Firestarters with Shannon Watts

Beyond the Prescription with Dr. Lucy McBride

Dr. Lucy McBride [https://substack.com/profile/102705124-dr-lucy-mcbride] is a primary care physician and co-founder of the Ackerly McBride Group in Washington, DC. For over 25 years, she has practiced evidence-based, relationship-centered medicine. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Medical School, with a master's degree in Pharmacology from Cambridge as a Fulbright Scholar, she completed her internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She writes the weekly newsletter Are You Okay? [https://lucymcbride.substack.com/] and hosts the podcast Beyond the Prescription [https://lucymcbride.substack.com/podcast]. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and USA Today. She has contributed to CNN, MSNBC, and PBS, advocating for a holistic, patient-centered approach to health. Her upcoming book Beyond the Prescription [https://www.beyondtheprescriptionbook.com/] will be released August 11, 2026. In this conversation, we discussed how health isn’t just about getting answers but about asking the right questions, what primary care physicians are doing for their patients in an ideal world vs. what is actually happening, why doctors should treat the whole patient and not just a set of symptoms, and her upcoming book Beyond the Prescription [https://www.beyondtheprescriptionbook.com/] which includes a 5 step process for taking charge of your health. Connect with Lucy: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drlucymcbride/] | Website [https://www.lucymcbride.com/] | Substack [https://lucymcbride.substack.com/] | Buy the Book [https://www.beyondtheprescriptionbook.com/] If you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. [https://shannonwatts.org/] 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]

The one thing every great speaker does (and no one teaches) with Samara Bay

Samara Bay [https://substack.com/profile/7401502-samara-bay] has spent the last two decades helping leaders across culture with their public speaking and finding the words to bring rooms to life. Samara is also the author of the #1 bestselling business book, Permission to Speak [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/667566/permission-to-speak-by-samara-bay/]. Her TEDx Talk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN65MOHHNr8] The One Thing Every Great Speaker Does (And No One Teaches) is an Editor's Pick—a distinction given to fewer than .1% of talks. In this conversation, we discussed how your whole body is involved in the process of public speaking, why people are afraid to speak up (and what trust has to do with it), how to speak from a place of love instead of fear, and her number one tip for overcoming jitters before speaking on any stage big or small. Connect with Samara: Substack [https://samarabay.substack.com/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/samarabay/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/samarabay/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samarabay] | Buy the book [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/667566/permission-to-speak-by-samara-bay/] | Watch the TEDx Talk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN65MOHHNr8] If you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. [https://shannonwatts.org/] 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]

Emily Amick on why civic engagement is the antidote to your doom spiral

Emily Amick [https://substack.com/profile/96993946-emily-amick] is a lawyer, journalist, and political analyst who served as counsel to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. She created @EmilyinYourPhone [https://www.emilyinyourphone.com/] to give people her insider insight into the political process and help them find ways they can take action. Her first book DEMOCRACY IN RETROGRADE: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Democracy-in-Retrograde/Sami-Sage/9781668053492] was an instant New York Times bestseller. In this conversation, we discussed how reclaiming our place in democracy helps alleviate the doom spiral, how civic engagement can bring us together in community again, how we can begin to address the extremism in politics and the media, how to demystify the political system and help women overcome imposter syndrome, and what the antidote to modern loneliness is. Connect with Emily: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emilyinyourphone/] | Website [https://www.emilyinyourphone.com/] | Substack [https://emilyinyourphone.substack.com/] If you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. [https://shannonwatts.org/] 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]

Women and the future of the Democratic party with Jessica Mackler of EMILYs List

Jessica Mackler is the president of EMILYs List [https://substack.com/profile/321674596-emilys-list], the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, working to elect Democratic pro-choice women at every level of the ballot. She is a veteran political strategist known for her political smarts and sheer grit, and a dedication to doing whatever it takes to get the win. She has spent more than two decades in Democratic politics. In this conversation, we discussed why it’s essential that the Democratic Party supports women candidates, Jessica’s experience as a Democrat, a woman, and as someone who runs an amazing organization that helps women run for office, why we can’t overlook problematic behavior from Democratic candidates, and how there’s a double standard for men and women in politics. Connect with Jessica: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-mackler-1032072] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emilys_list/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/emilyslist] | Website [https://emilyslist.org/] If you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. [https://shannonwatts.org/] 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]

Amber Goodwin on why she’s running for City Council in Austin after a career in activism and law

Amber Goodwin [https://substack.com/profile/523374020-amber-goodwin] is a lawyer, organizer, and public safety advocate who has spent her career working with communities and fighting for safety, health, and opportunity. She currently serves as an Assistant District Attorney in Travis County, where she is fighting the good fight against gun violence. She is running for Austin City Council because this moment demands leadership that listens, organizes, and delivers. In this conversation, we discussed how the 2015 shooting in Charleston inspired her fight against gun violence, how you can accomplish big things with small groups of people, why she decided to run for Austin City Council, and how affordability is a big issue for her constituents and how it goes hand-in-hand with violence prevention. Connect with Amber: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amberforaustin/] | Website [https://www.amberforaustin.com/] | Donate [https://secure.actblue.com/donate/amber-goodwin-1] If you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. [https://shannonwatts.org/] 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]