

How To Not Lose Your Sh!t
Red Wine & Blue
Want to know how you can make a difference without losing your sh!t?Join Katie Paris and LaFonda Cousin, two moms with very different backgrounds who together run Red Wine & Blue – an organization of over half a million diverse suburban women working together to defeat extremism. Katie, the org’s founder, has worked in political organizing for most of her career. LaFonda, the Chief People Officer, is a wellness expert on a mission to reimagine self-care. Each week, LaFonda and Katie talk to experts and everyday women who are getting involved, building community, and feeling better in the process.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 24, 2024 • 46min
What's So Complicated About Consent? (with A'magine Goddard)
This week is the 51st anniversary of Roe v Wade and it’s so disheartening to think that there are women alive today who celebrated that victory only to have it taken away from them. But although clearly the fight is never really over, we won those rights in the past and we can win them again in the future.Then we explore a little-known aspect of consent and bodily autonomy with documentary director A’magine Goddard: the prevalence of pelvic exams on women under anesthesia who haven’t consented or even know about it. A’magine walks us through what’s happening, how it connects to the racist and misogynist history of gynecology, and most important how we can advocate for ourselves personally and through legislation. It’s not an easy conversation to hear but it’s so important to know what’s happening so we can fight for our rights.Finally, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to women’s volleyball and the power of film in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”And don’t forget to sign up for our Substack newsletter! This week we’re sharing the video of our interview with A’magine, a deeper dive into the history of gynecology, a Troublemaker video about miscarriage, and more. You can sign up by going to swppod.news. For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media! Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Jan 17, 2024 • 46min
Love, Not Lies (with Erin Reed)
We have an exciting announcement this week: The Suburban Women Problem just launched a Substack newsletter! It’s an opportunity for a deeper dive into each week’s topic and to share news, Troublemaker stories, pod videos, and more. To subscribe to our Substack, click here or search for “The Suburban Women Problem” on Substack.com.Our guest this week is journalist and transgender rights activist Erin Reed, who has a popular Substack of her own called Erin In The Morning. She also happens to be engaged to one of our favorite politicians, Rep. Zooey Zephyr in Montana! Erin shares how anti-trans legislation is at an all-time high - as of our recording, there were 220 anti-trans bills already introduced in the U.S. That’s in just the first 15 days of the year! She also answers our hosts’ questions about what exactly gender-affirming care means, what’s been going on in Ohio with Governor Mike DeWine, and why sharing trans joy is so important.Finally, Rachel, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to hope for 2024, to understanding different perspectives, and to everyone who supports local candidates in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media! Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Jan 10, 2024 • 46min
School Moms to the Rescue! (with Laura Pappano)
We’re officially back in the swing of things here after the holidays and we’re jumping right into it with an interview about public schools. But first, our hosts Rachel Vindman, Amanda Weinstein, and Jasmine Clark catch up about the news. We recently passed the 3-year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection and it’s upsetting to see how so many Americans have shifted their views from condemning it to explaining it away. It’s so important to have accurate journalism so narratives like “Jan 6 wasn’t a big deal” don’t catch on. The hosts also discuss the scapegoating and resignation of Harvard president Claudine Gay and the bill in OH that would ban gender-affirming care.Then we dive into the importance of education and the role that deeply involved “school moms” can play in saving our public schools with journalist Laura Pappano. We were so excited to talk to Laura about her new book, “School Moms: Parent Activism, Partisan Politics and the Battle for Public Education.” She shares what it was like to attend a Moms for Liberty conference, why inclusion is so crucial, and even that she listens to The Suburban Women Problem while she does Peloton. “School Moms” will be available on January 30th and you can read Laura’s Vanity Fair article here.Finally, Rachel, Amanda and Jasmine raise a glass to new Akron mayor Shammas Malik, to Jasmine’s fantastic fundraising event earlier this month, and to high hopes for a new legislative session in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”This week, Amanda mentioned the bill in Ohio that would ban critical gender affirming care - if you're in Ohio, please call your state reps and tell them to vote no on overturning Gov. Dewine's veto of HB68.And speaking of supporting the LGBTQ community, we're also hosting a live virtual event with author and former pod guest Lesléa Newman to talk about her new book "Always Matt: A Tribute To Matthew Shepard.” The event is on Tues 1/16 at 7:30 Eastern - you can learn more and RSVP here.For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media! Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Jan 3, 2024 • 23min
Chew Gum and Save Democracy (with Jill Jonassen)
Happy New Year, everyone! 2024 is a big year but we are ready to go, inspired by the victories and amazing conversations we had in 2023. In this special New Year’s episode, the hosts are joined by Red Wine & Blue story producer Jill Jonassen to discuss the best guests and conversations we had last year, how we’re feeling about this year, and what gives us hope. Suburban women know how to multitask, and this year we’re gonna need to walk, chew gum, AND save democracy!For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media! Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Dec 20, 2023 • 47min
Learn From The Past, Fight For The Future (with Ellen Cassedy)
This week we’re feeling inspired by the organizing work that women have done in the past, and ready to keep fighting for ourselves and the future. Our hosts shared their heartache over what’s happening to Brittany Watts in Ohio - a young Black woman who suffered a miscarriage at home and is now charged with a felony. These laws are terrifying and seek to turn an already tragic situation into a nightmare. The Dobbs decision criminalized abortion and now they’re trying to criminalize miscarriage! It’s vital that we keep talking about this and we’re glad that ABC News highlighted 18 women’s personal stories in a recent feature.Then we’re joined by Ellen Cassedy, the author of “Working 9 to 5: A Women’s Movement, a Labor Union, and the Iconic Movie.” Ellen shares her inspiring experiences organizing office workers and co-founding the 9 to 5 movement back in the 1970s. She discusses some of the ridiculous things that women were asked to do by their bosses and how they fought back. And she also shares the lessons she learned (listen, be flexible, be creative, and lean into diversity) that can help us continue to fight for our rights today.Finally, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to young people and their parents receiving news about college admissions and to winning an award in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”This is our last episode of 2023 and we're so glad you've joined us on The Suburban Women Problem this year. We're taking a week off for Christmas and we'll see you again in 2024!Here at Red Wine & Blue, we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate everyday heroes - from our pod hosts to our amazing guests to you! We wouldn’t have so many victories to celebrate from this year’s election if it wasn’t for your support. And now, we’re making it easier than ever for you to be a superhero for our sisterhood. To make a donation to our year-end giving campaign, or to learn more, visit pod.redwine.blue/give.For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media! Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Dec 13, 2023 • 44min
Extremists, Worry About Yourselves! (with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz)
We’ve been feeling heartsick this week over the woman in Texas who couldn’t get the abortion care she needed; first it was good news when a judge approved her request, then it was horrible news when the TX Attorney General threatened to prosecute her doctor and hospital. The same AG who has been accused of bribery and admitted to an extramarital affair! We have a clear message to him and every other hypocritical extremist: worry about yourself!Then we’re thrilled to be joined by Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She chats with our hosts about reproductive rights and the important role that suburban women have played in recent elections and will continue to play in 2024. They also talk about Israel, young people, and how we can make our voices heard. She even shares her home cooking instagram with us: Clean Cooking Congresswoman! Finally, Rachel and Amanda raise a glass to a kind gesture from the community and to men speaking out about reproductive rights in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”Here at Red Wine & Blue, we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate everyday heroes - from our pod hosts to our amazing guests to you! We wouldn’t have so many victories to celebrate from this year’s election if it wasn’t for your support. And now, we’re making it easier than ever for you to be a superhero for our sisterhood. To make a donation to our year-end giving campaign, or to learn more, visit pod.redwine.blue/give.For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media! Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Dec 6, 2023 • 36min
What’s Your Superpower? (with Adrienne Kirschner and Julie Womack)
This week, we’re celebrating everyday superheroes. From our podcast hosts to our Red Wine & Blue community to you, our listeners, we are blessed and grateful to have so many superheroes on our side. But as the holiday season gets underway, even superheroes are feeling the stress. As moms, so much of the planning and decorating and gift shopping falls on our shoulders, which can turn a meaningful holiday into a stressful to-do list. So this week, we’re joined by Julie and Adrienne from Red Wine & Blue to talk about giving the gift of democracy. There are so many ways we can support democracy all year round, but it’s nice to support causes we believe in as part of our holiday gifts. Finally, Rachel, Jasmine and Amanda raise a glass to brave daughters, new neighbors, and inspiring young people in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”You can find our bookmobile kits here: https://pod.redwine.blue/bookkits. The “what’s your superpower” quiz that Adrienne mentions in this episode can be found here: https://pod.redwine.blue/quiz. And finally, if you’re able to support Red Wine & Blue this giving season, we would be so grateful. You can donate and learn more at https://pod.redwine.blue/give.For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media! Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Nov 29, 2023 • 41min
Who You Gonna Call? (with Keir Bradford-Grey)
We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving week and were able to take some time to relax and recharge. We all worked so hard in the past few months to get the election results that we did, and it’s important to take some time to rest. This week, the hosts catch up about their holiday week and talk about the passing of Rosalynn Carter and, on the opposite end of the spectrum, the troubling reasons that Moms for Liberty have been in the news lately.Then Jasmine gets the chance to sit down with Keir Bradford-Grey, a candidate for Attorney General in Pennsylvania. If she wins, she’ll be the first woman of color to be elected to that office. Keir and Jasmine chat about what exactly an Attorney General does, how she can be an advocate for her constituents, and how her experience as a public defender has prepared her for the role.Finally, Rachel, Jasmine and Amanda raise a glass to kind strangers, great times with family, and supporting our public schools in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”Here at Red Wine & Blue, we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate everyday heroes - from our pod hosts to our amazing guests to you! We wouldn’t have so many victories to celebrate from this year’s election if it wasn’t for your support. And now, we’re making it easier than ever for you to be a superhero for our sisterhood. To make a donation to our year-end giving campaign, or to learn more, visit pod.redwine.blue/give.For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media! Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Nov 21, 2023 • 20min
Conversations With A Side Of Cranberries
This week is Thanksgiving and we’re talking about how to survive the political conversations that come up during the holidays. Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel share their own personal experiences with those tricky holiday conversations, which can be even trickier when you’re a mom. It’s important to listen and figure out what values you have in common with your relatives, but it’s also important to know when to stop the conversation and pass the mashed potatoes. We hope you’re having a safe and happy holiday season! Here at Red Wine & Blue, we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate everyday heroes - from our pod hosts to our amazing guests to you. We wouldn’t have so many victories to celebrate from this year’s election if it wasn’t for your support. And now, we’re making it easier than ever for you to be a superhero for our sisterhood. To make a donation to our year-end giving campaign, or to learn more, visit pod.redwine.blue/give.For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media! Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Nov 15, 2023 • 43min
Facts, Not Fear (with Dr. Leah Boustan)
It’s been a week since the election and we’re still smiling about the results! Republicans used scare tactics and misinformation about reproductive freedom, and it didn't work. So today we’re talking about another issue that becomes more about fear than facts… immigration.We got a chance to talk to Dr. Leah Boustan, a rockstar economist who studies immigration, and she shared some real facts and data with us. She recently published a book called “Streets of Gold: America's Untold Story of Immigrant Success” and our chat with her was so informative.Finally, Rachel, Jasmine and Amanda raise a glass to graduating from Leadership Georgia and to immigrants who are giving back to their country and communities in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”This month’s great election outcomes have been making us all smile, but for some of us, the upcoming conversations around the Thanksgiving table won’t make us quite so happy. If you’d like some help navigating discussions about the election, racism, or attacks on the LBGTQ+ community, we invite you to join us for a Troublemaker Training on Thursday November 16th. For more information or to RSVP, click here.For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue. You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media! Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA


