What do paid protests actually represent in modern society?

In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Adam Swart, founder of Crowds on Demand, for a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation about how public demonstrations are organized, funded, perceived, and often misunderstood.

Rather than debating headlines, this discussion explores the mechanics, tradeoffs, and philosophical questions behind modern protest movements — including authenticity, transparency, media incentives, and how crowds differ from true measures of public opinion.

This episode is about understanding how influence, visibility, and civic participation actually work today.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
Adam Swart’s background and why modern protests deserve deeper examination

01:45 – How Crowds on Demand Works
From first inquiry to campaign strategy and execution

04:50 – Lessons from Political Campaigning
What Adam learned working in electoral politics and how it applies today

06:30 – Why Context Matters More Than Crowd Size
Media attention, symbolism, and strategic visibility

09:05 – Paid Participation vs. Authentic Engagement
How authenticity is defined, sourced, and maintained

11:45 – Who Gets Left Out of “Grassroots” Activism
Time, money, opportunity cost, and civic access

14:00 – Protest, Pressure, and Power Structures
Unions, staffers, institutions, and informal coercion

16:40 – Criticism, Class, and Bad-Faith Arguments
Who gets paid to speak — and why that matters

18:45 – Transparency in Political Protest
The proposed Transparency & Political Protest Act

22:30 – Manufactured Support vs. Public Awareness
Why protests are not polls — and never were

26:40 – Social Media, Protests, and Misread Signals
Why visibility ≠ public consensus

30:00 – Statistics, Data, and False Inference
Why crowds and metrics are often misunderstood

35:30 – Measuring ROI in Advocacy Campaigns
When outcomes are tangible — and when they aren’t

38:45 – Notable Campaigns & Real-World Impact
From prescription drugs to tech accountability

41:45 – Choosing Clients & Drawing Ethical Lines
Merit, free speech, and where Adam says no

44:30 – Causes Adam Wants to Champion
Social media reform, food systems, and better cities

48:15 – Cities, Governance, and Practical Outcomes
Why results matter more than rhetoric

52:30 – Social Media Incentives & Platform Failure
Crime, virality, spam, and moderation tradeoffs

56:30 – Closing Reflections
Understanding nuance beyond headlines

🎧 Why This Episode Matters

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About Evan Meyer

Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org, a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com, a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com, a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats, Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth.
He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.