Political Wellness: Recent Episodes
Vote Run Lead
What constitutes a healthy and thriving democracy? What can contribute to making our political arenas unwell? Join us every week to hear leaders from across the country answer these questions and more in our NEW digital series: Political Wellness.
Irene is an expert in building people-power, engaging and empowering immigrant communities and reproductive justice. She is on the front lines of the fight for our democracy in North Carolina where — just five days before recording! - the State Supreme ruled to push back the state’s primaries due the partisan drawing of redistricting maps. Tune in for a discussion on empowerment and current issues.
Erin chats with Penny Abeywardena, the first woman of color and immigrant to serve as commissioner of international affairs for New York City. They will discuss the global connectedness of New York City and the UN and democracies around the world, the creation of the NYC Junior Ambassadors program, and the need for diversity and inclusion in all decision making
Erin talks with Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director at National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, about increasing the political power of Asian American and Pacific Islander women, NAPAWF’s deep approach to investing in community and what they’ve learned that you need to know.
For this episode, Erin sits down with Founder and CEO of Vote Mama, Liuba Grechen Shirley, who in 2018 petitioned the Federal Election Commission, and became the first woman to receive federal approval to spend Campaign Funds on Childcare. Since that ruling, 51 federal candidates and more than 60 state candidates have used their campaign funds to pay for childcare.
Erin and Liuba will discuss policies that help create gender equity in politics today -- like family leave hanging in the balance -- and how we can break the institutional barriers moms face while running for office. Learn how Vote Mama is working hard to give voice to the issues that moms are silently facing and bring visibility to the solutions that working families need.
Erin Vilardi sits down with Illinois State Representative Joyce Mason who — after beating a two-term incumbent in 2018 — has been a vocal advocate for reproductive rights. Most recently, she co-sponsored “The EXpanding Abortion Services Act” aka The TEXAS Act, which would allow $10k bounties on sexual abusers and those who cause unwanted pregnancies.
In 1992, Kitty Kolbert stood in front of the United States Supreme Court and successfully argued Casey v. Planned Parenthood, the landmark case widely credited with saving Roe v. Wade with what has been called "one of the most audacious litigation strategies in Supreme Court history.” Today, as the author of “Controlling Women: What We Must Do Now to Save Reproduction Freedom” with co-author Julie Kay, they have written the definitive account of the battle for reproductive freedom including a bold new strategy to safeguard our rights.
We’re asking a candid question: What Is Happening In Texas? Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on how legislators are exploiting the policymaking process, and the current prognosis on Texas’s political state.
In this episode, Erin Vilardi speaks with Mary González. Currently serving her fourth term at the Texas House of Representatives, Rep. González has authored numerous bills to improve public schools, increase economic development, and support agriculture in House District 75 and throughout the state. She is currently serving her second term as Vice Chair for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and Secretary of the House Border Caucus, and serves as the Chair of the new Texas House LGBTQ Caucus.