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There’s no denying that music can help us not lose our sh!t — we’ve discussed it on the pod before with authors, psychologists, political experts, and friends. Chances are, you’ve turned to a song to get yourself through a difficult moment in your life or our current political hellscape. But today, we’re not just talking about music; we’re actually listening to it. On this episode, Katie and LaFonda were joined by folk musician Inda Eaton. Together, they listened to songs that have moved them, inspired them, made them laugh, and kept their feet moving in the right direction — from funny viral videos to Inda’s own poignant song FREE. There’s a reason that music is often said to be “deeper than words.” It captures a feeling, a shared humanity that goes beyond the battlefield of rhetoric. As Inda says, it’s the common ground of the heart. We encourage everyone to check out the musicians whose work we shared today: Hostile Government Takeover by Todd Givens Jr. (aka AGiftFromTodd), Join ICE by Jesse Welles, Minnesota by the Marsh Family, FREE by Inda Eaton, and Heavy Foot by Mon Rovia.  And there are so many other songs we wished we could’ve shared but it would’ve made this episode 3 hours long! We also recommend All You Fascists Are Bound To Lose, Living In The Future, We Run, Thank You For Replacing The Ayatollah, and How Can You Sing The Blues. There are so many amazing artists out there making music to get us through these hard times, just like there have been throughout history.  Protest music is powerful. We hope this episode helps you, whether it's with a laugh, a cry, a connection, or all of the above. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

On March 31st — just two weeks ago — the Supreme Court ruled that the state of Colorado couldn’t ban conversion therapy for minors. They called it a matter of “free speech.” But to the nearly 700,000 LGBTQ+ Americans who have gone through conversion therapy, it’s a lot more than an abstract issue about free speech. It’s a trauma they’re still dealing with, even if it happened to them years or decades ago. One of those 700,000 is Drew Amstutz, Red Wine & Blue’s Chief of Staff and all-around delightful human. On this week’s podcast, he shared some of the horrifying details of being forced through conversion therapy as a 15-year-old kid. Please be warned if you have trauma around religion or sexual harassment; Drew’s story is hard to hear. But it’s still happening every day to kids across the country, so it’s crucial that we talk about it.  LGBTQ+ youth who go through conversion therapy face a higher suicide risk — not just while they’re experiencing it, but for the rest of their lives. It's a practice that manipulates parents into traumatizing their kids for simply being themselves. When you hear about a 60-year-old man breaking down a 15-year-old child, including techniques like gaslighting and sexual harassment, it’s hard not to draw connections to other powerful abusers like Epstein. Again and again, we see this country protect the rich and powerful and cast aside women and children. The episode wasn’t all doom and gloom, though! After discussion Drew’s personal story, we talked about joy in the LGBTQ+ community. When so many powerful forces — from the government to your parents — are telling you that who you are is wrong, fun and community can be lifesaving. This episode is honest and heartbreaking, but it’s also joyful and full of love. Despite the trauma he experienced, Drew is one of the most kind, uplifting, and competent people that all of us here at Red Wine & Blue have ever had the pleasure to meet. We know you’ll love him too. ❤️ For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

This week on the pod, we were joined by two of Katie's neighbors: Erin and Dave. Along with a few other members of their community in Shaker Heights, Ohio, they've been working together to stop the AI surveillance company Flock from sharing their data with ICE. It's a complicated issue! First, on the technical side -- how exactly does Flock work, and how are they sharing data with ICE and Border Patrol? It's also tricky on the advocacy side -- how can we know if Flock is sharing our data with ICE, and what can we do to stop it?  But Erin and Dave broke it all down and explained what we can do if we're worried about Flock in our own community. A great place to start is https://deflock.org/,  a  crowdsourced website where people have been sharing where cameras are located all across the country.  From there, you can find people in your community who are also concerned about this issue and push for change on the local level. It's important to advocate on the federal level for changes to ICE and Border Patrol, but you can actually have a conversation with your local city council member or chief of police. After all, they're part of your community too. Erin, Dave and Katie all agreed that as scary as everything feels right now (with ICE, surveillance, and AI high on the list of concerns), it's actually been empowering to talk to their local leaders about Flock... and, of course, become better friends along the way. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

“Optimization” is everywhere. We’re supposed to optimize our health, optimize our parenting, optimize our career and body and every other aspect of our lives. Wellness bros are out there writing articles and producing podcasts about how data can help us optimize our way to perfection. But you know what? Not everyone can start every day by drinking lemon water barefoot outdoors for an hour. Some of us have kids! This week on the podcast, we talked to Emily Oster, the founder of ParentData and the author of Expecting Better and Cribsheet. As a woman who professionally helps parents (and everyone else) better understand data, she had so much good advice. Turns out, data can help us make good decisions but there’s no one way to “optimize” our parenting or our lives. It’s about balancing data alongside our own experiences, values, and the reality of our daily lives. There’s a stereotype that women only rely on their hearts (our “women’s intuition”) while men rely on evidence and data. But we’re all capable of doing both, regardless of our gender! The answer isn’t ignoring data - not at all. It’s about understanding the data and making the best decision for ourselves and our families. As Emily said, “data isn’t bossy.” It’s also not political. We talked with Emily about RFK’s “Make America Healthy Again” campaign and how there are nuggets of good advice in there, like making school lunches healthier, alongside disinformation about vaccines and autism. It’s not about listening to one person or one study — it’s about learning how to understand the data for ourselves. Understanding scientific studies or other kinds of data might feel intimidating, but don’t underestimate yourself — you can understand data! Every data point in a spreadsheet or a medical study is actually just a person. A story. Data isn’t the be-all end-all; it’s about telling a better, truer story. This was such a fascinating conversation and we’re so grateful to Emily for joining us. Don’t miss this week’s episode! For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

When Shannon Watts created Moms Demand Action in 2012, her intention was to give moms a way to take action on gun violence. Since then, she hasn’t just seen concrete results like stronger gun laws and closed loopholes. She’s seen the transformative power of getting together in person around shared values. Shannon wrote about this idea in her recent book, Fired Up. She explained that there’s a spark within all of us, a catalyst for our life’s meaning and joy. And when many sparks all ignite at once, what do you get? A bonfire. The idea immediately resonated with so many women that they began forming their own groups — called Bonfires — in their local communities. If you’ve been following Red Wine & Blue for a while, this may all sound familiar to you. Women? Forming local groups? Around shared values? Connecting in person? Making a difference? Sounds like what the Red Wine & Blue Network is all about! And because Katie Paris and Shannon Watts are collaborative and strategic women, they weren’t offended or territorial. They wanted to work together! So Bonfire and the Red Wine & Blue Network are teaming up to share what we’ve all learned and support women who want to start Bonfire or Network groups in their town. If you want to learn more about how it works, you can join us for a live virtual event on Monday, March 30th at 7:30pm Eastern. Yes, we see the irony of holding a virtual event to help women find in-person connections. 😂 Just join us for an hour on Zoom to get the tools you need and then go out into your community for some real face-to-face time! We also chatted on the pod with Emily, a mom in Florida who started her own Bonfire group this year. She says it’s been so cool to have a group of women supporting each other through big life changes, political turmoil, and anything that life throws their way. If you can’t attend the virtual event on 3/30, you can learn more about the RWB/Bonfire partnership here. If there isn’t already a group in your area, consider starting one! We’ll be here to help you every step of the way. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Are you feeling burned out on politics? If the answer is no... please let us know your secret! But if you are feeling burned out like us (and basically every woman we know), then this episode is for you. We were joined by the wise and funny Amelia Nagoski this week to talk about her book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. Amelia wrote the book with her twin sister Emily after Amelia got so stressed and burned out that she ended up in the hospital. What they ended up learning was so helpful (and honestly, revolutionary) that they wanted to share it with everyone. Katie, LaFonda, and Amelia had such a great conversation about what causes burnout, how to see it coming, and how to move past it once it happens. And in the meantime, Amelia helped us understand why getting involved on a local level isn't just strategic, it also helps us feel better. (You know, only our very favorite topic.) Don't miss this episode for some practical guidance on managing stress and burnout as well as mind-blowing science on why our bodies and brains work they way they do. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

This week on the pod, we talked to two women in Ohio who have been fighting back against an Amazon data center in their neighborhood. Cathy has been doing environmental advocacy for many years, and young mom Annette has only recently gotten involved, but they both agreed that it was only through the help of one another -- and their entire community -- that they've been able to make a difference. But let's back up, shall we? We've heard terms like "AI" and "data centers" thrown around a lot lately, but so many of us don't know exactly what a data center even is, let alone why it would be harmful to our neighborhood! Cathy and Annette did a great job of explaining what they are, how swiftly they can be built (often without neighbors even being informed), and why we should be concerned. And as always, we heard that our relationships with one another aren't just the key to effective action. They're also the key to not losing our sh!t. If you're worried about a data center being built in your area, or you just want to know more, don't miss this episode! And don't forget to contact your Senators to stop the SAVE Act! We can help you here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Last year, Amanda Litman and her husband hosted a dinner party every Saturday. She was skeptical going into it, as an introvert and the mom of two young kids, but after a just a few weeks she realized it was one of the best decisions she’s ever made. Not only that, she says it was the most political thing she did in 2025. To really appreciate that statement, you have to understand that Amanda has devoted her professional life to politics. She’s the leader and co-founder of Run For Something, an organization that helps young and diverse people run for office, and the author of When We’re in Charge: The Next Generation’s Guide to Leadership. She is a Political Person with two capital P’s. And yet — and yet! — Amanda still says that her 52 dinner parties were more powerful than all of that. Sharing conversations with our neighbors and building community are the most political actions we can take. We’ve already seen it play out in places like Minneapolis, where neighbors have been supporting each other through the violent ICE occupation. This has been a chaotic and painful year, but folks have been getting through it by extending a hand to their community and asking, “How can I help?” Okay, so connecting with our neighbors and being kind to each other is political. That makes sense. But… 52 dinner parties? How did she manage it? Did she really cook every week? Did she get help with childcare? Did she agonize over who to invite and the seating plan? In the end, Amanda answered all of these questions (and more) so convincingly that Katie and LaFonda committed to hosting their own dinner party this month! Check out this week’s episode of How To Not Lose Your Sh!t to learn how you too can join the Mr. Rogers Resistance. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

In 2024, Win With Black Women held a Zoom call with 44,000 women that raised 1.5 million dollars for Kamala Harris in just 3 hours. You might remember a number of similar Zoom calls around that time, from White Women Answer The Call to White Dudes For Harris, but Win With Black Women was the original. They were the blueprint. That 2024 call wasn’t a one-time thing, either — every Sunday night, Win With Black Women hosts a call where women can learn from each other and be in community. And that spirit of collectivism, community and joy shines in every word we heard from Holli Holliday on the pod this week. Holli is the co-convener of Win With Black Women as well as the president of Sisters Lead, Sisters Vote. She shared some great news with us about how Black women candidates are winning elections across the country — and not just in majority Black districts. They’re winning everywhere. Holli’s full of joy and hope, but it’s not in a bland Pollyanna sort of way. She says that despite the national narratives of doom and hopelessness, she’s been seeing more and more everyday acts of kindness. When we share our stories and our resources with each other, we’re all lifted up in the process. Here's to getting off the Doomsday Express! For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

This week, we were joined on the podcast by two moms in suburban Minneapolis. Their upbringings were very different: Stef is a white woman from a small town in southern Minnesota and Nina grew up in Somalia, where her father was a political prisoner. But this year, these two friends are standing side by side to protect their community against ICE. Their friendship was so sweet (each insisting that the other is the true inspiration) but it’s also strategic: strong connections between neighbors and friends is how Minnesota has stood up against this year’s ICE invasion. Stef and Nina confirmed all of the amazing stories we’ve been hearing. In -25 degree weather, Minnesotans are out protesting. They’re collecting diapers and groceries for families who are too scared to leave their homes. They’re even riding on school busses to make sure that kids get to school safe. Nina says it’s what her adoptive state is all about. “In this community, we pray together. We share resources with one another. We take care of each other. Everybody is trying to help and stand up for their next door neighbor. Words cannot say how I how I feel about that, and that makes me wanna do more. We are all in this together and feeling this fear, but it turned out to be a strength and inspiration. It’s amazing. I feel abundance every night when I go to bed.” This is coming from a woman whose family escaped a violent dictator, only to experience that fear again now in America. Nina’s positivity and love for her neighbors radiated from her throughout the interview and reminded us that this is the America we’re fighting to save. If you’re worried about ICE coming to your town, build those friendships now. Organize a neighborhood potluck. Set up a community Signal chat. If you have those relationships and infrastructure in place, you’ll be in a much stronger position to get through hard or even dangerous times. Don't miss this week's chat with Stef and Nina! And if you want to learn more or RSVP for our event next Tuesday about Black maternal mortality, you can do so here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

We all know elections are important, from president to city council and school board. But have you ever heard anyone talk about running for office as self-care? We hadn’t either — until today! This week on the pod, we were joined by two inspirational women: Jill Barkley Roy and Kate Barr. Jill is the Director of Emerge Action Fund, an organization that trains women to run for office. And Kate has been fighting against gerrymandering in North Carolina for years and now, she’s actually running for office as a Republican as a genius way to beat those unfair maps. Not only did both Jill and Kate share what they’ve been doing to help women (including themselves) run for office, but they both said that the work they do is what helps them not lose their shit on a daily basis.  Jill even said that after training 25 women to run for office at a recent Emerge bootcamp, she was so excited that she couldn’t sleep. That sounds a lot better than lying awake because of nightmares about ICE! Kate, meanwhile, shared this wisdom that she first heard from a Tibetan monk about not spreading ourselves too thin. We should find our torch — the issue we care about most — and carry it in the direction we feel is right and true for as we're able. It's what she and Jill have both been doing for years. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Last night, Red Wine & Blue held an emergency community meeting to support Springfield, Ohio against an impending ICE surge.  A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from ending protections for Haitians in Springield, but the fight is far from over. The Department of Homeland Security says they are taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. 15,000 Haitians in Springfield could lose their status in a matter of weeks and ICE could surge. We stood up for Springfield, Ohio, when JD Vance and Donald Trump lied about Haitians who live and work there during the 2024 campaign, and we're doing it again now. In this virtual event, we heard from local residents and legal experts, raised funds for local groups providing direct support to Haitian families in Springfield, and thousands took action, no matter where they're from. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Americans are at a breaking point. But that breaking point looks wildly different depending on who you ask. For many of us who have been protesting and organizing against the Trump Administration since 2016, we’re at an emotional breaking point. How much suffering, how many innocent lives have to be lost, before this country turns back toward democracy? For some who supported Trump (or at least didn’t care one way or the other), it’s a moral breaking point. Confronted with clear video evidence in Alex Pretti and Renee Good’s murders, seeds of doubt are growing in former MAGA faithfuls. Women in particular, regardless of political party, do not support ICE’s brutality. And some lifelong activists, especially Black women, are at a breaking point too. After years of not being listened to, it’s hard to graciously welcome the “Johnny-come-lately”s whose minds were only changed when a white man was murdered. That frustration is so understandable. But we can’t afford to turn people away — no matter how early or late they’ve joined the fight. That’s not to say that there shouldn’t be accountability! But as our pod guest Malynda Hale said to a woman who had posted on Threads that she was leaving MAGA, “Welcome, good for you, let’s get to work cause you have a lot to help fix.” This week’s conversation between Malynda and LaFonda explores that tension between accountability and welcoming people to the cause. Malynda is also the Executive Director of The New Evangelicals, an organization that’s redefining what it means to be an evangelical Christian in America. Her chat with LaFonda goes deep on so many of these topics and more — we hope it helps you not lose your shit! Speaking of redefining Christianity, we're holding a virtual event about Christian Nationalism on Thursday, January 29 at 7:30pm ET. You can learn more and RSVP here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

On the one-year anniversary of Trump’s inauguration, we are exhausted and anxious. That’s why we’re turning to our favorite historian Heather Cox Richardson to help us reflect on the year and how we can and must continue to stand strong together.  This conversation is not just about naming what’s gone wrong; it is also about recognizing what’s beginning to shift. Heather shared why the tide may be turning as cracks form in the MAGA movement and more people are rejecting extremism in favor of humanity. Let’s start the new year talking about how we will continue to bring positive change and the power we have when we stand together.  For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

This week on the pod, we interviewed two moms in Chicago who were arrested last year for protesting outside of an ICE facility. Nikki and Sarah said that they wanted to draw attention to what’s happening in this country by using their privilege as white suburban moms — moms not so different from Renee Good in Minneapolis. Not everyone has to go out and get arrested to stand up for immigrants in their community. There are so many ways to get involved, from helping your school with a food drive to going to a local meeting to simply having a conversation with the people in your life. But before we can take meaningful action, we have to feel all the feelings. Especially after Renee’s tragic murder. So cry, hug a loved one, or scream in your car. And then it’s time to do something about it Nikki and Sarah's story was already inspiring — suburban moms who were stepping up to defend their neighbors and risk their own safety — but with last week’s news, our conversation with them was more important than ever. We hope you get as much out of it as we did. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!  Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA