Beyond Resistance Pod

Ep. 73: Unopposed? Not on Our Watch 💅

This week on Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer sit down with Ashley Painter—a mom, photographer, social worker-in-progress, and absolute powerhouse running for South Carolina State House in a district that’s . . . let’s just say not exactly a walk in the park. Ashley didn’t come from political privilege—she came from foster care, real-life struggle, and a deep understanding of what it means when government actually fails people. And instead of yelling into the void (relatable), she decided to run for office. Casual. In this episode, we get into: • Why running in a deep red, gerrymandered district still matters (spoiler: it matters A LOT) • How leaving seats uncontested = literally handing over power (hard pass) • The real barriers to running for office—like childcare, low pay, and systems built for literally anyone except normal people • What happens when you challenge an extremist incumbent . . . and he suddenly starts writing you handwritten letters 👀 Ashley breaks it down: this isn’t just about winning one election—it’s about showing up, shifting the narrative, and making sure voters actually have a choice. Because democracy without options? Not the vibe. Also, yes—there’s talk of Star Wars, soup supremacy, and crocheting, because we’re multidimensional humans, thank you very much. ✨ Bottom line: Even when the odds are stacked, stepping up is how we start to win. Or at the very least, how we stop losing quietly. 🎧 Hit play if you believe “impossible” is just a phase. To learn more about Ashley's campaign: ashleypainter.com To find the Blueprint for Building Blue Power and more visit: beyondresistancepod.com

Ep. 72: Knock Doors, Get Wins (Repeat Until November)

Fresh off a BIG special election win (like . . . historic-level big), we’re not taking a victory lap—we’re hitting replay on how it happened and what comes next. In this episode of Beyond Resistance, we’re joined by Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel to break down the anatomy of a landslide and why grassroots energy is having a moment right now. From 10,000 doors knocked in just four days to voters literally caravanning to the polls (!!), this win wasn’t luck—it was people-powered momentum. We dig into what actually moved voters (hint: not jargon, but real “kitchen table” issues people are living every day) and why campaigns need to stop obsessing over quantity and start focusing on quality conversations. Also: why writing off “unwinnable” areas is a losing strategy—and how showing up everywhere is the real cheat code. There’s also a reality check: wins like this don’t magically become “blue waves.” You build them. Sustain them. Then do it all over again. Oh—and because we keep things fun, we wrap with election day superstitions (including White Castle burgers as a winning strategy 🍔💀). TL;DR: Grassroots works. Authenticity wins. Doomscrolling loses. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to get off the couch and into the fight . . . this is it. 🚀 To learn more about Beyond resistance and the Blueprint for Building Blue Power: beyondresistancepod.com @MIDemocraticParty

Ep. 71: Grassroots, Grit, and a 20-Point Mic Drop

Episode Notes: Midterm Mode Activated 🚀 + A Big Win (But No Chill Yet) We’re back, and yeah . . . it’s official: midterm mode is ON. Like, two-feet-on-the-gas, cancel-your-chill-plans ON . . . In this episode, we sit down with Senator-elect Chedrick Greene—Marine vet, retired firefighter, community-rooted leader, and honestly . . . kind of the main character right now—fresh off a major special election win in Michigan’s 35th district. And when we say big win, we mean BIG. Think flipping expectations, winning across communities, and turning “Dems can't win in Midland” into “hold my clipboard.” But before you pop the champagne—Chedrick is very clear: this is not a victory lap moment. It’s a “cool, now double the work” situation. The November election is coming fast, turnout will be way higher, and the fight is just getting started. We get into: 📋 What election night really feels like (spoiler: zero sleep + all the feelings) 📋 How authentic, no-script conversations beat polished talking points every time 📋 Why connecting across differences isn’t just nice—it’s effective 📋 Leading with empathy in a world that low-key rewards the opposite 📋 And how grassroots energy (aka real people doing real work) still wins Also: there’s a moment about therapy, growth, and being human that hits harder than your group chat at 2am. Just saying. Bottom line: this episode is part celebration, part reality check, and part “okay, let’s get back to work.” Because winning once? Great. Winning again? That’s the assignment. ✔️ Hit play, get inspired, and maybe text your group chat: “we canvassing or what?” To learn more about Chedrick Greene: chedrickgreene.com To learn more about Beyond Resistance and the Blueprint for Building Blue Power: beyondresistancepod.com

Ep. 70: Ten Years, No Breaks, One Big Win

Okay, so . . . we did a thing. Chedrick Greene won—and not in a squeaker, not in a nail-biter, but in a full-on “wait, is that number correct??” kind of way. 🎉 In this episode of Beyond Resistance, we’re breaking down what actually happened in Michigan’s 35th—and spoiler alert: it wasn’t luck, vibes, or a last-minute campaign miracle. This was years in the making. Like . . . a decade of organizing, relationship-building, losing, learning, and showing up anyway kind of years. We get into: 💖 Why the “they just had more money” excuse is… let’s call it creative fiction 💖 How a district that barely leaned blue suddenly swung nearly 20 points (yes, really) 💖 What it felt like to be in the room when the win finally hit (tears, cheers, mild disbelief) 💖 And why Republicans saying “we didn’t even try” might not be the flex they think it is 😅 We also zoom out with Senator Darrin Camilleri to talk about the bigger picture: how you identify winnable places, why organizing in “red” communities actually works, and what it takes to build something that lasts longer than a single election cycle. Bottom line: This isn’t just a win—it’s proof that the long, unglamorous, frustrating work of building power actually pays off. And yeah . . .we’re a little fired up about it. 💙🔥 To learn more about Chedrick Greene: chedrickgreene.com To learn more about Senator Darrin Camilleri: darrincamilleri.com To learn more about Beyond Resistance and download the Blueprint: beyondresistancepod.com #Michigan #Senate #Politics #Midterms

Ep. 69: Grassroots Energy Meets Petty Reactions: Joanna Whaley Joins the Pod

Change is hard. Democracy is messy. And sometimes your biggest resistance comes from . . .your own side. 😬 This week on Beyond Resistance, hosts Sarah Schulz and Jennifer Austin get fired up (shocking, we know) talking about what happens when grassroots candidates start winning—and the political establishment absolutely does not take it well. Enter Joanna Whaley, a Michigan State House candidate who is doing the radical thing of actually centering her community, knocking doors, and talking about real issues instead of playing inside-baseball politics. The result? Momentum, excitement, and some truly unhinged pushback that takes the conversation way off the issues and into the “are we seriously doing this?” zone. This episode unpacks the realities of Democratic primaries, entitlement in politics, and why attacking someone’s identity is a giant red flag for anyone claiming to believe in democracy. Joanna, meanwhile, stays refreshingly focused on service, representation, and showing up—because that’s what voters actually care about. It’s candid. It’s spicy. It’s occasionally a little ragey. And it’s also a powerful reminder that building real political power means choosing courage over comfort and people over ego. If you like your politics honest, your candidates authentic, and your podcasts with a side of righteous side-eye, this one’s for you. 🎧🔥 To learn more about Joanna's campaign: joannawhaley.com To download the Blueprint and learn more about Beyond Resistance: beyondresistancepod.com