We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Grossman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, what are you inspired by?
Fundamentally I’m inspired by Ayn Rand — on three levels. The first is her novels like Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, Novels are art, which Rand called “the recreation of reality according to an artist’s values,” and art, Rand observed, is “the indispensable medium for the communication of a moral ideal.” The fictional realities Rand presents in her novels convey the ideals of integrity, independence, and the ultimate impotence of evil — elevating themes that can inspire the best in us. Secondly, Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism — particularly its revolutionary ethics of rational self-interest — helps me set boundaries and priorities based on my personal goals, not conforming to the expectations set by others. Finally I’m inspired by Rand’s personal narrative, her escape from the totalitarian USSR to America, just a few years after women won the right to vote, the way she made her way as an immigrant, breaking glass ceilings and especially braving criticism for exposing the horrors of communism, not just as an impractical system, but as a deeply immoral one. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m most proud of The Atlas Society’s ability to leverage art to engage younger audiences. In the late 1970’s, 70% of young people read daily (books, articles) for pleasure — that’s dropped to just 12% today. Graphic novels is the one literary category that’s defied those odds, so early on we decided to start adapting some of Ayn Rand’s works artistically, recruiting a top Marvel Comics illustrator to bring the characters and action to life. Given that young people spend on average 9 hours a day on their screens, we needed to find ways to meet them where they are. We noticed that “Draw My Life” videos were popular with that demographic, so wanted to give that a whirl, but we didn’t have the money to hire writers, illustrators, voice over talent. No problem — I decided to do the first one myself, writing a short script for “My Name is Ayn Rand,” enlisting a neighbor (who happened to coach movie stars on foreign accents) to help me master Rand’s heavy Russian accent, and even donning a wig and brown eye contacts to get into the role. Even though we had a tiny social media footprint at the time, it went viral, bringing in new donors who helped fund more professional productions. Since then we’ve produced 40 “Draw My Life” videos, attracting 42 million views — we adapted some into foreign languages, attracting an additional 84 million views. The lessons are don’t let the perfect be an enemy of the good, be willing to make a fool of yourself, even if you fail, your courage in taking risks will earn respect.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d definitely take them to Rafi Lounge in Malibu — it’s my daily go to for fantastic fitness classes and sound baths in the exquisite outdoor oasis created by its founder, Rafi Anteby. I’d take them to the Reagan Library for a lecture, or to check out their amazing exhibits like the current one on Auschwitz. Dinner at Taverna Tony’s for the best service and food in the Bu, and bellydancing to boot. And of course we’d have to spend some time at the beach, Matador or County Line. I might even have to break out the trusty pink longboard.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand. Its protagonist, Dagny Taggart, is a high-powered railroad executive, who breaks sexual taboos, and learns that before she can save anyone or anything else (including the company she’s helped to build), she’s got to save herself first. The characters of the novel echo saw the world around them falling apart — boarded up businesses, rampant homelessness, increasing calls for sacrifice to “the greater good” made by those in power. Sound familiar? Rand was often asked if her novel was a prophecy, to which she replied: “Atlas Shrugged is not a prophecy of our unavoidable destruction, but a manifesto of our power to avoid it, if we choose to change our course.”

Website: atlassociety.org

Instagram: jenanjugrossman

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-grossman-021047b/

Twitter: theatlassociety

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtlasSociety

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAtlasSociety

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