How To Not Lose Your Sh!t

Latest Episodes:

It’s Dictatorship or Democracy (with Daria Dawson) Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

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

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Don't Underestimate Kids (with Pride and Less Prejudice) Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

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

Keep The Song Going (with Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead) Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

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 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

What's Freer Than A Rainbow? (with Vanessa Joy) Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

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 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

We CAN Handle The Truth (with Stefanie Feldman and Greg Jackson) Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

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 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

Taking the Ick out of Politics (with Sarah McCammon) May 29, 2024

Show notes

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 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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You Messed with the Wrong Mom (with Ronna Dewey, Diane Taylor, and Mandy Mynhier) May 22, 2024

Show notes

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 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

Deconstructing the Suburbs (with Benjamin Herold) May 15, 2024

Show notes

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 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

There Aren't Two Sides To Democracy (with Jen Psaki) May 08, 2024

Show notes

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 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

A Toast to Canines & Courage (with Jotaka Eaddy) May 01, 2024

Show notes

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 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

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