteness is still a helluva drug -- and a powerful tool for Trump 2.0. @chenjerai.bsky.social buttondown.com/KeepingScOR/...
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Sara Morales-Morgan @saraemor.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Climate change is here. If only it was this cute. ☠️ #illustration #climatechange #kittenlove
An illustration of a cute tabby kitten playing with a ball of yard that looks like the Earth. Above there is text that says: "Climate Change is Here."
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Where do people publish long-form writing these days? Medium was the place 10-12 years ago but they seem to have fallen off.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
I was told I was selected for a job today! Except federal funding was cut and now they're in a hiring freeze. 😡
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
I've been on the Internet for almost 30 years at this point. I would argue lasagnacat is where it all peaked.
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Sara Morales-Morgan @saraemor.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
This.
A cute gray kitten with a studded collar, and a cute but mad brown puppy in a denim vest covered in patches, looking at the viewer with the phrase "Protect Trans Kids" above and below. The background is shades of cool purple.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
I’d like to introduce you to David Burton. He’s a community development specialist near Springfield, Missouri, and one of the Midwest’s foremost neighboring experts. Check out my conversation with David below in my monthly newsletter and podcast, The Plural of You.
pluralofyou.substack.com
How your neighbors can help you 🏘️
Apathy and isolation define many modern neighborhoods. David Burton counters that socially engaged neighborhoods are better for everyone.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
But the shareholders! 🙄
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Is it possible to identify who donated the most to each major presidential candidate during the 2024 election cycle?
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
A sacred place in Memphis and my favorite museum. I wish it wasn't necessary, but I hope America will preserve it through these dark times.
The exterior of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, which is the site of the National Civil Rights Museum.
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Josh Morgan @monarchjogs.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Checking out ice cream, I mean Memphis.
Middle aged White man with too much ice cream and a spoon in his mouth
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