Isvari Maranwe on Impact-Focused Activism, Citizen Journalism, and Rebuilding Social Media
Amy Pons, founder of Unlock the Magic, interviews Isvari Maranwe—Silicon Valley–raised tech leader and Georgetown-educated cybersecurity attorney—now based in London.
Isvari is CEO and founder of YuVoice, a new social media company designed to reward users for tangible impact rather than a follower-driven influencer model, and CEO of The Sentinel by YuVoice, a nonprofit, ad-free, non-paywalled citizen journalism platform building an all-volunteer global press corps.
They discuss the tension between professional success and the emotional toll of social justice work, the importance of boundaries, and prioritizing empowering people who want to make a difference over trying to convince those who won’t. Isvari shares her view that only about 1% of people truly shape society for good, making it critical to change social defaults and focus energy where it creates measurable impact.
Isvari explains that YuVoice has closed a $1 million angel round and will launch in phases with nonprofit partners, focusing on “anti addictive algorithms” and mentally healthy design. The Sentinel’s mission is to break global news through local perspectives:
“We believe that everybody can tell their story the best.” They critique for-profit media incentives and argue, “media needs to be a nonprofit.”
02:22 What’s on Your Heart: Success, Privilege & Staying Resourced
03:54 Stop Convincing the Unmoved: Empower the 1% Who Shape Society
06:35 From Righteous Rage to Real Impact (and Posting with Intention)
13:00 Why Outrage Doesn’t Translate to Action (and What Might)
18:32 What Happens When No One Wants the Baton? Work, Power & Consolidation
22:38 Global South activism & the myth that “they can’t modernize”
28:19 Borders, stolen land & rethinking indigeneity and migration
30:46 What is YuVoice? Building a healthier, impact-rewarding social platform
32:24 The Sentinel: citizen journalism, no ads, no paywalls, global perspectives
37:21 Escaping doomscrolling: joy, community, boundaries & anti-addictive tech
40:34 Where to follow, platform burnout & final call to find your purpose
Follow Isvari on LinkedIn, check out The Sentinel, and follow along with YuVoice!
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