Wallet Activism: Spending with Purpose

Featuring Tanja Hester, author of Wallet Activism

Your wallet is more potent than you think. In this special bonus episode of We Vote Too, we revisit an eye-opening archived interview with Tanja Hester—former political consultant, FIRE movement pioneer, and author of Wallet Activism—to explore how your everyday financial choices can become acts of resistance.

Tanja breaks down what wallet activism means, how to tell the difference between good and bad corporate behavior, and why slow change is still powerful. From critiquing philanthropy to unpacking performative travel activism, she helps us reimagine what it means to live our values—even when the system feels stuck.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, What can I do besides protest?—This episode is for you.

Because We the People? We Vote Too.

• 00:00 – Disclosure

• 00:32 – Intro music

• 00:52 – What is Wallet Activism? Setting the stage

• 06:40 – Interview begins with Tanja Hester

• 08:30 – Who is Tanja Hester? From politics to financial justice

• 10:56 – What is wallet activism—and why it matters now

• 12:42 – How to stop supporting the bad guys and uplift the good

• 16:34 – What does real activism look like—and who gets to be an activist?

• 19:28 – How to stay motivated when change is slow

• 22:06 – What's wrong with traditional philanthropy?

• 26:52 – Why travel isn’t always activism

• 31:20 – Breaking down her book Wallet Activism

• 34:31 – How to get involved and follow Tanja’s work

• 36:13 – Outro