Camila Coddou Explores Power, Personal Responsibility, and Who Gets The Megaphone [073]

Along with 30 past and present employees of Ristretto Roasters, Camila Coddou signed a letter highlighting the problematic #meneither YouTube channel. The channel, co-hosted by Nancy Rommelman, wife of RR's owner, touted itself as a channel addressing 'toxic femininity' and poised itself to question the legitimacy of victims of sexual violence and harassment. In the letter, the co-signers described the channel as a signal that their concerns were not going to be taken seriously and their safety was in danger. 

The ensuing fallout was nothing short of incredible—wholesale accounts pulled out, articles were published, and folks sympathetic to Ristretto immediately set their eyes on Camila. In this episode, we talk about why attention fell on her. Camila discusses how systems of oppression are designed to protect those with power, and how marginalized people reclaiming their narratives makes folks in power uncomfortable and defensive. Oh, and we also talk about the fragility folks in power feel when their ideals are challenged. Also, we talk about folks getting real petty and taking to Twitter. 

We recommend reading some of the news stories and op-eds regarding Ristretto Roasters before you jump into this episode. #littleax