Firestarters with Shannon Watts

"If we don't tell the truth, we're doing a disservice to everyone. Racism hurts white people. Sexism hurts men. Homophobia hurts straight people. When you dehumanize the 'other,' you're actually dehumanizing yourself." Today on the Firestarters podcast, I’m talking with Sarah Jones, a Tony Award-winning visionary and solo performer. Sarah is an actor, comedian, writer, producer, and activist, who seeks to impact more than just the entertainment industry with her own unique experiences as a Black woman with multicultural roots. In this conversation we talk about how her life growing up affected her future careers, how she developed her characters and what they mean to her life and her work, how she supports those who are underserved, and what she’s going to conquer next. Sarah Jones is a firestarter. 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]

“If we could get all these different female leaders who care about these different issues—whether it's repro rights or gun violence or care—focused on our common humanity and common lived experience as women, I feel like we could move policy forward in a way that's never been moved.” Today on the Firestarters podcast, I’m talking with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, an award-winning filmmaker, and an influential thought leader on gender equality, and the mother of four children with California Governor Gavin Newsom.  In our conversation, we talk about the ways being a leader was an expectation in her family growing up, how a sisterhood of women has supported her throughout her life, and how powerful women can be when they come together for a common cause. 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]

Thank you to everyone who joined us live yesterday for a conversation between myself and Jessica Yellin [https://substack.com/profile/20113711-jessica-yellin] of News Not Noise [https://open.substack.com/pub/newsnotnoisejessicayellin]. We talked about what happened in the election, the importance of women running for office, how Republicans are changing the election playbook, whether there was cheating, and how we can move forward from here. Watch the replay and be sure to download the Substack app so you don’t miss the next one! 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]

Your person will love you exactly as you are, the age you are, where you live, how tall you are, what you do, what you don't do. And it's true every single time. You have to be authentic. You really have to show who you are because that's the only way someone can find you. In this episode of the Firestarters Podcast, I spoke with Amy Nobile [https://loveamy.co/], a dating coach who focuses on a holistic-view of human to human connection. I first interviewed Amy for a Fireside Chat q&a on dating in midlife [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/p/midlife-dating-tips-from-expert-amy] and I knew I wanted to hear more from her. In this conversation we delve deeper into finding love no matter your age. From clients in their 20s, to clients in their 80s, Amy believes that it’s never too late to find love - especially once you shift your energy. We also talk about the obligation of staying in a marriage, divorce, and Amy even turns the tables to ask me questions about how my childhood affected my second marriage. I know you’re going to take a lot away from this conversation. 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]

"Sustainable change requires small, regular, concerted efforts by a lot of people doing the next right thing. All of us working together to change something has far more effect than five of us trying to do everything.” Sharon McMahon is perhaps better known as America’s Government Teacher. Previously a government, history, and law teacher, she now shares her knowledge through Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sharonsaysso/], where she puts the latest headlines into context for her million-plus followers. She’s also the host of the award-winning podcast Here’s Where it Gets Interesting, writes the newsletter The Preamble [https://substack.com/profile/113111520-the-preamble], and she’s the author of the upcoming book The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, From the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement, releasing on September 24th. Sharon is a lifelong teacher who, rather than telling you what to think, gives you the context around an issue that helps you understand it and think more critically. She wants you to be able to make educated choices for yourself. 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]