Shows
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastCongressman McGarvey, Maddie & Jack Harlow, and Helping Small BizWe all thought Maddie had moved on to Zach Bryan, but her heart is still with Jack Harlow, forever and always, as we find out on this episode with Congressman McGarvey, a fellow Kentuckian. Part match-making for Maddie and Jack Harlow, part conversation on how to help small businesses grow, and part conversation on bipartisanship - not to mention the quirks of Congress, we took this chat all over town – which you should do too, by sending it to a friend that’s curious about the Dem that KY Senate Dems famous on TikTok before heading to DC.2024-07-1042 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe Complexity of the Homelessness Crisis & The Red Tape That Needs to be Cut with Mayor of San Francisco, CA, London BreedThis episode takes us to Maddie’s zip code via an interview with San Francisco’s Mayor, London Breed. Familiar territory and a familiar issue is the focus of this episode – the city’s evolving homelessness crisis. The conversation evaluates the issue in the unique context of the west coast city and looks at the solutions the Mayor has put forth. As well as, how the red tape of bureaucracy shapes when and how solutions can come to fruition. We also chat about the best parts of the city and even get an exclusive restaurant rec!#VI...2023-03-2945 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe Gals Behind Girl and the Gov: Sammy & Maddie Put Their Pundit Hats OnIYKYK we had a little audio mishap with our interview for this week, so we pivoted faster than the speed of light and are bringing you a different type of episode. An episode we might add, we’ve received loads of requests for – a solo episode with just us, sharing details on the Girl and the Gov story, what the future has in store, and more. We included a fun feature called State of the Bills, highlighting state bills we cheer, and state bills we jeer (it felt punny, let us have this one, okay). From Texas to Idaho, and...2023-02-011h 04
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe Finance Bros of Politics: What does a Treasurer do? with Tobias Read, Oregon State Treasurer There are a lot of things to know about State Treasurers and what they do, including that there’s a rumor that there’s a six foot plus height requirement. If you’ve been ‘round these parts before, you know we’ve been joking and joshing about hanging with two state treasurers during the DC trip and that they’re both double our heights. You’d also know that we interviewed one of the two in this Treasurer duo, and that would be Tobias Read who is the Oregon State Treasurer. In our conversation, we get the low down on what a Treas...2023-01-1151 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastTeacher Pay, The Teacher Shortage, Education Funding, And More With Education Activist, Nicholas FerroniWe’re going back to the classroom this week with this week’s interview featuring Education Activist, Nicholas Ferroni. In our conversation, we cover a lot of ground, shedding light on the abysmal teacher pay issues in this country, as well as the teacher shortage. We discuss how these two pieces are related, as well as other factors influencing many educator’s exit from the role. A bit of teacher therapy, a bit of Maddie having a flashback to high school chem class, and a bit of what we can do to address the issues coming to a head in our...2022-11-301h 03
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe SF Episode: The SF Housing Crisis, SF’s Transgender District, SF’s Candidate for District Supervisor – with Honey Mahogany, Chair of SF DemocratsSF is in the air and on the airwaves this episode, because we go all-in on the politics of Maddie’s neck of the woods. A conversation that covers a ton of ground and provides an insightful look at SF and even CA as a whole’s politics, this episode features an interview with the one, the only, the amazing Honey Mahogany. Not only is Honey the Chair of SF Democrats, but Honey is also running for District 6 Supervisor, which is a HUGE role. No, like, the way in which we learned so much about how this role operates is n...2022-10-051h 08
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastWelcome to Girl and the Gov, The Podcast - Trailer & Audio GlossaryAvailable on the airwaves and Youtube every Tuesday and Wednesday, Girl and the Gov, The Podcast is an extension of Girl and the Gov®'s mission to provide a platform for Millennials, Zennials, and Gen-Z to engage with the evolving political sphere in an approachable, digestible, and accessible way. Co-hosted by Sammy Kanter and Maddie Medved, the podcast provides an inside look at the ins and outs of government and politics as we know it today through engaging interviews with leaders in the field and segments that address the questions everyone wants to ask, but never does. In this p...2022-09-0136 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastTop Stories Special: August 9, 2022ICYMI we’re trying something ~new and different~ and releasing our top stories of the week segment on Tuesdays. Basically top stories has a new home, making a move from the backend of our weekly interviews to its very own weekly special. You can expect our run throughs every Tuesday covering a few (not all) of the top stories we have our eyes on. This week’s round up of events include:
Inflation Reduction Act: https://bit.ly/3QxnoTo [Punchbowl]
DeSantis Suspends Warren: https://bit.ly/3p22ujl [AP]
White House x Assault Weapons Ban: https://reut.rs/3BOiI...2022-08-0935 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastPolitical Influencing & Online Activism with Katie Grossbard, Founding Member of i am a voterIf you’re not following Katie Grossbard, I’m going to need you to kindly go follow her, rn. Okay, fine, you can finish reading this description first. She is not only a founding member of the popular voting information resource - i am a voter - but she’s quite the online activist herself. Known for her roundups of top tweets on all-things politics and her in the know shares on politics happening in the moment, Katie is in the game. It’s also one that we (very biased here) think more young people should jump into. In our conv...2022-06-221h 01
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastCivic Literacy, Voting, Politics & Friends, and More with Miss Tennessee, Tally Bevis, Founder of Vote With A Vision & The Suffragette Series PodcastThis is an interview that feels less like an interview and more like you’re overhearing a convo at the brunch table, and quite frankly, that’s the whole idea. We were joined by our amazing friend, Miss Tennessee, Tally Bevis for a chit chat on civic literacy, all-things voting, and definitely some things, political journey. Tally shares with us her civic literacy vision with her org, Vote With A Mission and the plan for her podcast, The Suffragette Series (BTW we’re going to be on an upcoming eppy so stay tuned). We get into it all, and most o...2022-06-151h 10
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastWhat do attorneys general do? With Michigan Attorney General, Dana NesselFrom the title of this episode, you might’ve gathered that this episode is a deep dive into what attorney generals do, how they’re elected, and how they work with their respective state legislatures. Okay, you might’ve just gotten the first bit on that list, but we do cover the other two as well with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. And importantly, we cover the AG’s current run for re-election and why AG elections are so critical to protecting our democracy. This conversation is a can’t miss and our fast five round is going to be one tha...2022-06-081h 08
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastGun Harm Reduction Policies with the Mayor of San Jose, CA, Sam LiccardoAs of May 26, 2022 there had been 214 mass shootings. There have been additional since that stat was compiled by Insider. It is clear that we have a gun issue in the US (last time we checked, the numbers don’t lie). This issue needs real solutions – now, not later – and there is one elected official that has stepped by to the plate. Cue, the Mayor of San Jose, CA, Sam Liccardo who has introduced innovative gun reform policies in his city. The policy requires gun owners to pay an annual fee and attestation of insurance coverage for accidental firearm-related injury or dea...2022-06-011h 04
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe Wage Gap with Shannon Williams, Director of Equal Pay Today Campaign at ERANow if the name Shannon Williams sounds familiar in the context of Girl and the Gov®, that would be because our amazing guest for this week’s episode has also been a guest on our IG lives. This icon in activism and action is the Director of the Equal Pay Today Campaign at the ERA gave us the 411 on the wage gap, equal pay, occupational segregation, and legislation that can change the status quo. We could’ve chatted with Shannon on this for hours and hours, SO we will obviously be having her back for a part two later in th...2022-05-251h 05
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastCandidates on Repro Rights Access, Red & Blue State Edition Feat. Emily Beach, Congressional Candidate (D), CA-15 & Mandie Landry, Louisiana State Representative (D), D-91WATCH ON YOUTUBE/GO SUBSCRIBE PRETTY PLZ!
This episode is super special for a number of reasons. First things first, this is our first ever episode featuring TWO interviews. Our guests are two amazing women in politics, both Democrats running for office – one in a traditionally blue state at the federal level and one in a traditionally red state at the state level. The topic of conversation is reproductive rights, the likely overturning of Roe v. Wade, and legislation in the making and to come. Emily Beach, a Congressional candidate for CA-15 – a strongly Democratic district, gives us he...2022-05-181h 08
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastExplainer: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization with Senior Staff Attorney at The Center for Reproductive Rights, Hillary SchnellerWATCH ON YOUTUBE/GO SUBSCRIBE PRETTY PLZ!
The headlines currently read something along the lines of “Roe v. Wade will be overturned.” But, how did we get here? What took us from almost 50 years of precedent to this unnerving outcome? A ~little~ case titled Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization paired with a conservatively stacked SCOTUS is the dual-pronged answer to that q. In this episode, we walk through the case that brought us here and the legal jargon to boot with the co-lead on the case – Senior Staff Attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, Hillary S...2022-05-1158 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastElecting Pro-Choice Candidates with Executive Director of EMILY’s List, Emily CainElecting pro-choice candidates at every level is vital. This sentiment is one that EMILY’s List built on and one that we dive into in our interview with Executive Director of EMILY’s List, Emily Cain. This week’s episode takes a tour around the organization, its goals, and how it supports candidates. In conversation, we also chatted about Maine politics from the former elected official (teaser: she took office at just 24 y/o). Oh, and wait, wait, we also talk about strategies for GOTV – basically all the good stuff. EMILY's List:https://www.emilyslist.org/...2022-05-041h 14
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastOcean Pollution 101 with Cassia Patel, Director of Programs at Oceanic GlobalTBH, ‘Under The Sea’ from the Little Mermaid is stuck in our heads as we write this description, rn. For one, because it’s a great tune, and secondly, because on today’s episode we’re diving into ocean pollution. We’re joined by the amazing Cassia Patel, Director of Programs at Oceanic Global who got us up to speed and more on what ocean pollution is, its intersection across other sectors of pollution, and of course, what Oceanic Global is doing to combat it. We’ll admit, we had about 5 million ‘stupid questions,’ including what microplastics are, and even single-use pl...2022-04-271h 24
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe Race Against Madison Cawthorn with Congressional Candidate, Rev. Jasmine Beach-FerraraSome names in politics are infamous – two of them are in the title of this episode. What they also have in common, is that they’re running for the same Congressional seat for North Carolina. District 11 to be exact. Currently held by infamous person one – Madison Cawthorn (R), the race is heating up. Yes, even in primary season (insert rant here about how vital participating in primaries is here). Infamous person two is making sure of that in her run against the Congressman, with a pragmatic approach and deep understanding of North Carolina politics. That person is Rev. Jasmine Beach...2022-04-201h 06
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe Insurrection Index with Christina Baal-Owens, Executive Director of Public WiseWe love the tea, we love the receipts, and we absolutely love Public Wise’s Insurrection Index. If you’re curious who the players are, and oh, who may have graced the steps of the Capitol on January 6, this Index is going to have you screaming. Like, literal scream and squeal. Honestly, the deats might even put Deux Moi to shame and you know we love Deux Moi. Alas, we got the fulllll skinny on how this tool came about, why it came about, and how it’s being used from Christina Baal-Owens, Executive Director of Public Wise. This interv...2022-04-131h 04
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastFunding Gap: State vs. Federal Races with Melissa Walker, Head of Giving Circles at The States ProjectIt’s far from unknown that to run a campaign in this day and age, fundraising is critical. Money, money, money, as they say is a key consideration as to whether a campaign will be successful or not. You’d think it would be based on who’s the best possible representative for a community…but alas, that’s a rant for another day. In this episode, we explore the difference between how state and federal campaigns are funded, AND importantly, how Republicans and Democrats have a very different approach to it all. To give us the good, the bad, and t...2022-04-061h 07
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastIslamophobia & Policy with Wardah Khalid, Founder of PoligonThis week’s episode features an interview with Wardah Khalid, the amazing founder of Poligon, which works to amplify Muslim voices in Congress. Do we chat about the organization’s work? Yep! Do we chat about Wardah’s journey into politics? Also, yep! And, do we chat about the issues the organization tackles through a policy lens, like Islamophobia? Yep x 3! The conversation takes on these three directions and more, so dive in and share it with a pal. Poligon:https://www.poligonnational.org/Join our Tennis Club via Break The Love:https://www.bre...2022-03-301h 08
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastSCOTUS Confirmation Hearings 411 with Meagan Hatcher-Mays, Director of Democracy Policy at IndivisibleThis week the SCOTUS confirmation hearings are off to the races with the aim of confirming Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the bench. We love to see it and we’re excited to bring you an episode discussing the ongoing process and Judge Jackson’s epic/next-level qualifications. What’s a public defender? What’s a clerkship? What happens if a nominee isn’t confirmed? We get the answers to these through an interview with the one, only, and amazing Meagan Hatcher-Mays, Director of Democracy Policy at Indivisible. PS she also gives us the deats on what Indivisible does, how it was...2022-03-231h 11
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastA Beginners Guide to Antisemitism with Carly Pildis, Director for Community Engagement at the ADLThis week we’re joined by the big leagues, and when we mean the big leagues, we mean the Anti-Defamation League. Also known as the ADL, the organization is a leading anti-hate organization, and one founded in response to rising antisemitism. So, what is antisemitism? We get into and more with the ADL’s Director of Community Engagement, Carly Pildis. We also talk about extremist groups, the rise in hate crimes, and the importance of anti-bias training.ADL:https://www.adl.org/Winc (21+ only):https://winc.mivh.net/vn1kZWDonate to G...2022-03-161h 15
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastFlorida Debrief with Congressman Charlie Crist (FL-13), Fmr. Governor of FL, AND Candidate for Governor of FLFlorida has been hitting the news cycle BIG TIME these days. We wish we could say it was because they were having a puppy convention or something just as cute and insta-worthy, but unfortunately, the current Governor Ron DeSantis and his Republican state legislature have made sure that anything they do is FAR from cute. From the Don’t Say Gay bill to a 15-week abortion bill passed in the middle of the night, it’s safe to say we’ve had some questions as to what on earth is going on in FL. Cue our guest – Florida Congressman Charlie...2022-03-091h 03
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastPart 2: Ukraine Explained with Dr. Margarita M. Balmaceda, Associate at Harvard Ukrainian Research InstituteWe’re back with part two of our Ukraine explained series with Dr. Margarita M. Balmaceda, Associate at Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute and Professor at SHU School of Diplomacy and International Relations. Taking this conflict from a different angle, this episode we learn about the economic elements of this crisis. Specifically, we talk about sanctions, their impact – what they even are in the first place – the industries that have created the geopolitical positioning of late in the region, and more. We also step back and define terms we’ve been hearing 3000x a day without a definition in sight, like Oli...2022-03-021h 12
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastSPECIAL EPISODE! Part 1: Ukraine Explained with Dr. Mai’a K. Davis CrossPart one of our two-part explainer series on the war unfolding un Ukraine begins with our interview with Dr. Mai’a K. Davis Cross. The Editor of the Journal of European Integration and Professor of Political Science and International Affairs – oh, and also the author of books including European-Russian Power Relations in Turbulent Times AND The Politics of Crisis in Europe – Dr. Cross walked us through a plethora of q’s we had on the region and its related politics. Defining NATO, who can be a member, why Ukraine is not one, the rationale for Putin’s timing and invasion...2022-02-2843 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastBTS with Brand New Congress Executive Director Adrienne BellWe’re not screaming, you’re screaming! Okay, we’re screaming too because this week’s conversation with Adrienne Bell, who is the Executive Director at Brand New Congress is motivation 101 for getting clued into the midterm elections. Like, if you’ve been putting it off or dragging your feet, Adrienne gives the 411 inspo on why this is the time to get involved and how to do that. Additionally, and importantly, we chat about the mission behind Brand New Congress and the candidates they support, including Girl and the Gov, The Podcast alum, Brittany Ramos DeBarros, Morgan Harper, and Melanie D’...2022-02-231h 03
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastTW: A Convo with Professor Michele Dauber, Chair of Enough is Enough ProjectTW: The following episode contains conversations on spousal rape and domestic violence. This episode takes toward a topic we haven’t yet covered – the policy matters of domestic violence, spousal rape, and more. A conversation that makes you yet again scratch your head at how many laws could possibly exist (or not exist) in 2022, we discuss where policy is currently on violence against women. More specifically, through our interview with Professor Michele Dauber, Chair of Enough is Enough Project, we also learn about the initiative that Enough is Enough is working on, which is to make violence against women a vo...2022-02-161h 03
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastSocial Impact & Corporate Responsibility with Jamira Burley, Director of Social Impact North America at AdidasFangirl alert – this episode features an interview with an activist that we look up to in all the ways. Like, we are still screaming that she came on the show. Jamira Burley, the Director of Social Impact for Adidas North America joined us this week for a conversation on corporate responsibility. Tapping into understanding what this means as a whole, what corporations are doing (or not doing) in terms of moving the social impact needle, and more, our conversation looks at the power consumers (it’s kind of like another ballot box if you will). NY Event at Y7...2022-02-091h 11
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe Politics of a Climate Emergency with Heidi Harmon, Senior Public Affairs Director at the Romero institute and former Mayor of SLOAs Beyonce once said, ring the alarm! In this episode, we dive into the alarm being rung by Let’s Green CA as they look to have a climate emergency declared in the state of California. Led by Heidi Harmon, Senior Public Affairs Director at the Romero institute and former Mayor of San Luis Obispo, this initiative has you guessed it – nuance – and provides context to how we got here and what’s ahead in the climate crisis fight. Another layer in an ever-present issue for all, this interview continues our conversations on climate change x politics. Donate t...2022-02-021h 02
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastCongressman Tom Suozzi (NY-3) Shares His Race for NY Governor & More!If you love us for our tangents, this episode is going to hit it out of the ball park for you. Why is that? Because the tangent queens met a tangent king, and his name is Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-3). Our very first federal elected official on the show, Congressman Suozzi helped us understand the Ways and Means Committee, Taxes (yes, seasonally appropriate AF), and the issues he’s running on as he switches his focus to his campaign for NY Governor. Our conversation covers the waterfront on why he’s running, why now, and why his background makes him...2022-01-261h 08
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe TMZ of Politics with Sarah Bryner, Director of Research & Strategy at OpenSecretsWe often waiver between calling this organization the TMZ of politics and the Deux Moi of Politics, but either way OpenSecrets brings the tea. Piping hot in fact, because in the world of politics it’s all about that money honey. Some may follow the yellow brick road, but OpenSecrets follows the money, seeing which politicians are funded by who, what companies are throwing their dollars to the dark side and more. Cue this interview with Sarah Bryner, Director of Research & Strategy at OpenSecrets who gives us the scoop on how it all works, what OpenSecrets does, and its im...2022-01-191h 04
Girl and The Gov, The Podcast2022 Redistricting Update with Brian Derrick, Political StrategistWe’re back baby and we’re back with Brian Derrick for an episode on redistricting. You’ve heard us talk about it before, but redistricting is in full swing (still) as we get into the 2022 midterm elections year. And now, we have updates. There are so many avenues in which to take this topic and we try to drive down many of them. Hop into the episode and get an update on where redistricting is currently. And, as always, ~we’ll keep you updated~.Brian Derrick’s Grassroots Donor Advising Newsletter:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e...2022-01-121h 12
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastCalifornia Candidate Spotlight with City Attorney Mike Feuer & New Year Political Resolutions!2022 midterm elections are heating up in every state and every edge of the ballot. California, and more specifically Los Angeles, is included in this mix, with one the many positions voters will be casting their ballot for being the mayoral seat. With lots at stake for the iconic American city, City Attorney Mike Feuer (and his mustache – check out his campaign video if you don’t believe us) has thrown his hat in the rink. On this episode, we chat with him on the issues facing LA and how he plans to solve for them. We also chat through some...2021-12-291h 04
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastDigital Media x Voter Participation with Tatenda Musapatike, CEO/Founder of the Voter Formation ProjectIf we were looking for favorite word pairs, two of them would be ‘digital media’ and ‘voter participation.’ Combined, these concepts marry themselves into a powerful force and a magnetic conversation about the methods that can be and should be used to mobilize new voters. This week’s episode focuses on exactly that through a fun conversation with Tatenda Musapatike, CEO/Founder of the Voter Formation Project. If understanding the wild world of digital tactics is up your alley (it’s our bread and butter), this episode is going to be one you listen to time and time again. Oh, and also...2021-12-221h 06
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastGender Identity, Discrimination, and More with Dr. Jody Herman, Reid Rasmussen Senior Scholar of Public Policy at the Williams InstituteThe data does it for us. And what we mean by that aside from the fact that we may throw that phrase on a sweatshirt at some point, is that looking at data and the studies that produce these elements of interest can provide tangible evidence for particular policy measures. In the case of studies undertaken by our guest Dr. Jody Herman, who is a Reid Rasmussen Senior Scholar of Public Policy at the Williams Institute, the findings are in the realm of gender identity and non-discrimination laws. In our conversation we talk about how these buckets intersect, what...2021-12-151h 05
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastEarly Childhood Education Policy and Politics with Rebecca Feinglos Planchard, Senior Early Childhood Policy Advisor, NC Division of Child Development and Early EducationWe love firsts, and this episode presents one for us - our first time on the show digging into early childhood education. Covering the waterfront in terms of policy and politics in this realm, we chat with expert in the field, Rebecca Feinglos Planchard, a Senior Early Childhood Policy Advisor, at the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education on what’s included in this policy bucket. We not only talk about the preparations and communications needed between federal and state government agencies to make policy happen in real time for students (and their families) now and in th...2021-12-081h 03
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastMonopolies, Big Tech, and Ohio Politics with Morgan Harper, Candidate for US Senate, OhioOhioooooo, we’re here! Okay, not physically but via Zoom with a must-learn-about candidate for US Senate - Morgan Harper. Previously, the Director of Policy & Advocacy at the American Economic Liberties Project, a former tenure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and able to tout testifying before Congress, Morgan opened the gate on the conversation about monopolies in the 21st century. Talkin’ big tech and more, we get into the nitty gritty of ‘too big too fail,’ the dangers of mergers and acquisitions, and where the government has and can come into the equation. Naturally, we also chatted about Morgan’s...2021-12-0157 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastAn Intro to LA City Council with Candidate for Los Angeles City Council District 3, Yasmine PomeroyGooooood morning Los Angeles (said in news anchor voice) voters, we’ve got a candidate you’re going to want to know all about. Her name is Yasmine Pomeroy and she is running for Los Angeles City Council District 3. Part get to know the candidate, part get to know the personality of LA politics, this episode opens the door to the unique functions and forms that make up the Angeleno political landscape.Yasmine Pomeroy’s Campaign Website: https://www.yasmineforthecity.com/How to Talk Politics with Your Family For the Holidays:https://girlandthegov.buzzsp...2021-11-2452 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastBuild Back Better (Explained) with Brian Derrick, Political Strategist & Founder of OathIf you’ve been scratching your head about what on earth is going on with the Build Back Better bill, this episode is going to be your bread and butter of reference points. We go IN on the bill with Brian Derrick, Political Strategist & Founder of Oath to get a grasp on what’s included in the bill, what’s not, and what the process looks like for potentially passing it. Naturally, since we love abbreviations, we also get into the confusion around BBB versus the BIF, and even define what the CBO does. And, if that also has you sc...2021-11-1747 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastHealthcare Finance in the US with Julie Oliver, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Ground Game TexasUs when talking about healthcare in the US and singing our favorite Avril Lavigne throwback: “Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?” But, seriously, healthcare in the US is no walk in the park. In fact, it’s more of a walk in a corn maze -- disorienting, confusing, and altogether spooky. To break down some of the basics, we had the honor of hosting Julie Oliver, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Ground Game Texas on this episode. Giving us the 411 on healthcare finance, citing a career in the industry and political know-how, Julie pulled...2021-11-101h 18
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastGlobal Gender Equality, A Status Update Via Dania Gharaibeh, Team Lead, Gender Equality at the IRCGender equality is a complex and nuanced topic, and discussing it at a global level is no exception from this qualification. In this episode, we begin the conversation around it, peeling back some of the many layers involved in what the status quo is at large, why in 2021 we are only so far, and how geopolitics play an important role. Joined by the amazing mind that is Dania Gharaibeh, Team Lead, Gender Equality at the IRC, we also brought clarity on terms and concepts commonly a part of the equality equation, including defining what child and forced marriages are...2021-11-031h 09
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastWorker’s Rights & Unions with Melanie D’Arrigo, Congressional Candidate (NY-3)What are worker’s rights? What is collective bargaining? What in the literal world is the Taft-Hartley Act? Okay, and what about the Pro Act -- is there a cheat sheet somewhere? For this episode, we tapped Melanie D’Arrigo, Congressional Candidate (NY-3) to give us the answers to these q’s, which had us scratching our heads and trying to hit the good ol’ Google machine. Giving us the 411 on worker’s rights from a policy lens, past and future, Melanie walked us toward the answers and away from the head scratching to provide us a comprehensive understanding of where w...2021-10-271h 10
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastWTF is Gerrymandering with Arizona State Director at All On The Line, Kendra AlvarezIf you’ve ever had a conversation with Sammy about politics, you KNOW she’s mentioned the term ‘gerrymandering.’ Thus, it’s only appropriate that we dedicated an entire episode to the term and its many siblings. Cue, our conversation with Arizona State Director at All On The Line, Kendra Alvarez, who took us past just gerrymandering to the terms beyond including ‘grid map,’ ‘packing,’ and ‘cracking.’ Terms with silly names perhaps, but ones that are set to play a big role in redistricting underway across the nation. Tune in to learn more about what this means in your area and in states lik...2021-10-2051 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe California Housing Crisis with Senator Scott Wiener (CA, SD-11)We’ve got California’s housing crisis on the mind and more than a few questions as to how it emerged. To shed light on these q’s, we tapped none other than Senator Scott Wiener (CA, SD-11) to tell us the tales of the past, present, and future of the housing crisis and the related homelessness crisis that has made a name for itself in the state. We start with the basics and then get into the bills, providing key context to what on earth a crisis is in this frame and how the political world can work to fix...2021-10-1343 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastExplainer: Asylum & Del Rio with Mirlande Joachim, Esq.If we had a penny for every time we heard the phrase “Haitian border crisis” over the last few weeks, we’d be richer than Jeff Bezos (don’t tell him, thanks). That phrase begs many questions - is it really a crisis? Who on earth was and is responsible for what we are seeing unfold at our southern border? Is there a reason these people aren’t being granted asylum? And, what is this ambiguous Title 42 everyone keeps throwing around? We ask these questions and more in our conversation and latest episode to badass immigration lawyer, Mirlande Joachim, Esq. Shedding l...2021-10-0659 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastSexEd Today in the USA with Danielle Bezalel, Host of Sex Ed with DB PodcastThe concept of sex education might bring you back to an array of incredibly awkward classes taught begrudgingly by your gym teacher. It might also conjure absolutely nothing if you’re from a state where parents can opt their children out of sex education at school. Sex education, its depth and most importantly, its accuracy varies state to state. Far from a one size fits all sitch, sex education has and continues to take on a variety pack of forms in this country and the data shows some wild trends to go along with, all of which we go in...2021-09-291h 00
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastGun Reform 101 with Nico Bocour, Government Affairs Director at Giffords CourageOur first dive into this issue in depth, albeit a very important one, this episode takes us through the background and the basics of gun reform in the US. An often touchy topic, as well as one with many behind the scenes players, the expert we brought in, Nico Bocour, Government Affairs Director at Giffords Courage, shed light on it from a data-based perspective, and provided the current and past context necessary to understand this complex issue. The tip of the iceberg, the start of a long road of conversations, this episode will arm you with information on...2021-09-221h 04
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastChildcare Meets Campaign Finance Reform with Political Director at Vote Mama PAC, Sarah HagueHow can running for office be more accessible for working parents? Sarah Hague, political director at Vote Mama PAC has got the 411 on a solution that tackles one of the many critical hurdles parents face. Eyeing the need for a more diverse and important set of voices at the table (hello, young working parents), Vote Mama takes aim at changing the campaign finance game. Specifically, the two-pronged organization, which includes not just a PAC, but also a foundation, is lobbying for state finance rules to allow for campaign dollars to be used to pay for childcare. Sound cool yet complicated...2021-09-081h 01
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastUntold Truth of Afghanistan with Veteran & Congressional Candidate for NY-11, Brittany Ramos DeBarrosThe last few weeks have been headline city as it relates to the US’s longest war -- the war in Afghanistan. A departure from the past 20 years, where the war received little to no press coverage, the past few weeks had many of us constantly at a loss for words and left with many questions as to how on earth we got to this place. Cue, this week’s episode where we were honored to be joined by Veteran and Congressional Candidate for NY-11, Brittany Ramos DeBarros. Brittany, in our conversation, walked us through the many realities of this...2021-09-011h 14
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastTakin’ on Texas with Congressional Candidate for TX-35, Claudia ZapataGrab your cowboy boots and get ready to head to Texas in this episode where we get into the complexities of the Lone Star state’s politics with congressional candidate for TX-35, Claudia Zapata. Tackling a few of the many controversies that have taken to the headlines as of late, our conversation touches on voting rights legislation, the strategy of the politicians who made moves to DC to prevent a vote, and the surprisingly (and pitiful) pay that state legislators are paid. We also get into Claudia’s campaign for Congress and the very reasons she’s running. P.S...2021-08-251h 05
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastCity Council & Cedar Rapids: The Local Politics Landscape with Councilmember Ashley Vanorny (Cedar Rapids, Iowa, D-5)When you think ‘Iowa’, you may think of presidential campaigns and the buzz that surrounds the infamous caucuses. However, politics happens in the state 365, 24/7, especially in Cedar Rapids. In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Cedar Rapids Councilmember Ashley Vanorny (D-5) about the politics of her district, the politics of city council, and what inspired her to run for local office. A look inside city council, what it does, and why local politics are extremely important, this episode will inspire you to get civically engaged (and maybe run for office). P.S. Ask us all y...2021-08-181h 01
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastA Deep Dive into the Anti-Choice Politics of Louisiana with State Representative Mandie Landry (LA, D-91)In this episode we take a virtual road trip down to Louisiana to chat with State Representative Mandie Landry (LA, D-91) on what it’s like to be pro-choice in a heavily red (and anti-choice) state. Walking us through her experiences, her conversations with colleagues, and painting the picture as to the political landscape of the state, we learned there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to the overall topic of women’s health in the state. From maternal morbidity rates to access to sex education, and the many barriers and political pawn work done in t...2021-08-111h 07
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe New Deal for Education, Philly Politics, and more with Congressional Candidate Alexandra Hunt (PA-03)This week we virtually traveled to Philly to get the skinny on a district that will be the talk of the town, or dare we say the talk of the City of Brotherly Love, as we head into the 2022 midterms. In our explorations sans cheesesteak, we chatted with candidate and congressional hopeful, Alexandra Hunt about her campaign, the ins-and-outs of Philly’s political landscape, and the change she hopes to bring to the table. Touching on issues in her district and beyond, we covered territory from unions to education, giving specific focus to The New Deal for Education. P...2021-08-0448 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastRedistricting in California, Grassroots Campaigns, & More With Fatima Iqbal-Zubair, Candidate for CA State Assembly (D64)In this episode we officially leave Sammy’s NY territory and hop on over to Maddie’s in California to chat with Fatima Iqbal-Zubair who is a candidate running for CA State Assembly (D64). And when we say running in this case, we mean running as a grassroots progressive candidate against an incumbent Democrat. There’s tea and there’s real talk on what needs to change in her district and how she plans to make it happen. We also tap into redistricting happening as a result of the 2020 Census, what this means for voters, and so much more. P.S...2021-07-2846 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastWTF is a Crisis Pregnancy Center & Women’s Health with Senator Cappelletti (PA-17)It’s all in the branding isn’t it? That is very much the case of the concept of Crisis Pregnancy Centers, as well as that of Planned Parenthood. In our first deep dive conversation (we don’t know how it’s our first either) on women’s health and the politics surrounding it, we virtually sat down with State Senator Cappelletti (PA-17) to get into it all. Through our conversation we peeled back the branding on Crisis Pregnancy Centers, and dove into what on earth these centers do and how they’re even legal. We also tackle what’s on deck in t...2021-07-211h 01
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastHave you heard what SCOTUS has been up to? A tell-all with lawyer and legal educator, Natasha Axelrod!This episode we’re scooting over to the SCOTUS side of things to discuss the latest and greatest hot button cases with lawyer and legal educator, Natasha Axelrod. Touching on Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L and NCAA v. Alston et al, this episode provides the scoop on what the cases were all about, where they landed, and what the court’s decisions mean for the future. Obvi we also give light to some essential ‘I have a stupid questions,’ including defining what SCOTUS is, so even if you’re a legal novice, this episode will get you up to spee...2021-07-141h 02
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe D.L. on Girl and the Gov, the Podcast, Anniversary EditionIt’s a DM-iversary BABAAAAAY! Once upon a time in land far far away, aka California, Maddie DM’d Sammy about starting a podcast. A year later and here we are - rockin,’ rollin,’ and giving you the scoop on our journey. We chat through top q’s we get, submissions from our beloved brand ambassadors (we heart you!), what we have planned for year two, and a lot about Sammy's momentarily raspy voice. Have fun in and out of the sun and hop into this eppy with us. P.S. Ask us all your questions and give us all...2021-07-0755 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe Trevor Project & LGTBQ Legislation with Casey Pick, ESQ, Senior Fellow for Advocacy & Government Affairs at The Trevor ProjectThis episode covers so much ground that its title is almost two full lines long. Is that a record? We’re not sure. But, what we are sure of, is that this episode gives you the 411 on the amazing work done and that is in motion for the Trevor Project. What we’re also sure of is that our guest, Casey Pick, ESQ, Senior Fellow for Advocacy & Government Affairs at The Trevor Project, provides a comprehensive look at the issues facing the LGBTQ community and how it connects to not just the organization’s work, but to legislation. Covering recent...2021-06-301h 03
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastSpecial Episode!! All About Juneteenth with Ms. Opal Lee, Grandmother of JuneteenthThis is a special edition of Girl and the Gov, The Podcast and it’s special not just because its a two episode week, but because we are beyond honored to share that our guest is none other than Ms. Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth. To say that we aren’t still star struck is an understatement, but Ms. Opal Lee is one serious badass lady, counting 94 years on this planet and many in activism. Her focus, as one may guess from her moniker, is to have Juneteenth recognized in law as a federal holiday. Her work, which we d...2021-06-1831 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastCorporate Interests & California Politics Unveiled with Founder of Project Super Bloom, Eric WarmothWe’re surfing over to California for this episode, where we speak with the founder of Project Super Bloom, Eric Warmoth about the smoke and mirrors politics going on in the Golden State. To the surprise of many, politics in California at the state level isn’t what it seems to be from afar -- blue. Due to the ability for corporations to donate directly to political campaigns, the ways in which politics work in the state are a whole different beast than you may think. In our conversation, we get the TEA on this and what Project Super Bloo...2021-06-161h 05
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe Constitution Explained with Ben Sheehan, Author of OMG WTF DOES THE CONSTITUTION ACTUALLY SAY?Have you ever thought to yourself WTF is actually inside the Constitution? Have you ever thought, but like where’s the Bill of Rights at? If either of these two questions have ever popped into your head, this episode is for you. We had the privilege of chatting with Ben Sheehan, Author of OMG WTF DOES THE CONSTITUTION ACTUALLY SAY?, on these two questions and more -- like those pesky amendments, how they’re ratified, and what ratifying even means in the first place. Humor is top of mind in this episode (which makes sense given Ben’s experience as an...2021-06-091h 06
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe Sunrise Movement, Good Jobs for All, and More on Climate Activism with the Movement’s co-founder, Will LawrenceThe sun is rising on a new episode, which is perfect because this one sheds (sun)light on the Sunrise Movement. A dip back into the world of climate activism and climate policy, this episode takes us through an informative and can’t-miss conversation with the Co-Founder of the Sunrise Movement. Will Lawrence. From interesting tactics like ‘Wide Awakes’ (this was new to us) to politicians that are making their mark in this realm (Senator Markey you make an appearance), we cover new territory. P.S. Ask us all your questions and give us all your feedback on IG...2021-06-021h 03
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastGetting Out the Vote with Lala Wu, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Sister DistrictEvery season is election season, which is why we tapped Lala Wu, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Sister District to give us the 411 on how to get out the vote. Providing a close look at the mechanisms we commonly hear about like phone banking, text banking, and more, our conversation with Lala offers more than just definitions, but an understanding of how these processes are actually put to work by organizations like Sister District. Speaking of Sister District, in this episode we also discuss the organization’s mission and thoughtful strategy used for flipping seats in state legislatures from re...2021-05-2658 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastSocial Media Meets Politics With Dr. Desmond U. Patton, Associate Professor of Social Work at Columbia UniversityHere we are on social media, using good ol’ technology to get the scoop and be in the loop. A concept that touches the good, the bad, and the ugly, social media has many uses and capabilities. It houses interactions, patterns, and varied forms of linguistics. Each of these elements carries itself into the realm of politics and it’s one that we dove into with Dr. Desmond U. Patton, Associate Professor of Social Work at Columbia University. In our conversation, and latest episode, we peeled back some of the many layers of the social media dilemma as it rela...2021-05-1958 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastCandidate Spotlight with Holly McCormack! Candidate and challenger to Majorie Taylor Greene for Congress (GA-14)It seems like we’ve had a lot of people dubbed “thou who shall not be named” in the last few years, and honestly many for good reason. One such person, represents GA-14 in Congress and has pushed out conspiracy theories galore. Do you need another hint? Okay, she also recently challenged AOC to a debate. If you’ve connected the dots, welcome to the party and welcome to the episode where we interview one of her challengers -- Holly McCormack who is a Democrat running to take her seat. We had the honor of virtually sitting down with Holly to...2021-05-1245 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastUnderstanding Immigration in the US with Layla Razavi, Deputy Executive Director at Freedom for ImmigrantsThe conversation around immigration in the US is often met with controversial opinions, buzz words, and horrendous campaign slogans. However, it is also commonly misunderstood, as are the terms within this overarching umbrella. Cue, Layla Razavi, Deputy Executive Director at Freedom for Immigrants, who we were honored to speak with on this episode. Walking us through immigration 101, Layla provided us (and now you) a critical understanding of the concepts, constraints, and controversies around immigration in the US. From defining what ICE is, to asylum, the episode captures a broad strokes picture of what immigration entails in this country. 2021-05-051h 06
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastClimate Justice with Kari Fulton, Frontline Policy Coordinator at Climate Justice AllianceBeep beep coming through, we have an episode that you can absolutely not miss. Okay, we don’t recommend missing any of them, but like seriously this one is a 10/10 must-listen. We are beyond excited to share that this episode features a guest that had us starstruck from the moment we hopped onto record (no one fainted by some miracle). This guest of honor is none other than Kari Fulton, Frontline Policy Coordinator at Climate Justice Alliance. An award-winning environmental and climate justice advocate, organizer, and so much more, Kari is an OG in this realm and absolute authority in...2021-04-281h 00
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastWhat on EARTH is the USDA with Jillian Semaan, Director of Food and Environment at Earthday.orgMood board time. When you think of climate change, what is the visual that comes to mind? Is it oil refineries? Factory smog? Does it include agriculture? If it doesn’t include agriculture, your mood board is about to get an update after this episode. As part of our special series on climate, Jillian Semaan, Director of Food and Environment at Earthday.org joined us to discuss the deep impact that agriculture and its related practices have on the climate -- and our future. Through this discussion, Jillian gave light to the intersection between agriculture and the environment, while al...2021-04-211h 07
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastIntersectionality in Climate Change with Dr. Katharine WilkinsonOH HEYY, it’s episode two of our climate-focused month and we could not be more excited about this episode. No, like seriously, we are screaming. We had the pleasure of interviewing, Dr. Katharine Wilkinson who wears so many hats in the climate realm that we’d have to build a closet just to store them all. To give you a glimpse at her role, she is an expert and strategist on how humans can address climate change. She is a New York Times best-selling author (Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming), the co-founder of t...2021-04-141h 03
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastClimate Change: The Basics with Aaron Burgess, Director of Climate Policy at Tom Steyer PACApril showers bring May flowers and we certainly hope this philosophy translates to climate change, which is why we’re covering the issue all month long. This episode, the first in the series, is set to equip you with the basics of climate change through the lens of Aaron Burgess, Director of Climate Policy at Tom Steyer PAC. An expert and policy maven in the field, Aaron’s work and insights offer a foundational knowledge on everything from defining climate change to understanding big-name policies like the Paris Climate Agreement. His skill at explaining this complex topic is top...2021-04-071h 02
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastHealthcare in a COVID-19 World with Vice Admiral (Ret.) Rocky Bono, MDMilitary healthcare in the United States is more complicated than a love triangle on the Bachelor. It’s layered, it’s nuanced, and it takes a true expert in chaos and crisis to shed light on how healthcare and the military intersect. Cue, Vice Admiral (Ret.) Dr. Rocky Bono, MD, the first woman surgeon in the military to hold the rank of Vice Admiral, the first female three-star admiral in the medical field in the history of the U.S. Navy, as well as the first Asian-American woman promoted to Vice Admiral. In our conversation this week, the former CEO...2021-03-311h 07
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastWhat is foreign aid? with Clint Borgen, Founder of the Borgen ProjectSomething that’s foreign to most -- foreign aid -- became a bit more familiar to us this week. And how exactly did that happen? Through our conversation with Clint Borgen, the founder of the Borgen Project of course! The founder of the campaign to address global poverty is well-versed in what foreign aid is, how it's distributed, and the many forms it can come in, and his knowledge surely shone in this conversation. Insights were also shared as it relates to the US’s role in foreign aid, as well as other countries. We also cover everything from the...2021-03-241h 00
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastWhat is HR1!? with Nathalia Ramos, Content Producer for Berggruen Institute & Founder of Whole Bunch MediaIs it us or do the names of bills and acts often sound like super-secret spy codes? Like legit should we go get a walky-talky and take it from there? Well, the case is no different for HR1, which is better known as the ‘For the People Act’ -- and, to make it super confusing, it’s also commonly referred to as the ‘voting rights act.’ With three names and a million and more details to digest, we brought on Nathalia Ramos to dissect and discuss what the bill entails. Through our conversation, Nathalia who wears many hats, including a role as a...2021-03-171h 00
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastAffordable Housing 101 with State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton, DE-D26When we say that this week’s guest is an absolute BOSS, it’s truly the understatement of the century. Like, literally. Our guest, State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton (DE-D26) is a trailblazer in politics and has insights for days -- yes, somehow we condensed days into a digestible show that’s under two hours long. Speaking of insights, in this episode we discussed the issue of affordable housing and its many facets. Starting at its base, Representative Wilson-Anton helped us define the concepts of eviction, tenants' bill of rights, and more. Our conversation stretches beyond the basics as well and tou...2021-03-101h 01
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastUniversal Basic Income and Direct Cash Relief with Greg Nasif, Press Secretary & Chief Spokesman with Humanity ForwardWe’re millennials and we will absolutely come up with a slang word for anything and everything, including stimulus checks. Cue, the ‘stimi.’ Cute, right? Cuter if you actually received it, which Maddie has yet to. We’d tweet about it, but we thought it would be better to talk solutions with Greg Nasif, Press Secretary & Chief Spokesman with Humanity Forward. Sharing resources on what to do in cases like these, Greg provided needed insights. In addition, we got the 411 on the mission of Humanity Forward and its push for direct cash relief and universal basic income. What is direct c...2021-03-0359 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastWhen Finance Meets Politics with Delano Saporu, Founder of New Street AdvisorsIt’s 10pm, do you know what the SEC is? If you don’t, that’s a-okay because this week our guest, Delano Saporu, Founder of New Street Advisors walked us through the basics of Wall Street finance and connected the dots with us to politics (ahem, SEC). The regular CNBC and Fox Business contributor gave us the lay of the land and the vocab to not only get a better grasp on the intersectionality between politics and finance, but to help us (and you) get up to speed on the basics, like ‘what is the difference between a stock an...2021-02-2454 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe Congressional Black Caucus and Veterans Affairs with Former Executive Director of the CBC, Abdul HendersonWe’re super excited about this episode and not just because we have another Tom Steyer for Prez alumni tap. We’re excited for about five million reasons, but especially because in this episode we tackle two topics we have yet to touch. Yep, that’s right, we are scratching new surfaces this week. Helping us do so, our amazing guest, Abdul Henderson, who is both the former Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus, the former Director of International Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, a former Chief of Staff and so much more, enlisted his vast experi...2021-02-171h 07
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe 411 on Voter Suppression with Brandon Upson, Founder of Amplify ActionIt’s Wednesday and you know what that means? An amazing episode with a very special guest - Brandon Upson, Founder of Amplify Action. We had the honor of chatting with this Tom Steyer campaign alum (he was the National Organizing Director) and civic engagement genius who shared with us the innovative techniques his organization is bringing to the South to get out the vote. We’ll give you one hint before we tell you to just hit play already - restaurants aren’t the only ones using QR codes these days. We also hit all of the import...2021-02-1040 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastPhoto I.D. Access and Voter I.D. Laws with Kat Calvin, Co-Founder & CEO of Project ID Action FundFirst, let us apologize for opening this episode talking about hot dogs… BUT beep, beep absolute icon coming through! That’s right this episode we were honored to speak with Kat Calvin, Co-Founder & CEO of Project ID Action Fund (and Founder and Executive Director of Spread The Vote), who, through her incredible work, has been honored as a TIME Magazine 16 People and Groups Fighting for a More Equal America, a 2018 Fast Company 100 Most Creative People in Business, and has been a Business Insider 30 Under 30. This lawyer, activist, and full-time badass spent the episode cracking us up and informing us on a...2021-02-0358 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastPolice Reform & Ranked Choice Voting with Candidate for NYC Mayor, Dianne MoralesSammy loves to call this change to the ‘voting machine’ the political version of the sorority rush. It’s called Ranked Choice Voting and when you hear how it works, she’s pretty sure you’ll agree (Maddie has rolled her eyes about ten times at this description, but is going along with it.) Either way, this episode dives into what it is and how it works with a candidate whose very race will be using Ranked Choice Voting. That candidate is Dianne Morales who is running for NYC Mayor. Providing the landscape on this change, as well as criminal j...2021-01-2758 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastBiden Harris Inauguration, Public Higher Education, Sex Work & more with Elisa Crespo Candidate for NYC Council District 15Good morning sunshines, it’s INAUGURATION DAY! It’s been a journey, but here we are. Like literally, mama we made it. We’re amped to usher this day and new administration in, but we’re also amped about the elections that are still going on. Yep - that’s right, 2021 has elections too. At the top of the list is the special election for NYC Council District 15 (Bronx), for which Elisa Crespo is a candidate. We had the honor of chatting with Elisa about this special election, the concept as a whole, and her platform. Of course, we dove deep...2021-01-2057 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastThe Capitol Insurrection, Affordable Housing, & Food Security with Emerita Torres, State Committee-85 ADBefore we dive into the pertinent topics of affordable housing and food security, we had to weigh in on the insane week we've had after the insurrection on our nation's capitol. We break down what happened on that grim day, call out Republican hypocrisy and petty B.S., and explain what has been happening since with the unprecedented calls for impeachment, expulsions, and the 25th amendment. But we digress because we love a good stupid question, and let us tell you our guest Emerita Torres, State Committee-85 AD had to field quite a few from us. We covered what...2021-01-1358 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastLGBTQA+ Policy, Healthcare, and Activism with Representative Brianna Titone, CO-HD27We’re here in 2021 and we’re here with one super amazing guest that we can’t wait for you all to meet. For our very first episode of the year, we ‘sat’ down (okay we recorded virtually, whatever) with Representative Brianna Titone, CO-HD27 who is not only a badass woman in politics but the first openly transgender state legislator elected in Colorado and the 4th elected in the United States. Accomplished, to say the least, Brianna educated us (and now you) on LGBTQA+ related policy as a whole in the United States, as well as in Colorado. Through our conver...2021-01-061h 02
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastADIOS 2020!!!!!Trigger warning! This 2020 recap will indeed be recapping 2020 and bringing us ALL the top headlines of this year... the good, the BAD, and the very UGLY. As scary as that sounds... we found it pretty mind-blowing to go over this movie of a year we just experienced (and say WE DID THAT) so join us on our last episode of the year! 2020 brought a lot of heartbreak but also brought you this lovely pod so come celebrate with us! We also talk about the biggest political lessons we all learned this year, how to take them into 2021 and beyond...2020-12-3055 min
Girl and The Gov, The PodcastHow to Talk Politics with Your Family with Melissa Pennica, Licensed Marriage and Family TherapistToodles to taboos, specifically the taboo that is having conversations with friends and family about politics. Often a touchy subject, and amongst those (heyy, the religion you’re in the mix too!), that lights a match to many a fire when it comes to conversations around the dinner table, politics has a reputation for sowing division. But what if it's just the way we’ve always approached these conversations? Could it be that we’ve been dipping into the wrong toolbox to operate these conversations productively? We explore this topic on this very special episode with Melissa Pennica, Licensed Marria...2020-12-231h 11