March 22, 2024 • 50 mins
SMNTY is overjoyed to once again be joined by Georgia House Representative Park Cannon. We check in on reproductive rights, voting rights, and why elections matter.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey, this is Annie and Samantha. I could be Stefan
never told you a production of Ihart Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
And today, y'all, we are coming back on with a
friend of the show. I think one of the first
friends that I made thanks to the show through the podcast.
I fangirled really hard. I think I was so giddy
when you came on that everybody was like, is she okay?
Because I was so excited to have you on. And
actually it was one of our last interviews that we
(00:41):
did in that studio because the pandemic had happened, we
quickly wanted to shut down. But with all of this, yes,
I'm building it up. We are here today with Representative
Park Canon of Georgia House District fifty eight. Welcome back,
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
I am still legislatively yours. I am still the youngest
Democrat elected to the House in Georgia and now I
am the secretary of the Caucus.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yes, you have done so much, and if you can't tell,
I'm still fangirling because I have watched you continue to
grow doing so much for our community specifically and being
our voices, and very excited that you are continuing in
this track with our interests in mind, and I really
(01:33):
feel like you're one of the hopes that we have
when it comes to politics, because it's been disappointing. Let's
be honest, you know, I think we came back with
a lot of heartbreak in the last four years, a
lot of also, you know, restoration of faith as well.
But you are one of the few that I'll still
(01:53):
keep watching and have not been disappointed by. So thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Okay, Honestly, I feel like there are some lesbian fore
mothers and some queer folks out here holding me accountable,
and so the work is definitely of our office, but
also I think of a lot of the people who
feel like things are broken now.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
And of course you have given some of the things
that you've been doing and you're still doing, and we
have to put behind your title, you know, advocate. Of
course style icons still are because you're killing it well.
As I'm watching you on Instagram, I'm like, I need
silent advice from her reproductive justice advocate in Doulah. And
you've been fighting so hard with that. You're an author, Hello,
(02:39):
yes you are, and yeah, you've done so much and
we're so excited to have you back on And with that,
how have you been. How are you doing?
Speaker 4 (02:51):
It's been interesting.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
I now have two therapists and my team at the
Capital has grown to make sure that we've got everything covered,
and ultimately I've started ballroom dancing.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Cool.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Yes, your girl did a chat shot competition, and I'm
not going to get too much into it because it
was for charity. But I got the highest points in
the competition but walked away with no trophy because they
had a sudden dance off in a totally different genre
(03:31):
and I was just giving basic and they needed extra.
So the moral of the story is I'm fine, but
I'm still missing that trophy.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
God, come on, we need to see clips of those
because I have questions.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
I will email it to you immediately.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
It's on my Instagram and your girl is still going
to therapy over it.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Too.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I would too. But that's still amazing that you went
and competed because for me, things like that, I'm like, no,
thank you. I would be on the sideline eating popcorn
watching you do it.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
No, I really have to move a lot of the
stuff that happens at the Capitol out of my body.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Yeah, And so I.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Go to the sauna and I go to stretch class
and physical therapy and just try to use some different
herbs in my baptob you know, just really trying to
get the white supremacy off of me.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Yeah. Oh, and in the state of Georgia, I can't imagine.
But with all that, you have been obviously very very
busy being on the front lines in Georgia politics. You've
been on the front pages of news all over the country,
all of the nation, fighting for your people in your community. Again,
that's a whole lot of responsibility being placed onto your shoulders.
(04:50):
I cannot imagine, and I'm thinking I don't think you
hit enough baths, enough of those to be able to
completely relax. But again, like guys said, just watching you
doing the work that you're doing, still fighting especially what
feels like an uphill battle constantly has been so it's
(05:13):
not just encouraging. There's so many words that I don't
have enough of because we know, again after being disappointed,
this is the moments where I'm like, yeah, I know
I'm significantly older than you, but you're doing all of
this work, and I know it has to be from
people like you, unfortunately, because you're the ones who really
(05:34):
really push it forward.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
And I love that.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
We're super future minded in my office, to the point
where we're thinking past the wars that we're in. We're
thinking past the brutality that we're seeing and past the
mortality experiences, really into a world that is infinite with opportunity.
So I think that this last session, I went in
(05:59):
thinking how can I serve members even when they don't
know they're being served, and how can I rest a
little bit more. So I've been calling myself internally the
sedentary secretary because I've been trying to sit down and
do the work more because people would always say, like
(06:20):
there goes part Candon, like her feet are going fast
as down a hallway, and I enjoyed like the click clack.
But I've also realized being sedentary, being settled, helping people
see the power in, you know, being organized. So I've
been enjoying the sedentary secretary role a little bit this year.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Ooh, the power being organized. That's a statement that I
don't I don't understand. I need it, but I don't
understand it. Yeah, And as the secretary, I know you know,
and the world knows that a lot is happening right
now in Georgia. We are a pretty big focal point
(07:01):
for a lot of things, and one of the big things,
of course, has to do with the overturning of Roe v. Wade,
and in before then, even before then, conservatives in Georgia
have been working to completely dismantle abortion rights. We know
that it's been a thing. They've been doing this and
now have had the chance to run with that, unfortunately,
(07:23):
and they have places that six week ban in full fact,
and we know that access has been severely limited, even
though there's more support for abortion access than not like publicly,
but hey, who want Why do we care what the
people want?
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Right?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
What are some things we may not know about the
law that just that was passed.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, so the law makes it ambiguous on to who
can drive into hov lane, because how does a police
officer decide who's pregnant or not? And when do you
decide that the pregnancy is viable enough to get out
of a ticket. It also makes it so that the
process of child support can be started while someone is
(08:05):
in the womb, And it also makes it so that
different health care facilities are criminalized ultimately for their role
in dealing with miscarriages.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
So it's a pretty.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Intense reality that we have here in Georgia, which is
why I'm proud of organizations like ARC Southeast and the
Feminist Women's Health Center that still provide access to abortion
inside the state and also help you travel or get
childcare or hotel care if you have to go outside
(08:38):
of the state. And legislatively, we've been passing bills to say,
if you're going to make it so that people have
to remain pregnant and carry to term, then you're going
to need to change some systemic issues. So this year
we were able to create a new Commission on basically
Maternal Equity and Excellence, and so it will convene fourteen
(09:03):
different stakeholders who are not just obgi ns, but who
are system administrators and pelvic floor specialists and chiropractors who
can say what's wrong with George's healthcare system. As well
as we've put some more money in the budget for
our review committee, which when someone passes away in childbirth,
(09:26):
there's this review committee that figures out how it happened.
And that review committee has been so key.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Because it has proven that.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Eighty nine percent of the births that ended fatally in
Georgia were preventable.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
So when things are preventable.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
That means that we should start compensating people. So just
yesterday I put in a bill that would create a
survivor's fund for families of those who pass away in
childbirth right.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yeah, and as in fact, that was something I was
going to bring up because you've been sponsoring or introducing
bills since the new policies have happened with the overturning
of Roe v. Wade, trying to lessen the restrictions or
at least help those who are most affected by those
bills like HB one, I know, the Georgia pro Birth
Accountability Act, which was amazing, Like you have some of
(10:25):
the best I feel like, comebacks to, like the most
archaic and all awful bills or policies that have happened.
You just come back with like, Okay, well let's talk
about this instead. And I love that because you do
this in politics, you do this in policy form, and
I'm like, damn, I don't know if people realize how
(10:46):
artful this really is, and we don't talk about it enough.
But bills like this, which is something try to hold
people accountable for irresponsible bills that target pregnant people but
don't want to actually help or give a sense after
birth or in case of death. So you kind of
already talked about it, but can you elaborate more on
(11:07):
why these bills are important, why we need to keep
talking about it, and actually we need to make it
public for sure.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
So, for example, a mama who is on Medicaid in
Georgia right now gets to have health insurance simply because
that person is pregnant, but as soon as the pregnancy
is over, they can be kicked off of Medicaid. So
we expanded Medicaid for mama's only postpartum in Georgia, and
(11:34):
that gives folks up to one year, which covers that
postpartum possible mortality period. But what we've seen is that
not only are people barely surviving that one year, but
they're having a lot of other complications and issues that
could be viewed from other medical perspectives if the system
(11:59):
was paying attention.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
So, for example, we put a bill together this.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Year that says, why wait for the six week ob
visit to ask the mama how her mental health is.
Why don't we just have that happen at the newborn visit,
which happens within one week of birth and these bills
are so important for medicaid mamas because they're expecting that
(12:29):
the system is going to set off an alarm and say, hey,
it's time for you to come in for this visit.
Hey it's time for you to check in about birth control,
and the systems are not. The OB's are not talking
to the pediatricians, who are not talking to the labor
and delivery nurses, who aren't talking to the doulas. So
(12:50):
that's why it's so important that we put together this
commission where everyone can finally talk to each other and
get out of silos. And on top of that, with
the Survivor's Fund. We've been hit with naysayers who will say, well,
there is an anti gratuities clause in the state of Georgia,
(13:12):
which means that same way that legislators can't get free
tickets to things, that residents of Georgia can't just receive
free government money and free government you know items.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
And so some naysayers have.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Said, well, what does the state have to do with
a mama who passes away in childbirth's child going to kindergarten?
Speaker 4 (13:37):
And our response is.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Everything, how can we make it possible that this is
not something that you can talk down on, but that
you can publicize. And so the way that we're seeing
this is if that review committee deems a death as preventable,
(13:59):
that pros takes one year, so it's at least a
year after the mortality, and then the family could apply
and by that point, you know, some of the grieving,
some of the trauma, some of the family issues might
have resolved a little bit, so that now you can
make a plan for that child's life and the guardian
(14:22):
or whoever it's going to be. And we're hopeful that
what we'll see is that people who have almost passed away,
which we call morbidity, maternal morbidity or a near miss,
that will start to catch some of their experiences too,
as they start to reach out to the committee to
(14:43):
share what's going on with them.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Yeah, one of the things that we're seeing with all
of these walls or legislations that are being proposed that
are very anti abortion, anti reproductive rights is fear, I think,
(15:07):
in confusion, just mass confusion. So technically abortion is still
legal here and you've already talked about some things still
legal here in Georgia. I mean, what do the listeners
need to know when it comes to Georgia, and that.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Here in Georgia, if you take a pregnancy test and
you see that you're pregnant, you're going to need to
follow up and find how many weeks pregnant you are
because that determines your access to care. There are some
clinics that are able to provide abortion pills to you
(15:43):
if when you receive your ultrasound, if it says that
you're less than six weeks gestation, and if you are
over six weeks and it is not an extreme case
of incest or rate that you have reported to the
police and have a report for, then you will have
(16:06):
to go out of state to North Carolina and receive
services there, which they go a little bit further than
we do, but they also don't go as far as
the next state, which would be Virginia. So right now
we are seeing a lot of families leave Georgia and
(16:26):
head straight for Virginia without checking how far along they are,
just to make sure that they can get the best care.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Right, which is upsetting, Like, there's so many conversations that
need to be had with these kind of restrictions. But yes,
but they act like the fact of the matter is
it is still technically legal six weeks and of course
with the mini guidelines, that's just like we're like I
can't even I get so angry. I can't even talk,
(16:55):
like I'm just I'm just fumbling through the requirements that
they have set up for access and it is almost impossible.
It's kind of that same level of like they're hoping
that you'll go to a pregnancy center and like being
tricked into all of that. So I'm not even gonna
go into all that because I don't. I will flip things.
(17:16):
I will throw things apart right now, Like I just
want to throw things. So I'm gonna calm down. But
like there's so many things that need to be had,
but that things like the organizations that you were talking
about arec who I love. They are probably one of
my favorite organizations. Really do so much, but make sure
that they are fighting for reproductive rights in general, Like
they're not just working to help their clients, are helping
trying to help those in this area.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Which yeah, they're in the Amplify Coalition, which is a
collaborative of different nonprofits to amplify issues of reproductive justice.
So the Amplify folks have been down at the Capitol.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
They have been doing great work.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
And I'm super grateful too that we get to have
different converss, like about trans folks, about queer communities, about
how COP City impacts queer folks, and Amplify is really
leading on those issues.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Yeah, and there's some big stuff I didn't even I
haven't even tried to bring up cop City because I'm like, oh,
that's another I bring it up in like sarcastic tone
because it's just still so bleak being in Georgia and
knowing what is happening here already, and you're like, well,
what with the people who I thought I could trust
in this city council? Really turned up disappointing, as I said,
(18:33):
But like this is when I'm talking about the amount
of disappointment that I've seen within our government who I
thought would do what was for the best interest, and
the fact that it's very like this is getting shorter again.
You're still on my list, Thank you so much more. Yeah, okay, yeah,
but you know, and on top of that, and in
this conversation, we have to talk about the voter suppression
(18:55):
stuff that has been happening and sat in the South
and in Georgia as well, and the continued use of
trickery and all the things that's happening here. And Georgia
has become a swing state. We know this and when
it comes to elections, and we've become a focal point
for many when it comes to the results in elections
and government. And even after both Kemp and Raethisberger confirmed
(19:19):
that there were no fraud or illegal doings in twenty twenty,
they still use that fear mongering to make it harder
for marginalized folks to vote. And they did this nicklely
and deceptively by signing the Election Integrity Act of twenty
twenty one, which I feel like is a slap in
the face in general, like that's such a lie. That
is not that is not what's happening.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
That was their talking point for that year, integrity, and
we really read through it and helped them understand that
it was really just human rights violations.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
So right, right, and you you actually decided to take
action on that. But before we get into that, can
you talk about why acts like these are harmful for
voters and do not put integrity into anything.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Yeah, when you revamp the entire voting code, However, you
don't get input from First Amendment organizations, voting rights groups,
nor the offices at the local departments that are going
to effectuate the elections, you know that there is no
integrity to it. We have seen that in the recent elections,
(20:32):
people have continued to show up to early vote more
than they have shown up on election day. And that's
been great because then it gives you an opportunity to
vote in different places at different times. But also we
have seen some voter confusion as to what district they're
in because since I talked to y'all last we've gone
(20:55):
through two cycles of redistricting, whereas we only should have
had zero.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
So we had to.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
Come in in a special session re draw maps. Then
they went to court, and then the court had to
decide if they complied with the Voting Rights Act. And
although we, along with ACLU and a number of other
organizations argue that they did not comply with the Voting
Rights Act, the Court's ruled in the favor of our
(21:25):
opponents and said that the maps could go into effect.
And so simply just helping people know what district they're
in right now has been important due to these voter
issues and changes over the past few years.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Yeah, and of course, as Georgia residents and voters, we
want to thank you because not only did you take
action against something that was so harmful to us, but
you helped bring attention to the n ethical practices and
policies like these. No matter what, they did not come
out looking good. There was nothing about this that was like, oh, yeah,
they're doing great hiding it. But while you were going
(22:02):
through this, you were a store, you were going on
the front page news everywhere. I remember seeing it going, yeah,
that's my girl right there, that's my friend. I was like, yeah,
if there were, But what was going through your mind
when all this came about when you were going at
the door, Like, if you want to talk about it,
you don't have going to detailed I know you've talked
about it many times, but having to stand at the
(22:22):
door trying to get their attention to be like, this
is not the way this works, and then having to
try to like just have an adult conversation is what
it's like.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
This week is the three year anniversary of my unlawful
arrest at the Georgia State Capitol, and the reflections that
I have on it are twofold one that I am
actively suing the State of Georgia right now in order
for them to understand that they violated my rights and
(22:52):
there is compensation as well as changes that need to
happen so this does not affect another legislator. And secondly,
that the world is watching, the world has seen these
same officers arrest other elected officials in their capacity, that
the world has seen them pass voter challenge laws in
(23:17):
front of plantation photos, that the world has seen them
continue to evade responsibility for interfering with elections in Fulton County.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
So as I reflect on it, I'm.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
So proud that Fannie Willis was recently elected the district
attorney when my unlawful arrest happened, and she was able
to drop the charges, and today we have been standing
with her. I am now the Fulton County Chair and
so as Fulton County elected officials, we have been supporting
(23:54):
her through this.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
Time in which they have been trying to put her
on trial. But they should.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Be terrified because they have awoken so many other people,
Like in my experience, they woke so many people who
thought that voter challenges were of the past, and in
her case, they have awakened many individuals who can see
(24:24):
how masogyny plays into elected leadership and how at the
same time she has been phenomenal with her pursuit of
justice for all of Georgia and the nation. So I'm
feeling kind of excited that this is where we are
and that the eyes are still on Fulton County voters, right, I.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Will say, Like watching the TikTok videos of the different
testimonials and all that testifying happening, I'm like, Okay, I
am a millennial genexer. So when this phrase stand on
business came out, I was like, what now, I get it,
Like watching her, like, oh, that's what that means. Like
those are the moments and you doing what you did,
(25:07):
like standing there and making sure that people will understood
we're watching you. You can't hide this. We're not gonna
let you hide this. Like both of those moments are
like I get that, I get that phrase.
Speaker 4 (25:19):
I'm here now, Yes, we stand for Fanie. Yes.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
And I'm telling you what the level of professionalism that
she has like this is the I feel like a
battle of competence versus ignorance, Like the difference of like, yeah,
this is what this looks like, Yeah, I like it.
Thank you for representing Georgia in such a way for
Fulton County. Right, but oh, I hadn't realized that you
(25:46):
are a chair for Fulton County. You're very busy.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Yeah, you're very busy. Well again, thank you for being here. Okay,
speaking of we are back into presidential election season again.
Feels like we never left. But they're very similar scenarios
that we've seen before. But what are some things that
(26:10):
we should all be paying attention to right now? What
are some key factors we may need to know.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
So the reason why we vote in the March primary
is to designate our party so that in the May
primary that candidates like myself can reach out to their voters.
And right now it's so important because we've had all
these redistrictings. So as much as people have been like,
(26:39):
I'm not interested in voting for either candidate, that's fine.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
I hear you.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
The progressivism has not been there, and we would regress otherwise.
But this is a system of participation. It does not
award people who do not participate. So I am pushing
for voter participation as a process. I want you to
(27:07):
know what district you were in last election and which
one you're in this time. I want you to know
what was your polling place and what is it now,
because even my polling place change this election, and I'm
the elected official, so I know that for other people
the process of receiving a notice in the mail and
(27:30):
saying this says my polling place has changed?
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Do I believe it? Is this real? Is this not?
Speaker 3 (27:35):
There is going to take more voter touches from myself
the candidate, to help people feel like, Okay, yeah, this
is real. I've gotten a notice in the mail. Park
Cannon's office has told me on letterhead, and then I
also received a campaign literature from her. But if you
don't participate, you literally don't get put on the super
(27:58):
voter's list. So you drop from being a person who
has voted in three of the four previous elections to
two of the four previous elections. And it wasn't because
of anything other than your unwillingness to vote for a
specific candidate to which you could write in. So we've
(28:19):
been talking a lot about folks, you know, needing to
understand the point of the primaries is really to help
us figure out what is our database and so all
the data folks out there, all the people who are
good at Excel spreadsheets, all the people who do real
estate and who do generating leads, you understand why having
(28:43):
data that is accurate is important. Secondly, the issues that
hit the federal level really come to pass at the
state level. So when we're talking about issues of immigration,
as much as it is the federal government's purview to
(29:07):
determine policies related to how they treat people migrating, how
they fund the resources for them, and how they deal
with criminalities, it comes to bear with a local sheriff
deputy pulling someone over.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
And so we need.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
To be clear that when we vote for the federal elections,
we are enabling or disabling local actors to do what
needs to be done to not violate people's human rights.
And my concern right now is that people feel like
this is us showing our loyalty to federal actors, when
(29:55):
really this is us being the first line of defense
for our lofe local people to be okay. And so
our office can't wait to get out of session.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
We finish on the twenty eighth, and we are going.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
To be knocking people's doors hosting events, having rallies not
for candidates but for.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Cause, right, which I've seen you've been doing during the
middle sessions as well. I know you've been doing those things.
And I think, yeah, that important message of like how
how it does affect what's going on in a local level,
and we have to be careful and watch it, like
all of these things interact together, and it does affect
(30:40):
us all as we've continued to see things that have
happened on a federal level in the Supreme Court has
absolutely drastically affected all of us, even though it's supposed
to be with that whole intent of being state rights bs.
But you know, that's a whole different conversation, which is
what the concern is. Which is that conversation, Because yeah,
I'm definitely one of the I'm like, I don't like
(31:00):
my options, but I'm gonna go with the lesser equal,
and I know it's important that I have to stick
to that because when we were laxed for a second,
and I don't think I was that laxed to begin
like I say this, and that I voted and I
was concerned, and I remember people being like, it's not
that big of a deal. When Trump came through, it's
not that big of a deal, and we saw like
it's been a wreck. It's been a wreck. Uh.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
My legislative life has been starkly different throughout the three
presidencies I've served under Obama, Trump and Biden. And what
I can say is that if you're not concerned with
supporting a federal candidate, think about the impact that either
(31:46):
of those presidencies would have on Queer local elected officials
like myself who are defending against these issues. Like just
scale back and think about how it empowered folks like
us who are on the ground and who know our
community as well, so that it feels less icky.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Right, that's a good way to say. Sorry. I know
it gives you the ick, but you got to figure
out what it really does mean.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Think about me, Think about me and my shoes and
my glasses and me being bopping around the streets of Atlanta.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
Like, focus on that side.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Here and before we end, because there's still several more
things that we don't talk about, but we do have
to throw it back to our last interview with you,
when we talked about how you got into politics to
begin with and your advice for others who are interested
as well. And not only did you give us some
great advice then and listeners, but you've actually written a
(32:50):
book to give a step by step guide and insight
into running for office that's titled The Universal Guide to
Running for Office State Level, which, by the way, I
found out the d KABA library. I was very I
was like, yeah, library system and I was able to
check it out and read through it, so I was like.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Look at here.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Honestly, shout out to my friend Michelle who has been
getting my books into library systems in different places, and
anyone who's listening. If you want a copy for your
local library, just present it to them and they should
be able to put it on the shelf.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Yeah, and it's great. I was so excited to get it.
And not only do you give straightforward practical advice like
raising funds and campaigning and paperwork even and even about
like yard signs, like you were all in it, but
you talk about the need for justice inclusion care as well.
(33:50):
I'm gonna quote from the book because you know that's
what I like to do. Bring the issues of all
types of justice to the forefront of your campaign, racial, economic, transit, healthcare,
environmental ability, reproductive, criminal, restorative, global, and social to start
a list of some that voters care to hear from
you about. This is one of the most liberating parts
of running for office because it truly allows many viewpoints
(34:12):
and needs to be explored and expanded based on your actions.
And I feel like, even though that sounds obvious, I
don't think we get to truly witness this in many politicians,
in many people in government. So can you expand on
my practicing? I want to say this. I see this
as empathy essentially and care intersectionality, But can you expand
(34:34):
onto why it's important to have this type of lead
in politics and policy.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
When candidates realize that people want to vote for more
than just talking points, but for actual, lived experiences and
opportunities for collaboration, then things are better. Because if I
walk up to someone's porch and they've done some renovations,
(35:00):
I'm excited to talk to them about who do they
use and how did it work and why do they
decide this style and etc. Versus me just walking up,
putting the flyer on the door, and walking away. If
I just leave my flyer, all they see are talking points.
But if I actually try to engage with them, try
to go to their neighborhood meetings. I get to hear
(35:21):
about what's going on. And maybe for some communities the
idea of renovating your porch is controversial because it needs
to fit into a artistic.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
Mold of the neighborhood, you know.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
But for other communities it's a sign of economic prosperity
to be able to, like redo your grandmama's porch, And
so there's some code switching of course that takes place
as a candidate, and really, campaign managers and campaign team
members are the ones who can help you to stay
to the ground. Like maybe out of a block of ten,
(35:58):
you knock five doors and your tear em knocks five,
but at least you have that come together conversation where
you're like, Okay, what were they talking about over there?
Speaker 4 (36:08):
And I'm excited that now that we are.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Experiencing the COVID a different way and people are open
to seeing each other face to face and being out
in community events, that candidates who are running this cycle
will have the opportunity to be more external and to
be more long winded. But it was just a function
of the pandemic that I feel these past three years,
(36:36):
candidates have really had to be concise, and so I'm
hopeful to see more folks reach into our groups, reach
into the book and try to come up with some
like savvy slogans and interesting campaigns.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
And I've been seeing some of.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Them around, Like the yard signs are coming out now,
and people are really starting to, I think, pull their
identities to the front instead of pushing them back.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
I love that. I also love that you put your
glasses that's part of your yard sign.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
Yes, yeah, it was so good tested it it said
looking out for you, for thinking, and so I want
more candidates to do things like that. Like there's a
young elected official who just got into the house and
his last name is Bell. So on his yard science
he has a bell and then like all of his
things is like wake up, it's time right, or like
(37:28):
you know, the bell is ringing for justice. And so
I think that when candidates start to get into more
creative ways of campaigns, that you get people to come
to you instead of you having to go to them.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
Annie loves a good pun, so she's she's down for
all those. And you, as you were talking, you are
currently in election season yourself, and now you are a pro.
You are a pro at this, but I'm sure as
time has changed, as candidates have changed, as federal levels changed,
(38:04):
and as our societies changed, you've had to adapt to it,
like you talk about the pandemic and COVID and having
to change in that way. Is there or maybe you didn't.
I'm assuming this is my assumption, But is there anything
different you're doing this time around than you were before.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
This time around, we're working backwards from the voter registration
deadline instead of working backwards from election day, So we're
thinking about by the voter registration deadline, people should have
these three things they're polling place in mind, the candidates
they're willing to vote for, and who it is that
(38:43):
they're going to turn out, instead of waiting until after
the voter registration deadline, when then you might not be
able to get some registered or you might not be
able to change your address. So I think that that's
going to help us to increase our turnout by just
making sure that folks know where to vote and have
those decisions made sooner.
Speaker 5 (39:05):
Yes. Yes, So.
Speaker 1 (39:17):
One thing you did in your book that wasn't quite
what we expected was that you had a whole section
of affirmations. So can you talk about what made you
decide to put that in there and why you think
that is something that is important.
Speaker 3 (39:31):
Yeah, I'm a doula, so I'm always helping folks with
their emotions. And I realized that candidates need a doula too,
because you face the world as yourself and then come
home and take care of your family life, and sometimes
even the folks closest to you.
Speaker 4 (39:52):
Don't know how to help.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
So placing on paper some of your affirmations based on
the things that you've gone through, I found can really help,
especially when, for example, I was trying to figure out
like am I gonna be ten minutes late to this
neighborhood meeting or am I going to stop and get
(40:15):
me a bubble tea? One of my affirmations is I'm
going to get that bubble tea because my mouth is
now juicier and I've got some you know, good feelings
going on. I can kind of come into the meeting
and people are like.
Speaker 4 (40:34):
Oh, she drinks boba. Yeah she drinks boba. Oh what
kind of boba? You know?
Speaker 3 (40:38):
And so it helped me to get out of just
the cookie cutterness of campaigns and so I have some
really interesting affirmations in there that are things like related
to the bubble tea, but then also things that are
about your aspirations for the world, Like I'm so glad
that I wrote the affirmation we can win without war
(41:03):
in my book back in twenty twenty one, because I.
Speaker 4 (41:08):
Still feel that way.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
I still feel like the binary conversations that are happening
about global justice right now.
Speaker 4 (41:15):
We can win this without the war. We really can.
We got to figure it out.
Speaker 3 (41:21):
But letting folks write their own affirmations, I'm hopeful will
bring them closer to their communities too, and then be
like a journal that they can look back on in
their candidate experience and not feel like it's all washed
over them.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
Yeah. You know, one of the affirmations that kind of
surprised me when I was ringing through it was I
will hold myself accountable because that's not the typical that's
not the typical affirmation that you you know, like we
might joke about, I feel good today, I feel pretty
all these things. But that was a surprising one because
I'm like, ah, that's some real talk to yourself, Like
that's that's an interesting affirmation in understanding that you're gonna
(41:59):
have to take a minute and realize what that actually means.
But with that, for us who are just trying to
get through this year and hopefully not have a horrible,
horrible result, can you share a good affirmation for us
to start with, because that's not a typical thing that
I do.
Speaker 4 (42:18):
Yes, we are.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
Of the practice that we practice. So if we practice
to not vote, we are going to continue to see
our access to the ballot go away. If we practice
being in positivity with our neighbors, like not being gentrifiers
(42:42):
who call the police on black people, then we too
will probably face better circumstances when it comes to our policing,
our mortality. And as legislators, we jump out of the
legislative session into the campaign cycle overnight. But for voters,
(43:06):
this is going to feel like a long time, like
just from March until November. And so what are the
practices that you can put in to make this chunky,
to make this soup have some taste, to give it
a vegetable and a tofu. And so I'm hopeful that
people will be like, oh, you know what, I could
(43:27):
do a voter registration check on my neighbors. I could
text five people and ask them before the voter registration
deadline if they're registered. I could go to a rally
or plan a rally, like I could decide to drive
some people to the polls and then I could vote.
So hopefully we are you know of the practice that
(43:48):
we practice like it.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
I like that you also added tofu like that's that's
not difficult, like it's a super over here, soa and
I love having to to all of it. Kimchichi k
all the tofou play, thank you. Yeah, and uh, you've
done so much and you've kind of already talked about
it because you were talking about ballobagazing and realizing that
you need to leave some of the darkness when it
(44:16):
comes to policy being in government work behind and let
it off of you a little bit. But can you
tell us some things that you are some other of
the things, or just even go into more detail on
how you try to relax and pause from the chaos
of all of this.
Speaker 3 (44:33):
Yeah, I learned from the legislator who left the seat
before me that burning out happened within a system of people,
within a group of people, and it's not always personal.
So when I'm seeing other legislators be like, I don't
(44:54):
want to qualify for reelection. I can't deal with this
constituent reaching out to me about cop city, I don't
know what to say about issues that are global or
domestic issues, or I don't want to be a surrogate
for this person. I can start to hear the burnout
happening too, and I can be somewhere, maybe further along
(45:16):
in my healing process to help them along too, And
I can just ask them like, hey, you do know
that there's this one organization that will pay for a
therapist for us, or hey, do you want to come
with me and work out before session? And I'm not
solving all the issues that they have, but just kind
of calming the collective burnout in some ways is important.
(45:39):
And then when people decide that they do want to
move on, that they are going to run for something
higher or they're not going to run for reelection, like
really taking the time to not just forget them. They've
served the state of Georgia and there are a number
of people who are not going to run for reelection
who I am right now starting to figure out, well,
what will my friendship look like with them? And what
(46:00):
are the things that maybe I can learn from them
in their time here so that I can continue forward.
So check on your legislators, you know what I mean. Like,
we need y'all to check on us. We need to
check on each other. We need a lot of help.
Speaker 2 (46:15):
Let's go ballroom dancing. No, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 4 (46:17):
I don't want to go Friday nights here dance studio.
Speaker 3 (46:21):
It is three okay, it is open floor and there
are instructors there, and you just come in, get you
a little savisa or a little wine water, gatorade, whatever you like,
and then they'll call out like chatcha, and then everyone
goes to the floor and you know the chat scha.
(46:43):
You know it's a specific step, and so then they'll
start calling it out one two three cha cha cha
two three chat chat ya, and so you just kind
of start getting in where you're fitting in. The song
is over, then they'll call for sasa one two three
one two three one two three one two three, and so.
Speaker 2 (47:04):
People kick it in.
Speaker 4 (47:05):
You could you could you gonna make it?
Speaker 2 (47:07):
I'll just say, I feel like I'm getting a lesson.
I stick with Zoomba. That's the very least like I'm
gonna do some zoomba. That's that's the level.
Speaker 4 (47:16):
It has elements of it all. So that's excellent.
Speaker 1 (47:19):
I love it. I love it so much. Well, thank you,
thank you, thank you so much for taking the time
to be here with us today. Hopefully we'll have you back.
Hopefully you'll be a recurring guest.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
I would love quicker than this though years.
Speaker 1 (47:35):
No, yeah, not every four years. We we should shorten that.
That gay. But where can the good listeners find you?
Speaker 4 (47:42):
Right now?
Speaker 3 (47:42):
I'm at the State Capitol in room six o seven,
and that is where you can come hang out in
my pink and blue chairs. I have a pink desk.
The girl has signs that support folks of all backgrounds
and a really diverse team. After April, we will be
at the Lola, which is our community coworking space. It's
(48:07):
a femme owned and operated coworking space across from Pont
City Market, So come check us out at the Lola.
And then heading up to November, we will be going
across this country to try to raise money for Democrats
in Georgia. We will be at the DNC in August
in Chicago, and all times in between we will be
(48:31):
on Instagram having a good time at Park Canon fifty eight.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
Yes, I love it. I love it so much, Thank you,
thank you again, and we'll be we'll be in touch
about future future discussions.
Speaker 2 (48:46):
More things, maybe dancing. I want to see eighty bottom dance.
Speaker 4 (48:51):
Yes, I love it.
Speaker 3 (48:53):
And we would also love to have y'all a day
at the Capitol one day, you know, like sometimes we
invite different media folks and they brought cast live from there,
or we set up certain interviews, or you can just
come for a tour.
Speaker 4 (49:05):
You know.
Speaker 3 (49:06):
Have you all seen the two headed cow and the
two headed snake?
Speaker 2 (49:09):
You know, the last time I was at the Capitol,
I really think it was my eighth grade trip. So
it's been a hot minute. Like I'm not gonna age
myself but over Yeah, it's been a long time.
Speaker 1 (49:21):
Yeah, we sound it.
Speaker 3 (49:23):
I would love to have y'all come visit me one
day and thank you again for having me.
Speaker 2 (49:27):
Thank you so much for coming on such a joy.
Speaker 4 (49:30):
I love this.
Speaker 1 (49:31):
If you would like to find us listeners, you can.
Our email is Stephanie Mom steph atiheartmedia dot com. You
can find us on Twitter at mom Stuff Podcast, or
on Instagram and TikTok at Stuff when they never told you.
We have a tea public store, and we have a
book that you could get wherever you get your books.
Thanks as always too our super producer Christina or executive
producer Maya, and your contributor Joey. Thank you and thanks
(49:51):
to you for listening stuff I ever told you. Suspection
by Heart Radio. For more podcasts from my heart Radio,
you can check out the heart Radio app, Apple podcast,
or wherever you listen to your favorite show.
Hey, this is Annie and Samantha. I could be Stefan
never told you a production of Ihart Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
And today, y'all, we are coming back on with a
friend of the show. I think one of the first
friends that I made thanks to the show through the podcast.
I fangirled really hard. I think I was so giddy
when you came on that everybody was like, is she okay?
Because I was so excited to have you on. And
actually it was one of our last interviews that we
(00:41):
did in that studio because the pandemic had happened, we
quickly wanted to shut down. But with all of this, yes,
I'm building it up. We are here today with Representative
Park Canon of Georgia House District fifty eight. Welcome back,
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
I am still legislatively yours. I am still the youngest
Democrat elected to the House in Georgia and now I
am the secretary of the Caucus.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yes, you have done so much, and if you can't tell,
I'm still fangirling because I have watched you continue to
grow doing so much for our community specifically and being
our voices, and very excited that you are continuing in
this track with our interests in mind, and I really
(01:33):
feel like you're one of the hopes that we have
when it comes to politics, because it's been disappointing. Let's
be honest, you know, I think we came back with
a lot of heartbreak in the last four years, a
lot of also, you know, restoration of faith as well.
But you are one of the few that I'll still
(01:53):
keep watching and have not been disappointed by. So thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Okay, Honestly, I feel like there are some lesbian fore
mothers and some queer folks out here holding me accountable,
and so the work is definitely of our office, but
also I think of a lot of the people who
feel like things are broken now.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
And of course you have given some of the things
that you've been doing and you're still doing, and we
have to put behind your title, you know, advocate. Of
course style icons still are because you're killing it well.
As I'm watching you on Instagram, I'm like, I need
silent advice from her reproductive justice advocate in Doulah. And
you've been fighting so hard with that. You're an author, Hello,
(02:39):
yes you are, and yeah, you've done so much and
we're so excited to have you back on And with that,
how have you been. How are you doing?
Speaker 4 (02:51):
It's been interesting.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
I now have two therapists and my team at the
Capital has grown to make sure that we've got everything covered,
and ultimately I've started ballroom dancing.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Cool.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Yes, your girl did a chat shot competition, and I'm
not going to get too much into it because it
was for charity. But I got the highest points in
the competition but walked away with no trophy because they
had a sudden dance off in a totally different genre
(03:31):
and I was just giving basic and they needed extra.
So the moral of the story is I'm fine, but
I'm still missing that trophy.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
God, come on, we need to see clips of those
because I have questions.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
I will email it to you immediately.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
It's on my Instagram and your girl is still going
to therapy over it.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Too.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I would too. But that's still amazing that you went
and competed because for me, things like that, I'm like, no,
thank you. I would be on the sideline eating popcorn
watching you do it.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
No, I really have to move a lot of the
stuff that happens at the Capitol out of my body.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Yeah, And so I.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Go to the sauna and I go to stretch class
and physical therapy and just try to use some different
herbs in my baptob you know, just really trying to
get the white supremacy off of me.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Yeah. Oh, and in the state of Georgia, I can't imagine.
But with all that, you have been obviously very very
busy being on the front lines in Georgia politics. You've
been on the front pages of news all over the country,
all of the nation, fighting for your people in your community. Again,
that's a whole lot of responsibility being placed onto your shoulders.
(04:50):
I cannot imagine, and I'm thinking I don't think you
hit enough baths, enough of those to be able to
completely relax. But again, like guys said, just watching you
doing the work that you're doing, still fighting especially what
feels like an uphill battle constantly has been so it's
(05:13):
not just encouraging. There's so many words that I don't
have enough of because we know, again after being disappointed,
this is the moments where I'm like, yeah, I know
I'm significantly older than you, but you're doing all of
this work, and I know it has to be from
people like you, unfortunately, because you're the ones who really
(05:34):
really push it forward.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
And I love that.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
We're super future minded in my office, to the point
where we're thinking past the wars that we're in. We're
thinking past the brutality that we're seeing and past the
mortality experiences, really into a world that is infinite with opportunity.
So I think that this last session, I went in
(05:59):
thinking how can I serve members even when they don't
know they're being served, and how can I rest a
little bit more. So I've been calling myself internally the
sedentary secretary because I've been trying to sit down and
do the work more because people would always say, like
(06:20):
there goes part Candon, like her feet are going fast
as down a hallway, and I enjoyed like the click clack.
But I've also realized being sedentary, being settled, helping people
see the power in, you know, being organized. So I've
been enjoying the sedentary secretary role a little bit this year.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Ooh, the power being organized. That's a statement that I
don't I don't understand. I need it, but I don't
understand it. Yeah, And as the secretary, I know you know,
and the world knows that a lot is happening right
now in Georgia. We are a pretty big focal point
(07:01):
for a lot of things, and one of the big things,
of course, has to do with the overturning of Roe v. Wade,
and in before then, even before then, conservatives in Georgia
have been working to completely dismantle abortion rights. We know
that it's been a thing. They've been doing this and
now have had the chance to run with that, unfortunately,
(07:23):
and they have places that six week ban in full fact,
and we know that access has been severely limited, even
though there's more support for abortion access than not like publicly,
but hey, who want Why do we care what the
people want?
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Right?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
What are some things we may not know about the
law that just that was passed.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, so the law makes it ambiguous on to who
can drive into hov lane, because how does a police
officer decide who's pregnant or not? And when do you
decide that the pregnancy is viable enough to get out
of a ticket. It also makes it so that the
process of child support can be started while someone is
(08:05):
in the womb, And it also makes it so that
different health care facilities are criminalized ultimately for their role
in dealing with miscarriages.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
So it's a pretty.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Intense reality that we have here in Georgia, which is
why I'm proud of organizations like ARC Southeast and the
Feminist Women's Health Center that still provide access to abortion
inside the state and also help you travel or get
childcare or hotel care if you have to go outside
(08:38):
of the state. And legislatively, we've been passing bills to say,
if you're going to make it so that people have
to remain pregnant and carry to term, then you're going
to need to change some systemic issues. So this year
we were able to create a new Commission on basically
Maternal Equity and Excellence, and so it will convene fourteen
(09:03):
different stakeholders who are not just obgi ns, but who
are system administrators and pelvic floor specialists and chiropractors who
can say what's wrong with George's healthcare system. As well
as we've put some more money in the budget for
our review committee, which when someone passes away in childbirth,
(09:26):
there's this review committee that figures out how it happened.
And that review committee has been so key.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Because it has proven that.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Eighty nine percent of the births that ended fatally in
Georgia were preventable.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
So when things are preventable.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
That means that we should start compensating people. So just
yesterday I put in a bill that would create a
survivor's fund for families of those who pass away in
childbirth right.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yeah, and as in fact, that was something I was
going to bring up because you've been sponsoring or introducing
bills since the new policies have happened with the overturning
of Roe v. Wade, trying to lessen the restrictions or
at least help those who are most affected by those
bills like HB one, I know, the Georgia pro Birth
Accountability Act, which was amazing, Like you have some of
(10:25):
the best I feel like, comebacks to, like the most
archaic and all awful bills or policies that have happened.
You just come back with like, Okay, well let's talk
about this instead. And I love that because you do
this in politics, you do this in policy form, and
I'm like, damn, I don't know if people realize how
(10:46):
artful this really is, and we don't talk about it enough.
But bills like this, which is something try to hold
people accountable for irresponsible bills that target pregnant people but
don't want to actually help or give a sense after
birth or in case of death. So you kind of
already talked about it, but can you elaborate more on
(11:07):
why these bills are important, why we need to keep
talking about it, and actually we need to make it
public for sure.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
So, for example, a mama who is on Medicaid in
Georgia right now gets to have health insurance simply because
that person is pregnant, but as soon as the pregnancy
is over, they can be kicked off of Medicaid. So
we expanded Medicaid for mama's only postpartum in Georgia, and
(11:34):
that gives folks up to one year, which covers that
postpartum possible mortality period. But what we've seen is that
not only are people barely surviving that one year, but
they're having a lot of other complications and issues that
could be viewed from other medical perspectives if the system
(11:59):
was paying attention.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
So, for example, we put a bill together this.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Year that says, why wait for the six week ob
visit to ask the mama how her mental health is.
Why don't we just have that happen at the newborn visit,
which happens within one week of birth and these bills
are so important for medicaid mamas because they're expecting that
(12:29):
the system is going to set off an alarm and say, hey,
it's time for you to come in for this visit.
Hey it's time for you to check in about birth control,
and the systems are not. The OB's are not talking
to the pediatricians, who are not talking to the labor
and delivery nurses, who aren't talking to the doulas. So
(12:50):
that's why it's so important that we put together this
commission where everyone can finally talk to each other and
get out of silos. And on top of that, with
the Survivor's Fund. We've been hit with naysayers who will say, well,
there is an anti gratuities clause in the state of Georgia,
(13:12):
which means that same way that legislators can't get free
tickets to things, that residents of Georgia can't just receive
free government money and free government you know items.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
And so some naysayers have.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Said, well, what does the state have to do with
a mama who passes away in childbirth's child going to kindergarten?
Speaker 4 (13:37):
And our response is.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Everything, how can we make it possible that this is
not something that you can talk down on, but that
you can publicize. And so the way that we're seeing
this is if that review committee deems a death as preventable,
(13:59):
that pros takes one year, so it's at least a
year after the mortality, and then the family could apply
and by that point, you know, some of the grieving,
some of the trauma, some of the family issues might
have resolved a little bit, so that now you can
make a plan for that child's life and the guardian
(14:22):
or whoever it's going to be. And we're hopeful that
what we'll see is that people who have almost passed away,
which we call morbidity, maternal morbidity or a near miss,
that will start to catch some of their experiences too,
as they start to reach out to the committee to
(14:43):
share what's going on with them.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Yeah, one of the things that we're seeing with all
of these walls or legislations that are being proposed that
are very anti abortion, anti reproductive rights is fear, I think,
(15:07):
in confusion, just mass confusion. So technically abortion is still
legal here and you've already talked about some things still
legal here in Georgia. I mean, what do the listeners
need to know when it comes to Georgia, and that.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Here in Georgia, if you take a pregnancy test and
you see that you're pregnant, you're going to need to
follow up and find how many weeks pregnant you are
because that determines your access to care. There are some
clinics that are able to provide abortion pills to you
(15:43):
if when you receive your ultrasound, if it says that
you're less than six weeks gestation, and if you are
over six weeks and it is not an extreme case
of incest or rate that you have reported to the
police and have a report for, then you will have
(16:06):
to go out of state to North Carolina and receive
services there, which they go a little bit further than
we do, but they also don't go as far as
the next state, which would be Virginia. So right now
we are seeing a lot of families leave Georgia and
(16:26):
head straight for Virginia without checking how far along they are,
just to make sure that they can get the best care.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Right, which is upsetting, Like, there's so many conversations that
need to be had with these kind of restrictions. But yes,
but they act like the fact of the matter is
it is still technically legal six weeks and of course
with the mini guidelines, that's just like we're like I
can't even I get so angry. I can't even talk,
(16:55):
like I'm just I'm just fumbling through the requirements that
they have set up for access and it is almost impossible.
It's kind of that same level of like they're hoping
that you'll go to a pregnancy center and like being
tricked into all of that. So I'm not even gonna
go into all that because I don't. I will flip things.
(17:16):
I will throw things apart right now, Like I just
want to throw things. So I'm gonna calm down. But
like there's so many things that need to be had,
but that things like the organizations that you were talking
about arec who I love. They are probably one of
my favorite organizations. Really do so much, but make sure
that they are fighting for reproductive rights in general, Like
they're not just working to help their clients, are helping
trying to help those in this area.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Which yeah, they're in the Amplify Coalition, which is a
collaborative of different nonprofits to amplify issues of reproductive justice.
So the Amplify folks have been down at the Capitol.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
They have been doing great work.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
And I'm super grateful too that we get to have
different converss, like about trans folks, about queer communities, about
how COP City impacts queer folks, and Amplify is really
leading on those issues.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Yeah, and there's some big stuff I didn't even I
haven't even tried to bring up cop City because I'm like, oh,
that's another I bring it up in like sarcastic tone
because it's just still so bleak being in Georgia and
knowing what is happening here already, and you're like, well,
what with the people who I thought I could trust
in this city council? Really turned up disappointing, as I said,
(18:33):
But like this is when I'm talking about the amount
of disappointment that I've seen within our government who I
thought would do what was for the best interest, and
the fact that it's very like this is getting shorter again.
You're still on my list, Thank you so much more. Yeah, okay, yeah,
but you know, and on top of that, and in
this conversation, we have to talk about the voter suppression
(18:55):
stuff that has been happening and sat in the South
and in Georgia as well, and the continued use of
trickery and all the things that's happening here. And Georgia
has become a swing state. We know this and when
it comes to elections, and we've become a focal point
for many when it comes to the results in elections
and government. And even after both Kemp and Raethisberger confirmed
(19:19):
that there were no fraud or illegal doings in twenty twenty,
they still use that fear mongering to make it harder
for marginalized folks to vote. And they did this nicklely
and deceptively by signing the Election Integrity Act of twenty
twenty one, which I feel like is a slap in
the face in general, like that's such a lie. That
is not that is not what's happening.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
That was their talking point for that year, integrity, and
we really read through it and helped them understand that
it was really just human rights violations.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
So right, right, and you you actually decided to take
action on that. But before we get into that, can
you talk about why acts like these are harmful for
voters and do not put integrity into anything.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Yeah, when you revamp the entire voting code, However, you
don't get input from First Amendment organizations, voting rights groups,
nor the offices at the local departments that are going
to effectuate the elections, you know that there is no
integrity to it. We have seen that in the recent elections,
(20:32):
people have continued to show up to early vote more
than they have shown up on election day. And that's
been great because then it gives you an opportunity to
vote in different places at different times. But also we
have seen some voter confusion as to what district they're
in because since I talked to y'all last we've gone
(20:55):
through two cycles of redistricting, whereas we only should have
had zero.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
So we had to.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
Come in in a special session re draw maps. Then
they went to court, and then the court had to
decide if they complied with the Voting Rights Act. And
although we, along with ACLU and a number of other
organizations argue that they did not comply with the Voting
Rights Act, the Court's ruled in the favor of our
(21:25):
opponents and said that the maps could go into effect.
And so simply just helping people know what district they're
in right now has been important due to these voter
issues and changes over the past few years.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Yeah, and of course, as Georgia residents and voters, we
want to thank you because not only did you take
action against something that was so harmful to us, but
you helped bring attention to the n ethical practices and
policies like these. No matter what, they did not come
out looking good. There was nothing about this that was like, oh, yeah,
they're doing great hiding it. But while you were going
(22:02):
through this, you were a store, you were going on
the front page news everywhere. I remember seeing it going, yeah,
that's my girl right there, that's my friend. I was like, yeah,
if there were, But what was going through your mind
when all this came about when you were going at
the door, Like, if you want to talk about it,
you don't have going to detailed I know you've talked
about it many times, but having to stand at the
(22:22):
door trying to get their attention to be like, this
is not the way this works, and then having to
try to like just have an adult conversation is what
it's like.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
This week is the three year anniversary of my unlawful
arrest at the Georgia State Capitol, and the reflections that
I have on it are twofold one that I am
actively suing the State of Georgia right now in order
for them to understand that they violated my rights and
(22:52):
there is compensation as well as changes that need to
happen so this does not affect another legislator. And secondly,
that the world is watching, the world has seen these
same officers arrest other elected officials in their capacity, that
the world has seen them pass voter challenge laws in
(23:17):
front of plantation photos, that the world has seen them
continue to evade responsibility for interfering with elections in Fulton County.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
So as I reflect on it, I'm.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
So proud that Fannie Willis was recently elected the district
attorney when my unlawful arrest happened, and she was able
to drop the charges, and today we have been standing
with her. I am now the Fulton County Chair and
so as Fulton County elected officials, we have been supporting
(23:54):
her through this.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
Time in which they have been trying to put her
on trial. But they should.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Be terrified because they have awoken so many other people,
Like in my experience, they woke so many people who
thought that voter challenges were of the past, and in
her case, they have awakened many individuals who can see
(24:24):
how masogyny plays into elected leadership and how at the
same time she has been phenomenal with her pursuit of
justice for all of Georgia and the nation. So I'm
feeling kind of excited that this is where we are
and that the eyes are still on Fulton County voters, right, I.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Will say, Like watching the TikTok videos of the different
testimonials and all that testifying happening, I'm like, Okay, I
am a millennial genexer. So when this phrase stand on
business came out, I was like, what now, I get it,
Like watching her, like, oh, that's what that means. Like
those are the moments and you doing what you did,
(25:07):
like standing there and making sure that people will understood
we're watching you. You can't hide this. We're not gonna
let you hide this. Like both of those moments are
like I get that, I get that phrase.
Speaker 4 (25:19):
I'm here now, Yes, we stand for Fanie. Yes.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
And I'm telling you what the level of professionalism that
she has like this is the I feel like a
battle of competence versus ignorance, Like the difference of like, yeah,
this is what this looks like, Yeah, I like it.
Thank you for representing Georgia in such a way for
Fulton County. Right, but oh, I hadn't realized that you
(25:46):
are a chair for Fulton County. You're very busy.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Yeah, you're very busy. Well again, thank you for being here. Okay,
speaking of we are back into presidential election season again.
Feels like we never left. But they're very similar scenarios
that we've seen before. But what are some things that
(26:10):
we should all be paying attention to right now? What
are some key factors we may need to know.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
So the reason why we vote in the March primary
is to designate our party so that in the May
primary that candidates like myself can reach out to their voters.
And right now it's so important because we've had all
these redistrictings. So as much as people have been like,
(26:39):
I'm not interested in voting for either candidate, that's fine.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
I hear you.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
The progressivism has not been there, and we would regress otherwise.
But this is a system of participation. It does not
award people who do not participate. So I am pushing
for voter participation as a process. I want you to
(27:07):
know what district you were in last election and which
one you're in this time. I want you to know
what was your polling place and what is it now,
because even my polling place change this election, and I'm
the elected official, so I know that for other people
the process of receiving a notice in the mail and
(27:30):
saying this says my polling place has changed?
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Do I believe it? Is this real? Is this not?
Speaker 3 (27:35):
There is going to take more voter touches from myself
the candidate, to help people feel like, Okay, yeah, this
is real. I've gotten a notice in the mail. Park
Cannon's office has told me on letterhead, and then I
also received a campaign literature from her. But if you
don't participate, you literally don't get put on the super
(27:58):
voter's list. So you drop from being a person who
has voted in three of the four previous elections to
two of the four previous elections. And it wasn't because
of anything other than your unwillingness to vote for a
specific candidate to which you could write in. So we've
(28:19):
been talking a lot about folks, you know, needing to
understand the point of the primaries is really to help
us figure out what is our database and so all
the data folks out there, all the people who are
good at Excel spreadsheets, all the people who do real
estate and who do generating leads, you understand why having
(28:43):
data that is accurate is important. Secondly, the issues that
hit the federal level really come to pass at the
state level. So when we're talking about issues of immigration,
as much as it is the federal government's purview to
(29:07):
determine policies related to how they treat people migrating, how
they fund the resources for them, and how they deal
with criminalities, it comes to bear with a local sheriff
deputy pulling someone over.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
And so we need.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
To be clear that when we vote for the federal elections,
we are enabling or disabling local actors to do what
needs to be done to not violate people's human rights.
And my concern right now is that people feel like
this is us showing our loyalty to federal actors, when
(29:55):
really this is us being the first line of defense
for our lofe local people to be okay. And so
our office can't wait to get out of session.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
We finish on the twenty eighth, and we are going.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
To be knocking people's doors hosting events, having rallies not
for candidates but for.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Cause, right, which I've seen you've been doing during the
middle sessions as well. I know you've been doing those things.
And I think, yeah, that important message of like how
how it does affect what's going on in a local level,
and we have to be careful and watch it, like
all of these things interact together, and it does affect
(30:40):
us all as we've continued to see things that have
happened on a federal level in the Supreme Court has
absolutely drastically affected all of us, even though it's supposed
to be with that whole intent of being state rights bs.
But you know, that's a whole different conversation, which is
what the concern is. Which is that conversation, Because yeah,
I'm definitely one of the I'm like, I don't like
(31:00):
my options, but I'm gonna go with the lesser equal,
and I know it's important that I have to stick
to that because when we were laxed for a second,
and I don't think I was that laxed to begin
like I say this, and that I voted and I
was concerned, and I remember people being like, it's not
that big of a deal. When Trump came through, it's
not that big of a deal, and we saw like
it's been a wreck. It's been a wreck. Uh.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
My legislative life has been starkly different throughout the three
presidencies I've served under Obama, Trump and Biden. And what
I can say is that if you're not concerned with
supporting a federal candidate, think about the impact that either
(31:46):
of those presidencies would have on Queer local elected officials
like myself who are defending against these issues. Like just
scale back and think about how it empowered folks like
us who are on the ground and who know our
community as well, so that it feels less icky.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Right, that's a good way to say. Sorry. I know
it gives you the ick, but you got to figure
out what it really does mean.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Think about me, Think about me and my shoes and
my glasses and me being bopping around the streets of Atlanta.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
Like, focus on that side.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Here and before we end, because there's still several more
things that we don't talk about, but we do have
to throw it back to our last interview with you,
when we talked about how you got into politics to
begin with and your advice for others who are interested
as well. And not only did you give us some
great advice then and listeners, but you've actually written a
(32:50):
book to give a step by step guide and insight
into running for office that's titled The Universal Guide to
Running for Office State Level, which, by the way, I
found out the d KABA library. I was very I
was like, yeah, library system and I was able to
check it out and read through it, so I was like.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Look at here.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Honestly, shout out to my friend Michelle who has been
getting my books into library systems in different places, and
anyone who's listening. If you want a copy for your
local library, just present it to them and they should
be able to put it on the shelf.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Yeah, and it's great. I was so excited to get it.
And not only do you give straightforward practical advice like
raising funds and campaigning and paperwork even and even about
like yard signs, like you were all in it, but
you talk about the need for justice inclusion care as well.
(33:50):
I'm gonna quote from the book because you know that's
what I like to do. Bring the issues of all
types of justice to the forefront of your campaign, racial, economic, transit, healthcare,
environmental ability, reproductive, criminal, restorative, global, and social to start
a list of some that voters care to hear from
you about. This is one of the most liberating parts
of running for office because it truly allows many viewpoints
(34:12):
and needs to be explored and expanded based on your actions.
And I feel like, even though that sounds obvious, I
don't think we get to truly witness this in many politicians,
in many people in government. So can you expand on
my practicing? I want to say this. I see this
as empathy essentially and care intersectionality, But can you expand
(34:34):
onto why it's important to have this type of lead
in politics and policy.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
When candidates realize that people want to vote for more
than just talking points, but for actual, lived experiences and
opportunities for collaboration, then things are better. Because if I
walk up to someone's porch and they've done some renovations,
(35:00):
I'm excited to talk to them about who do they
use and how did it work and why do they
decide this style and etc. Versus me just walking up,
putting the flyer on the door, and walking away. If
I just leave my flyer, all they see are talking points.
But if I actually try to engage with them, try
to go to their neighborhood meetings. I get to hear
(35:21):
about what's going on. And maybe for some communities the
idea of renovating your porch is controversial because it needs
to fit into a artistic.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
Mold of the neighborhood, you know.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
But for other communities it's a sign of economic prosperity
to be able to, like redo your grandmama's porch, And
so there's some code switching of course that takes place
as a candidate, and really, campaign managers and campaign team
members are the ones who can help you to stay
to the ground. Like maybe out of a block of ten,
(35:58):
you knock five doors and your tear em knocks five,
but at least you have that come together conversation where
you're like, Okay, what were they talking about over there?
Speaker 4 (36:08):
And I'm excited that now that we are.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Experiencing the COVID a different way and people are open
to seeing each other face to face and being out
in community events, that candidates who are running this cycle
will have the opportunity to be more external and to
be more long winded. But it was just a function
of the pandemic that I feel these past three years,
(36:36):
candidates have really had to be concise, and so I'm
hopeful to see more folks reach into our groups, reach
into the book and try to come up with some
like savvy slogans and interesting campaigns.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
And I've been seeing some of.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Them around, Like the yard signs are coming out now,
and people are really starting to, I think, pull their
identities to the front instead of pushing them back.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
I love that. I also love that you put your
glasses that's part of your yard sign.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
Yes, yeah, it was so good tested it it said
looking out for you, for thinking, and so I want
more candidates to do things like that. Like there's a
young elected official who just got into the house and
his last name is Bell. So on his yard science
he has a bell and then like all of his
things is like wake up, it's time right, or like
(37:28):
you know, the bell is ringing for justice. And so
I think that when candidates start to get into more
creative ways of campaigns, that you get people to come
to you instead of you having to go to them.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
Annie loves a good pun, so she's she's down for
all those. And you, as you were talking, you are
currently in election season yourself, and now you are a pro.
You are a pro at this, but I'm sure as
time has changed, as candidates have changed, as federal levels changed,
(38:04):
and as our societies changed, you've had to adapt to it,
like you talk about the pandemic and COVID and having
to change in that way. Is there or maybe you didn't.
I'm assuming this is my assumption, But is there anything
different you're doing this time around than you were before.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
This time around, we're working backwards from the voter registration
deadline instead of working backwards from election day, So we're
thinking about by the voter registration deadline, people should have
these three things they're polling place in mind, the candidates
they're willing to vote for, and who it is that
(38:43):
they're going to turn out, instead of waiting until after
the voter registration deadline, when then you might not be
able to get some registered or you might not be
able to change your address. So I think that that's
going to help us to increase our turnout by just
making sure that folks know where to vote and have
those decisions made sooner.
Speaker 5 (39:05):
Yes. Yes, So.
Speaker 1 (39:17):
One thing you did in your book that wasn't quite
what we expected was that you had a whole section
of affirmations. So can you talk about what made you
decide to put that in there and why you think
that is something that is important.
Speaker 3 (39:31):
Yeah, I'm a doula, so I'm always helping folks with
their emotions. And I realized that candidates need a doula too,
because you face the world as yourself and then come
home and take care of your family life, and sometimes
even the folks closest to you.
Speaker 4 (39:52):
Don't know how to help.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
So placing on paper some of your affirmations based on
the things that you've gone through, I found can really help,
especially when, for example, I was trying to figure out
like am I gonna be ten minutes late to this
neighborhood meeting or am I going to stop and get
(40:15):
me a bubble tea? One of my affirmations is I'm
going to get that bubble tea because my mouth is
now juicier and I've got some you know, good feelings
going on. I can kind of come into the meeting
and people are like.
Speaker 4 (40:34):
Oh, she drinks boba. Yeah she drinks boba. Oh what
kind of boba? You know?
Speaker 3 (40:38):
And so it helped me to get out of just
the cookie cutterness of campaigns and so I have some
really interesting affirmations in there that are things like related
to the bubble tea, but then also things that are
about your aspirations for the world, Like I'm so glad
that I wrote the affirmation we can win without war
(41:03):
in my book back in twenty twenty one, because I.
Speaker 4 (41:08):
Still feel that way.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
I still feel like the binary conversations that are happening
about global justice right now.
Speaker 4 (41:15):
We can win this without the war. We really can.
We got to figure it out.
Speaker 3 (41:21):
But letting folks write their own affirmations, I'm hopeful will
bring them closer to their communities too, and then be
like a journal that they can look back on in
their candidate experience and not feel like it's all washed
over them.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
Yeah. You know, one of the affirmations that kind of
surprised me when I was ringing through it was I
will hold myself accountable because that's not the typical that's
not the typical affirmation that you you know, like we
might joke about, I feel good today, I feel pretty
all these things. But that was a surprising one because
I'm like, ah, that's some real talk to yourself, Like
that's that's an interesting affirmation in understanding that you're gonna
(41:59):
have to take a minute and realize what that actually means.
But with that, for us who are just trying to
get through this year and hopefully not have a horrible,
horrible result, can you share a good affirmation for us
to start with, because that's not a typical thing that
I do.
Speaker 4 (42:18):
Yes, we are.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
Of the practice that we practice. So if we practice
to not vote, we are going to continue to see
our access to the ballot go away. If we practice
being in positivity with our neighbors, like not being gentrifiers
(42:42):
who call the police on black people, then we too
will probably face better circumstances when it comes to our policing,
our mortality. And as legislators, we jump out of the
legislative session into the campaign cycle overnight. But for voters,
(43:06):
this is going to feel like a long time, like
just from March until November. And so what are the
practices that you can put in to make this chunky,
to make this soup have some taste, to give it
a vegetable and a tofu. And so I'm hopeful that
people will be like, oh, you know what, I could
(43:27):
do a voter registration check on my neighbors. I could
text five people and ask them before the voter registration
deadline if they're registered. I could go to a rally
or plan a rally, like I could decide to drive
some people to the polls and then I could vote.
So hopefully we are you know of the practice that
(43:48):
we practice like it.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
I like that you also added tofu like that's that's
not difficult, like it's a super over here, soa and
I love having to to all of it. Kimchichi k
all the tofou play, thank you. Yeah, and uh, you've
done so much and you've kind of already talked about
it because you were talking about ballobagazing and realizing that
you need to leave some of the darkness when it
(44:16):
comes to policy being in government work behind and let
it off of you a little bit. But can you
tell us some things that you are some other of
the things, or just even go into more detail on
how you try to relax and pause from the chaos
of all of this.
Speaker 3 (44:33):
Yeah, I learned from the legislator who left the seat
before me that burning out happened within a system of people,
within a group of people, and it's not always personal.
So when I'm seeing other legislators be like, I don't
(44:54):
want to qualify for reelection. I can't deal with this
constituent reaching out to me about cop city, I don't
know what to say about issues that are global or
domestic issues, or I don't want to be a surrogate
for this person. I can start to hear the burnout
happening too, and I can be somewhere, maybe further along
(45:16):
in my healing process to help them along too, And
I can just ask them like, hey, you do know
that there's this one organization that will pay for a
therapist for us, or hey, do you want to come
with me and work out before session? And I'm not
solving all the issues that they have, but just kind
of calming the collective burnout in some ways is important.
(45:39):
And then when people decide that they do want to
move on, that they are going to run for something
higher or they're not going to run for reelection, like
really taking the time to not just forget them. They've
served the state of Georgia and there are a number
of people who are not going to run for reelection
who I am right now starting to figure out, well,
what will my friendship look like with them? And what
(46:00):
are the things that maybe I can learn from them
in their time here so that I can continue forward.
So check on your legislators, you know what I mean. Like,
we need y'all to check on us. We need to
check on each other. We need a lot of help.
Speaker 2 (46:15):
Let's go ballroom dancing. No, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 4 (46:17):
I don't want to go Friday nights here dance studio.
Speaker 3 (46:21):
It is three okay, it is open floor and there
are instructors there, and you just come in, get you
a little savisa or a little wine water, gatorade, whatever you like,
and then they'll call out like chatcha, and then everyone
goes to the floor and you know the chat scha.
(46:43):
You know it's a specific step, and so then they'll
start calling it out one two three cha cha cha
two three chat chat ya, and so you just kind
of start getting in where you're fitting in. The song
is over, then they'll call for sasa one two three
one two three one two three one two three, and so.
Speaker 2 (47:04):
People kick it in.
Speaker 4 (47:05):
You could you could you gonna make it?
Speaker 2 (47:07):
I'll just say, I feel like I'm getting a lesson.
I stick with Zoomba. That's the very least like I'm
gonna do some zoomba. That's that's the level.
Speaker 4 (47:16):
It has elements of it all. So that's excellent.
Speaker 1 (47:19):
I love it. I love it so much. Well, thank you,
thank you, thank you so much for taking the time
to be here with us today. Hopefully we'll have you back.
Hopefully you'll be a recurring guest.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
I would love quicker than this though years.
Speaker 1 (47:35):
No, yeah, not every four years. We we should shorten that.
That gay. But where can the good listeners find you?
Speaker 4 (47:42):
Right now?
Speaker 3 (47:42):
I'm at the State Capitol in room six o seven,
and that is where you can come hang out in
my pink and blue chairs. I have a pink desk.
The girl has signs that support folks of all backgrounds
and a really diverse team. After April, we will be
at the Lola, which is our community coworking space. It's
(48:07):
a femme owned and operated coworking space across from Pont
City Market, So come check us out at the Lola.
And then heading up to November, we will be going
across this country to try to raise money for Democrats
in Georgia. We will be at the DNC in August
in Chicago, and all times in between we will be
(48:31):
on Instagram having a good time at Park Canon fifty eight.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
Yes, I love it. I love it so much, Thank you,
thank you again, and we'll be we'll be in touch
about future future discussions.
Speaker 2 (48:46):
More things, maybe dancing. I want to see eighty bottom dance.
Speaker 4 (48:51):
Yes, I love it.
Speaker 3 (48:53):
And we would also love to have y'all a day
at the Capitol one day, you know, like sometimes we
invite different media folks and they brought cast live from there,
or we set up certain interviews, or you can just
come for a tour.
Speaker 4 (49:05):
You know.
Speaker 3 (49:06):
Have you all seen the two headed cow and the
two headed snake?
Speaker 2 (49:09):
You know, the last time I was at the Capitol,
I really think it was my eighth grade trip. So
it's been a hot minute. Like I'm not gonna age
myself but over Yeah, it's been a long time.
Speaker 1 (49:21):
Yeah, we sound it.
Speaker 3 (49:23):
I would love to have y'all come visit me one
day and thank you again for having me.
Speaker 2 (49:27):
Thank you so much for coming on such a joy.
Speaker 4 (49:30):
I love this.
Speaker 1 (49:31):
If you would like to find us listeners, you can.
Our email is Stephanie Mom steph atiheartmedia dot com. You
can find us on Twitter at mom Stuff Podcast, or
on Instagram and TikTok at Stuff when they never told you.
We have a tea public store, and we have a
book that you could get wherever you get your books.
Thanks as always too our super producer Christina or executive
producer Maya, and your contributor Joey. Thank you and thanks
(49:51):
to you for listening stuff I ever told you. Suspection
by Heart Radio. For more podcasts from my heart Radio,
you can check out the heart Radio app, Apple podcast,
or wherever you listen to your favorite show.
Stuff Mom Never Told You News
Hosts And Creators
Anney Reese
Samantha McVey
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.