Do you know the feeling? You get up every day on a planet where you can turn on CNN or open social media to watch a genocide live-streamed from the ground. You listen to the news about the climate targets we’re missing (reported by the Guardian today, we’re heading for a 2.8 C increase — 1.5 was meant to be the target). You go to work for a pittance while the men (and they are almost all men) running the world decide policy based on the billions they can make. 

It feels like there’s nothing we can do. And on some level, that’s absolutely true. The sooner we can say the Serenity Prayer, the better we’ll sleep at night. 

Still, I can’t help but wonder how helpless we really are. So, I’m documenting my journey testing the boundaries of what I can challenge, and what I can’t. If you’re here looking for life-changing advice that will empower you or “this one trick” to revolutionise your existence on this rock hurtling through space at 100,000 kph, you’re in the wrong place. I’m talking small-scale. 

But because something is small, doesn’t mean it’s not important. Some of these will surely be silly. But you know what’s even sillier? Steve Witkoff calling Vladimir Putin a humanitarian. 

I’m done conceding my voice and whatever little bit of power I do have because it’s just one voice. 

Ready for silly? Here we go. 

I’ve been deleting music off my phone. 

I started with Regina Spektor after she made some incredibly Islamaphobic comments that painted Palestinians and Muslims as being homophobic and anti-woman, all while the world watched the destruction of Gaza in real time. I wasn’t the only one who was upset by her comments. She took to Instagram to declare “My music will not miss you” to all of the listeners saying goodbye. 

For me, it’s absolutely nothing personal against Regina Spektor. I think she is a talented singer, pianist, and songwriter. I enjoyed her music for many years and would have enjoyed making it to a concert. While I found Spektor’s comments to be, as I said, deeply Islamophobic and problematic, I also see that she was hurting — and for good reason. I wish only the best for her and her loved ones, the same that I wish for everyone. 

Has it made a difference? A quick search (not a Google search — I’m using DuckDuckGo, these days) for “Regina Spektor boycott” highlights protestors who yelled “Free Palestine” during a 2025 concert. 

Two more personal boycotts have followed. Does it matter? 

Not really. Occasionally, I think of a song that I enjoyed, but I don’t spend any time at all missing it. Perhaps I take some small amount of solace in taking back this miniscule bit of power so that I’m not sending off my fraction of a penny when I would otherwise listen. I am glad to support other artists like CMAT, who embodies the way that art and politics can and should come together so brilliantly. 

And that’s it. I told you it was silly.