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Jess Craven on Making Fear Your Fuel
How do you turn political fear into sustained action? Jess Craven has been answering that question for her massive Substack community every weekday since November 2016.
In this episode of The Dr. Kristin Lyerly Show, Dr. Lyerly welcomes the face of “Chop Wood, Carry Water”, Jess Craven: political activist, content creator, and widely-followed organizer.
The daughter of legendary horror director Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream), Jess has unironically applied lessons about confronting fear to building one of the most engaged grassroots organizing communities in America…and she’s just hitting her stride! (Image copyright Wireimage)
Topics include:
- How to get involved in political activism (even if you're new)
- The evolution of digital organizing and new media
- Concrete actions for protecting democracy
- Parenting a queer teenager while fighting political battles
- Avoiding activist burnout and finding joy in resistance
- The "Chop Wood, Carry Water" daily practice philosophy
- Where to find real hope in 2026
Whether you're a longtime activist or someone who's never made a political phone call, this conversation offers practical tools, inspiring stories, and a roadmap for turning anxiety into impact.
