How To Not Lose Your Sh!t

This week was the 4th of July and like last year, we have a special episode to share with you. This year, our hosts Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein are tackling the question "what does freedom mean to me?" In a time when words like “liberty” and “parents’ rights” are being thrown around like confetti, it’s worth digging into what freedom and liberty really mean. Have a safe and happy Independence Day and we’ll see you next week!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

This week is the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. Politicians think reproductive freedom isn’t that big of a deal – “just a bunch of women, talking about their Dobbs again!” – but the truth is that women haven’t forgotten. We’re continuing to talk about it and share our personal stories, because those stories are how we connect with each other. We’re “heart-wired” to respond to them.We’re joined by Jen Perez, Red Wine & Blue’s program director in Ohio. Jen tells her personal story about why she left her high-powered corporate job to get involved in politics, and the personal reasons that Dobbs motivated her to step up. Jen also shares some updates about the ballot measure to protect reproductive freedom in Ohio and how women across her state have been banding together to fight for their rights.After that, Amanda sits down with Renee Bracey Sherman, the founder of We Testify, an organization dedicated to uplifting and telling the stories of people who have abortions. Renee discusses what it’s been like to lead an abortion storytelling organization in the wake of Dobbs and how she founded We Testify to make sure that people who have abortions don’t just have a seat at the table but a seat at every table.Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to congressional aides, letters from camp, and celebrating half-birthdays in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”If you love this podcast and you want to help us bring more listeners into our community, we would love it if you could go into your podcast app and leave us a rating and review. We’re so grateful that you're listening and we would so appreciate your help to bring even more women into the SWP family. We’re stronger together!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

We’ve been talking a lot this year about how we’re tired of the extremist attacks on our kids and public education under the guise of “parents’ rights.” Especially when those same extremists refuse to talk about the real danger to our kids: gun violence. So today, we’re digging into that difficult but important topic. We hear from Michigan mom Cara Erskine about the terrifying day she heard there was an active shooter at her daughter’s school - Oxford High School. Luckily her daughter survived, but ever since that day, Cara has been an inspiring advocate for common sense gun safety measures in Michigan.After that, Rachel gets the chance to sit down with US Congresswoman and Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin, also from the great state of Michigan. Rep. Slotkin shares why she’s been so outspoken about gun safety and how gun violence, not history books or diversity, are the real threat to our kids. She also discusses how Michigan has been able to pass so much exciting progressive legislation and why it’s so important to have a plan! Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to Father’s Day, Juneteenth, festival foods, engaging with constituents, and a little “me time” in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”Can you believe it’s been a year since the Supreme Court took away our reproductive rights? This Thursday June 22nd at 7:30pm ET, we’re holding a virtual community event to share how we’ve been stepping up since that day. We'll be joined by special guest Amanda Zurawski, who bravely shared her story in front of the Senate about how she almost died because of anti-abortion laws in her home state of Texas. 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

Red Wine & Blue has a big announcement… we’re going into Virginia! And we’re not just going in for one election, we’re going to have organizers on the ground year-round. So much of what we’re talking about this year – school boards, the Freedom to Parent – has its roots in Governor Glenn Youngkin’s election in Virginia. We can’t wait to meet and empower more Virginia women!Speaking of Virginia, we’re joined this week by Julie Shepard, a mom in VA who’s become an inspirational advocate for public schools and for military families. She says she’s had to step up and get involved in order to advocate for her kids. Julie also shares her personal experiences with having a nonbinary child and why she was so glad that they had safe teachers to talk to about it.Then Jasmine gets the chance to sit down with Penny Blue, Red Wine & Blue’s brand new program director in Virginia! Penny shares her thoughts about Virginia as a lifelong resident of the state, including the lessons she learned from her father who taught her to stand up for justice and to never feel like a second-class citizen. She even wrote a book about him called “A Time To Protest: Leadership Lessons from My Father Who Survived the Segregated South for 99 Years.”Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to passing the 6th grade and inspirational young scholars in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”Can you believe it's been almost a year since Roe vs. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court? We’ll be talking about it on the podcast and across Red Wine & Blue, and we want to know... How have you found your voice? What actions have you taken during this past year? Our stories are the way we connect with each other and you can submit yours at go.redwine.blue/Dobbs.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

Today we’re releasing a special live episode of the podcast as we react to the news of Trump’s indictment. Our hosts Rachel Vindman and Jasmine Clark are joined by Jo Carducci to talk through their thoughts and feelings, what exactly happened today, and what it all means.We’ll still have a regular episode of the podcast to share with you tomorrow - in fact, we have an exciting announcement to share. So don’t miss our episode on Thursday 6/15. We’ll see you then!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

This week we’re celebrating Pride Month! In a time when LGBTQ Americans are facing unprecedented attacks in legislation, on social media, in libraries and schools, and everywhere else, we wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate everything they bring to this country. The hosts are joined by Mindy and Lily Freeman, a trans high school student and her mom, to authentically share both their joy and their pain. Personal stories are such an antidote to misinformation, and we’re so grateful to both Mindy and Lily for sharing their stories. We’re also so impressed by their amazing work with the Gender Cool Project, Project Uncensored, PFLAG, and more.After that, Rachel sits down for an interview with Sarah Kate Ellis, the President and CEO of GLAAD - one of the largest advocacy organizations for LGBTQ people. Rachel and Sarah Kate chat about the importance of representation, the unwarranted hysteria over trans athletes, “parents rights,” and what it was like for Sarah Kate being pregnant at the exact same time as her wife! You can read about her wedding and learn more about “All Moms,” the children’s book she wrote with her wife Kristen.Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to blended families, school graduations, road trips, and the beautiful diversity of America in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”Red Wine & Blue has been holding AMA events as a part of our Freedom To Parent 21st Century Kids campaign. AMA stands for Ask Me Anything! And on Thursday, June 8th, we’re holding a special AMA event for the Gen Xers in our community. So get your 5 disc changer ready, pull on your best oversized flannel, and head down to the rec room with Jess McIntosh for a virtual conversation about gender where you can feel free to ask questions without any judgment. You can learn more and sign up here.We now have some exciting Suburban Women Problem merchandise to share with you as well! There are stickers, t-shirts, and even “Toast to Joy” champagne flutes to rep your love for the pod. You can check it out here: go.redwine.blue/SWPmerch.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

Today’s episode is all about money! What is the debt ceiling? Why does it matter? Why is poverty such an issue in America? And what can we do about it? Amanda, our resident economist, explains the debt ceiling, the deal that was just reached, how we're underinvesting in our communities, and why women know more about the economy than they think they do. We’re joined by Shereen Boyer, a mom in Ohio who’s worked in finance for over 30 years, to explain more about why the Democratic party aligns better with her values - not just her social values, but her economic values too.After that, Amanda sits down with Dr. Matthew Desmond, author of “Evicted” and “Poverty, By America.” Matthew explains what he learned when he walked a mile in the shoes of the people he studied and what misconceptions Americans have about poverty. He says that poverty is not a “them” problem, it’s an “us” problem - so many of us benefit from poverty in this country, but that also means that we can be part of the solution. If you’re inspired by his work and want to help be a “poverty abolitionist,” you can visit https://endpovertyusa.org. Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to kids growing up, Joe Biden, and our brave military service members in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”Red Wine & Blue has been holding AMA events as a part of our Freedom To Parent 21st Century Kids campaign. AMA stands for Ask Me Anything! And on Thursday June 8th, we’re holding a special AMA event for the Gen Xers in our community. So get your 5 disc changer ready, pull on your best oversized flannel, and head down to the rec room with Jess McIntosh for a virtual conversation about gender where you can feel free to ask questions without any judgment. You can learn more and sign up 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

This week, we’re celebrating libraries! Not only do librarians help kids (and adults) find the books they need, libraries are a vital “third space” in our communities. They provide resources and information, they promote inclusivity, and they’re a place where we can spend time with one another. Our hosts are joined by Carrie Wardzinski, a librarian and mom in Pennsylvania, who shares why she was drawn to the profession and what we can do to support our local libraries.After that, Jasmine gets the chance to sit down with amazing best-selling author Jodi Picoult. Many of Jodi’s books are facing bans around the country, so she and Jasmine chat about why book bans are so dangerous and what’s really behind them. Jodi also shares where she gets the ideas for her novels and why she thinks fiction is such a valuable way to tackle big issues like abortion, school shootings, and trans rights.Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to powerful stories, family hikes, and new experiences in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”Speaking of banned books, next month’s Banned Book Club is all about Jonathan Evison’s book Lawn Boy - one of the most commonly banned books in the country. We’d love for you to join us on June 7th at 7:30pm Eastern for this free virtual event. You can learn more and register to attend here: https://go.redwine.blue/v9n.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

This week, we did something we’ve never done before: we recorded a live episode in front of our listeners! It was so fun to celebrate our 100th episode with Heather Cox Richardson, some special Troublemakers, women from Red Wine & Blue, and most importantly… all of you!Our lovely hosts - Rachel Vindman, Jasmine Clark, and Amanda Weinstein - shared some reflections about imposter syndrome, all the conversations we’ve had in the past two years, and of course the Republican Party’s “suburban women problem.” Then we chatted with everyone’s favorite historian, Heather Cox Richardson, about the origins of Mother’s Day, the connections between reproductive rights and democracy, and the history of women shaping politics and the world.After that we were joined by Julie Womack, Chief Organizing Officer for Red Wine & Blue, along with her college-aged daughter Sydney! Julie and Sydney share a love of politics and their community, and they talked about what initially inspired them to get involved. Julie also shared more about Red Wine & Blue’s new initiative The Freedom To Parent 21st Century Kids. Because right now, a small but vocal minority of parents are claiming to speak for everyone and it’s time for mainstream parents to call BS. You can learn more about Freedom To Parent, including all of the fun and informative events we’re planning, by going to go.redwine.blue/SWPF2P.And finally, before we wrapped up our event, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raised a glass to Mother’s Day, all the women who inspire them, and all the Troublemakers out there in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.” And this week, Heather joined us with a toast of her own: to finishing her brand-new book!We now have some exciting Suburban Women Problem merchandise to share with you as well! There are stickers, t-shirts, and even “Toast to Joy” champagne flutes to rep your love for the pod. You can check it out here: go.redwine.blue/SWPmerch.Thanks again for joining us for 100 episodes! We can't wait for 100 more!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

We’re not gonna sugarcoat it - this week, we’re mad. We’re mad that every episode, there’s a new mass shooting to discuss, like some horrible version of Groundhog Day. We’re mad that politicians, even Democratic ones, don’t seem to be taking any action to fix it. We’re mad that a few extremist parents have been controlling the narrative and taking away books, lessons, and conversations from mainstream moms… like the ones who host this podcast! So Red Wine & Blue is calling BS and launching a new initiative called “The Freedom to Parent 21st Century Kids.” We’re joined by our very own Katie Paris, the founder of Red Wine & Blue, to tell us more about this Freedom to Parent program. It’s going to involve fun events, opportunities to talk to other moms and ask questions, a Banned Bookmobile, and so much more. We can’t wait for politicians to address these issues around “parents’ rights”; as usual, it’s up to moms themselves to advocate for their kids. As Katie says, the real world isn’t gonna stop being real; it’s just a matter of whether our kids are ready to thrive in it.After that, Jasmine chats with Chasten Buttigieg, our second-ever guest on the podcast! Chasten and Jasmine catch up about how they’ve been for the past two years, how much Chasten loves being a parent, and the new version of his memoir that he just released for young adult readers called “I Have Something To Tell You.” There are lots of ways to support LGBTQ kids in your community, like starting your own PFLAG chapter or just buying them a copy of Chasten’s book! You can pre-order his book or buy a ticket for his in-person book tour at ChastenWrites.com.Finally, Amanda, Rachel and Jasmine raise a glass to the end of the semester, the future mayor of Akron Shammas Malik, and of course to women getting together to make change in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”This was the last regular episode before our 100th episode live event! If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, you only have a few more days. The event will be happening on Monday May 15th and you can find tickets here. We also have a brand-new “I’m Part of The Suburban Women Problem” t-shirt for purchase! You can rep your love for the pod here. Thanks so much for joining us and we can’t wait to celebrate 100 episodes with you.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