Firestarters with Shannon Watts

"For those of us not in immediate danger of losing our livelihoods, our lives, our ability to move through the world, this is the moment we need to step up. Right now, more than anything, we all have to be firestarters. Light the match." Luvvie Ajayi Jones is an author, speaker, and mentor who tells stories that inspire and dare people to live more boldly. She started her career as a blogger and in 2016, published her first book, I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual [https://luvvie.org/books/im-judging-you/], which debuted on the New York Times best-seller list. Her subsequent TED talk, “Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable [https://www.ted.com/talks/luvvie_ajayi_jones_get_comfortable_with_being_uncomfortable?language=en]” has been translated into 23 languages and is in the top 1 percent of TED Talks of all time. Luvvie and I discuss what her Nigerian family taught her about community, how blogging turned into a dream career, and why she wrote her new book, Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name [https://luvvie.org/books/little-troublemaker-defends-her-name/], which comes out this spring. Luvvie is a force of nature who wants all of us to become “professional troublemakers”—people who use their voices to make every room they enter just a little better. She exemplifies courage, summons others’ audacity, and teaches us how to create community. Luvvie is a firestarter. Preorder Luvvie’s upcoming book: Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name [https://luvvie.org/books/little-troublemaker-defends-her-name/]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Regardless of who you’re having sex with — yourself or someone else — research shows that women over age 50 are having the best sex of their lives. Watch my live conversation with former CNN anchor and fellow Gen Xer Brooke Baldwin, and read my piece [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/p/generation-sex-women-over-50-are] about all of the treatments and technology available to make sex even better, from hormones to the MonaLisa Touch laser to pelvic floor trainers. And be sure you’re following Unraveling, with Brooke Baldwin [https://open.substack.com/pub/unravelingwithbrooke]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

"I'm hesitant to use the word luck because women use the word luck way too much. I was ready. I was prepared. Ready when the breaks came, and persistent to get them." Today on the Firestarters podcast, I’m talking with Poppy Harlow, an award-winning, Emmy-nominated journalist, podcast host, author, and the previous anchor of CNN Newsroom. Poppy has interviewed some of the world’s most important leaders and influencers, including Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and moderated two CNN presidential town halls. Poppy and I discuss leaving CNN after her morning show was cancelled, navigating the “messy middle,” the importance of pursuing your desires (even when it’s inconvenient), and why age should never limit our dreams. To read more inspiring stories from Firestarters like Poppy, be sure to preorder my book “Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age” at firedupbook.com [http://firedupbook.com/]. My upcoming book, Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, is now available for preorder! This book is my guide to figuring out what lights you up and will show you how to live on fire every day. Click here to preorder [http://firedupbook.com/] and get locked into some incredible bonuses. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Today I spoke with Charlotte Clymer [https://substack.com/profile/2210258-charlotte-clymer] about the state of activism and politics in America, how we got here, why it can change quickly, and ways everyday citizens can force their elected leaders to fight back against fascism … NOW. Mentioned in this conversation is my Substack piece on the ways we can put public pressure on Democrats. [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/p/weve-waited-long-enough-its-time] And be sure you’re following Charlotte’s Substack, Charlotte’s Web Thoughts [https://charlotteclymer.substack.com/], for politics, religion, culture, and humor. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

"Imposter syndrome, this feeling that we think we're not good enough, we're not smart enough, we're not prepared enough, we're not ready enough has really held us back. And that imposter syndrome is a con. It's a lie we've been told to keep progress dismantled." Today on the Firestarters podcast, I’m talking with Reshma Saujani, an incredible activist who has spent more than a decade fighting for women and girls’ economic empowerment, to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and advocating for structural changes moms need - like affordable child care and paid leave. Reshma was the first Indian American woman to run for Congress, is the founder of Girls Who Code, is a best-selling author, as well as a TED Talk speaker. In this conversation, Reshma and I talk about how she got into the work of empowering girls, what it’s like to be in the tech space as a woman, why imposter syndrome is a con, and what we need to do to support women and girls in the future. Reshma Saujani, for her incredibly impactful work is, without a doubt, a firestarter. To read more inspiring stories from Firestarters, be sure to preorder my book FIRED UP at firedupbook.com [http://firedupbook.com/]. My upcoming book, Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, is now available for preorder! This book is my guide to figuring out what lights you up and will show you how to live on fire every day. Click here to preorder [http://firedupbook.com/] and get locked into some incredible bonuses. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]