eM&M Who?
What began as two introverts talking late into the night about how to stay kind, stay sane, stay informed and be useful in the world, turned into late night head scratching about starting this Substack channel.
And here we are! In joining us here on The AnteSocial, you’re joining a community of people who want to explore important questions, figure out how to do some good in the world, and laugh along the way.
None of us are on this planet for long, so let’s at least make it a good time.
Join this project with us. Click “subscribe” to stay in the loop!
ABOUT eM&M (THE TWO HUMANS)
Misha and Emily met in 2016 while trying to convince local landlords to do something radical: donate vacant units to shelter families experiencing homelessness.
Over the years, they collaborated on a range of do-gooding projects together, fueled by a shared conviction that finding ways to positively impact our local communities can have a far-reaching ripple of impact.
Misha and Emily were aligned in more than just their tendency to work too much and want to fix the world. They were also raising children of the same age, also recovering from the loss of their respective first marriages and found that they were both approaching life’s big questions with equal parts sarcasm and sincerity. As sometimes happens, one particular lunch ended feeling like it may have been more of a date than a fundraiser-planning meeting (full transparency: this was Misha’s assessment, not Emily’s). This led to another meeting, which led to a kiss, which led to another meeting, which was definitely not about fundraising.
Since then, Misha and Emily have shared a love of mischief, running, waking up early enough to see the sunrise, paying too much attention to politics, writing, armchair philosophizing, over-consuming hot tea, and nurturing their blended family.
They love the absurdity of raising five kids together as they stumble through chaos navigation, unwieldy schedules, and the delicate art of trying to show up as good humans without enough sleep. They usually save their disagreements for the things that matter— like how many pillows one needs for a good night’s rest, whether you need to wear a seatbelt in a taxi, and whether or not jam should have added sugar. Misha and Emily don’t claim to have all the answers, but they have cobbled together some pretty solid questions, along with a commitment to trying to figure out this whole “life” thing. And in doing so, they hope to learn from conversations with their guests and, in exploration with this new community, discover how to (putting it in scientific terms here), “get our collective shit together.”
ABOUT MISHA
Misha Collins is an actor, author, artist, and activist with over 14 million social media followers across platforms, who has published interviews with dozens of Governors, Senators, Heads of State, and influential change-makers on his platforms. He is best known for portraying the angel Castiel on Supernatural, the longest-running sci-fi show in US history. In 2023, Misha joined the DC Universe as the Batman villain Two-Face/Harvey Dent in Gotham Knights. Misha produced and hosted the Emmy-nominated PBS politics and food show, Roadfood and his podcast series Bridgewater reached #1 fiction podcast on Apple Podcasts in 2022-2023.
Misha wrote the New York Times Bestselling book of poetry, Some Things I Still Can’t Tell You, and the bestselling family cookbook, The Adventurous Eaters Club. Misha broke 8 Guinness World Records with his international scavenger hunt GISH, which had hundreds of thousands of participants from more than 100 countries. He founded and serves as Board President of the 100% volunteer-run international nonprofit, Random Acts, which has raised more than $10,000,000 to carry out projects big and small around the world.
Misha built his first home with his own two hands and the furniture he built was featured on the cover of American Craft Magazine.
Misha received a BA in Social Theory from the University of Chicago, where he graduated with honors. Before turning to acting, Misha was a White House intern and worked at National Public Radio Headquarters.
ABOUT EMILY
Through more than two decades of community and organizational leadership, Emily Farallon has advanced systemic change through policy advocacy and deep community engagement, tackling complex, yet solvable, social challenges in her own backyard. Recognized for her leadership and impact through numerous awards, Emily is guided by a steady belief that caring for children is both our first responsibility and the foundation for a better world.
Born in New Orleans, Emily spent her early childhood aboard a 33-foot sailboat hand-built by her norm-defying parents. At age three, she set sail with her family and older brother, exploring the world from the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, to the Galápagos, the Marquesas, and finally the Hawaiian Islands. Those early years, steeped in diverse cultures and constant discovery, left an indelible mark on her worldview and her understanding that solving our seemingly intractable problems requires a shift in our perspective.
After earning dual bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Sociology from Western Washington University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington, Emily has built and lead numerous organizations, including Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services, and Lydia Place, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and families experiencing homelessness. Emily has also dedicated herself to local leadership on issues affecting children and families. Working with Chuckanut Health Foundation and All Hands Whatcom, she focused on children’s mental health, community response to the opioid crisis, the intersection of addiction and incarceration, and the expansion of family housing programs for those experiencing homelessness.
Emily combined forces with fellow child and family advocates to author legislation that passed with voter approval in 2022, establishing a multi-million-per-year fund to expand early learning and critical services for children in Whatcom County.
SUBSCRIPTION SUPPORT
For issues with The AnteSocial subscriptions, please email wearetheantesocial@gmail.com.
