The Suburban Women Problem: Recent Episodes
Red Wine & Blue
Rachel Vindman thought she’d be a card-carrying member of the GOP forever, until President Trump called her husband a traitor. Microbiologist Jasmine Clark never dreamed of running for office, but then 2016 happened -- now she’s the first Black woman ever elected to represent her suburban district. A US Air Force Veteran turned economist, Amanda Weinstein used to listen to Focus on the Family and lecture her peers about abortion until she couldn’t reconcile her faith with today’s GOP. In the most hotly contested districts in America, suburban women are breaking up with the Republican Party and remaking American politics -- transforming their own lives and getting political for the first time. Each week, Rachel, Jasmine, and Amanda find out why. Want to know what’s causing the GOP’s suburban women problem? Tune in for a political journey through the minds of suburban women, brought to you every Wednesday by Red Wine & Blue. Now in Season 2!
Kristin Du Mez's book Jesus and John Wayne changed the way that America sees evangelicals. It even inspired many evangelical women to leave the church, giving them words for the gender inequalities they'd felt all along.
Our guest host Aimee Saunders, a Red Wine & Blue organizer in Pennsylvania, is one of these women. She grew up in the evangelical church and did everything that was expected of her: submitting to her husband, homeschooling her kids, and not pursuing her own career. It didn't feel right, but she was told that she was the problem. She just had to pray and obey harder. But reading Jesus and John Wayne with a virtual bookclub six years ago, Aimee realized she needed to break up with the evangelical church.
Kristin Du Mez has a new book coming out in September, Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made. Aimee and Kristin's conversation about gender, community, politics, and the church was fascinating... Aimee lived the history that Kristin writes about in her books! Whether you're from the evangelical world yourself or it's brand new to you, there's something for everyone to learn from these smart thoughtful women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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When Julie joined us on our Heather Cox Richardson event this month, she shared how she's supporting immigrants by taking groups of friends to Spanish-speaking restaurants in her town. Heather was so excited about the idea, and Julie was such a ray of sunshine, that we knew we needed to bring her on the podcast!
Julie's a Spanish teacher in Omaha, Nebraska, but she doesn't stop at teaching the language. She shares cultural information about the many Spanish-speaking immigrants in their community and, of course, their delicious food. Food brings us together! The more we can understand and empathize with our immigrant neighbors, the better we can protect them from ICE.
It's been a particularly heartbreaking week as two fathers -- one in Houston and one in Maine -- have been murdered by ICE agents. Resistance to their inhumane methods can take many forms, from protesting detention centers to vigils to legal support. Going out to dinner may feel like an impossibly small way to oppose ICE, but for the immigrant restaurant owners in our communities, it makes a huge difference.
We can't only fight against what we don't support; we also have to fight for the better world we want. By patronizing immigrant-owned restaurants in our own towns, we contribute not just our dollars but our emotional support.
And as a bonus, it tastes pretty good too.
If you want to learn more about Julie and her chat shows and restaurant outings, you can visit her website at spanishchatshow.com. And if you'd like to join or start a Bonfire group, you can learn more at redwine.blue/network/bonfire.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Allison Gill has lived a lot of lives. She's a Navy veteran, a PhD, a comedian, a whistleblower at the VA, and a podcaster. And we actually consider all of that public service -- even the comedy -- because boy do we ever need a good laugh right now. If we don't laugh, we're liable to cry.
Here at Red Wine & Blue, we're officially announcing a partnership with Allison Gill and the community that has rallied around her podcast, The Daily Beans. Because we're stronger together than we ever could be apart.
With these important midterms coming up in a few months, it's more important than ever that we hold onto our community -- and in fact, that we grow it bigger and stronger than before. That means voting, marching, and, yes, laughing together.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Last night, we were joined by historian Heather Cox Richardson to celebrate America's 250th birthday -- not with a UFC fight or a poorly-planned "Great American State Fair," but by talking to each other about how we can move this country closer to our ideals.
Together with Heather, we reflected on our history, celebrated the people who impacted our nation, and acknowledged the work needed to live up to our values. Heather shared how we can celebrate America's 250th in a way that honors our full history and helps us build a better future for all Americans.
We hope you have a meaningful Independence Day that helps you celebrate the ideals and potential of America... your own way.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, the podcast is coming one day late… but it’s for a very good reason! Our favorite historian Heather Cox Richardson is joining us tonight to talk about reclaiming America as we head into our 250th Independence Day.
America’s 250th celebration should be a time to reflect on our history, celebrate the people who impacted our nation, and acknowledge the work needed to live up to our ideals. Instead, the current Administration is giving us UFC fights, gold plated statues, and an algae-filled Reflecting Pool.
Join Heather Cox Richardson and our own Katie Paris at 7:30pm ET tonight to talk about how we can celebrate America's birthday in a way that honors our full history and helps us build a better future for all Americans. Heather will share more about her own 250 Project, how we counter this administration and protect our democracy, and the information we all should be sharing with family and friends.
America’s story belongs to all of us, so let’s reclaim it!
You can register to attend here and if you can’t make it tonight (or you just want to hear Heather again!), we’ll be sharing the recording tomorrow right here on the podcast.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Today is the four-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision -- the day the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade and with it, our constitutional right to abortion care.
But women across the country have been fighting back: marching, calling their legislators, and sharing their personal abortion stories. Places like Ohio have even put laws and constitutional amendments on the ballot to enshrine abortion rights in their state.
Doctors and providers have been working hard to make sure reproductive care stays available too. In today's episode, we talked to Nan Whaley and Gwynne Perry from Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. Earlier this spring, an anti-choice protester attacked their clinic and set it on fire, but Nan and Gwynne didn't hesitate. They opened the clinic the very next day, ensuring that patients didn't experience even a one-day interruption in their care.
In Gwynne's words, "We thought, hell no. We're not doing this. We're gonna see patients. So we did."
Four years on from the Dobbs decision, lifesaving care is being provided not by politicians or Supreme Court Justices. It's coming from women like Gwynne and Nan -- and for that, we're grateful.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Last year, political journalist Zerlina Maxwell did something that most of us only dream about: she moved to Sicily.
She’s been speaking truth to power for years as a radio and TV host but after losing her mom and seeing Trump elected for a second time, she knew she had to make a change. And now that she’s living full-time in Italy, she’s seeing America more clearly than ever.
She’s still hosting her radio show Mornings with Zerlina and contributing to the hard work of defending American democracy, but it all feels very different now. She’s able to slow down, be more intentional, appreciate time with friends, and escape the hamster wheel of busyness and to-do lists.
She’s not the first Black American to seek refuge overseas; James Baldwin, for example, wrote much of his groundbreaking work while abroad in Turkey. Outside of the “haze of racism and hostility and oppression,” as Zerlina put it, she can find the clarity to really examine this moment in American history.
Even if you can’t move to Italy (and don’t be so sure you can’t!), you can learn from Zerlina’s journey. Every day, you can do one soft thing and one civic thing. Have a dance party in your kitchen, or meditate, or grab a coffee or ice cream with a friend… and text your neighbors about an upcoming election, or attend a city hall meeting, or donate to an organization you believe in.
We can’t heal a broken country without healing ourselves — and that can happen from anywhere.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, we're re-running one of our favorite episodes: our conversation with the incredibly wise Prentis Hemphill. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode!
So often we hear women say that things feel deeply wrong right now and they want to do something about it. But how do we engage without losing ourselves? It can feel like pain is the only way to make change, like we can only heal the world if we’re willing to be exhausted and broken ourselves along the way.
Prentis Hemphill offers a different perspective. What if we can actually heal our systems while healing ourselves? What if it’s not about checking off items on a to-do list? If we can be more present, listen with curiosity to ourselves and our neighbors, it doesn’t just make us feel more centered. It’s actually more effective organizing.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
“Sin, Glitter, and Lattes.”
That’s what Ghiovanna, owner of Coterie Lounge & Cafe, recently started printing on t-shirts. Her friends and customers love it — not just because it’s a catchy phrase, but because it’s a reminder that community love can defeat extremist hate.
Ghiovanna and her friend Roxie D. Mocracy had already worked together to put on drag shows at her cafe. The community loved the shows, despite being a fairly conservative suburban area, so Roxie and Ghiovanna thought a Drag Story Hour could be a fun new addition. Unfortunately, a right-wing extremist saw a post advertising the event and began coordinating an attack against Ghiovanna and her business.
But Ghiovanna’s community rallied around her. They defended her and Coterie on social media, sold out the Drag Story Hour event (along with the t-shirts), and business has been better than ever. More tourists have started stopping by to buy coffee from her as they drive through the area, and she’s even received messages of support from as far as Denmark and Australia.
Most importantly, she’s heard from parents in her own community that they appreciate having a safe space for their kids.
The Drag Story Hour was such a success, Ghiovanna and Roxie have already planned more drag and other LGBTQ-friendly events throughout June — and all year long! Because supporting the queer community isn’t just for Pride Month. It’s for every month.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We were so lucky this week to talk to Judy Richardson, who fought for civil rights alongside John Lewis during the original 1964 Freedom Summer.
She hasn't stopped fighting in the years since and we were honored to hear her inspiring (and, at times, harrowing) stories of being shot at by white supremacists, years of on-the-ground organizing, and hunger strikes in jail. It was all worth it, Judy says, to pursue voting rights for Black people in the South.
When we asked her what kept her going through the hard times (and what keeps her going today), she had a few answers that we could really relate to. First, she said it's her anger at the injustice. Second, it's music -- protest music, gospel music, and even salsa. Third, and most importantly, it's the people. Once she saw the courage and dedication of her fellow workers at the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, she felt she didn't have a choice but to continue the work.
What we're seeing with voting rights this year is unfortunately way too similar to what Judy was fighting back in the 1960s. But far from giving up, Judy energized us to carry on the work for the next generation.
Don't miss this episode! Judy is a national treasure.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Memorial Day is almost here, so we thought it was a perfect moment to check in with a veteran.
Katie Chorbak isn't just any veteran -- she's passionate about helping other vets in her community adjust to civilian life and heal their mental health. She started a movement called Our Sister's Keeper, which advocates for veterans who survived sexual assault just like Katie herself did. She was also arrested last month at the Capitol for protesting the war in Iran alongside other vets.
Basically, Katie is a badass.
We were also lucky enough to be joined by Red Wine & Blue organizer Torrie, who grew up in a military family and is now a military spouse. She shared her own perspective on military service, community support, and how being honest about your mental health is the first step to feeling better.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Attacks on voting rights got you down? Tired of feeling like you can’t make a difference on a federal level? Have you considered focusing on… sex ed???
Wait, hear us out! We talked to Jaclyn Friedman and Jenny Steadman from EducateUS this week and it turns out that comprehensive sex education has the power to change everything about our culture and our politics. There’s a reason that authoritarian governments crack down on sex ed.
It’s not just about sex — in fact, in the younger grades, it’s not about sex at all. Jaclyn encouraged us to imagine what our government would look like if every man in power was taught about consent and how to handle rejection from a young age. That’s just one sex ed lesson that could change our country.
It’s also wildly popular, across all demographics and political parties. Not only do 75% of all Americans want sex ed in schools, that number remains at 72% even when they’re specifically told that would include education and inclusion for transgender students.
Extremist politicians and pundits want us to believe this is a divisive issue, but it’s simply not.
If you’re not already a believer based on all of that, sex education is also an issue where you can make a serious difference in your community! A simple conversation with one of your school board members can have a huge impact. And EducateUS is making it even simpler by offering to reach out to your school board members for you! All you have to do is fill out this form.
If you need more resources to help you talk about sex ed with the people in your life, the EducateUS website has tons of free resources.
Happy Sex Ed For All Month!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
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This week, we were joined by Tory Gavito, the president and co-founder of Way To Win — they’re an organization that focuses on multi-racial collaboration to win elections. In fact, this episode itself was a microcosm of how we can win: a Black woman, a Latina woman, and a white woman all chatting together about how we save democracy.
Tory talked to us about how we can turn this country around, even in places like Texas where it seems impossible. She also shared how community and creativity are the secret sauce and, of course, what keeps her from losing her shit.
Speaking of losing our shit, did you catch the news that the Supreme Court just overturned a key part of the Voting Rights Act? We were joined last week by Janai Nelson, the President of the Legal Defense Fund, who argued this case before the Supreme Court.
Janai is coming back this Wednesday to explain what the court decided, how the decision weakens the political power of Black and brown voters, and what steps we can take now to fight back and protect the right to vote for all. You can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
UPDATE: The Supreme Court just released their ruling on this case today, Wednesday April 29th. It's deeply upsetting, but unfortunately, not that surprising. Red Wine & Blue will be getting together for a virtual event soon to be together and talk about next steps. Stay tuned!
When we wanted to talk about the latest Supreme Court case that could completely gut voting rights, we went straight to the expert. This week, we're sharing the audio of our recent event with Janai Nelson, the hard-hitting NAACP lawyer who argued Louisiana vs Callais at the Supreme Court.
Janai and Katie's conversation covered all of the basics of what's happening (simplified so we can all understand it!), what it was like to present a case to the full-on United States Supreme Court, and what gives her hope.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
There’s no denying that music can help us not lose our sh!t — we’ve discussed it on the pod before with authors, psychologists, political experts, and friends. Chances are, you’ve turned to a song to get yourself through a difficult moment in your life or our current political hellscape.
But today, we’re not just talking aboutmusic; we’re actually listening to it.
On this episode, Katie and LaFonda were joined by folk musician Inda Eaton. Together, they listened to songs that have moved them, inspired them, made them laugh, and kept their feet moving in the right direction — from funny viral videos to Inda’s own poignant song FREE.
There’s a reason that music is often said to be “deeper than words.” It captures a feeling, a shared humanity that goes beyond the battlefield of rhetoric. As Inda says, it’s the common ground of the heart.
We encourage everyone to check out the musicians whose work we shared today: Hostile Government Takeover by Todd Givens Jr. (aka AGiftFromTodd), Join ICE by Jesse Welles, Minnesota by the Marsh Family, FREE by Inda Eaton, and Heavy Foot by Mon Rovia.
And there are so many other songs we wished we could’ve shared but it would’ve made this episode 3 hours long! We also recommend All You Fascists Are Bound To Lose, Living In The Future, We Run, Thank You For Replacing The Ayatollah, and How Can You Sing The Blues. There are so many amazing artists out there making music to get us through these hard times, just like there have been throughout history.
Protest music is powerful. We hope this episode helps you, whether it's with a laugh, a cry, a connection, or all of the above.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
On March 31st — just two weeks ago — the Supreme Court ruled that the state of Colorado couldn’t ban conversion therapy for minors. They called it a matter of “free speech.”
But to the nearly 700,000 LGBTQ+ Americans who have gone through conversion therapy, it’s a lot more than an abstract issue about free speech. It’s a trauma they’re still dealing with, even if it happened to them years or decades ago.
One of those 700,000 is Drew Amstutz, Red Wine & Blue’s Chief of Staff and all-around delightful human. On this week’s podcast, he shared some of the horrifying details of being forced through conversion therapy as a 15-year-old kid.
Please be warned if you have trauma around religion or sexual harassment; Drew’s story is hard to hear. But it’s still happening every day to kids across the country, so it’s crucial that we talk about it.
LGBTQ+ youth who go through conversion therapy face a higher suicide risk — not just while they’re experiencing it, but for the rest of their lives. It's a practice that manipulates parents into traumatizing their kids for simply being themselves.
When you hear about a 60-year-old man breaking down a 15-year-old child, including techniques like gaslighting and sexual harassment, it’s hard not to draw connections to other powerful abusers like Epstein. Again and again, we see this country protect the rich and powerful and cast aside women and children.
The episode wasn’t all doom and gloom, though! After discussion Drew’s personal story, we talked about joy in the LGBTQ+ community. When so many powerful forces — from the government to your parents — are telling you that who you are is wrong, fun and community can be lifesaving.
This episode is honest and heartbreaking, but it’s also joyful and full of love. Despite the trauma he experienced, Drew is one of the most kind, uplifting, and competent people that all of us here at Red Wine & Blue have ever had the pleasure to meet. We know you’ll love him too. ❤️
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week on the pod, we were joined by two of Katie's neighbors: Erin and Dave. Along with a few other members of their community in Shaker Heights, Ohio, they've been working together to stop the AI surveillance company Flock from sharing their data with ICE.
It's a complicated issue! First, on the technical side -- how exactly does Flock work, and how are they sharing data with ICE and Border Patrol? It's also tricky on the advocacy side -- how can we know if Flock is sharing our data with ICE, and what can we do to stop it?
But Erin and Dave broke it all down and explained what we can do if we're worried about Flock in our own community. A great place to start is https://deflock.org/, a crowdsourced website where people have been sharing where cameras are located all across the country.
From there, you can find people in your community who are also concerned about this issue and push for change on the local level. It's important to advocate on the federal level for changes to ICE and Border Patrol, but you can actually have a conversation with your local city council member or chief of police. After all, they're part of your community too.
Erin, Dave and Katie all agreed that as scary as everything feels right now (with ICE, surveillance, and AI high on the list of concerns), it's actually been empowering to talk to their local leaders about Flock... and, of course, become better friends along the way.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
“Optimization” is everywhere. We’re supposed to optimize our health, optimize our parenting, optimize our career and body and every other aspect of our lives. Wellness bros are out there writing articles and producing podcasts about how data can help us optimize our way to perfection.
But you know what? Not everyone can start every day by drinking lemon water barefoot outdoors for an hour. Some of us have kids!
This week on the podcast, we talked to Emily Oster, the founder of ParentData and the author of Expecting Better and Cribsheet. As a woman who professionally helps parents (and everyone else) better understand data, she had so much good advice.
Turns out, data can help us make good decisions but there’s no one way to “optimize” our parenting or our lives. It’s about balancing data alongside our own experiences, values, and the reality of our daily lives. There’s a stereotype that women only rely on their hearts (our “women’s intuition”) while men rely on evidence and data. But we’re all capable of doing both, regardless of our gender!
The answer isn’t ignoring data - not at all. It’s about understanding the data and making the best decision for ourselves and our families. As Emily said, “data isn’t bossy.”
It’s also not political. We talked with Emily about RFK’s “Make America Healthy Again” campaign and how there are nuggets of good advice in there, like making school lunches healthier, alongside disinformation about vaccines and autism. It’s not about listening to one person or one study — it’s about learning how to understand the data for ourselves.
Understanding scientific studies or other kinds of data might feel intimidating, but don’t underestimate yourself — you can understand data! Every data point in a spreadsheet or a medical study is actually just a person. A story. Data isn’t the be-all end-all; it’s about telling a better, truer story.
This was such a fascinating conversation and we’re so grateful to Emily for joining us. Don’t miss this week’s episode!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
When Shannon Watts created Moms Demand Action in 2012, her intention was to give moms a way to take action on gun violence. Since then, she hasn’t just seen concrete results like stronger gun laws and closed loopholes. She’s seen the transformative power of getting together in person around shared values.
Shannon wrote about this idea in her recent book, Fired Up. She explained that there’s a spark within all of us, a catalyst for our life’s meaning and joy. And when many sparks all ignite at once, what do you get? A bonfire.
The idea immediately resonated with so many women that they began forming their own groups — called Bonfires — in their local communities.
If you’ve been following Red Wine & Blue for a while, this may all sound familiar to you. Women? Forming local groups? Around shared values? Connecting in person? Making a difference? Sounds like what the Red Wine & Blue Network is all about!
And because Katie Paris and Shannon Watts are collaborative and strategic women, they weren’t offended or territorial. They wanted to work together! So Bonfire and the Red Wine & Blue Network are teaming up to share what we’ve all learned and support women who want to start Bonfire or Network groups in their town.
If you want to learn more about how it works, you can join us for a live virtual event on Monday, March 30th at 7:30pm Eastern. Yes, we see the irony of holding a virtual event to help women find in-person connections. 😂 Just join us for an hour on Zoom to get the tools you need and then go out into your community for some real face-to-face time!
We also chatted on the pod with Emily, a mom in Florida who started her own Bonfire group this year. She says it’s been so cool to have a group of women supporting each other through big life changes, political turmoil, and anything that life throws their way.
If you can’t attend the virtual event on 3/30, you can learn more about the RWB/Bonfire partnership here. If there isn’t already a group in your area, consider starting one! We’ll be here to help you every step of the way.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Are you feeling burned out on politics? If the answer is no... please let us know your secret!
But if you are feeling burned out like us (and basically every woman we know), then this episode is for you.
We were joined by the wise and funny Amelia Nagoski this week to talk about her book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. Amelia wrote the book with her twin sister Emily after Amelia got so stressed and burned out that she ended up in the hospital. What they ended up learning was so helpful (and honestly, revolutionary) that they wanted to share it with everyone.
Katie, LaFonda, and Amelia had such a great conversation about what causes burnout, how to see it coming, and how to move past it once it happens. And in the meantime, Amelia helped us understand why getting involved on a local level isn't just strategic, it also helps us feel better. (You know, only our very favorite topic.)
Don't miss this episode for some practical guidance on managing stress and burnout as well as mind-blowing science on why our bodies and brains work they way they do.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week on the pod, we talked to two women in Ohio who have been fighting back against an Amazon data center in their neighborhood. Cathy has been doing environmental advocacy for many years, and young mom Annette has only recently gotten involved, but they both agreed that it was only through the help of one another -- and their entire community -- that they've been able to make a difference.
But let's back up, shall we? We've heard terms like "AI" and "data centers" thrown around a lot lately, but so many of us don't know exactly what a data center even is, let alone why it would be harmful to our neighborhood! Cathy and Annette did a great job of explaining what they are, how swiftly they can be built (often without neighbors even being informed), and why we should be concerned.
And as always, we heard that our relationships with one another aren't just the key to effective action. They're also the key to not losing our sh!t.
If you're worried about a data center being built in your area, or you just want to know more, don't miss this episode!
And don't forget to contact your Senators to stop the SAVE Act! We can help you here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Last year, Amanda Litman and her husband hosted a dinner party every Saturday. She was skeptical going into it, as an introvert and the mom of two young kids, but after a just a few weeks she realized it was one of the best decisions she’s ever made.
Not only that, she says it was the most politicalthing she did in 2025.
To really appreciate that statement, you have to understand that Amanda has devoted her professional life to politics. She’s the leader and co-founder of Run For Something, an organization that helps young and diverse people run for office, and the author of When We’re in Charge: The Next Generation’s Guide to Leadership. She is a Political Person with two capital P’s.
And yet — and yet! — Amanda still says that her 52 dinner parties were more powerful than all of that. Sharing conversations with our neighbors and building community are the most political actions we can take.
We’ve already seen it play out in places like Minneapolis, where neighbors have been supporting each other through the violent ICE occupation. This has been a chaotic and painful year, but folks have been getting through it by extending a hand to their community and asking, “How can I help?”
Okay, so connecting with our neighbors and being kind to each other is political. That makes sense. But… 52 dinner parties? How did she manage it? Did she really cook every week? Did she get help with childcare? Did she agonize over who to invite and the seating plan?
In the end, Amanda answered all of these questions (and more) so convincingly that Katie and LaFonda committed to hosting their own dinner party this month! Check out this week’s episode of How To Not Lose Your Sh!t to learn how you too can join the Mr. Rogers Resistance.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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In 2024, Win With Black Women held a Zoom call with 44,000 women that raised 1.5 million dollars for Kamala Harris in just 3 hours. You might remember a number of similar Zoom calls around that time, from White Women Answer The Call to White Dudes For Harris, but Win With Black Women was the original. They were the blueprint.
That 2024 call wasn’t a one-time thing, either — every Sunday night, Win With Black Women hosts a call where women can learn from each other and be in community. And that spirit of collectivism, community and joy shines in every word we heard from Holli Holliday on the pod this week.
Holli is the co-convener of Win With Black Women as well as the president of Sisters Lead, Sisters Vote. She shared some great news with us about how Black women candidates are winning elections across the country — and not just in majority Black districts. They’re winning everywhere.
Holli’s full of joy and hope, but it’s not in a bland Pollyanna sort of way. She says that despite the national narratives of doom and hopelessness, she’s been seeing more and more everyday acts of kindness. When we share our stories and our resources with each other, we’re all lifted up in the process.
Here's to getting off the Doomsday Express!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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This week, we were joined on the podcast by two moms in suburban Minneapolis. Their upbringings were very different: Stef is a white woman from a small town in southern Minnesota and Nina grew up in Somalia, where her father was a political prisoner. But this year, these two friends are standing side by side to protect their community against ICE.
Their friendship was so sweet (each insisting that the other is the true inspiration) but it’s also strategic: strong connections between neighbors and friends is how Minnesota has stood up against this year’s ICE invasion.
Stef and Nina confirmed all of the amazing stories we’ve been hearing. In -25 degree weather, Minnesotans are out protesting. They’re collecting diapers and groceries for families who are too scared to leave their homes. They’re even riding on school busses to make sure that kids get to school safe. Nina says it’s what her adoptive state is all about.
“In this community, we pray together. We share resources with one another. We take care of each other. Everybody is trying to help and stand up for their next door neighbor. Words cannot say how I how I feel about that, and that makes me wanna do more. We are all in this together and feeling this fear, but it turned out to be a strength and inspiration. It’s amazing. I feel abundance every night when I go to bed.”
This is coming from a woman whose family escaped a violent dictator, only to experience that fear again now in America. Nina’s positivity and love for her neighbors radiated from her throughout the interview and reminded us that this is the America we’re fighting to save.
If you’re worried about ICE coming to your town, build those friendships now. Organize a neighborhood potluck. Set up a community Signal chat. If you have those relationships and infrastructure in place, you’ll be in a much stronger position to get through hard or even dangerous times.
Don't miss this week's chat with Stef and Nina!
And if you want to learn more or RSVP for our event next Tuesday about Black maternal mortality, you can do so here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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We all know elections are important, from president to city council and school board. But have you ever heard anyone talk about running for office as self-care?
We hadn’t either — until today! This week on the pod, we were joined by two inspirational women: Jill Barkley Roy and Kate Barr. Jill is the Director of Emerge Action Fund, an organization that trains women to run for office. And Kate has been fighting against gerrymandering in North Carolina for years and now, she’s actually running for office as a Republican as a genius way to beat those unfair maps.
Not only did both Jill and Kate share what they’ve been doing to help women (including themselves) run for office, but they both said that the work they do is what helps them not lose their shit on a daily basis.
Jill even said that after training 25 women to run for office at a recent Emerge bootcamp, she was so excited that she couldn’t sleep. That sounds a lot better than lying awake because of nightmares about ICE!
Kate, meanwhile, shared this wisdom that she first heard from a Tibetan monk about not spreading ourselves too thin. We should find our torch — the issue we care about most — and carry it in the direction we feel is right and true for as we're able. It's what she and Jill have both been doing for years.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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Last night, Red Wine & Blue held an emergency community meeting to support Springfield, Ohio against an impending ICE surge.
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from ending protections for Haitians in Springield, but the fight is far from over. The Department of Homeland Security says they are taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. 15,000 Haitians in Springfield could lose their status in a matter of weeks and ICE could surge.
We stood up for Springfield, Ohio, when JD Vance and Donald Trump lied about Haitians who live and work there during the 2024 campaign, and we're doing it again now. In this virtual event, we heard from local residents and legal experts, raised funds for local groups providing direct support to Haitian families in Springfield, and thousands took action, no matter where they're from.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Americans are at a breaking point. But that breaking point looks wildly different depending on who you ask.
For many of us who have been protesting and organizing against the Trump Administration since 2016, we’re at an emotional breaking point. How much suffering, how many innocent lives have to be lost, before this country turns back toward democracy?
For some who supported Trump (or at least didn’t care one way or the other), it’s a moral breaking point. Confronted with clear video evidence in Alex Pretti and Renee Good’s murders, seeds of doubt are growing in former MAGA faithfuls. Women in particular, regardless of political party, do not support ICE’s brutality.
And some lifelong activists, especially Black women, are at a breaking point too. After years of not being listened to, it’s hard to graciously welcome the “Johnny-come-lately”s whose minds were only changed when a white man was murdered.
That frustration is so understandable. But we can’t afford to turn people away — no matter how early or late they’ve joined the fight. That’s not to say that there shouldn’t be accountability! But as our pod guest Malynda Hale said to a woman who had posted on Threads that she was leaving MAGA, “Welcome, good for you, let’s get to work cause you have a lot to help fix.”
This week’s conversation between Malynda and LaFonda explores that tension between accountability and welcoming people to the cause. Malynda is also the Executive Director of The New Evangelicals, an organization that’s redefining what it means to be an evangelical Christian in America. Her chat with LaFonda goes deep on so many of these topics and more — we hope it helps you not lose your shit!
Speaking of redefining Christianity, we're holding a virtual event about Christian Nationalism on Thursday, January 29 at 7:30pm ET. You can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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On the one-year anniversary of Trump’s inauguration, we are exhausted and anxious. That’s why we’re turning to our favorite historian Heather Cox Richardson to help us reflect on the year and how we can and must continue to stand strong together.
This conversation is not just about naming what’s gone wrong; it is also about recognizing what’s beginning to shift. Heather shared why the tide may be turning as cracks form in the MAGA movement and more people are rejecting extremism in favor of humanity. Let’s start the new year talking about how we will continue to bring positive change and the power we have when we stand together.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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This week on the pod, we interviewed two moms in Chicago who were arrested last year for protesting outside of an ICE facility. Nikki and Sarah said that they wanted to draw attention to what’s happening in this country by using their privilege as white suburban moms — moms not so different from Renee Good in Minneapolis.
Not everyone has to go out and get arrested to stand up for immigrants in their community. There are so many ways to get involved, from helping your school with a food drive to going to a local meeting to simply having a conversation with the people in your life.
But before we can take meaningful action, we have to feel all the feelings. Especially after Renee’s tragic murder. So cry, hug a loved one, or scream in your car. And then it’s time to do something about it
Nikki and Sarah's story was already inspiring — suburban moms who were stepping up to defend their neighbors and risk their own safety — but with last week’s news, our conversation with them was more important than ever. We hope you get as much out of it as we did.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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Last night, Red Wine & Blue held a virtual event we called Moms for Good where our community got together to process and grieve for Renee Good, who was killed in Minneapolis last week by a member of ICE.
We talked about how it’s okay to feel all the feelings – sadness, fear, anger, overwhelm – but we also talked about how fear is being used to silence us. As moms, neighbors, and friends, we have to stay in the fight.
Tomorrow on the pod, we’ll be joined by two suburban moms in Chicago who were arrested for protesting ICE last year. Nikki and Sarah were among our guests at last night’s event and you’ll get to hear their story in more detail tomorrow.
If you want to take any of the actions mentioned in this event, here are the links:
- Take action and find resources and organizational links here: https://go.redwine.blue/MomsforGood/Resources
- Contact your member of Congress to hold ICE accountable: https://go.redwine.blue/mfg-callcongress
- Sign up for a Social Bank: https://go.redwine.blue/mfg-socbank
- Find your local TroubleNation group or Start One: https://go.redwine.blue/mfg-tn
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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Red Wine & Blue is back from the holidays and ready to tackle 2026! So it feels right that we were joined for our first pod of the new year by two of our favorite RWB colleagues, Rebecca and Janice.
All last year, Rebecca did the hard work of tracking Project 2025 as Trump put it into place, one dangerous policy at a time. So of course we had to ask what her strategy has been to do this depressing research every day without losing her shit! She told us that the antidote has been seeing the amazing work that RWB and women across the country did in their local communities all year long.
So to hear more about that on-the-ground work, we also chatted with our North Carolina Program Director, Janice Robinson. Janice and her team have been training women to run for office, protecting kids from ICE at their local schools, and so much more.
The year 2025 may be over, but Project 2025 isn’t going anywhere. The Trump administration plans to continue and expand their authoritarian work in 2026. And although that feels daunting, we know how to counter it: by working in our local communities and talking to our friends, family, and neighbors.
As Rebecca put it, Project 2025 was “an enormous horrible group project” that included the work of hundreds of conservative authors. But we have our own group project to protect our communities and our country—and there’s no telling what millions of passionate women can accomplish when we work together.
2026 is going to be a big year. Let’s go!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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Last week, Red Wine & Blue held our last live virtual event of the year. First, Katie Paris shared some of the wins we saw in 2025 elections and how we're approaching 2026.
Then we're joined by our favorite political strategist and event guest, Jess McIntosh, to share some tips and tricks for navigating holiday parties. What should you do if a MAGA relative corners you and insists on a debate? What actually moves the needle, and what's a waste of your energy?
Thanks so much for joining us this year - we'll see you in 2026!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Back in 2020, members of the violent group The Proud Boys jumped a fence and defaced the Black Lives Matter sign at Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church. They filmed themselves destroying the sign while chanting racial epithets.
Metropolitan AME wasn’t the only Black church in D.C. to be attacked that night, but their response to the violence was unique. They sued the Proud Boys for damages, and when the group failed to pay, the church won the rights to their trademark. Now, they’re selling merch using the PB logo to raise money for their Community Justice Fund.
It’s an amazing story, but it’s only the backdrop to our conversation this week with Reverend Lamar. Katie and LaFonda’s conversation with him spanned so many topics, from the importance of storytelling to the power of love to how to have conversations with our family members at the holiday table. They discussed how the far-right has tried to co-opt Christianity but progressive pastors like Rev. Lamar are still fighting for justice and love — you know, actual Christian values.
Rev. Lamar has a book coming out next year called Ancestors: Those Who Bless Us, Curse Us, and Hold Us. He’s more directly connected to the past than most—Metropolitan AME is the oldest continuously Black-owned property in D.C and held the funerals of Frederick Douglass and Rosa Parks—but we’re all shaped by our ancestors. In recognizing our ancestors, we recognize the stories we tell about ourselves.
This conversation is a great way to get in the Christmas spirit, but even if you don’t celebrate, his humanity and leadership are inspiring. We hope you enjoy it.
And if you'd like to join us for our virtual "Pre-Gaming 2026" event, you can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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We were so lucky this week to be joined by Prentis Hemphill: a therapist, teacher, political organizer, and bestselling author of What It Takes to Heal.
So often we hear women say that things feel deeply wrong right now and they want to do something about it. But how do we engage without losing ourselves? It can feel like pain is the only way to make change, like we can only heal the world if we’re willing to be exhausted and broken ourselves along the way.
Prentis offers a different perspective. What if we can actually heal our systems while healing ourselves? What if it’s not about checking off items on a to-do list? They suggest that if we can be more present, listen with curiosity to ourselves and our neighbors, it doesn’t just make us feel more centered. It’s actually more effective organizing.
You can try out a centering practice with their video here or by checking out their work at prentishemphill.com. And if you’re interested in attending our upcoming virtual event When the World’s on Fire: Caring for Ourselves and Our Kids, you can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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In 2018, Jessica Yellin founded News Not Noise. She’d spent 17 years working in TV news (including as CNN’s Chief White House correspondent) and through those years, she learned that traditional news media is really good at generating anxiety and ratings. What it isn’t so good at is helping people understand what’s really going on (at least, not without a daily panic attack). What we really needed was… well, the news without the noise.
Meanwhile, around that same time, Katie Paris was seeing similar shortcomings in politics itself. Pundits out of Washington, D.C. were trapped in the way things had “always been done,” while Katie was seeing suburban women across the country getting together to make real change in their communities — not just following marching orders from D.C.
When you think about it like that, of course it makes perfect sense that News Not Noise and Red Wine & Blue would collaborate!
The news media has long been under attack by the Trump administration. He’s explicitly called journalists “the enemy of the people,” verbally attacked reporters (especially women), and his latest ridiculous move is launching a new page on the actual White House website called “Media Offender of the Week.”
We’re all for thoughtful media criticism, but this partisan and deeply unserious web page insulting “Democrats and Fake News Media” is… not that.
It’s why we’re so grateful to journalists like Jessica for bringing us political news in a way that helps us understand what actually matters and what’s a mere distraction. Without knowing what’s going on, after all, how can we make a plan to fix it? As the saying goes, “when you know better, you do better.”
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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This week is Thanksgiving, so we're celebrating gratitude with the RWB fam. We heard from our colleagues about what they're grateful for this year -- from brave kids walking out over ICE to the work we get to do every day to the joys of a good book.
That's not to say that we're not also pissed off! Trump's latest misogynistic jibe (calling a female reporter "piggy") has Katie and LaFonda fuming. But the response we're seeing online from other women and the ways that our communities are standing up to extremism across the country give us hope.
We can hold many things at the same time. 2025 has been an unbelievably difficult year, but it's also been full of moments that make us grateful. We hope you have a safe and happy holiday and we'll see you next week.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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As an introvert and first-generation immigrant who moved to her city right before Covid, Lily didn’t know many of her neighbors. But this year, she was inspired to help deliver meals for a local food bank. Once she started hearing the stories of the families she was helping, she says her heart was touched and she was motivated to do more.
She organized a group of volunteers to help even more families in need, meeting so many “like-minded and like-hearted people” in the process. “It’s really a dream team,” she said, “and we work together so well because everyone is so focused on the goal, which is to serve these families.”
That would be an inspiring enough story on its own, but there was an even bigger twist waiting for her.
Lily was unfortunately laid off from her job a few weeks ago. That same day, while stocking a community fridge, she talked to the founder of the food bank who assured her that they had her back. “Don’t worry,” the founder told her. “You know we have good food, and you’re covered.”
This is truly the spirit of mutual aid: one day we’re helping our community and the next day they’re helping us. It’s not a bunch of wealthy “ladies who lunch” sipping champagne and deciding who to bestow their charity on today. It’s about all of us lifting each other up… together.
If you have a little extra time, money, or food this holiday season, we encourage you to share it with your community just like Lily.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Extremism lost big in Pennsylvania last week, from ICE-loving sheriffs to the State Supreme Court to school boards across the commonwealth. And it didn’t happen because of pundits on cable news or DC-based strategists. It happened because regular Pennsylvanians stepped up, ran for office, and talked to their neighbors and friends about what was on the line.
This week on the pod, we’re joined by Sherry Luce, our PA Program Director, and Stacy Kunkel, our PA Deputy Program Director. They shared some inspiring stories from the ground, like a couple of moms who decided to set up their own tripod to stream their local school board meetings to show their neighbors how extremist their school board had become. And last Tuesday night, their efforts paid off! They won five seats and their school board is now full of common sense candidates who care more about kids than culture wars.
Sherry and Stacy are also our favorite “self-care resisters,” as LaFonda puts it. But their conversation shows that there’s no one way to balance work and self-care. No matter what, community is at the heart of it all.
We hope you enjoy today’s episode and are as inspired as we were by the amazing work being done in Pennsylvania!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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By now, you’ve probably heard that Democrats won big across the country last night. From Governor and Lt. Governor in Virginia to Proposition 50 in California to school boards and city councils across the country, the people made their voices heard. And some of the biggest swings, especially in Virginia, were amongst suburban women.
This win goes far beyond the races that were on the ballot last night. This is a win for every American who wants to preserve democracy, common sense, and decency.
Ever since the devastating losses in 2024, we’ve been saying “when they go low, we go local.” Some people were skeptical — how could “going local” stop ICE from invading our cities? Or Trump from cutting food stamps for children? But it was about planting seeds. Those seeds have already grown into some pretty incredible results… who knows what our harvest in 2026 or 2028 will look like?
The work doesn’t end, but we all deserve a little rest. In fact, we deserve to rest and celebrate! So let’s take a moment and feel all the feelings. Let’s thank someone who worked on a campaign or turned out their friends to vote. Today reminds us what’s possible. Even in the face of all the darkness this year has brought, we can shine our own light. And when we shine together, there’s no stopping us.
We’ll be sharing more wins and inspiring stories over the coming weeks. Celebrate, get some rest, and stay tuned!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Last Wednesday, Red Wine & Blue was joined by Heather Cox Richardson for a virtual rally that celebrated America. After all, MAGA doesn’t own patriotism or the flag — and the No Kings protests last month were anything but “hate America rallies.” Exercising our First Amendment rights and protecting democracy against authoritarianism is as patriotic as it gets!
We wanted to build on that momentum to get us through election day, so we held our own Love America Rally last Wednesday night. And we weren’t just joined by Heather that night — tens of thousands of women were on the call to celebrate America. We hope you’re as inspired by Heather’s words as we were.
Tomorrow is election day! Make sure that you vote and that everyone you know votes too. This is our America and tomorrow is our chance to start taking it back.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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This week on the pod, we were joined by a Virginia mom named Andrea. For years, she thought she hated politics — she says it just seemed like a reason for “people to be mean to each other.” But as last year’s election drew closer, she noticed that her friends and family weren’t talking about it. Everyone said they were too exhausted after the first Trump presidency.
Andrea understood the feeling (who isn’t exhausted by Trump??), but she couldn’t stand by and do nothing. So she started a TroubleNation group called NoVA Childless Cat Ladies. At first, all they did was write postcards, but she used those get-togethers to talk about their shared values and how they could support marginalized groups in their area. Now, a year later, Childless Cat Ladies has more than 100 members!
It feels like we were just here — on the cusp of an election, not knowing which way things will go. If you’re feeling a bit of PTSD, you’re not alone. This year’s elections are getting a lot less press and attention than 2024, but local elections are SO important. From the governor and attorney general of Virginia to school boards and mayors and ballot propositions across the country, we have the opportunity to protect our neighbors next Tuesday. And, as a bonus, we can kick off a blue wave that’ll take us through next year’s midterms.
If you want to join Red Wine & Blue and Heather Cox Richardson for a virtual Love America Rally on Wednesday 10/29 at 7:30pm ET, you can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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This week on the pod, we were so excited to talk to Karen Walrond. She’s the author of books like The Lightmaker’s Manifesto, Radiant Rebellion, and In Defense of Dabbling. Her words about the importance of kindness, self-compassion, activism, and even anger were exactly what we needed to hear coming out of this past weekend of joyful protests.
Our mission here is to help women make a difference in their communities without losing their shit, and the subtitle of The Lightmaker’s Manifesto is actually “How To Work For Change Without Losing Your Joy,” so clearly we had to get her on the show as soon as we could!
In the interview, she emphasized the natural rhythm and cadence to activism. Anger can be a useful spark, but kindness and love are what keep the fire going. Rest and recreation (re-creation) aren’t optional — they’re necessary to keep getting up every day and fighting for our values. When our neighbors need to take a breath, we can speak up in their place. And when we need a moment to rest, we can trust that they’ll step in for us. “Activism” might sound overwhelming, but much like the No Kings rallies, it isn’t actually scary. It can be a beautiful intersection of self-care and community.
As Karen says, “Joy comes from intention, self-compassion is a non-negotiable, and kindness is a power move.” We couldn’t agree more.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Katie Paris met Jennifer at the gym. It’s a gym of mostly women, where encouragement and high-fives are the norm and pull-ups are celebrated alongside wins for reproductive rights.
But neither woman could have predicted that their gym friendship would lead to Jennifer co-creating a TroubleNation group called Hope In The Heights that now has more than 400 members! And still, Jennifer considers herself “humanitarian” rather than “political.” She says it’s just about doing the right thing so that we’re all able to live up to our potential.
We can find friends — and fellow TroubleMakers — in every part of our lives. For many women, the gym is a place of community and strength. Jennifer says the women she’s met there, and in Hope in the Heights, have helped her work through the anger and grief over last year’s election. Now they’re getting together every month to fight extremism and bring hope back to Ohio.
“You’re going to lose your shit,” Jennifer says. “And it’s okay! Feel the fear and do it anyway.”
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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This week on the pod, we are so excited to share wisdom from the one and only Stacey Abrams. The legendary organizer (and author and entrepreneur and state representative and candidate for governor and Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan…) joined Red Wine & Blue last week for a virtual event. She was so inspiring that we just had to share her words with our podcast listeners too.
Katie and Stacey discussed the 10 Steps to Authoritarianism (spoiler: we’ve hit them all) but more importantly, they also talked about Stacey’s 10 Steps to Freedom and Power. It’s not just about reclaiming the country that they’ve been breaking for the past nine months. It’s about building a country that’s so strong and so just that this could never have happened in the first place.
She emphasized that personal relationships and community-building are the foundation on which we build that strong and free country. None of us can do it alone. All we have to do is ask, “how can I help?” and find a few friends to join in.
Tune in to hear Stacey’s brilliance, what’s been making Katie and LaFonda lose their shit lately, our self-care tip of the week, and more.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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We are so excited today to share the first episode of our new podcast How To Not Lose Your Sh!t. We’ve been hearing from women in our community that they want to get involved and make a difference, but they’re overwhelmed. They’re scared. And we hear you — we feel the same way so much of the time.
But we have a theory: what if self-care and politics aren’t actually opposites? What if connecting with our neighbors and making real positive change can make us feel even better than a bubble bath or a manicure?
This week, we’re joined by our favorite historian, Heather Cox Richardson. Heather chatted with us about how she writes her newsletter every day without losing her shit, why our connections with each other are so important, and why she’s optimistic about the elections coming up in November.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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Let’s be honest: this year has been a bit of a dumpster fire. Here at Red Wine & Blue, we’ve been hearing women in our community say they’re not sure how to make a difference — at least, not without totally losing their shit.
So we decided to tackle that question head-on with a brand-new podcast. It’s simply called How To Not Lose Your Sh!t and it’s hosted by our very own Katie Paris and LaFonda Cousin.
Katie, our founder, has worked in political organizing for most of her career. LaFonda, our Chief People Officer, is a wellness expert and yoga teacher on a mission to reimagine self-care. Every week, they’ll talk to experts and everyday women who are getting involved, building community, and feeling better in the process.
You can listen to our first episode with special guest Heather Cox Richardson on October 1st, with new episodes every Wednesday after that. If you’re already subscribed to the Red Wine & Blue podcast in your podcast player, you’ll automatically see new episodes each week here in your feed.
There are a lot of political podcasts out there already, and a lot of mental health and self-care shows too. What we want to do is reject that binary and explore how getting involved can actually be a form of not only caring for your community, but also yourself. We can’t wait for you to join us on a journey through self-care, politics, community, and tackling this difficult moment… together.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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Ever since last year’s election, suburban women have had more questions than answers. How are we supposed to deal with the firehose of information that’s coming at us all the time? Can we believe what we read in the news or on social media? And, most important of all, why is all of this happening?
That’s why we made “Okay, But Why.” Because these days, good information can be hard to find. And no matter what anyone says, facts are not political. If Americans all had access to the same information, we’d probably agree on a lot more than we think. These resources aren’t going anywhere – you can still scroll back in your podcast feed to listen to old episodes, watch them on YouTube, or read about them on our website. You can send an episode to a friend and use it as a starting point for a meaningful conversation.
Now that we all have a little better handle on why the news is so crazy, there’s another pressing question to answer: how can we make a difference without losing our shit? So in that spirit, we’re launching a brand-new pod that’s simply called “How To Not Lose Your Sh!t.” It’ll be hosted by Katie Paris, the founder of Red Wine & Blue, along with LaFonda Cousin, our Chief People Officer, yoga teacher, and wellness expert.
Because let’s be honest, we’re all kind of losing our shit right now. But there are ways to feel better — and ways to make the world a better place — and it all starts with community.
The trailer for our new pod will drop tomorrow and the first episode (with special guest Heather Cox Richardson) will come out on Wednesday, October 1st. If you’re already subscribed to the Red Wine & Blue podcast, you don’t need to do anything! New episodes will already be in your podcast player every Wednesday. And if you’re not already subscribed, you can find us by searching for “How To Not Lose Your Sh!t” in your podcast feed.
We can’t wait to figure out how we can all make a difference without losing our shit… together.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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Americans don’t talk about state attorney generals very much. Technically it’s “attorneys general”—like “sisters-in-law” instead of “sister-in-laws”—but don’t get hung up on the wording. It’s what AGs actually do that matters so much.
A state attorney general is basically the top legal expert in their state; they’re also known as The People’s Lawyers because they fight for us, their constituents, against bad actors who don’t have our best interests in mind. That can mean prosecuting companies that are polluting waterways or landlords who are illegally raising rent prices or banks that are selling people’s private data. Sometimes state AGs band together on lawsuits, like a recent case against Purdue Pharma for aggressively pushing medications like OxyContin and contributing to the opioid crisis we’re facing in this country.
Unfortunately, we also have a lot of examples of the harm that a corrupt or extremist attorney general can do. (Ken Paxton, for example) But the good news is, we the people have the power to elect them. In all but seven states (AK, HI, NH, NJ, WY, TN, & ME), voters choose their AG at the ballot box. Most attorneys general are up for election in 2026 or 2028, and in one pivotal state, Virginia, voters will get to elect a new attorney general in just a couple of months.
This November, Jay Jones—a lawyer and former member of the Virginia House of Delegates—will square off against the current Virginia Attorney General, Jason Miyares. Miyares is a Republican and a supporter of Donald Trump, campaigning for him and supporting his policies.
If you live in Virginia, be sure you come to the polls in November prepared to vote for attorney general. And if you don’t live in Virginia, chances are you’ll have the chance to vote for your own AG very soon! It’s not just about rejecting extremism. It’s about choosing a “People’s Lawyer” who actually works for the people.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, recently announced that he’d be “revealing” the “cause of autism” this month. It’s true that rates of diagnosis have gone up over the past 20 years — from 1 in 150 kids to 1 in 31 — but autism advocates are worried that Kennedy’s mission will do more harm than good.
In the past, RFK Jr. has spread disinformation about vaccines, including exhaustively disproven links to autism. (Seriously, we’re talking thousands of studies on millions of patients. Vaccines do not cause autism!) Now the Wall Street Journal has reported that his new theory is about the use of Tylenol in pregnancy. But just last year, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a huge study proving that Tylenol isn’t linked to autism or ADHD.
Most doctors believe that autism is caused by genetics, and kids with a sibling or parent who’s autistic are more likely to be diagnosed themselves. A study published in 2019 estimated the heritability of autism at about 80%, about the same as the heritability of height. So then… what’s causing the spike in autism? The answer is simple: we’re getting better at diagnosing it.
Doctors have especially made strides in diagnosing women and girls. Autistic girls often struggle more internally than externally and their response may look like shyness, which our society finds more acceptable in girls than in boys. Across all genders and ages, no two people with autism are exactly the same. If RFK Jr. actually talked to anyone with autism, he might realize that he’s pushing stereotypes and disinformation.
And on top of all that, RFK Jr. and Trump have actually cut more than 50 federal research projects on autism, firing scientists who have been working on this for years. If they really wanted to help people with autism, why would they cut that funding?
In this week’s episode of Okay, But Why, we’re exploring what we do and don’t know about autism, busting myths and disinformation, and hearing from actual autistic people in their own words.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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When people think of romance novels, the first thing that comes to mind is shirtless Dukes with windswept hair on the covers of mass-market paperbacks. The damsel in distress main character who is waiting for a love interest to come and save her from the clutches of evil. They’re a thing for girls. It isn’t ‘real’ reading, because they are stories typically written by women, for women, and starring women.
But what if we told you that romance books, even the most quote-unquote “raunchy” of the genre, are deeply political?
Who gets to be the hero or the heroine matters. Romance, as a genre, has seen major shifts in recent years, evolving from stories focused on white, heterosexual protagonists to a more diverse range of characters, lives, and themes. LGBTQ+ characters and relationships have entire shelves dedicated to them in bookstores. Black female characters now receive the same fairytale endings that they’ve always deserved.
By centering these stories, romance novels assert that marginalized voices belong at the center of the narrative, not just the margins. And that’s more important than ever as Trump and his allies work to silence these voices.
So the next time you hear someone make fun of romance novels, just know that they have no idea what they’re talking about. They likely view the genre as frivolous or even intellectually inferior, but this opinion completely misses the critical political commentary and diverse storytelling that define the books that so many of us love.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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In June of 2015, the Supreme Court made history by ruling that Jim Obergefell and other same-sex couples deserve the right to have their marriages legally recognized — not just in a few states, but across the country.
It’s strange to think that only happened ten years ago. Gay couples across the country have only had the right to marry the person they love since the year of Jurassic World and the first run of Hamilton and that dress on the internet that nobody could agree was blue and black or white and gold. And it was only eleven years before that, in 2004, that the very first legal gay wedding was held anywhere in the country.
As we saw with Roe v Wade, though, Supreme Court cases can be overturned and rights can be taken away. Right now, there’s real concern that the Supreme Court will re-examine Obergefell in the next year. In 2022, after Roe v Wade was struck down, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the Court should turn their attention to other cases of equal rights… like Obergefell.
And now, he might get his chance. Kentucky country clerk Kim Davis filed an official petition this month asking the Supreme Court to re-examine the case.
Yes, that Kim Davis. The one who went to jail for 5 days in 2015 for refusing to sign marriage licenses for gay couples. Doesn’t she have better things to do than work this hard to take away other people’s rights?
We have more than a decade of studies now that prove how much of a difference the right to marry has made for gay couples across the country. Married same-sex couples report better life satisfaction, better physical health, and higher rates of homeownership than unmarried same-sex couples. Once married, they can get on each other’s health insurance, file taxes jointly, and act as legal next of kin in cases of life or death.
By contrast, not a single study has been able to prove any negative effects. Divorce rates across the board have fallen for all types of married couples and children of same-sex couples have the same educational and health outcomes as those in a household with a mother and father.
The majority of Americans believe in marriage equality and the separation of church and state. But for hundreds of thousands of gay couples across the country, the right to get married isn’t abstract — it affects their daily lives, their finances, their health, and their family.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is everywhere these days. Some people think it’s the solution to all of humanity’s problems and some think it’s going to bring about the end of life as we know it. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in between. But with so many different opinions and so many ways that AI can be used, it’s hard to know exactly what to believe.
There’s no denying that AI has enabled some incredible scientific breakthroughs, like new tests for cancer and new tools to communicate with whales. But it often makes factual mistakes, inventing information that never existed. AI developers call these “hallucinations,” and according to tests done by the company OpenAI, the hallucination rates of newer AI systems were as high as 79%. That’s a 79% chance that a piece of information given to you by AI is just fully made up.
It’s having a huge impact on education and our already-low literacy rates. Teachers say that an increasing number of students are using ChatGPT to complete their assignments. They’re even using AI for friendship and therapy, sometimes with tragic results. Adults are using AI too to write emails, summarize articles, or just help them bake a cake — harmless enough until we, like the women at the start of this video, can’t function without help from our “best friend who is also a robot.”
And this isn’t even to mention the enormous environmental toll of AI data processing centers. The carbon emissions from Google alone have risen 65% in the past 5 years because of the increased demand for AI.
People have dreamed of the day that machines can take over our mundane and mindless tasks, but instead, right now AI is taking over the things that make us the most human: learning, communicating with each other, art, and friendship. It’s especially concerning when those changes are happening to our kids, who don’t have the experience or wisdom to know when to use AI and when to use their own brain.
We can’t stop the forward march of progress, but we need to be very mindful of the world we’re creating. Genuine connection is the most valuable thing we have. It’s what makes us human. Let’s make sure we don’t lose it.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Gerrymandering is one of those things that makes people tune out of politics. It doesn’t just sound technical and complicated, it feels so far outside our control. But it’s important to understand because we all deserve to have our votes count. Gerrymandering is basically politicians picking their voters, instead of the other way around. And in Texas, Democratic reps like Ann Johnson are standing up for voters.
Both parties have been known to participate in gerrymandering, but over the past few decades, it’s mostly been Republicans manipulating the maps. That’s not political speculation — many Republican leaders have come right out and said so. They even have an official project, named Operation REDMAP, which stands for Republican Redistricting Majority Project. And unfortunately, so far the project has been extremely successful.
You may wonder… how is this even legal?
Racial gerrymandering has been outlawed since the Voting Rights Act of 1965, but the Supreme Court keeps ruling that partisan gerrymandering is fine. So what’s happening in Texas, where President Trump asked Republican reps to redraw district lines to favor himself, may be wrong and anti-democratic but it’s not illegal. As Rep. Mitch Little said in an interview, “we’re doing it because we can.”
We’re grateful to Democratic representatives like Ann Johnson who are fighting back against gerrymandering. And we’re very excited that she’ll be joining Red Wine & Blue on Monday to talk about what’s going on in Texas! You can sign up for our Don’t Mess With Texas virtual event here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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For nearly a century, the suburbs have been a cornerstone of the American Dream. But for almost as long, some people have criticized the suburbs for being too conformist, too dependent on cars, and to be blunt, too… white.
We know that the suburbs have been diversifying over the past few decades, and today “suburban woman” isn’t just code for “white woman” — no matter how much the media tries to simplify us. But there’s no denying that the suburbs have excluded families who weren’t white for most of their history, and if we’re not careful, they will again in the future.
President Trump has long tried to win over suburban women by scaring us, telling us that low-income housing (or immigrants, or Black people, or whoever is on his mind that day) will plunge the suburbs into crime and chaos. But not only is there no evidence for his claims, suburban women love their neighbors. We know that our diversity is our strength.
Trump wants to take us back in time to the days of “whites-only” suburbs by ending fair housing rules and investigations of discrimination. It’s up to us to say no way.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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The Supreme Court gets to make decisions that affect our most fundamental rights. When it ruled on Roe vs Wade in 1973 and then overturned that ruling in 2022, it determined our ability to access reproductive care. And in 2015, their ruling on Obergefell vs Hodges gave same-sex couples the right to marry the person they love. Just last year, they ruled that Trump has absolute immunity for “official acts” he commits as President.
It’s concerning enough to think that they’re ruling along party lines, since there are currently six Justices appointed by Republican presidents and only three appointed by Democrats. But the Supreme Court also has no official standards of ethics. Just think — the highest court in the country, making these incredibly important decisions, with nothing stopping them from ruling according to extremist ideology or even greed.
Justice Clarence Thomas, for instance, has accepted millions of dollars of gifts from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. And his wife Ginni is a far-right extremist who pushed for Republicans to overturn the results of the 2020 election. How could we possibly trust him to rule fairly on a case like Trump vs The United States?
Congress has the power to change the way that the Supreme Court works — from rules about ethics, to how many Justices there are, to whether they should have lifetime appointments. So talk to the people in your life about the Supreme Court. We deserve to know if these decisions are being inspired by a deep understanding of the Constitution… or a million-dollar vacation to Bali.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
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Conspiracy theories might be having a moment, but they’re as old as civilization itself.
In 64 AD, for example, the Great Fire of Rome sparked competing theories over who started the fire and why. And just like many of today’s conspiracy theories, it resulted in suffering and innocent deaths — Emperor Nero accused Christians of lighting the fire, which led to many being crucified or burned alive.
Conspiracy theories often arise in times of social crisis. When humans are feeling afraid, like the world is out of control, we turn to simple explanations that help us make sense of things. So it’s no surprise that such theories are on the rise in this moment of turmoil and political chaos.
It doesn’t help that many members of the Trump Administration are actively encouraging disinformation. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in particular, has embraced lies about vaccines, chem-trails, and AIDS (just to name a few). In 2019, he traveled to the island of Samoa to sew distrust of vaccines… and shortly after, a measles outbreak killed nearly 100 people. Now, only 6 years later, he’s the US Secretary of Health and Human Services.
If someone you know is in the grip of a conspiracy theory, whether it’s as high-stakes as vaccinations or as random as believing the Earth is flat, it’s tempting to think we can argue them out of it. But unfortunately, fact-checking isn’t an effective way to refute disinformation. Arguing makes people double down on their beliefs; even just repeating the lie further embeds it in their mind. Instead, it’s better to ask questions that might lead to them questioning the conspiracy theory — maybe today, or maybe a year from now. Like democracy, this is a long-term project that’ll only work if we lean in to compassion and community.
This isn’t to say that we should always take everything at face value, especially when leaders as high as RFK Jr. are spreading disinformation. But science and facts are out there, even amidst the wild internet rabbit holes it’s increasingly easy to fall into. If we hold onto our values, pay attention to experts, value evidence, and treat each other with respect, we can all make it through this moment of turmoil… together.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Since January, Americans have had serious concerns about Elon Musk’s DOGE (the “Department of Government Efficiency”) and the privacy of our personal data.
The government used to have careful guardrails in place to protect our information. Only certain people, after careful background checks, were given access. But DOGE was given unprecedented access to all of our data, across departments and agencies. And because Trump fast-tracked DOGE with an executive order, employees didn’t have to go through the same background checks and screenings. Many were teenagers, including the now infamous 19-year-old hacker whose online name is (sigh) “Big Balls.”
Okay, but Elon is gone now. So does that mean DOGE is over?
Unfortunately, no. DOGE was never an official government agency (it just hijacked the existing US Digital Service), and Elon Musk was never officially in charge of it, so even without Elon, the work continues. A former DOGE employee is now the chief of staff at the Department of Energy, for example, and two former DOGE members are now senior officials at the Environmental Protection Agency. “Big Balls” himself is now working at the Social Security Administration.
Meanwhile, Peter Thiel—another billionaire and the founder of the tech company Palantir—has been working to build a massive, government-run database of Americans. The goal is a one-stop shop with all of our information, from tax returns to medical records, all in the same place. You know, exactly the thing the government has always known not to do.
Privacy used to be nonpartisan. Back in the 1970s, Republican Senator Charles Percy said, “I hope that we never see the day when a bureaucrat in Washington can use his organization's computer facilities to assemble a complete dossier of all known information about an individual.” Even in the past few years, data privacy has been an issue that transcends political parties.
So reach out to your representatives, no matter where you live, to let them know that you don’t want billionaires to have your data. And if all of this feels too overwhelming, try getting involved in your local community. We might not be able to do much about what’s happening with our information, but we can make things better for our neighbors.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Climate change is a lot of things: big, scary, scientifically-accurate. And as we just saw in Texas, it’s not just a matter of principles or talking points. It’s causing tragedies in our own country and around the globe.
In the face of such an overwhelming issue, it can be hard to know what we as individuals can do. Of course we can donate to environmental causes and vote for leaders who prioritize climate policy, but there’s something else that’s as close to home as our own backyard. Gardening!
By expanding our backyard gardens to include plants for native pollinators, we can make a difference in our own local ecosystem. Bees and butterflies are some of the most common pollinators, but hummingbirds, moths, beetles, and even bats can also be part of the process. Unfortunately, many parts of the world have been seeing declines in pollinator populations. A 2017 report done for the Center of Biological Diversity found that nearly 1 in 4 species of native bees are now at risk of extinction. Monarch butterflies, meanwhile, have declined more than 80% in the last 30 years.
And that’s a big deal! At least 75% of all flowering plants on Earth are pollinated by insects and animals, including almost all of the food we eat. In fact, farmers estimate that pollinators are responsible for 1 out of 3 bites of food we take every day.
And yet, the Trump administration seems intent on making the situation worse. Since the start of Trump’s second term, his administration has fired hundreds of climate and weather scientists. He wants to start drilling for oil on pristine lands full of native plants and animals and roll back protections for migratory birds. And he wants logging companies to be able to cut down some of our National Forests. He even named a lobbyist for the logging industry, Tom Schultz, as the new head of the U.S. Forest Service.
There’s no denying that this all feels overwhelming. But “think global, act local” doesn’t only apply to your community’s school board or city council. You can make a difference just by planting more native species that are good for pollinators. Not only are the beauty and fresh air good for your mental health, you’ll be directly improving the environment in your area.
And that is why your garden matters!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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This week is the 4th of July, which means we’re celebrating American independence. But what exactly is it that we’re celebrating? What’s so special about American democracy, and how does it work? And with everything going on in politics, should we be celebrating at all?
In a word: yes. America was founded on the principles of liberty, justice, and freedom from the tyranny of kings. And those ideals are as revolutionary today as they were in 1776.
This week’s episode of Okay, But Why takes a step back into history and examines the founding of our nation, from indigenous cultures to European colonies to the Declaration of Independence. The documents drawn up by the Founding Fathers created the rules for the democracy we have today. They shouldn’t be partisan; they’re as American as… well, the 4th of July!
We cover some things you may have already heard about — like the Boston Tea Party — alongside some lesser-known things like the fact that the first man killed in the Revolutionary War was a Black man, Crispus Attucks. Did you know that Georgia sat out the first Continental Congress? Or that Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship violates the 14th Amendment of the Constitution?
What we celebrate on Independence Day is about more than a document. It’s about a change in mindset – that people deserve the right to determine their own future, rather than one powerful man sitting on a throne. Simply being elected to office doesn’t give a president the right to violate the Constitution.
Look, is a document from 250 years ago perfect? Of course not. White land-owning men were the only ones who got to have those “unalienable rights,” for starters. That’s why Congress has updated it with amendments in the years since, starting with the 1st Amendment granting us the freedom of speech in 1791. But as the foundation of our democracy, the Constitution is a powerful thing. That’s why people called June 14th “No Kings Day” and it’s why we’re celebrating the 4th of July.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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There’s a lot to be stressed about right now. We’re seeing the dissolution of our democratic norms and ideals before our very eyes.
But extremists don’t want us thinking about democracy. They want us thinking about the 5 trans kids who wanted to play soccer this year.
Just so far this year, over 900 anti-trans bills are under consideration across the country. The majority apply to kids, particularly in school. Some of the laws are frankly terrifying, like one in Florida that requires genital inspections for any kid suspected of being trans. Genital. Inspections. Of Kids.
But even anti-trans organizations can’t find more than five trans kids playing on girls’ sports teams. And at the college level, NCAA president Charlie Baker said that there are fewer than 10 transgender athletes who currently compete in college sports. That’s less than 0.002 percent!
There’s a lot of well-meaning concern for trans kids out there, but doctors are not giving children gender-affirming surgery. A Harvard study in 2019 found zero cases of gender surgery in kids under the age of 12. And for the small number of teenagers who were given surgery (2.1 per 100,000 teens), the vast majority are breast reductions for boys who aren’t trans. 97% of gender-affirming surgeries on minors are for boys who were born as boys and identify as boys and just want a smaller chest so they can continue to feel like boys.
Somehow that statistic rarely comes up when politicians are out there making speeches and passing bills against trans kids. By scaring people with fake information, politicians can drum up support while passing laws that actually harm Americans – not just trans kids, but all of us.
If you’re feeling burned out on bad news, or even burned out on empathy, we understand. But this Pride Month, we have to let trans kids know we’re paying attention and we care.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Thanks for listening to the Red Wine & Blue podcast. This week, instead of an episode of Okay But Why, we’re sharing a virtual event we recently held with a former Republican named Courtney. She used to be a Trump voter, but now she leads a TroubleNation group in Pennsylvania.
Courtney shared with us what changed her mind and how we can reach other MAGA voters. We always say that it’s never too late for someone to change their mind, and Courtney is proof that it really is possible.
We hope you enjoy this conversation.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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The federal minimum wage right now is $7.25. For someone working full-time, that translates to $15,060 per year, just $20 over the national poverty line.
The US minimum wage has been hotly debated since its beginning, so this week, we’re taking a closer look at its history, exactly who is making it, and dispelling some misinformation.
In 2023, almost a million hourly workers in the United States made minimum wage or less. And contrary to popular belief, they’re not all teenagers — many are moms earning half of their family’s total income. They’re working jobs you might expect, like retail and food service, but also jobs you might not have expected, like home healthcare workers. And here’s something important to know: the minimum wage doesn’t automatically increase with inflation. It has to be intentionally raised by Congress, something that hasn’t happened since 2009. Think about how much prices have gone up since then!
It doesn’t have to be this way. If we look at other countries around the world, or even America a few decades ago, we can see that wealth inequality has never been this bad. It’s not a fact of life; it’s not a necessary evil to have a good economy. It can change if we all talk to our friends and neighbors… and vote accordingly.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Kids today have a lot to worry about. Getting through adolescence was hard enough in generations past, but these days, kids have more anxieties than ever. And who can blame them? There were 83 school shootings in 2024 and gun violence is now the number one cause of death for kids.
In 2023, 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and that increases to 53% when you just ask girls. And if you ask LGBTQ kids, that number goes all the way up to 65%. Even sadder, suicide has become the second-leading cause of death for kids between 10 and 14.
There’s a lot of concern about kids’ phone use, especially social media, and that certainly plays a role. But some experts believe that just two things are primarily to blame for most mental health crises: poverty and violence. And of course the Trump administration has been making both of those issues worse, catering to the NRA and cutting programs that support working families. He closed the White House Office for Gun Violence Prevention and, just last month, approved the sale of “forced reset triggers” that allow normal guns to fire like machine guns.
Trump also cut $1 billion in funding for student mental health services. Yes, one billion dollars taken away from helping kids with their mental health.
There’s no lack of internet opinions about parenting, and when it comes to things like social media, you know your own kids best. But we know how to improve outcomes for kids across the country: funding for mental health services, better gun safety laws, assistance for families who need help with food or housing, and protection for kids who live with domestic abuse. The Trump administration has been moving us backwards on every one of these issues and it’s on us to speak up for kids.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Few issues polarize this country like abortion. Most Americans believe these intensely personal decisions should be made by families and doctors, not politicians. But even those who call themselves “pro-life” usually believe some exceptions should be made — in the case of rape, when it’s a matter of saving the mother’s life, or when doctors determine the fetus has no chance of survival.
But we’ve seen time and time again that “exceptions” don’t work.
Right now, in Georgia, a tragedy is playing out before our eyes. A young woman named Adriana Smith suffered multiple blood clots in February and was declared brain dead, but because she was 9 weeks pregnant at the time, the hospital is keeping her hooked up to machines until doctors believe her fetus can survive on its own.
It’s important to know that Adriana isn’t in a coma or even a vegetative state — legally and medically, she’s dead. Her body is being kept alive by more machines and medicines than you can imagine, all because of Georgia’s 6-week abortion ban. Imagine being Adriana’s mother. Watching your daughter’s body hooked up to all those machines, kept in this horrible middle space between life and death, not for days or weeks but for months. In interviews, she’s called it “torture.” And her family was never given a choice.
If Adriana, or Amanda Zurawski, or a ten-year-old rape victim aren’t exceptions to abortion laws, who is? And why should politicians get to decide? We can’t change the Dobbs decision, but we can push for an end to state abortion bans. We’ve already seen it work, like a 2023 constitutional amendment in Ohio. It isn’t easy, but we owe it to Adriana, Amanda, and all of the women whose stories have yet to be written.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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You may have seen headlines recently about extremists going after no-fault divorce. “Yeah, okay, I’ve seen those stories,” your friends might say, “but… why would they do that?” The answer, of course, is simple: it’s about controlling women.
Critics of no-fault divorce, like JD Vance, claim that it’s bad for couples and especially bad for kids. But the data just doesn’t bear that out. The really important thing to know is that no-fault divorce protects women. There was a 15% decrease in female suicides in states that passed no-fault divorce laws and a 30% decrease in domestic violence. Each one of those statistics is a real story — and you can hear some of them in this week’s episode.
A few years ago, an end to no-fault divorce seemed unlikely. But after the end of Roe v Wade, of course this is the next legal right to land on the chopping block. So far, bills to overturn no-fault divorce have been unsuccessful, even in states where they’ve been proposed like Texas and Oklahoma. But extremists aren’t going to stop their attack on women and it’s up to us to keep talking about it.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Donald Trump promised to be “tough” on immigration on the campaign trail, vowing to “launch the largest deportation program of criminals in American history.”
“Criminals,” he said.So why is ICE detaining children? And why do half of the adults held in ICE detention facilities have no criminal record?
In New York, a mom and her three kids—including a third grader—were arrested by ICE and shipped off to a facility in Texas. In Louisiana, ICE deported a four-year-old with cancer to Honduras, despite the child being a US citizen. Across America, families live in fear of separation, even those who are following the legal pathways and completing all of their required paperwork and check-ins.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, the conditions in ICE detention facilities is atrocious: crowded cells, freezing concrete floors, water from the toilet, and constant dehumanizing treatment from guards. All of this for people with no criminal record and, again, actual children. Is this really the America we want?
This Okay, But Why is upsetting, but we can’t turn away. Trump’s ICE quotas and for-profit prison companies are creating a hell on earth for some of our most vulnerable people and we have to speak out.
If you're enjoying Okay, But Why, we'd love if you could leave us a rating and review in your podcast player!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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When James Baldwin went on the Dick Cavett Show in 1969, he was asked a very loaded question: why aren’t Black people more optimistic? Jim Crow laws had been outlawed, Black people were becoming mayors and successful businesspeople… so why was he still talking about race?
Obviously racism didn’t “end” with the Civil War, or the Civil Rights Act, or Obama’s election. In fact, Donald Trump has spurred a resurgence — there’s been a nearly 50% increase in white supremacy groups just in the past few years. And yet he’s waging a war on Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs, Critical Race Theory, and the very notion that racism still exists.
But racism – and anti-Blackness in particular – is still a powerful force. It’s built into the very structure of the country. It shows up in politics, medicine, sports, education, and even eBay.
In this week’s episode of Okay But Why, we explore the history of anti-Blackness in America, how it manifests to this day, and what we can do about it. If you want to learn more, there are so many books, films, and podcasts out there! Check out Code Switch, The 1619 Project, Stamped From The Beginning, The Black Friend, White Tears/Brown Scars, Hood Feminism, or the upcomingThe Race Track: How The Myth of Equal Opportunity Defeats Racial Justice.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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Last year, extreme weather cost us hundreds of American lives and hundreds of billions of dollars. So… why is the Trump Administration defunding the Weather Service?
The Weather Service is part of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. We need NOAA to help us predict storms and warn people when they need to evacuate. The data is used by airports to make sure planes can fly safely, by farmers to know when to plant their crops, by fishing companies to know when it’s safe to send boats out on the water, and by construction companies to plan the best time to pour concrete and calculate the right risks of wildfires or flooding. And individual Americans rely on their weather apps and local meteorologists to tell them when it’s safe to go out for a hike or what to pack for an upcoming vacation. The weather app on your phone isn’t magical - it relies on weather data provided by NOAA.
Climate and weather may be complicated, but the reason why Trump is cutting NOAA is very simple: it’s in Project 2025.
What Project 2025 wants to do is make NOAA a private, for-profit service. But some things are a public good - like schools, parks, and information. Who benefits when climate and weather information is suddenly paywalled? The millionaires and billionaires who run the companies that now own that information.
If we want to survive and thrive over the next few generations, we need access to the best information about our atmosphere and oceans. Weather isn’t a partisan issue and we should keep it that way.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Right now, most of us are feeling stress and anxiety. On top of everything else in our lives, the political chaos seems too much to bear. A 2024 survey from the American Psychological Association found that over 70% of adults consider the country’s future a significant source of stress — and even though we’re only four months into 2025, if our group chats are any indication, we’re struggling now more than ever.
At the same time, there’s an epidemic of loneliness. Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an official advisory about loneliness in 2023… turns out, it’s not just bad for our mood, it’s bad for our physical health too. People who are disconnected and lonely are twice as likely to die as people who have strong communities.
The good news is, community connection can help with both of these problems! Not only do social bonds make us healthier and happier, political action is far more effective when done as a group. We all have different strengths and perspectives, and our friends can fill in the gaps when we need a break.
In these chaotic and stressful times, community is more important than ever. It isn’t just good for our hearts and minds, it’s good for democracy. When women with shared values get together, there’s no stopping us.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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This week, Red Wine & Blue held a virtual event with two inspiring women: Heather Cox Richardson and Representative Jasmine Crockett. More than 45,000 people joined us on Zoom and hundreds of thousands watched the livestream!
Heather and Jasmine talked about so much — Project 2025, the power of local organizing, and what it’ll take for us to rebuild a healthy United States of America. If you missed the event, you can listen right here!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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Social security is an American institution. After decades of working hard, we expect to retire with a well-earned safety net to help us with our monthly expenses.
Trump and Elon Musk claim that Social Security is rife with corruption and fraud. Musk told podcaster Joe Rogan that it’s “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.” But whenever unbiased, nonpartisan groups study the numbers, they find very little fraud. Instead, they find millions of people who rely on those payments for their very survival. (And, it should be noted, exactly zero 150-year-olds receiving benefits.)
So... why is Social Security at risk? This episode breaks down the facts and corrects the disinformation about the agency, who's receiving payments, and what's really happening.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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When Trump was running for office last year, he promised to “lower prices on day one.” So… why are eggs still so expensive? And why are other groceries still so expensive too?
Sure, bird flu is one factor - but it’s actually having less of an impact than you’ve been told. A lot of other factors are at play too, from tariffs to corporate profits to immigration policies that target our agricultural workers. Just this week, Trump is set to announce a new round of tariffs in what he’s ironically calling “liberation day.”
All of this would be bad enough, but in the meantime, Republicans are cutting funding and programs that help struggling families put food on the table. The USDA has stopped $500 million in deliveries to food banks and slashed a billion dollars from programs that helped schools purchase fresh local food. And SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps) is likely to experience major cuts too.
You can’t find a more “kitchen table issue” than what families can afford to put on their literal kitchen tables. Extremists want us to think the economy is too complicated to understand, but it’s actually quite simple: we need leaders who prioritize families over profits.
Access to food is a basic human right and we need them to treat it that way.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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With breaking news and shocking headlines still happening on a weekly basis, sometimes it's hard to believe that the current war in Ukraine has been going on for more than three years. You may have heard a neighbor or family member asking… why should the United States be involved at all? With so many problems here at home, why should we care about a war on the other side of the world?
Well, there’s two different ways to answer that question: the humanitarian crisis, and our national security. In this episode, we dive into both.
Trump still says he’s committed to ending the war. But will he end it in a way that’s good for Ukraine and democracy? Or will he end it in a way that’s good for Vladimir Putin... and himself? This war is already tragically close to home for kids in Ukraine, and it could be other kids across the world – including ours – that feel it next.
So the next time you hear someone ask why the United States should care about this war, you can share this episode and tell them exactly why we should support Ukraine.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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Public education is a cornerstone of our democracy. But Donald Trump and his new Secretary of Education Linda McMahon haven’t exactly made it a secret that they want to shut down the Department of Education. Phrases like “parental choice” and “school choice” might make this sound good for families, but in reality, it leaves far too many kids behind.
Before we had a Department of Ed, students who weren’t white, were disabled, or living in poverty had little access to a good education. Some, like Native American children sent to abusive “Indian schools,” were actively harmed or even died. But since its founding in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, the department has made sure that every kid has an equal opportunity to learn.
That’s what the Department of Education does. It doesn’t write curriculum for teachers or choose books for librarians - it just makes sure that every child has access to a great public education.
We know that Trump and McMahon are breaking things they don’t understand. So it’s up to us to make sure that we do — and that we share that knowledge with everyone we know.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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In this first episode of our limited series "Okay, But Why?", we're taking a deep dive into voting rights.
We all want free and fair elections where everyone who’s legally able to vote can make their voice heard. But every time the experts study voter fraud, they find almost zero evidence that undocumented immigrants or anyone else is voting illegally. So then… why are there so many new voting laws out there?
Today, we're examining the history of voting rights and taking a closer look at why politicians are trying so hard to keep some Americans from voting.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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We knew it was coming, but it's still hard to believe that this is our last episode of The Suburban Women Problem. We have appreciated this community of listeners so much over the past 4 years, and we're so grateful to Jasmine, Rachel and Amanda for continuing to bring their whole selves to 5 seasons of great conversations.
This week, RWB founder Katie Paris sends us off - but she's also here to share a little bit about what's coming next! Red Wine & Blue's work is more important than ever in this difficult political time, and we've been hearing two things from our community: women have questions, and we're burned out.
Starting next week, we'll run a series of short shareable episodes called "Okay But Why," where we answer some of the questions we've been hearing. Katie also teased a show we'll be producing later this spring about political burnout. The struggle is real and we want to meet our listeners where they're at!
So don't go anywhere - unlike many federal departments right now, you will not have an interruption in service! And if you have any questions or thoughts about what podcasts might help you right now, please feel free to reach out.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
The week after last November's election, we knew there was only one person we wanted to talk to: Connie Schultz. We were still immersed in grief, anger, and even despair following Trump's win - and Connie was dealing with her husband Sherrod Brown losing his re-election to the Senate as well.
But we loved her advice.... it's our job to make hope possible, not despair convincing.
The election results redefined the political landscape in America and the scope of this podcast. But we will continue to support our communities, encourage real conversations, and make hope possible.
We'll see you next Wednesday for the final episode of The Suburban Women Problem.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
In March of 2023, we were so excited to be joined by bestselling author Angie Thomas. Her books include "The Hate U Give" and "On The Come Up" and unfortunately, they're some of the most frequently banned books in the country.
Jasmine and Angie had an amazing conversation about Black Lives Matter, the power of books, Black Girl Magic, and so much more. We hope you enjoy their chat as much as we did!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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To celebrate our 50th episode back in May 2022, we invited suburban women superhero Mallory McMorrow to join us. Mallory, a state senator in Michigan, had recently gone viral for a speech where she stood up for marginalized groups as "a white Christian suburban mom." Mallory is a reminder of the good that can come from suburban women using our voices and standing behind our values.
Her political career has continued to blossom since she was on the pod and her debut book is coming out in just a few weeks! It's called Hate Won't Win: Find Your Power and Leave This Place Better Than We Found It and we can't wait to read it.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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Thanks again for joining us on this look back through 5 seasons of The Suburban Women Problem. Today we're sharing Season 1, Episode 18 - our interview with the late great Cecile Richards.
Even at the time, we couldn't believe we were lucky enough to discuss women's rights, reproductive healthcare, and politics with such an inspirational leader as Cecile. But since she passed away last month, we are even more grateful for the opportunity to feature her on the podcast.
A lot has changed since we talked to Cecile in September of 2021, but her advice to not wait for instructions and just jump in is as timely as ever.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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In case you haven’t heard, The Suburban Women Problem is wrapping up next week to make way for new podcasts out of Red Wine & Blue. As the producer of the podcast, I’m so grateful to Rachel, Jasmine and Amanda for 4 years of great conversations, and to you, our listeners, for joining us on this journey.
All endings are sad, but I want to assure everyone that this really isn’t good-bye. We’re developing new podcasts to meet the moment and we can’t wait to share them with you.
But for this week, I wanted to give The Suburban Women Problem the celebration it deserves. Every day, I’ll be reposting old episodes that were particularly meaningful for us – and, I hope, for you too. I’m starting with our very first regular episode, Season 1 Episode 2, where we talked to Jamie Jara, the mom of a trans daughter, along with the delightful Chasten Buttigieg. It’s amazing how far we’ve come, and yet how much we’re still dealing with these very same issues.
There’s one interpretation of this episode that’s awfully depressing. Trump is president again, and people in the LGBTQ community– especially trans kids – are under attack more than ever.
But it’s important to say this too. Four years later, Jamie Jara and her daughter Dempsey are thriving. Dempsey dreams of becoming of an actress and actually appeared in the HBO show We’re Here and was even on stage at the 2023 GLAAD Awards to help accept an award for the show.
And Chasten Buttigieg is thriving too! He’s continued to publish books and even better, he and Pete become parents of twins.
The political landscape may be grim, but they cannot take our joy. And that itself is an act of resistance.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We talk a lot about self-care, but there aren’t enough bubble baths in the world to make us feel better about the news lately. Federal employees are losing their jobs. RFK is against anti-depressants and ADHD medication. Elon Musk is giving press conferences in the Oval Office. Everything feels terrifying, and for good reason.
So maybe manicures and bubble baths aren’t the self-care we really need. (Although of course we love both!) Maybe the self-care we need is quieter. More compassionate. More creative. More about community.
This week, we were honored to talk to author, sociologist, and life coach Martha Beck. Her latest book is “Beyond Anxiety” and who among us couldn’t use some tips for getting beyond anxiety these days? She tells us about how we can counter the “anxiety spiral” with a “creativity spiral” and how community is the most powerful and intrinsic part of humanity.
Martha talked Amanda and Katie Paris through their own anxieties and gave us so much wisdom that will definitely help us get through the next four years. We hope you get as much out of the conversation as we did.
This is the last official interview of The Suburban Women Problem, but we'd love to hear from you about what the podcast has meant to you. We'll read those listener notes on our final episode on March 5th!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Before we get into today's episode, we have an important announcement: after 4 years and 200 episodes, we are bringing The Suburban Women Problem to a close and starting something new. If you’ve been a loyal listener of the show, we know that might be hard. It's hard for us too. But this show was created in 2021 and the political world is so different now - we want to meet the moment and create new kinds of content that support meaningful action in this difficult time.
We’ve been hearing from our community that so many of you are overwhelmed. Many of us are struggling with grief, fear, and burn-out, unable to engage with the news. So we’re planning some content that helps our community stay informed and inspired without getting overwhelmed by the daily news cycle.
We’ll have a regular episode next week, followed by a week of celebration with all of our favorite conversations. Our last episode of The Suburban Women Problem will air on March 5th, and after that, we’ll have all kinds of exciting new content here on the same podcast feed as always. We are so grateful for everyone who’s become part of the SWP community and we can’t wait to start a new adventure with you.
With that said, this week our hosts had a great conversation with Red Wine & Blue COO (and yoga teacher!) LaFonda Cousin about self-care and why so many rights we're fighting for right now should never have become "political" in the first place.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
In North Carolina, Republicans are trying to throw out more than 60,000 votes and overturn the 2024 election results of a race for NC Supreme Court. You read that right — 60,000 votes.
But Kate Barr (who actually was on the pod back in November) pulled together a powerful protest: reading all 60,000 names aloud at the state Supreme Court to give voice to all of those voters. Red Wine & Blue organizers in North Carolina pitched in, including this week’s guest Torrie Oglesby, by reading names and calling those voters to let them know what’s going on. We don’t have a ruling yet, but Torrie believes that their protest has sent a powerful message.
It’s hard not to feel powerless in the face of everything happening right now. But there are so many ways to stand up for our values. From creative protests like the read-in in North Carolina to showing up at a local school board meeting to supporting our friends and neighbors, there’s a lot we can do.
Some of us need to keep up on daily news to know what we’re fighting against. Some need to protest, some need to create content, some need to start a local advocacy group, some need to make dinner for a struggling mom down the street. When we work together, we’re strong. And that’s how we’re going to get through this.
If you want help finding your people, check out TroubleNation!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Here at Red Wine & Blue, we talk a lot about “troublemakers” and “making good trouble” (inspired in part by the late great John Lewis). Our network TroubleNation is made up of hundreds of local grassroots groups across the country — women like Kristi, a mom and former teacher in California who’s been standing up for the public schools in her area.
Troublemakers band together with other badass women in their communities who share their values. They make things better for their kids, friends, and neighbors. On the other hand, “chaos causers,” as Kristi calls them in this week’s podcast episode, come in from the outside to disrupt communities. Groups like Moms for Liberty and the Proud Boys aren’t listening to local communities and they certainly aren’t making good trouble. They’re just causing chaos.
This week we talked to Kristi about how she and a group of other moms started getting together to drink wine and talk about how to stand up for their local schools. You can learn more in this video about how they found the courage to stand up to literal armed extremists in their schools. Kristi also started an organization called Our Schools USA dedicated to empowering parents and students to protect quality public education.
The last week has been filled with bad news on the national level. Trump is the ultimate chaos causer and it can be hard to stay positive in the face of his many (many many) harmful policies. But there are a lot of women like Kristi out there making good trouble and standing up to the chaos causers. When they go low, we go local.
Let's thank Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for standing up to Donald Trump and calling for mercy — especially immigrants and LGBTQ+ children. You can add your name to our petition here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
On Inauguration Eve, Red Wine & Blue held a live virtual event with our favorite historian, Heather Cox Richardson. Heather helped us put things into perspective and reminded us that small groups of people can change history.
Over 22,000 people attended the Zoom call, 24,000 watched it on YouTube, and almost 120,000 streamed it on Heather's Facebook page. This is a moment where we can fall apart or all come together to make change - and it's clear which option this community is choosing.
If you missed Sunday night's event, we wanted to share it with everyone right here on The Suburban Women Problem.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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Emotions are running high this week. But while things remain disheartening on the national stage, we’re still celebrating wins on the state and local level. In Virginia, for instance, Democrats just won their special elections for the State Assembly. Not only that, but they won by even bigger margins than expected. And in Ohio, Amanda’s husband Casey has been working hard on a law that helps kids access hearing aids. Last week, the bill was finally signed into law.
These are the kinds of stories that get missed in the 24/7 coverage of the Latest Terrible Thing That Trump Said. Progress is still happening. We just need to look closer to home.
This week, we’re joined by A’shanti Gholar, the president of Emerge, an organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office. She’s surprisingly upbeat and hopeful — or maybe it shouldn’t be so surprising. Despite our painful losses on the national level, Emerge had 570 candidates on the ballot last year with close to a 70% win rate. That’s so many amazing women who are now in office, working to improve their communities.
Whether you want to watch next week’s inauguration or not, just like whether you want to keep consuming national political news, is completely up to you. We need to take care of ourselves and our mental health if we want to keep showing up for our families and communities over the next four years. Just know that there are over 520,000 elected offices in this country and change is possible at all levels. The power of the “new girls network” is only growing.
Speaking of the inauguration and emotions running high, nobody keeps us calm like Heather Cox Richardson. She’ll be joining us for a live virtual event on Inauguration Eve to help put things into perspective and remind us that small groups of people can change history. You can click here to learn more and RSVP for that event, and if you can’t make it live, you can hear Heather in the next episode of The Suburban Women Problem.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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We're back from our holiday break and things are… weird. Right? It’s weird and scary to be here again, with Trump about to step into the office of President. It’s like some terrible episode of The Twilight Zone.
If we’re going to get through the next four years, we need to take care of ourselves, plug into our local communities and above all, find ways to stay resilient. And luckily, this week we’re joined by Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a suburban mom whose resilience we can all look up to.
Her father was an Ojibwe activist, and if anyone knows how to keep fighting in the face of overwhelming odds, it’s an indigenous elder. Lt. Gov. Flanagan shared his wisdom about not giving up our power in advance and remembering to find the joy in our lives. It’s ok to be afraid — how could we not be? — but if we take care of ourselves and drown out the political noise, there is still so much good work we can do.
Even if she didn’t get to be the first Native American woman to serve as governor, Peggy Flanagan is certain that whoever that woman will be, she’s already on her way. There is plenty of light in the darkness if we just keep looking for it. We’re more resilient than we might think.
If you're interested in joining Red Wine & Blue's "Banned Book Club," next week we're reading Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny." You can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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It’s our last podcast episode of the year, so today we wanted to leave you with a broader view of community and our shared humanity. We talked to Dr. Nichole Argo, a social psychologist and the author of The Belonging Barometer: The State of Belonging in America. She’s also the host of a new podcast called Reimagining Us.
But before Rachel’s chat with Dr. Nichole, she and Jasmine did cover some of the more unsettling news of the week - like the threat of RFK Jr. revoking the polio vaccine (really, polio??), TIME choosing Trump as their “person of the year,” and ABC settling their defamation lawsuit with Trump for 15 million dollars.
We’re all worried about what will happen over the next four years, and with good reason. But the first rule of resisting authoritarianism, as seen in Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny, is “don’t obey in advance.” We’re disheartened by the preemptive obedience we’re seeing (we’re looking at you, ABC) and you can rest assured that here at Red Wine & Blue, we’re doing no such thing.
Resistance, however, doesn’t mean widening the divisions between ourselves and our fellow Americans. It’s no secret that political polarization is worse than it’s been in a long time. Dr. Nichole says that in the past, we used to see disagreements as a positive thing - prompting introspection and innovation. Now, many Americans see any disagreement as evidence that their opponent is an evil villain who must be defeated. If we want that to change, we have to be a part of the solution too.
It won’t be easy, and none of us will be able to manage it all the time. But Dr. Nichole reminded us that building bridges doesn’t mean obeying in advance. We can stand firm on our values and try to reconnect with our neighbors’ humanity.
It’s a real tightrope walk, but we can’t think of anyone more equipped to pull it off than suburban women.
If you want to support Red Wine & Blue as we build community and stand up against extremism in 2025, please donate here. Have a restful two weeks and we'll see you in January!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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There’s no denying that it’s a weird time right now. We’re in the “lame duck session” between an election and the start of a new term. We’re all nervous about the incoming administration, but there isn’t much we can do yet. If you feel like we’re about to head off a cliff but we can’t hit the brakes, you’re not alone.
We’ve talked about Trump’s Cabinet picks during the past few episodes, but some of his nominees are so bad that they’re actually getting pushback from Republicans. Matt Gaetz withdrew as Attorney General nominee, and Pete Hegseth’s candidacy is being hotly debated by folks on both sides of the aisle. We know the reasons Hegseth shouldn’t be Secretary of Defense (harassment, misogyny, alcohol abuse) but what we can’t figure out is why he should lead the most powerful military in the world.
But when they go low, we go local. There might not be much we can do right now about the impending Trump administration, but there’s a lot we can do in our own communities. This week we talked to Angela and Meghan, two friends who started a group called Blue Storm Action Pennsylvania. When they realized their book club was spending more time talking about politics than books, they decided to make it official and formed a local advocacy group that’s grown to include dozens of women.
It’s hard not to be scared or furious about the next four years. But just like Angela and Meghan, you have more power than you think! Grab a few friends and see what you can accomplish together.
The holidays are almost here, and with all of the chaos and stress of the election, finding the perfect gift for everyone in our life feels overwhelming. But this season, Red Wine & Blue is going all in on banned books! We’ve got something for every reader on your list, from toddlers to grandparents, and everyone in-between. You can check out our holiday gift guide here!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Welcome back from Thanksgiving week! On today’s episode of the podcast, we’re talking about all things education… the good (like our guest Diana Brown, who made history last month as the first Latina educator to win a school board race in her district) and the bad (like Trump selecting former WWE president Linda McMahon as his Secretary of Education.)
But first, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel catch up about their Thanksgivings and the news. We’ve seen the hand-wringing over Biden pardoning his son Hunter, with pundits claiming concern that Trump will take it as “permission” to act badly. To which we say, since when does Trump need permission? He has always been unapologetically bold, no matter how dangerous or authoritarian his actions are. We shouldn’t sink to their level or lose sight of our values, but maybe it’s time for us to be unapologetically bold too.
The last four weeks have been hard and the next four years probably will be too. But that makes it even more important to celebrate victories like Diana’s and to be loud and proud about our values. There’s a lot we can do on the local level - especially when we work together.
Speaking of working together, in the past 4 weeks we've seen that the women of Red Wine & Blue are capable of anything, because we’ve created an unbreakable bond with one another. We need to be as strong as possible going into 2025 so that we can keep standing up to extremism. If you're able, please donate here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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Thanksgiving is almost here, and we all know what that means… political debates with your MAGA relatives. If you’re already feeling the pressure, you’re not alone!
Last week, Red Wine & Blue held a virtual event with experts like pod favorite Jess McIntosh and therapist Rebecca Freking. They shared practical tips on how to navigate tricky family discussions and keep things civil (or at least manageable). If you missed the event, we’re publishing it on today’s Suburban Women Problem podcast feed.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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It’s been two weeks since the election. Two… very long weeks. And if you’re anything like us, you’re still on an emotional rollercoaster, trying to make sense out of what happened.
Today on the podcast, our hosts talk about some of the post-election narratives they’ve seen. Did the Democrats go “too woke”? Do women not care about reproductive rights anymore? From where we’re sitting, the answers are “no” and “no.” (Or honestly, “no” and “hell no.”)
That’s not to say everything is fine. We’re still very worried and sad about the results. But it might be helpful to reframe the conversation around misinformation instead of values. If we can find a way to get our message through, next time things could be different.
And as disappointed as we were about the top of the ticket, there were still so many state and local wins. Today we talked to a couple of awesome women in North Carolina: Tonya Martin, Red Wine & Blue’s deputy director in the state, and Kate Barr, a candidate for NC state Senate who ran in a district so gerrymandered her campaign website was www.katebarrcantwin.com. Tonya and Kate helped us understand why they celebrated so many state-level wins despite NC voting for Trump, and why gerrymandering is so bad for democracy.
Between misinformation, gerrymandering, and outright cheating, the deck was stacked against Democrats. That doesn’t mean we give up - it means we fight harder, fairer, and more local.
If you're worried about spending Thanksgiving with your MAGA relatives, Red Wine & Blue is here to help. Join us on Thursday 11/21 for a virtual event that's all about how to handle those holiday conversations.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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How are you doing? Are you okay? Are you staying connected to the other people in your life who share your values and are feeling the same way that you are right now?
On today’s podcast, we're starting the process of picking up the pieces. We're taking care of ourselves, we're finding reasons to stay hopeful, and we are NOT getting trauma bangs!
We were so grateful this week to be joined by Connie Schultz. Connie is a writer, journalism professor, and the wife of Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown. The last time she was on the pod, she said she was “built for happy” and her Substack is called Hopefully Yours… needless to say, her uplifting energy was exactly what we needed.
And don’t misunderstand - she and Sherrod were disappointed and heartbroken by the results of last Tuesday, both in the presidential race and in Sherrod’s own. But she had so much wisdom to share about how she’s processing the election and the perspective of age. We’ve been through hard things before and found a way to keep moving forward, and we’ll do it again. It’s what we do.
If you need a comforting voice or advice for how to talk to your kids or friends about what happened, we hope you’ll find a little help and hope in this episode.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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We're having a hard time today. You probably are too. But we wanted to get together and talk about it, give some reasons for hope, and just be present with each other. We were joined by political strategist Jess McIntosh, one of our favorite guests, to help us put things in perspective... and start figuring out where we go from here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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On Wednesday October 30th, Red Wine & Blue hosted a virtual event where we were joined by Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. She’s not just the highest ranking Indigenous woman to be elected in this country… if Kamala Harris and Tim Walz win, she’ll be the first Indigenous governor ever.
Before being elected to statewide office in Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Flanagan was a community organizer who trained thousands of other organizers and candidates, including Governor Tim Walz himself — she coached the coach! Her comments were so inspiring, we wanted to share them with you all. You can also catch our video of the event on Red Wine & Blue’s YouTube channel.
If you haven't already, you can sign up for Rally here!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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The last episode of the podcast before the election is here and we’re feeling a lot of things: excitement, nerves, determination, stress, but most of all… hope.
Hope because the Trump/Vance campaign has apparently given up on reaching across the aisle and are doubling down on their unpopular rhetoric. Hope because the Harris/Walz campaign is featuring uplifting speakers like Michelle Obama and Beyoncé. Hope because early voting numbers are breaking records.
But more than anything, hope because we have women like Katie Paris and Arie Goodman on our side. Katie and Arie are our guests on the pod today - Arie is the leader of an Ohio TroubleNation group called Advocates Allies & Activists, and Katie is of course the founder of Red Wine & Blue. They shared what they’re hearing on the ground, the amazing work that women across the country are doing, and what’s giving them hope.
As Katie says, ignore the polls, ignore the pundits, just focus on what you can do. And you can do a lot! There are six more days to talk to everyone we know about voting. We’re all gas and no brakes until November 5th - are you with us?
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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This past Monday, our favorite historian Heather Cox Richardson joined Red Wine & Blue for a virtual event. We were hoping to hear her insight into how this election fits into the broader story of American history, and what we might expect over the next two weeks.
But if we’re being honest, what we really wanted was for Heather to tell us that it was all going to be okay.
And of course she couldn’t tell us that with certainty. She’s a historian, not a soothsayer. But she did offer some words of hope.
Our own podcast co-host Rep. Jasmine Clark also joined the call, and she talked about Georgia Republicans’ efforts to undermine voting in her state. During the pandemic, Georgia began offering ballot drop boxes, which were extremely popular and widely used. But despite that — or really, because of that—Republicans changed the rules and now most of the drop boxes are no longer available.
That could be a disheartening story about voter disenfranchisement, but Heather encouraged us to look at it a different way. If extremist policies were popular, why would they take away drop boxes? If most Americans supported Project 2025, why are they trying so hard to keep us from voting?
It’s because we’re the majority. Most Americans want to elect common sense candidates up and down the ballot. And we’re not letting the suppression keep us from voting. In Georgia, and many states across the country, voter turnout numbers are breaking records.
We have the power. We just have to use it.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
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This week on the pod, we’re celebrating Michigan!
We’re in the final stretch of the election now, which means we’re feeling stressed, excited, exhausted, inspired, nervous, and everything in between. So we thought this is the perfect time to remind ourselves what’s possible when we unite and fight. Because together, we can truly move mountains.
Since Michigan Democrats won a trifecta in 2022 (that means the State House, State Senate, and Governorship) they’ve been able to pass so much amazing legislation: expanding voting rights, reproductive rights, gun violence prevention, protections for LGBTQ+ Michiganders, clean energy policies, and so much more. Just think how many lives have been changed by the Michigan blue wave!
On today’s episode we hear all about it from Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow and Red Wine & Blue’s Program Director in Michigan, Kelly Dillaha. They told us all about the progress they’ve made in their state and, crucially, how it didn’t just magically happen. It happened because the people of Michigan, especially women, organized and put in the work.
Michigan is an inspiration for states all across the country and even on the national scale. We have two more weeks, so let’s roll up our sleeves and make it happen!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
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The election is less than three weeks away and early voting is already open in many states. If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you agree that a Kamala Harris presidency is absolutely crucial. Maybe you’ve put up a yard sign, or talked to some people you know about what’s on the line.
But what about the down-ballot races? No matter who wins the presidency, electing Democrats up and down the ballot is just as important. If we get a President Harris, she’ll need a House and Senate that can help her achieve her campaign promises. And on the terrifying chance we get a President Trump, we’ll need our system of checks and balances more than ever.
It goes beyond Congress too. State representatives (like our own Rep. Jasmine Clark), school boards, mayors, judges, and other local representatives have the power to drastically change our lives.
This week, our guests Congresswoman Sara Jacobs and local organizer Carrie Knapp shared their thoughts about why voting up and down the ballot is so important. All of us, even voters in dark red or blue states, can make a big difference.
So request a sample ballot, do your research, and become a resource for the people you know. Let’s vote all the way from the tippy top to the very bottom of the ballot this year!
And if you want to join our virtual event with Heather Cox Richardson on October 21st, you can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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The election is only 4 weeks away now (!!!!) which means that we have less than 26 days to have some important conversations with the people in our lives. There are so many things to talk about: abortion access, gun violence, voting rights, the economy, immigration… and, as we discuss this week on the pod, the Supreme Court.
Since the Dobbs decision overturned Roe vs Wade, the Supreme Court has been on all of our minds. But the truth is, Dobbs is just one of many recent rulings that have changed our democracy for the worse.
We’re joined today by Leah Litman and Melissa Murray, two of the hosts of the podcast Strict Scrutiny. Every week they break down the news out of the Supreme Court and we were so pleased to hear their expert opinions on everything from term limits and court reform to what happens if Trump contests the results of the election. (The short answer? We need to win so decisively that a Harris/Walz victory is “litigation proof.”)
Before that interview, we’re also joined by local Troublemaker Zarina Syed. Born and raised in the swing state of Pennsylvania, she recently started a group called Fearless Females for Democracy. Zarina shares what she’s been hearing from women on the ground and how it’s felt as a second-generation immigrant to witness the rhetoric of the Republican Party start to take hold in her town.
Like Leah and Melissa, Zarina is cautiously optimistic. Democracy is a long-term project and there are no quick fixes, but if we keep sharing our stories and values with the people we know, we can keep moving forward. As VP Harris says, we’re not going back!
In our chat with Zarina, she mentioned how an “Abortion Rights Barbie” t-shirt has proven to be a great icebreaker when she’s out knocking doors. Red Wine & Blue just updated our own online shop with some cute new shirts (and tote bags, and stickers, and buttons) so be sure to check it out now for your own icebreakers for democracy!
For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
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We’re back this week with regular episodes and we couldn’t have asked for a better guest than Jessica Valenti. Jessica has a popular newsletter on Substack called “Abortion, Every Day” where she covers the latest news about reproductive rights. She also has a new book that came out this week: Abortion - Our Bodies, Their Lies, and the Truths We Use to Win.
Jessica shared her thoughts about America post-Roe, and in turn Rachel shared her own difficult personal story about losing her daughter Sarah shortly after she was born. The fact that extremists are spreading lies about “post-birth abortions” (which, to be clear, is just murder and is illegal in every state) and saying terrible things about parents like Rachel is… well, it’s difficult to think of a strong enough word. Awful? Evil? Unthinkable?
One thing, however, is extremely clear. We have to vote them out.
But before Rachel’s interview with Jessica, we’re joined by Janice Robinson. Janice is Red Wine & Blue’s Program Director in North Carolina and she catches us up on all things NC. The recent leaked posts from Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson were undeniably offensive, but Janice says that they just distract from the real issues facing women in her state like reproductive rights, public schools, and gun violence. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the daily barrage of news, but when we focus on the issues, we win.
If abortion rights are important to you (and if you’re listening to this podcast, they probably are!), the most effective action you can take right now is to join Rally. It’s our online tool to track the conversations you’re having about the election with the folks in your life. We’re holding lots of virtual Rally Your Squad events this month — some even with celebrities like June Diane Raphael — and we’d love to see you!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
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So far on our miniseries The American Fabric, we’ve learned more about immigrants and why they come to this country. We’ve busted myths and decried disinformation. And we’ve heard immigrants tell their stories in their own words.
Today, on the final episode, we’re talking about why this year’s election is so important. We have the opportunity to choose leaders who understand that immigrants are a cornerstone of this country and want to find humane bipartisan solutions. Leaders who don’t demonize vulnerable people for their own political gain. The outcome in November is crucial.
The federal government hasn’t passed meaningful immigration reform since 1986. On today’s episode, we hear more from Congresswoman Delia Ramirez as well as our own Suburban Women Problem co-host Rep. Jasmine Clark about how Republicans are choosing their own political power over policies that would actually help people.
Balancing America’s national security and humanitarian needs is far from simple, but extremists like Trump and JD Vance aren’t interested in solving problems. They want us to be a nation of hate. Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, and all of the incredible leaders on the state and local level want to lead us back to our ideals. We’re a nation of immigrants. A nation of hope and opportunity.
So it’s up to us now. We have to talk to everyone we know and make sure they understand what’s on the line. Let’s make sure that on election day, hope and freedom triumph.
Thanks for listening to The American Fabric.
To learn more about our guests:
Lt. Colonel (retired) Alexander VindmanCongresswoman Delia RamirezDr. Andrea Bonior, psychologist and professorDr. Sara Sadhwani, professor of politics and immigrationDr. Nancy MacLean, political historian and author
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Extremists have always used disinformation and fear-mongering to further their cause. But their rhetoric about immigration has stooped to new lows in recent months.
Some of the lies are so outrageous it might be tempting to laugh. Haitian immigrants, for example, are not eating their neighbors’ pets in Springfield Ohio. And 107% of American jobs have not been taken by “illegal aliens,” as Trump claimed. (107 percent? How would that even work?)
But the misinformation is no laughing matter. It’s having real effects on people around the country. In Springfield, for example, schools have been closing because of bomb threats. Every time the rhetoric goes up, violence goes up with it.
Then there’s misinformation that feels less absurd but is still absolutely incorrect. The idea that immigrants commit more crimes than native-born Americans, for example, is widely believed by many despite every statistic and research study proving the exact opposite. And economists have shown that immigrants aren’t “stealing jobs.” Again, the opposite is true: immigration strengthens our economy and creates jobs for both native-born Americans and immigrants.
On today’s episode of The American Fabric, we’re busting myths and tackling the fear-mongering head on.
Don’t miss our last episode tomorrow!
Learn more about our guests:Lt. Colonel (retired) Alexander VindmanCongresswoman Delia RamirezDr. Andrea Bonior, psychologist and professorDr. Sara Sadhwani, professor of politics and immigration
Sonal Jain, owner of Chamak Dhamak in Akron OH
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Despite all the extremist disinformation, suburban women aren’t afraid of immigrants. They’re our friends, our neighbors, our spouses. They’re us. Immigration isn’t a story about fear… it’s a story about love.
And no one knows this better than our own Suburban Women Problem co-host Rachel Vindman. Her husband Alex came here as a refugee from the Soviet Union when he was only 4 years old. Alex says his immigration story has a lot to do with his patriotism and optimism about The United States. It even made it into the speech he made while testifying in Donald Trump's 2019 impeachment case. "Because this is America," he said. "And here right matters."
This week, we have a special 3-episode miniseries to share with you called The American Fabric. It's hosted by Rachel and features conversations with Alex and other immigrants along with a historian, a political science professor, a psychologist, a Congresswoman, and more. We'll have new episodes on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week.
The way we think and talk about immigration in the next month and a half could determine the future of American democracy. We're so pleased to share this special series with you and hope it helps you talk about immigration with the folks in your life.
Stay tuned for Episode 2 tomorrow!
To learn more about our guests:Lt. Colonel (retired) Alexander VindmanCongresswoman Delia RamirezDr. Sara Sadhwani, professor of politics and immigration
Sonal Jain, owner of Chamak Dhamak in Akron OH
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
It’s been so disheartening to see outlandish and offensive rumors about Haitian immigrants in Springfield Ohio turn into bomb threats, harassment, and arson. But it’s also not surprising. It’s the inevitable consequence of dangerous extremist rhetoric.
During last week’s debate, we saw Donald Trump attack immigrants at every turn. And JD Vance just admitted on television that he shared the story about Haitians in Springfield despite knowing it was a lie. “If I have to create stories,” he told Dana Bash of CNN, “then that’s what I’m gonna do.”
But that kind of negative messaging, those attacks on our neighbors, don’t sit well with suburban women. And they certainly don’t appeal to young people. This week we’re joined by Olivia Julianna, an inspiring Gen Z activist.
Olivia tells our hosts that young people care about the same issues as other generations - issues like affordable housing, abortion rights, gun violence, and childcare. So when we talk to the young people in our lives about voting, she advises us to start by asking what they care about. What issues affect them every day? Chances are, you’ll be able to connect those issues back to policies that have a tangible impact on their lives.
If you want to support Haitian immigrants in Ohio, Community Refugee & Immigration Services and the Haitian Community Help and Support Center are good places to start.
Next week, we’ll be taking a short break from The Suburban Women Problem to share a 3-episode miniseries about immigration called The American Fabric. Hosted by Rachel Vindman, this series will debunk myths and misinformation, examine what can be done politically, and give immigrants a chance to tell their own story. It’ll appear in the regular podcast feed on Wednesday September 25th.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Last week was a tough one in Georgia. After the shooting at a high school in Winder GA, Jasmine says her daughter was afraid to go to school. And she’s not the only one - every child, parent, and frankly any person who watches the news gets retraumatized each time this happens.
And yet, still politicians do nothing. In fact, last week JD Vance called school shootings “a fact of life."
Instead, he and other extremist Republicans have chosen something else to fixate on: the so-called traditional nuclear family. This isn’t the first time America has gone through a “marriage panic,” as our guest Julie Kohler of White Picket Fence puts it, but it’s particularly infuriating given Republicans’ unwillingness to address the lax gun laws that are actually putting our kids at risk.
Julie explains exactly how extremists are trying to force their regressive version of gender roles and the “traditional family” on everyone. From banning no-fault divorce to changes to the tax code, they want to take women and LGBTQ people back to a past where we had no rights. And of course this 1950s vision of the American family has plenty of racism baked in too.
We may no longer be shocked by Trump or Vance’s comments about women (“childless cat ladies” and all), but we can’t just roll our eyes at their rhetoric. They have real policies to back it up, and we have to tell everyone we know.
After their interview with Julie, Jasmine and Amanda wrap up with a toast to campaign volunteers and First Serve's Day of Service in this week's Toast to Joy.
If you're wondering to talk to young people in your life around voting, we invite you to join us at 7:30pm on Thursday 9/12 for a virtual Ask Me Anything event with a panel of inspiring young activists: Olivia Juliana, Sam Schwartz, and Haley Lickstein. You can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
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In the final episode of Sacred Politics, we delve into the intersection of religion and social activism. From advocating for human rights to championing environmental stewardship, we uncover how religious groups and individuals have leveraged their faith to fuel positive change.
Shane Claiborne: http://www.shaneclaiborne.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shane.claiborne/?hl=en
Red Letter Christians: https://redletterchristians.org/
https://www.instagram.com/redletterxians/?hl=en
Rev Karla: https://revkarla.com/
https://www.instagram.com/revkarla/
https://www.tiktok.com/@revkarla?lang=en
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
In episode 2 of Sacred Politics, we discuss the trajectory of Christian Nationalism and its looming impact on the nation's future. From the halls of Congress to grassroots movements, we examine how this ideological force is poised to influence the political agenda in the years to come with the implementation of Project 2025.
Jess McIntosh: https://x.com/jess_mc?lang=en
https://www.jessmcintosh.org/
Jemar Tisby: https://jemartisby.com/
https://www.instagram.com/JemarTisby/
The Spirit of Justice: https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Justice-Stories-Faith-Resistance/dp/031014485X
Talia Lavin:
https://www.instagram.com/taliainteralia/?hl=en
Culture Warlords:
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/talia-lavin/culture-warlords/9781549127830/?lens=hachette-books
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
In our limited podcast series, Sacred Politics, we reveal the dangers of Christian Nationalism in American politics amidst the 2024 election season. Through narrative storytelling and expert interviews, we uncover Christian Nationalism's role in shaping elections, legislation, and public discourse, while also exploring how faith-inspired activism can drive positive change.
In episode one, we look through American history to uncover the profound influence of Christian Nationalism. From pivotal moments like its role in electing Donald Trump to its impact on the pro-life movement, this episode delves into the intricate relationship between religion and politics in the United States. Through expert analysis and historical insights, we discuss how Christian Nationalism has shaped policies and cultural attitudes, influencing debates on issues such as abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and education.
Katherine Stewart: https://kristindumez.com/
April Ajoy: https://www.instagram.com/aprilajoy/?hl=en
Star-Spangled Jesus: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/april-ajoy/star-spangled-jesus/9781546006688/?lens=worthy
Kristin Du Mez:
https://katherinestewart.me/
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This episode is family-only as Rachel, Jasmine and Amanda tell us all about their amazing week at the DNC. In fact, they agreed that "amazing" doesn't even begin to capture how exciting and uplifting last week was.
The joy was palpable, and we heartily reject a recent New York Times headline that "joy isn't a strategy." Joy IS a strategy. Hope and joy got us Obama. Fear might be a motivator as old as time, but extremists can only lie so many times before people realize they’re being manipulated.
But our joy is more than an emotion - we have actual policy strategies to go with it. It’s no wonder that the US is typically polled as one of the least happy nations. It's hard to be happy when you're constantly stressed about medical bills, housing, grocery prices, and access to reproductive care. VP Harris, Coach Walz, and all of the other incredible speakers at the DNC drew the direct connection between their joy and their policies.
But we can’t just sit back and hope that joy magically delivers us an election. We need to work. Democracy is a team sport and we can’t stay on the bench - we have to lace up our shoes and get in the game. There's less than 70 days now until the election, so let's make every one count.
One thing you can do right now is join Rally! Rally is a simple way for you to talk to your friends and family about the importance of this election.
Next week we'll be taking a short break for Labor Day and instead, we'll have another amazing limited series to share with you. It's called Sacred Politics and it's produced by the same women who brought us The Cost of Extremism last year. Sacred Politics will discuss the dangers of Christian Nationalism, so be sure to tune in to this 3-episode series.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Jasmine and Amanda are at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, so on this episode, Rachel is co-hosting with Jess Piper. And it's great timing because as of last week, abortion will be on the ballot in her home state of Missouri - something that she and other advocates have been working hard to achieve. They gathered 380,000 signatures, a full 200k more than they needed!
It's important to remember that even in "red" states like Missouri, extremists are the minority. But when gerrymandering and misinformation run rampant, the far right can implement damaging policies like abortion bans and book bans. Jess even calls her state a "pilot program" for Project 2025, devastating healthcare and public education. No matter what state we live in, we have to stand up against extremism because it affects all of us.
And speaking of Project 2025, this week we're also joined by Nancy MacLean, author of Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America. Nancy walks us through the history of the Heritage Foundation and P2025, as well as where she sees the far right going in the future. Her knowledge and her joy are captivating, even if the topics she studies are anything but joyful. She’s proof that we can take this work seriously while still having fun.
Finally, Jess and Rachel raise a glass to daughters and to Tim Walz in this week's Toast to Joy.
Red Wine and Blue is going to be in D.C. Labor Day weekend – want to join us? Moms for Liberty will be holding their annual summit where they double down on hate and extremism. We cannot and will not let Moms for Liberty speak for us. Let’s turn out in big numbers to show that we are the majority! You can find more details here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
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Every week in this political cycle feels like a decade! It’s hard to believe it’s only been a week since Kamala Harris announced Tim Walz as her VP pick. And if the energy was good before, now it’s downright jubilant. Governor Walz’s free school lunches program in Minnesota is exactly the kind of support we’ve been talking about throughout our Momonomics campaign.
On today’s episode, we’re talking about the care economy with Dr. Jessica Calarco, the author of “Holding It Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net.” Jessica’s book is full of data and personal stories about women who, in the absence of a national safety net, have been forced to put their own health, happiness, and careers on the back burner. She tells us about how we can talk to the men in our lives (young and old alike) about how this isn’t a zero sum game… when we strengthen our safety net, it’s better for women AND men.
Finally, Rachel and Amanda raise a glass to family, empathy, and the power to change your mind in this week's Toast to Joy.
We’re all feeling excited by the energy of the Harris/Walz campaign and ready to talk to our friends and neighbors about voting. And there’s no better way to start a conversation than with some Red Wine & Blue merch! We have new stickers, t-shirts, and tote bags with messages like “I’m All In To Stop Project 2025” and “I’m in my Activist Era.” You can check them out at shop.redwine.blue.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
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The energy we’ve been feeling since VP Kamala Harris became the candidate has been undeniable. Jasmine says she hasn’t felt this level of hope since Obama’s campaign in 2008. But the more successful Kamala’s campaign becomes, the more concerned we're getting about extremists resorting to undemocratic tactics. (It wouldn’t be the first time, after all!) In Georgia, some very concerning disenfranchisement efforts are already in the works.
But as much as we need to be aware of those undemocratic tactics, we cannot let them cast a shadow on our joy. Our guest this week, Holli Holliday, was such a delight and shared some words about the importance of doubling – no, tripling – down on hope. She also had great advice about how to respond if we hear neighbors or family members repeating racist misinformation about Kamala. We know the power of real conversations and relational organizing, and we couldn’t agree more!
Finally, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to getting back in the game after an illness and a tropical trip with elected Black women in this week's Toast to Joy.
The next exciting event in our Momonomics campaign is coming up soon and you’re invited! You’ve probably heard your friends and neighbors worrying about the economy, but it can be hard to know how to talk about it. Join us on Tuesday August 13th at 7:30pm Eastern for an Ask Me Anything event that’s all about the economy. When you RSVP, you can even submit your own questions. Learn more and sign up here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
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Lately there have been so many exciting organizing events on Zoom. And Red Wine & Blue is no exception - just two weeks after our incredibly successful event with Heather Cox Richardson, we held another event to talk about Project 2025… with Senator Elizabeth Warren!
Here’s the audio from that call, and if you’d like to watch on video, you can see it here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
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This week, Red Wine & Blue is launching a new campaign called Momonomics. The economy has been on everyone’s mind, and Republicans present it as one of their strongest issues. But we know that Democratic policies like paid childcare and reproductive freedom are what actually help American families.
So this week, we’re joined by Sondra Goldschein, the Executive Director of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy. Sondra talks to us about what policies actually help working families and how Republicans like Trump and J.D. Vance are incredibly out of touch with what real families need. J.D. even called childcare “class warfare against normal people”! But amongst advanced nations, the United States has some of the worst policies for childcare and parental leave in the world.
After that, we chat with Jo Carducci, also known as JoJoFromJerz, to share how economic policies have affected moms like her. Like so many single moms, during the pandemic she was put into the impossible position of choosing between childcare and her income. Moms shouldn't have to feel ashamed that they can't "do it all" when there are no systems in place to support them.
Finally, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to community, bipartisan solutions, and the Tour to Save Democracy in this week's Toast to Joy.
A few days ago, Red Wine & Blue held another incredibly successful event right on the heels of our virtual event with Heather Cox Richardson. This time, we were joined by Senator Elizabeth Warren, who shared her thoughts about Project 2025 and Momonomics. If you weren't able to join us, the video is available on YouTube.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Over the weekend, President Joe Biden announced that he would be stepping down as the nominee and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. We’ve had every reaction imaginable: excitement, appreciation for Biden's great work, fear over the racist and sexist attacks that are already coming, and everything in between. But despite our anxieties we are energized and ready to go! The conversations we have with our friends and family in the next 100 days will be make or break for democracy.
And we couldn’t have asked for better timing with our guest this week because we are joined by Sam Schwartz, an inspiring Gen Z activist who is currently leading the youth-driven Tour To Save Democracy. Sam’s cousin Alex was tragically killed in the Parkland school shooting, and ever since then Sam has been a passionate advocate against gun violence. We were thrilled to have his perspective on the 2024 election, what young people think about VP Harris, and how we can get Gen Z to the polls in November.
Finally, Rachel, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to Leslie Odom Jr., spending time outdoors with family, and conversations with constituents in this week's Toast to Joy.
You can watch a video of our virtual event with Heather Cox Richardson here on YouTube and view our Project 2025 toolkit here. And next week we have another exciting event with Senator Elizabeth Warren! She’ll be joining us to discuss Project 2025 and the economy - you can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
On a Monday night in the middle of summer, hundreds of thousands of people watched a virtual event where a historian spoke about a 900-page Republican playbook. It sounds like some DC-based strategist’s dream, but it was just another day at Red Wine & Blue!
This past Monday July 15th, Heather Cox Richardson joined us to talk about Project 2025, and we wanted to share the audio of that conversation with you. Whether you missed the event or just wanted to listen to Heather again, please enjoy this conversation about Project 2025.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
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This week we’re joined by one of our favorite guest hosts, political strategist Jess McIntosh. You know what they say… come to discuss the electoral process, stay to discuss the latest shocking thing to hit our newsfeeds.
Jess, Amanda and Jasmine discuss the events of the weekend, the recent increase in political violence and violent rhetoric, and emphasize that we need to settle our policy differences at the ballot box. But “lowering the temperature in our politics” doesn’t mean that we suddenly stop talking about extremist policies that threaten our country.
After that conversation, we’re joined by Scott Anderson of The Strategic Victory Fund to demystify our election process. How do elections work? Are they really secure? How does the electoral college work, and can we change it? Scott answers all of our questions and more.
Finally, Jess, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to Portland, DoorDash, and Rudy Giuliani having to pay the campaign workers he defamed in this week's Toast to Joy.
If you have questions about Project 2025 and want to learn more, you can view our online toolkit here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
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We’re all still recovering from last week’s debate and what it means for the election, but like we said in our last episode, the stakes have not changed. There’s Project 2025, the right-wing plan to overturn democracy in America. There’s the constant attacks on reproductive rights. There’s even Mark Robinson, the MAGA candidate for governor in North Carolina, saying that “some folks need killing”! Democrats might be in the midst of a family debate over our nominee in November, but the most important thing is to ensure that we're united against extremism.
This week, we’re joined by Emily Amick, a digital media superstar who’s on a mission to make civic engagement part of self-care. Along with Sami Sage, she’s the co-author of a new book called Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives. Emily tells us how in the heck politics can feel like self care and how we can make a real difference in our communities by stepping up and getting involved.
Finally, Rachel, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to the people of Arkansas and Ohio, to spending the 4th of July with community, and to good election results across the world in this week's Toast to Joy.
If you have questions about Project 2025 and what's at stake, we invite you to join us at a virtual event with Heather Cox Richardson on Monday, July 15 at 7:00pm Eastern. You can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
The past week has been tough. The presidential debate did not exactly go as we hoped. The Supreme Court ruled that Trump has absolute immunity for “official acts” as President. But all of that only makes the election in November more crucial. The choice is literally between a dictatorship and a democracy, and it’s essential that we encourage everyone we know to vote.
Which brings us to our interview of the week: Daria Dawson, the Executive Director of America Votes. Daria explains why our vote is so important – if it wasn’t, why are some trying so hard to suppress it? – and how getting out the vote, or rather “spreading out the vote,” will help us keep our democracy this year. If you want more details about Project 2025, we encourage you to check out our info page here.
And finally, because we definitely needed a little joy this week, Rachel, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to communities and the nourishing power of giving back in this week's Toast to Joy.
If you haven’t signed up for Red Wine & Blue yet, please join us at pod.redwine.blue/join and encourage your friends to join too. The fight for democracy is far from over and the time to take action is now.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
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This is our last episode of June, so before Pride Month is over, we wanted to talk to some more Troublemakers who are doing great work supporting the LGBTQ community. Amanda got the chance to sit down with Lisa and Dani with Pride & Less Prejudice, an organization that provides inclusive books to classrooms to help students and teachers to “Read out loud, read out proud.” If you're a schoolteacher and want free inclusive books, please reach out to them here!
And before that, the hosts catch up on the news, including a chat about Rachel’s brother-in-law Eugene winning his congressional primary and Louisiana classrooms now being required to display the 10 Commandments. This week also marks 2 years since the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v Wade, a grim reminder of the rights we’ve lost and what is at stake in November.
Finally, Rachel, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to baby showers, grandparents, and no place like home in this week's Toast to Joy.
This week, our Troublemaker Training is about effective messaging for transgender rights. Extremists are spreading disinformation about the trans community as a way to push their political agenda and cause division. If you want some guidance on the best way to have conversations about it, join us on Thursday June 27th at 7:30 Eastern.
And don’t forget to sign up for our Substack newsletter! It’s free and we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
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This week’s episode is coming out on Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. But before we can get to our discussion about it (including how JD Vance recently introduced a “Dismantle DEI” bill to roll back Biden’s diversity programs), it seems there’s always more reproductive healthcare news to talk about.
Last week, Senate Republicans blocked a bill to protect the right to IVF, and the Southern Baptist Church just voted to oppose IVF as well. And that’s not even the only repro news to talk about, because the Supreme Court just rejected a challenge to mifepristone, the abortion pill, saying there was no standing to sue. This is good news... but (there’s always a “but”!) this decision allows them to delay a merits decision on this issue until after the election. The fight is far from over.
Then Jasmine sits down with Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead, a professor, author, and leader who is also known as the #BlackMommyActivist. Dr. Kaye is an incredible storyteller and walks us through the origins of Juneteenth, how being a mom has inspired her activism, and how it’s not just famous leaders but also everyday people who have done the hard work to make real change. We encourage everyone to learn more about her work with the African American Policy Forum and Critical Race Theory Summer School, as well as read her book Letters to My Black Sons: Raising Boys in a Post-Racial America.
Finally, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to fathers and family reunions in this week's Toast to Joy.
It's hard to believe, but this Monday will mark 2 years since the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v Wade. If you want to learn about how you can fight for reproductive freedom, we invite you to join Red Wine & Blue and Sister District for a virtual event this Monday June 24th at 8pm Eastern.
And don’t forget to sign up for our Substack newsletter! It’s free and we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
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It’s June, which means it’s Pride Month! Whether we’re standing up for birth control, libraries, diversity and inclusion, or trans rights, it’s all the same fight against extremism. Right-wing leaders like Ron DeSantis might try banning rainbow lights on bridges this month by calling it “Freedom Summer,” but what’s more free than a beautiful rainbow?
Last week, all but 2 Republican Senators blocked a bill that would protect access to birth control, despite Republicans continuing to insist that they support access. Some, like JD Vance, were too cowardly to even vote - but their silence spoke just as loudly as a No vote. Access to birth control helps prevent abortions, but it’s clear they don’t actually care about that. It’s just about control.
Then we’re joined by Vanessa Joy, a trans woman in Ohio who was disqualified from running for the Ohio House of Representatives for not putting her former name on her petition. Vanessa explains why she wanted to run for office in the first place and the “gotcha” law that prevented her candidacy. But she’s not letting this stop her - she’s still a passionate advocate, hosting a podcast called Transcending Humanity and serving as Co-Executive Director of Ohio Equal Rights.
Finally, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to self-care and great questions from kids in this week's Toast to Joy.
If you want to support the LGBTQ community with us this summer, our Pride collection is now available. We have shirts, stickers, buttons, and a new mug perfect for proud moms, members of the LGBTQ community, and anyone who wants to support Pride.
And don’t forget to sign up for our Substack newsletter! It’s free and we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Whether we’re talking about the devastating consequences of abortion bans or the legitimacy of Trump’s criminal trial, there are too many people in this country who can’t seem to handle the truth.
Stories like that of Ryan and Jess Hamilton, who couldn’t get medical care in Texas after a miscarriage, might be difficult to read but that doesn’t make them false. We can only solve problems by facing them head-on, so here on The Suburban Women Problem we want to loudly proclaim that yes, we CAN handle the truth!
Gun violence is another issue where we must first confront difficult realities before we can make real change. So this week we’re joined by Sefanie Feldman and Greg Jackson from the new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Greg and Stefanie share some wins that they’ve already been able to accomplish and what got them interested in working on this work personally. We also get to hear what it’s like to work with Vice President Harris!
Finally, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to summer in this week's Toast to Joy.
The Senate vote on the Right to Contraception Act is set for Wednesday 6/5. If you want to learn more about the bill, who voted for it (and who didn’t!), and what we can do now, please join us on Tuesday June 11th for an emergency Troublemaker Turnout. You can learn more and RSVP here.
And don’t forget to sign up for our Substack newsletter! It’s free and we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
When we hear news like Nikki Haley changing her tune and endorsing Trump, there’s no denying that politics can feel icky. But we have the power to make our voices heard - not just at the ballot box, but by reaching out to our representatives between elections too.
This week, Amanda and Rachel sat down with NPR reporter Sarah McCammon to learn more about her new book The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church. It may be hard to understand how the evangelical church came to support someone like Trump, but Sarah walked us through the connections between evangelicalism and right-wing politics as well as her own journey with the church.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to naps, kids growing up, and not waiting until everything is “perfect” in this week's Toast to Joy.
On June 5th, the Senate will vote on whether to protect birth control, so it's important that we call our senators and tell them to vote yes to protect our rights. Even if you think your senator is a definite “yes” (or a definite “no”), we need to flood the Senate with calls so they know how much we care about this issue. If you click here, you can be connected to your senators and urge them to do the right thing.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Mother’s Day may have been last week, but we’re celebrating moms all throughout May in what we call our “month of moms.” And unlike NFL kicker Harrison Butker said at his recent commencement speech, we know women deserve options: to work, to not work, to have kids, to not have kids, and most of all to make those choices for ourselves. No politician – and certainly no football player – should tell American women when, how, or if we want to become moms.
But there’s no denying that moms have a special kind of superpower, and this week we’re joined by three moms who prove that every day. Ronna, Diane, and Mandy are all organizers with Red Wine & Blue, and each has been inspired by her kids to go out and change the world. Diane tells us about her publishing company Taylor Made, which she started when she found it difficult to find children’s books with Black characters; Mandy explains how saying “yes” to one school meeting led to years of involvement in her local school system; and Ronna shares how both her transgender child and the son she lost in infancy have inspired her to meaningful activism. As Mandy says, when extremists attack our children, they find out quickly that they’ve messed with the wrong moms!
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to summer fun, kids growing up, and new challenges in this week's Toast to Joy.
If you want to celebrate the Month of Moms, Red Wine & Blue has you covered! You can check out our brand-new shirts, mugs, totes, and stickers, and there are still a few Toast to Joy champagne flutes available too.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, our hosts share stories about how they celebrated Mother's Day. But Republican Katie Britt had another idea about how we can celebrate Mother's Day - with a "mommy database" for the government to track who is pregnant. We'd rather have affordable childcare, universal pre-K, healthcare, or really anything other than giving extremists our reproductive data.
Then we're joined by Benjamin Herold, the author of Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unraveling of America's Suburbs. Benjamin shares with us how his hometown of Penn Hills PA inspired him to write a book about how the suburbs are changing. He examines five suburban families throughout the country, including one in Jasmine's home of Gwinnett County, so we have so much to talk about! Rachel says Disillusioned is in her top 5 books of 2024 and we think you'll love it too.
Finally, Rachel, Amanda, and Jasmine raise a glass to voting and thoughtful kids on Mother's Day.
If you want to make a local impact on your community and connect with badass women in your area who can get stuff done, then Red Wine & Blue's program TroubleNation is exactly what you're looking for! We give you the tools, trainings, and techniques you need to lead the charge in your local community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week we're excited to be joined by the one and only Jen Psaki! Jen isn’t just a former White House Press Secretary, she’s also the host of Inside With Jen Psaki and the author of a new book called Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World.
Jen sat down with Rachel and Jasmine last month to talk about what it was like to work in the White House under Presidents Obama and Biden, how suburban women will affect this year's election, and how there simply aren't two sides to democracy. She also shares the best advice she's ever gotten and her favorite character on The West Wing!
Whether we're talking about the fall of Roe, Trump's authoritarian comments in TIME Magazine, or Republicans in Congress voting against cancer research so they don't give Biden a "win," we have to remember the stakes of this year's election. Things may feel difficult and divisive right now, but there's one crucial thing that unites us: democracy.
If you’re looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift for your mom (or any awesome woman in your life), Red Wine & Blue has you covered! You can check out our brand-new shirts, mugs, totes, and stickers, and there are still a few Toast to Joy champagne flutes available too. Or you can donate to the Arizona Freedom Trust in honor of a mom in your life.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Amanda’s back this week and we’re so happy to have the gang all back together again. We’re less happy about the news… from Republican governor Kristi Noem killing her family’s puppy to the Supreme Court debating whether hospitals are obligated to save pregnant women’s lives, it’s been a rough week.
But it’s not all doom and gloom, because after that, Jasmine shares an inspirational conversation with Jotaka Eaddy. Jotaka is the founder of the movement Win With Black Women, an intergenerational group of Black women leaders. She’s also one of the few Black women to be in a C-suite role in Silicon Valley. Jotaka and Jasmine chat about imposter syndrome and why it’s important not to count ourselves out of opportunities, as well as the importance of having Black women leaders in every industry. And bonus, Jotaka passes along some wisdom from her friend Oprah!
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to our beloved family dogs, Akron Ohio, and voting in every election in this week's Toast to Joy.
If you’re looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift for your mom (or any awesome woman in your life), Red Wine & Blue has you covered! You can check out our brand-new shirts, mugs, totes, and stickers, and there are still a few Toast to Joy champagne flutes available too. Or you can donate to the Arizona Freedom Trust in honor of a mom in your life.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, we’re talking about repro. Again. Because somehow politicians and pundits still don’t understand that it’s not just about abortion – although abortion rights are critical. It’s also about birth control, IVF, and all of the other potentially life-saving procedures that are on the chopping block this year. Some of us may have been surprised when Roe v Wade was overturned but we refuse to be surprised again. We can’t stop talking to everyone we know about it in this pivotal election year.
Then we’re joined by Asha Dahya, a storyteller, TEDx speaker, and producer of a new documentary about later abortion called Someone You Know. Asha shares what she learned about later abortions while working on the film, including the outsized effect that Catholic hospitals have on the availability of reproductive care in this country. As a former conservative evangelical, Asha has been on a journey and she's a great example of the power of personal stories to change minds.
Finally, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to the Ukraine aid bill passing and to being chosen as a Biden delegate in this week's Toast to Joy.
If you want to learn more about Project 2025 and what you can do, we encourage you to check out our explainer page here.
And don’t forget to sign up for our Substack newsletter! It’s free and we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Content warning: pregnancy loss
The Suburban Women Problem is back! We've missed catching up about the news and sharing our conversations with amazing guests, so we're so excited to be back with you for Season 5.
This week, Red Wine & Blue Founder Katie Paris is filling in for Amanda Weinstein. Katie, Jasmine and Rachel chat about all the news from the past 6 weeks, including some truly disheartening abortion bans in Arizona and Florida, and what Red Wine & Blue is doing to help. It's all about having those personal conversations with your friends, family, neighbors, and yes, hairdressers too.
Then Rachel sits down for a deep and heartfelt conversation with Amanda Zurawski. Amanda nearly died when her home state of Texas didn't allow her to get the reproductive healthcare she needed, and now she's the lead plaintiff in a court case against the state of Texas.
Finally, Katie, Rachel, and Jasmine raise a glass to campaign volunteers, team sports, and the new Pitbull/Dolly Parton collab in this week's Toast to Joy.
Have you heard about Project 2025? It’s the far-right extremists’ vision for America that Donald Trump will implement if he wins a second presidential term. If you want to learn more about Project 2025 so you can spread the word, we invite you to join a virtual event on Thursday, April 18th hosted by the African American Policy Forum. You can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Last month, Heather Cox Richardson appeared live at the City Club of Cleveland to speak about her new book, Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America. With her was Katie Paris, the founder of Red Wine & Blue.
As Heather reminds us, the past doesn't repeat itself; it rhymes. To understand today's political landscape, we must understand how we got here. This fascinating live chat between Heather and Katie explores the state of our democracy, how we got here, and what we do next.
The Suburban Women Problem will be back with regular episodes starting on Wednesday, April 17!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
As Season 2 of The Cost of Extremism draws to a close, we're excited to bring you a final bonus episode. Today, we're joined by @JoJoFromJerz for an in-depth conversation about three stories that are particularly relevant today.
First, we have author Seyward Darby from episode 5, The Crunchy Mom to Alt-Right Pipeline. During our interview about white women’s role in the alt-right supremacy movement, Seyward discussed the historical portrayal of white women as martyrs. From literature to popular media, the image of the sacrificial white woman has been perpetuated through countless depictions, all in an attempt to recruit more followers into their white supremacy organizations.
Then we have Cherisse Scott, the founder and CEO of Sister Reach, a non-profit that supports the reproductive autonomy of their community through the framework of Reproductive Justice. In episode 1, Crisis Pregnancy Centers: An Anti-Abortion Healthcare Crisis, Cherisse highlighted the different ways Sister Reach has worked to meet people where they are in their advocacy work.
Finally, we have Nic Stone from episode 2, The Growing Movement to Ban Books. As the New York Times Bestselling author of Dear Martin and other young adult books, Nic theorizes that the push to limit access to specific books originates from a fundamental lack of appreciation for reading among those advocating for bans.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Crunchy moms and trad wife online content may seem innocent, but when you take a closer look, you start to see evidence of white-power ideology and conservative radicalization. So what happens when you go so far left that you end up alt-right?
In this episode of The Cost of Extremism, we’ll take a deep dive into the crunchy mom to alt-right pipeline, its ties to extremism, and the role social media plays in the radicalization of women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
On college campuses across the country, Turning Point USA is radicalizing a new generation of conservative extremists in an attempt to mobilize young Republican voters and build an alt-right movement backed by billionaire donors and political insiders. These alt-right extremists are wrapped in a neat package, presented as polished frat boys wearing chinos and boat shoes, making them digestible for a wider audience and more dangerous than ever.
In this episode of The Cost of Extremism, we’ll examine why this radicalization occurs, the impact Turning Point USA has on American politics, and how we can end this movement before it’s too late.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Across the country, conservatives are looking to overhaul K-12 public education with right-wing curriculums that contain misleading and inaccurate claims about slavery, racism, immigration, and LGBTQ+ history.
In this episode of The Cost of Extremism, we’ll take a deep dive into the impact these curriculums have on public education, the harm they inflict on our children, and where they could be heading next.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
In recent years, book banning has become an organized movement backed by right-wing organizations, politicians, and conservative donors. Under the guise of ‘parental rights,’ books centering on LGBTQ+ characters and people of color are being disproportionately targeted, putting both our democracy and free speech at risk.
In this episode of ‘The Cost of Extremism,' we’ll take a deep dive into the leading forces behind these book bans, the impact they have on our kids, and what we can do to protect our freedom to read.
Resources:
https://pen.org/issue/book-bans/
https://diversebooks.org/
https://www.beckyalbertalli.com/
http://www.nicstone.info/
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Crisis pregnancy centers present themselves as genuine healthcare facilities; however, their main goal is to discourage individuals from accessing certain healthcare options like abortion and contraceptives. These centers, a well-supported arm of the global anti-abortion movement, are rapidly expanding by using deceptive tactics, medical disinformation, and public funding. Currently, crisis pregnancy centers outnumber abortion clinics by an average of 3-to-1.
In this episode of 'The Cost of Extremism,' we delve into the crisis pregnancy center industry and its pivotal role in the anti-abortion movement.
TW: This podcast episode discusses crisis pregnancy centers, which may contain sensitive topics related to reproductive health, abortion, miscarriages, sexual assault, and misinformation tactics.
Resources:
https://www.sisterreach-tn.org/
https://teafund.org/
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Today we were honored to be joined by Karine Jean-Pierre! She’s the current White House Press Secretary, and she’s the first Black and the first openly LGBTQ person to hold that position. She chatted with us about reproductive rights, what it’s been like to break so many glass ceilings, and the wins (so many wins!) from the Biden-Harris administration that we can share with our friends. We also dreamed up a collab between Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and Tracy Chapman - just manifesting that into the universe!
After that, Jasmine, Rachel and Amanda raise a glass to being inspired by our families and to finally learning how to cook rice (we’re proud of you, Amanda!) in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
This is our last episode before we take a little spring break, but don’t worry, there will still be new episodes in your Suburban Women Problem podcast feed! We’re launching Season 2 of our investigative series The Cost of Extremism on Wednesday February 28th. We’ll be covering crisis pregnancy centers, the radicalization of young white men, the “crunchy yoga mom to far-right pipeline,” and more. Be sure to tune in every Wednesday!
And don’t forget to sign up for our Substack newsletter! It’s free and we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We know from both statistics and personal stories that representation matters. Whether it’s people of color, LGBTQ folks, or young women running for office, it’s crucial to our democracy that everyone’s voice is heard. And fighting for our values doesn’t mean we don’t "go high when they go low," it means we fight disinformation and fear with facts and love. One place you can fight disinformation is around the myth that people often regret transitioning; this week we referenced the largest study of trans people to date, which showed that 94% of people were more satisfied with their life.
This week, Amanda got the chance to sit down with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. At 35, she’s the youngest member of Democratic House leadership, and she’s bringing a perspective that some of her older male colleagues might not think about: the importance of childcare, the privacy of our reproductive data, how to bridge generations, and more.
Finally, Jasmine, Rachel and Amanda raise a glass to the Super Bowl halftime show, Girl Scouts, and to celebrating happy milestones in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
We invite you to join us this Thursday for a virtual Ask Me Anything event about the facts and myths on trans sports policies. We’ll be joined by Anya Marino of the National Women's Law Center. You can learn more and RSVP here.
And don’t forget to sign up for our Substack newsletter! It’s free and we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Lately there’s been a surge of attacks on diversity - affirmative action was overturned by the Supreme Court, Harvard president Claudine Gay was forced out of her seat with people calling her “a diversity hire,” and anti-DEI bills are popping up all over the country.
So this week, as we start Black History Month, we’re talking about attacks on diversity programs. We got the chance to chat with Sophia Danner-Okotie, a small business owner in Atlanta, to talk about how difficult it is to get business loans as a Black woman. And now one of the firms that invested in her, The Fearless Fund, is under legal attack. Women of color already receive only 1% of venture capital funding, and extremists like Edward Blum are trying to take that tiny percentage away.
Finally, Jasmine, Rachel, and Amanda raise a glass to Sojourner Truth and to women uplifting each other in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
We invite you to join us next Tuesday for a virtual Ask Me Anything event where we’ll talk about the suburbs with a panel of Black moms. We’ll dig into attacks on DEI and affirmative action, the glass cliff, and the 2024 elections. You can learn more and RSVP here.
And don’t forget to sign up for our Substack newsletter! It’s free and we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We’re only a month into 2024 but we already know that this November, our democracy depends on everyone coming together- all ages, all races, all genders. And just like other recent elections, we know we especially need young people to join in the fight. So this week, we’re talking to a young woman who uprooted her life in 2022 and started traveling around Texas in a van, registering voters.
Tayhlor Coleman shares how the events of January 6th inspired her to add voter registration to her “van life” and how difficult her home state of Texas makes it for people to vote. She also talks about what kinds of conversations she’s been having with voters out on the road and she and our hosts agree that the best way to convince people that their vote matters is to start with local elections. Voting is a habit and making a difference in elections like city council and school board can inspire people to continue making their voices heard.
Jasmine wasn’t able to join us this week because she was stuck on the GA House floor debating a bill that Republicans are trying to use to remove Fani Willis. We missed her but we so appreciate her doing the important work of democracy!
Finally, Rachel and Amanda raise a glass to sledding with kids and healthy new habits in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you know a teen who's interested in learning more about voter registration, please attend our virtual event on Sunday February 4! And don’t forget to sign up for our Substack newsletter! This week we’re sharing the video of our interview with Tayhlor, a video of our own Rep. Jasmine Clark being cut off while she was in the well speaking about Black maternal mortality, and more. You can sign up by going to swppod.news.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week is the 51st anniversary of Roe v Wade and it’s so disheartening to think that there are women alive today who celebrated that victory only to have it taken away from them. But although clearly the fight is never really over, we won those rights in the past and we can win them again in the future.
Then we explore a little-known aspect of consent and bodily autonomy with documentary director A’magine Goddard: the prevalence of pelvic exams on women under anesthesia who haven’t consented or even know about it. A’magine walks us through what’s happening, how it connects to the racist and misogynist history of gynecology, and most important how we can advocate for ourselves personally and through legislation. It’s not an easy conversation to hear but it’s so important to know what’s happening so we can fight for our rights.
Finally, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to women’s volleyball and the power of film in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
And don’t forget to sign up for our Substack newsletter! This week we’re sharing the video of our interview with A’magine, a deeper dive into the history of gynecology, a Troublemaker video about miscarriage, and more. You can sign up by going to swppod.news.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We have an exciting announcement this week: The Suburban Women Problem just launched a Substack newsletter! It’s an opportunity for a deeper dive into each week’s topic and to share news, Troublemaker stories, pod videos, and more. To subscribe to our Substack, click here or search for “The Suburban Women Problem” on Substack.com.
Our guest this week is journalist and transgender rights activist Erin Reed, who has a popular Substack of her own called Erin In The Morning. She also happens to be engaged to one of our favorite politicians, Rep. Zooey Zephyr in Montana! Erin shares how anti-trans legislation is at an all-time high - as of our recording, there were 220 anti-trans bills already introduced in the U.S. That’s in just the first 15 days of the year! She also answers our hosts’ questions about what exactly gender-affirming care means, what’s been going on in Ohio with Governor Mike DeWine, and why sharing trans joy is so important.
Finally, Rachel, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to hope for 2024, to understanding different perspectives, and to everyone who supports local candidates in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We’re officially back in the swing of things here after the holidays and we’re jumping right into it with an interview about public schools. But first, our hosts Rachel Vindman, Amanda Weinstein, and Jasmine Clark catch up about the news. We recently passed the 3-year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection and it’s upsetting to see how so many Americans have shifted their views from condemning it to explaining it away. It’s so important to have accurate journalism so narratives like “Jan 6 wasn’t a big deal” don’t catch on. The hosts also discuss the scapegoating and resignation of Harvard president Claudine Gay and the bill in OH that would ban gender-affirming care.
Then we dive into the importance of education and the role that deeply involved “school moms” can play in saving our public schools with journalist Laura Pappano. We were so excited to talk to Laura about her new book, “School Moms: Parent Activism, Partisan Politics and the Battle for Public Education.” She shares what it was like to attend a Moms for Liberty conference, why inclusion is so crucial, and even that she listens to The Suburban Women Problem while she does Peloton. “School Moms” will be available on January 30th and you can read Laura’s Vanity Fair article here.
Finally, Rachel, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to new Akron mayor Shammas Malik, to Jasmine’s fantastic fundraising event earlier this month, and to high hopes for a new legislative session in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
This week, Amanda mentioned the bill in Ohio that would ban critical gender affirming care - if you're in Ohio, please call your state reps and tell them to vote no on overturning Gov. Dewine's veto of HB68.
And speaking of supporting the LGBTQ community, we're also hosting a live virtual event with author and former pod guest Lesléa Newman to talk about her new book "Always Matt: A Tribute To Matthew Shepard.” The event is on Tues 1/16 at 7:30 Eastern - you can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Happy New Year, everyone! 2024 is a big year but we are ready to go, inspired by the victories and amazing conversations we had in 2023. In this special New Year’s episode, the hosts are joined by Red Wine & Blue story producer Jill Jonassen to discuss the best guests and conversations we had last year, how we’re feeling about this year, and what gives us hope. Suburban women know how to multitask, and this year we’re gonna need to walk, chew gum, AND save democracy!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week we’re feeling inspired by the organizing work that women have done in the past, and ready to keep fighting for ourselves and the future. Our hosts shared their heartache over what’s happening to Brittany Watts in Ohio - a young Black woman who suffered a miscarriage at home and is now charged with a felony. These laws are terrifying and seek to turn an already tragic situation into a nightmare. The Dobbs decision criminalized abortion and now they’re trying to criminalize miscarriage! It’s vital that we keep talking about this and we’re glad that ABC News highlighted 18 women’s personal stories in a recent feature.
Then we’re joined by Ellen Cassedy, the author of “Working 9 to 5: A Women’s Movement, a Labor Union, and the Iconic Movie.” Ellen shares her inspiring experiences organizing office workers and co-founding the 9 to 5 movement back in the 1970s. She discusses some of the ridiculous things that women were asked to do by their bosses and how they fought back. And she also shares the lessons she learned (listen, be flexible, be creative, and lean into diversity) that can help us continue to fight for our rights today.
Finally, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to young people and their parents receiving news about college admissions and to winning an award in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
This is our last episode of 2023 and we're so glad you've joined us on The Suburban Women Problem this year. We're taking a week off for Christmas and we'll see you again in 2024!
Here at Red Wine & Blue, we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate everyday heroes - from our pod hosts to our amazing guests to you! We wouldn’t have so many victories to celebrate from this year’s election if it wasn’t for your support. And now, we’re making it easier than ever for you to be a superhero for our sisterhood. To make a donation to our year-end giving campaign, or to learn more, visit pod.redwine.blue/give.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We’ve been feeling heartsick this week over the woman in Texas who couldn’t get the abortion care she needed; first it was good news when a judge approved her request, then it was horrible news when the TX Attorney General threatened to prosecute her doctor and hospital. The same AG who has been accused of bribery and admitted to an extramarital affair! We have a clear message to him and every other hypocritical extremist: worry about yourself!
Then we’re thrilled to be joined by Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She chats with our hosts about reproductive rights and the important role that suburban women have played in recent elections and will continue to play in 2024. They also talk about Israel, young people, and how we can make our voices heard. She even shares her home cooking instagram with us: Clean Cooking Congresswoman!
Finally, Rachel and Amanda raise a glass to a kind gesture from the community and to men speaking out about reproductive rights in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Here at Red Wine & Blue, we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate everyday heroes - from our pod hosts to our amazing guests to you! We wouldn’t have so many victories to celebrate from this year’s election if it wasn’t for your support. And now, we’re making it easier than ever for you to be a superhero for our sisterhood. To make a donation to our year-end giving campaign, or to learn more, visit pod.redwine.blue/give.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, we’re celebrating everyday superheroes. From our podcast hosts to our Red Wine & Blue community to you, our listeners, we are blessed and grateful to have so many superheroes on our side.
But as the holiday season gets underway, even superheroes are feeling the stress. As moms, so much of the planning and decorating and gift shopping falls on our shoulders, which can turn a meaningful holiday into a stressful to-do list. So this week, we’re joined by Julie and Adrienne from Red Wine & Blue to talk about giving the gift of democracy. There are so many ways we can support democracy all year round, but it’s nice to support causes we believe in as part of our holiday gifts.
Finally, Rachel, Jasmine and Amanda raise a glass to brave daughters, new neighbors, and inspiring young people in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
You can find our bookmobile kits here: https://pod.redwine.blue/bookkits. The “what’s your superpower” quiz that Adrienne mentions in this episode can be found here: https://pod.redwine.blue/quiz. And finally, if you’re able to support Red Wine & Blue this giving season, we would be so grateful. You can donate and learn more at https://pod.redwine.blue/give.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving week and were able to take some time to relax and recharge. We all worked so hard in the past few months to get the election results that we did, and it’s important to take some time to rest. This week, the hosts catch up about their holiday week and talk about the passing of Rosalynn Carter and, on the opposite end of the spectrum, the troubling reasons that Moms for Liberty have been in the news lately.
Then Jasmine gets the chance to sit down with Keir Bradford-Grey, a candidate for Attorney General in Pennsylvania. If she wins, she’ll be the first woman of color to be elected to that office. Keir and Jasmine chat about what exactly an Attorney General does, how she can be an advocate for her constituents, and how her experience as a public defender has prepared her for the role.
Finally, Rachel, Jasmine and Amanda raise a glass to kind strangers, great times with family, and supporting our public schools in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Here at Red Wine & Blue, we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate everyday heroes - from our pod hosts to our amazing guests to you! We wouldn’t have so many victories to celebrate from this year’s election if it wasn’t for your support. And now, we’re making it easier than ever for you to be a superhero for our sisterhood. To make a donation to our year-end giving campaign, or to learn more, visit pod.redwine.blue/give.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week is Thanksgiving and we’re talking about how to survive the political conversations that come up during the holidays. Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel share their own personal experiences with those tricky holiday conversations, which can be even trickier when you’re a mom. It’s important to listen and figure out what values you have in common with your relatives, but it’s also important to know when to stop the conversation and pass the mashed potatoes.
We hope you’re having a safe and happy holiday season! Here at Red Wine & Blue, we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate everyday heroes - from our pod hosts to our amazing guests to you. We wouldn’t have so many victories to celebrate from this year’s election if it wasn’t for your support. And now, we’re making it easier than ever for you to be a superhero for our sisterhood. To make a donation to our year-end giving campaign, or to learn more, visit pod.redwine.blue/give.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
It’s been a week since the election and we’re still smiling about the results! Republicans used scare tactics and misinformation about reproductive freedom, and it didn't work. So today we’re talking about another issue that becomes more about fear than facts… immigration.
We got a chance to talk to Dr. Leah Boustan, a rockstar economist who studies immigration, and she shared some real facts and data with us. She recently published a book called “Streets of Gold: America's Untold Story of Immigrant Success” and our chat with her was so informative.
Finally, Rachel, Jasmine and Amanda raise a glass to graduating from Leadership Georgia and to immigrants who are giving back to their country and communities in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
This month’s great election outcomes have been making us all smile, but for some of us, the upcoming conversations around the Thanksgiving table won’t make us quite so happy. If you’d like some help navigating discussions about the election, racism, or attacks on the LBGTQ+ community, we invite you to join us for a Troublemaker Training on Thursday November 16th. For more information or to RSVP, click here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Today we are celebrating big wins! We were all holding our breath for Tuesday’s election results because there was so much on the line, from the ballot measure in Ohio to the Virginia legislature to school board races across the country. And we are so excited to say that last night, democracy won!
We’re joined for this special election recap episode by one of our favorite guests, Jess McIntosh. Jess helps us celebrate the wins (Issue 1 in Ohio! We kept the State Senate and flipped the House of Delegates in Virginia! And extremists lost school board races across the country!) and she also guides us through what this all means for 2024.
Our Toasts to Joy this week are to the many fantastic candidates out there – some won and some lost, but every one of them put their values out there and fought for what they believe in. And we toast to you, our community of listeners. We’re so grateful for you and we’re so proud of the difference we all made last night.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
There was a lot of bad news to talk about this week… the mass shooting in Maine, the extreme views of the new Speaker of the House, the war in the Middle East. But this is our last episode before the election so we all have to use this as fuel to get more involved, not to disengage. And there are always little victories to celebrate! Scholastic reversed their decision to segregate diverse books, our past Troublemaker dad Darren won his lawsuit against his book-banning school district, and closer to home, we just reached a million downloads of our podcast! We can make real change when we work together.
We’re joined by Maggie Hartmann, a mom and school board candidate in Pennsylvania. Maggie shares what inspired her to run for office, her thoughts on book bans and DEI, and what’s on the line next week for her race and other school board races across the country.
Finally, Rachel, Jasmine and Amanda raise a glass to one million downloads, family weddings, and the courage to be vulnerable in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
With Election Day just around the corner, it’s all hands on deck. We need every single one of you doing what you do best - talking to your friends and family about voting! You can sign up for Red Wine & Blue’s fun online tool Rally Your Squad by texting the word RALLY to 59868.
And we have so many exciting election-focused events coming up. On Friday we’ll be joined by none other than VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS! You can learn more and RSVP for that virtual event here. And the day before, we’ll be joined by our favorite guest and historian, Heather Cox Richardson. You can RSVP for that here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, we're talking about the personal attacks that Amanda and her family have been dealing with lately. Whether it’s over a local school board election, Ohio’s Issue 1, or any political issue, MAGA’s first move always seems to be personal attacks and downright creepy behavior. It’s not even limited to their political opponents on the left: extremists have been sending death threats to Republicans (and their families!) for not voting “their way” for Speaker of the House. We’re over here trying to build up our communities, schools, and democracy but extremists want to tear it all down.
Then Rachel sits down with Lily Franklin, a candidate for delegate in Virginia's new 41st District. Next month’s election in Virginia is absolutely crucial and could determine reproductive rights not just for the people of VA but for women across the South. And education is on the line as well; as a former teacher, Lily knows how best to support teachers, students, and parents in her state.
Finally, Rachel and Amanda raise a glass to President Biden and to exciting economic research in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
With Election Day just around the corner, it’s all hands on deck. We need every single one of you doing what you do best - talking to your friends and family about voting! You can sign up for Red Wine & Blue’s fun online tool Rally Your Squad by texting the word RALLY to 59868.
Next week, we’re holding a virtual event with one of our all-time favorite guests, Heather Cox Richardson, to talk about what’s on the line in 2023 and why it matters for 2024. Click here for more information and to RSVP for this event.
And finally, Rachel mentioned our petition to Scholastic to stop making book bans easier for extremists. Good news: we won! Scholastic has officially reversed their position and we couldn't be more proud of our community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We’ve been counting down the weeks until the November election - we’re at three now, if you’re counting with us. And with everything happening in the world right now, it can be hard to feel motivated about an election. But local wins and little victories are the best antidote to the sadness and helplessness we might feel when we’re scrolling through our news feed.
So this week we are so excited to talk to Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State and all-around amazing woman. She’s a voting rights expert and has expanded access to voting across her state, overseeing the most secure and highest-turnout election in Michigan’s history. Jocelyn also shares what she learned in her earlier work researching white supremacist organizations and chats about what a political race and a marathon have in common. It was a pleasure and an honor to have Secretary Benson on the pod.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to parents, a great community weekend, and Polish democracy in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Speaking of Michigan, next week we’ll be joined by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to learn how we as voters can win back our rights. And it’s not too late to RSVP for our October 19th evening with best-selling author Angie Thomas where you can learn about defeating book bans at the ballot box. To learn more about these events or our many other events, both virtual and local, check out our Events Page.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, Jasmine and Rachel share their sadness about what’s happening in Israel. Our hearts go out to the civilians who find their ordinary lives torn apart by violence in the Middle East, in Ukraine, and even in the United States with gun violence. Tragedy can feel far away until it hits close to home, but by continuing to talk to our friends and neighbors, continuing to vote and make our voices heard, we can keep up the momentum and make real change.
Then we’re joined by Nikia in Virginia and Ann in Ohio, two Troublemakers who have been out registering voters in their communities. They share what they’ve been hearing on the ground from their neighbors and how they make voting, and voter registration, fun. (T-Rex costume, anyone??)
There is so much on the ballot in November, and that includes book bans. So next week we’re talking about book bans with someone who knows all too well what it’s like to have her books banned: one of our favorite past guests, Angie Thomas, the award winning author of The Hate U Give. This special live virtual event is happening on Thursday October 19 and you can sign up here: https://go.redwine.blue/AngieThomasSWP.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Did you know that just eleven people are responsible for 60% of book bans in this country? This week is National Banned Books Week, and we talk about how a vocal minority is responsible for everything from book bans to gerrymandered maps. And the media is so obsessed with extremists like Donald Trump that a lot of Americans aren’t even aware of the good work being done across the country and in the White House.
After their news catch-up, Jasmine and Amanda sit down with State Senator Amanda Cappelletti to talk about her bill to prevent book bans in her home state of Pennsylvania. They also chat about how Sen. Cappelletti was the first PA state senator to give birth while in office, how she calls her daughter “the bipartisan baby,” and how being a mom has made her a better legislator.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to Rachel’s new Substack newsletter, Jasmine’s friend’s new coloring book I Am Woman: Unleash Your Inner Warrior, and the amazing organizers in Michigan in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Red Wine & Blue has been holding a ton of events this week to celebrate banned books! On Wednesday October 4th, we’ll be holding the first meeting of our Little Banned Book Club, where we read and discuss frequently banned children's books. You can learn more and RSVP here.
And if you want to bring powerful banned books to kids in your community, you can host your very own Banned Bookmobile! Each kit will contain 20 banned or challenged books, plus stickers, bookmarks, and a Banned Bookmobile sign. You can learn more and purchase a kit here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, hosts Jasmine Clark, Rachel Vindman, and Amanda Weinstein talk about how far the bar has lowered for conduct amongst extremists, whether it’s Georgia Governor Kemp cowardly and dangerously supporting Trump, a man going after someone’s child in a school board meeting, or Ohio’s Frank LaRose changing the rules of democracy to take away women’s reproductive rights. The hosts express concern and sadness at the message that extremists are sending to children: if you’re different in any way, you aren’t worthy of love. As moms, they know that love for a child should be unconditional.
After that, Jasmine sits down with Gaby Goldstein, co-founder of Sister District. Sister District has supported Jasmine’s campaign so there were a lot of warm fuzzies as she and Gaby chatted about the importance of diverse candidates, the work that Sister District does, and how red legislatures can prevent blue cities from doing great progressive work.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to kids growing up, Yom Kippur, and Amy Poehler and Tina Fey in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
There are a lot of important elections this November and just a handful of votes could make the difference. So we’re encouraging all of our listeners to sign up for Red Wine & Blue’s Rally Your Squad. It’s a fun online tool that helps you track which of your friends and family you’ve spoken to about voting, and it’s actually improved voter turnout by up to 10 percent! To sign up, text the word RALLY to 59868.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, we’re joined by Missy McGinnes and Shelly Rea to learn all about TroubleNation! It’s a brand-new program from Red Wine & Blue that’s designed to help women all across the country organize for change in their communities. Whether you’ve never been involved in politics before, or you already have a grassroots group and just need some support, TroubleNation can help.
But before that, our hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein channel their anger and frustration at extremist Republicans saying they support families while their actions show the exact opposite. Whether it’s Lauren Boebert vaping in front of a pregnant woman at the theater or the GOP attempting to rebrand itself as “pro-baby,” we know that it doesn't matter what politicians say - it matters what they DO. And everything they do shows us that they don't care about women, children, or families.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to great book club discussions, community events, and Rosh Hashanah in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
You can learn more and sign up for TroubleNation here: https://go.redwine.blue/TNpod
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, Amanda Weinstein sits down with Ohio Congresswoman Emilia Sykes. Emilia is an inspiring force for good working hard for the people of her district! She and Amanda chat about how extremist Republicans keep trying to thwart the will of the people and deny women reproductive freedom, her amazing work to protect the victims of domestic violence, and how she won her election despite all the gerrymandering in Ohio. And, of course, they talk about the power of suburban women!
On Monday September 18, Red Wine & Blue is holding an exciting virtual event with one of our favorite guests of all time, Heather Cox Richardson! Heather will explain why 2023 is make or break for 2024 and why it’s so important that we all get involved. You can RSVP for that event here: https://pod.redwine.blue/HCR918mt.
And if you’d like to watch this interview on video, you can check it out at pod.redwine.blue/SWP.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
The Suburban Women Problem is officially back! And this season, we’re doing things a little differently: not only will the audio hit your podcast player every Wednesday, but you can also watch a video version on YouTube! You can find that link here: pod.redwine.blue/SWP.
So this week, you KNOW we had to talk about a Fox News anchor calling us “low-information Chardonnay sippers in the suburbs.” They know all too well the power of suburban women, and apparently they’ve decided that if you can’t beat ‘em, insult ‘em! After chatting about that, we also catch up about the Trump indictments, the upcoming elections, and more.
Then, we’re joined by Jess Piper - executive director of Blue Missouri, host of “Dirt Road Democrat,” and fierce advocate for public education. Jess chats with the hosts about book bans, PragerU, AP African-American Studies, and why extremists like Betsy DeVos would rather put kids to work than fund their schools. Jess is a force of nature and we were so excited to talk to her this week.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to going back to school in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you want to stand up against book bans like Jess Piper, we invite you to join us on Thursday, September 7th for a Troublemaker Training. You'll learn how to band together with your neighbors and friends and the best tactics to make your voices heard. You can learn more and register here or by going to redwine.blue.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, Amanda Weinstein is joined by Red Wine & Blue founder Katie Paris to talk about the latest GOP shenanigans to prevent Ohioans from voting for reproductive freedom.
In August, voters rejected Issue 1, which would have required a 60% vote on future constitutional amendments. But that wasn't the last Hail Mary pass for Secretary of State Frank LaRose in his attempts to subvert the will of the people. Now, he's pushed through misleading and mansplaining ballot language in hopes of confusing or distracting Ohioans from supporting the amendment. But Ohioans are smarter than that.
The Suburban Women Problem will be back on Wednesday September 6 with a brand-new episode. And if you’re in Ohio, make sure you tell everyone you know to vote YES in November. You can sign up to Rally Your Squad at go.redwine.blue/RYSpod.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
As season 1 of The Cost of Extremism comes to a close, we have one last bonus episode for you. We’re here with @JoJoFromJerz for a deep-dive into three stories that we think are especially important to hear right now.
First, we have Mia Tretta from episode one,‘The Impact of Active Shooter Drills.’ In her episode, Mia told her story of surviving a school shooting and the death of her best friend, Dominic Blackwell. But what’s often untold in these stories is the medical impact these events have on victim’s lives. There isn't a quick fix to being shot and in some cases, physical healing can take years.
Eli Erlick and Alejandra Carraballo from episode two, ‘Anti-Trans Bills are Harming LGBTQ+ Youth,’ explain the impact that anti-trans legislation has had not only on gender affirming care for youth, but adults as well.
And Monica Walker from episode four, ‘The School Board Culture War,’ discusses the banning of teaching accurate American history and the danger that comes from ignoring our past.
Resources: https://redwine.blue/thecost/
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Across the country, new right-leaning PACs are pouring money into school board races, aiming to flip control of who governs schools in favor of self-proclaimed ‘parents rights’ advocates.
For significantly less than what it would cost them to influence a seat in the House or Senate, these PACs are pouring funds into local school board races and as a result, changing education on a national scale. Their aim? Gain control of more school systems and push back on what is taught about race, sex, gender, and history.
Resources: https://redwine.blue/thecost/
https://schoolboardpartners.org
https://www.schoolboardschool.org
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
A flood of state-level efforts to restrict transgender rights are being fueled by many of the Christian and conservative groups that led the charge against Roe v. Wade. The political debate is escalating at a dangerous rate, putting the physical and mental health of trans youth at risk.
Resources: https://redwine.blue/thecost/
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2023/
https://elierlick.com
https://transstudent.org
https://linktr.ee/Jaidonna19?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=6a78e2df-d327-4364-9734-8ab69cefb795
https://www.threads.net/@esqueer_
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
During our second episode, we take a look at the long history of school voucher programs and the state’s hidden agenda to increase religious education and further segregate our school system. At a time when public education is already underfunded, we can’t afford programs that allow wealthy families to use public funds for private and religious education. In this episode, we look at the cost of these programs and the true motives behind them.
Resources: https://redwine.blue/thecost/
https://www.haveyouheardpodcast.com/about-us
http://saveourschoolsnc.org/
https://heartlandpod.com/dirt-road-democrat-1
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/advocacy-bites/id1587913600
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week we have a special episode to remind everyone in Ohio to vote NO on Issue 1.
We are joined by Congresswoman Shontel Brown, who explains why this election is so important for our reproductive rights and for democracy.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
School safety is a multi-billion dollar industry that we’ve created instead of passing gun safety legislation and politicians are continuing to ignore this national crisis. In interviews with Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Mia Tretta, Madeline Johnson, and Ashbey Beasley, this episode takes a deep dive into the impact of active shooter drills and how we can fight back in our own communities.
Learn more: https://redwine.blue/thecost/
https://momsdemandaction.org
https://www.nofuturewithouttoday.org
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, we’re joined by Jill Jonassen to talk about Red Wine & Blue’s new limited series podcast The Cost Of Extremism. Our hosts Rachel, Jasmine and Amanda are taking a well-deserved summer break during the month of August, but don’t worry - there will still be a podcast in your Suburban Women Problem feed! The Cost of Extremism is a 4-episode deep dive into the true cost of extremism… on our kids, families, and communities.
After hearing all about the new pod, our hosts are joined by one of our favorite guests of all time, Jess McIntosh. Jess hosts AMA (that’s Ask Me Anything) events with Red Wine & Blue where attendees can ask questions about gender and sexuality without any judgment. So today, we held our own mini-AMA where Jasmine, Rachel, and Amanda were able to ask some of the most common questions that come up at these AMA events - plus a few of their own! Should we be putting our pronouns in our email signature? What exactly is gender-affirming care? And what are some ways we can all think about our own gender, regardless of how we identify? It's okay to have questions, and Jess McIntosh has answers.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to travel, nature, and adventure in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
We’ll be on a 4-week break for the month of August but The Cost Of Extremism will be right here in the SWP feed. And we’ll be back in September with more episodes of The Suburban Women Problem!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
July is Disability Pride Month, and as we’ve learned in so many other spaces, inclusion isn’t just good for the people who need accommodation. Inclusion is good for everyone.
This week, Malynda Hale is filling in for Amanda Weinstein; she, Rachel, and Jasmine chat about recent news of teachers being fired over inclusive books and songs before they’re joined by amazing mom Megan Higgins. Megan has been advocating for her daughter Isabella and fighting for disability-inclusive playgrounds in their community. She also wrote a book called Super Special Magic Shoes to help kids like Isabella feel good about wearing leg braces.
After that, Rachel sits down with Dom Kelly, the co-founder and CEO of New Disabled South. Dom and Rachel talk about why disability rights are so personal for him, some common misconceptions about disability justice, and how Dom is able to provide paid family leave for all of his employees. We also hear about what it’s like to work with Stacey Abrams!
Finally, Malynda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to teaching, the SAG/WGA strike, and the wisdom of elderly family members in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Over 700,000 Ohioans have signed a petition to put reproductive freedom on the ballot. But extremists are trying to ignore the will of the people and hold a special election in August to change the rules about constitutional amendments. Even if you’re not in Ohio, you can still help protect democracy by signing up here for a Red Wine & Blue virtual phone bank.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
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Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
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We talk a lot about moms on this podcast. We interview moms who are attending school board meetings, standing up against book bans, and raising compassionate kids. We even talk about Moms For Liberty. But what about dads? They should have the freedom to parent too!
So today, after talking through the recent Supreme Court rulings and the amazing win in Ohio where over 700,000 signatures were successfully collected to support reproductive freedom, our hosts talk about dads. We’re joined by Darren Laustsen, a father in Bucks County PA who has been standing up against the extremists on his local school board.
After that, Jasmine chats with Frederick Joseph, the author of Patriarchy Blues. Fred and Jasmine have an amazing conversation about gender, race, privilege, and how thinking in a binary way “robs us of the reality of the human condition.” Fred shares what he learned being raised by strong women and what other men can learn about self-care and showing up for the people in their lives.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to family reunions, the wonder of small children, and surviving a 5k in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Do you want to stand up against book bans, like this week's Troublemaker Darren? Do you want to find effective ways to counter right-wing extremists at your school board meetings? Then we invite you to join us on Thursday, July 13th for a Troublemaker Training that's all about book bans. You'll learn how to band together with your neighbors and friends and the best tactics to make your voices heard. You can learn more and register here or by going to redwine.blue.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
It’s the 4th of July and like last year, we have a special episode to share with you. This year, our hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein are tackling the question "what does freedom mean to me?" In a time when words like “liberty” and “parents’ rights” are being thrown around like confetti, it’s worth digging into what freedom and liberty really mean.
Have a safe and happy Independence Day and we’ll see you next week!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week is the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. Politicians think reproductive freedom isn’t that big of a deal – “just a bunch of women, talking about their Dobbs again!” – but the truth is that women haven’t forgotten. We’re continuing to talk about it and share our personal stories, because those stories are how we connect with each other. We’re “heart-wired” to respond to them.
We’re joined by Jen Perez, Red Wine & Blue’s program director in Ohio. Jen tells her personal story about why she left her high-powered corporate job to get involved in politics, and the personal reasons that Dobbs motivated her to step up. Jen also shares some updates about the ballot measure to protect reproductive freedom in Ohio and how women across her state have been banding together to fight for their rights.
After that, Amanda sits down with Renee Bracey Sherman, the founder of We Testify, an organization dedicated to uplifting and telling the stories of people who have abortions. Renee discusses what it’s been like to lead an abortion storytelling organization in the wake of Dobbs and how she founded We Testify to make sure that people who have abortions don’t just have a seat at the table but a seat at every table.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to congressional aides, letters from camp, and celebrating half-birthdays in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you love this podcast and you want to help us bring more listeners into our community, we would love it if you could go into your podcast app and leave us a rating and review. We’re so grateful that you're listening and we would so appreciate your help to bring even more women into the SWP family. We’re stronger together!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We’ve been talking a lot this year about how we’re tired of the extremist attacks on our kids and public education under the guise of “parents’ rights.” Especially when those same extremists refuse to talk about the real danger to our kids: gun violence. So today, we’re digging into that difficult but important topic. We hear from Michigan mom Cara Erskine about the terrifying day she heard there was an active shooter at her daughter’s school - Oxford High School. Luckily her daughter survived, but ever since that day, Cara has been an inspiring advocate for common sense gun safety measures in Michigan.
After that, Rachel gets the chance to sit down with US Congresswoman and Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin, also from the great state of Michigan. Rep. Slotkin shares why she’s been so outspoken about gun safety and how gun violence, not history books or diversity, are the real threat to our kids. She also discusses how Michigan has been able to pass so much exciting progressive legislation and why it’s so important to have a plan!
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to Father’s Day, Juneteenth, festival foods, engaging with constituents, and a little “me time” in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Can you believe it’s been a year since the Supreme Court took away our reproductive rights? This Thursday June 22nd at 7:30pm ET, we’re holding a virtual community event to share how we’ve been stepping up since that day. We'll be joined by special guest Amanda Zurawski, who bravely shared her story in front of the Senate about how she almost died because of anti-abortion laws in her home state of Texas. You can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Red Wine & Blue has a big announcement… we’re going into Virginia! And we’re not just going in for one election, we’re going to have organizers on the ground year-round. So much of what we’re talking about this year – school boards, the Freedom to Parent – has its roots in Governor Glenn Youngkin’s election in Virginia. We can’t wait to meet and empower more Virginia women!
Speaking of Virginia, we’re joined this week by Julie Shepard, a mom in VA who’s become an inspirational advocate for public schools and for military families. She says she’s had to step up and get involved in order to advocate for her kids. Julie also shares her personal experiences with having a nonbinary child and why she was so glad that they had safe teachers to talk to about it.
Then Jasmine gets the chance to sit down with Penny Blue, Red Wine & Blue’s brand new program director in Virginia! Penny shares her thoughts about Virginia as a lifelong resident of the state, including the lessons she learned from her father who taught her to stand up for justice and to never feel like a second-class citizen. She even wrote a book about him called “A Time To Protest: Leadership Lessons from My Father Who Survived the Segregated South for 99 Years.”
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to passing the 6th grade and inspirational young scholars in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Can you believe it's been almost a year since Roe vs. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court? We’ll be talking about it on the podcast and across Red Wine & Blue, and we want to know... How have you found your voice? What actions have you taken during this past year? Our stories are the way we connect with each other and you can submit yours at go.redwine.blue/Dobbs.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Today we’re releasing a special live episode of the podcast as we react to the news of Trump’s indictment. Our hosts Rachel Vindman and Jasmine Clark are joined by Jo Carducci to talk through their thoughts and feelings, what exactly happened today, and what it all means.
We’ll still have a regular episode of the podcast to share with you tomorrow - in fact, we have an exciting announcement to share. So don’t miss our episode on Thursday 6/15. We’ll see you then!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week we’re celebrating Pride Month! In a time when LGBTQ Americans are facing unprecedented attacks in legislation, on social media, in libraries and schools, and everywhere else, we wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate everything they bring to this country. The hosts are joined by Mindy and Lily Freeman, a trans high school student and her mom, to authentically share both their joy and their pain. Personal stories are such an antidote to misinformation, and we’re so grateful to both Mindy and Lily for sharing their stories. We’re also so impressed by their amazing work with the Gender Cool Project, Project Uncensored, PFLAG, and more.
After that, Rachel sits down for an interview with Sarah Kate Ellis, the President and CEO of GLAAD - one of the largest advocacy organizations for LGBTQ people. Rachel and Sarah Kate chat about the importance of representation, the unwarranted hysteria over trans athletes, “parents rights,” and what it was like for Sarah Kate being pregnant at the exact same time as her wife! You can read about her wedding and learn more about “All Moms,” the children’s book she wrote with her wife Kristen.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to blended families, school graduations, road trips, and the beautiful diversity of America in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Red Wine & Blue has been holding AMA events as a part of our Freedom To Parent 21st Century Kids campaign. AMA stands for Ask Me Anything! And on Thursday, June 8th, we’re holding a special AMA event for the Gen Xers in our community. So get your 5 disc changer ready, pull on your best oversized flannel, and head down to the rec room with Jess McIntosh for a virtual conversation about gender where you can feel free to ask questions without any judgment. You can learn more and sign up here.
We now have some exciting Suburban Women Problem merchandise to share with you as well! There are stickers, t-shirts, and even “Toast to Joy” champagne flutes to rep your love for the pod. You can check it out here: go.redwine.blue/SWPmerch.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Today’s episode is all about money! What is the debt ceiling? Why does it matter? Why is poverty such an issue in America? And what can we do about it? Amanda, our resident economist, explains the debt ceiling, the deal that was just reached, how we're underinvesting in our communities, and why women know more about the economy than they think they do. We’re joined by Shereen Boyer, a mom in Ohio who’s worked in finance for over 30 years, to explain more about why the Democratic party aligns better with her values - not just her social values, but her economic values too.
After that, Amanda sits down with Dr. Matthew Desmond, author of “Evicted” and “Poverty, By America.” Matthew explains what he learned when he walked a mile in the shoes of the people he studied and what misconceptions Americans have about poverty. He says that poverty is not a “them” problem, it’s an “us” problem - so many of us benefit from poverty in this country, but that also means that we can be part of the solution. If you’re inspired by his work and want to help be a “poverty abolitionist,” you can visit https://endpovertyusa.org.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to kids growing up, Joe Biden, and our brave military service members in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Red Wine & Blue has been holding AMA events as a part of our Freedom To Parent 21st Century Kids campaign. AMA stands for Ask Me Anything! And on Thursday June 8th, we’re holding a special AMA event for the Gen Xers in our community. So get your 5 disc changer ready, pull on your best oversized flannel, and head down to the rec room with Jess McIntosh for a virtual conversation about gender where you can feel free to ask questions without any judgment. You can learn more and sign up here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, we’re celebrating libraries! Not only do librarians help kids (and adults) find the books they need, libraries are a vital “third space” in our communities. They provide resources and information, they promote inclusivity, and they’re a place where we can spend time with one another. Our hosts are joined by Carrie Wardzinski, a librarian and mom in Pennsylvania, who shares why she was drawn to the profession and what we can do to support our local libraries.
After that, Jasmine gets the chance to sit down with amazing best-selling author Jodi Picoult. Many of Jodi’s books are facing bans around the country, so she and Jasmine chat about why book bans are so dangerous and what’s really behind them. Jodi also shares where she gets the ideas for her novels and why she thinks fiction is such a valuable way to tackle big issues like abortion, school shootings, and trans rights.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to powerful stories, family hikes, and new experiences in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Speaking of banned books, next month’s Banned Book Club is all about Jonathan Evison’s book Lawn Boy - one of the most commonly banned books in the country. We’d love for you to join us on June 7th at 7:30pm Eastern for this free virtual event. You can learn more and register to attend here: https://go.redwine.blue/v9n.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This week, we did something we’ve never done before: we recorded a live episode in front of our listeners! It was so fun to celebrate our 100th episode with Heather Cox Richardson, some special Troublemakers, women from Red Wine & Blue, and most importantly… all of you!
Our lovely hosts - Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein - shared some reflections about imposter syndrome, all the conversations we’ve had in the past two years, and of course the Republican Party’s “suburban women problem.” Then we chatted with everyone’s favorite historian, Heather Cox Richardson, about the origins of Mother’s Day, the connections between reproductive rights and democracy, and the history of women shaping politics and the world.
After that we were joined by Julie Womack, Chief Organizing Officer for Red Wine & Blue, along with her college-aged daughter Sydney! Julie and Sydney share a love of politics and their community, and they talked about what initially inspired them to get involved. Julie also shared more about Red Wine & Blue’s new initiative The Freedom To Parent 21st Century Kids. Because right now, a small but vocal minority of parents are claiming to speak for everyone and it’s time for mainstream parents to call BS. You can learn more about Freedom To Parent, including all of the fun and informative events we’re planning, by going to go.redwine.blue/SWPF2P.
And finally, before we wrapped up our event, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raised a glass to Mother’s Day, all the women who inspire them, and all the Troublemakers out there in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.” And this week, Heather joined us with a toast of her own: to finishing her brand-new book!
We now have some exciting Suburban Women Problem merchandise to share with you as well! There are stickers, t-shirts, and even “Toast to Joy” champagne flutes to rep your love for the pod. You can check it out here: go.redwine.blue/SWPmerch.
Thanks again for joining us for 100 episodes! We can't wait for 100 more!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We’re not gonna sugarcoat it - this week, we’re mad. We’re mad that every episode, there’s a new mass shooting to discuss, like some horrible version of Groundhog Day. We’re mad that politicians, even Democratic ones, don’t seem to be taking any action to fix it. We’re mad that a few extremist parents have been controlling the narrative and taking away books, lessons, and conversations from mainstream moms… like the ones who host this podcast! So Red Wine & Blue is calling BS and launching a new initiative called “The Freedom to Parent 21st Century Kids.”
We’re joined by our very own Katie Paris, the founder of Red Wine & Blue, to tell us more about this Freedom to Parent program. It’s going to involve fun events, opportunities to talk to other moms and ask questions, a Banned Bookmobile, and so much more. We can’t wait for politicians to address these issues around “parents’ rights”; as usual, it’s up to moms themselves to advocate for their kids. As Katie says, the real world isn’t gonna stop being real; it’s just a matter of whether our kids are ready to thrive in it.
After that, Jasmine chats with Chasten Buttigieg, our second-ever guest on the podcast! Chasten and Jasmine catch up about how they’ve been for the past two years, how much Chasten loves being a parent, and the new version of his memoir that he just released for young adult readers called “I Have Something To Tell You.” There are lots of ways to support LGBTQ kids in your community, like starting your own PFLAG chapter or just buying them a copy of Chasten’s book! You can pre-order his book or buy a ticket for his in-person book tour at ChastenWrites.com.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to the end of the semester, the future mayor of Akron Shammas Malik, and of course to women getting together to make change in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
This was the last regular episode before our 100th episode live event! If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, you only have a few more days. The event will be happening on Monday May 15th and you can find tickets here. We also have a brand-new “I’m Part of The Suburban Women Problem” t-shirt for purchase! You can rep your love for the pod here. Thanks so much for joining us and we can’t wait to celebrate 100 episodes with you.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
“America is a melting pot” gets said a lot. But that implies that we’re all melting down our differences and becoming the same thing. Instead, we might think of America as a salad: many different cultures, all existing together in the same bowl. Our diversity is our strength, and that’s what we’re celebrating today.
Our Troublemaker of the day is Erika Marquardt, a high school student in Ohio who helped plan her school’s diversity event called “Many Cultures, One Bison.” Erika shares why it was important to her to celebrate diversity, what the response was like from the adults in her community, and why it’s important to start these discussions at home. Just like adults taking DEI trainings at their workplaces, the work doesn’t begin and end on one day; it’s a mindset and a lifetime of learning.
After that, Rachel sits down with Liz Sohyeon Kleinrock, an anti-racism and anti-bias educator. She and Rachel chat about some misconceptions about DEI trainings, what it really means to be an ally, and how her own personal experiences and identities have shaped her work. They also talk about AAPI Heritage Month and celebrate some amazing Asian-American women in history. To learn more about Liz’s work, you can visit her website at teachandtransform.org.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to community events, Sherrod Brown, and The Renew Democracy Initiative in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
It’s hard to believe, but we’ve recorded almost 100 episodes of The Suburban Women Problem. So to celebrate, we’re hosting a live virtual event with our very first guest, rockstar historian Heather Cox Richardson! The event will be happening on Monday May 15th and you can purchase tickets here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We all want to do our part to change the world, and little changes add up. But sometimes we get inspired to pivot and make a big change… and that’s what today’s episode is all about!
After a dive into the news (seriously, how is there so much breaking news every week?), Amanda, Jasmine, and Rachel are joined by Jill Jonassen. Jill creates videos and hosts Twitter Lives for Red Wine & Blue, but she didn’t always work in politics. After Trump’s election, she went on a journey that started with getting more involved with school boards and brought her to the work she does today. You can read Jill’s Op-Ed here and learn more about her Live conversations here.
And after that, Amanda sits down for a chat with Adeline Koh. While on sabbatical from her job as a race and gender studies professor, Adeline started a beauty company called Sabbatical Beauty. Like Jill, she was nervous to quit her job and start something new, but she knew she wanted to dedicate her work to the causes she believes in. Sabbatical Beauty has supported many progressive causes and now they’re partnering with Red Wine & Blue on their “Beauty Is Political” line.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to unexpected but necessary conversations, husbands, Hawaii, and moms supporting moms in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
It’s hard to believe, but we’ve recorded almost 100 episodes of The Suburban Women Problem. So to celebrate, we’re hosting a live virtual event with our very first guest, rockstar historian Heather Cox Richardson! The event will be happening on Monday May 15th and you can purchase pre-sale tickets here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
April is Earth Month, which makes this the perfect time to talk about the environment and climate change. Justice and democracy are so important, and we can’t stop talking about them, but at the end of the day, we all need a planet to live on if we want that justice and democracy to thrive. So this week, Rachel and Jasmine are joined by guest host Malynda Hale to discuss the news, climate change, and why talking to our friends – and our elected representatives – about our values is so important.
We’re joined by Felice Stadler, the Vice President of Government Affairs with the Audubon Society. Felice shares why she’s made a career out of working for climate justice, the overlaps between bird conservation and environmentalism, and why suburban women are the perfect people to get loud about Mother Earth.
And after that, Jasmine has an amazing chat with Nivi Achanta, the founder of The Soapbox Project, a newsletter and media platform that helps busy people take action on climate change. It can be hard to know where to start on an issue as big as climate change, but Nivi’s newsletter breaks it into bite-sized pieces that anyone can do. She and Jasmine also talk about the really important concept of the Values/Perception Gap. Basically, most of us walk through life thinking that we’re the only one who cares about the climate, social justice, or our communities. But research shows that actually, most people do care! So don’t be afraid to start a conversation about the climate… chances are, you have more in common with others than you think.
Finally, Rachel, Malynda and Jasmine raise a glass to finished projects, New Orleans and meeting other elected officials, and finding connections beyond politics in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
It’s hard to believe, but we're almost at 100 episodes of The Suburban Women Problem! So to celebrate, we’re hosting a live virtual event with our very first guest, rockstar historian Heather Cox Richardson. The event will be happening on Monday May 15th and you can purchase pre-sale tickets here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Today, we're talking about hunger and school lunch. Right wing extremists want to distract us, but what’s more damaging to a kid’s health and education... the gender of one of their friends, or going hungry? Free school lunches are so important to make sure that students are fed, healthy, and ready to learn. Feeding kids shouldn't be a partisan issue - in fact, as Jasmine says, it should be a no-brainer.
So this week, we are so excited to chat with Marc Jacobson and Ellie Agar from Hunger Free Colorado. They helped write Proposition FF to provide every student in Colorado a free school lunch. Marc and Ellie share how that ballot measure came about, how prevalent the issue of hunger really is, and how we can talk to our friends and neighbors about the issue.
And after that, Amanda sits down with Admiral Rachel Levine, the Assistant Secretary for Health with the Department of Health and Human Services. She also happens to be our nation’s first openly transgender four-star officer and the first to be confirmed to an appointment by the Senate. Amanda and Admiral Levine talk about the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, the difference between food insecurity and nutrition insecurity, and how her identity as a transgender woman isn’t her weakness - it’s her superpower.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to museums, making connections and building community, and the people of Wisconsin in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
We invite you to join us for a virtual Troublemaker Training on Thursday April 13th to hear more about the work that school boards do, and again on Thursday April 20th to learn how you can speak out a school board meeting like a pro. You can learn more and RSVP here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Today Jo Carducci is filling in for Rachel Vindman. In this episode, Jo, Jasmine, and Amanda chat about how right-wing extremists are trying to distract us and exhaust us. Whether it’s refusing to focus on anything but the trans identity of the recent school shooter in Nashville, or pretending that a children’s book about Rosa Parks is “pushing Critical Race Theory on kids,” we can’t let our focus waver from the things that really matter: standing up for equity in our schools and communities.
This week, we hear from Revida Rahman, a mom in Tennessee who co-founded OneWillCo, an organization that supports students of color. Revida shares some of the troubling racial incidents that led her and her friend Jen to found their organization, why book bans are so dangerous, and what white parents can do to stand up for racial equity in their school systems.
And after that, Jasmine gets the chance to talk to Angie Thomas, the award-winning author of books like “The Hate U Give” and “Concrete Rose.” Angie chats about writing a novel about Black Lives Matter from the perspective of a teenage girl, and how she wanted to approach writing the book not just from anger, but also from love. We’re very excited about her new book for middle-grade readers, “Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy.” It’s so important not for young girls of color and for everyone to see some Black Girl Magic.
Finally, Amanda, Jo and Jasmine raise a glass to awards, historic downtowns, and supportive co-workers in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you want to hear more from authors of banned books, you can check out our Banned Book Club events on Instagram Live. And if you aren’t able to join us live, you can always watch the interviews later on our YouTube channel. We also carry those banned books in our online bookshop, because one of the best ways you can support authors is to buy their books!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
Last week, a House Judiciary Committee held a hearing called “Free Speech: The Biden Administration’s Chilling of Parents’ Fundamental Rights,” with conservative speakers from Moms for Liberty and Parents Defending Education. But where were the moms who support diversity? And what about the students themselves? Where were their voices? With yet another tragic school shooting this week, we have to ask ourselves… when will we listen to kids and value their lives more than we value guns?
This week, we hear from Claire Mengel, a young activist from Cincinnati who organized against the cancellation of Diversity Day in their high school. Claire shares why their school board canceled the event in the first place and why they felt it was so important to stand up for diversity. And even more importantly, Claire shares why it’s so crucial to listen to students about their own lived experiences and what adults can do to help.
Then Rachel sits down with Porsche Joseph, an activist, educator, and co-author of the book Better Than We Found It: Conversations To Help Save the World.The book is aimed at young adults, but anyone can get so much out of its explorations of topics like gun violence, immigration, and health care. Rachel and Porsche chat about supporting young people, what it was like to write a book with her husband, and what Elizabeth Warren is like in real life!
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to birthdays and passing bills in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
The Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 4th could decide the future of abortion rights in Wisconsin, as well as redistricting and voting rights, which could have a huge impact on the 2024 election. So if you or anyone you know lives in Wisconsin, please be sure to vote before April 4th! And if you want to learn more about the election and what it means, you can check out our social media live events with Politics Girl and some amazing moms from Motherhood For Good on YouTube.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
We’ve been talking a lot lately about all the dangerous bills and bans that extremists have been pushing. And like we always say, one of the best ways we can fight these things is by having honest conversations. Our friends or family or neighbors might be on the fence about some of these issues, and by talking to them, we just might change some hearts and minds.
We’re joined by Crystal Lett, a mom in Ohio who’s gone on an amazing journey from growing up in an ultra-conservative religious community to a career in progressive politics. Crystal and the hosts chat about what that journey was like, what prompted her to change her mind, and strategies for talking to the people in our lives about politics. It’s all about compassion, listening, and realizing that we have more in common than what divides us.
Then Rachel sits down with Roberta Blevins, a mom who became an anti-MLM advocate after joining – and then getting out of – LuLaRoe. Roberta shares the vulnerabilities that led her to join a multi-level marketing company in the first place and how a supportive community helped her escape. She also discusses how we can change the minds of people in our lives; like Crystal, Roberta says that listening with compassion is the best way to meet people where they are.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to brand-new bikes and kids excelling in their sports and recitals in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
On Thursday March 30th, Red Wine and Blue is hosting a virtual event with a guest who knows all about the power of changing your mind. Dr. Ellen Gaddy is the granddaughter of the late Republican Senator Jesse Helms and she’ll share her journey of freeing herself from a family legacy that doesn't reflect her values. You can learn more and sign up for this exciting event here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
This year alone, over 400 bills have been introduced to block transgender people from receiving basic healthcare, education, and the right to publicly exist. These bills not only harm individual trans people, they’re also an attack on our freedom and our democracy. Just like with reproductive rights, it all comes down to extremist politicians inserting themselves into a conversation that should be between a person and their doctor. Or between a kid and their parents!
We’re joined by Elliott Kozuch, who shares their thoughts as the Senior Communications Strategist for NARAL Pro-Choice America and a person who’s trans and non-binary. Elliott talks about what the fight for trans rights and reproductive rights have in common, and what we can do to band together and stand up against extremism.
Then Jasmine sits down with Danica Roem, a Virginia state delegate, a journalist, and the first openly trans person to be elected as a state representative. Jasmine and Danica chat about authenticity, trans rights, and what people get wrong about the suburbs.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to high school theater, 100 Women Strong Ohio, and Junior’s Cheesecake in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you want to stay in the loop about the pending ban on the abortion pill, we encourage you to join us in our Emergency Trouble Huddle on Monday, March 20th. We’ll be joined by Skye Perryman, the President and CEO of Democracy Forward, and Dr. Colleen McNicholas, a board-certified OB-GYN and the Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood Missouri. You can learn more and sign up here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
On today's episode, we're celebrating Women's History Month! Of course we celebrate women every single week on the pod, but this week, we wanted to take a closer look at the political power of moms. We’re joined by North Carolina organizer Tonya Martin, who’s filling in for Jasmine this week while she’s hard at work in the Georgia legislature.
We’re joined by Kate Duffy, a mom in Wisconsin who started a group to support Mandela Barnes called Moms For Mandela. And after the election, Kate turned her group into a community called Motherhood For Good. Kate shares her super relatable journey into politics and what’s so special about moms. And after that, Amanda sits down with Julie Kohler of the podcast White Picket Fence. Amanda and Julie chat about “parents’ rights,” how moms have been involved in politics throughout history, and how misogyny hurts everyone.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Tonya raise a glass to brave daughters, amazing teams, and last-minute get-togethers in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
We celebrate women every day on this podcast, but today’s episode is coming out on International Women’s Day, so we want to encourage everyone to listen to the stories of all the amazing women in this country. And one great way to do that is to follow Red Wine and Blue on social media, where we share women’s stories and voices every single day.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA
One Trump-appointed judge in Texas is likely about to ban an abortion pill used by millions of Americans. And the ban won’t just affect women in Texas… it’ll affect all of us across the country, even in blue states. The ruling was expected to be released as early as Friday the 24th, so we wanted to make sure we talked today about this case and why it’s so important. This isn’t the first attack on our reproductive freedoms, and it won’t be the last, which is why it’s so important to pay attention and to talk to our friends. We're saving the world, one brunch at a time!
We’re joined by Representative Dr. Anita Somani, who shares her wisdom and knowledge both as an OB-GYN and a state representative in Ohio. Dr. Anita talks about why this ban is dangerous, what we can tell our friends and neighbors about the pill, and how reproductive rights inspired her to run for office. And after that, Amanda sits down with Angela Vasquez-Giroux of NARAL Pro-Choice America. Angela and Amanda chat about what exactly is going on with this case in Texas, what we can do about it, and what gives her hope.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to the people of Ukraine, to community support after a hard week, and to celebrating birthdays by giving back in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Here at Red Wine & Blue, we believe in the power of conversations. And now you can listen in on some of those conversations live every week on social media. Every Monday morning at 11 Eastern, Jo and Jill chat about the news of the day, what to look for in the weeks ahead, and what stories you might've missed. They’re often joined by special guests like Shannon Watts, Alex Vindman and Fred Guttenberg. You can tune in live on Twitter by following us @redwineblueusa, and you can check out our past conversations on YouTube.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
TikTok: @redwineblueusa
We’ve been talking about right-wing extremists' push for “parents’ rights” all year and there are so many ways that manifests: banning books, banning sex ed classes, banning rainbow flags in the classroom... and another thing they don’t want our kids learning about is race. This week we’re discussing equity in education, and in particular what school boards can do about it.
The hosts are joined by Maya Guy, who was elected to school board in Virginia. Maya shares some work she’s done to ensure equity for all students in her district, both as a mom and as a school board member. Then Jasmine sits down with Carrie Douglass and Ethan Ashley, school board members and the founders of School Board Partners, an organization that helps connect, inspire and support anti-racist school board members across the country. You can read their groundbreaking report Empty Seats At Powerful Tables or learn more by following them on social media.
Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to a big move, the Cincinnati Holocaust Museum, and raising the next generation of leaders in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Extremist politicians and outside groups are attacking our kids’ education with book bans. They’ve even tried to ban books about Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks. One way you can stand up to these book bans is by reading and discussing frequently banned books like The Bluest Eye and The Hate U Give - and if you buy them through our new affiliate shop on Bookshop.org, you can support books, independent bookstores, AND the work of Red Wine and Blue. You can find our shop here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
TikTok: @redwineblueusa
Note: This episode was recorded before the news broke about Monday’s shooting at Michigan State University. But despite that, we talk extensively about gun violence in this episode, because any conversation about mental health, particularly the mental health of young people, necessarily includes discussing gun violence.
The news has felt even harder than usual lately, between the earthquake in Turkey, the train disaster in Ohio, threats to reproductive freedom, our ongoing epidemic of gun violence, and more. This month, we’ve been talking about young people and how we can support them… and one key piece of that puzzle is supporting their mental health.
We’re joined by one of our favorite therapists (and favorite mother-in-laws) Debby Paris to talk about how we can talk to our kids in age-appropriate ways about what they’re seeing in the news and in their schools. Then Amanda sits down for a chat with one of our OTHER favorite therapists, Dr. Andrea Bonior of the podcast “Baggage Check”! Andrea and Amanda chat about how young people are feeling (not great!), how we can support them, and how we can protect our own mental health as moms.
Finally, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to secret admirers, organizing a legislative retreat, and to the SuperBowl (okay, mostly to Rihanna) in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Earlier this week, we hosted a conversation with Rachel Vindman and Shannon Watts of Moms Demand Action. They talked about the power of moms to effect change on gun violence prevention. If you're feeling overwhelmed and want to know what you can do, we encourage you to check out that conversation on Red Wine and Blue's YouTube channel: https://go.redwine.blue/sw2.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
TikTok: @redwineblueusa
Jess McIntosh is filling in for Amanda Weinstein this week as we do another deep dive on Gen Z. This week, we’re focusing on an issue that has unfortunately galvanized and inspired so many Gen Z activists: gun violence. As young people have watched adults fail to take action on gun violence prevention, they’ve stepped up and led the way themselves. They’re not held back by decorum or politeness; they’re taking action without asking for permission.
We’re joined by Lauren Jasinski, a teacher in Michigan who had worked in gun violence prevention for years before a school shooting happened in her very own high school. Lauren shares the amazing work that her students are doing, like an organization called No Future Without Today. She also recommends Be Smart, which raises awareness about safe gun storage. We’re so grateful to Lauren for sharing her perspective as a teacher, an advocate, and a gun violence survivor.
Then Rachel sits down with another incredible Gen Z activist, Eve Levenson. Eve has worked with The Jewish Democratic Council of America, Grassroots Dem HQ, Voters Of Tomorrow, and she co-founded the Youth In Gov Coalition. Relevant to our topic of gun violence this week, she also worked with March For Our Lives, founded by high school students after the school shooting in Parkland. Eve shares how her Jewish identity has inspired her activism, what issues are important to Gen Z, and the best advice she ever received (hint: it was from Ruth Bader Ginsburg!!).
Finally, Jess, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to kids' birthdays, to organizing all year round, and to leaning in to what inspires us in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
You don’t have to be Gen Z to be a social media queen! Sharing information and inspiring people to action is how we bring change to our communities and our country. If you want to learn how to use social media to defeat right-wing extremism, join us for a special Troublemaker Training on Thursday February 9th. You can sign up here or by going to redwine.blue.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
TikTok: @redwineblueusa
Suburban women are an important voting block and we made a big difference in last year’s midterms. But we’re not alone: Gen Z also played a key role in the midterms, changing the narrative that “young people don’t vote.” We’re so happy to band together with Gen Z to defeat right-wing extremism. So that’s what we’re talking about this week: young people. The hosts even share what they were like when they were young!
We're then joined by Judge Juanita Boger-Allen and her daughter Mya. Juanita was the first Black District Court Judge to be elected in her North Carolina community. And through working on her campaign, both she and Mya were so inspired by each other. They’re living proof that working together across generations isn’t just good for the cause - it also brings us closer together.
After that, Rachel sits down with Annie Wu, the young woman who ran John Fetterman’s social media during his Senate campaign and earned the moniker “Fetterman’s TikTok Whisperer.” Annie shares how she got into politics (and why campaign work is inaccessible to many young people), why Gen Z is more involved than young people in previous generations, and the best parts about working with Gisele and John.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to Representative Emilia Sykes, kids growing up, and the importance of political organizing even in red rural areas in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Are you starting to see attacks on sex education in your newsfeeds? Do you believe sex ed is important but you have questions about what your kids should learn and when? Do you want to be prepared to handle discussions around sex ed within your school district and with friends? We got you covered! Join us on Thursday, February 2nd for a special Troublemaker Training. You can sign up here or by going to redwine.blue.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
TikTok: @redwineblueusa
We’re not afraid to tackle any topic on this podcast, and this week that topic is drag. It’s a new year, but right-wing extremists keep reading from the same old playbook, trying to find boogeymen to scare us… especially suburban women. Armed right-wing extremists have been showing up to protest drag storytime events, which seems far more traumatizing for a child than a princess reading them a book could ever be. So much for the party of personal choice.
The hosts are joined by Cress Barnes, a mom in North Carolina who’s had to deal with threats and calls to shut down her restaurant because she hosts family-friendly drag events. Cress talks about why it’s important to provide inclusive spaces, some misconceptions about drag, and how she always tries to lead with kindness. When she threw a "not a protest" party to celebrate diversity in her town, hundreds of people showed up to support her and the LGBTQ community... and the right-wing extremists were nowhere to be found.
Then Jasmine interviews Tara Hoot, a drag queen who regularly hosts storytime events for kids. Tara is a teacher and a parent, so events that bring joy to kids and parents alike has always been a passion. They discuss what exactly drag is, why drag events have become such a popular target, and why it’s so important for kids to see themselves and their experiences reflected in the books they read and the events they attend.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to not-so-expensive eggs, favorite flowers, and moms standing up for inclusive playgrounds in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
First Ron DeSantis passed "Don't Say Gay." Then he banned discussions about racism with the "Stop Woke Act." Now he’s banned AP African American History in the state of Florida. If you want to stand up for education, we encourage you to sign our letter to the Florida Board of Education here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
TikTok: @redwineblueusa
Season 3 of the podcast is here and we are so happy to be back with you all! On today’s episode, Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark and Rachel Vindman catch up on everything that’s happened since they last sat down together: from Jasmine and Casey being sworn in to Republicans in disarray in Ohio and Washington. Chaos is looming around every corner, but we can counter it by continuing to have authentic conversations with our friends, family, and neighbors.
The hosts are joined by Sherry Luce, an organizer in Pennsylvania. They chat with Sherry about how her state was able to swing blue in last year’s midterms, her unconventional approaches to politics (pajama party, anyone?), and what she's seeing in the coming year for Pennsylvania.
Then Amanda gets the chance to sit down with Gisele Barreto Fetterman, whose kindness, authenticity, and style are truly one of a kind. Amanda and Gisele chat about her charities, immigration, how running for office is a family affair, Brazil’s recent “January 6th” riot, how Gisele stays positive in the face of criticism, and even her long-time celebrity crush.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to Jasmine’s 40th birthday, some unexpectedly positive experiences on Twitter, and to Rachel’s daughter Sarah and the importance of reaching out for support in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Troublemaker Trainings are back! Our next Training is Thursday, January 19th and it’s all about school boards. Join us to learn more about how to fight against book bans, how to make your voice heard at school board meetings and join together with your friends and neighbors. You can learn more and sign up here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
TikTok: @redwineblueusa
In last year’s midterms, we showed right-wing extremists just how big of a “suburban women problem” they have - and we can’t wait to be back again, sharing meaningful conversations and being bona fide troublemakers every week.
If you joined us for Seasons 1 and 2, we are thrilled to have you back with us for Season 3. And if this is your first time listening to the pod, welcome! Our new season will launch on Wednesday, January 18th with the one and only Gisele Fetterman. We’ll see you then!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
TikTok: @redwineblueusa
In our final episode of Season 2, we’re wrapping up with Red Wine and Blue. Rachel Vindman is joined by RWB founder Katie Paris and our deputy program director in North Carolina, Renee Sekel. The three redheads discuss the midterms, the media, and how Renee’s community showed up to defend their school board against extremism. They toast to suburban women getting involved, having the hard conversations, forging connections, and making a difference. As Katie says, it’s about moving past politics being transactional and embracing its transformative power.
Thank you all so much for joining us this year. We’ve had so many incredible conversations and suburban women made such a difference in the midterms. We can’t wait for you to join us next year. Have a safe and happy holiday season, and we’ll see you in 2023!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
TikTok: @redwineblueusa
This week, Amanda Weinstein is joined by her husband Casey! Casey is a state rep in Ohio and was just re-elected in last month’s midterms. He and Amanda chat about what it’s like to run for office… and what it’s like to have a family member run for office. Tune in to hear what one thing Amanda requested when Casey told her that he was considering running for office, what it was like to meet one of his trolls, the anti-semitism he's unfortunately had to deal with, and why Amanda thinks that suburban women in particular have supported his campaign.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
TikTok: @redwineblueusa
This week, Rachel Vindman sits down for a chat with her friend Victor Shi. Victor is a writer, speaker, organizer, podcast host, and a student at UCLA. He was also the youngest elected Delegate for Joe Biden in 2020! Rachel and Victor discuss why the youth vote was so important in the midterms, what we can learn from young people, and why it’s important to keep these conversations going. Politics isn’t just something we should engage with around election time; we should all be living a “civics lifestyle.”
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!
Twitter: @TheSWPpod
Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA
Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA
TikTok: @redwineblueusa
This holiday season, we’re doing the podcast a little differently. For the rest of the year, our hosts will each take turns going deep on what we learned from the midterms - talking with experts and women who worked hard in their own communities. There are so many victories to celebrate and so many lessons to learn!
This week, Jasmine Clark is kicking things off with one of our favorite guests and political experts, Jess McIntosh. Jasmine and Jess discuss the biggest surprises of the midterms – namely, the youth vote and the difference that a little good news can make to our mental health – along with the upcoming runoff election in Georgia. Even if having a stronger Democratic majority in the Senate wasn’t at stake, Reverend Raphael Warnock is a fantastic leader, Senator, and human. Let’s WarNOCK out extremism next week in Georgia.
The runoff is on Tuesday December 6th. If you want to help Senator Warnock’s campaign, first things first, talk to everyone you know in Georgia… both about the importance of voting and also about talking to everyone they know about voting. And if you’d like to make a donation, you can go to redwine.blue/warnock. Funds are split between Rev. Warnock and Black Voters Matter.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
This week is Thanksgiving and we all have a lot to be grateful for. So today, we’re sharing our gratitude. Not only do Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine discuss what they’re grateful for– including election results, family, and quality time– but we’re also playing some voicemails from you, our listeners, about what you’re thankful for too. It’s like we’re all sharing a big community Thanksgiving Toast to Joy! Thanks for joining us on this Suburban Women Problem journey.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
So... there was an election last week! And despite doom-and-gloom polls, and the media trying to gaslight suburban women, democracy and reproductive freedom won big. Turns out, voters don’t support extremism. Who knew? (We did!)
Our very own host Jasmine Clark won her election in Georgia, and so did our host Amanda Weinstein’s husband Casey in Ohio. But those wins were only the beginning. Democrats won the Senate! There was historic turnout, especially among young people! Democrats swept Michigan! And everywhere that reproductive rights were placed directly on the ballot, voters supported choice.
Of course there were some disappointments and some races we didn’t win, and Georgia is headed into a very important runoff election. But we proved that when we show up and use our voices, it matters. We're going to keep working and keep having these important conversations, because democracy doesn't just happen around an election. It happens every day of the year.
Next week is Thanksgiving, and we’d love to hear from all of our listeners about what you’re thankful for! We encourage everyone to leave us a voicemail at (614) 600-2480 and we’ll play your replies on next week’s pod.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Election Day is tomorrow! And that means this is our very last chance to remind everyone about just how important it is to vote. Make sure your friends vote. Make sure your family votes. Make sure even your exes and your frenemies vote! This is the moment so let’s make it count. Our rights and democracy itself are on the line.
If you need help finding your polling place, learning what’s on the ballot, or anything else about voting, you can visit redwine.blue. And if you want to save reproductive rights and help women in need at the same time, then check out RWBVotes.com. If you live – or have friends in – Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, or North Carolina, for every 10 friends you talk to about voting, we’ll donate 50 dollars to an abortion fund in your state.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
We’re finally here… the last full episode of the podcast before the midterm elections! All year, we’ve been talking about what’s at stake in this election: antisemitism and racism, abortion rights, book bans, guns, election denial, and extremism in a million different forms. Now is the moment we’ve been working for, so let’s get everyone we know out to vote.
This week, Amanda got the chance to talk to Connie Schultz about why this election is so important… and at the same time, how we can take care of our mental health. Elections are stressful, and daily prognostications from dubious pollsters aren’t helping matters. Amanda and Connie had an amazing chat about what they’ve been hearing from women coming into this election and what they’re doing to stay calm in these last few crucial days. If you’ve been as anxious about the midterms as we are, we hope this interview makes you feel a little better.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to making a difference, kindness, and connecting with our neighbors in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Want to save reproductive rights and help women in need at the same time? Then check out RWB Votes! If you live in (or have friends in) Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, or North Carolina, for every 10 friends you talk to about voting, we’ll donate $50 to an abortion fund in your state. Visit https://go.redwine.blue/rallyswp to sign up and learn more.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Rachel Vindman is on Red Wine and Blue’s first-ever Troublemaker Tour, chatting with suburban women at kitchen tables in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
This week, Rachel’s in Bucks County, in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Bucks County is infamous for divisive school board meetings so Rachel sat down with two moms who have direct experience with their local school boards. Jamie and Tracy shared how difficult it’s been to stand up for what’s right in Bucks County and how critical it is that we all raise our voices and get involved. It’s not enough to believe that extremists are wrong - we need to get loud and stand up for our students, teachers, and communities.
This is our last kitchen table conversation! Thank you so much to everyone for joining Rachel as she talks to suburban women about the issues that matter most to them.
There are now only two weeks until the midterms and today, we’re talking about extremism. Conspiracy theories and hateful ideologies like antisemitism are longer just in the fringes, they're in mainstream politics. Extremists are trying to divide us with antisemitism, racism, transphobia, and misogyny, but when we band together, we are far stronger than their hate.
Instead of one featured interview, this week Rachel Vindman moderates a panel discussion with three experts on extremism: Amy Spitalnick, the Executive Director of Integrity First for America, a nonprofit that recently won a groundbreaking lawsuit against Unite The Right; Shannon Foley Martinez, a former white nationalist who now actively works to de-radicalize people; and Samantha Kutner, also known as the “Proud Boys Whisperer,” who studies violent extremism and the gender dynamics of radicalization. These three women have so much knowledge to share about what’s going on, how we got to this point, and what we can all do about it.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to love, to a rollercoaster of a campaign week, and to women finding the joy in standing up for democracy in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Links shared in this episode include:
Tools for parents to protect their kids from radicalization online
The Anti-Defamation League
Online ballot tracking tool
And RWBVotes, an easy and fun way to keep track of the friends you’re committing to talk to about this election.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Rachel Vindman is on Red Wine and Blue’s first-ever Troublemaker Tour, chatting with suburban women at kitchen tables in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
This week, Rachel’s in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. She sat down with two teachers to hear about what is happening with education in their state. Teachers know better than anyone how public education is on the ballot in the upcoming midterms, and they also know that other extremist legislation (like abortion bans) will affect not just their own lives but the lives of their students too.
Thanks for listening to Rachel’s Kitchen Table Conversations! New episodes every Saturday.
We’re now only three weeks until the midterms and today, we’re focusing on the critical issue of abortion rights. We’ve talked about it before and we will keep talking about it until we are all guaranteed the right to choose for ourselves when (or if) to become a parent.
The hosts are joined by Christina Ward, a woman in North Carolina who wrote an op-ed about how important abortion access has been for her personally. Amanda then sits down with Dr. Diana Greene Foster, the director of the Turnaway Study, which looked at the lasting effects of having – or being denied – an abortion.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to early voting, Stacey Abrams, and the Akron Children’s Hospital in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
With the election just around the corner, it’s time to organize - and who better to help us rally our squad than Amy Schumer? On Tuesday, October 25th, she’ll be joining us for an interactive event where everyone –including Amy– will pick at least 10 friends that we can reach out to about what’s at stake in this election.
And if you can’t make it, don’t worry we still got you! You can visit RWBVotes to claim the friends that you’re committing to talk to about this election and get personalized support from us. You can find more information at RWBVotes.com.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Rachel Vindman is on Red Wine and Blue’s first-ever Troublemaker Tour, chatting with suburban women at kitchen tables in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
This week, Rachel’s in the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina. She sat down with three moms – Stacy, Stacey, and Anissa – to hear about what got them involved in advocacy work and what’s keeping their friends and neighbors from getting involved too. Public education is a huge issue in North Carolina, with small but loud Moms for Liberty groups drowning out reasonable parent voices, but these moms aren’t taking it.
Thanks for listening to Rachel’s Kitchen Table Conversations! New episodes every Saturday.
This week, Rachel Vindman and Jasmine Clark are joined by Jo Carducci (JoJoFromJerz), filling in for Amanda Weinstein. There's now only four weeks until the midterms and that means we only have a short time left to talk about how important this election is. And one of the best ways to convince people is to find the issue that speaks to them… for some people, that’s abortion; for others, it’s democracy; for others, it’s schools. So we’re going to focus on each of those topics over the next couple episodes and today, we’re starting with schools.
The hosts are joined by Kim Biondi, an English teacher in North Carolina who left education after 21 years because of right-wing extremists. Kim shares what she loved about teaching and what made her decide to leave. In retaliation for standing up for students and books, Kim was called out by name at school board meetings and attacked by a Moms for Liberty group. But even now that she’s retired, she’s still standing up for students with a grassroots group called Guardians Against Book Banning.
Jasmine then sits down with Grace Lynch, the producer and host of Teaching Texas - a podcast that takes a deep dive into the American education system. In an election year with raging debates around education, this new podcast charts how Texas has dictated American education over the last sixty years and examines how the fight over our children's classroom has only intensified today.
Finally, Jo, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to birthdays, dissertations, and successful campaigning in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re listening to The Suburban Women Problem, you’re already tuned in to what’s at stake in this election. Now we need you to make sure that your friends and neighbors are too. That’s where RWBVotes comes in. It’s an easy and fun way to keep track of the 10, or 20, or 30 friends that you’re committing to talk to about why this election is so important. You can sign up at https://go.redwine.blue/rallyswp.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Rachel Vindman is on Red Wine and Blue’s first-ever Troublemaker Tour, chatting with suburban women at kitchen tables in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
This week, Rachel’s in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. She sat down with Sofia – an inspiring mom, philanthropist, and advocate for survivors of sexual assault. Like Rachel, Sofia is also a former Republican, so they chat about what made her leave the party and what issues are important to her coming up to the midterms.
Thanks for listening to Rachel’s Kitchen Table Conversations! New episodes every Saturday.
If you listen to this podcast, you know that suburban women are a key voting bloc coming into the midterm elections. And they are fired up – about abortion rights, about their kids’ schools, about voting rights, and so much more. So this week, we’re taking a moment to talk about what exactly is on suburban women’s minds right now.
One of our favorite organizers, Julie Womack, drops by the pod to discuss what she’s been hearing on the ground. Rachel adds what she’s been hearing from women on her Troublemaker Tour, and Jasmine and Amanda talk about what they’ve been hearing in their communities. Everyone agrees that pundits and the media get a lot wrong about suburban women, like the idea that we’ll “forget” about reproductive rights, or that we’ll just vote with our husbands. (If anything, it’s the other way around! Republicans are starting to have not just a Suburban Women Problem, but a Dad Problem as well.)
Rachel then sits down with Sarah Longwell of The Focus Group podcast. Sarah recently ran a focus group with suburban women and she shares those findings with Rachel. She also chats about her “flippers” – women who voted for Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020 – and how she thinks they’re likely to vote this year.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to working parents, attending the Congressional Black Caucus conference, and to Amanda’s daughter getting to see the White House in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
With the election just around the corner, it’s time to organize... like a woman! That means digging deep, getting vulnerable, and finding our courage. On Monday, October 10, Abbi Jacobson from A League of Their Own and Piper Perabo from Yellowstone are joining forces with Red Wine & Blue because they believe in the power of women supporting women. You can find out more about this exciting virtual event at redwine.blue.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Welcome to the first episode of our brand-new bonus series “Kitchen Table Conversations”!
Rachel Vindman is on Red Wine and Blue’s first-ever Troublemaker Tour, chatting with suburban women at kitchen tables in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
This week, she’s in Rochester Hills, MI - a suburb of Detroit. She sat down with Kathy, Sujata, and Ebonei to talk about what issues are important to them coming up to the midterms, what they’re hearing from others in their community, and how they can’t believe their daughters and granddaughters will have fewer rights than they do.
And in an unfortunately all-too-real situation for moms across America, Kathy’s children’s school was in lockdown during this conversation - but we want our listeners to know that everything turned out fine.
Thanks for listening to Rachel’s Kitchen Table Conversations! New episodes every Saturday.
This week on the pod, we’re talking about the power of women coming together to get stuff done. Some midterm elections could be won or lost by only a few hundred votes, so you and your friends could literally be the difference between pro-choice candidates and dangerous extremists. If each one of us gathers just a few of our friends to talk about how important the upcoming elections are, and those friends go out and talk to some friends, we can build a movement that will change the course of history.
The hosts are joined by Renee Sekel and Tonya Martin, two regional organizers with Red Wine and Blue. Renee and Tonya talk about what got them involved in politics and the issues they care about in their state of North Carolina. You can check out Renee’s education podcast “Advocacy Bites” here and learn more about both Tonya and Renee’s work at redwine.blue.
Jasmine then sits down with Joanne Carducci, who you might know on Twitter as JoJoFromJerz. Jasmine and Jo chat about how Trump’s election changed the course of their lives and sparked their activism, along with what it was like to meet Joe Biden at the White House this month. Jo also offers her expert advice on how to effectively use social media to fight for democracy.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to new beginnings, fun neighborhood events, and to winning an exciting award in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here! Talking to the people in your network is the most impactful way to influence voters, and Red Wine & Blue is committed to providing everything you need to tap into this super power: training, tools, community, and support. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
This week, we’re very excited to welcome Dr. Allison Gill to the show! Allison is a military veteran who created the incredibly popular podcast Mueller She Wrote and is now co-host of the women-led news podcast The Daily Beans.
Our hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein chat with Allison about her military service, including her thoughts about abortion access for service members, what made her decide to start Mueller She Wrote, and what it’s like hosting a political podcast with other talented women (something we know a little bit about!). She also tells us what we need to know about the Mueller Report, the documents found at Mar-A-Lago, the January 6 hearings coming back to primetime TV this month, and whether Trump will ever actually be charged with a crime.
Finally, Allison and our hosts raise a glass to surviving a trip to Six Flags with teenagers, a visit to Vienna, an incredible interaction with Elizabeth Warren, and to all the women out there fighting for democracy in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here! Talking to the people in your network is the most impactful way to influence voters, and Red Wine & Blue is committed to providing everything you need to tap into this super power: training, tools, community, and support. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
This week on the pod, hosts Jasmine Clark, Amanda Weinstein, and Rachel Vindman talk about trolls. It’s not just bots or anonymous accounts on Twitter anymore - in many places, the trolls are actually running for office. So many right-wing extremists don’t have real policy positions anymore, they’re just running on fear and personal attacks. But suburban women know better!
The hosts are joined by Lindsay Mahaffey and Christine Kushner, two school board members in North Carolina. They’ve been dealing with their own trolls, facing name-calling at school board meetings and on the campaign trail. Christine and Lindsay are so passionate about the teachers and students in their district… we’re lucky to have women like them standing up for our kids.
Then Rachel shares her interview with Amanda Marcotte, a senior politics writer at Salon and the author of "Troll Nation.” They chat about how the Republican party has been steadily losing support for their policies so instead, they’ve turned to “revenge politics”... leaning into fear, rage, and name-calling instead of coming up with new policies that speak to American voters. Amanda and Rachel also discuss the importance of women talking to the men in their lives about the issues that affect them, like reproductive rights.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to birthdays, investing in our communities, and Rachel’s upcoming Troublemaker Tour in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
We talk a lot on this podcast about how important the upcoming midterm elections are. But not enough people talk about how politics can also be fun! So on Thursday September 15, we're holding a special Troublemaker Training with First Lady of Pennsylvania Giselle Fetterman, who knows just how important it is to have a little fun while we're fighting for democracy. To sign up for this very special Troublemaker Training, you can visit redwine.blue.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
This week on the pod, hosts Jasmine Clark, Amanda Weinstein, and Rachel Vindman talk about voting “down ballot.” That just means voting for local candidates! Because as important as it is to have good people representing us in Washington, local elections have even more of an impact on our day to day lives.
The hosts are joined by Kate Nazemi, a mom in Pennsylvania whose school board has been infiltrated by extremists. Central Bucks school board now has two members of Moms for Liberty and one member who even believes in QAnon, and they’re enacting harmful policies like banning books, rainbow flags, and sex ed. Kate talks about how this extremist school board got elected in the first place and why it’s so important to engage in local politics.
Then Jasmine sits down with Yasmin Radjy, the new Executive Director of Swing Left. Jasmine is a Swing Left endorsed candidate, so this conversation is a match made in heaven. Jasmine and Yasmin talk about the important work Swing Left is doing to mobilize voters, how we can do a better job of talking up all the recent Democratic victories, and the power of suburban women. They even find a little time to chat about cute babies and Gossip Girl.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to labor unions, fun campaign events, and fighting for democracy in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re listening to this podcast, you know the importance of the upcoming elections and you want to turn out all your friends to vote. But you might still want a little help having effective and persuasive conversations. Join us on Thursday September 8 for a special Troublemaker Training with Jess McIntosh. You can sign up for Messaging 101 here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
This week on the pod, we’re continuing our back-to-school conversation. There’s so much for parents to worry about: school shootings, Covid, book bans, teacher shortages, and more. But before we get to all that, our hosts Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark, and Rachel Vindman talk about Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan. They discuss how frustrating it is to hear wealthy Republicans complain about $10,000 loan forgiveness when so many of them had PPP loans forgiven… but what’s NOT frustrating is the White House’s response! We’re so glad Biden and his team are fighting back against misinformation.
The hosts are then joined by Pam Crossman, a high school teacher in Ohio. Pam talks about how hard it is to be an educator right now, with her curriculum being questioned by extremists at the same time as they expect her to be the first line of defense against an active shooter. Pam also discusses her husband Jeff, who’s running for Attorney General right now to stand up against corruption and extremism in Ohio.
Amanda then interviews Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, best known online as “Your Local Epidemiologist.” Dr. Katelyn is a science communicator who specializes in gun violence, but became famous for her daily Covid updates. She and Amanda discuss the causes of our gun violence epidemic and some potential solutions - along with Dr. Katelyn’s thoughts about Covid and vaccines as kids go back to school.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to the first week of classes, birthdays, and to everyone out there who keeps fighting against extremism in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
On September 1st, Red Wine & Blue will be hosting a virtual Troublemaker Turnout event with Heather Cox Richardson. Come learn, get inspired, and commit to doing the MOST impactful thing you can do in the 2022 election to help protect our rights, freedom, and democracy. You can learn more and sign up here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Content warning: this episode contains frank discussions about abortion and the loss of a child.
Ever since the fall of Roe v Wade - or actually, ever since the Supreme Court opinion leaked - we’ve been talking about abortion. But so far we haven’t done a deep dive into one of the most controversial aspects: late term abortion. So that’s exactly what we’re doing today.
Late term abortion isn’t actually a medical term, it’s a political term used to scare people, and you’ll hear more about that in today’s interview. But before that, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein are joined by Ashley All. Ashley is the Communications Director with Kansans for Constitutional Freedom, one of the organizations that made this month’s abortion victory in Kansas possible.
Rachel then sits down for a very honest and meaningful conversation with Robin Utz. Robin is a mom, a storyteller, and an abortion advocate. She started a website to share her own later-term abortion story and to encourage open-minded and compassionate discussions about infertility and abortion. Robin shares the circumstances of her own abortion, the disconnect between right-wing politicians and most Americans’ views on abortion, and what we can do to help stand up for reproductive freedom. You can learn more at Robin’s website, DefendingGrace, or at WhoNotWhen.
Finally, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to the weather holding out for Girl Scouts and a great campaign video, and Rachel toasts to the brave women of Ukraine in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
On September 1st, Red Wine & Blue will be hosting a virtual Troublemaker Turnout event with Heather Cox Richardson. Come learn, get inspired, and commit to doing the MOST impactful thing you can do in the 2022 election. You can learn more and sign up here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
This week on the pod, we’re talking about running for office. When women run, especially women of color, it’s undeniable that they’re held to a different standard than their white male counterparts. Jasmine Clark tells co-hosts Amanda Weinstein and Rachel Vindman about how her validity as a candidate has been questioned all along the way, even after winning her race in 2018.
The hosts are joined by Mari Manoogian, the youngest woman currently serving in the Michigan State Legislature. Mari discusses her experience running for office as a young woman of color and about how the voters in Michigan want to elect leaders who fight for reproductive justice and stand up against extremism.
Jasmine then interviews A’shanti Gholar, the president of Emerge, an organization dedicated to recruiting and training Democratic women to run for office. Jasmine and A’shanti chat about what got her first interested in politics, the uphill battle that women face when they run for office, and what we can do to support them… not just as candidates but also as human beings.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to solidarity and the rising Blue wave, to kids connecting to their culture at camp, and to listeners who are maintaining their hope despite living in red districts in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here! Talking to the people in your network is the most impactful way to influence voters, and Red Wine & Blue is committed to providing everything you need to tap into this super power: training, tools, community, and support. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
It’s hard to believe, but the summer is winding down and kids are starting to go back to school. But extremism didn’t take a summer break - and as students return to classrooms, parents are having to fight again for safety, equity, reasonable class sizes, and so much more.
But first, our hosts celebrate all the legitimately good news out there: Congress passing the Inflation Reduction Act and PACT Act, Kansas voters standing up for reproductive freedom, and Alex Jones finally being held accountable for his lies about the tragedy at Sandy Hook.
Then we’re joined by Tamsen and Amanda, two moms in Pennsylvania who became friends last year when they realized they both wanted to fight for Covid safety in their kids’ school. Since then, they’ve attended school board meetings and advocated for LGBTQ+ kids and students of color in their school district. It’s easier to get involved when you’re fighting alongside your friends!
After that, the hosts chat with Dr. Carlee Simon, a mom in Florida who was fired from her job as superintendent when she dared to stand up to Governor DeSantis on masks in schools. Dr. Carlee chats with us about what happened to her, teacher shortages, how right-wing extremists are trying to destroy public education, and more. She’s currently running a PAC called Families Deserve Inclusive Schools - you can find out more here.
And finally, our hosts raise a glass to Kansas voters and to meeting listeners in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
The midterm elections are now only 13 weeks away! If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
The midterm elections are only 14 weeks away and there has been a lot going on in election news - primaries all over the country, campaigning, organizing, media narratives that may or may not be true… it’s hard to keep track of it all.
So this week we’re doing a “road to the midterms” episode of the pod. Amanda Weinstein and Rachel Vindman are joined by guest hosts Jess McIntosh and Julie Collins. Jess is a political strategist and Julie is the National Organizer for Red Wine and Blue, so they are a wealth of knowledge to help us all understand what is going on with the midterms… and what is at stake.
And before our delightful guest hosts leave, everyone raises a glass to park rangers, family time, and incredible young activist Olivia Julianna in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Polls consistently show that “the economy” is voters’ top issue. But what do people actually mean when they say they’re worried about the economy? What IS the current state of the economy? How is it going to influence the midterms? And how does it affect suburban moms?
This week, our resident economist Amanda Weinstein breaks it all down for us and makes it easy to understand. She’s joined by Jasmine Clark and guest host Beverly Batte, and together they talk through how the economy affects our everyday lives and how it’s inextricably linked to other issues like Roe v Wade, climate change, and extremism. Amanda answers some listener questions from our Facebook group SWEEP and gives some easy replies to Republican one-liners about the economy. (Spoiler: Biden does not in fact control gas prices!)
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Bev raise a glass to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and to remembering the joy of teaching and parenting in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
The midterm elections are now only 15 weeks away! If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
If we really boil down the work we’re doing, the forces that we’re fighting against, and reduce them to one thing… it would be extremism. Whether we’re talking about January 6, mass shootings, or the fall of Roe, it all comes down to right-wing extremism. So that’s what we’re talking about today.
The hosts are joined by Samantha Kutner, also known as The Proud Boys Whisperer. Samantha studies violent extremism and the gender dynamics of radicalization. She explains how extremism in the US has changed over time, the role of misogyny in these movements, and what parents can look out for to ensure their own kids aren’t being groomed online by right-wing extremists. You can find more of Samantha’s research about the Proud Boys online at the Khalifa Ihler Institute or by following her on Twitter @ashkenaz89.
Then Rachel shares her interview with Kyle Spencer, the author of “Raising Them Right: The Untold Story of America's Ultraconservative Youth Movement and Its Plot for Power.” Kyle and Rachel chat about the origins of the ultra-conservative movement in this country, how the far right cares more about power than winning hearts and minds, and why right-wing extremists have been so successful in recruiting young people. “Raising Them Right” will be in bookstores on October 18.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to audio books, vacations, and the importance of mental health resources during difficult times in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
The midterm elections are now only 16 weeks away! If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
It’s the 4th of July and, like a lot of Americans, we have some complicated and nuanced views on patriotism. So today, we’re releasing a special bonus episode of the podcast where we discuss what patriotism means to us. Tune in to hear Rachel Vindman, Amanda Weinstein, and Jasmine Clark discuss their thoughts and feelings about Independence Day, America, and how patriotism means working to make the United States a more perfect union… for everyone.
If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here! Talking to the people in your network is the most impactful way to influence voters, and Red Wine & Blue is committed to providing everything you need to tap into this super power: training, tools, community, and support. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Lately, the news has been pretty bleak: losing our reproductive rights, seeing just how close we came to losing our democracy on January 6… there haven’t been a lot of reasons for hope. But this episode we’re changing that, because we're talking to four incredible young LGBTQ activists. As our panel moderator Jess McIntosh says, advocacy is a relay race - and these young people are already running with the baton. And if teenagers can put together marches or speak at school board meetings, how much more could we all be doing?
But before we get to our youth panel, hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein discuss how they’re feeling about the Roe news a few days later. They chat about how the Republican Party seems to be backpedaling because they’re realizing that overturning Roe is widely unpopular. But they aren’t going to stop trying to take away our rights, from abortion to gay marriage, so we need to keep having these conversations and organizing.
Finally, our hosts raise a glass to their kids, to a little alone time, and to being in the right place at the right time in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
You can visit go.redwine.blue/roepod to get more information about how to stand up for reproductive rights. There, you can find answers to frequently asked questions and learn more about how to get involved. The court has spoken and we want to know how many suburban women are willing to join us to fight extremism.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Today, we lost rights.
Tomorrow, we do whatever it takes to get them back.
You can’t lose hope - that is what they want. We know that right now it seems bleak, but you CAN NOT give in to despair. We are in this together. And together, we are going to fight the extremism in this country that led to this moment.
There will be a lot of opportunities for action over the next few days, but remember there is nothing more effective than talking to a friend about what is happening. It’s time for us to dig deep and tap into our networks and make sure all our friends know exactly what’s at stake. We’ll give you everything you need to get started. Sign up here.
And if you need help explaining what is going on, this will help: https://go.redwine.blue/roepod.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
This week on the pod, we’re commemorating Juneteenth. After catching up on news, Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark, and Rachel Vindman talk about what Juneteenth is, why we celebrate it, and what conversations and events they've been a part of in their communities this week. With the right-wing outrage over Critical Race Theory and teaching accurate history in classrooms, it’s more important than ever to remember our past… the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The hosts are then joined by Meredith Lawson-Rowe, a suburban mom in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. After winning her race for city council, Meredith has been organizing Juneteenth celebrations in her town. Then Jasmine interviews Jo Banner, who founded a nonprofit along with her twin sister called The Descendants Project. Their organization is dedicated to uplifting and protecting the descendants of enslaved people in Louisiana river parishes. Jo and Jasmine discuss Juneteenth, plantations, the legacy of slavery and how Black lives are still being disregarded in the present day.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to community events, living in the moment, and a really meaningful interaction with a constituent in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here! Talking to the people in your network is the most impactful way to influence voters, and Red Wine & Blue is committed to providing everything you need to tap into this super power: training, tools, community, and support. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Today, Rachel Vindman’s husband Alex joins us to discuss the January 6 hearings. Rachel and Alex, along with Jasmine Clark and Amanda Weinstein, chat about what’s been happening at the hearings and why they’re so important. Alex answers some listener questions from our Facebook group SWEEP and at the end of the episode, Alex even gives his own Toast to Joy.
If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here! Talking to the people in your network is the most impactful way to influence voters, and Red Wine & Blue is committed to providing everything you need to tap into this super power: training, tools, community, and support. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On this episode of the pod, Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark, and Rachel Vindman talk about how the fall of Roe v Wade could have some unexpected consequences for women seeking fertility treatments. They're joined by Autumn Lucy, a woman in Michigan who took a part-time job at Starbucks just because their insurance covers IVF treatments. Autumn discusses her fertility journey, just how expensive IVF is, and why it was so important to share her story with the world. Like the hosts, Autumn also has serious concerns about what the fall of Roe v Wade might mean for women who are pursuing fertility treatments.
After that, Amanda sits down with Dr. Lucky Sekhon, an OB-GYN and fertility specialist. On Instagram and on her blog The Lucky Egg, she empowers women with evidenced-based information about their fertility. Dr. Lucky talks about why she’s passionate about helping women with their fertility and how she sees abortion and fertility care as equally important facets of helping women choose when and how to have a family. She also dishes about some of misconceptions and weird fertility advice she's heard.
And finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to Alex’s birthday, new puppies, and seeing each other in person last weekend in this episode's “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here! Talking to the people in your network is the most impactful way to influence voters, and Red Wine & Blue is committed to providing everything you need to tap into this super power: training, tools, community, and support. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On this episode of the pod, Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark, and Rachel Vindman talk about sex, baby... comprehensive sex education, that is! Sex ed overlaps with every other issue we’ve been discussing this year: book bans, abortion rights, trans kids, accusations of “grooming,” even gun violence. It's clear that right-wing politicians care more about maintaining power than they do about the lives and well-being of kids.
The hosts exchange stories of what they learned in sex ed and talk about why comprehensive sex ed (especially teaching consent) is so important. In fact, Jasmine has pushed for a bill in the Georgia legislature that would require consent to be taught during sex ed. (To no one’s surprise, the GA Republicans refused to even discuss the issue.)
Then we’re joined by Christine and Shannon Curley, a mother/daughter duo who host a podcast called Sex Ed Debunked. Shannon and Christine discuss the shortcomings of American sex ed programs and why it’s important to include respect, consent, body autonomy, gender identity and sexual orientation - at age appropriate levels. Shannon also chats about what it’s like to host a podcast about sex with her mom! If you want to check out Sex Ed Debunked, you can find it on all major podcast platforms.
After that, Rachel sits down with Jess McIntosh. Jess is a communications consultant, the co-host of Signal Boost with Zerlina Maxwell, and has been working with Advocates for Youth to stand up for abortion access, LGBTQ rights, and honest sex ed. Jess and Rachel discuss why the radical right has been using sex ed to scare suburban moms, what it means to be non-binary, the weirdest thing about being a commenter on CNN, and so much more.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to military veterans and the start of summer in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Our National Troublemaker Training with Senator Mallory McMorrow is coming up on Monday, June 6. If you’d like to join Mallory and other badass suburban moms, you can register for this event at https://go.redwine.blue/GetTrained.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Today we have a raw and emotional episode to share. The day after the horrific school shooting in Texas this week, Amanda Weinstein, Rachel Vindman, and Katie Paris recorded an emergency episode to process their anger and their heartbreak.
The number one cause of death for children in the United States is now gun violence. Moms don’t want to hear more “thoughts and prayers,” we don't want to read more tweets or hear more empty remarks about mental health. We want politicians to DO SOMETHING.
Speaking of doing something, if you want to get involved, you can reach out to Moms Demand Action, a grassroots organization of moms fighting for common sense legislation to prevent gun violence. You can visit momsdemandaction.org or text “ACT” to 644-33.
On today's episode, Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark, and Rachel Vindman talk about abortion. Yes, again. We’re not going to stop talking about it until we all have the right to choose in this country. We also discuss some of the primaries that happened last week - extreme right candidate and ethical nightmare Madison Cawthorn lost his election, and so did extremist school board candidates in Durham, NC. But we still have a huge fight ahead of us in November, so it’s crucial to keep having personal conversations with the folks in our families and neighborhoods. Talking to the people in your network is the most impactful way to influence voters.
And speaking of personal stories, ever since the news about Roe v Wade leaked, the women in our Facebook community SWEEP have been sharing so many personal stories. Almost 1,000 women have shared their abortion stories, so this week we’ve decided to highlight three of those women - reading their own posts, in their own voices.
After that, Jasmine sits down with Kate Kelly of Ordinary Equality and author of “Ordinary Equality: The Fearless Women and Queer People Who Shaped the U.S. Constitution and the Equal Rights Amendment.” Kate and Jasmine discuss the history of abortion and how it became one of the pillars of the Republican Party, the history of the Equal Rights Ammendment, and Kate’s favorite quote from “Legally Blonde.”
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to taking a break, the beach, birthdays, and getting dolled up for a gala in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Now is the time to create and uplift pro-choice content and support movements that are fighting for abortion rights, which is why we have joined the Listen To Women coalition! You can buy a t-shirt today to support the National Network of Abortion Funds.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Please note: This episode was recorded before the news of Tuesday's mass shooting broke, but unfortunately mass shootings are common enough in this country that we talked about gun violence just last week. Shannon Watts joined us from Moms Demand Action, a grassroots movement of moms fighting for common sense legislation to prevent gun violence. You can join in their fight by going to MomsDemandAction.org or by texting the word "Ready" to 644-33.
We were deeply upset by the tragic mass shootings last weekend, so today, we need to talk about guns. Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark, and guest host Katie Paris discuss how frustrating it is to feel like politicians are doing nothing while thousands die from gun violence. The majority of Americans support common sense legislation on firearms, so we need to stay loud and let our leaders know that we demand better.
Indiana mom DeAndra Dycus joins the pod to share her personal connection to this issue: after a stray bullet paralyzed her teenage son, she started an organization called Purpose for My Pain to support other families who have been affected by gun violence. DeAndra also spoke at the 2020 Democratic National Convention and published a book, Beautiful Resilience: Stories of Inspiration on Living Through a Mother's Grief.
After that, Amanda interviews Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action. They discuss what moms can do to fight for better gun legislation, why it’s important for more women to run for office, and how Shannon stays positive and hopeful while working on such a devastating issue. They also find a little time to talk about Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Warren, and Shannon’s favorite yoga pose.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Katie raise a glass to community support, to the women of SWEEP, and to attending the Georgia Democratic State Dinner in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here! Talking to the people in your network is the most impactful way to influence voters, and Red Wine & Blue is committed to providing everything you need to tap into this super power: training, tools, community, and support. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Amanda Weinstein, and Jasmine Clark continue to process their feelings about last week’s Roe v Wade news. Although it can be easy to stay in a place of anger and sadness, we need to turn those feelings into action - and win at the midterms in November! The only way we can keep right-wing extremists from taking away our rights is by voting them out. And the best way to do that is to have honest conversations with the people in our own networks.
Katie Paris joins the pod to tell everyone about the Great Troublemaker Turnout, Red Wine & Blue’s new relational voter turnout program. Katie praises all the incredible women in our Facebook community SWEEP who have been sharing their personal abortion stories; it can be uncomfortable or even challenging at times, but the best way to change minds is to speak honestly and from the heart.
After that, Rachel sits down with Ravi Gupta and Jason Kander, the hosts of the podcast Majority 54. Their pod is all about how to talk to the people in our lives who have different political views than us– that uncle, that cousin, that parent who might have voted for Trump. How can we reach them and change their mind? They also discuss Jason’s new book, Invisible Storm, which is about running for office, PTSD, marriage, and more.
Finally, Rachel, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to Mother’s Day - to moms of all types, to being treated to a nice dinner, and to taking a little time to recover from the news - in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here! Talking to the people in your network is the most impactful way to influence voters, and Red Wine & Blue is committed to providing everything you need to tap into this super power: training, tools, community, and support. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Today, we’re excited to share something special in honor of our 50th episode of the podcast! Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow joins us for a full episode to talk about her passionate speech that went viral, why she wanted to reach suburban women like herself, and how we can all fight back against right-wing extremism. Mallory answers questions about what it felt like to be accused of “grooming” for supporting LGBTQ kids, Democratic strategy, her faith, and her phone call from President Biden. She even shares a Toast to Joy!
Please note, we recorded this episode before the Roe v Wade news hit - but even before that news, we knew that Mallory is an inspirational example of how we can raise our voices and make good trouble. Her message about the power of suburban women is more important than ever, so we hope you find her words as inspiring as we do.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
With the breaking news this week of the leaked draft of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade, obviously we couldn’t talk about anything else on today’s pod. Hosts Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark, and Rachel Vindman got together for an emergency recording session to process their thoughts and feelings.
If this news fills you with as much rage, sadness, fear, and frustration as it does for us, we urge you to get involved. Vote in every election. Talk to your neighbors and friends. Sign up for a Troublemaker Training, download our Parent Playbook, and start organizing in your community. Now is the time to stand up for what we believe in. You can find ways to get involved at our website: www.redwine.blue.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Today we’re tackling another difficult topic: the criminal justice system. But before we get to that and other important issues, like what’s been going on in Ukraine, we have something positive to celebrate! Last weekend, hosts Jasmine Clark, Amanda Weinstein and Rachel Vindman finally all met each other in person! Amanda and Rachel attended a fundraiser for Jasmine’s re-election campaign but they also all made time for meaningful conversations and just getting a tour of Jasmine’s neck of the woods.
After discussing the prison system amongst themselves, the hosts are joined by Barbara Gaskins, a mom in North Carolina who founded a non-profit dedicated to incarceration re-entry. And on top of that, she’s also running for Congress! Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel talk to Barbara about her own experience with the criminal justice system and how difficult it is to move on with a clean slate, even decades later. They also discuss the overall injustice of the system, from the paltry charges given to the January 6th insurrectionists to the constant fear Jasmine and Barbara have for their sons interacting with the police.
After that, Rachel interviews Marlon Peterson, the author of Bird Uncaged: An Abolitionist's Freedom Song. Marlon faced a difficult childhood as an immigrant in Brooklyn and ended up spending over 10 years in prison. He has since become a speaker, an author, and an activist, fighting for incarceration reform. Marlon and Rachel discuss his book, his work, and the connections he sees between the “skin-peeling work” he had to do to face his own past and the bans on Critical Race Theory that stop us as a nation from facing our past together.
Finally, Rachel, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to their fun weekend together in Atlanta in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you want to join the conversation, head over to theswppod.com! You can share your thoughts with us, find out how to join our Facebook group SWEEP, and more.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Today we’re talking about something that might be a little controversial… cannabis! It’s being legalized in more and more states, but there are still so many questions and misconceptions out there. So we’re chatting with two moms today who can tell us a little more about cannabis and how it fits in with their health, their daily lives, and their parenthood.
First, Jasmine, Amanda and Rachel are joined by Leona Thomas, a mom in Oregon who owns a dispensary. Leona discusses what it’s like to be a woman of color in the marijuana industry, why she wanted to open her business in a historically Black neighborhood, and how she uses cannabis in her own life.
After that, Jasmine sits down with Danielle Simone Brand, the author of Weed Mom: The Canna-Curious Woman's Guide to Healthier Relaxation, Happier Parenting, & Chilling TF Out. Danielle explains what’s wrong with the “Reefer Madness” stereotypes about marijuana use, how cannabis helps her be a better parent, and good ways for moms who might be “canna-curious” to dip their toes in the water. Danielle and Jasmine also discuss the very important issue of racism in the creation and enforcement of cannabis laws.
Finally, Rachel, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to Spring Break, to Amanda’s amazing mother-in-law, and to Jasmine teaching her son how to drive (and surviving the process!) in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you want to join the conversation, head over to theswppod.com! You can share your thoughts with us, find out how to join our Facebook group SWEEP, and more.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Today, we’re talking about all things housing policy. What makes a neighborhood a good place to raise a family? How can we say “Yes In My Back Yard” instead of “Not In My Back Yard”? But first, hosts Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark and Rachel Vindman talk about the news. Jasmine just got out of session in the Georgia Legislature and her Republican colleagues passed some really bad bills. And new abortion bills and “Don’t Say Gay” bills are sweeping the nation. But in some much-needed good news, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed to the Supreme Court!
Erinn Grube, the Village Council President in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, joins the pod to talk about how they were able to put up some new housing developments while still keeping the cute and historical character of their town. Erinn discusses the importance of walkability and what her kids have learned about local government by watching her work.
After that, Amanda gets to chat with economist and housing expert Dr. Jenny Schuetz about her new book, Fixer Upper: How to Repair America’s Broken Housing System. They discuss what suburban women should know about housing policy, how it affects our daily lives, how a history of racism has affected housing in America, and how affordable housing is good for everyone.
Finally, Rachel, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to big milestones for their kids, to a little alone time for themselves, and to people who say “Yes In My Back Yard!” in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you want to check out Red Wine and Blue’s “Parent Playbook,” you can find it here. It’s a fun guide full of helpful advice for moms who want to organize in their communities.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Amanda Weinstein, and special guest host Malynda Hale talk about social justice parenting. They discuss how you first have to acknowledge your own inherent biases and your discomfort before you can have meaningful conversations with your kids about social justice. We hear more about Malynda’s inspiring tweet thread about interracial marriage in response to Senator Mike Braun’s comments at Judge Jackson’s hearings, and everyone expresses their disbelief and outrage over right wing hypocrisy regarding Ginni Thomas.
Then Kelly Krout joins us to talk about parenting, fostering kids, politics, and more. Kelly has become a sensation on TikTok for her relatable videos about running for office in Arkansas. She’s also written children's books about the foster care system, proving once again just how important it is for kids to have books that reflect their lived experiences. Kelly is funny, energetic, wise, and an all-around delight.
After that, Rachel sits down with Dr. Traci Baxley to talk about her book, Social Justice Parenting: How To Raise Compassionate, Empathetic, Justice-Minded Kids in an Unjust World. Dr. Baxley and Rachel chat about what exactly social justice parenting is, why sheltering our kids is the wrong approach, and how the only way to really get social justice parenting wrong is to never even start.
Finally, Rachel, Amanda and Malynda raise a glass to family, to finding time for an at-home date night, and to meeting Dr. Fauci in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re tired of extremists banning books, you should check out Red Wine and Blue’s virtual Read-In on Thursday April 7. The event will be hosted by Stella Parton (that’s right, Dolly Parton's sister!) and feature some amazing authors of banned books, including past pod guests Lesléa Newman and Brad Meltzer. More info and registration can be found here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein talk about how overwhelming everything has been feeling lately. There are so many fires to put out and we can only carry so many buckets. They talk about the absurd GOP antics at Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings, Biden’s remarks about Ukraine, and how we can redirect the national conversation while still whacking all of those right-wing “whack-a-moles.”
Then TN mom Taylor Lyons joins the pod to talk about her work with Chattanooga Moms for Social Justice. Taylor's organization has organized a banned book fair, provided books for libraries in underserved communities, held a workshop for parents of trans kids, and had difficult but important conversations with their neighbors. Taylor is basically an all-around super mom-- and her adorable baby even makes her presence known!
After that, Jasmine sits down with one of our favorite humans on the planet, Connie Schultz. They talk about how to stay hopeful and engaged, how to lean into love, how to put down our buckets once in a while, what advice she'd give her younger self, and who she’d cast as her husband in the movie version of their life.
Finally, our hosts raise a glass to family and to Spring Break in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
We have such an amazing guest on the pod this week… Senator Cory Booker! Ever since Trump “warned” suburban women that Cory Booker would be coming to our neighborhoods if Biden got elected, we’ve been excitedly waiting for him to visit. And this week, he dropped by The Suburban Women Problem!
But before we get to Senator Booker, hosts Jasmine Clark, Amanda Weinstein, and guest host Katie Paris talk about the inspiring women of Ukraine, schools, and an article Amanda co-wrote where she discovered that job growth is actually more tied to great schools and parks than it is to tax cuts for businesses. (Yet again, policymakers should be listening to moms!)
Then the hosts are joined by Red Wine & Blue’s organizing director Julie Womack. Julie drops by to tell everyone about the brand-new Parent Playbook, a fun guide full of helpful advice for moms who want to organize in their communities. Julie also talks about some of the amazing women she’s met through her work with Red Wine & Blue and how she considers an “activist” to be anyone who cares about their community.
And then it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for… our interview with Cory Booker! Amanda and Katie sit down with the Senator to discuss Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, hope, book bans, comfort TV, and his grandma. And of course he destroys a few right-wing talking points while he’s at it.
Finally, the hosts raise a glass to best friends, proud Sports Mom moments, and to inspiring women in the military in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
If you haven't taken our listener survey yet, there's still time! You can find the survey here. Thanks - we’re so excited to hear from you!
A lot of schools might be on spring break this week, but with public education at the center of so many right-wing attacks, there's no break for teachers. So in this episode, we’re putting America’s teachers front and center!
This week, Red Wine and Blue hosted a roundtable discussion with four public school teachers to hear about what they’ve been going through… in their own words. Book bans? Critical Race Theory? Covid? Angry parents at school board meetings? Teacher shortages? We talk about all of it and more.
But before we get to our panel of teachers, hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein dig into what they’ve been seeing in the news. Rachel gives an update on Ukraine, Amanda talks about rising gas prices, and everyone gets furious over the dangerous abortion bills in Missouri and Texas. (As Jasmine says, “if you’ve never had a period, you should not be writing bills about pregnancy. Period.”)
Finally, our hosts raise a glass to rest and recovery, seeing family (and discovering that all three hosts are big sisters!), and of course to amazing teachers in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you enjoy The Suburban Women Problem, you might like White Picket Fence - a podcast from Wonder Media.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
This is an emotional one, y’all. Hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein dig into their anger over Ukraine, right-wing fear-mongering and disruptive tactics, gun bills, name-calling, and Marjorie Taylor Greene. The midterm elections this year could not be more important!
Then our hosts are joined by Jen Cousins, a mom in Florida who has been doing such good work for her community, her family, and her state. She’s been standing up against the absurd and dangerous Don’t Say Gay bill on behalf of her nonbinary child– and if that wasn’t enough, she also co-founded the Florida Freedom To Read Project to push back against book bans. This mama is fighting a lot of really hard battles and we’re so proud and grateful for her amazing work.
After that, Rachel is joined by her friend Brad Meltzer, a best-selling author of fiction, nonfiction, comic books, and children’s books. His series of biographies for young readers, Ordinary People Change The World, includes books about Rosa Parks and MLK (which, surprise surprise, have recently made it on banned book lists). Brad and Rachel discuss racism, education, standing up for books, secret government warehouses… and what it's like to meet a president.
Finally, our hosts raise a glass to volunteers, getting in their daily steps, and once again to the brave people of Ukraine in this week’s “Toast to Joy.” Slava Ukraini.We’re currently running a survey for you, our listeners, to give us feedback about the show! You can find the survey here. Thanks - we’re so excited to hear from you!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Today, we’re celebrating the start of Women’s History Month with a special crossover episode with the podcast Pantsuit Politics! Rachel Vindman chatted with Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland about Ukraine, changing your political party, and what they’ve all learned from hosting a podcast with other women. You can hear Pantsuit’s version of their conversation here.
But before her convo with Sarah and Beth, Rachel talks with her co-hosts Jasmine Clark and Amanda Weinstein about how right-wingers like Tucker Carlson could possibly support an authoritarian like Vladimir Putin, and what this war means for suburban moms like themselves. They also discuss Biden’s groundbreaking Supreme Court nominee, Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and whether it’s possible to have real conversations with people if they’re just parroting right-wing talking points. What we do know for sure is that none of this– authoritarianism, “Don’t Say Gay,” book bans– is going away any time soon.
And after Rachel’s convo with Pantsuit Politics, our hosts raise a glass to good health, managing expectations, and the brave people of Ukraine in this week’s “Toast to Joy.” Slava Ukraini.We’re currently running a survey for you, our listeners, to give us feedback about the show! You can find the survey here. Thanks - we’re so excited to hear from you!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein are joined by not one but TWO amazing Paris women: Katie Paris, the founder of Red Wine & Blue, and her mother-in-law Debby Paris, a child psychologist. Katie tells the hosts about the amazing response to Book Ban Busters, how much coverage it’s been getting in the media, and (most importantly!) how it’s been translating into real organizing action.
After that, they’re joined by her incredible MIL Deb, who explains why “sheltering” our kids from American history is the exact opposite thing we should be doing if we want to instill good values and healthy coping mechanisms. Any conversation with Deb feels like a bona fide therapy session, and this chat was no exception. Our hosts came into today’s episode really feeling the frustrations of the current political climate, but after some uplifting news from Katie and some sage wisdom from Deb, they left feeling ready to tackle the problems of the world once again. We hope you feel the same.
Finally, our hosts raise a glass to keeping our heads above water, getting away for a quick trip, and Amanda’s son’s birthday in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
We’re currently running a survey for you, our listeners, to give us feedback about the show! You can find the survey here. Thanks - we’re so excited to hear from you!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein talk about redlining and why, in Heather McGhee’s words, we “can’t have nice things.” Amanda also clarifies what’s been going on lately with inflation and Rachel gives her thoughts on the developing situation in Ukraine. And of course we couldn’t go a whole episode without talking about the “ice house prostitution” hubbub that went down in Amanda’s town of Hudson, Ohio.
Then Casey Weinstein joins the podcast – he’s the Democratic Rep in Ohio’s 37th District and also happens to be Amanda’s hubby. Casey and Amanda chat about the partisan protestors at their house, what it means in terms of the national dialogue, and how Casey has been pushing back against gerrymandering in Ohio.
After that, Heather McGhee joins the podcast! Heather holds the distinction of being the only guest so far who’s appeared on the podcast twice, and this time Jasmine is the lucky one to sit down and chat with her. They talk about “drained pool politics,” redlining, and the myriad other ways that families of color have been left out of the American dream.
Finally, our hosts raise a glass to laughter, the SuperBowl halftime show, and exciting new adventures in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
We’re currently running a survey for YOU, our listeners! You can take the survey here. Thanks - we’re so excited to hear from you!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein cover a lot of ground: Alex Vindman’s new lawsuit, updates on Amanda’s mystery protestors, accountability, books, and the importance of representation for LGBTQ kids. They talk about how the right wing’s attacks on the trans and gay community is driven by fear and how so many Americans are one genuine conversation away from understanding and acceptance.
Then Jasmine sits down with Lesléa Newman, the author of frequently-challenged books “Heather Has Two Mommies” and “Sparkle Boy.” Lesléa talks about why she writes books and how frustrating–and infuriating–it is to have her books banned. She also offers a historical perspective, as someone who’s had her books challenged for over 30 years, and weighs in on what’s new and scary about the book bans happening today.
After that, Rachel gets the chance to chat with writer and trans activist Charlotte Clymer. They bond over standing up to Twitter trolls, living their authentic lives, and Charlotte tells Rachel how we can all be better allies to the trans people in our communities.
Finally, our hosts raise a glass to hanging in there, decompressing from a tough week, and new adventures just around the riverbend in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Red Wine and Blue is pushing back against book bans with our brand-new initiative Book Ban Busters. You can visit bookbanbusters.com to see a map of book bans across the country and let us know what’s happening in your area. And if you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to stand up against book bans in your community, we invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein dig into American democracy in disarray. They chat about the Supreme Court news and announce Red Wine and Blue’s new initiative to stand up against book bans across the country: Book Ban Busters! (Book bans? Crumbling democracy? This really IS Groundhog Day!)
They’re joined by Mila Atmos, the producer and host of the podcast Future Hindsight, which aims to spark civic engagement through conversations with citizen changemakers. Mila shares why she started a podcast, what we can all do to protect democracy, and explains the fantastic name “Future Hindsight.”
Then Amanda sits down with Mary Trump, the niece of Donald Trump and author of Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man. They discuss the last time Mary talked to her uncle, why she thinks he got elected at all, and how important it is to push back against right-wing propaganda. They also chat about kittens, news anchors, and Mary’s parrot even makes an appearance, so don’t miss their convo.
Finally, our hosts raise a glass to sports victories, birthdays, and holding on long enough to find the sunshine through heartbreak in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Red Wine and Blue is pushing back against book bans with our brand-new initiative Book Ban Busters. You can visit bookbanbusters.com to see a map of book bans across the country and let us know what’s happening in your area. And if you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to stand up against book bans in your community, we invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein dig into misinformation. They’ve been enduring misinformation-driven attacks lately their own lives– over the weekend, extremist protestors showed up at Amanda's house and didn’t even really know why! And meanwhile, in Georgia, Jasmine’s been dealing with Republicans who say they support kids’ mental health but want to ban books that might help students understand themselves and their place in the world.
They’re joined by Jessica Berg, an English teacher in Loudoun County, Virginia. Jessica talks about the importance of books and how hard it is for teachers to care so much about their students and yet to be accused of the very opposite. (But hey, at least the pay is good, right? … right?) And after that, Jasmine sits down with Tara McGowan, the founder of Good Information Inc. Tara and Jasmine chat about misinformation, how we can push back, and what they’ve learned from being the only woman in the room.
Finally, our hosts raise a glass to getting kids vaccinated, supportive neighbors, and family time in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @TheSWPpod! And if you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to stand up against book bans in your community, we invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Welcome back to a brand-new season of The Suburban Women Problem! On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein catch up about their holidays and the news (Covid, Ukraine, and GA Governor Kemp’s recent “Hail Mary” speech). They also start a conversation about the recent rise in book-banning, a conversation we're going to keep having all year... or at least until the right wing stops trying to ban knowledge.
The hosts are joined by writer and Wisconsin mom Tasslyn Magnusson, who has been attending school board meetings and compiling data on book bans across the country. Tasslyn gives some great advice about how you don’t need to yell or recite talking points in a school board meeting; you just need to speak up on behalf of teachers, students, and books.
Then the one and only Soledad O’Brien joins Rachel to discuss her new HBO series, “Black and Missing,” along with what she thinks the media tends to get wrong. Soledad and Rachel chat about the importance of framing when telling a story… who’s doing the framing? And why? They also find time to discuss Soledad’s hopes for 2022, how she tweets at the cast of "Criminal Minds," and what she’s learned about life and parenthood through horseback riding
Finally, our hosts raise a glass to victories in Georgia sports and Ohio politics, along with celebrating new opportunities for growth and conversations in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Next week, Red Wine and Blue will be launching something big to fight against book bans. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @Redwineblueusa to learn all about it!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Last May, Red Wine & Blue brought together three amazing women—Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein— to host a podcast that gives a voice to suburban women. Not the stereotype, but REAL suburban women: women who are diverse, women who have been getting involved in their communities, women whose votes will be pivotal in the upcoming Midterm elections.
Each week, we feature guests like Alyssa Milano and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood alongside real moms who are doing great work for their communities. If you joined us for Season 1, we are so excited to have you back with us for Season 2. And if this is your first time listening to the pod, welcome aboard! This season is already jam-packed with incredible guests and meaningful topics.
We'll see you every Wednesday with a brand-new episode of The Suburban Women Problem.
We hope you’ve been enjoying a safe and happy holiday season with your loved ones!
We’ve been gearing up for our big Season 2 launch (coming Wednesday January 19) but we didn’t want to leave a Suburban Women Problem sized hole in your podcast player for too long. So this week we’re bringing you a special episode of the show... instead of interviewing a guest, today our hosts are interviewing each other! Tune in to learn more about Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark, and Rachel Vindman as they ask each other questions about their lives, being a mom, their first celebrity crush, who they’d want to be stranded with on a deserted island, and a lot more.
And as always, we invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can learn strategies to stand up for your values and for the kids in your community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
This is our final episode of Season One, can you believe it? We’ve had 32 weeks of amazing guests and incredible conversations, 32 sets of Rapid Fire questions and 32 Toasts to Joy. So today, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein chat about their favorite moments from Season One and what they’ve loved about hosting The Suburban Women Problem.
The hosts reflect back on some of their favorite guests (Chasten Buttigieg! Lauren Underwood! Heather McGhee! Connie Schultz!) and some of their favorite “everyday women” who have joined us as well. We even get a quick update from Jaime Jara from Episode 2 and Maya Guy from Episode 12 (spoiler: everyone’s doing great, and Maya won her election!). Then Jasmine, Amanda and Rachel close us out with the final Toast to Joy of the year.
We hope everyone has a happy and healthy holiday season. We’ll see you on January 19 when we kick off Season 2 with a very exciting guest! Tune in to today’s episode to hear who it’ll be...
And as always, we invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can learn strategies to stand up for your values and for the kids in your community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Today we have a special episode of the podcast as Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein hand their platform over to a roundtable of moms from Virginia. When discussing last month’s gubernatorial election, the media has been quick to run headlines about "suburban moms" and their concerns about Critical Race Theory. But time after time, moms of color have been left out of the conversation.
So we asked three suburban moms of color from Virginia to give us their thoughts. Nicole, Kenya, and Zerell chatted with moderator Katie Paris about honest education in schools, microaggressions, and how white women need to step up to be not only allies but accomplices. We are so grateful to these three incredible women for lending their time and their voices to the podcast this week.
Could you use some support figuring out how to step up as an accomplice and fight against anti-CRT messaging in your community? We invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can meet other women who are facing this stuff too and learn strategies to stand up for the kids in your community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein catch up after the Thanksgiving holiday to talk about some pretty big topics: climate change, Covid, and justice. As Jasmine points out, the United States isn’t a castle surrounded by a moat and a big wall… we live in an interconnected world and how we tackle issues like vaccinations and climate change will make a huge difference not just to folks in America but to the entire globe.
They’re joined by Allie Kelly, executive director of The Ray, a climate nonprofit dedicated to finding solutions to our current highways systems. Allie shares The Ray’s ethos that “we can do well by doing good.” And after that, Rachel sits down with internationally recognized climate justice leader Elizabeth Yeampierre. The two of them chat about her organization UPROSE, how to talk to our kids about climate change, and how climate justice IS racial justice.
Finally, our hosts raise a glass to justice and to Amanda’s brand-new op-ed in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Do you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to respond to anti-mask, anti-vax, or anti-CRT messaging in your community? We invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can meet other women who are facing this stuff too and learn strategies to stand up for the kids in your community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
This week is Thanksgiving and we thought it would be a good time to focus on family. So in the spirit of spending time with family, today we’re reposting our episode with the one and only Alex Vindman.
Earlier this year, Alex joined his wife Rachel Vindman and co-hosts Amanda Weinstein and Jasmine Clark to chat about his book, Here Right Matters. They talked about Trump’s fateful phone call with the President of Ukraine, why Alex decided to report that call, the trolls and criticisms they’ve had to deal with as a result, and how Alex absolutely doesn’t regret doing the right thing.
Not only is this week a time for family and gratitude, it’s also a great time to remember why doing the right thing matters more than ever.
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein talk about how they keep finding the energy and joy in activism. They discuss some of the many battles worth fighting—for example, the undemocratic shenanigans happening last week in Jasmine’s own Gwinnett County or the fact that the right wing actually wants to ban books. The hosts discuss how they rely on small victories and the energizing feeling of helping people in their community to keep them going. Then suburban mom Marla Zwinggi stops by the pod to discuss the work she’s doing in her own Ohio community, how she felt burned out after the election, and what she did to bounce back.
After that, Amanda sits down with Karen Walrond, an activism coach and author of “The Lightmaker’s Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy.” They talk about personal transformation, adoption, how to find the joy in activism, and what activism even is. They also talk about Karen’s friendship with Brené Brown (we promise we’re not jealous!) and her cameo in the movie “Wine Country” (... okay, maybe we’re a little jealous).
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine, and Rachel raise a glass to sports victories, taking a vacation, and getting their kids vaccinated in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Do you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to respond to anti-mask, anti-vax, or anti-CRT messaging in your community? We invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can meet other women who are facing this stuff too and learn strategies to stand up for the kids in your community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Jasmine Clark, Amanda Weinstein and guest host Beverly Batte unpack last week’s election. We had some big disappointments in statewide races (looking at you, Virginia!) but there are so many victories to celebrate on the local level. So many progressive women won their races for school board and a big reason why is that they didn’t shy away from discussing right-wing issues like CRT. Instead they listened, they came up with thoughtful responses that incorporated their personal values as moms, and they won their elections.
And speaking of CRT, we want to bang the drum yet again for Heather McGhee’s incredible book The Sum Of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone And How We Can Prosper Together. If the right wing thinks that “CRT” means anything that involves thinking critically about race, like teaching Heather’s book, then sign us up!
Losses like what we experienced in Virginia can be frustrating, but we don’t need to wait for elections to take action. There are so many ways to get involved… like craftivism! Women across the world have been using their creativity and skills—often traditionally “feminine” skills like sewing, baking, and knitting—to create change for centuries. So Jasmine sits down with Kristina Wong, a performer and activist who created a squad to sew masks during the pandemic. You can learn more about it in her book, The Auntie Sewing Squad Guide to Mask Making, Radical Care, and Racial Justice.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine, and Beverly raise a glass to sports victories, Diwali, and getting our kids vaccinated in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Do you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to respond to anti-mask, anti-vax, or anti-CRT messaging in your community? We invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can meet other women who are facing this stuff too and learn strategies to stand up for the kids in your community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
This is a big week! Not only was there an important election on Tuesday, but we got to talk to Alyssa Milano!
We also got some disappointing news... it looks like paid leave is going to be cut from the spending bill. So on this episode, hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark and Amanda Weinstein talk about turning our disappointments and frustrations into positive action. To quote Alyssa, we want to build, not burn! The hosts are then joined by Red Wine and Blue founder Katie Paris, who chats all about the incredible work that suburban women have been doing across the country in the lead-up to Election Day.
After that, Amanda gets the opportunity to talk to the one and only Alyssa Milano. In addition to being an actor, Alyssa has always used her platform for activism and elevating the voices of others. She just released a brand-new book called “Sorry, Not Sorry” about her life in the public eye, getting Covid, her activism and humanitarian work, MeToo, and much more. Tune in to hear the inside scoop on her favorite on-screen witch, her pets, and the best on-screen kisser.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to lawn care goats, seeing the results of long term projects, vaccines for kids, and new takes on trick-or-treating during this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Do you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to respond to anti-mask, anti-vax, or anti-CRT messaging in your community? We invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can meet other women who are facing this stuff too and learn strategies to stand up for the kids in your community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Today’s episode is about the importance of the upcoming elections on November 2nd. So if you live in Virginia (or anywhere that has an election next week), please vote and make your voice heard!
On this episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark and Amanda Weinstein talk about how important it is for Democrats to turn out for their local elections. Jasmine announces that she’s begun her re-election campaign, Rachel gushes about the uplifting energy at a recent campaign event she attended in Virginia, and Amanda compares the Democratic platform to her fave… HGTV!
They’re joined by Deborah Morbeto, a suburban mom in Loudoun County, Virginia. Deb explains how frustrated she’s been that a handful of right-wing extremists acting out at school board meetings has been giving her whole district a bad name and how she’s fighting back—with kindness. She organized a school supplies drive for teachers in her district to show them that parents do appreciate and support their hard work.
Then Amanda gets the chance to sit down with Hala Ayala about her campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Hala reiterates the importance of the Nov 2nd election and chats about how much caffeine it takes to run for office and what is more political, the PTA or the VA House of Delegates.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to sweater weather, sports victories, and launching a new opinion column in USA Today during this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Do you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to respond to anti-mask, anti-vax, or anti-CRT messaging in your community? We invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can meet other women who are facing this stuff too and learn strategies to stand up for the kids in your community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Jasmine Clark, Amanda Weinstein and guest host Beverly Batte discuss the struggles (and successes!) of parenthood. They get real about their own parenting conundrums, talk about mistakes they’ve made (and what they’ve learned), and chat about how to have hard conversations with your kids.
They’re then joined by Gina Heumann, a suburban mom with adopted kids who founded Trauma Drama University to help other parents who have kids dealing with trauma.
Then Jasmine sits down with Melinda Wenner Moyer - author of the aptly named book ‘How To Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes.’ They discuss the research behind parenting and how to talk to your kids about racism, sexism and even screentime, to help shape them into honest, kind, generous, confident, independent, and resilient people.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine, and Beverly raise a glass to eye opening television, inspiring parents, and the Real Housewives in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Do you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to respond to anti-mask, anti-vax, or anti-CRT messaging in your community? We invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can meet other women who are facing this stuff too and learn strategies to stand up for the kids in your community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark and Amanda Weinstein discuss what the heck is going on in Washington. What’s the debt ceiling? Should we eliminate the filibuster? What’s the difference between the infrastructure bill and reconciliation? Are Democrats really in disarray? And most importantly… why should we care?
After a quick primer on the debt ceiling from economist Amanda and an explanation of the filibuster by state rep Jasmine, Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod joins the pod to help explain what is going on inside the Beltway. How can Democrats unite and fight against the right wing? If you want to reach out to your representatives to make sure they know you support the child tax credit, paid leave, and other legislation that will help American families, you can find your representative here or call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
Then Rachel sits down with Sarah Longwell to chat about her podcast The Focus Group. Sarah’s focus groups are a wild ride through the minds of MAGA voters, swing voters, and everyone in-between. She and Rachel talk about misinformation, suburban women, and what might keep swing voters from going back to the GOP.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to being intentional, birthdays, hard conversations, and beautiful fall weather in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Do you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to respond to anti-mask, anti-vax, or anti-CRT messaging in your community? We invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can meet other women who are facing this stuff too and learn strategies to stand up for the kids in your community. Our next training will be on Thursday October 14 at 8PM Eastern.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Women across the country were shocked and horrified when Trump was elected. But we didn’t let that feeling paralyze us—we sprang into action! On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark and Amanda Weinstein discuss how the 2016 election spurred them into getting politically involved. They also chat with Janice Robinson, a suburban woman in North Carolina who was activated by Trump’s election and has been organizing for candidates in her area ever since.
Then Rachel sits down with Jennifer Rubin to discuss her new book, “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy from Donald Trump.” Much like Rachel, Jennifer used to consider herself a Republican. But Jennifer realized that she could no longer consider herself part of a party that would choose Trump as a candidate. She and Rachel discuss leaving the GOP, the Women’s Marches, Edie Falco’s Hillary Clinton, and how we can continue to fight for democracy.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to good news, great dresses, democracy, grandmothers, and the power of music in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Do you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to respond to anti-mask, anti-vax, or anti-CRT messaging in your community? We invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can meet other women who are facing this stuff too and learn strategies to stand up for the kids in your community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Today’s episode of the pod is a little different... Amanda Weinstein, Rachel Vindman, and guest host Katie Paris focus on real suburban moms who have been attending school board meetings in their communities. Katie discusses the “Read In” that Red Wine and Blue recently organized at the Ohio Board of Education, while Amanda and Rachel share their frustrations about the right wing’s latest “boogeymen” to scare suburban moms.
Then we brought on not one, not two, but four suburban moms who have been stepping up and getting involved in their local school board meetings. Moms Marla, Rachel, Kelly and Meredith tell us all about how they didn’t give in to the fear-mongering of the anti-mask crowd. Instead, they organized, showed up early (like moms!), and spoke out to protect their kids and the kids in their communities.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to vaccines for kids, getting together with other moms for Red Wine and Blue’s “Read In,” and going to therapy in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Do you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to respond to anti-mask, anti-vax, or anti-CRT messaging in your community? We invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can meet other women who are facing this stuff too and learn strategies to stand up for the kids in your community.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Maternal mortality, especially Black maternal mortality, is a real crisis in this country. So on today’s episode, Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark and Rachel Vindman cover some of the shocking statistics and share some personal stories from their own life and the lives of their friends. They’re joined by Veranda Rodgers, a suburban mom from Ohio who founded Pregnant With Possibilities Resource Center, an organization dedicated to creating positive outcomes for Black moms and babies in her community.
Then Jasmine gets the chance to interview Representative Lauren Underwood, a registered nurse and the youngest Black woman ever to serve in Congress. Lauren tells Jasmine all about why she ran for office, what inspired her to tackle this issue of maternal mortality head-on, and the importance of the Momnibus Act. They even find a little time to share their teenage heartthrob crushes and their love for Whitney Houston.
Then Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to Pfizer’s announcement that they’re seeking approval for the Covid vaccine for kids 5-11, getting teenagers to smile, and Pregnant with Possibilities’ recent “Mommy and Me” ball in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
Do you feel like you could use some support figuring out how to respond to anti-mask, anti-vax, or anti-CRT messaging in your community? We invite you to sign up for one of our Troublemaker Trainings! They’re fun events where you can meet other women who are facing this stuff too and learn strategies to stand up for the kids in your community. Our next meeting is Wednesday September 22, at 7:30 Eastern.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark and Rachel Vindman get real about mental health. Covid may have made everything worse, but we’ve had a mental health crisis in this country for a long time and we’re only just now starting to talk about it. After they discuss their own mental health and what policy changes could help us address this crisis, child therapist Deborah Paris joins the pod to answer their parenting questions and give some tips on how to talk to our kids about mental health.
Then Rachel sits down with Dr. Andrea Bonior, a clinical psychologist and the voice behind “Baggage Check,” the mental health advice column in The Washington Post. Dr. Andrea is such a wise and calming presence, her chat with Rachel almost feels like 20 minutes of free therapy! She and Rachel discuss how we can keep engaging with politics while still prioritizing our mental health, how the epidemic of loneliness is dangerous for our country, and why “just calm down!” is never a useful thing to say.
Then Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to big birthdays, different perspectives, and making it through a rough parenting week in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re outraged over the latest attack on women’s rights in Texas, let’s make sure our elected officials know that suburban women will not accept this attack on our rights. Take our No Bans No Bounties pledge here and commit to never voting for a candidate who supports criminalizing abortion.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark and Rachel Vindman talk about empowering women and giving them choices... both in their reproductive health and with good economic policies. They discuss their own evolution on the issue of abortion and the importance of the Child Tax Credit, bringing on Kellie Love Titus (a suburban mom and owner of a dance studio) to discuss balancing work with childcare.
Then Amanda gets the chance to sit down with the one and only Cecile Richards— former long-time head of Planned Parenthood, the daughter of former TX Governor Ann Richards, and the current co-chair of American Bridge 21st Century. Their interview happened to fall on Cecile’s mom’s birthday AND on the very day that a horrific new abortion bill was passed in Texas. Cecile and Amanda discuss abortion, the American Rescue Plan, and the best advice Cecile ever got from her mom.
Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to camping, the Laconia Indian Historical Association’s annual Pow Wow, connecting with friends, and returning to the classroom in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
If you’re outraged over the latest attack on women’s rights in Texas, let’s make sure our elected officials know that suburban women will not accept this attack on our rights. Take our No Bans No Bounties pledge here and commit to never voting for a candidate who supports criminalizing abortion.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Today, we’re reposting a past episode of The Suburban Women Problem. Before mask mandates were the hot-button issue of the day, the right wing was trying to make us all afraid of Critical Race Theory. And we bet that pretty soon they’re going to try again to make us afraid of an honest education for our kids. So let’s keep this conversation going.
On this episode, hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein discuss Critical Race Theory and what our children are being taught in school about race and American history. They talk about the history they weren’t taught when they were in school--for example, about the Tulsa Race Massacre--and how we have to provide our kids with the truth about our history if we want to equip them to be good citizens and empathetic humans.
Then Amanda gets the opportunity to talk with New York Times best-selling author Heather McGhee. Heather's new book is “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.” Heather and Amanda discuss what all Americans have lost by treating history and public services as a zero-sum game... and they bond over their love of economics, barbecue, and John Legend.
If you feel like you could use some support in your community figuring out how to respond to anti-mask, anti-vax, or anti-CRT messaging in your local community and it would feel good to hear from other women who are facing this stuff too, we invite you to sign up for one of our “Troublemaker Trainings”!
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark and Amanda Weinstein dig into the pandemic, sharing their anxiety about sending their kids back to school and frustration over anti-vaxxers and how medical science has become so politicized. And this week, Jasmine answers questions from you, our listeners! From “should my kids wear a mask on the playground” to “is Covid just going to be around forever,” Dr. Jasmine dishes out data and wisdom.
Then Rachel gets the chance to sit down with Dr. Leana Wen. Dr. Wen is a physician and public health professor, a CNN medical analyst, and the author of a new book, “Lifelines: A Doctor’s Journey in the Fight for Public Health.” Rachel and Dr. Wen discuss strategies for keeping kids safe at school, the unfortunate backlash against public health, toddlers, boba tea, and one of Dr. Wen’s favorite sayings: “public health saved your life today―you just don’t know it.”
Then Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to young people, to going back to school, and to our hard-working medical heroes in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Red Wine and Blue founder Katie Paris is filling in for Rachel Vindman. Katie, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein discuss their experiences with being the only woman in the room. Sometimes it can be tempting to prove to the men in charge that we’re “different." That we’re “one of the boys." But what we really need to do if we want to break up the boys’ club is to support other women. Our hosts then chat with Meredith Lawson-Rowe, a suburban mom from Reynoldsburg Ohio, about running for city council alongside a group of other strong supportive women.
After that, Jasmine chats with Christina Reynolds, the VP of Communications with Emily’s List and the co-author of a new book, “Run To Win: Lessons in Leadership For Women Changing The World.” They discuss the work that Emily’s List does, how Jasmine herself was an Emily’s List candidate, sexism, Leslie Knope, and a lot more. Finally, our hosts raise a glass to water-skiing, volleyball, and other new experiences in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
In our next episode, we'll be talking about Covid and—lucky for us—one of our hosts happens to be a microbiologist! So we want to know... what are you stressed about? Are there any questions you've been too afraid to ask? Send us your worries or your questions at theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can also email theswppod@redwine.blue for a transcript of this episode.
On today’s episode, Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark and Rachel Vindman dig into burnout. Like so many women in America, all three are busy moms with schedules that can sometimes feel overwhelming. And burnout doesn’t just happen because of our to-do lists and our calendars… it happens when we don’t see hope on the horizon. So Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel chat about what gives them hope, how they manage their busy lives, and how they combat burnout.
Then they’re joined by Nichole Leporati, a suburban mom from Ohio who balances her full-time job with being a Girl Scout Leader, an active member in her union, a foster mom for cats, a candidate for Executive Secretary-Treasurer of her local AFL-CIO, and even more. Nichole talks about how she manages it all and what she does when she’s starting to feel burned out… or, as she puts it, “a little sassy-pants.”
After that, Amanda sits down with Malynda Hale. Malynda is a singer, actress, business owner, activist, podcast host, and new mom, so she knows a thing or two about burnout. Malynda and Amanda chat about their kids, their faith, prioritizing social justice, and how to take care of our mental health. Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to medical science and hard-working campaign staffers in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Later this month, we'll be talking about Covid and—lucky for us—one of our hosts happens to be a microbiologist! So we want to know... what are you stressed about? Are there any questions you've been too afraid to ask? Send us your worries and your questions at theswppod@redwine.blue.
You can also email theswppod@redwine.blue for a transcript of this episode.
Today we have a special episode of The Suburban Women Problem! Retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman—AKA the man who testified against Trump in the first impeachment hearing, AKA our lovely host Rachel Vindman’s husband—joins the pod to chat about his brand-new book and why doing the right thing matters more than ever.
Rachel, along with fellow co-hosts Amanda Weinstein and Jasmine Clark, chat with Alex about Trump’s fateful phone call with the President of Ukraine, why Alex decided to report that call, the trolls and criticisms they’ve had to deal with as a result, and how Alex has never regretted doing the right thing.
After that, Rachel and her husband ask each other questions one-on-one about how it felt to go through that experience together. They chat about why he decided to write a book, how Alex handles seeing her attacked by online trolls (he says he wishes he could challenge them to a duel!), how Rachel has taken care of her mental health through all of this, and more. They even find time to ask each other fun questions like who they’d cast to play each other in a movie version of their lives, their favorite binge-watch, and what title Rachel would choose if she wrote her own autobiography.
Then Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to summer, listening to scientists, and the brave Capitol Police officers who testified at the January 6th commission hearings in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark and Rachel Vindman talk about taking our involvement to the next level— whether that means running for office, supporting a candidate, joining a grassroots organization, or hosting a podcast! Jasmine discusses what drove her to run for state representative in Georgia, while Amanda mentions her dedication to local issues and Rachel talks about why she joined The Suburban Women Problem.
Our hosts also chat with Maya Guy, a suburban mom from Virginia who recently decided to run for school board. Then Jasmine gets the chance to sit down with Nan Whaley. Nan has served as the mayor of Dayton since 2013 and she’s now running for Governor of Ohio. Nan and Jasmine share stories of why they ran for office and hope to inspire other women to do the same… but they also find time to bond over karaoke, 80s movies, Tina Fey, and ice cream.
Then Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to teachers, taking time for family and friends, and saying “why not” to opportunities in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Amanda Weinstein, Jasmine Clark and Rachel Vindman get vulnerable about their self-love journey. Jasmine discusses the different standards she’s held to as an elected representative than her male colleagues, and Rachel mentions the personal attacks on her appearance that she had to deal with after her husband testified against Trump. Our hosts also chat with Andrea Wilson, a mom and stand-up comedian from Boise who has dealt with body positivity issues for her entire life.
Then Amanda interviews body activist, author, artist, and all-around inspiring woman Amy Pence-Brown. Amanda and Amy talk about self-love, why body positivity is political, Brené Brown, Kevin Bacon, and thrift shopping. Finally, our hosts raise a glass to good books, new challenges, and getting caught in the rain in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, Red Wine and Blue founder Katie Paris is filling in for Jasmine Clark. Katie, Rachel Vindman, and Amanda Weinstein discuss their experiences with Christianity—especially evangelical Christianity—and how it’s shaped their lives, their perspectives, and their politics. They also talk with Hannah Dasgupta, a mom from suburban Ohio; Hannah grew up in a conservative evangelical church and although her politics have changed since then, she hasn’t lost her faith.
After that, Rachel sits down with Kristin Du Mez, the author of one of her favorite books, Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. Rachel has been singing Kristin’s praises on Twitter ever since she read her book, so she was thrilled to chat with her about the intersections between faith, evangelical culture, sexism, racism, and Donald Trump. Finally, our hosts raise a glass to their children, camp, and the unexpected thrill of farm equipment in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein talk about social media. When it comes to Twitter and Facebook, it’s easy to find the bad and the ugly… but what about the good? Social media can be a powerful tool to bring people together and organize around issues that we care about. To learn more, the hosts chat with Julie Womack, the head organizer for Red Wine and Blue. Julie discusses the simple power of talking to your friends about politics and how we can use social media to create positive change.
Then Jasmine gets the incredible opportunity to chat with Sharon McMahon. Sharon has built a huge community around her Instagram account SharonSaysSo, where she educates people about history and the government. They talk about her community of “governerds,” combating misinformation, and Sharon's favorite historical insults. Finally, our hosts raise a glass to positive experiences on social media—and the importance of logging off sometimes—in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein talk about the myth of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.” America loves to idealize self-reliance and independence, but the truth is, none of us made it to where we are today by ourselves. So our hosts discuss the family, friends, and community care that helped them become the successful women they are today. They explore the importance of empathy and recognizing that other people’s life experiences have shaped them in ways we may not understand.
They chat with Beverly Batte, one of the women behind the scenes of this podcast, about her experience growing up in Appalachia. Beverly explains how the kindness of strangers and the kindness of her community helped her rise out of poverty. She blasts JD Vance for perpetuating the harmful “bootstraps” myth and shows us just how hollow that myth really is.
Then Amanda sits down with Sheryl WuDunn, author of Half The Sky and Tightrope: Americans Reaching For Hope, about the poverty crisis in America and the importance of empathy. Finally, our hosts raise a glass to their supportive communities and the National Parks in this week’s “Toast to Joy.”
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein talk about anger. They discuss the injustices in the world and in their personal lives that make them angry, and how women often aren’t allowed to express anger. And Jasmine reminds us that as a Black woman, she’s given even less space to show her anger because she’ll be stereotyped as an “angry Black woman.” Then they all discuss how to channel our anger into meaningful change.
They speak with Adrienne Martini, who wrote a book called “Somebody’s Gotta Do It: Why Cursing at the News Won't Save the Nation, But Your Name on a Local Ballot Can.” Adrienne explains how her anger over the 2016 election pushed her to run for local office in her conservative district… and win!
Then Rachel sits down with Amy Siskind, the activist and author who organized the We The People March and created The Weekly List, a catalogue of all the authoritarian and “not normal” things that happened under the Trump administration. Amy chats with Rachel about how her anger over sexism, particularly the treatment of Hillary Clinton, propelled her into activism.
Finally, our hosts raise a glass to supportive friends and Opal Lee’s role in getting Juneteenth designated as a national holiday in this week’s “Toast to Joy."
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein discuss how women have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and how we as a country need to value the work that women do, both in the workplace and at home. They reflect on their own experiences over the past sixteen months as they tried to balance work, childcare, and the emotional labor that all too often falls on women’s shoulders.
They speak with Heidi Lewis, who recently went viral with a photo of herself working from her bathtub while entertaining her toddler. Heidi’s attempt to occupy her daughter while tackling workday tasks felt all too familiar for the millions of moms who were left without options last year when daycare centers closed across the country.
Then Jasmine gets the opportunity to talk with the Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and Congressman from NY Hakeem Jeffries. They chat about being at home with their kids during the pandemic, how we can create policies that support women, and his favorite classic New York foods. Finally, our hosts raise a glass to well-earned vacations, local small businesses, and reconnecting for a few weeks without kids in this week’s “Toast to Joy."
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein discuss critical race theory and what our children are being taught in school about race and American history. They talk about the history they weren’t taught when they were in school—for example, about the Tulsa Race Massacre—and how we have to provide our kids with the truth about our history if we want to equip them to be good citizens and empathetic humans.
For another mom’s perspective, they chat with mental health counselor and mom of two Juliet Kuehnle. Juliet shares how she’s approached anti-racism with her daughters and what she’s learned as a psychologist about how we can have these difficult conversations.
After that, Amanda gets the opportunity to talk with New York Times best-selling author, Heather McGhee. Heather's new book is “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.” Heather and Amanda discuss what all Americans have lost by treating history and public services as a zero-sum game... and they bond over their love of economics, barbecue, and John Legend.
Finally, our hosts celebrate doctors and nurses, their partners, and their dogs in this week’s “Toast To Joy.”
If you want to stop politicians from banning conversations about race in our schools, please sign and share this petition.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
On today’s episode, hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein discuss the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death. When George cried out for his mother, moms across America felt that cry in their hearts and began working for justice. But despite a year of protests and conversations, it still seems impossible to gain any traction on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Jasmine mentions a fellow legislator in Georgia who would rather talk about “Black on Black violence” than take any action to protect Black lives.
And speaking of laws that have failed to pass, our hosts then discuss the recent Senate vote to block a commission that would investigate the attempted insurrection on January 6. From there, they discuss QAnon and right-wing misinformation more generally... what exactly is QAnon? And how do we deal with loved ones who have been sucked into Q or other conspiracies? To learn more, they chat with Lisa Reese, who lost her relationship with her sister over QAnon.
After that, Rachel gets the opportunity to chat with Connie Schultz. Connie is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, columnist for USA TODAY, an author, and the wife of Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown. She and Rachel discuss the events of January 6th, how Connie deals with trolls on social media, what makes her laugh, and how she ended up with a trash bag full of boxes of hair dye. Finally, our hosts celebrate the supportive women in their life in this week’s “Toast To Joy.”
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
In today’s episode, hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein discuss the CDC’s new guidance on masks and whether they’re feeling ready to jump back into normal life this summer. After that, our hosts discuss the wave of Voter ID laws that have suddenly been cropping up across the country. Rachel and Amanda admit that they didn’t realize how restrictive some of these voting laws were until they saw the effects first-hand. And for another perspective, our hosts speak with activist and organizer Mari Yepez, who grew up in Arizona and has worked to get out the vote since the age of 19.
Then Amanda interviews Nse Ufot, the CEO of The New Georgia Project, the organization started by Stacey Abrams to defend voting rights in Georgia. Nse reveals what Stacey said to convince her to join the organization (hint: it involved brunch!), the strangest thing that’s happened to her on Zoom, and her favorite binge-watch of the pandemic.
Finally, our hosts celebrate their grandmothers, parks, and being lifelong learners in this week’s “Toast To Joy.”
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
In today’s episode, hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein chat about the Republicans’ growing suburban women problem. First they discuss the Liz Cheney news and how there’s no room in the GOP for a woman who speaks her mind. Jasmine shares her own story about speaking out against the “good ole boys” in the Georgia Legislature.
Then our hosts discuss the right wing’s culture war against trans children and the deluge of anti-trans bills all across the country. Rachel, Jasmine and Amanda admit that trans issues aren’t a subject they know a lot about, but they explore the topic with compassion and kindness. To help them understand more, they speak with Jaime Jara, a mom in Florida who has been fighting against anti-trans legislation on behalf of her beautiful trans daughter Dempsey.
And after their conversation with Jaime, Jasmine sits down with Chasten Buttigieg to talk about the importance of LGBTQIA+ representation, his memoir I Have Something To Tell You, his favorite wine, and what he’s learned during the pandemic. Finally, our hosts celebrate their families and our growing return to normalcy in this week’s “Toast To Joy.”
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Suburban women helped decide the 2020 election. But we’re just getting started. Are you ready to be part of The Suburban Women Problem? Sign up here to join our amazing community of women.
In this very first episode, we invite you to get to know our incredible hosts. Rachel Vindman is a suburban mom with foreign policy chops who left the Republican Party after her husband, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Alexander Vindman, was fired for standing up to Trump. Jasmine Clark is a suburban mom and scientist who flipped a seat in the Georgia legislature to become the first Black woman ever to represent her district. And Amanda Weinstein is a US Air Force veteran, suburban mom, and economist who left the Republican Party when she couldn't reconcile its values with her evangelical Christian faith or basic economics.
Our hosts interview Red Wine and Blue founder Katie Paris about the organization, this podcast, and the power of suburban women. Then Rachel interviews historian Heather Cox Richardson about how this moment compares to other inflection points in US history, the power of women’s voices, and the surprising origins of Mother’s Day.
Finally, our hosts celebrate their moms, daughters, and friends in this week’s “Toast To Joy.”
Learn more about Rachel (@natsechobbyist)
Learn more about Jasmine (@JasmineForHD108)
Learn more about Amanda (@ProfWeinstein)
You can subscribe to Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter here.
For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.
Check out The Suburban Women Problem, a new podcast from Red Wine & Blue. Hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein chat with women across America about how politics affects their lives, their families, and how to become a part of the growing “suburban women problem.”
Coming May 12th. Subscribe now so you don't miss a thing!