Shows
Beyond Resistance PodEp. 49: Service Over Status: Running for More Than a SeatWhat does it take to actually change the status quo—and not just talk about it?
In this episode of Beyond Resistance, hosts Sarah Schulz and Jennifer Austin sit down with Michael White, U.S. Army veteran, longtime union member, educator, and candidate for Michigan State Senate (District 15). From Ypsilanti to Ann Arbor and beyond, Michael breaks down why this moment demands new leadership—and backs it up with data. We dig into the hard truths facing Washtenaw County, including jaw dropping stats on income inequality and economic segregation, and why “business as usual” simply isn’t working. M...
2026-02-0545 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 48: Good Trouble, No Gatekeeping: A Conversation with Barb Byrum🚨 New Episode: Beyond Resistance Podcast 🚨
What actually turns awareness into action? And why is “performative” activism not the insult people think it is?
In this episode, hosts Sarah Schulz and Jennifer Austin dig into how movements really grow—starting with the small, imperfect first steps people take when they’re waking up politically. From pink hats to protest signs, they break down why gateway actions matter and how calling people in (not out) is how you build real power.
Then they’re joined by Barb Byrum, Ingham County Clerk, former Michigan state representative, longtime electio...
2026-02-0347 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 47: When Work Doesn't Work: Organizing Our Way Forward in Red States🔥 Soccer Moms, Mutual Aid, and Building Power Without Permission 🔥
This episode of Beyond Resistance is fueled by rage, laughter, and some seriously effective organizing.
Sarah Schultz and Jennifer Austin kick things off fired up about women—especially the so‑called “soccer moms” who keep getting underestimated while quietly running protests, food trains, mutual aid networks, and entire communities. Spoiler alert: no one’s getting paid, no shadowy cabals required—just deeply competent people pivoting existing networks and getting stuff done.
From pandemic-era mutual aid to today’s grassroots resistance, this convo pulls back the curtain on how “...
2026-01-3053 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 46: Cancel Culture Won’t Save Us: Sarah McBride on Power Hope & Actually WinningWhat happens when you refuse to give up on democracy—and decide to be a good neighbor instead?
In this episode of Beyond Resistance, hosts Sarah Schulz and Jennifer Austin sit down with Congresswoman Sarah McBride for a wide ranging, soul stirring conversation about hope, coalition building, and what it actually takes to win in this moment. Fresh off a powerful exchange, Sarah McBride drops wisdom after wisdom on why outrage can’t be the end of the conversation—and why curiosity, grace, and bold policy can coexist.
From...
2026-01-2737 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 45: Dungeons, Democracy & The Dollhouse: Kali Scales Levels UpBeyond Resistance Pod drops you straight into the living room energy chaos of two politically savvy women—Sarah Schulz and Jennifer Austin—who show up every week with receipts, rants, heart, humor, and a rotating cast of badass guests.
In these episodes, you’ll hear Sarah and Jennifer kick things off with their signature Fired Up segment, swapping what’s keeping them up at night—from community trauma to viral videos to the nonstop stress of living in a country that feels like it’s permanently in crisis mode. Then Jennifer flips the script with...
2026-01-211h 13Beyond Resistance PodEp. 44 From the Battlefield to the Ballot Box: Rachel Howard’s Mission for MichiganBeyond Resistance: Building Blue Power & Bold Futures
Welcome to Beyond Resistance, the unapologetically real podcast where grassroots grit meets big-picture vision. Hosted by Sarah Schulz and Jennifer Austin, we’re here to flip the script on what it means to organize, lead, and thrive in communities that feel left behind.
In this episode, we go deep with Rachel Howard—combat medic turned healthcare leader, mom of four, and now a Democratic candidate for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat. Rachel brings the receipts: 14 years of military service, a Purp...
2026-01-1557 minBeyond Resistance PodCommunity Conversation: Local Organizers Respond to ICE Shooting in MinneapolisBeyond Resistance: Special Pod – The Minneapolis ICE Shooting
A U.S. citizen was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis and the shockwaves hit hard. In this urgent episode, hosts Sarah Schulz and Jennifer Austin sit down with fellow organizers Kelly Taylor and Laura Bell Phillips to unpack what happened, why it matters, and what comes next.
This isn’t just about one tragic moment—it’s about unchecked power, systemic failures, and the communities fighting back. From the raw details of the incident to the national...
2026-01-0829 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 43: Grassroots Organizing: Running for Senate on Vibes and DreadWelcome back, Resistance Crew! We're transforming grit into power, big feelings into bold action, and blue energy into real life momentum for local organizing right here in our red-tinted communities. Today we’re diving into a story that is equal parts heart, hustle, holy crap that’s relatable, and “wait, she did WHAT?!”
Today's guest didn’t just decide to run for office — she practically got launched into it by faith, fear, floodwaters, and a whole lot of fire. Meet Serenity Hope Salak: lifelong Michigander, mom, substitute teacher, former caseworker, professional helper of humans, and...
2026-01-0741 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 42: Dr Pamela Pugh: Engineer by Degree, Community Superhero by Vibes!Welcome back to the Beyond Resistance Pod, where your hosts Sarah and Jennifer help turn red district BLUES into red district WINS — armed with caffeine, community power, and the occasional existential scream. Today’s episode? Oh, buckle up. Because we are joined by none other than Dr. Pamela Pugh — scientist, public health expert, longtime public servant, environmental justice warrior . . . basically the Beyoncé of community problem solving (minus the singing, plus more spreadsheets).
Pam Pugh has done things most of us only Google when the group chat gets political: chemical engineering at DuPont and Dow, 14...
2025-12-3135 minBeyond Resistance PodEp .41: A Marine, a Fire Captain & a Senate Race Walk Into a Podcast . . .On this episode, Sarah and Jennifer interview Chedrick (Yes it’s pronounced like Cheryl) Greene, who’s running for Michigan’s 35th Senate District — covering Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City, aka the land of hardworking folks and very opinionated snow.
Who’s Chedrick?
He’s basically the Avengers if the Avengers were just one guy:
• 30 year Marine veteran who made Sergeant Major (peak of the enlisted world).
• Fire captain, meaning he saves people, teaches rookies to wipe their feet, and supervises emergencies with...
2025-12-2338 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 40: The Fellowship of the Blue: Mindsets for Modern MovementsStrap in, folks, because this week’s episode of Beyond Resistance is a whole vibe: part political strategy, part existential dread, part cough drop powered survival. Jennifer kicks things off sounding like a chipmunk who swallowed a bag of Ricola, and honestly? It only adds to the ambiance.
The duo dives head first into Leftist-on-Leftist crime on Threads, where Jennifer encounters the classic hot take: “Democrats need to get out of the way for the real leftists.” Cue the alarms, caveats, disclaimers, and Jennifer gently reminding the internet she is a leftist—just one who...
2025-12-1846 minBeyond Resistance PodEp 39: Data, DMs, and Determination: The New Rules of Grassroots OrganizingEver wonder what it takes to build blue power in a sea of red? Spoiler: It’s not magic—it’s people, passion, and a dash of tech savvy. In this episode of Beyond Resistance, Sarah Schulz and Jennifer Austin share how everyday conversations are fueling a grassroots glow-up.
The Spark:
Jennifer’s fired up because people—especially young folks—are eager to get involved. From swim meets to rainbow-filled birthday parties, she’s meeting future activists everywhere. The message? People want in. They just need a path.
2025-12-1044 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 38: The Art of Showing Up (and Not Taking the Bait!)Sarah and Jennifer talk about resisting the urge to respond to rage-bait trolls, navigating healthcare absurdities, and the discipline of channeling that fire into action. They then break down what it really means to show up--intentionally, consistently, and authentically--in red-leaning communities. From PTA meetings to swim meets to musicals: there is always a chance to make an impression and build blue power!
Find the Blueprint and the pod at beyondresistancepod.com
#bluepower #showup #politics #standup
2025-12-0335 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 37: The Long Game, but Make It Crafty and Curious!What if changing the world doesn’t start with debate . . . but with thread, zines, and a room full of strangers? Sarah and Jennifer talk with Shannon Downey--craftavist, activist, and author--about building community through creativity, slow relationship-building, and neighborhood connections. They unpack why power grows one person at a time, why activism isn’t instant gratification, and how a crafternoon and curiosity can open doors that judgment slams shut. De-radicalize conversations, soften conflict, and keep communities connected—even across political divides. From “I notice, I wonder” to talking with non-Democrats (but maybe not your dad . . . yet), they explore curiosity as a radical...
2025-11-261h 09Beyond Resistance PodEp. 36: Virginia Is For Organizers: How Listening Flipped the ScriptSarah and Jennifer welcome Virginia organizer and campaign worker Jiamie Pyles who is fresh from a cycle of big Democratic wins to talk about how the real magic happens on porches, not pundit panels. They unpack why community-rooted campaigning is the secret sauce behind Virginia’s momentum and reveal which emoji represents the state of politics today. Hint: it's not a smiley face . . .
Find all episodes, Beyond Resistance Blueprint: 5 Steps to Building Blue Power, and more at www.beyondresistancepod.com. Subscribe to our Patreon or donate via Venmo to support our work! Subscribe, li...
2025-11-1951 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 35: No Sleep Till Crooked Con (Or After!)From Capitol Hill to Crooked Con, Sarah and Jennifer recap their wild trip to DC last week. Jennifer had the chance to fangirl over her favorite podcast hosts (though she's still bummed she missed her parasocial best friend Jon Lovett), Sarah had some tips for how to make Crooked Con even more amazing, and they both agreed that Sarah McBride's Comms Team is the best (and most fun!) group of staffers in DC! Okay, one of the best. (They don't want their friends Shane and Diva in Rep. Rivet's office to get mad!) From highway yoga to Schumer fury...
2025-11-1240 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 34: The Most Important Election of Our Lives (Again!)It’s a running joke—but also 100% true. The hosts of Beyond Resistance look ahead to the 2026 election, talk timelines, tactics, and why bottom-up change matters most. Expect laughter, lamination, and a healthy dose of hope as they prep for Crooked Con and remind us: democracy isn’t dying—it’s carpooling to DC.
We’re one year out, y’all — and this isn’t the warm-up lap. It’s the race. LFG!
Find the Beyond Resistance Blueprint: 5 Steps to Building Blue Power and the Resistance Tool Belt at www.beyondre...
2025-11-0532 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 33: The Resistance Will Be Snack SizedSarah and Jennifer sit down with activist coach and author Omkari L. Williams to talk about Microactivism—making change without burning out (or needing a bullhorn) and the importance of every single act of activism no matter the size. They swap stories of teenage revolutionaries, spreadsheet love/hate, joy as a strategy, fancy pajamas, and one guy named Milton with the world’s most powerful sound system. It’s proof that small moves, done with big joy, build the kind of power that lasts.
Find out more about Omkari L. Williams, author of Microa...
2025-10-2943 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 32: No Kings, Just Eggs: Building Blue Power the Hard-Boiled Way!Coming off the high of the No Kings 2.0 rallies, Jennifer and Sarah unpack the contradictions lighting up their comment sections — and dive into Step 2 of the Blueprint for Building Blue Power: how to map and grow community influence intentionally, not accidentally. Then, just when things get too strategic, they take on the ultimate test of patience and precision — how to make the perfect hard-boiled egg.
#shutdown #trending #blueprint #advice
2025-10-2247 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 31: Cue the Kazoos: It’s a Blueprint Launch Party!Our hosts celebrate weddings, democracy, and the glorious kazoo as they launch the Beyond Resistance Blueprint, a practical, heart-centered guide for grassroots organizers in red places, and dive into the first step: turning political relationships from “what can you do for me” to “what can we build together.” Come for the inspiration, stay for the receipts, charts, real tactical guidance, and contagious optimism.
the Blueprint: https://beyondresistancepod.com/the-blueprint-1
#bluepower #voteblue2026 #localgovernment #organize #standup #getinvolved
2025-10-1539 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 30: Fired Up and Flipping Red - Haley Stevens on Turning Outrage into Power #senate #politicsThis week, Sarah and Jennifer are fired up — and Congresswoman Haley Stevens is here to help channel that heat into real power.
The episode kicks off with the hosts unpacking the week’s whiplash: ICE raids in Chicago, political hypocrisy that’s reached Olympic levels, and the growing impossibility of knowing what’s true in a fractured media landscape. But instead of despair, they pivot to determination — because staying mad isn’t enough.
Enter Rep. Haley Stevens, who knows a thing or two about flipping red to blue and bui...
2025-10-0843 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 29: The Plot Twist Nobody Saw Coming: Midland Turns Blue!This week, Sarah and Jennifer get fired up on everything from Broadway bangers to breaking the “Midland is forever red” myth. Inspired by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Hamilton, and Suffs, they dig into why progress is “possible but not guaranteed” and how planting imperfect seeds locally can flip whole regions. Also on deck: the absurdity of Democrats banking on being the “least hated” party, the heartbreak of normalizing gun violence headcounts, and some nerdy-but-glorious charts proving Midland is no longer the GOP’s playground. It’s data, drama, and a dash of show tunes—aka, the Beyond Resistance vibe.
@po...
2025-10-0137 minBeyond Resistance PodEp 28: The Lesson the Democratic Party Refuses to Learn (+ Crooked Con, Dreams, and Ducks v Horses)This week on Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer roll without a guest but bring plenty of fire—spilling about their upcoming trip to Crooked Con, boldly pitching themselves to Crooked Media (because why not shoot your shot?), and reflecting on the power of truly knowing your community when building blue power in red places. They share the high-energy vibes from a recent Tuscola Dems meeting, swap notes on messaging that actually resonates, and remind listeners that local voices matter more than cookie-cutter scripts from national HQ. Oh—and they close out debating one horse-sized duck versus 100 duck-sized horses. Democracy, but...
2025-09-2527 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 27: You Don’t Have to Start a Podcast to Get Involved in Politics with United SHE StandsSarah and Jennifer welcome Ashley Kindsvatter and Sara Petrie (no fights over 'with an h' or 'without an h' broke out) from the United SHE Stands podcast. They talk empowerment and action, and discover the challenge of 4 people talking at once on Teams. Plus, Hochul FINALLY endorsing Mamdani, Christian Nationalism, the unhinged MAGA reaction to Kirk murder, manipulative algorithms, the warning labels we each should carry around and how joining local organizations is a good way to get involved (if you don't want to start a podcast!)
@ThisisGavinNewsom @MeidasTouch @podsaveamerica @ivehaditpodcast @bulwarkmedia @PoliticsGirl...
2025-09-1652 minBeyond Resistance PodSpecial Pod: The Kirk Murder & Fear for Political Activists EverywhereSarah and Jennifer are joined by Alaynah Smith to discuss the horrific murder of political personality Charlie Kirk and what it means for politics, activism, and protesting here on out. Yes, they're in a coffee shop. No, they didn't plan on the mic feedback (it's cut out so no ear damage), and they're trying out new portable mics. (Going back to the big dogs after this!) They'll get into reactions from local teens, their own fears, what part the GOP has to play in it (News Flash: A LOT) and how they're dealing with the aftermath. (Hint: Don't take...
2025-09-1330 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 26: Define Your Purpose in the Long Arc of Activism!From purpose-driven politics to oyster farmers running for Senate, this week’s Beyond Resistance pod is all about planting seeds of change (yes, we quoted Hamilton), ditching cookie-crumb scarcity mindsets, and keeping it real about life, legacy, and litter boxes. Sarah and Jennifer serve up inspiration, laughs, and a sneak peek at their October 14th Blueprint drop—you’ll leave fired up and debating whether you’re a dog person, cat person, or just a “my pet only” person.
@grahamformaine
#politics #resist #organize #foryou #podcast
2025-09-1034 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 25: Through lines of activism: Community, Empowerment, JoyWhat's better than two Michigan activists kibbitzing on building Blue Power? Three, of course! Sarah and Jennifer are joined by Cee Maul, a Michigan activist, organizer, community builder, and change maker (and friend!), to discuss the way to empower community members and build local Blue Power.
2025-08-2647 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 24: Over-communicating? We prefer to call it ensuring legendary attendance.You've done a lot of work to plan a great event/rally/protest/meeting. But will anyone come? Jennifer and Sarah discuss the critical importance of (over)communication, the platforms to use, and the strategy behind it all. (Plus, what's firing us up: Gov. Newsom's epic trolls and Sec. Hegseth letting his misogyny show).
2025-08-1934 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 23: Bring Guns to Gun Fights (Metaphorically!)Jennifer and Sarah discuss current examples of Democrats actually fighting back by going outside norms and standards. They share examples and learnings of doing that locally to build Blue power and talk about how we need to see more of it on the national stage.
2025-08-1251 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 22: The Outrage Hamster WheelYes. We want to believe that getting justice and accountability are possible - even for the rich and powerful. But if we spend all of our efforts spinning in outrage, we won't have enough left to further the work. Jennifer and Sarah share tips for channeling outrage energy into areas that are useful to building local Blue power.
2025-08-0732 minBeyond Resistance PodEp 21: Go First. Eat Last.Dr. Abdul El-Sayed joins the pod to discuss leadership, service, the power of local activism, and his campaign for U.S. Senate.
2025-07-2937 minBeyond Resistance PodBeyond Resistance, Ep. 20: The Journey of Local LeadershipWhat does the journey from activist to local elected leader look like? Jennifer and Sarah sit down with Midland County Commissioner Alaynah Smith to discuss going from walking the picket as a child with her activist mother to community organizing, to working on campaigns full time, to being the only elected Democrat in County Government. Hear from Alaynah and her lifetime focus on servant leadership and how we can bring those insights into more communities to start building Blue power.
2025-07-2236 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 19 Beyond Resistance: The Big #$%! BillDid you know that the "BBB" will knock 17 million people off of health insurance and explodes the ICE budget to 21 times it's current size - bigger than the entire Canadian or UK defense budgets? Jennifer and Sarah break down the impact the Big Bogus Bill will have on everyday Americans and how Democrats have just a bit of time to get ahead of the message at the local level for 2026.
2025-07-0841 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 18 Beyond Resistance: The Mamdani ParadoxOne hand: We need to engage and excite younger voters!
Other hand: We don't want anything to change!
Jennifer and Sarah discuss what Zohran Mamdani winning the NYC mayoral primary should signal for Democratic parties at the local level if they are truly interested in growing members and momentum.
2025-07-0234 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 17 Beyond Resistance: The Art of DisruptionBreaking social norms for social change: Jennifer and Sarah discuss how to use disruption in the political space to help shift the community's perspective and build stronger coalitions through shared purposeful discomfort.
2025-06-2419 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 16 Beyond Resistance: If you build it, they will come.Jennifer and Sarah recap Midland Michigan's historic and enormous "No Kings" protest, and the importance of creating a vision for the world we want to live in and leading from there.
2025-06-1738 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 15 Beyond Resistance: Activism beyond protest. Everyday actions that matter.Sure, a huge protest is awesome. And, there are every day actions from conversations to social media to flying a pride flag that matter and help build your momentum and your local movement.
2025-06-1627 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 14 Beyond Resistance: Stand in your valuesJennifer and Sarah discuss challenges of organizing within Democratic groups when not everyone agrees on the best path forward.
2025-06-0931 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 13 Beyond Resistance: Go Big or Go HomeJennifer and Sarah discuss thinking big when it comes to fundraising - and everything else.
2025-05-2132 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 12 Beyond Resistance: Is ”Woke” weak? We have thoughts.Jennifer and Sarah discuss Senator Slotkin's recently shared "War Plan" for Democrats and what it gets right and what feels wrong out here in Purple country.
2025-04-2529 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 11 Beyond Resistance: Courage Inspires CourageJennifer and Sarah discuss impact that real and perceived fear has on the work of activists and organizers in the current environment and how to get beyond the fear to meet what this moment requires of all of us.
2025-04-1831 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 10 Beyond Resistance: The Long Game of Local PoliticsJennifer and Sarah discuss taking baths, second hand shopping, and the importance of building sincere relationships locally and creating belonging as the foundation of community development and success.
2025-03-2832 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 9 Beyond Resistance: How to plan a protestJennifer and Sarah discuss the importance of exercising the right of protest and how to organize one in your community.
2025-03-0835 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 8 Beyond Resistance: Feeling hopeless? Check your toolbelt.Jennifer and Sarah discuss the tools we already have in our resistance toolbelt, the importance of community and mutual aid, and why we can't afford to "wait until the midterms" while our democratic institutions continue to erode under this fascist administration.
2025-02-2225 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 7 Beyond Resistance: Tell them anywayJennifer and Sarah discuss why they are writing a book about building Blue power in traditionally Red areas.
2025-02-1439 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 6 Beyond Resistance: Compliance vs DefianceJennifer and Sarah discuss what we should expect from our Democratic leaders in Washington and the challenges of leading locally.
2025-02-0926 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 5 Beyond Resistance: The Freshman FlaggerJennifer and Sarah discuss the pardon of Jan 6 participant and local active Republican Jeremy Rodgers (Also known as the "Freshman Flagger" by the FBI because he assaulted police officers with a flag pole).
2025-01-3130 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 4 Beyond Resistance: Chill the F*@k out.Jennifer and Sarah discuss the flurry of activity since the inauguration, strategies for spending our energy wisely, and ways to stay calm and focused through this marathon of outrage and chaos.
2025-01-2428 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 3 Beyond Resistance: No. This isn’t ”who we are.”Jennifer and Sarah dive into local and national data and find hope, motivation, and focus.
2025-01-1723 minBeyond Resistance PodEp. 2 Beyond Resistance: The Story Underneath the United Healthcare CEO shooting.Sarah and Jennifer discuss the headlines, the predatory insurance industry, and how politicians on both sides are missing the boat on what matters to people.
2024-12-0622 min
Beyond Resistance PodEp. 1 Beyond Resistance: The Biden Pardon. Who cares?Jennifer and Sarah discuss the outrage from the Left regarding President Biden's pardon of his son Hunter.
2024-12-0412 min