

SmartHERNews
Jenna Lee
Life is too short to waste time filtering through headlines searching for the facts. That’s when we realized the need for a quick, trustworthy news source that makes staying up-to-date easy and interesting. Our Goal is to Clear the Clutter. We’re committed to providing non-partisan news, in small servings, available wherever you are, whenever you want it. And for the Record: We Believe You’re Already Smart. We don’t need to tell you what to think or how to feel or what to believe. We just want to equip you with clear facts so you’re prepared for any conversation, any vote, any choice and never feel like you’re falling behind. Bullet-Points Without The Bias ~ We’re bringing you #SmartHERNews. SmartHER News is created and hosted by journalist Jenna Lee.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 21, 2023 • 27min
SCOOP: The Little Known Backstory To The "GOP" – Plus: What Makes A Hurricane?
We take a closer look at the acronym center-stage for the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season – plus: the storms to watch, and a new way to look at the moon (and why it matters). 0:00 New data shows that for the first time, more content is being consumed through streaming than through cable or broadcast channels. Here's why this matters as we wonder if this trend will continue! 4:33 Storms We're Watching: One historic storm on the West Coast – Tropical Storm Hilary – and one "more typical" storm creeping towards the Texas Coast. 7:26 An update on what's happening in Maui. 13:00 Politics: What we're watching for in the first presidential debate for the Republican Party (which will occur on Wednesday). Plus ~ Why do we use the term "GOP"? 23:18 Also On Wednesday: Whether or not India will land on the south pole of the moon, and why this matters. 25:35: Leaving you with a question! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Aug 14, 2023 • 43min
SCOOP: Escaping One of the Deadliest Fires in U.S. History
"This is really happening ... (and) we just watched Lahaina burn." Maui resident and mother Pamela Reader recalls the moments before and after one of the deadliest wildfires in American history – a fire she describes moving at an almost incomprehensible pace, leaving only minutes to evacuate her family, including her husband, Keenan and their two daughters, 14-year-old Kaia and 12-year-old Ellie. While the Readers lost their home and most of their belongings to the blaze, the family remains resilient in the face of uncertainty: "The Reader Family is built on love," said Keenan. "We feel we are the fortunate ones. We got out alive." . Maui Resources mentioned by the Reader Family: https://www.mauiprep.org/ / www.mauiprep.org/giving https://mauifoodbank.org/ https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/ https://mauiunitedway.org/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Aug 11, 2023 • 49min
Two Years Since The Taliban Takeover
Journalist Hollie McKay shares her experience reporting in Afghanistan during the Taliban takeover. She discusses the corruption that allowed the Taliban to regain power, the challenges faced by journalists in a more closed environment, and the impact of the Taliban on Afghan women. The podcast also reflects on the United States' perceived weakness and its effects on foreign policy, and explores doubts about the effectiveness of military interventions.

Aug 7, 2023 • 29min
SCOOP: The Bigger Picture: Hunting Snakes, Tackling An Indictment & Why America Matters
0:00 Excitement on our frontier in Texas over the weekend (hint: it has to do with snakes!) and a tie to this week's news! 6:16 A few stories we're watching and why, from weather on the East Coast to the bankruptcy of U.S. trucking company, Yellow. 10:32 On this day 241 years ago, George Washington established what we now know as the Purple Heart award. These are the sort of historic stories that remind us about why everything we're talking about matters, why America matters. 14:45 A brief overview of the third indictment of former President Donald Trump ~ At the core of this particular indictment is a question about a fundamental piller of American society. 27:11 What questions do you have about any news story? We love hearing from you! You can send us a voice-note by recording on your phone, and emailing it to SCOOP@SmartHERNews.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jul 31, 2023 • 34min
SCOOP: The "Real" Dog Days Of Summer
From enjoying alcohol without the "hangover" to a report on sinister code from China, to what's happening in Congress and overseas, this week, we cover a sampling of stories that all have the potential to become bigger! 0:00 Where does "the dog days of summer" phrase come from? 3:54 Enjoying alcohol without the "hangover" ~ With rising sales of non-alcoholic beverages, are we at a period of recalibration? 7:08 Important To Note: In general, lawmakers have *mostly* left D.C. (but it's not because of the weather). 8:57 Hack Attack: A sinister code reportedly from China apparently threatens infrastructure systems near U.S. military bases/installations. 12:45 How old is too old? Senators Mitch McConnell and Dianne Feinstein ignite a debate. 20:27Saudi Arabia is holding a peace summit with focus on Ukraine. TBD on whether there will be progress. 21:56 An American and her child were kidnapped in Haiti, as the U.S. State Dept. orders family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency government employees to evacuate, also advising U.S. citizens to depart the country “as soon as possible ...” 24:31 Quick updates on two cases we've been watching: Hunter Biden and former President Donald Trump. Bottom Line: The cases are evolving and not going anywhere. 27:02 On Friday, Jenna did a special interview with HGTV's Erin and Ben Napier about their new nonprofit, Osprey!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jul 28, 2023 • 53min
From "Home Town" to the Home Front: Erin and Ben Napier's New Passion Project
As the stars of HGTV's hit show "Home Town," Erin and Ben Napier have created a variety of ways to enrich the lives of others - from taking "sad homes and making them happy" as their daughter Helen describes their home renovation television program, to building a business highlighting American-made craftsmanship called "The Laurel Mercantile." But now the Napiers are adding a new project to their palette, a nonprofit platform to connect parents who want to help their children have "social media free" childhoods called "Osprey" which stands for "Old School Parents Raising Engaged Youth." The grass root effort is not only inspired by Erin and Ben's love for their own two daughters, but a reflection of shared experiences and values of close friends and family. As Erin and Ben say in the interview - Osprey helps us build nests for our kids - "so they can soar." Here's a link to Osprey so you can learn more: https://ospreykids.com/ Here's a link to the article with the latest research from the Surgeon General on social media and kids. And here's a link to SCOOP - which we discuss at the end of the interview, which you'll notice is AD-free on purpose as we want to stay focused on YOU over advertisters. Here's one way you can support SmartHER News! Here's a link Liz James, home to American-made jewelry, where we recorded this interview: Here's a link to The Laurel Mercantile that also features American-made craftsmanship. . Thank you for supporting nonpartisan news! Always more on SmartHERNews.com and Shop.SmartHERNews.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jul 24, 2023 • 37min
SCOOP: UPS, UFOs, NoKo and FYIs
From the threat of one of the largest union strikes in American history to "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena," to a nuclear state with nuclear threats and the bigger picture about why the current investigations into Hunter Biden and former President Trump REALLY matter. Considering joining SCOOP and keeping us ad-free and independent! HERE'S A QUICK LINK . Visit LizJames.com to see where Jenna broadcast from today! American-made jewelry in Austin Texas. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jul 20, 2023 • 48min
Is This Mystery "Solved"? The Long Island Serial Killer
Police make a surprising arrest in a murder mystery spanning more than a decade. Is the man currently in custody responsible for one of the most infamous crimes in America today? Hear from an investigative reporter who spent 8 years traversing the area central to these crimes. Alexis Linkletter's personal perspective will illuminate one of the darkest cases to date and provide hope that this arrest may lead to answers. . Listen to Alexis' incredible series on the Long Island Serial Killer on her podcast "Unraveled," and check out her weekly podcast "The First Degree." . You'll notice our podcast is ad-free – that's because we want to make sure to make news consumption easy and seamless in your day. Please consider joining SCOOP – our insider community of contributors to SmartHER News. For less than a cost of a cappuccino, you'll receive special reports once a week, with a cheat-sheet of news. We think it's "smarter" :) Click here for more: GET THE SCOOP.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jul 17, 2023 • 36min
SCOOP: Unsolved Mysteries & Half-Truths
From stories to keep on your radar (incl. a potential strike of UPS workers) to one of the most infamous murder cases in America, this week's SCOOP takes on some mystery as we discuss the news coverage of crimes. Stories To Watch: What's going on in the Black Sea (an important body of water that borders Ukraine and Russia)? Back at home, the National Defense Authorization Act (annual military spending bill) is being discussed in the U.S. Senate after being narrowly passed in the House. On the horizon: a potential strike by UPS workers. A Deeper Dive: What's going on in the U.S Senate regarding the confirmation of more than 200 military members? News coverage of crimes related to 1) an Alabama woman who went missing on Thursday and returned home on Saturday, and 2) murders at Gilgo Beach which have been investigated for more than a decade, and a man who is now under arrest for three of the murders. . Considering joining SCOOP and keeping us ad-free and independent! HERE'S A QUICK LINK . Visit LizJames.com to see where Jenna broadcast from today! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jul 10, 2023 • 35min
SCOOP: Escaping The Vacation Vortex
From "Bomblets" to enduring love and a few trips in between: The holiday week comes to a close and Congress returns to work. A cooler than expected job number may still be too hot for some. The President closes the door to Ukraine NATO membership before traveling overseas. Meanwhile, U.S. cluster bombs ("bomblets") head to Ukraine. Clarifying the Supreme Court decisions by answering Jessica's question (it's a good one!). The secret to staying married 77 years. Plus historic context from a famous duel for some perspective for our times. . Visit LizJames.com to see where Jenna broadcast from today! . Considering joining SCOOP and keeping us ad-free and independent! HERE'S A QUICK LINKSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy