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Why do white women in progressive spaces so often start something new instead of joining what people of color have already built? Dr. Leslie Poston examines the “founder reflex” and the psychology that keeps it running: the redemptive self, psychological ownership, communal narcissism, and a reward structure that pays better for visibility than for usefulness. She looks at what gets lost when founding wins by default, from duplicated initiatives to the quieter costs borne by the people already doing the work. Along the way: elite capture, the nonprofit industrial complex, white ignorance as a motivated stance, and what engaged followership actually asks of someone who wants to help. If you’ve ever wondered whether the thing you’re about to launch already exists, this one is for you.

00:00 Founder Reflex Defined
 01:38 Real World Examples
 02:38 Costs of Duplication
 03:50 Redemptive Self Story
 05:04 Why Founding Feels Better
 08:29 Communal Narcissism
 11:09 Elite Capture Explained
 13:46 White Ignorance Defense
 17:04 Manufactured vs Real Community
 18:42 White Feminism Patterns
 20:58 Followership Skills
 22:43 Practice Joining Instead
 23:23 Closing Thoughts