Ami Berger | Threads, Humor & Finding Joy During Dark Times

Ami Berger | Threads, Humor & Finding Joy During Dark Times

🌟 Welcome to Episode #36 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟 Today we’re joined by writer, editor, communications strategist, and one of Threads’ most beloved political voices, Ami Berger. 🎙️ Ami joins us for one of our most personal conversations yet as we discuss Threads, political humor, online community, writing, Minnesota’s culture of neighboring, Jewish identity, the lasting impact of COVID, and why protecting your joy may be one of the most important acts of resistance during difficult times. From hilarious one-liners to thoughtful reflections on community and democracy, this episode feels less like an interview and more like catching up with an old friend.   🐓 IN THIS EPISODE 😂 Humor as Resistance How comedy, storytelling, and perfectly timed one-liners help people survive political chaos while building genuine community.  📱 Threads & Building Authentic Community Why Ami unexpectedly became one of Threads’ favorite follows, how social media has evolved since Twitter, and the real friendships that have grown from online connections. ❤️ Finding Joy During Difficult Times Why authoritarian movements thrive on despair—and why protecting your happiness, your creativity, and your sense of humor is one of the most important acts of resistance. 🏡 Minnesota’s Culture of Neighboring A conversation about Metro Surge, community organizing, civic engagement, and why Minnesota’s deep-rooted culture of neighboring became a model for showing up when people needed each other most. 📚 Writing, Memory & Personal Essays Ami shares the inspiration behind her personal writing, her reflections on childhood, and why storytelling helps us understand who we are. ✡️ Jewish Identity & Repairing the World Growing up Jewish, raising children with strong values, the meaning of tikkun olam (“repairing the world”), and how community shapes our lives. 🐈 Cats, Dogs & Midwestern Life From Alfredo’s surprise appearance to patios, neighborhoods, food, friendships, and plenty of laughter, this conversation reminds us that joy and connection still exist—even in difficult times. 👇 Learn More: 🌐 Threads: https://www.threads.com/@amib [https://www.threads.com/@amib] ✍️ Fragments by Ami Berger: https://fragments.ghost.io/ [https://fragments.ghost.io/] FOLLOW/SUPPORT Substack | Threads | Bluesky | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook @ThePoliticsChicks 🧡 xoxo — Christy & Monica Ami Berger, Threads, Threads creator, political humor, humor, online community, social media, Minnesota, neighboring, community organizing, civic engagement, democracy, political podcast, The Politics Chicks, storytelling, writing, Ghost, personal essays, creative nonfiction, Jewish identity, tikkun olam, COVID, Metro Surge, resilience, hope, women in media, progressive politics, Minnesota politics, finding joy, podcast interview

Peggy Flanagan | Healthcare, Affordability & Minnesota’s Future

🌟 Welcome to Episode #35 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟 Today we’re joined by Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, who is running to succeed Senator Tina Smith in the United States Senate. 🎙️ Peggy joins us to discuss her personal journey from growing up on Medicaid, SNAP, Section 8 housing, and childcare assistance to serving as Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor. We talk about Medicare for All, affordability, campaign finance reform, universal school meals, Native American representation, and why she believes working families deserve a stronger voice in Washington. 🐓 IN THIS EPISODE 🏥 Medicare for All Why Peggy supports universal healthcare, how she believes it would work, and what it could mean for Minnesota families struggling with rising healthcare costs. 💵 Affordability & Growing Up on Public Assistance Peggy shares how Medicaid, SNAP, Section 8 housing, and childcare assistance helped shape her life—and why those experiences continue to influence her public service. 🍎 Universal School Meals How Minnesota’s free breakfast and lunch program is helping students succeed while saving families money. 💰 Campaign Finance Reform Why Peggy refuses corporate PAC money, supports ending Citizens United, and believes elected officials should answer to voters—not special interests. 🪶 Native Representation What it would mean to become the first Native American woman elected to the U.S. Senate and why authentic representation matters. 🎡 The Minnesota State Fair, Family & Leadership A fun conversation about Minnesota traditions, supporting Native artists through her signature earrings, balancing public service with motherhood, and staying grounded during a statewide campaign. 👇 Learn More: 🌐 WEBSITE: https://www.peggyflanagan.com/ [https://www.peggyflanagan.com/] 💙 ACTBLUE: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/peggy-flanagan-for-senate [https://secure.actblue.com/donate/peggy-flanagan-for-senate] FOLLOW/SUPPORT Substack | Threads | Bluesky | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook @ThePoliticsChicks 🧡 xoxo — Christy & Monica Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota Lieutenant Governor, U.S. Senate, Minnesota Senate race, Tina Smith, Medicare for All, Universal Healthcare, Healthcare, Affordability, Campaign Finance Reform, Citizens United, Native American Representation, Indigenous Leadership, Universal School Meals, Public Education, Working Families, Minnesota Politics, Democratic Party, Election 2026, Political Podcast, The Politics Chicks, Women in Politics, Progressive Politics

Ingrid Lyons | Boundary Waters, Mining & Minnesota’s Environmental Future

🌟 Welcome to Episode #34 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟 Today we’re honored to welcome Ingrid Lyons, Executive Director of Save the Boundary Waters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting one of America’s most treasured wilderness areas through education, advocacy, and conservation. 🎙️ Ingrid joins us for an in-depth conversation about the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the proposed Twin Metals copper mining project, sulfide-ore mining, clean water, public lands, outdoor recreation, and why the future of this extraordinary wilderness has become one of the nation’s most important environmental and public policy debates. 🐓 IN THIS EPISODE 🛶 The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness What makes the Boundary Waters one of the world’s most unique freshwater ecosystems—and why millions of Americans consider it a national treasure worth protecting. ⛏️ The Twin Metals Mining Proposal The history behind the proposed copper-nickel mine, where the project stands today, and why it has sparked decades of political and environmental debate. 💧 Clean Water & Sulfide-Ore Mining Why scientists and conservationists believe this type of mining presents unique risks to an interconnected watershed unlike anywhere else in the country. 🌲 Conservation & Economic Development Can protecting wilderness and supporting local economies coexist? Ingrid discusses tourism, recreation, mining, and the difficult balance policymakers face. 🏛️ Public Lands & America’s Wilderness Legacy How the Wilderness Act helped preserve the Boundary Waters and why federal land protections continue to shape the future of northern Minnesota. 🚣 Outdoor Recreation & Minnesota’s Economy Why paddling, camping, fishing, and outdoor recreation contribute billions to local economies while preserving one of America’s last great wilderness areas. 🌎 Why This Matters Beyond Minnesota Why the fight over the Boundary Waters isn’t just a regional issue—it’s a national conversation about clean water, conservation, public lands, and the legacy we leave future generations. 👇 Learn More Save the Boundary Waters (501(c)(3)) https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org [https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org] Boundary Waters Action Fund (501(c)(4)) https://www.boundarywatersaction.org [https://www.boundarywatersaction.org] Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (U.S. Forest Service) https://www.fs.usda.gov/bwca [https://www.fs.usda.gov/bwca] The Wilderness Act (National Park Service) https://www.nps.gov/subjects/wilderness/wilderness-act.htm [https://www.nps.gov/subjects/wilderness/wilderness-act.htm] FOLLOW THE POLITICS CHICKS Substack | Threads | Bluesky | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook @ThePoliticsChicks www.thepoliticschicks.com [http://www.thepoliticschicks.com] 🧡 xoxo, Christy & Monica The Politics Chicks Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack. Politics Podcast, Progressive Politics Podcast, Politics Podcast Host, Politics Podcast Analysis, Politics News Show, Political Interviews, US Political Podcasts, Current Events, Ingrid Lyons, Save the Boundary Waters, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Boundary Waters Action Fund, Twin Metals, Copper Mining, Sulfide-Ore Mining, Clean Water, Conservation, Environmental Policy, Public Lands, Wilderness Act, Outdoor Recreation, Minnesota Politics, Ely Minnesota, Canoeing, Freshwater Protection, Natural Resources, The Politics Chicks

Dr. Patrick Hadorn | AI, Healthcare & The Future of Primary Care

The Politics Chicks Podcast is a progressive politics podcast and politics news show hosted by Christy Branham and Monica Healy. Every week we sit down with elected officials, candidates, physicians, journalists, policy experts, and changemakers to discuss the issues shaping America. In Episode #33, primary care physician Dr. Patrick Hadorn joins us to discuss healthcare, artificial intelligence in medicine, physician burnout, vaccine misinformation, chronic illness, patient advocacy, and the future of evidence-based medicine.  🌟 Welcome to Episode #33 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟 Today we’re honored to welcome Dr. Patrick Hadorn, a primary care physician, Medical Director at Park Nicollet Maple Grove, and one of Minnesota’s leading advocates for compassionate, evidence-based patient care. 🎙️ In one of our most personal episodes yet, Dr. Hadorn joins us to discuss physician burnout, artificial intelligence in healthcare, vaccine misinformation, chronic illness, patient trust, healthcare policy, and why strong relationships between doctors and patients remain the foundation of good medicine. 🐓 IN THIS EPISODE 🩺 Primary Care & Patient Trust Why long-term relationships between physicians and patients lead to better health outcomes—and why trust is the most important tool in medicine. 🤖 Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare How AI is transforming medicine, reducing physician workload, improving patient care, and creating new ethical challenges. 💉 Vaccines & Medical Misinformation How physicians navigate vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and public health in today’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape. 🏥 The Healthcare Workforce Crisis Why physician burnout, insurance bureaucracy, and provider shortages threaten the future of primary care. ❤️ Living With Chronic Illness Christy shares her own healthcare journey and why compassionate, patient-centered medicine has changed her life. 📚 Evidence-Based Medicine How patients can identify trustworthy medical information and avoid misinformation online. 👇 Learn More Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org [https://www.mayoclinic.org] Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org [https://my.clevelandclinic.org] Open Evidence https://www.openevidence.com [https://www.openevidence.com] FOLLOW THE POLITICS CHICKS Substack | Threads | Bluesky | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook  @ThePoliticsChicks    www.thepoliticschicks.com [https://www.openevidence.com/] 🧡 xoxo,  Christy & Monica If you enjoy thoughtful political interviews, conversations about healthcare, public policy, current events, artificial intelligence, medical misinformation, and the future of American democracy, subscribe to The Politics Chicks Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack. Politics Podcast, Progressive Politics Podcast, Politics Podcast Host, Politics Podcast Analysis, Politics News Show, Political Interviews, US Political Podcasts, Current Events, Democracy, Public Policy, Healthcare, Primary Care, Physician Burnout, Artificial Intelligence, AI in Healthcare, Vaccine Misinformation, Evidence-Based Medicine, Chronic Illness, Public Health, Healthcare Workforce, Patient Advocacy, Medical Ethics, Dr. Patrick Hadorn, The Politics Chicks

Can Mike Johnson Be Defeated? Matt Gromlich on Hope, Education & Holding Power Accountable

🌟 Welcome to Episode #32 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟 Today we’re joined by Matt Gromlich, educator, community advocate, and Democratic candidate for Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District, where he’s challenging House Speaker Mike Johnson. 🎙️ Matt returns to discuss how his campaign has evolved after Louisiana’s unprecedented election controversy, why he believes education and healthcare should be national priorities, and what voters across northwest Louisiana are telling him. 🐓 IN THIS EPISODE: 📍 Challenging Mike Johnson  Why Matt decided to take on one of the most powerful Republicans in Washington. 📚 Education First  From universal pre-K to free school meals, Matt explains why investing in children strengthens entire communities. 🏥 Healthcare & Affordability  Why he believes healthcare should be accessible regardless of employment. 💰 The Economy Beyond Wall Street  Why economic success should be measured by working families—not stock market numbers 🗳️ Voting Rights & Representation  The impact of Louisiana’s redistricting battles and why showing up for constituents matters. ❤️ Leading With Hope  Matt shares why listening, empathy, and practical solutions remain at the center of his campaign. 👇 Learn more: WEBSITE: https://www.mattgromlichforcongress.com/ ACTBLUE: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/matt-gromlich-1 PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/@MattGromlichForCongress FOLLOW/SUPPORT Substack | Threads | Bluesky | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook @ThePoliticsChicks 🧡 xoxo — Christy & Monica Politics, Louisiana, Mike Johnson, Matt Gromlich, Congress, Louisiana 4th District, Democratic Party, House of Representatives, Elections, Campaign 2026, Democracy, Voting Rights, Public Education, Education, Public Schools, Healthcare, Economy, Infrastructure, Redistricting, Public Policy, Campaign Interview, The Politics Chicks, Political Podcast, Women’s Political Podcast, Women in Politics