The Restorative Rebel Newsletter: May 2025
From soft launch to full bloom: Restoring what matters, and a glimpse of what’s ahead.
The Restorative Rebel is officially launched and out in the wild! 🎉
Welcome back to this month’s update—and a special hello to all the new faces joining us! 🌱
Today, as this newsletter lands on May 1st—International Workers’ Day—it feels especially meaningful to discuss community, restoration, and the work of reimagining the systems that shape our lives. International Workers’ Day reminds us that real change happens when individuals come together, when we value people over profit, and when we recognize that no one moves forward alone.
In the past few deep dives, I’ve been exploring the early chapters of The Restorative Rebel—unpacking how internalized capitalism shapes our relationship with work, money, success, and impact. These ideas aren’t just theories; they shape how we live, work, and connect daily.
If you are new here, this space is where I share book updates, information on how to get involved, and reflections on the themes that sparked this project, because questioning the systems we live in takes more than one conversation.
Today’s newsletter is packed with exciting milestones, podcast interviews, ways to support, and a look ahead at what’s next as we move into full launch mode.
📚 Latest Book Updates
The Restorative Rebel is officially out there—and finding its way into the world.
During the pre-release, the book was only available through a few select booksellers. But now, I'm excited to share that it's available everywhere books are sold. 📚 You can also request it at your local library, which helps make the book more accessible and also helps spread these conversations to even more communities.
It’s been a whirlwind month—full of podcasts, workshops, reviews, and meaningful conversations—and I’m feeling truly humbled and grateful to be celebrating some early milestones:
🏆 The Restorative Rebel is now officially an Amazon Best Seller! Here’s where it’s ranking so far on Amazon:
#3 Best Seller in Social Classes & Economic Disparity
#7 Best Seller in Entrepreneurship
#11 Best Seller in Sociology
To help keep the momentum going (and support independent bookstores at the same time), you can grab your copy on Bookshop.org 🛒
✍️ Editorial Review
It was lovely to see The Restorative Rebel reviewed by the Book Revue—and to know that the ideas in the book are resonating out in the world. 📰
🌎 Book Launch Highlights
It’s been an energizing and inspiring few weeks sharing The Restorative Rebel with new communities, and I’m so grateful for everyone who’s been part of it. Here are a few highlights:
🌱 Earth Week Workshop at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey. On April 22, as part of their Earth Week programming, I hosted a workshop with graduate students on storytelling for social change, followed by a book signing in the community garden. There’s nothing better than critical conversations outdoors, surrounded by blooming gardens and brilliant students ready to rethink the future.
🎙 Reading at KALW Radio, San Francisco. On April 25, I had the honor of reading the book’s introduction live during an evening featuring local artists, poets, and musicians. It was a beautiful reminder of the homegrown creativity and resilience that define the Bay Area and how alive I feel being among artists building community through their work.
For a bit of history: KALW was the first FM station on the West Coast. Today, it continues to uplift diverse, inclusive, community-driven storytelling. (Please consider supporting the station; local radio is so important!)
🎙 Hijack Capitalism Community Chat
I also joined a lively conversation with the Hijack Capitalism community, where we explored how to take back power over economic systems through practical tools and mindful moments. Download the app to join and learn more.
Being part of these spaces has been inspiring and exciting, to say the least!
🎧 Podcast Appearances
Hear me roar! You can listen (or watch) wherever you get your podcasts:
🎙 Procrastination Station
I returned to the show and had a follow-up interview with Chris Abdey about breaking up with internalized capitalism—and the messy, honest process of trying to write about it while still living through it.
🎙 Revenue Remix with Summer Poletti
Big thanks to Summer for having me on the Revenue Remix podcast. We dove into a topic that often gets overlooked: how misaligned leadership—and promoting confidence over competence—can quietly sabotage a team’s growth.
🎙 Berkeley Well-Being Institute Podcast
I also had a rich conversation with Dr. Tchiki Davis from the Berkeley Well-Being Institute, where we explored the journey toward redefining success—and the struggle to define wellness in a culture that often commodifies it.
🚀 What’s Next
🎙 Coherence Podcast – Coming Soon!
I’ll be joining my friend Melissa, the creator of Coherence Studio, for a conversation on untangling parenthood from internalized capitalism. Melissa is a coach for multi-talented creatives who want to center their unique gifts at the core of their work, and working with her helped inspire me to write The Restorative Rebel. I’m excited for this conversation.
🎓 Speaking at UC Berkeley
I will speak with the next generation of education leaders at UC Berkeley about the future of learning, leadership, and equity.
💬 How You Can Support
If you’re organizing workshops, book talks, panels, or events and would like to include The Restorative Rebel in your next exciting endeavor, please reach out!
Let’s keep growing this movement together. Word of mouth is everything. 🙏
If you have read the book, please consider:
Leaving an honest review! (Amazon, Goodreads, Bookshop—wherever you bought the book) 📚
Sharing the book with a friend, colleague, or fellow rebel 🎉
Thank you for being part of this community. Your support, attention, and shared belief that we can do things differently means everything. Until next time, keep questioning, keep creating, and keep rebelling—restfully.
With gratitude and solidarity,
The Restorative Rebel
👏👏👏Congratulations! I felt seen in your work.