“Better Things Are Possible is a beacon of light in a dark political landscape.”
— Hannah Ferguson, author of Bite Back
📗 Better Things Are Possible is available here for pre-order.
What started as me condensing big issues into little videos quickly snowballed into something I never expected. My suddenly viral reels (20 million views and almost 1 million likes wtaf) took me from editing my bedroom to the couches of morning TV, the halls of Parliament, and (inevitably) into the rags of The Daily Mail.
In the decade prior, I had built a business and a career as a Creative Director, making short-form content for international brands. But as I got older, I started learning more about the injustices in the world. About the climate crisis. About how poorly our economic system was delivering for everyday people.
And I began to feel increasingly guilty about the role I was playing, effectively using my skills to help market a system I knew was doing immense harm. I had a growing urge to use what I’d learnt throughout my career for some kind of social good. And I genuinely relished the challenge of condensing big issues into little videos.
These little videos opened doors I could have never imagined, and one of them was the chance to write a book with Allen & Unwin. I’d always wanted to write a kids’ book! They had something a little longer in mind, and after a very long coffee meeting it was clear I had plenty to say.
Writing Better Things Are Possible has been one of the hardest, most rewarding things I've ever done. My book (still doesn't feel real to say that) delves into the housing crisis, neoliberal economics, consent education, gender identity, mental health, climate change, and the state of media and politics. It's been nearly two years in the making, and I've had the privilege of travelling the country, speaking with experts, activists, community leaders, politicians, farmers and everyday people to put it together.
Some stories need more space and depth than a 90-second video can offer.
Plus, I kind of hate social media
I’ve been creating content for social media, pretty much since it came into existence. I’ve always loved connecting with communities and being creative online. But it’s pretty clear these apps are doing more harm than good.
The way algorithms now decide what we think and feel every day is f*cked up. Add to that the fact that they’re owned by billionaire megalomaniacs who care only about profit, once again, I started questioning my involvement in a system doing so much harm.
During my time at Teach Us Consent, where I led creative and production for hundreds of education social media assets aimed at young Aussies, I once again got to see both sides of the coin.
Our content reached over 2 million young Australians organically (and counting), with hundreds of thousands of interactions, and millions more views through strategic boosting. It proved that when you speak to young people with clarity, care, and honesty, they show up. But at the same time, our content is one hose on a raging fire of algorithmic misogyny. Rape culture is being amplified by these social media giants, who show no sign of changing without widespread public pressure and government intervention.
When the opportunity arose to write this book, I knew it was a chance to create something that couldn’t be buried by the algorithm. Something that would last longer than the 24-hour news cycle. Something that exists in the real world — as a real thing.
I still believe social media can be a force for good, but there's a lot of bad that algorithms and their architects must answer for.
Writing a book is like really hard but…
It gave me the privilege of travelling the country, speaking with experts, activists, community leaders, politicians, farmers, and everyday people to put this together.
The book features conversations with Professor David Karoly (The Climate Council), Dr Kate Charlesworth (The Climate Council), Dr Richard Denniss (The Australia Institute), Adam Bandt (Former Greens Leader), Zali Steggall(Independent MP), Max Chandler-Mather (Former Greens MP), David Pocock (Independent Senator), Rose Jackson(NSW Labor MP), Chanel Contos (Teach Us Consent), Damon Gameau (Filmmaker, 2040), Thomas Walker (Think Forward), Tarang Chawla (Activist, Not One More Niki), Anjali Sharma (Climate activist, Duty of Care), Leo Puglisi(Journalist, 6 News Australia), and many more.
It’s also deeply shaped by hundreds of other conversations with everyday people across the country. Each one reinforced something I truly believe: better things are possible.
Today, a majority of young people don’t believe that. That's who I wrote this book for, young people who feel disconnected and disaffected from our social, political and economic systems. Who are shut out from the housing market and see their natural world crumbling around them. Who are struggling with their sense of self and a lack of community. Who choose apathy over hope, when hope is exactly what we need to create a fairer, kinder, safer world where all life has the opportunity to thrive.
It's so easy to sink into apathy and to feel like none of us can do anything to change the world we're living in. But I truly believe that we can, and this book is my argument for that. It outlines the problems, but importantly, it outlines solutions. It just takes us coming together with a willingness to face our challenges, armed with a belief that we can fix them.
We created these systems, and so we can re-create them.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world but aren't ready to give up on making it better, this book is for you. And if you have friends and family that might need a little nudge of hope, this book is for them too (so please share!)
📗 Better Things Are Possible is available here for pre-order.
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