Make America Relate Again

Message from Samia - AMERICA, VOTE! Sep 30, 2020

It's been two years since I wrapped production on Make America Relate Again, and polarization has only gotten worse in that time. What we need to do now to heal the country is make sure we VOTE, and vote EARLY.

Also, if you're interested in hearing from some of the podcast guests about how they're feeling about politics now, email me at makeamericarelateagain@gmail.com. If enough people show interest, I'll put together some catch-up interviews for you.

S2EP12 - Ellen, Sarah, & Anne - Catching Up With the Women of Season 1 Sep 11, 2018

For the final episode of MARA, I'm catching up with some of the women from Season 1. You'll hear short update conversations with Ellen from S1EP1, Anne from S1EP7, and Sarah from S1EP8. If you haven't heard the original conversations, I recommend checking them out before listening to this episode. The significance of releasing a finale for a show that attempts to unite Americans on 9/11 is not lost on me. Things have gotten rough, and it's time for us to start coming together, and not because of some common foreign enemy. Thank you for listening and supporting the show. It's been an honor to bring it to you. More at makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

S2EP11 - Dolly Chugh - The Person You Mean To Be: How Good People Fight Bias Sep 04, 2018

In this special episode, I'm interviewing Dolly Chugh, an award-winning social psychologist and tenured professor at NYU who just released an incredible book about implicit bias. The Person You Mean To Be: How Good People Fight Bias is for anyone who wants to strive to always do better in the fight toward true equality between races, sexes, and sexual and gender orientations, and it shows us the many ways we can miss our own blind spots - and how we can do better. In today's political sphere, this kind of self-reflection and gathering of diverse perspectives is more important than ever. More at makeamericarelatepodast.com

S2EP10 - Tiffani & Maleena - The Trump Administration Aug 28, 2018

This week on MARA, I'm bringing you two women of color - finally! - and I apologize that it took this long to make this happen. Tiffani Jones is an aspiring politician who was advised to change her party from Democrat to Republican to increase her chances at making a real difference. Maleena Lawrence is a progressive activist and community organizer who shares my tendency to put ideas like "collective consciousness" and "spiritual awakening" into the realm of politics. In this episode, they talk about the Trump administration and polarization. More at makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

S2EP9 - Ricky & Bradley - Liberal Messaging Aug 21, 2018

Ricky and Bradley are cousins who grew up in coal country - southern West Virginia. Ricky is a left-leaning libertarian who has a real problem with liberal messaging. He says it alienates conservatives and undecided voters, and can't understand why, when polls show that most of the country agrees with liberal policies, liberals can't seem to win elections. Bradley is a hardcore liberal who thinks the liberal message is mostly just doing the right thing. More at makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

S2EP8 - Jacob & Maurice - Kneeling During the Anthem Aug 14, 2018

Jacob is what he likes to call a disillusioned conservative and a military veteran, who feels strongly that NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequality is offensive to our military community and to the flag. Maurice is a black man and former football player who thinks players should have a right to use their platform to effect positive social change. Yet these two still found way to relate to each other find common ground. More at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

S2EP7 - Randy & Keith - Morality & Immigration Aug 07, 2018

Randy Lioz is a Better Angels workshop organizer and a liberal with some pretty strong opinions about morality as it pertains to immigration policy. Keith Holland is a conservative with an evangelical Christian background, for whom morality has been a major concern his whole life. The central question of this conversation is: do we, as the most prosperous country in the world, have a moral responsibility to maintain open borders? Or does morality demand we take care of our own first? More at makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

S2EP6 - Cindy & Diana - The Sister Show Jul 31, 2018

Cindy and Diana Kyser are sisters who only a year ago found themselves screaming at each other over politics in front of their entire family. Cindy, a conservative, found the show through Better Angels, and she thought MARA would be a great place to work toward a better understanding of her liberal sister. This conversation is my favorite one I've ever recorded for the show. These two women found a way to take a breath and ask, "Why?" before jumping off the rails at a dissenting opinion - a lesson we could all benefit from. More at makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

S2EP5 - John & Ciaran - The Supreme Court Jul 24, 2018

John Wood Jr. is a young Republican who once ran against Maxine Waters for Congress -and came closer to beating her than anyone else ever. He's now the Director of Media Development for Better Angels, and the man responsible for bringing MARA into their media family. Ciaran is a Democrat who serves as Better Angels' Director of Communications. I brought these two together to talk about what's going down with the Supreme Court, and the respect and humility both men showed in this conversation is exactly what Better Angels and MARA are all about. More at makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

S2EP4 - Karlie & Andrew - Abortion Jul 17, 2018

Karlie & Andrew are both scientists working in the field of neuroscience, and they came together to discuss one of the most polarizing issues in politics today: abortion. Karlie isn't religious and believes strongly that the decision whether to obtain an abortion should be left up to women, and that abortions should be free and legal. Andrew feels like the life of an unborn fetus is too valuable to allow a woman to end it - that it's akin to murdering another human being. How do two scientists who disagree so passionately find a way to relate to each other? Listen to find out. More at makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

S2EP3 - Kim & Nick - Capitalism vs. Welfare Jul 10, 2018

On this season, I want to bring you a broad spectrum of relationships, so we can see how these conversations can work across the span of human interaction. So far, we've heard me and a dude I met in a bar - an acquaintance relationship - and a genuine pair of close friends. In this episode, I'm bringing you experts. Kim Iversen is a co-founder of the liberal news media organization, The Left, and Nick Hankoff is the Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Southern California. In this episode, they talk about capitalism versus welfare, and which system is truly more compassionate towards those in need. Transcript and more at makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

S2EP2 - Greg & Kouhyar - How Red & Blue Became Best Friends Jul 03, 2018

Greg & Kouhyar came to me through Better Angels (www.better-angels.org). They are the red and blue co-chairs of the Better Angels Southwest Ohio Alliance, and since meeting at a BA workshop last April, they've become the best of friends, in spite of their many, MANY differences. Greg is a conservative Christian, and Kouhyar is a liberal Muslim. How are these two dudes managing to not only be civil with each other, but to maintain a tight friendship? Listen to find out. More at makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

S2EP1 - Doug & Samia - Feminism & White Privilege Jun 26, 2018

For the first episode of Season 2, I'm challenging myself to have one of these conversations with a conservative man, something I was afraid I'd be incapable of when I was producing Season 1. This is the only episode in this season that will feature me as the liberal in the conversation. My conversation partner, Doug, is a researcher working with US Forces Korea, but originally from Jacksonville, Florida. In this episode, we discuss feminism (which Doug thinks is no longer necessary and I think is absolutely vital for society to move forward) and white privilege (which Doug thinks doesn't exist and I feel very strongly that it does). The result? You'll have to listen to find out, but let's just say Doug and I discovered we had more in common than we thought. More at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

MARA Season 2 Coming Soon May 22, 2018

The second season of Make American Relate Again will premiere on June 26, 2018! Unlike Season 1, Season 2 will feature a different liberal and conservative having a conversation about a specific political issue each week, and I'm currently looking for guests across the US for the show. And it's not all women this time. This season is open to all Americans, men and women and everyone in between. If you or someone you know is interested in being on the show, please email me at makeamericarelateagain@gmail.com. I'll send you a short questionnaire to get you started, and if selected, I'll record you right in your home city or town. I'll provide coaching before your recorded conversation to help you keep your cool, and you'll get to contribute to the effort to depolarize America. I can't wait to hear from you!

Episode 11: Niky Shea Part 2 / Antifa, the alt-right, LGBTQ rights, Russia, climate change, and how emotions mean more than facts when crafting political opinions Aug 22, 2017

In Part 2 of my conversation with Niky Shea, we talk Antifa protestors, how extremism is making it hard for the rest of us to communicate with each other, how Trump legitimized the alt-right, LGBTQ rights under the Trump administration, the Russia investigation, climate change, and how life experiences can deeply affect your political decisions. A smorgasbord of topics to wrap up Season 1. Fact checks and transcript available at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

Episode 10: Niky Shea Part 1 / Why Trump is not like Hitler, Obamacare, late-term abortion, and whether or not conservatives are a persecuted group Aug 15, 2017

Burlesque dancer and model Niky Shea describes herself as a moderate, and she wanted to come on the show to explain why comparisons between Trump and Hitler make no sense. We ended up talking for over three hours with no breaks about nearly every major issue surrounding the 2016 election and the Trump administration. This is the first half of that conversation. Fact checks and transcript available at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

Episode 9b: Alley Mulrain Update / North Korea, the Paris Climate Agreement, and LGBTQ rights under the Trump administration Aug 11, 2017

This mini-episode features my phone call update with Alley Mulrain, recorded on August 10, 2017. We talk about how Alley thinks President Trump is doing so far, the situation with North Korea, the Paris Climate Agreement, and LGBTQ rights under the Trump administration. Show notes and transcript available at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

Episode 9: Alley Mulrain Part 2 / New Rochelle, NY / Climate change, terrorism, social safety-net programs, scapegoating minority groups, and why the GOP is against marriage equality Aug 08, 2017

This episode features Part 2 of my conversation with the wonderful Alley Mulrain, who sensed my need to rant at length on all sorts of issues important to liberals. was willing to listen with an open mind, and somehow didn't strangle me. We talked climate change, terrorism, social programs, why liberals see Trump as scapegoating minority groups, and why the GOP is against marriage equality. Fact checks and transcript available at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

Episode 8b: Sarah Ito Update / Why one Trump voter has changed her mind Aug 04, 2017

So much has happened in politics since Sarah and I last spoke in early March, so I gave her a call on July 30, 2017, to see if her opinions have evolved since then. I'm so glad I did - she had a lot to say. Find fact checks and a transcript of this mini-episode at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

Episode 8: Sarah Ito / Greenwich, CT / She's a radical lesbian feminist...and she voted for Trump Aug 01, 2017

Sarah Ito is many things: an Army vet, a career Wall Streeter, a lesbian, a feminist, an actor, and a writer. She's worked alongside legendary feminist and gay rights icons like Jean O'Leary and Ginny Vida. She's the most unlikely Trump voter I could ever have imagined, but she sure knew her stuff and had really clear, well-formed opinions. Find a transcript of this episode and detailed fact checks at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

Bonus Episode: Anne & Marsha / Austin, TX / A black woman explains white privilege to a white woman Jul 25, 2017

In this special bonus episode, my high school bestie Marsha explains white privilege to Anne, my guest from Episode 7. Marsha is a diversity teacher at a university, and she's black. The patient, passionate way Marsha unpacks white privilege is a lesson for all of us on how to transform uncomfortable conversations into teaching moments, and the way Anne absorbed the information shows that this way of communicating works. Show Notes & transcript available at makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

Episode 7: Anne / Seguin, TX / Guns, guns, and more guns Jul 18, 2017

As a liberal who grew up in a country where civilians just don't have guns like they do here in the U.S., I've never understood why there's such a fiery debate over gun control laws that could make us all safer. It should be easy, right? We all value human life, guns threaten that, so get rid of them - that's always been my thinking. Thanks to my conversation with Anne, I'm now able to reframe the entire issue and really understand where people are coming from when they get super angry about the government trying to take their guns away. This new understanding hasn't changed my opinions, but I'll never jump to judgement about people who are attached to their guns again. For detailed fact checks and a transcript of this episode, go to the Episode 7 page at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

Episode 6: Melissa / San Jose, CA / The abortion episode Jul 11, 2017

You knew it was coming, and here it is. The abortion episode. My guest, who we'll call Melissa, asked to remain anonymous because of the deeply personal nature of what she shared with me. Melissa is adamantly anti-abortion, but she's had three abortions herself - something she's kept a secret from almost everyone in her life. The conversation gets pretty heavy. As a strong feminist and women's rights advocate, this issue is hugely important to me. My fact-checker, David Sokol, and I worked extra hard on the Show Notes for this one. I strongly recommend you check them out. There are way too many myths about abortion that need to be busted, and we attempted to bust them all. The Show Notes are available on the Episode 6 page at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

Episode 5: Alley Mulrain Part 1 / New Rochelle, NY / Samia goes off about the Russia scandal Jul 04, 2017

This episode was recorded on the same day as Episode 2: Yolanda. My guest is the fabulously talented, vivacious Alley Mulrain, born in Long Island and now living in New Rochelle, NY. Alley is my friend in real life, and we already had a great rapport. I was shaken from my conversation with Yolanda earlier that day. My brain was reeling at how different our perceptions of reality were. Because of that, I ended up going off on lots of rants about all sorts of issues, and Alley's so cool that she let me. She gets to speak up more in Part 2, which I'll release later in the season. For now, get ready to hear oodles of my opinions, including a long rant about the Russia investigation (as it stood back in February). For you liberals waiting for me to say my piece with no filters, this one's for you. Check the Show Notes for fact checks and updates on ongoing issues (like the Russia investigation) at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

Episode 4: Ashley Rollo Part 2 / Freehold, NJ / The economy, Benghazi, and how conservatives really think Jun 27, 2017

This episode features Part 2 of my conversation with the intelligent, passionate Ashley Rollo of Freehold, NJ. In Part 1, we discussed immigration and national security, but mostly focused on misogyny, sexual assault, and rape culture in America. In this episode, we talk about the economy and Benghazi - and share a laugh over how a conservative and a liberal can talk politics over coffee without throwing punches. We actually agreed on plenty of issues, and Ashley totally redefined what I think of as the conservative mindset. She gave me hope for the future of American politics, and I left the interview feeling inspired. I think you'll feel the same way after listening to this part of our conversation. Find fact checks and a transcript of the episode at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com, and feel free to email comments and questions to makeamericarelateagain@gmail.com.

Episode 3: Ashley Rollo Part 1 / Freehold, NJ / Immigration, Bernie vs. Hillary, Pussygate, sexual assault and rape culture in America Jun 20, 2017

This episode features the first half of my conversation with New Jersey native and lifelong conservative Ashley Rollo. We had such a good time talking politics that the conversation is going to stretch over two episodes! In Part 1, we talk a little bit about immigration and why Bernie Sanders supporters would ever want to support Hillary Clinton, but the conversation is dominated by an intense discussion concerning Pussygate, sexual assault allegations against Donald Trump, feminism and rape culture in America. It gets personal and real - and I made a discovery when researching for this episode that has forever changed the way I think about those issues. Something HUGE. Find fact checks for everything in the episode at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

Episode 2: Yolanda Aponte / Long Island, NY / Alt-right conspiracy theories and the nice people who believe in them Jun 13, 2017

This episode features my conversation with Yolanda Aponte, a Puerto Rican woman from Long Island, NY. She's a kickass person with a happy marriage and five sons, who all seemed super well-adjusted and supported by their parents. Her home was warm and full of love. So...it was super weird for me to discover that she buys into some of the worst right-wing conspiracy theories. This conversation gets heated. The amazing part is that I came out of it freaking loving Yolanda. How is this possible, you ask? You have to hear it to believe it. If you want the hard facts on all the craziness we discuss, head to www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com and check out the Show Notes for this episode. And if you notice any info missing, shoot me an email through the Contact form and I'll fix it. This was easily my most challenging interview - I hope you enjoy it.

Episode 1: Ellen / Boca Raton, FL / Hillary Clinton's emails, Pussygate, the Electoral College, and Islamophobia in America Jun 06, 2017

In the first episode of Make America Relate Again, I talk with a woman we'll call Ellen. She's a 70-something retiree who splits her time between Boca Raton, FL, and her home state of Michigan. We discuss everything from sanctuary cities to Hillary Clinton's trustworthiness to Pussygate to the Electoral College. But the most compelling parts of the conversation center on Islamophobia, and how the actions of destructive terrorist groups have colored Western culture's perspective on Islam, the world's second largest religion. For fact checks and a transcript of the episode, please visit the Episode 1 page at www.makeamericarelatepodcast.com.

TRAILER: Make America Relate Again May 26, 2017

The official trailer for upcoming political podcast Make America Relate Again, featuring host Samia Mounts talking politics with female Trump voters from all over America. Click subscribe and don't miss the premiere episode, coming June 6!

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