This is not the episode we wanted to record this week - but it’s the one that we NEEDED to record this week.  Why?  Because just as we’re venturing down the rabbit hole of topics over the next few months that is Civic Engagement and making a difference for 2024, we had blatant scary fearful reminders about why we want you all to know and do more - because people’s lives are at stake. If you want to know how we feel about the latest mass shootings targeting Asian folks and Black folks, why we don’t give a shit that it was an Asian shooter, how to think about hate crimes, and what the larger issues are and what things are that we can each actually DO - listen in. What to listen for:   Our personal reactions and feelings to the horrible mass shootings over the weekend - because they hit close to home What we can do going forward to see the big picture, which centers our communities Specific issues to act on, including gun control, hate crimes, and domestic violence

204: Monterey Park, Baton Rouge, Half Moon Bay, and What We all Should Be Doing Now

I’m just a bill, on Capitol Hill… do you remember that song, from Schoolhouse Rock? If that jogs your memory, this is the episode for you. If you’re too young to remember that song, this episode is for you. If you hate that song, this episode is for you.  Why? Because this episode is about civics - in other words, how our government functions. We’re at a pretty critical time in our country’s history.  With all of what’s been in the news, through the disastrous Speaker of the House election in the House of Representatives, and in the discussions we’ve had, and will have, about Supreme Court decisions, and how where we are right now in 2023 is basically setting the stage for the crucial Presidential election of 2024 - this is a topic that we probably all should know a lot more about. Because right now, we don’t.  What to listen for:   The current state of civic education in the US What the three branches of government are, and how each of them work A perspective on the recent Speaker of the House (of Representatives) election - one which went 15 rounds, for the first time in one hundred years Details like the difference between judges and justices, how long Senators and Representatives are in office for, and how a bill becomes a law What YOU can do to be an engaged citizen   Resources to read for more information:  Find your senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm Find your representatives:  https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative More specifics on the data we quoted in the episode:   https://kids-clerk.house.gov/grade-school/lesson.html  https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-speaker-of-the-house-and-the-constitution  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/how-the-speaker-of-the-house-gets-picked  https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-10/  https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/questions-and-answers/100q.pdf  https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5288/text  https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/879/text

203: I’m Just A Bill… (Civics 101)

We promised to bring you more conversation about civics and engagement - and today we get to bring you a “real talk” episode about one of our favorite topics - civics, engagement, and a White Woman’s Work.  Plus, as a special bonus, we do this in conversation with NYT Bestselling Author Kate Schatz - a queer white woman - who is basically the perfect human being to tackle these topics with.   We talk about what she’d say to white women if she could say absolutely anything, the interconnectedness of oppression while avoiding devolving into the Oppression Olympics, how to figure out what to ask fellow white people about racism instead of asking people of color,  How white women can channel a little more bravery once they know what’s really at risk - which is tied into the mic drop moment when she references Trevor Noah - and really importantly, the folks and civic organizations who are actually making huge differences that we can each get behind. Consider this your “DWW ease in” to our civics focus, but any way you think of this, you should listen, and then get all of your friends to do the same, as we kick off 2023. What to listen for:   How forces of oppression are linked - with a reality check about the importance of checking intersectionality and privilege in these conversations  Hear why White people need to talk amongst themselves about these topics - and how they might think about approaching their Black friends differently The mic-drop moment when Kate puts her views on White women into context about Trevor Noah’s TV farewell thanking black women, who can’t afford to f*ck around and find out … it’s really just social capital that’s at risk for White women, so can’t we get you to do more?! Organizations like the WNBA who’ve made a difference, along with Black Voters Matter, the New Georgia Project, Fair Fight - who we should support all year ‘round and not just before elections  About Kate:  KATE SCHATZ is a feminist author, activist, public speaker, and educator. She's the New York Times-bestselling author of the "Rad Women" book series; the 33 ⅓ book Rid of Me: A Story; and Do the Work: An Anti-Racist Activity Book, co-written with “United Shades of America” host W. Kamau Bell.

202: Kate Schatz & A White Woman’s Work

One of our philosophies is that anti-racism work has to be done in a way that’s sustainable - meaning, just like we can’t post a black square to Instagram and say we’re done, we also can’t spread ourselves too thin or work ourselves to the point of irredeemable fatigue because then we also stop having impact.   So to kick off this year, we are bringing you a really open conversation on a topic we don’t as a society speak openly about Women’s health (which, for men, is often just called “health.”) In particular, we want you to know this conversation is specifically NOT reproductive health, which is often what women’s health is solely classified as, but rather all the things that happen with our bodies related to our hormones, periods, menopause, symptoms, and society’s lack of support.  To have this conversation in partnership, we bring you the founder of a groundbreaking, personalized, online Traditional Chinese Medicine company.   Because if we can work to support and balance ourselves from the root causes upwards, we will be able to be more vibrant impactful versions of ourselves.   ** SPECIAL SURPRISE FOR OUR LISTENERS ** Take 15% off a 3-month bundle of Cycle Balance using code DEARWHITEWOMEN15 at this  site! What to listen for:   What symptoms many women actually experience every month due to their very natural, human menstrual cycle Current treatments available - you’d be surprised How women of color are impacted by periods What Traditional Chinese Medicine offers that’s different from Western medicine, and how Elix fits into this idea of personalized medicine  About our guest:  Lulu created Elix in 2020 to destigmatize and normalize menstrual and hormonal health through an East meets West approach. A portmanteau of elixir and helix, Elix is the first digital platform to combine Traditional Chinese Medicine's (TCM) 5,000 years of wisdom with a proprietary algorithm to empower self-healing. The company formulates pure and potent liquid herbal extracts to treat hormonal imbalances at the root cause of painful and life-disrupting symptoms. By digitizing in-depth TCM health assessments and consults, Elix offers easy access to personalized herbal liquid formulas to heal holistically. After experiencing debilitating pain after getting off birth control, Lulu found her way back to TCM and was able to heal from within at the root cause. Recognizing a white space, Lulu launched Elix at the onset of the pandemic and so far, the company has raised $2.7m, grown 2700% with customers ages 16-52 from all 50 states and Canada (about half are WOC) -- clearly resonating with the community. With health autonomy, knowledge, and access under dire threat, Lulu is determined to help women with periods feel more empowered about and in control of their own health and well-being. I'd love to speak with you further about Lulu as a guest! She can speak about why WOC are chronically gaslit about their pain, the need to normalize period

201: Women’s Health (NOT reproductive health), with Elix founder Lulu Ge

Welcome to Episode 200 of our podcast, and welcome to 2023! Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! (Happy New Year!) In our first episode of this new year, we want to reintroduce ourselves, give you a run of where we’ve been with our platform, and make sure you have an overview of what you can expect from us this coming year. As we’re heading into yet another major election in 2024, if we want to build a community and country that actually looks out for ALL of us, there are things and people we need to know about so we can do things differently - and take action intentionally and consistently. What to listen for:   Who we are (Sara & Misasha), how we met (walking out of a racial identity conversation as undergrads at Harvard 25+ years ago), and why we have this platform (women have SO MUCH POWER to influence change, and White women, in particular, have voices that can be heard where other voices cannot)  The incredible success we have had, including a quarter of a million podcast downloads, thousands of copies of our book being sold, and being hired to speak at many organizations What we have planned for 2023 - including civics, SCOTUS cases, and all we think we need to do in, with, and for our communities to be ready for the 2024 elections

200: Big Plans for 2023

It’s that time of year when everyone starts to think about not only the end of this current year but also the beginning of the next. And friends, we’ve got some big plans for next year - but we’ll save that for EPISODE 200 (our next episode, and our first of 2023!). This episode will be a little bit of year-end reflection for us - and if these questions resonate with you, we hope you’ll spend a little time sitting with this year, before moving on to the next. Questions we talk about including:   What was the hardest thing you said to someone? What is different about you from this time last year? What internal challenge has taught you the most about yourself? How did you align your behavior with your values?

199: 2022 Year-End Recap

This was a conversation that made us lose track of time.  Because even if the core conversation about transracial adoption doesn’t capture your attention - which it should because nearly 30% of kids who are adopted are adopted across borders or across cultures or race - the trajectory this conversation takes into why adoption should NOT be positioned as a solution to abortion absolutely is a perspective you don’t want to miss - along with all the other nuggets of wisdom around identity and belonging as well. Thrilled to be bringing you insights from Patrick Armstrong, someone we don’t just know from the virtual airwaves but now, thanks to some great opportunities to speak together, in real life too. And if you want to hear more about his journey as not only an adoptee, but as an outspoken advocate for adoptees and, due to his lived experience, transracial adoptees in particular, you’re going to want to listen all the way to the end, and then follow him on every platform out there. What to listen for:   The moment that Patrick - a transracial adoptee from Korea, raised in a White family - realized that he wanted to explore his Asian identity.  Hat tip, Always Be My Maybe. How transracial adoption shaped Patrick’s identity and influenced his sense of belonging That adoption currently centers the child - and the importance of considering the adults, and how broken the systems are that lead to families being torn apart  Thoughts on positioning adoption as the alternative to abortion.  Hint: It’s not.  About Patrick:   Patrick Armstrong (he/him) is a transracial Korean American adoptee, podcaster, speaker, and advocate. He is one of the co-hosts of the Janchi Show, a podcast that explores and celebrates the experiences and stories of Korean adoptees everywhere. He helped start the Asian Adoptees of Indiana, a group dedicated to creating a safe, engaging community for all Asian adoptees who need it. He is currently based in Indianapolis. Contact: Website Instagram: @patrickintheworld TikTok: @patrickintheworld LinkedIn

198: Everything Adoption - And We Mean EVERYTHING - with Patrick Armstrong

It’s December, the time of year when it seems like regardless of whether you celebrate Christmas or Hannukkah or Kwanzaa or anything else or nothing at all, our schedules get busy. And lots of times, this busyness centers around food, be it potluck gatherings at work, holiday parties, big family dinners, or even coffee and treats with friends - because food brings us together as human beings better than almost anything else. But what happens when the foods you have are scoffed at by the folks around you? How does it feel to be made to feel “different” from the other Americans around you based on your cultural heritage? How do you get kids to try new flavors and learn real history, let’s be honest, at this stage in the melting pot game, what makes something American, anyway? We’re here to talk about all that and more with an award-winning veteran journalist Michelle Li - who also created the Very Asian Foundation after a super shocking (now viral) viewer comment in response to her comment about dumplings on television. What to listen for:   The viral video after a voicemail from a White woman that inspired the launch of the Very Asian Foundation “I won’t let you yuck someone else’s yum” - and the importance of food in identity The role that books play - there’s a huge book recommendation list! - in helping folks connect with their identity and the shared history we experience  About Michelle:  Michelle Li is an award-winning, veteran journalist who co-launched The Very Asian Foundation in January 2022 alongside friend and fellow journalist Gia Vang. Her response to a racist voicemail became a global movement of unity and caught the attention of The Ellen Show. Ellen’s monetary gift of $15,000 helped start the seed money to create a nonprofit focused on shining a light on Asian experiences through advocacy and celebration.  Michelle spent many years supporting adoptees through heritage camps and volunteer tours to Korea. She also launched a program to support Missouri children in foster care. All of this led to a congressional award in 2010. Michelle’s journalistic work has been honored with a national Peabody Award, several national Murrows, and multiple regional Emmys– often dealing with race or gender inequities. Michelle has appeared on CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and The Washington Post. Michelle currently resides in St. Louis with her family. She is @michellelitv on most platforms. A Very Asian Guide to Korean Food is her first children's book.  

197: Being Both Very Asian and American, with Michelle Li

We’ve been asked a lot about how to have uncomfortable conversations lately - namely, the reality that, yikes, my people are coming over for the holidays and how on earth do I handle it when those uncomfortable, racist, inappropriate comments and jokes come up? (Because let’s be real - they’re coming up.) While there is no official checklist for success, we DO have quite a number of tips to help guide you and your group into more meaningful, engaging conversations around your holiday table. If you know our podcast, you know we’re all about action, so we’re re-airing this episode that’s quickly becoming a favorite one for many of our listeners in order to share some of the tips that have worked for us - in order not to avoid these conversations, but to have them in a way that’s authentic, honest, and safe for all of us. We’d love to hear what’s worked for you too, as you navigate whatever uncomfortable conversations might be coming your way - please drop us a line at hello at dearwhitewomen.com and we might share what’s worked for you on our social!  What to listen for:  Tips for before, during, and after your holiday gatherings A selection of these tips include: knowing yourself and your why,  setting healthy boundaries,  using our favorite question “what do you mean by that?”  using “I statements,”  questions you can use to reflect on what worked / didn’t work after the event. You’ll want to listen to the short episode to get the whole range of how to use these tips and more!

196: Here’s HOW to Have Those Uncomfortable Holiday Conversations

For those of you who have been listening to Dear White Women from the beginning, or for those listeners who just joined us (welcome!), you probably understand that this whole platform comes from our own deeply personal connections not only to this work but to the world that we’d like to see in the future, as we find that it’s often that personal connection that leads to intentional, lasting change. That’s why we loved speaking with today’s guest, Stacy Sawin, who comes to us with her own deeply personal story as to why she created FinAbility, an organization that is changing and enhancing security for so many survivors of domestic abuse – especially from a financial perspective. A huge percentage of survivors are experiencing financial abuse along with other forms of harm, so even if her story has nothing to do with your own lived experiences, it’s likely that someone you know can relate - so please listen, share, and, if you’re listening to this on the day it comes out, financially support on this Giving Tuesday, if you’re able. What to listen for:   The way that Stacy’s personal experience as a survivor of stalking shaped the founding of Finability How race plays a factor in survivors’ financial access 95% of survivors won’t use formalized support systems such as crisis hotlines,  direct service providers, or professional advocates; instead, they're turning to Google…  New languaging → harm-doers (as opposed to abusers) What each one of us can do to better support survivors after they share their stories with us - believe and validate  About Stacy:  Stacy Sawin is the co-founder and CEO of FinAbility, a 501c3 nonprofit that financially empowers survivors of domestic abuse. As a stalking survivor, she has experienced firsthand what it feels like to be scared for your life and is dedicated to ensuring everyone has the financial security needed to live free from abuse and thrive.  Prior to launching FinAbility, Stacy earned an MBA from London Business School and worked as a technology consultant at Deloitte. Stacy is also an avid long-distance hiker and fosters dogs with Oregon Dog Rescue.

195: Why Survivors Need Financial Support, with FinAbility’s Stacy Sawin

For a lot of the second half of this year, student debt relief and the student loan crisis have been in national news - and there have been a LOT of feelings about it, ranging from joy and happiness that some of this extreme burden to repay what often can amount to predatory lending practices has now been lifted to the other extreme, which amounts to a lot of “well, I repaid my debt. Why should others be getting a handout?” (If you know us, you know where we fall on that scale.) But there’s so much more to this story than the question of handouts versus the student debt crisis, because, much like so many other things in the United States, student debt and student loans have also been affected by systemic racism. This is why we’re so thrilled to have Briana Franklin as our guest today, to talk about how and why student loan debt disproportionately affects Black women, her own experience with this as a Dartmouth graduate, and why she decided to do something about this - in a big way. What to listen for:   How handling student debt is like “draining the ocean with a teaspoon” - and the inspiration behind Bri’s founding of the Priosp(a)rity Project The ways in which student loan debt disproportionately affects Black women, not just financially, but in a holistic life way too Huge successes and surprises that the organization has been celebrating What’s next for 2023 - and how you can get involved  About Briana: Founder, President, & CEO of Finability.      Briana "Bri" Franklin is a businesswoman, philanthropist, and student debt expert/thought leader with a passion for the socioeconomic and holistic empowerment of Black girls and women. Having taken on a financial burden that eventually ballooned to nearly $120K in student debt through her undergraduate studies at Dartmouth College, Bri developed an acute appreciation for the challenges many student debt holders experience, including diminished ability to establish financial independence, take advantage of personal freedoms, such as starting a family/home buying, launch business ventures as well as creditworthiness. In recognizing the extent to which other Black women in particular experience adversity at the hands of the $1.7T student debt crisis as well as lack of financial literacy, she formed The Prosp(a)rity Project as a solution for eradicating these systemic barriers. Her work has been profiled in outlets such as Forbes, Buzzfeed, Authority Magazine, and Thrive Global, attracted support from audiences worldwide, and achieved numerous milestones.  

194: The Prosp(a)rity Project, with Briana Franklin

Hey, so remember how last week we were talking about how we have hope?  This is another conversation and way of thinking that gives me hope - in particular for anybody who knows children, knows new parents, or thinks they might eventually know folks who might want to stop reading the outdated encyclopedia that we call What to Expect when you’re Expecting and flip over to a more contemporary, inclusive, humane book to learn about parenting.   Misasha got the opportunity to speak with Jelani Memory recently on their Better Grownups podcast and we’re thrilled to bring him back to discuss the company’s newest venture - 100 Diverse Voices on Parenthood.   What to listen for:   The many powerful ways this new parenting book - 100 Diverse Voices on Parenthood - stands out from the books currently on the market What it took to produce A Kids Co book written by so many people, for adults, compared to the single-author kid books they’ve published so far How Jelani hopes that all parents - White parents included - know that this book is for them, to give the proverbial microphone to a wide range of people who are experts in their own experiences and have the knowledge to share with all of us. The exciting next steps for A Kids Co!   About Jelani: Jelani Memory (he/him) is a constantly curious writer, entrepreneur, and storyteller. He's the Founder of A Kids Co. a bold new kind of media company that strives to empower a generation of kids through diverse storytelling.  He's the author of A Kids Book About Racism and A Little Book About Fear.  He was previously co-founder of Circle Media Inc. He currently lives in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, with his wife and 6 kids.  

193: 100 Diverse Voices on Parenthood, with Jelani Memory

If you’re reading this on the day this episode comes out, this is a big, big day in America. It’s Election Day 2022, and we don’t think it’s an understatement to say that this is the most important election that those of us who have the privilege to vote in will be voting in - because this election may determine if you or I even get to be able to vote in the next election. So, if you’re reading this and have not yet voted today - stop reading, and please, please go vote. We need everyone’s voice in these elections, as the alternative may be that our voices no longer matter.  And now onto some hope…   This is the first time that we’ve had hope in a long, long time, thanks to the book How We Win The Civil War. In today’s conversation with author Steve Phillips, we’re going to discuss the idea that the Civil War never really ended (yup, get ready…) - and also how we can finally win it, with some very concrete ideas and action items for us all at the end of this episode. This may be the episode you need to hear today, on election day, or tomorrow (and every day past that point), when we need to keep fighting, for all of us.   What to listen for:   The fully thought-out case for why the Civil War never really ended - with excellent examples from history How we win the civil war - by investing in level 5 leaders, building strong civic engagement organizations, developing detailed data-driven plans, and playing the long game  That we need to lead by winning the political battles, to eventually influence individual hearts & minds toward equity So much about the long game… oh we need to reframe our work, folks! What Steve thinks would be most impactful for White people to focus on speaking up about and doing Which organizations and people we should be supporting to make positive change    About Steve: Steve Phillips is a New York Times bestselling author, columnist, and leading national political thought leader. He is the author of the New York Times and Washington Post bestselling Brown Is the New White: How the Demographic Revolution Has Created a New American Majority. He is also the founder of Democracy in Color, a political media organization dedicated to race, politics, and the multicultural progressive New American Majority. Phillips is the host of “Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips,” a color-conscious podcast on politics. He is a regular columnist for The Nation and The Guardian. His new book, How We Win the Civil War, is due out on October 18, 2022.  For more information, please visit: stevephillips.com  

192: How We Win the Civil War, with Steve Phillips

DEAR WHITE WOMEN  - About that Voter Fraud… If you saw the title and thought “oh, I don’t believe voter fraud impacts me” or “oh, I live in an area where we don’t hear much about that” - you may be very, very wrong. According to a recent analysis by FiveThirtyEight, 60% of Americans will have an election denier on the ballot. And for those of you who have only heard about election deniers since 2020 - it didn’t start with Donald Trump. Hint: it started with our friend who rhymes with Schmeagan. HA! THIS episode is one you’ll want to share with your friends & colleagues asap, because you want to make sure you apply the information we’re about to share when you’re filling out your ballot or heading to the polls next week - we’ll tell you just how dangerous and pervasive this trend of alleging voter fraud is, which means *our entire system of democracy is at risk*  And THAT will affect all of us.   What to listen for:   Proof that Trump and his allies deliberately lied - in writing, under oath, to a court, and to the public - about so-called voter fraud numbers, via the Eastman emails.  Current examples of how voter fraud is being used to manipulate people and elections.  Example: Echoing the claims of Trump in 2020, Arizona Republican nominee for governor Kari Lake refused to say that she would accept the results of the upcoming election-- unless she wins.   This widespread, thoroughly debunked claim of voter fraud is a rejection of the whole premise on which this nation was founded: voters have the right to choose their leaders.  In fact, the Declaration of Independence states that governments derive “their just power from the consent of the governed.”  How none of this is new:  the Democrats caught onto the Republican “ballot integrity” initiative in the 1986 presidential election -- estimating that their plans could “eliminate at least 60–80,000 folks from the rolls” in Louisiana, and “could keep the Black vote down considerably” (blatant racism and that’s real voter fraud there) – and counterattacked by expanding voting access.   That the Supreme Court’s 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision gutted the provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. How domestic terrorism is being used in places like Arizona, Nevada, and others to intimidate voters and election officials - leading to a large number of resignations, with the hopes that election deniers can take their place.   What we can do about it:  VOTE - have a ballot party to discuss issues with friends, meet candidates, and ask questions.  Volunteer to be a poll worker.   If you’re an attorney and familiar with election law - please reach out. There are ways that you can get involved with FOIA requests to help the election officials be able to do their job.   Share this episode with EVERYBODY so they get out and vote while being informed!

191: About That Voter Fraud

Abortion, by all pollster accounts, seems to be one of – if not THE most – hot-button issues for the upcoming midterm elections in 2022. That’s why we thought it was so important for us to dive into why and when abortion became so political - because yes, we can point to a specific political strategy that linked the pro-life movement with the Republican party, and how that is playing out today in extreme ways. Get ready to connect the dots.   What to listen for:   How recently - in the 1970s - evangelical organizations and Republicans did NOT oppose abortion The long-game strategy tying opposition to desegregation with abortion as the unifying issue for conservative Republicans Why certain political figures (especially Reagan) changed their stance on abortion due to not only a desire for power but also due to underlying racism  That looking away means no change - which means, a very large number of American women will have a much harder time getting access to abortion. Abortion is definitely on the ballot this year, along with racism - they are intricately linked and have been so for centuries in this country. So vote. Tell everyone you know.

190: Why Abortion Became Political 

If you asked me (Misasha) at the end of 2021 how long it had been since we published our book, I would have told you 5 years, give or take 3 - because it felt like we had been thrown into this whirlwind of activity and PR and interviews and ALL OF THE THINGS about this book. So it seems impossible that just now marks the one-year anniversary of the publication of Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism!   In honor of this one-year mark, we thought we’d sit down with each other to talk all things book, based on the questions we’ve gotten from so many of you over the last year: the good, the bad, the really tough, the things we’d like to forget - basically your behind-the-scenes look into our year with this book out in the world.   Plus, as a thank you for your support, keep listening for the chance to have us do a special virtual drop-in with your book club or your small group of people!!   What to listen for:   The most memorable, joyful, cringeworthy conversations we’ve had on TV, radio, and conversations IRL since publishing this book in October 2021 Why we wrote this book in the first place Where we’d like to see this book go next How to get us to come to YOUR book club or community - follow us on IG and get on our email list to learn more!     

189: The Book, ONE YEAR LATER!

Have you ever had your eyes glaze over when someone hands you a history textbook or walks you through a museum full of facts and dates?  But then you hate yourself because you are smart and yet don’t feel like you *know* things?  I’ve been that person (it’s Sara here) - which is why I’m absolutely thrilled to share this conversation with the authors of a fabulous historical fiction novel that taught me SO MUCH about American history and the Civil War in particular.  We learned so much in reading this book, in particular about experiences that were never taught in school, or were glossed over in favor of a simpler narrative.    The book is The Thread Collectors - go get it from our Bookshop.org page for the Dear White Women podcast - and it was written by two friends, a Black woman, and a White Jewish woman.  Think about how much weight there is just in that partnership alone.   This conversation takes us deep into belonging, the lessons we learn from history that are SO relevant today, and the hope we all still have for where we can go from here.   What to listen for:   Where the authors, who weave a graceful tale of hope through war, find inspiration and hope today  How the authors’ own family histories inspired their characters, writing, and perspectives The authors explain their opening epigraph, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you should know where you came from,” how they selected the stories and histories they featured, and why understanding this history is relevant to where we are in society now What it was like, and what it took, for a Black woman and a White Jewish woman to write a novel together about the Civil War  About the book: THE THREAD COLLECTORS is set in 1863: In a small Creole cottage in New Orleans, an ingenious young Black woman named Stella embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. Bound to a man who would kill her if he knew of her clandestine activities, Stella has to hide not only her efforts but her love for William, a Black soldier, and a brilliant musician.  Meanwhile, in New York City, a Jewish woman stitches a quilt for her husband, who is stationed in Louisiana with the Union Army. Between abolitionist meetings, Lily rolls bandages and crafts quilts with her sewing circle for other soldiers too, hoping for their safe return home. But when months go by without word from her husband, Lily resolves to make the perilous journey South to search for him. As the two women risk everything for love and freedom during a brutal Civil War, their paths converge in New Orleans, where an unexpected encounter leads them to discover that even the most delicate threads have the capacity to save us.   ABOUT THE AUTHORS: ALYSON RICHMAN is the USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of several historical novels, including The Velvet Hours, The Garden of Letters, and The Lost Wife, which is currently in development for a major motion pi

188: The Thread Collectors

When you think of physical education, or PE, or gym class - what do you remember?  Probably the physical side of it, like jump rope or pull-ups or dodgeball or kickball.  But what blew our mind in today’s conversation is all of the seemingly invisible, yet intentional, ways PE class teaches us about social interactions, our own capabilities, deconstructing perfectionism, and more - and frighteningly, how so many schools in the US now don’t mandate PE, as it’s a class that’s having to fight for its right to exist in the education system.   As we kick off the new 2022-2023 school year, listen to what we’ll be missing out on in our next generation if we don’t start thinking about what and how we teach our children.   What to listen for:   Why PE is important - especially when it goes beyond the measurements and into being a social laboratory How resistance shows up in physical education, and how to address it Helping children navigate the difficult or uncomfortable conversations that play out in spaces of play  The privilege Sherri feels of being a Black American woman living in Europe    About Sherri: Sherri Spelic teaches elementary physical education at an international school in Vienna, Austria. She has written extensively on topics related to education, identity, and power and among other things publishes a monthly social justice newsletter for educators: Bending The Arc. Check out her book of essays, Care At The Core or find her on Twitter @edifiedlistener.    Feed title: From A Slight Change of Plans: Civil Rights Icon Ruby Bridges  Feed description:  I’m sharing a special episode from another podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, from Pushkin Industries. In this preview, civil rights icon Ruby Bridges shares what it was like to be the first African-American student to attend an all-white elementary school in Louisiana in 1960. Ruby was just six years old at the time, and it would be years before she fully appreciated her role in advancing civil rights in America. Hear the full episode, and more from A Slight Change of Plans.

187: The Case for Physical Education In Every School

Nothing to kick off this next episode like a fiery title, right?  But in case it makes you question whether you’ll hit play, please know that this isn’t your typical economics podcast, nor is it going to be so dry that you turn this off 5 minutes into listening.   That said, it IS crucial for you to listen if you want to understand how policies that were made now 40 years ago are still directly affecting us to this day – plus, it gives you a sense of just how important it is to consider who our representatives are, and how you’re going to vote in the midterm elections coming up in 2022. So buckle up - economics may never have been so interesting.   What to listen for:  Our cyclical history: power being consolidated in the hands of a few rich White folks, and then being redistributed, and then consolidated again Challenging the myth of the cowboy who was painted as a hardworking White man who wanted nothing of the government but to be left alone to work out his own future The clearly racist things President Reagan said and believed - and how that played into his (in)famous economic policies The dissolution of social safety nets, and how that plays into the recent student debt relief - and society’s reactions - from the Biden administration    For more on the GI Bill, listen to Episode 88: Fighting Both Hitler and Jim Crow: Honor Our BIPOC Veterans

186:  Reaganomics, Student Debt Relief, and Racism Are All Linked

The 2022 Republican Party would have never been able to back Abraham Lincoln as their presidential candidate - except for one tiny detail: Lincoln was a Republican, and espoused the original beliefs of the Republican Party (down to the anti-slavery, committed to equality part).    So how did we get from Lincoln’s Republican Party to today’s Trump political base?    Who were the Whigs?    What do we mean when we say Southern Democrats?    Why does this cycle of money and power keep reappearing on the political stage, over and over again?   If those are some of the questions you have - or even if those are questions you’ve never thought of asking yourself, but you realize that somewhere, someone made some changes to how we define political parties in this country, and it’s important to understand just how far the 2022 Republican party is from those original Republican ideals - then this is the episode for you.    It’s like US History all over again, except more engaging, more relevant, and it includes stuff you’ll actually remember… hopefully long enough to go vote.     What to listen for:   What the two original American political parties were (hint: Republican wasn’t one of them) Why the Republican Party was formed, and the two ideals that held it together How the Republican Party and Democrat Party switched ideologies over time, but how it was really Truman and Johnson, two Southern Democrat Presidents, who pushed that ideological change through their pro-civil rights stances (which weren’t even that extreme at times) What we can do with this information from a practical perspective: go vote, and get loud.

Dear White Women

Dear White Women

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