GRITS: Recent Episodes
The TN Holler Podcast Network
Aftyn and Anna, two gritty Southern blondes, reclaim what it means to be girls raised in the South. #LetsGetGritty
Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
Aftyn and Anna are joined by April Jarocki, the coordinator with the Southern Connected Communities Project, who along with members of the Clearfork Valley, built their own internet by establishing a wireless internet system at the Highlander Research and Education Center in Jefferson County, Tennessee. April highlights the role of the pandemic in exacerbating the digital divide and discusses what broadband justice looks like to her community. Donate to SCCP by clicking here! #BroadbandGritty
Tressie McMillan Cottom in her piece examines the evolving Southern identity in the context of popular culture, the ebb and flow of "disdain and attraction" to the region. Aftyn and Anna address their own prodigal returns to the South post-college, and how they've navigated public opinion of the South in their professional capacities. 🍍BONUS 🍍Aftyn gives a dramatic reading of an interaction between Toby Keith and Kris Kristofferson. #NewSouthGritty
- Nanny MeMaw, Arkansas viral TikTok star
- Rolling Stone excerpt about Willie's 70th birthday party
- Willie Jones, Louisiana country music star
GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
Some of you have been asking where is the infamous GRITS' travel correspondent, Mama B... well, she has launched her own podcast called "Red State, Blue Mom"! For this week's episode, we invite you to listen to the 2021 inaugural episode and subscribe! Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
With US student debt reaching $1.7 TRILLION, the girls deliver the state of play on student loans: what amount of relief Biden is considering; racial disparities in borrowing; and how privilege takes center stage in the debate whether to cancel it all. #StudentDebtGritty
🍍LINKS 🍍
- Run down of the imminent congressional showdown
- Biden signals new era with Secretary of Education pick
- COVID relief and student debt
- Why Biden should forgive student loans
New year, new… WTF. Aftyn and Anna are back for season 4 in the wake of the pro-Trump QAnon furry hat wearing insurrection identifying the Tennessee culprits and grappling with how to humanize those involved. BONUS: tips on how to talk to your people who believe in conspiracy theories
LINKS
- Sign this petition to take down Steve Berger, Gov. Lee’s extremist pastor at Grace Chapel
- How to speak to people who believe in conspiracy theories
- Republican Attorney Generals launch robocalls
- Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver’s Tennessean patriot profile
For the final episode of the year, Anna and Aftyn dig into how the Democratic party should utilize three winning progressive policies to bring new folks in. Embrace an economic populist message and distribute LEGALIZE IT bumper stickers across the country: is it that simple? Happy holidays and the girls will see y'all in 2021! #KeepItGritty
NYMag, Democrats Have a Problem. ‘Workers, Wages, Weed’ May Be the Answer
Mother Jones, The $15 Minimum Wage Wasn’t the Only Progressive Ballot Measure That Passed in Conservative States
Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
1 Grittle Rep. Gloria Johnson joins Aftyn and Anna to discuss the state of COVID19 in Tennessee, while the Tennessee Republican leadership points fingers at Venezuela for Trump’s loss. The girls apologize for the audio as they were not in Anna’s closet for this episode. 😁
CNBC article featuring Rep. Gloria Johnson
Rep. Johnson co-signed a letter about TN student evaluations about a month ago
Martine Hope, Mountain City educator from Johnson City that passed away
Susan Keener, Murfreesboro special needs teacher that passed away in October
Daily Yonder, Nine out of 10 Rural Counties Are in the Covid-19 Red Zone
Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
Yes, President Trump is finally out of office, but with 72 million Americans showing up to vote for him after four years, who is really the winner of the 2020 election? Anna and Aftyn look past the presidential victory, highlighting the role of white women in maintaining white supremacy at the ballot box this cycle.
“White Women’s Support for Trump Remains High in 2020 Election”
The 53 percent issue
AOC Interview in NY Times
Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
Four days before the election, Anna and Aftyn provide the state of play for those wondering, "Does my vote even matter?" And if you live in a key battleground state like Texas, the answer is an absolute and resounding yes. Even if all of Aftyn's exes live in Texas, the girls uplift the work of southern states in the most important election of their lifetimes. Let's get #ElectionGritty. 🍍
GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
We’re less than 20 days out in the election and it seems East Nashville, more than usual, is filled with Black Lives Matter yard signs. Anna and Aftyn unpack performative allyship and virtue signaling in this episode and ask their listeners to think about why they’re posting black squares on Instagram, and how they can truly be allies.
Send an email to Lamar
GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
With RBG’s death and the fate of the Supreme Court in question, Anna and Aftyn outline how we got here, what’s to come, and what you can do about it. TLDR: Aftyn’s arch-nemesis Mitch McConnell doesn’t play by the rules, and don’t let Tennessee’s Senator Alexander retire to Canada in peace.
Send an email to Lamar
GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
Pratik Dash from Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition joins the girls this week to discuss his experience as a “brown kid” living in Tennessee following the September 11th attacks. #NeverForget the post 9/11 racism and Islamophobia and our country’s intervention in the Middle East which led to the region’s destabilization.
GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
Anna and Aftyn take a break from politics this week to reckon with coming of age and finding one’s purpose within the redefinition of Southern institutions. WARNING: lots of tears!
GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
Does your aunt Karen believe Tom Hanks is running a child sex ring in his basement, and that Trump will save the children? Join QAnon expert Chris Coleman for this deep dive into the “deep state”. #WWG1WGA
GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
Aftyn and Anna interview Claire and Safara, organizers with the Be Better Belmont campaign, which is pushing Belmont’s college administration to divest from the private prison system. #CancelCoreCivic.
Links:
Be Better Belmont Linktree
Tennessean article about the campaign
History of Belmont’s legacy with slavery and incarceration
GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
Aftyn and Anna are joined by Aftyn’s middle and high school classmate Tre Waters as he shares his experiences as a mixed-race kid at the private, predominantly white, prep school Webb School of Knoxville located in East Tennessee.
This episode is dedicated to all the people of color that attended Webb School in Knoxville. If you would like to sign the petition “Webb Alumni Call for Commitment to Anti-Racism Action,” please click this link.
Follow Tre on InstagramListen to Tre on his podcast Segway to LogicCheck out FamedCheck out Beat the Odds Clothing Company
GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visittnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
With their TN Holler launch, Aftyn and Anna release their conversation following the national uprising in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and our responsibility as white Southern women to engage in anti-racism work. #BlackLivesMatter
GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.
Come along for a political pilgrimage to Arizona to visit the legacy of Barry Goldwater...
Saguaro stealing, a (now) politically correct sun devil, and an Arizona pilgrimage to Barry Goldwater's home state...
Our GRITS travel correspondent Mama Behn is BACK!
Find out why no one ever talks about his photo collection...
Only you can combat neighborhood stigma!
Now that they're neighbors, Aftyn and Anna discuss their roles in Nashville's gentrification and why diverse neighborhoods are the FRUIT OF LIFE. Oh, and Aftyn talks about her coffin ⚰️while Anna selects her 8, yes, that's right, 8 bridesmaids...👰🏼
🗣Support these organizations and politicians!
- Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition
- Rep. Gloria Johnson (Knoxville)
- Councilman Sean Parker (District 5, Nashville)
📣Visit these East Nash POC owned businesses!
- El Metate
- Shugga Hi Bakery
👉🏻What we mentioned in this episode...
- WPLN's The Promise Podcast
- How You can Fight Gentrification
- Health Disparities in Nashville Neighborhoods
- Briefing on Neighborhood Stigma
- Nashville Scene, "Taking the Dick out of Dickerson"
- Deep Values Based Canvassing
Anna and Aftyn return to discuss Tennessee's plan to extend paid family leave to 12 weeks and how the US falls short in terms of progressive pro-family policies. #letsgetprolifegritty 👩👩👧👦
Anna and Aftyn return to discuss Tennessee's plan to extend paid family leave to 12 weeks and how the US falls short in terms of progressive pro-family policies. #letsgetprolifegritty
Get Involved
📣Check out A Better Balance, the organization pushing for better family policies! Sign up for their e-mail list here!
Links
- Gov. Lee and Tennessee's 12 weeks paid family leave
- US vs. the World (paid family leave)
- Birth Strike, by Jenny Brown
- 2020 Presidential candidates and pro-family policies
- Gov. Lee denies adoption to same sex couples
Do you like your GRITS hot, spicy and from 2019?
Ahead of our 2020 launch, enjoy this gritty episode from 2019 featuring our guest, Anna's sister! Join us as you relive Casadagate, we answer your outstanding questions, and prepare for 2020 gritiness!
...Why is Anna taking showers with her cats?
...Why are Tennessee's kids losing health insurance?
...Why did Tennessee's pro-birth bald congressman pay for an abortion for his mistress?
Links
- Tennessee's #MeToo Movement
- 128,000 kids lose health coverage in Tennessee
- "Pro-Life" Scott Desjarlais pays for his mistress' abortion
The legendary Dr. Carol Paris denounces incrementalism and discusses the Southern fight for Medicare for All.
The legendary Dr. Carol Paris, former President for Physicians for a National Health Program, joins the girls to talk about the battle for Medicare for All in Nashville from her arrest during the federal ACA hearings to her removal from a Trump rally, pushing Rep. Jim Cooper to sign on to M4A. Tune in to find out what's next for #MedicareForAll!
LetsGetMedicareForAllGritty #ScrewIncrementalism
Show Notes
🍍Tennessean's article on Dr. Carol Paris following Trump rally
🍍Dr. Paris' arrest in the Senate Finance ACA hearings
🍍Dr. Don McCanne's PNHP Quote of the Day
🍍Rep. Cooper signed onto Medicare for All in 2017
🍍Business Initiative for a Health Policy
Our field correspondent returns from tropical Bali with colorful political tales and the sarongs to match! 🌴#HappyGrittyMothersDay 🌸💐
Anna and Aftyn unpack the emotional and labor burden of being a Southern millennial woman. Dolly Parton must have meant working 7 to 7, right?
The girls discuss why Southern women are on the front lines of the country's abortion debate. #LetsGetReproductiveGritty
With the Tennessee State House recently banning abortion after six weeks, Aftyn and Anna describe why southern states are on the front lines in the battle for a woman's right to choose. #LetsGetReproductiveGritty
Gritty Show Notes:
🍍Birthright: A War Story
🍍The sexist and racist history of the medicalization of childbirth
🍍The other abortion ban: I wanted to provide abortions for my patients. My med school wouldn't teach me how.
🍍ACA Reduces of of Abortions
🍍Colorado Study on Abortion
Aftyn's mom discusses the French revolution, democracy, and honeys of the world! (Strictly the liquid, not amorous crushes.)
Aftyn's mom guest stars on the pod, discussing her recent voyage to revolutionary France! In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, she spills the riveting history of General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas and provides her Bolivia rebuttal to Aftyn's tall tale. Let's get Mama gritty!
Gritty Show Notes:
🍍The Black Count (Book)
🍍Paris, Tennessee
🍍Pics from Mom's Paris Trip
Aftyn sings you into enlightenment, while Anna explains why centrism is your boring Tindr date you should ditch!
Where can you find karaoke and a history of the Democratic South? Look no further than your favorite GRITTY pod! Aftyn outlines how the GOP became the party of the South, and Anna explains why progressives win the culture wars.
Gritty Show Notes:
🍍Check out Lincoln Durham!
🍍Who was Fannie Lou Hammer?
🍍Why Liberals Win the Culture Wars
Midterms are over, the government is open, and the girls have returned after 9 months to carry you into 2019... GRITS style!
You called, you tweeted, you harassed them while standing in line at Kroger's, and after 9 months of silence, THE GIRLS HAVE RETURNED. Aftyn and Anna, showing little remorse, update all the grittles on their adventures and shed light on what's to come in 2019.
Anna's List of Show Notes:
🍍Submit comments to oppose Medicaid work requirements
🍍Anna's maternal mortality paper
🍍Picture of Nugget (Aftyn's new kitten)
Your thousands of calls, texts, and letters worked: Paul Ryan is finally retiring from Congress! AND EVEN BETTER, your favorite GRITS are back revealing why healthcare is so expensive in the USofA.
YOU'RE WELCOME MOM.
Anna's List of Show Notes:
🍍Summary of Bernie's Plan
🍍Actual Bernie Bill
🍍CAP's Medicare Extra for All
🍍Choose Medicare Act
🍍Our girl crush, Sarah Vox, explains ER fees
🍍Norman, recovering from his face lift
🍍Diantoinette in action
Albino hedgehogs, gerrymandering, and young adult fiction. Yes, you read that right. All the weirdness, grittiness, and suffragettiness in a 40 minute podcast. #LetsGetGritty
The girls return for their biweekly debut to demystify the urban legend of the crimson South. Aftyn gives a history lesson on Tennessee's role in the passage of the 19th amendment, and Anna dissects the underground Republican campaign to undermine electoral neutrality. #LetsGetGritty
Show notes:
How the Republicans rigged Congress — new documents reveal an untold story - Salon
Pennsylvania gerrymandering case - New York Times
More reading:
- North Carolina gerrymandering
- Gerrymandering technology
Less echo, more swamp. The girls relocate to Anna's closet to dish up stories about Senator Elizabeth Warren and unpack Paul Ryan's obsession with work requirements. Lots of shout-out's this week.
Hey y'all, let's get gritty! In this teaser, you meet the co-hosts Anna Walton and Aftyn Behn. The girls introduce themselves and discuss why they want to serve up politics, moxie, and Southern discomfort.