How To Not Lose Your Sh!t

Latest Episodes:

Okay, But Why Is Social Security At Risk? Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

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

Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA

YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

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

Okay, But Why Are Eggs Still So Expensive? Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

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!

Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA

Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA

YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

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

Okay, But Why Should We Support Ukraine? Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

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

Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA

YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

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

Okay, But Why Do We Need A Department of Education? Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

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

Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA

YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

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

Okay, But Why Are There So Many New Voting Laws? Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

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

Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA

YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

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

To Endings and New Beginnings 🥂 Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

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

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

Make Hope Possible (with Connie Schultz) Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

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

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

Black Girl Magic (with Angie Thomas) Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

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

Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA

YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

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

Our 50th Episode Special with State Senator Mallory McMorrow Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

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

Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA

YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

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

The Time We Talked To Cecile Richards Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

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

Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA

YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

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