How To Not Lose Your Sh!t

Latest Episodes:

Lace Up Your Chucks and Get In The Game Aug 28, 2024

Show notes

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 comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!

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Project 2025 & The 800 Pound Gorilla on the Right (with Nancy MacLean) Aug 21, 2024

Show notes

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 comms@redwine.blue.
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!

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Women Are The Safety Net (with Jessica Calarco) Aug 14, 2024

Show notes

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 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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Triple Down on Hope (with Holli Holliday) Aug 07, 2024

Show notes

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 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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Project 2025? We Have A Plan For That (with Elizabeth Warren) Aug 02, 2024

Show notes

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 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

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Welcome to Momonomics (with Sondra Goldschein) Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

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 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

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We’re in our Coconut Era (with Sam Schwartz) Jul 24, 2024

Show notes

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 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

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What Is Project 2025? (with Heather Cox Richardson) Jul 19, 2024

Show notes

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 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

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The Opposite of Violence Isn’t Silence (with Scott Anderson) Jul 17, 2024

Show notes

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 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

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Politics Is Self Care (with Emily Amick) Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

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 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

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy