American Fever Dream

Latest Episodes:

#468 Doctor, Doctor. Break Down The News ft. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Dr. Natasha Kathuria Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

Alise and Amanda are joined by Dr. Abdul El-Sayed to talk all about medicare for all: what is it, why is it good, and how can we make it happen? Dr. El-Sayed explains what moved him to write “Medicare For All: A Citizen’s Guide,” and how to explain to your conservative uncle why a single-payer system is clearly superior. Then, Dr. Natasha Kathuria calls in to provide context for this week’s announcement about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. She breaks down the exact reasons for the pause and how the transparency around the pause proves we’ve never been safer.

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#467 A Union Drive And A Gay ‘Bachelor’ Ft. Rep. Andy Levin And Chris Burns Apr 14, 2021

Show notes

Alise and Amanda cover two news headlines with back-to-back interviews, starting with Rep. Andy Levin, who joins to contextualize the outcome of the Amazon union vote, explain why it’s not actually a failure, and detail what comes next for workers’ rights. Then, Chris Burns aka @fatcarriebradshaw, host of “The Betchelor,” joins to break down news that former Bachelor Colton Underwood is gay. How does this put his previous behavior into context, and will we finally see a gay bachelor? Finally, Chris tells you what tropes to avoid when reacting to public figures coming out.

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#466 Rebranding The Vaccine Passport Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

Alise, Milly, and Amanda start the episode with more details about the tragic killing of Daunte Wright, including the circumstances that lead to his death and the public response since. Next, they talk about the CDC calling a temporary halt to Johnson & Johnson vaccines after a rare blood clotting issue was discovered. How will this affect the public’s confidence in the J&J vaccine, and vaccines as a whole? Finally, they discuss the role of politics in the vaccine conversation and how we might actually convince people to buy into the idea of vaccine passports.

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#465 Another Tragedy In Minneapolis Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

Bryan, Amanda, and Sami are back to react to two instances of police brutality brought to light over the weekend, beginning with the tragedy in Minneapolis. They break down what we know so far about the killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright just miles away from the Derek Chauvin trial. They describe a video showing an Afro-Latino army lieutenant threatened and assaulted by Virginia police late last year, and explain how both men’s stories highlight the devastating calculations Black men must make simply driving to get from place to place. Finally, they do a Royal update and check in on Matt Gaetz.

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Afternoon Tea With Remy Kassimir Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

In this week’s Afternoon Tea, Sami is joined by Remy Kassimir, comedian, actor, and host of the podcast How Cum. They begin with a conversation about how Remy conceptualized the idea behind her podcast and her experience and journey to female orgasm. Next, they chat about why feeling pleasure in your own body is important with or without a partner, and how learning to see yourself outside male gaze makes sex better. They also discuss the stigma around the elusive female orgasm (and why it shouldn’t be so elusive) and how her relationship with herself evolved as she discovered her sexuality. Next, they talk about how to feel more comfortable talking to your partner about sex, asking for what you want in the bedroom, and some the of telltale signs that you’re not sexually compatible with your partner. Lastly, it’s time for The Four Questions, which leads to a conversation about a spontaneous pick me up going through through a car wash while blasting music (and other things).

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#464 Re-Directing Our Outrage Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

Sami, Milly, and Amanda are back for an episode that contains multitudes. First, they react to this week’s Khloe Kardashian drama and how diet culture and beauty standards are inextricable from politics. Then, they give an update on the Derek Chauvin trial. Sami explains why she feels a responsibility to absorb it while Milly recalls a personal anecdote that makes it all the more traumatizing to relive.

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#463 The GOP’s Dying Breath Might Just Kill It Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

Sami, Kaitlin, and Amanda are back with another Matt Gaetz update, this time related to his request to Trump for a pardon. For the main topics, they react to Mitch McConnell’s threat to corporations to “stay out of politics” after passionately arguing for decades to keep them in -- and why Georgia’s voting law has finally exposed the GOP’s long descent into extremism. Then, they discuss Arkansas’ new anti-trans bill becoming law even after the GOP governor tried to stop it.

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#462 Creepy Congressmen, Creaky Bridges Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

Alise, Milly, and Amanda are back to debrief on everything that’s happened with the Matt Gaetz investigation and its fallout, including claims he showed photos of nude women to congressional colleagues. They explain why Gaetz was emboldened to repeat his lewd behavior, and how it mirrors toxic workplaces for women across industries. Then, they explain how Joe Biden can pass his $2 trillion infrastructure bill and why it should be even bigger.

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#461 Trumps Be Scamming Apr 05, 2021

Show notes

Alise, Bryan, and Amanda are back to check on the Trump crime family, detailing a scam by the Trump campaign to steal millions from older and vulnerable supporters to pay off its debts and Ivanka’s failed women’s empowerment initiative. Then, they break down the fall out from Georgia’s voter restriction law and how Governor Brian Kemp is gaslighting the business community into blaming private citizens from out of state. Finally, they unpack a ridiculous story about banned yoga in an Alabama elementary school.

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Afternoon Tea With Anne Helen Petersen Apr 02, 2021

Show notes

In this week’s Afternoon Tea, Sami Sage is joined by writer, author, and cultural critic Anne Helen Petersen. They begin with a conversation about Anne’s background, including getting her PhD in celebrity studies, working for Buzzfeed as a culture writer, and turning her Substack into a full time job. Next, they dive into a conversation about how millennials became the burnout generation, what the digital life has become, and dealing with boredom. They also talk about post-pandemic work life, finding new ways of working that make people happier and more productive, and sustaining a work-life balance (why do we insist on traveling back to an office everyday?). Then, they touch on and the problematic beliefs of dieting and body image and how male diet culture has heightened during the pandemic. Finally, it’s time for The Four Questions, where Anne talks about what a post-capitalist society would look like.

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