TV: You’re not afraid to use your platform to make it clear how important representation and inclusion is — have you always been passionate and outspoken about this?

CW: Yes, I've always been quite outspoken about humanitarian and feminist issues. Because of my TV show, I suddenly have increased visibility. So the media's amplification of my voice is quite new. But my voice and my passions are the same as they have always been since I was a teenager. I don't fear being outspoken. The only thing I fear is losing my sense of integrity, or losing sight of the values on which I guide my life. So I don't think it's particularly brave or unusual for me to speak out. At least, it hasn't been unusual for me in my personal private history. People forget that they don't have access to my personal history because I don't post much on social media. Part of me still thinks the internet exists mostly for funny animal videos!

TV: What message do you have for our readers who want to do something to take action, especially when it comes to sticking up for groups who might be feeling especially targeted right now?

CW: Get out of your phones and screens! Go out in the world and listen to people, especially targeted people. Make eye contact and listen with full attention. Spend time with people in a way that doesn't require any stimulation other than just like ... spending time. So often these days people have 20% of their mental attention on the phone buzz in their pocket, or are constantly seeking a stimulus on which to distract their attention. Put 100% attention on the humans you're engaging with. Look at them, really hear them, try to understand them without judgment, give them space to share, connect with people. That connection is actually, like,good for your health too!

TV: What's the biggest piece of advice you'd give in not being afraid to speak up for what's right — whether it's sticking up for a targeted group, or making your opinion known?

CW: [Ralph Waldo] Emerson said it best when he said that the purpose of life is to be useful, honorable, and compassionate. So when you find yourself faced with a scary choice, ask yourself: What have you got to lose? A job? A boyfriend? The approval of a boss? If the expression of and advocating for your values makes you lose a job or a person, then that person/job sorta just... wasn't your heart's tribe. That's not to judge them, but rather to help you hone in on your own special heartbeat in order to care for it better. And while I know it can feel scary to lose something of external value, remember that you're only doing so in order to cultivate something internal that's meaningful and deep. That's a cultivation that can never be taken away from you, because you create it from within. It will enrich every corner of your life and its outward effect will be beautifully effusive. The other external stuff is just stuff. It comes and goes. So you won't lose anything. You'll just gain clarity on your values, and you can use that clarity to cultivate actions and relationships that firmly stand behind you, even when your voice shakes.

Related: 20 Small Acts of Resistance to Make Your Voice Heard Over the Next 4 Years

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