You know that feeling when you vote, and then nothing changes, and you vote again, and still nothing changes? That's not a glitch. That's the feature. This episode of What Do We Do Next podcast cracked something open for me, and I think it's going to do the same for you.

This is a civic engagement podcast built for people who are done feeling rudderless and ready to channel that energy into something real. Metin Pekin's work sits right at the center of that mission. He's not here to tell you which party to vote for. He's here to ask whether the party system itself is the problem, and what turning anxiety into action actually looks like when the structure itself is what's broken.

Metin Pekin earned his BA in Political Economy from the University of Greenwich and spent decades as a serial entrepreneur, founding and scaling companies across industries. The more he succeeded in business, the clearer a troubling pattern became. His Gold award-winning debut, Breaking Democracy's Chains, is a rigorously researched argument that true democracy cannot emerge until we break the grip of political parties and return power to ordinary people. He calls it a No-Party Democracy, and he has thought through exactly how it would work.

Key Takeaways

The two major parties differ on culture but converge on the policies that most affect ordinary people, including war, austerity, and surveillance, a pattern Metin traces across decades and administrations.

Political parties function as gatekeepers, filtering who can run before voters ever see a ballot, which means the illusion of choice is built into the system before a single vote is cast.

The Founding Fathers, including John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, explicitly warned against political factions. Metin argues the No-Party Democracy is not radical. It is the natural next step in democratic evolution.

Metin proposes progressively taxing political donations and pooling that revenue into a democracy fund to level the playing field against dark money and concentrated donor influence.

Forty-five percent of American adults identify as independent, larger than either major party. Metin argues that if independent-minded voters unite behind even a handful of independent candidates, it begins to crack the party monopoly on representation.

Metin said, "We are participating in a ritual called voting that are legitimizing the current party system, and voting is the biggest and most powerful tool that we have, but we should use it to undermine the party system, not legitimize this broken system."

Metin said, "When people are educated and united, they can make a difference and they will make a difference and they will change the systems. They have the power."

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and guest bio read by Molly.

01:27 Metin on going from entrepreneur to democracy critic.

03:31 The Iraq War as a turning point and the structural problem beneath it.

07:30 Discovering the Federalist Papers and the Founding Fathers on political parties.

10:52 How parties deliberately divide the population to protect elite interests.

14:04 The illusion of choice, the restaurant analogy, and how policies are written outside government.

22:07 Why voting still matters and how to use it to undermine the party system.

25:02 The No-Party Democracy explained, how it works in practice.

33:33 Voting independent as the first concrete step toward systemic change.

35:35 Getting the money out of politics and the progressive donation tax proposal.

42:04 How money captured media, the judiciary, and education over decades.

47:09 What to do if you feel politically homeless right now.

51:06 Molly's closing call to vote local, vote independent, and start the conversation.

Connect with Metin Pekin



Book: Breaking Democracy's Chains by Metin Pekin, available wherever books are sold.

X: https://x.com/MPekinAuthor

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/metin-pekin-66a47948

Website: https://www.metinpekin.com

This episode matters because self advocacy is not some fluffy personal development slogan. It is the thing that changes your career, your confidence, and the way you move through the room. If you have ever felt stuck, overlooked, or like everybody else got the memo except you, this conversation is going to hit home in the best way.

Kelly Mooney spent nearly 25 years at Resource, where she rose from individual contributor to CEO, grew revenues 15 times over, and scaled the company to 400 employees while serving clients like Procter and Gamble, Walmart, and Victoria's Secret. She later became the first ever Chief Experience Officer at IBM iX, one of the world's largest digital consultancies. In 2021, she founded Equipt Women, a public benefit corporation focused on helping early and mid career women rise. She has coached women around the world, launched 100 Days for Women to offer complimentary coaching globally, and wrote the new book she wishes she had when she was figuring all of this out.

Key Takeaways

Women's career advancement stalls not from lack of talent but from waiting to be chosen. Self advocacy is the skill that changes everything.

Eliminating the word should from your vocabulary is a radical act of self liberation. Replace it with consider, explore, or try, and watch how your relationship to your own ambition shifts.

Lead yourself first. Becoming intentional about what you want, who you are, and where you are going is not woo woo. It is the foundation of every career breakthrough.

The workplace is not a meritocracy. Young women especially need to study the dynamics, build relationships across the organization, and learn to speak in the language of business outcomes.

DEI programs are under attack but not dead. Enlightened leaders know the research. Diverse leadership drives innovation, better decisions, and stronger financial performance. The acronym may change. The need does not.

Kelly Mooney said, "She was waiting for me to see my own potential, for me to raise my hand instead of waiting to be selected. So really that was the moment I knew that I was going to have a longer career there."

Kelly Mooney said, "Once you become very intentional, then you start taking the steps towards that. And I think sometimes we need somebody else to hold up that mirror to see our own potential. And then once you see it, it's unstoppable."

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Kelly Mooney's career journey.

02:07 The moment Kelly realized she was building something.

03:01 Why not you. The lunch conversation that changed everything.

05:45 What Kelly would change about her early career.

06:40 Writing the book to help women self advocate sooner.

07:25 Why Kelly banned the word should from her book.

10:10 The principle of lead yourself.

11:46 How women can discover what they actually want.

15:28 DEI under attack. What it means for women right now.

17:54 The manosphere, media manipulation, and staying clear eyed.

20:43 What Kelly hopes women take from the book.

22:34 Advice for younger women entering the workforce.

25:40 How to self advocate without bragging.

28:30 Why Kelly wrote the book as a reference guide, not a cover to cover read.

34:04 Control the controllables and influence the rest.

36:30 Why buying the book and leaving a review is an act of advocacy.

Connect with Kelly Mooney

Website: https://www.equiptwomen.com

Book: https://www.equiptwomen.com/book

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pkmooney

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiptwomen

100 Days for Women: https://www.equiptwomen.com/100days

He Saw a $100,000 Medical Bill and Decided to Run for Congress.

He did not want to run for office. He wanted to teach French, help kids conjugate verbs, and maybe quilt on the weekends. But somewhere between a $100,000 hospital bill, an overdraft notice, and watching rural hospitals close one by one across Eastern Oklahoma, Erik Terwey made a decision that changed everything. Not out of ambition. Out of exhaustion. And out of the quiet, stubborn belief that if nobody else was going to show up and fight, he would do it himself.

This episode matters because it is not really about politics. It is about what happens when the systems that are supposed to catch people stop working, and one person decides to stop waiting for someone else to fix it. Whether you live in Oklahoma or not, whether you have ever thought about running for office or not, Erik's story will hit you somewhere real. The healthcare crisis, the rural hospital closures, the weight of student debt and medical debt and the particular panic of watching your bank account go negative before the month is over. These are not abstract policy issues. They are the texture of daily life for millions of Americans who have never had a representative who actually lived it with them.

Erik Terwey is a Bartlesville native, a Teach for America alumnus, a former public school French teacher, a union member, and a master's degree holder from the University of Oklahoma. He is running as a progressive Democrat in Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District, one of the reddest, most rural districts in the country, against a two-term incumbent. He refuses PAC money and corporate donations. He introduced a formal bill recognizing the Cherokee Nation's treaty right to a delegate in the U.S. House. And he is running on Medicare for All, fully funded public schools, affordable energy, and an end to the forever wars. Today he sat down with host Molly to talk about all of it, and the conversation did not disappoint.

Key Takeaways

Erik did not enter politics out of ambition. He entered it because he watched his students go hungry, saw his friend's small business struggle without government support, faced a $100,000 medical bill himself, and realized that nobody was coming to help. He decided to be the person who showed up.

Rural hospital closures in Eastern Oklahoma are not a future threat. They are happening right now. Seventy percent of rural hospitals in the region are operating at a loss. Women in the southeastern part of the state are driving two hours out of state just to see an OB-GYN. Erik argues that a healthy community is the foundation of any version of the American dream, and that without accessible healthcare, everything else falls apart.

Running without PAC money is both a values statement and a logistical challenge. Erik's campaign manager is his best friend and works without pay because she believes in the mission. He argues that a true grassroots progressive can run a shoestring campaign and still win, because the energy in the room when he speaks to real voters is something no corporate donor can manufacture.

On faith and voting records, Erik does not attack Josh Brecheen's Christianity. He holds it up as a mirror. His message to faith communities in Eastern Oklahoma is simple: stop listening to what your representative says and start looking at what he does. Voting to cut food assistance and healthcare is not what Jesus would do, and Erik is not shy about saying so.

On the economic transition away from oil and gas, Erik points to the Mission for America blueprint at newconsensus.com as a detailed, 21-point plan for moving the economy forward without leaving pipeline workers and roughnecks behind. He argues that progressives are no longer just dreamers. They are planners and doers, and the plans are already written.

"Nobody is coming to help us. And it's time for somebody to start talking about the things that we're going through that really matter to us. If no one's gonna stand up and fight for me, then I'll do it myself." - Erik Terwey

"I think that voting for guys like you and helping guys like you in your campaign feels like a good place to start." - Molly

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Erik's background01:52 The moment Erik decided to run for Congress04:34 Student debt, small business struggles, and the $100,000 medical bill06:19 Why nobody is coming to help and what that means08:25 On Trump, congressional authority, and holding representatives accountable10:00 Rural hospital closures and what they mean for real families12:29 Maternity care deserts, healthcare deserts, and the compounding crisis15:15 Running without PAC money and how the campaign actually works17:43 Grassroots fundraising and the energy at campaign events21:18 The Cherokee Nation treaty delegate bill and why Erik championed it23:08 Josh Brecheen, Christian faith, and voting records that hurt the poor29:01 Eastern Oklahoma's economy, oil and gas, and the green transition33:40 What success looks like in Washington and five years from now36:05 How to get involved and support the campaign37:17 Closing thoughts and call to action

Connect with Erik Terwey

Website: http://www.terweyforcongress.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/terweyforcongressYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@terweyforcongressInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/terweyforcongressTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@terweyforcongressX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/terwey4congressSubstack: https://terweyforcongress.substack.comBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/terweyforcongress.bsky.social

Brian McGinnis deployed to Iraq in 2003, ran into burning buildings as a firefighter, and in March 2026 had his arm broken by Capitol Police while protesting U.S. military action at a Senate hearing. He walked away without regrets. That moment did not create his conviction. It revealed it.

This episode is for anyone who has felt the weight of watching things get worse and wondered what they are supposed to do about it. Brian's story is a reminder that ordinary people with real lives and real stakes can step into the arena and mean it.

Brian McGinnis is a Marine veteran, Raleigh firefighter, father of four, and Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. He is running without a single dollar of corporate or PAC money, and he joined host Molly Ruland on What Do We Do Next? to talk about war, conscience, community, and what it actually looks like to turn depression into action.

Key Takeaways

Brian's decision to run for Senate grew directly from his grief over the war in Gaza, which became personal after he fell in love with and married a Palestinian-American woman he met through the fire department.

He argues that the two-party system is not broken but is working exactly as designed, serving the donors who fund it rather than the people who vote in it, and that refusing corporate money is not a weakness for the Green Party but the entire point.

The Senate hearing incident in March 2026 was not the catalyst for his campaign. He had already filed with the FEC, opened a campaign bank account, and was doing the unglamorous administrative work of running for office before the protest ever happened.

When donations poured in after the hearing went viral, Brian and his wife paused the GoFundMe the moment they felt they had enough, redirecting supporters to his campaign instead of leaving the fundraiser open.

His message to anyone sitting on the sidelines is to get your toe in the water, find an organization that represents something you care about, and start there. You will be waist deep before you know it.

Brian McGinnis said, "Democrats and Republicans don't deserve your vote. They have to earn it. And I'm right there with them."

Host Molly Ruland said, "Win or lose, it matters. You're showing a lot of people that they can get involved too."

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and on-air bio00:46 Why Brian is running for Senate01:25 Growing up in Illinois and joining the Marines02:23 How foreign policy views changed after Iraq04:24 Meeting his Palestinian-American wife and the shift in perspective05:34 Transition from military to firefighting07:58 Decision to run and why the Green Party09:51 Turning depression into political action11:35 The Senate hearing, the broken arm, and zero regrets14:02 The GoFundMe pause and a moment of integrity15:47 The biggest issues facing North Carolina18:08 The two-party duopoly and the case for third-party voting22:09 Staying inspired when things keep getting worse25:21 How listeners can get involved30:36 Closing thoughts

Connect with Brian McGinnis

Website: brianmcginnis.orgInstagram: instagram.com/brianmcginnisncTwitter/X: x.com/brianmcginnisncThreads: threads.net/@brianmcginnisnc

Jeff Pixley did that to me.

He’s a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel. An F-16 combat pilot. A guy with 30+ years of service who has literally spent his life in the arena. And now he’s running for Congress in Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District because, in his words, the oath he took as a kid still means something. That part hit me hard. Low key, I got chills.

Jeff left the military a year early. That decision cost him about $300 a month in retirement pay for the rest of his life. Let that sink in. He gave up real money, real security, real comfort, because after the president fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the head of the Navy, and the military lawyers, he saw a flashing red warning sign. He was teaching cadets about the Constitution and the oath of office at the time, and he told me he couldn’t look them in the eye anymore if he stayed.

“I promised I would support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign or domestic. That oath ends with the words ‘so help me God’ — not ‘until further notice.’”

Exactly. Damn right.

And then he said this, which I’m going to carry around in my bones for a while:

“Firing the lawyers signaled to me that illegal orders might be coming. And being part of something I feared would not be in line with my values — that was something I couldn’t live with.”

That is not a man making a cute little political statement for the cameras. That is a person telling you he made a costly decision because he still believes service means something. Because integrity means something. Because some lines are real.

Jeff is not running because he got bored in retirement. He’s running because Tom Cole has been in Congress for 20 years, chairs the House Appropriations Committee, and Jeff believes our federal representatives have abdicated their responsibility to uphold the Constitution. And he’s not wrong to say this isn’t just an Oklahoma problem.

“Tom Cole sits atop the House Appropriations Committee. Every day he’s in Congress, no matter where you live in this country, you are adversely affected by his inaction or his actions.”

Read that again. No matter where you live.

We talked about the stuff people actually live under: Oklahoma’s minimum wage still stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009, housing costs, insurance costs, tariffs hammering farmers and ranchers, the way social media throttles grassroots candidates, and how corporate money keeps warping the whole damn system. Jeff takes no corporate money. No PAC money. None. Which, honestly, should not be radical, but here we are.

He also said something about the bigger problem that I think gets to the heart of all of it:

“If we don’t fix the constitutional imbalance, we can’t fix affordability — because right now we have what amounts to a patronage economy.”

That’s the kind of sentence that makes you want to stand on a table and yell in a diner somewhere.

We talked about Citizens United. We talked about the DCCC treating so-called “unwinnable” races like they’re already dead, which Jeff called out as the self-fulfilling prophecy it is. We talked about Oklahoma’s medical marijuana vote and the governor trying to unwind the will of the people. We talked about the deep insult of pretending folks in red districts don’t deserve a real choice. Spoiler: they do.

And Jeff? He actually gives me hope. Not because he’s polished. Not because he’s some perfect political product. But because he’s the real deal. He commanded all of Air Force Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, overseeing more than 60,000 new airmen. He helped shape Space Force basic training. He served as an Air Force One Advance Agent. He flew combat missions in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He earned a master’s degree from the Eisenhower School at National Defense University. He lives in Norman with his wife Andrea. This is not a lightweight candidate trying to cosplay as a patriot. This is a man who has already lived the hard part.

So if you care about democracy, if you care about the balance of power in the House, if you care about what happens when decent people decide they’re done watching the system rot from the sidelines, you should listen to this one.

Then share it. Especially with somebody in Oklahoma. Especially with somebody who thinks politics is over for them. Especially with somebody who needs to hear that there are still people willing to sacrifice for the rest of us.

You can support Jeff at jeffpixleyforcongress.com. Follow him on Instagram and Threads at @pixley4congress, and find Jeff Pixley for Congress on TikTok and Facebook. If you can donate directly on his website, do that — that’s the cleanest way to make sure your money actually reaches his campaign. And if you can’t donate, no shame. Share the episode. Word of mouth still matters. A lot.

And if you’re not already listening to What Do We Do Next?, come on in. It’s a show for the moments when people are either stepping up or disappearing. We’re talking to candidates, advocates, and leaders who are doing the damn thing when it would be easier not to.

Support the show by joining the Substack. Every dollar goes toward paid advertising that gets these conversations in front of more people — in places like Forbes, BusinessWeek, and Sports Illustrated.

Till next time, don’t forget who you are out there. Integrity matters.

A lot of political guests can feel polished to the point of distance, but Mark felt direct in a way that was almost startling. He was willing to be specific, which I always appreciate, and he kept bringing the conversation back to actual people and actual consequences instead of talking in slogans. I found myself thinking about our interview long after we wrapped, which is usually the sign that somebody said something real. Conversations like this matter because they remind us that democracy is still being shaped by people willing to show up and say something real. I also related to what he said about not wanting to lose his relationship with his parents, because my own father is not speaking to me right now, and that kind of ache makes those moments feel even more human.

In this episode

* Why Mark jumped in after Trump’s second term began

* Why he chose to run as a No Party Affiliate instead of a Democrat

* His Menards corporate background and what he saw inside boardrooms

* Calling Trump’s tactics what he believes they are

* The Canada/tourism economy angle and how tariffs hit Florida

* Veterans’ mental health and mandatory care after deployment

* The stigma around seeking help in the military, including pilots who fear losing their jobs

* Waste in the defense budget

* Accountability, single-payer healthcare, and lower prices

* His pledge to forgo his congressional salary and healthcare

* How to donate, and why small donations matter so much

What stayed with me

The part that really stayed with me was Mark talking about mental health in the military. There is still this devastating, deeply embedded stigma around asking for help, and that has to change. My father served, and growing up with a veteran shaped how I see these issues; it means that when Mark talks about the fear of asking for help, it is not abstract to me. The fact that a pilot can worry about losing a career for admitting they need support is not just backwards, it is dangerous. We talk so much about honoring service, but then we create a culture that punishes the very people who try to take care of themselves.

And then there was the moment when he compared Trump’s tactics to historical fascism. I want to be careful with language like that, because it matters, but I also appreciated that Mark did not soften it into something more palatable. He was clear about what he sees and clear about why he believes we should say it plainly. I find that refreshing, honestly. We get so used to politicians sanding down everything until it is safe and unrecognizable, and I am tired of that.

About Mark

Mark Davis is running for Florida’s 16th District as a No Party Affiliate. He’s an Air Force veteran, a former corporate operations executive at Menards, and a small business owner in Parrish, Florida. He lives there with his wife Sarah and their two children, and in less than a year, he has built more than 200,000 organic followers. His campaign has grown entirely without corporate money, and he refuses corporate PAC money. He has also pledged to forgo his congressional salary and healthcare if elected.

Support Mark

If you want to learn more, volunteer, or donate, go to markdavisforcongress.com. Even small recurring donations can make a real difference.

That part matters to me because campaigns like this are built one person at a time, not by giant checks and glossy consultants. If you believe we need more candidates who will say what they mean and keep their promises, this is exactly the kind of race worth supporting. Small donations really do add up here, and they help keep a genuinely grassroots campaign moving. And if you want more conversations like this, Subscribe on Substack. Sharing this episode helps more than you know.

Sadie grew up in rural Indiana as a self-described cynical non-voter. A college conversation about a local utility company sparked her interest in climate, which led her to policy, then politics, then the Sunrise Movement — and eventually to packing up her life and moving to Florida to organize on the ground for DDP. She rose from Field Director to Executive Director of the Florida Chapter, and now serves as National Organizing Director as DDP expands across the country in 2025.

In this episode, Molly and Sadie break down:

* What the Digital Democracy Project actually is (and how it works, step by step)

* How voters get verified and cast advisory votes on 100+ pieces of pending federal legislation

* Why verification matters — and why legislators can’t dismiss the data

* Real bills on the platform right now: impeachment resolutions, the Save America Act, war powers, government surveillance, and more

* How DDP generates scorecards comparing how legislators voted vs. how their constituents wanted them to vote

* What it looks like when this scales — and why power in numbers is the whole point

“It doesn’t require any permission from our government. We don’t have to wait for some law to be passed or for the next election. We can do this right now.”

“We’ve embraced technology in every way except for the ways that impact our life the most. You can get a car or a pizza to show up without saying a word — but you can’t have your voice be heard. And they take your taxes real electronically.”

Take Action Today:

Go to digitaldemocracyproject.org → Watch the explainer video → Click the Vote tab → Enroll in the Voatz app → Get verified in ~2 minutes → Start voting on real legislation.

Not registered? You can still browse every bill on the site — no account needed.

Connect with Sadie & DDP:

* 🌐 digitaldemocracyproject.org

* 📧 sadie.holzmeyer@digitaldemocracyproject.org

* 📱 @digital_democracy_project (Instagram, Threads)

* 🐦 @DigitalDemoProj (X)

* 🦋 @digitaldemoproject.bsky.social

* ▶️ @digitaldemocracyproject (YouTube)

Enjoying the show? Become a paid Substack member — every dollar goes toward paid advertising to get this podcast in front of more people.

We talked about James Wilson, gerrymandering, approval voting, data integrity, the Super PAC loophole, and why the process for picking our representatives should probably be a lot better than the process for picking the next American Idol. If you’ve ever looked at Congress and thought, “Surely we can do better than this,” this episode is for you.

What We Cover in This Episode

We start with Tom’s COVID-era promise and the unexpected path that led to the founding of America’s Main Street Party. From there, we dig into James Wilson — the Founding Father most people have never heard of, but probably should have — and his vision of a “free and equal” fountain of democracy. That idea becomes the backbone of Tom’s whole approach.

Then we get into the mechanics: how the multi-round nominating contest works, why uncontested and gerrymandered districts are the smartest place to begin, and how the system uses tools like endorsement rounds, approval voting, and ranked choice voting to create a real contest instead of a backroom coronation. We also talk through the Super PAC loophole Tom is using for good, not evil, and why candidates might actually choose this path over the usual party machine.

And because no conversation about modern democracy is complete without a little existential dread, we also talk about data integrity, virtual polling locations, and the very important distinction between a nominating system and an election system. The bigger vision here is a coalition-driven Congress — and maybe even a healthier political culture by 2032.

Connect with Tom & America’s Main Street Party

* Website: mainstreetparty.org

* Research & hilosophy: WilsonsFountain.us

* Petition: change.org (search America’s Main Street Party)

* Donate, volunteer, or become a district organizer: mainstreetparty.org

📣 Enjoyed this episode?

Share it with someone who’s tired of partisan gridlock and ready for something smarter. If this conversation lit a fire in you, I’d love for you to like, subscribe, and leave a review — it really does help more people find the show. And as always: be excellent to each other.

Chad is the founder of IVC Media, a partner at Peace & Shea LLP, and the legal advisor behind the Independent Voter Project. He’s taken election reform cases all the way to the Supreme Court. And in this episode, he breaks down exactly how the system is rigged — and what we can actually do about it.

Key Takeaways

* Closed primaries are the root of the problem. In states with closed primaries and gerrymandered districts, a candidate can win with as little as 3% of the electorate. That’s not democracy — that’s a controlled outcome.

* Independent voters aren’t wishy-washy — they’re the majority. Nearly 50% of Americans now identify as independent. That’s not indecision. That’s a rejection of being told that every position you hold must fit inside one of two boxes.

* Political parties are private organizations — but they control public elections. The legal core of Chad’s work: if primaries are publicly funded and integral to our elections, can the state legally exclude voters who choose not to join a private party? He’s asked the Supreme Court three times.

* The system benefits from your disengagement. When you tune out, the pool of voters shrinks — and it becomes even easier for well-funded, well-organized factions to control outcomes with a tiny slice of the electorate.

* Competition is the antidote to money in politics. Chad’s counterintuitive argument: you don’t just need to get money out of politics — you need to make every dollar less effective by forcing candidates to compete for a broader, less predictable electorate.

* What’s next: a Top Four Primary for California. The Independent Voter Project is preparing to introduce a top-four nonpartisan primary for California — modeled on Alaska’s system — that would advance four candidates to the general election regardless of party affiliation.

Quotes Worth Sharing

“We’re simply asking the courts a question on behalf of individual voters: if primaries are an integral stage of the election process, can you exclude me from that process — that we fund — because I chose not to join a private association?” — Chad Peace

“The Republican and Democratic parties are like mom and dad saying, ‘kids, you can have whatever you want for dinner — as long as it’s from Burger King or McDonald’s.’” — Chad Peace

“They’ve devised a system that is literally designed not to represent you.” — Chad Peace

“Don’t get upset with the folks in the system — focus on the system you’re trying to change.” — Chad Peace

“When we don’t vote, when we don’t get involved — not only are we not putting our voice in, but we’re strengthening the opposition.” — Molly Ruland

“The system is like a gym membership where they actually want the people who sign up and never show up. You’re paying $29 a month and getting nothing — and they’re getting richer.” — Molly Ruland

Resources & Links

* 🌐 Independent Voter News: ivn.us

* 🌐 Independent Voter Project: independentvoterproject.org

* 🌐 IVC Media: ivcmedia.com

* 📱 Follow Chad: @chadpeace | @ivn

* 📱 Follow Molly: @mollyruland | @heartcastmedia

* 📬 Subscribe to this Substack for new episodes every week

🎧 Support the Show

What Do We Do Next? just hit 38,000 downloads — thank you! Every dollar from Substack memberships goes directly toward paid advertising to grow the show and get these conversations in front of more people.

https://substack.com/@whatdowedonext

Liuba’s path into politics began with organizing and ended with a run for Congress in 2018, after she saw firsthand how deeply the system disadvantages women running for office. What followed was not just a campaign, but a broader movement: Vote Mama, built to challenge the structural barriers that keep moms out of office and make political life less possible for working parents. The episode traces how campaign childcare funding became a live issue, why that ruling mattered, and how it helped open doors in states across the country.

That bigger story is really about representation — and power. When more moms run, more families get seen, and more policy starts to reflect real life. The conversation also gets practical, from Moms Night Out gatherings to the push to take back the House, with clear ways listeners can support women running for office right now.

What We Cover

* How Liuba went from organizing an Indivisible group to running for Congress with two babies at home

* Why the political system was built before women had the right to vote — and why that still matters

* The historic campaign childcare funding ruling and how it became law in 40 states

* How Vote Mama is helping moms in politics build real paths to power

* Why Moms Night Out events are becoming a powerful tool for civic engagement

* What listeners can do right now to help take back the House

Pull Quotes

“You’re already more qualified than most people in office. If you can read, if you can talk to members of your own community, and if you care — you can run for office.”

— Liuba Grechen Shirley

“Other countries have social safety nets. The US has women.”

— Jessica Clarko, cited by Liuba Grechen Shirley

“We are only a few months away from the most consequential election of our lifetimes. This is not a test.”

— Liuba Grechen Shirley

About Vote Mama

Vote Mama is a movement and ecosystem built to make politics more accessible for moms. Vote Mama PAC elects Democratic moms up and down the ballot, Vote Mama Foundation leads research on mothers in politics, and Vote Mama Lobby pushes legislative advocacy for moms in office and on the trail. Together, they’re working to make it easier for women running for office to lead without having to choose between public service and caregiving.

Take Action

* Host a Moms Night Out — go to votemamapac.org or comment “ready” on @votemamalobby on Instagram to get the toolkit. A $17,500 match is active the week before Mother’s Day.

* Donate to the Mama Fund — every dollar goes directly to endorsed mom candidates running right now.

* Support endorsed moms — find Vote Mama-endorsed candidates and back them with your vote, time, or donation.

* Follow @votemamalobby on Instagram for updates, candidate spotlights, and ways to plug in.

Connect

Website: votemamapac.org · votemamafoundation.orgInstagram: @votemamalobby · @liubagrechenshirleyLinkedIn: Vote Mama Lobby · Vote Mama FoundationSubstack: Liuba Grechen Shirley on Substack

#VoteMama #MomsInPolitics #WomenInPolitics #WhatDoWeDoNext #MollyRuland #LiubaGrechenShirley #MomsNightOut #SaveDemocracy #WomenRunning #CivicEngagement

This conversation goes deep — on brain science, imposter syndrome, joy as resistance, trauma titration, and why the most political thing you can do right now might be to pet a dog and call a friend.

In This Episode

* Why 1992’s “Year of the Woman” never became the flood of women leaders Sarah expected — and what she did about it

* The neuroscience of why women don’t run for office (hint: it’s not ambition, it’s resiliency zones)

* DemocraShe’s signature tools: the Inner Critic vs. the Inner Best Friend, grounding, savoring the good

* Why high school is the last time girls and boys believe equally in their ability to lead — and why that’s the exact moment to intervene

* How to use “growth steps” to take action without flooding your nervous system

* Joy as strategy, not luxury — why feeling happy is an act of resistance

* Trauma titration: how to stay engaged without burning out

* DemocraShe’s explosive growth: 24 girls in 2022 → 915 in 2025, with 7x more applicants than spots

* How to support DemocraShe: donate, mentor, refer a high school girl, or connect them with foundations

“You should feel no shame for feeling flooded and exhausted. That is exactly how the human body was designed to respond to trauma. However, lovely humans have spent time researching the best tools to help brains overcome adversity — and even thrive.”

— Sarah Jakle

“Women deserve to be happy while they lead. It is not an either/or.”

— Sarah Jakle

Brain Hacks You Can Use Today

* Meet Your Inner Best Friend — Before a big moment, ask: “What would my inner best friend say?” (Not your inner critic — she’s not as helpful as she thinks she is.)

* Ground Yourself — Physical contact with a surface pulls you from your amygdala back to your prefrontal cortex. Try it right now.

* Savor the Good — Consciously noticing joy rewires your brain to find more of it. It’s not toxic positivity — it’s neuroscience.

* Take a Growth Step — Not the safe step. Not the overwhelm step. The one that’s just slightly outside your comfort zone, in line with your values.

* Titrate Into Hard Things — Touch something difficult, then return to something neutral or positive. That’s how you stay in the fight long-term.

About Sarah Jakle

Sarah Jakle is the Founder & Executive Director of DemocraShe. She’s a Yale graduate (Phi Beta Kappa), holds a Master’s in Social Work from USC and a Master’s in Public Policy from UCLA. She’s served as Get Out The Vote Director for CA NOW, National Outreach Director for Field Team 6, and is a Movement Builder Fellow with How Women Lead and an Obama Organizing for Action Fellow.

How to Support DemocraShe

* 💸 $25/month sponsors a girl through a 10-week program

* 💸 $50/month sponsors a peer leader

* 💸 $100/month sponsors a girl through the full program ($1,200 total)

* 🙋 Mentor a high school girl directly through the program

* 📣 Refer a high school girl who needs to meet her Inner Best Friend

* 🌐 Free self-directed program available at Democrashe.org — share it!

* 🤝 Know a foundation? Reach out to Sarah directly through the website

Links

* 🌐 Website: Democrashe.org

* 💼 LinkedIn: Sarah Jakle

* 🎙️ Subscribe & share this episode with a high school girl in your life

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have these tools at 15 instead of 50? Yeah. We think so too. Share this one. It matters.

In our conversation, Anne and I dig into her stories of perseverance, the importance of community action, standing strong in the face of adversity, and how even a simple rainbow fence can become a beacon of hope. We also discuss practical ways each of us can get involved. If you’re searching for inspiration and a reminder that change truly begins with every one of us, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:47 - Family influence and early activism04:17 - Making and sharing mini fences08:53 - Spreading love with repurposed paint14:18 - Standing against division and hate17:49 - One person can make impact21:11 - The importance of women and community22:58 - Neighborhood disputes over painted fences26:43 - Opposition to rainbow fences30:06 - Discussing women challenging power35:22 - Giving back to your community37:06 - Running for DNC position41:06 - Processing grief and accountability43:49 - Brainstorming community-driven collaboration49:15 - Offering campaign support services49:51 - Outro

Key TakeawaysThe Power of OneService and SolidarityAdversity to ActionLegacy of MatriarchsCommunity is Our CompassAllyship in ActionKeep Passing the BatonFocus ForwardThere is Always Hope

Quotes“Your voice matters, your vote matters, your spirit is important, and I value you. We are not alone—there is hope out there, and action is what replenishes us.” - Anne Brodsky

“One person really can make such a huge difference in the world—all it takes is that little bit of drive to want to do that.” - Molly Ruland

Anne Brodsky:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anne.brodsky.58

Produced by Heartcast Media

Will you give us a 5 star review, if we deserve it of course?

Our conversation dives into the evolution of the resistance, the vital role women play in leadership, and how a new generation is rising up for change both inside and outside Iran. Sarvnaz Chitsaz reflects on decades of struggle against misogyny and fundamentalism, the resilience of Iranian youth, and the universal need for purpose during uncertain times. We also unpack the challenges of combating misinformation, the power of international solidarity, and the hope we find from witnessing young women step into leadership.

Join me for an episode full of candid stories, insight, and encouragement on how we can all take part in building a better world—no matter where we’re starting from.

Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:10 - Iranian Women’s Struggles and Activism10:08 - “Women’s Resilience and Reflection”11:34 - Purpose Ignites Women’s Unity16:39 - “Politics and Shared Burdens”18:25 - “Media, Iran, and Truth Challenges”22:58 - “Blocked by Editorial Politics”24:30 - Iran’s Youth Sparks Protest Wave30:09 - “Women Empowering Women Globally”31:49 - Outro

Key TakeawaysA Lifetime of ResistanceThe Power of PurposeWomen Leading ChangeYouth Awakening in IranFacing Hardships with CourageThe Importance of True InformationGlobal Solidarity and InspirationReal Democracy Requires Women’s Leadership

Quotes“I would rather have something I believe in and fight for it than feel nothing. You have to find something that gives you purpose—and go out fighting.”- Molly Ruland

“It’s very important to find that thing that gives you an energy to go on. If you believe in it, then you go for it and fight for it—because this is life. You are just fighting every moment of your life.”- Sarvnaz Chitsaz

Guest:Sarvnaz Chitsaz: Chair of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) Women’s Committee

Produced by Heartcast Media

During the pandemic, Aceil Haddad brought together more than 250 volunteers to support over 120 charities at a critical time, launching campaigns like But Not Maternity that made a real difference. In our conversation, we dig into what fuels her dedication to service, why genuine political participation matters now more than ever, and the importance of women’s voices in fighting disinformation and pushing for real societal change.

We talk candidly about the lessons learned from grassroots activism, the realities of power and representation, and how each of us can discover our own way to make an impact. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or just wondering how you can do more, this episode is full of honest insights and practical inspiration for anyone asking: “What do we do next?”

Key TakeawaysStep Into Your Power—Everyone Has a Role to PlayPolitics Isn’t Just for PoliticiansWomen’s Voices Matter—Don’t Step BackSustainable Impact Starts with Self-CareFind Your ‘North Star’ and Own Your JourneyYou Don’t Have to Be the Main Character to Make a DifferenceUse Your Voice, Even When It Feels Risky

Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:10 - “Mobilizing Volunteers for Change”05:37 - Navigating Politics and Authenticity09:28 - Change Takes Time12:52 - “Understanding Issues and Power”14:32 - Politics and Business: Shared Lessons19:58 - “Impact Without Being Center Stage”21:33 - Community Service, Quiet Impact24:58 - “Women Must Be Heard”27:14 - “Staying Visible Matters Most”30:48 - Finding Your North Star35:37 - What Do We Do Next?36:08 - Outro

QuotesMolly Ruland:“When you know who you are, you don’t get washed around in the stream. It’s not about being the main character—it’s about showing up for your values, speaking the truth, and supporting the people and causes that matter to you.”

Aceil Haddad:“Everyone has a skill that’s valuable—no matter how small you think it is. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but through collective action and by having the courage to show up and use your voice, especially when the world would rather you stay silent.”

Connect with Aceil Haddadhttp://www.matt-pr.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aceil/

Call To Action:Stand for election - Centenary ActionSupport and invest in women

Produced by Heartcast Media

Will you give us a 5 star review, if we deserve it of course?

We talk about unapologetic visibility, the cultural and economic power of Latinas, and why women—especially women of color—must claim their voices in leadership. Cristina also shares insights on overcoming overwhelm, setting boundaries with social media, building supportive communities, and embracing authentic self-expression.

It’s an honest and inspiring conversation filled with wisdom, practical insights, and a reminder that being visible, powerful, and joyful is the new standard.

Key TakeawaysAncestral Roots & IdentityLatinas as Natural LeadersNervous System Regulation & OverwhelmEconomic Power of LatinasUnapologetic Visibility & BrandingRedefining Professionalism

Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:10 - “Christina: Empowering Women Leaders”03:57 - Latina Leadership and Visibility Journey09:58 - Social Media Overload Solutions12:49 - Too Much to Handle Responsibly16:46 - Content, Fear, Money, and Influence19:55 - Breaking Barriers, Building Wealth22:26 - Empowering Ambitious Founders’ Growth25:37 - “Authenticity Over Conformity”28:01 - “Defying Stereotypes, Owning Success”31:37 - “Empowering Women, Supporting Change”

Quotes“Be unapologetically visible at all times. Take initiative, stay committed to yourself, and never be afraid to claim your power”- Cristina Giovanna Olivares

“This is not the time to be meek and mild. Be louder, bolder, and braver than ever before. Redefine what it means to show up in the world.”- Molly Ruland

Connect with Christina and work with her in coachingWebsite:

https://www.thesocialbutterflygal.net/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/TheSocialButterflyGalThreads: Https://www.threads.com/thesocialbutterflygalLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-jovanna-olivarez-14081226/

Produced by Heartcast Media:

Will you give us a 5 star review, if we deserve it of course?

In this episode, I speak with Anabel Ternès von Hattburg—psychologist, futurist, professor, author, and host of the radio show We are Power—to talk about what it looks like to keep showing up when the problems feel bigger than any one person. Anna’s work has taken her from building a platform for people’s lived experience to speaking out about women’s movements worldwide, with a clear focus on the courage of Iranian women fighting for freedom and democracy.

What stayed with me most is her insistence that stories matter more than slogans. We talk about what we remember, what moves us, and what actually helps when I’m trying to communicate with friends and family without shutting down or turning away. We end with concrete guidance I can use—and you can use—if you want to get informed, use your voice with purpose, and take a first step that isn’t performative and isn’t alone.

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:10 - “Powerful Stories, Impactful Living”04:12 - Hope Through Memories08:46 - “Advocacy Failure for Afghan Women”12:18 - “Walk, Collaborate, Write Life”13:12 - Outro

Quotes:Molly Ruland:“Awakening to truth can be painful, but it’s in this discomfort that we rediscover our power—and realize we are not alone in our desire for change.”

Anabel Ternès von Hattburg:“Never stop doing the things you do. Never stop talking about the things you do. Involve, inspire, and engage as many people as you can in the movement you started.”

Key Takeaways:The Power of StorytellingAmplifying Women’s VoicesActive AllyshipWalking the TalkBravery as a Daily PracticeCommunity Over CompetitionHope as a Driving Force

Produced by Heartcast Media:

http://www.heartcastmedia.com

Linda Chavez has spent fifty years holding positions that cost her, and she said the quiet part out loud: if it ever makes her a pariah, she’ll read great literature and play with her grandchildren, and that will be sufficient. I can’t stop thinking about that. So here’s the assignment, pulled straight from a woman who’s been doing this longer than I’ve been alive.

* Pick principle over circumstance, even when it’s annoying. A mentor once told me I’m a principle-over-circumstance person, and it’s true, and it’s inconvenient as hell. Linda’s whole career is that. She didn’t change positions when the winds shifted in Washington, she ended up in the Reagan administration because they aligned with her, not the other way around, and she’s no longer a Republican now that they don’t. So next time you’re tempted to soften a real position for access or a client or a like, ask what you actually believe and stand there.

* Open your arms now, or die in them. Linda quoted The Sopranos, of all things: you die in your own arms. Her point, you only die alone if you never opened those arms wide and took people in. A life that isn’t built around serving others ends lonely. So go be useful to someone. Build the life now that you’ll want around you later.

* Talk to people you disagree with, on purpose. Linda would rather debate than give a speech, because debate forces you to actually learn the other side’s argument. We’ve lost that, siloed feeds, doom-scrolling, no common square. Her fix is a discipline: read and listen past your own agreement. Go find one smart person you disagree with and actually hear them out this week.

That’s the work. Here’s the conversation that got me there.

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The conversation

This one’s for anyone who’s been told to stay quiet, play it safe, don’t rock the boat, and felt something in them die a little when they complied.

You need to know who Linda Chavez is, because her authority on this is real and it’s specific. She’s chairman of the Center for Equal Opportunity, a civil rights organization in D.C., a former syndicated columnist, and former director of public liaison in the Reagan White House, fifty-plus years in American public life. But here’s the part that matters for Iran: her involvement goes back to the early 1990s, when she was the U.S. expert to the UN Human Rights Subcommission and sponsored resolutions condemning the Iranian regime’s misogyny and human rights abuses. She’s been in this fight for thirty years. This isn’t a take. It’s a life.

And what struck me is that she comes at it from a different political tradition than a lot of the movement’s supporters, and it doesn’t matter, because the principles are the common ground. She backs the NCRI’s 10-point plan and says there’s not a single point she disagrees with: protection for minorities, separation of church and state, equal opportunity regardless of sex or ethnicity. She calls it universal. When friends and foes alike ask why she’s involved with “those people,” her answer is sharp: the regime arrests, tortures, and executes the MEK by the thousands, and a government is very good at knowing who its real enemies are. Don’t tell her they have no support.

But the moment that got me wasn’t political at all. I asked about the sacrifices of being so vocal for so long, and she talked about consistency, about how you lose respect for yourself when you flip-flop for a seat at the right party. And then she quoted the mother from The Sopranos, you die in your own arms, and turned it into the most quietly devastating piece of advice: you only die alone if you never opened your arms wide. This is a woman genuinely at peace with the cost of her principles. You can’t fake that, and you can’t argue someone into it. You either live that way or you don’t. She does.

We also get into why she distrusts the Shah’s son as a recycled alternative, the global retreat from democracy that worries her, and a grief I share, watching foundations you sacrificed for slip away and wondering what it was all for.

Meet Linda Chavez

Linda Chavez is chairman of the Center for Equal Opportunity, a civil rights organization in Washington, D.C. She is a former syndicated columnist and served as director of public liaison in the Reagan White House. Her work on Iran dates to the early 1990s, when she served as the U.S. expert to the UN Human Rights Subcommission and, alongside her UK counterpart Clare Palley, sponsored numerous resolutions condemning the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses and treatment of women. She has been deeply involved with the Iranian resistance for more than three decades.

Worth pulling out

* “You only die in your own arms if you have not opened those arms wide and embraced other people all your life.” A Sopranos line, turned into a way to live.

* On the regime’s brutality toward the MEK: a government is very good at one thing, knowing who its enemies are. The persecution is the proof of support.

* Fifty years of not flip-flopping for access, and total peace with the cost: “I’ll read great literature, I’ll play with my grandchildren, and that will be sufficient.”

Chapters

00:00 Who Linda Chavez is 00:40 Three decades with the resistance, from the UN to today 02:00 Why the 10-point plan aligns with her values 04:00 Handling pushback, and why the regime’s hostility proves support 06:30 Fighting for freedom versus fighting for money 08:00 Personal sacrifice and the people behind the movement 10:30 Principle over circumstance, and 50 years of consistency 14:00 A message for women who feel lost 17:00 A message for the resistance: be prepared 20:00 The free market, universal rights, and the retreat from democracy 24:00 Siloed media, doom-scrolling, and the lost public square 30:00 Grief, changing foundations, and the hope ahead

Connect with the movement

National Council of Resistance of Iran: ncr-iran.org Center for Equal Opportunity: ceousa.org

Before you go

If you’ve been staying quiet to stay safe, send this to one person who needs the nudge. Then say the thing.

Listening is the revolution. Molly

Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Listen next: My dispatch from Paris, inside the room with the women who lead this fight The full series: The Iranian resistance has a plan. Do we?

The story Professor Hughes told me about how she found this movement has been rattling around my head since Paris, and the lesson in it is bigger than Iran. So here’s the assignment, from a woman who’s given thirty years to a cause that isn’t even her own country.

* Lead with the people, not your own pain. A man stopped Donna on a London street in 1995 with a binder full of photos of women executed in Iran. He talked about all of them, page after page, who they were, what they did, before he mentioned, almost in passing, that one of them was his wife. He centered the women, not his grief. That’s the move. When you care about something, talk about the people it’s happening to, not how it makes you feel. It lands harder and it isn’t about you.

* Trust your gut about people, then act on it. She said the thing she relies on most now is how a person makes her feel, that old instinct women used to call picking up creep vibes. She’s learned to turn it on deliberately. In thirty years around this movement, she never got that vibe off the people in it. Your instinct about who’s real is data. Stop overriding it to be polite.

* Refuse to stop talking, especially when they won’t. Her hardest experience wasn’t a difficult conversation, it was the flat refusal to have one. A university came after her over a single essay and nobody would even engage. We’re brushing too much under the rug to keep the peace. So have the lunch, with the friend you’ve been avoiding the subject with. Not on a stage. At the table.

That’s the work. Here’s the conversation that got me there.

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The conversation

This one’s for anyone who knows something is wrong, remembers when people connected differently, and feels that deficit but doesn’t know what to do with it. Professor Hughes named that feeling exactly, and she’d know.

You should know who she is, because her authority on this runs deep. Professor Donna Hughes holds an endowed chair in Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Rhode Island, has a PhD from Penn State, and is one of the world’s leading researchers on human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women, work that’s taken her into the field in the US, Russia, Ukraine, and Korea and in front of Congress to testify. This is a scholar who has spent her career documenting violence against women and women’s resistance to it. So when she first heard Maryam Rajavi speak in 1996 and felt the hair rise on her arms, it wasn’t a tourist’s reaction. It was an expert recognizing something she’d never seen before: women’s liberation theory already being lived in practice.

But the story that floored me came before all that. The first person from the resistance she ever met was a man, in London in 1995, who stopped her on the street while she was Christmas shopping. He had a big three-ring binder. He asked if he could talk to her about women, and as a women’s studies scholar, of course she said yes. He opened the binder and it was full of photographs, page after page of women executed in Iran. Many of them professional women. And only after telling her about all of them did he say his own wife was among them. She kept thinking, who is this man? She’d never heard a man talk about women this way, moved enough to stop strangers on the street over what was happening to the women of his country. It was years before she realized he was a member of the resistance. She still scans the faces of the men at these conferences wondering if he’s there, if she’d recognize him.

That’s the integrity moment, and it’s why the whole movement earned her trust: people who lead with the cause and bury their own staggering losses. She told me there are women she’s known for years before learning, offhand, what they survived. They just keep doing the work. You can’t fake that, and you can’t manufacture thirty years of it.

We also get into the fragmentation tearing women’s organizing apart, her own run-in with cancel culture, and why, in a sea of disinformation about Iran, she trusts the resistance’s sourced books over almost anything else.

Meet Professor Donna Hughes

Professor Donna Hughes holds the Eleanor M. and Oscar M. Carlson Endowed Chair in the Gender and Women’s Studies program at the University of Rhode Island. She earned her PhD from Penn State and is one of the leading international researchers on human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women and girls, with field research spanning the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and Korea. She has testified before Congress on trafficking and has written extensively on violence against women, women’s rights in the Islamic world, and women’s organized resistance to oppression. She has supported the Iranian resistance since 1996.

Worth pulling out

* The man with the binder in London, 1995. He showed her every woman before he mentioned his own wife was one of them. The whole movement, in one stranger.

* On trusting her gut: thirty years around the resistance, she never once got a “creep vibe” off the people in it. Instinct as evidence.

* The women she’s known for years who never mentioned what they’d survived, including a 72-day hunger strike she only learned about from Molly. They just keep doing the work.

Chapters

00:00 Who Professor Donna Hughes is 00:40 Thirty years, and the 1996 moment that gave her chills 02:30 This year’s message: we have to continue 03:30 The men in the movement, and the binder in London 07:30 What keeps her coming back after 30 years 09:30 A message for women who are struggling 11:30 Fragmentation and the refusal to talk 13:00 Surviving cancel culture, and trusting your gut 16:30 Kindness you can feel, and sacrifices never mentioned 19:00 Cutting through disinformation on Iran 22:00 Where to start: the resistance’s sourced books

Connect with the movement

National Council of Resistance of Iran: ncr-iran.org

Before you go

If you’ve got a conversation you’ve been avoiding to keep the peace, send this to the person you’ve been avoiding it with. Then have it.

Listening is the revolution. Molly

Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Listen next: The legal case for a free Iran, with Izabela Konopacka The full series: The Iranian resistance has a plan. Do we?

Why a top European lawyer took up Iran's cause, with Izabela Konopacka

The former president of a million-lawyer federation on why governments must treat Iran like Ukraine.

Izabela Konopacka is a Polish attorney and the former president of the Federation of European Bars (FBE), the body representing roughly one million lawyers across 220 associations. She was only the fourth woman elected to that presidency in the federation's history, and during her term she pushed through a statute change to put women on the board, an initiative that has since grown into the Federation's recurring "Women Leaders in Law" summit. She has supported the Iranian resistance since 2023.

She sat down with host Molly Ruland in Paris to make the legal and moral case for the people of Iran: why she calls the regime's treatment of women exceptional even by the grim standards of human rights abuse, why she believes governments must act on Iran the way they acted on Ukraine, and why she's convinced no woman can win these fights alone.

Key Takeaways

Konopacka frames Iran in legal terms: measured against how women's rights are protected across Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia, what's happening in Iran is exceptional, and it cannot be allowed to continue.

She argues governments must treat Iran the way they treated Ukraine, with decisive action, condemnation, and clear support for a free Iran, regardless of the economic cost.

Democracy is not about the economy. Europe's gains came from being united in shared values, not from chasing growth, and she applies the same logic to Iran.

She names a hard truth: many women are offered real benefits to stay silent, and some women uphold the patriarchy. The fight isn't against men, it's against that structure.

Her own proof of concept: as FBE president she forced through a board-diversity statute against heavy opposition, calling it the price worth paying for the generations who come after.

Izabela Konopacka said, "In Europe, we enjoy the freedom of speech, but many of us do not exercise it."

Host Molly Ruland said, "I have to make the choice to join them, because they didn't get to make that choice."

Timestamps

00:00 Who Izabela Konopacka is 01:00 From the European Bar Federation to the Iranian cause 02:30 The most important message: Iran is not a democracy 03:30 The third option, and treating Iran like Ukraine 05:00 Gender equality at the heart of it 06:30 A message to women: build the community 08:00 The benefits offered for staying silent 10:00 Fighting patriarchy, not men 11:00 The board-diversity fight, and the price worth paying 13:00 A message to the women of Iran

Connect with the movement

National Council of Resistance of Iran: ncr-iran.org

I sat in a room in Paris with 37 women, former prime ministers, ministers, presidents, who each decided, some thirty years ago and some two, to stand publicly with the Iranian resistance even though it cost them at home. That’s the bar. So here’s the assignment, and it’s the one I set for myself on the flight back.

* Stand tall even when it costs you something small. These women ruffled real feathers in France, Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Ecuador, Colombia, and went home and said it louder. Meanwhile a lot of us won’t even post something on LinkedIn for fear of losing a client. So this week, say the uncomfortable true thing in the room where it’s least comfortable. You’re risking a like. They risked careers.

* Get the third option straight so you can use it. The regime isn’t stopped by bombing it or by paying it off. The first funnels sympathy back to it, the second funnels money. The third option is supporting Iranians to topple it themselves and build a secular democratic republic. Learn that well enough to say it at dinner, and learn to spot the disinformation, including the doctored protest videos with overdubbed audio, designed to misrepresent what Iranians actually want.

* Spread the right information, because that’s the part you can actually do. You don’t have to be a foreign-policy expert. I’m not. But you can refuse to repeat the bad narrative and you can share the real one. When Iran comes up, you now have the talking points. Use them.

That’s the work. Here’s what I saw.

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The conversation

This one’s different. No guest, just me, reporting back from a room I still can’t believe I was in.

I went to Paris for the International Women’s Day conference, “Women’s Leadership: An Imperative for a Free Iran and Democratic Republic.” I didn’t fully know what I was walking into. I knew I needed it, I needed to fill my cup with women who have a voice and aren’t afraid to use it, and I’d learned enough about Iran over the last few months to feel like I had to be there. There was a side event, a big table, 37 women around it, and a nameplate with my name on it. Michelle Alliot-Marie of France. The Prime Minister of Slovakia. Former prime ministers, ambassadors, a former president. And me, who didn’t go to college and felt every inch of the impostor feeling, except I always say imposter syndrome is just the patriarchy, so I sat down anyway.

Here’s what most people get wrong, and it’s the thing I most need you to hear. The Iranian resistance is led by a woman. Maryam Rajavi was democratically chosen by the movement’s many factions, each of which gets a vote. We’ve been sold a story where Iran’s women are only victims. The regime does brutally oppress women, that part is true. But the resistance is the opposite, it’s led by women, filled with women, and it’s working, which is exactly why the regime is terrified and why the former Shah’s son, who has spent his life in the US and not in Iran, is suddenly trying to claim the moment as the regime totters. They’re doctoring protest videos, overdubbing audio, inflating crowds, trying to turn footage of people protesting against him into footage for him. Sound familiar?

But the moment that took me out wasn’t the pageantry. It was the 10-point plan, and what they said about it. The resistance has a plan: when the regime falls, a six-month interim government, then a free, secular, democratic election. And more than once, the message was this, even if the people don’t choose Maryam Rajavi, even if they reject the 10-point plan, the resistance will step down and build the future together anyway. Think about that. These are people who gave up everything to be here, celibacy, no marriage, no children, knowing that joining was effectively signing a death sentence. Zolal told me she joined at 19 and never thought she’d live this long. And after a lifetime of that, they would hand over power if the vote went against them, because what they want even more than winning is the vote itself. That willingness to lose is the most trustworthy thing I’ve ever seen in politics. You cannot fake that. It’s the integrity at the center of this whole movement.

I sat directly behind Maryam Rajavi during the main presentation, and every time a woman came off the stage, she’d go to Rajavi first, and I got to watch her face light up, the way she took their hands, the warmth between women who’ve carried this for decades. Some of them, like Professor Donna Hughes, have been coming for thirty years. That solidarity is the thing I drove home with. There’s so much power and comfort in a room of women who decided, at real cost, to be on the right side of something.

I left with a notebook full of quotes I haven’t stopped thinking about. Women are not property. Freedom is never given. Don’t beg for mercy, demand freedom. Female leadership is imperative for a democratic future. And the one that named the whole trip: being born a woman in Iran is an act of resistance, and honestly, being born a woman anywhere is.

The quotes that shook me

* “Being born a woman in Iran is an act of resistance.” — Shahin Bari

* “Don’t beg for mercy, demand freedom.”

* “Female leadership is imperative for a democratic future.” — Esther Rodriguez

* “Women inspire and lead other women, and that’s when change is possible.”

What I need you to take from this

The first option is intervention, the US or Israel bombing Iran. They don’t want that. The second is appeasement, more money to the regime to maybe slow its nuclear program, which has never worked. The third option is the one the resistance is actually asking for: support them to topple the regime themselves, then get out of the way so they can build a secular, free, democratic society. The most useful thing you can do from here is spread accurate information, because there is so much bad information, and the disinformation is deliberate.

Connect with the movement

National Council of Resistance of Iran: ncr-iran.org

Before you go

I’m releasing all five interviews I recorded in Paris over the coming days. If this dispatch moved you, send it to one person, and then go have the conversation you’ve been avoiding.

Listening is the revolution. Molly

Listen next: The third option for Iran nobody’s talking about, with Zahra Amanpour, start here for the whole story. New here? This is my reporting from Paris. The interviews it leads into are all linked below.

Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Listen next: The third option for Iran nobody's talking about, with Zahra Amanpour The full series: The Iranian resistance has a plan. Do we?

Today, I sat down with Paige Loud, a 29-year-old social worker running for Congress in Maine's District 2. She's spent years working with adults and children with intellectual disabilities, and she's watching the system she knows intimately get weaponized for political gain.

The story she told me about Maine's Medicaid "scandal" isn't what you've heard on the news. And it matters—because what's happening in Maine is a blueprint for what's coming everywhere else.

Key Takeaways:

The Maine Medicaid Audit Scandal Brief description of what's covered in Topic 1.

Systemic Documentation Failures How overworked care providers are set up to fail by impossible documentation requirements that don't reflect the reality of providing care

The Reinstitutionalization Agenda Why attacks on community-based services may be part of a larger effort to return people with disabilities to institutional settings

Barriers to Running for Office The shocking costs of entering politics, including $6,000 just to access voter data through the Democratic Party

Why Social Workers Matter in Congress How lived experience working with vulnerable populations creates better policy than talking points and political theory

00:00:00 - Introduction & Welcome I introduce Paige Loud, social worker and Congressional candidate

00:03:00 - The Maine Medicaid Scandal Explained Breaking down what the audit actually found versus the fraud narrative

00:08:33 - Political Retribution in Maine How the Trump administration has targeted Maine repeatedly

00:10:34 - The Reinstitutionalization Agenda Why RFK Jr. and others want to move away from community-based care

00:12:17 - The Olmstead Act & Deinstitutionalization History of moving people with disabilities out of institutions

00:15:07 - The Documentation Trap Why impossible paperwork requirements doom overworked care providers

00:21:20 - Who's Actually Being Served? The question no one is asking about the audit

00:27:03 - The $6,000 Barrier to Democracy How the Democratic Party charges candidates for voter access

00:33:00 - Why Age & Experience Matter Paige responds to critics questioning her qualifications

00:45:06 - Finding Joy in the Fight Final thoughts on staying positive while fighting for change

I’ve been thinking a lot about how hard it has become to talk to people we love—family, friends, coworkers—without politics, resentment, or fear blowing the whole thing up. This conversation sits right in that tension. It’s about education, yes, but more than that, it’s about listening, belonging, and finding ways back to one another when the ground feels unstable.

We talk about music as a tool for connection—not as a metaphor, but as a real, practical way to lower defenses and remind ourselves that there’s a human being sitting across from us. We get into what it looks like to use something as simple as a song to open the door to harder conversations, especially in moments where we usually shut down or shut each other out. We also talk honestly about how broken systems don’t fix themselves, and why waiting for institutions to save us is not a plan.

What I took away from this episode is a reminder that listening is not passive. It’s work. It’s uncomfortable. And right now, it might be one of the most important skills we have. If you’re feeling exhausted by the news cycle, unsure how to talk to people in your life, or wondering how to show up without losing yourself, this conversation offers a grounded place to start.

At the heart of it, this episode is asking the same question we always come back to: when things feel this divided, and this personal, what do we do next? Not in theory—but in our homes, our communities, and our everyday lives.

I hope you’ll listen with an open mind, maybe even with a song in mind, and see what comes up for you.

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:18 - “Reflection on Education System”06:26 - “Connecting Through Music in Isolation”07:50 - Songs as Stories Connecting Lives11:57 - “Strangers United by Music”16:13 - “Rebuilding Connections Through Community”17:45 - “Using Music to Build Connection”21:45 - “On-Demand Culture and Impatience”23:20 - “The Importance of Listening”28:09 - “Songs and Emotions Connection”31:09 - Resentment and Rules of Engagement33:32 - “Expressing Identity Through Songs”38:40 - “Family Conversations and Legacy”40:40 - “Respecting Shaka’s Inspiring Efforts”42:07 - Outro

Quotes:“Music builds bridges. When we listen to each other’s stories, we find the common ground where connection begins.”- Shaka Mitchell

“Listening is the revolution. When we slow down and truly hear one another, we move past labels and remember our shared humanity.”- Molly

Key Takeaways:Music as a BridgeHumanizing ConversationsListening Is RadicalPractical Tools for UnityHealing Starts at HomeEveryone Wants to BelongTake the First Step

Connect with Shaka MitchellWebsite: HOME | Come TogetherYouTube - Come Together Music ProjectiTunes -Come Together PodcastSpotify -The Come Together PodcastInstagram - The Come Together Music Project (@cometogethermusicproject) • Instagram profileFacebook -Come Together Music Project | Nashville TN

Give a Little Bit (make a tax-deductible contribution):Help us Find the Hidden Harmonies!

Produced by Heartcast MediaHeartcast Media : Branded Podcast Production

KEY TOPICS:

* The “Deciding to Win” Report - Analysis of Welcome PAC’s diagnosis that Democrats need to become more moderate and abandon “unpopular” positions.

* The Vending Machine Theory of Voters - Why the consultant class fundamentally misunderstands how people form political identities and make voting decisions.

* Material Politics vs. Identity Politics - The Democratic Party’s struggle to define its relationship with big money, capital, and corporate power.

* The Wealthy Elite as Villains - How Americans are organically creating a new archetype of the “wealthy elite” as a problem, from Epstein to billionaires.

* Eric Platner and Populism - The promise and problems of populist candidates, including the recent controversy.

* What Comes Next - Practical steps including mutual aid, the No Kings protests, and the possibility of a general strike.

TIMESTAMPED CHAPTERS:

* 00:00:00 - Introduction - Molly introduces Frank Spring and the “Deciding to Win” report that opens with a Nancy Pelosi quote.

* 00:02:15 - What is Welcome PAC? - Frank explains the organization behind the report and their centrist thesis.

* 00:05:30 - The Strawman Problem - How the report misrepresents Democratic positions like “abolishing the police” that aren’t actual party platforms.

* 00:12:45 - What Altum Does - Frank describes their narrative-focused research methodology and qualitative approach.

* 00:15:20 - The Diversity Problem That Isn’t - Research findings show people don’t know what Democrats stand for beyond diversity and inclusivity.

* 00:22:10 - The Trans Agenda Myth - Why even Republicans found the anti-trans campaign “weird” and mean-spirited.

* 00:28:40 - Big Money and Capital - The Democratic Party’s unresolved relationship with big tech, big pharma, and corporate power.

* 00:35:15 - The Vending Machine Theory - Frank’s critique of how consultants think voters work versus how they actually make decisions.

* 00:42:30 - Crime Politics and Reality - Why Americans don’t want “hang ‘em and flog ‘em” politics despite concerns about crime.

* 00:51:20 - Eric Platner Discussion - The promise of naming billionaires as villains and the Nazi tattoo controversy.

* 01:05:45 - Racism and American Politics - How Americans overestimate racism in others and the complexity of voter behavior.

* 01:15:30 - Prison Labor and the Carceral State - Why criminal justice reform referendums succeed even in conservative states.

* 01:22:10 - What Do We Do Next? - Frank’s call to action: give to food banks, show up to protests, take care of each other.

* 01:28:40 - The General Strike Question - Discussion of labor organizing, collective action, and rebuilding atrophied muscles.

* 01:35:15 - Closing Thoughts - The power of the American people and the direction of travel.

GUEST INFORMATION:

* Frank Spring - Altum Insight - Narrative Strategist and Political Analyst. Brief bio highlighting their expertise and connection to the topic: Specializes in behavioral science and cognitive neuroscience of storytelling. Conducts deep qualitative research on political identity formation.

* LinkedIn Profile Link

* X (Twitter) Profile Link

* Altum Insight Website

EPISODE SIGNIFICANCE:

This episode matters because it cuts through the noise of conventional political wisdom to examine how voters actually think and what the Democratic Party’s real problems are. At a moment when:

“We are still not going to be saved by someone else. The most powerful thing we can do is go to the next No Kings protest, take care of each other, and turn up in numbers they can’t ignore.”

— Frank Spring

* The Democratic Party is having its perennial “too far left vs. too centrist” debate. Explanation of why this reason is significant.

* Americans are facing unprecedented attacks on social programs and democratic norms. Explanation of why this reason is significant.

* Grassroots movements like No Kings are showing the power of collective action. Explanation of why this reason is significant.

* The relationship between citizens and the wealthy elite is fundamentally shifting. Explanation of why this reason is significant.

Frank’s research-backed insights reveal that the problem isn’t that Democrats have gone too far left on policy—it’s that the party hasn’t figured out its relationship to capital and power. The “vending machine theory” he describes explains why so much political consulting fails: it assumes people make rational policy-based decisions when they actually form complex identities based on stories, trust, and whether they believe a candidate understands their lives.

CALL TO ACTION:

* Give to Your Local Food Bank - Give so much it hurts. Postpone something you were looking forward to and donate that money instead.

* Show Up to No Kings Protests - The next wave of protests is coming. Your presence matters and sends a message to leadership.

* Take Care of Each Other - Build mutual aid networks in your community. We have to demonstrate we can support each other.

* Prepare for Collective Action - Start thinking about what a general strike would mean and how you could participate.

* Stop Waiting for a Savior - No single candidate will fix this. The power lies in collective action and sustained pressure.

* Challenge the Vending Machine Theory - When you hear political consultants talk about “the issues voters care about,” remember that’s not how people actually make decisions.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

Official Organizations/Websites

* Altum Insight

* Welcome PAC

* No Kings Movement

* Local Food Banks

Follow on Social Media

* Frank Spring (LinkedIn)

* Frank Spring (X/Twitter)

* Molly (Substack)

* #NoKings

* #GeneralStrike

* #MutualAid

Topics to Research

* The “Deciding to Win” report from Welcome PAC

* Vending machine theory of voters

* Eric Platner Maine Senate campaign

* No Kings protest movement

* General strike organizing

* Prison labor abolition referendums

* Crime statistics vs. perception in American cities

* Democratic Party platform history

CLOSING MESSAGE:

The Power Is With the People

This conversation reveals a fundamental truth: Americans are not waiting for permission to build the country they want to live in. From the unprecedented No Kings protests to the organic emergence of the “wealthy elite” as villains in the American story, people are writing a new narrative about power, democracy, and who this country serves.

The Democratic Party’s identity crisis isn’t about being too far left or too centrist on policy—it’s about having the courage to clearly state whose side they’re on. Are they with big money and corporate power, or are they with the people struggling under the weight of precarity, rising costs, and a system rigged against them?

We don’t need another savior. We need each other.

Share this episode with someone who’s trying to make sense of where we go from here. Subscribe to support independent political analysis that challenges conventional wisdom. And most importantly: give to your food bank, show up when it matters, and take care of each other.

Thank you for listening. The work continues. The power is ours if we choose to use it together.

This episode matters because what is happening in Iran is not isolated. The parallels to democratic backsliding worldwide are impossible to ignore. Understanding the Iranian people's organized, leaderless-yet-structured resistance offers a blueprint for anyone fighting for freedom, dignity, and a future free from dictatorship.

Zolal Habibi is an Iranian human rights activist and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). With over two decades of dedicated activism, she has appeared at international forums, human rights conferences, and live broadcasts worldwide, advocating for a free, secular, and democratic Iran.

Key Takeaways

The uprising spread to 220 cities and all 31 provinces, driven by economic collapse but quickly unified around one demand: the complete overthrow of the regime.

The regime's fear is the organized resistance on the ground. Two cities were briefly liberated on January 7th, with suppressive forces disarmed by the people.

Neither foreign war nor appeasement will bring change. The third option is supporting the Iranian people directly: restoring communications, blacklisting the IRGC, and holding the regime accountable.

Division is a tool of dictators. The unifying slogan across Iran is "No Shah, No Mullahs" because the people reject both the current regime and a return to monarchy.

The NCRI has a six-month interim government plan, followed by a new constitution and free elections under UN oversight, offering a credible third path forward.

Zolal Habibi said, "If Iran succeeds, the message for all dictatorships is that if you kill ruthlessly, you can stay in power. The Iranian people have decided we are not going to let that happen."

Host Molly Ruland said, "These conversations have been like a lighthouse in the storm for me, and I know that a lot of people are listening and hopefully taking something good with them and a little bit of inspiration."

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and guest introduction.00:53 Iran in the news cycle and the information blackout.02:32 What sparked the uprising. The Bazaar strikes and spread to 220 cities.06:30 Organized resistance. Cities liberated, forces disarmed.07:28 Why foreign intervention cannot overthrow the regime.09:29 Verified casualties. At least 3,000 dead, 50,000 arrested.10:42 Day 14 of the Internet shutdown and communications blackout.13:25 Why the protests have not stopped despite the crackdown.15:26 Unity across Iran. Gen Z, all provinces, all walks of life.17:22 The regime's fear and the point of no return.19:20 Division as a regime tool. The monarchy debate and the "No Shah, No Mullahs" slogan.23:49 International solidarity demonstrations in Sweden, Oslo, and France.27:21 The NCRI's six-month interim government plan and roadmap to free elections.30:29 Foreign influence. China, the US, Israel, and the third option.36:36 Appeasement gives the regime a green light. The IRGC blacklisting fight in the EU.41:30 Why the Shah's son is not a credible alternative.49:18 Mrs. Rajavi's leadership and the resistance's focus on the people, not power.51:29 Parallels to Project 2025 and the United States.53:41 How to stay grounded. Zolal's advice to activists worldwide.55:26 The responsibility of those outside Iran. 120,000 lives lost for their beliefs.58:38 "We can and we must." Mrs. Rajavi's guiding principle.01:00:03 A woman leading the resistance and the importance of seeking truth.01:03:20 Closing reflections and call to share the episode.

Connect with Zolal Habibi

NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee: https://www.ncr-iran.org

Annemarie and I talk about what’s really happening on D.C.’s streets right now—from recent government encampment clearings to the ongoing struggles so many face just to find safety and stability. She shares how Street Sense is helping to rewrite the narrative around homelessness—turning stigma into understanding, and isolation into opportunity.

What I love about this conversation is how it shines a light on the human side of homelessness: the resilience, the creativity, and the deep desire for connection that too often gets overlooked. Annemarie also opens up about how Street Sense Media’s model offers more than just income for its vendors—it builds community, restores dignity, and gives people a voice in shaping their own stories.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a real difference for people experiencing homelessness—or what it actually takes to create long-term change—this episode will leave you thinking differently about what community really means.

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:10 - “Street Sense: More Than a Paper”03:18 - Understanding Homelessness Misconceptions08:29 - Displacement Impact from Police Sweeps10:24 - “Non-Congregate Shelters’ Privacy Appeal”13:33 - “Community-Centered Storytelling Advantage”19:11 - “Street Sense’s Positive Impact”22:57 - Online Updates: Homelessness and Policy News25:17 - “Encouraging Support for Street Sense”26:45 - Outro

Quotes:“I see our role as providing real, quality, empathetic, understanding information both to people who are experiencing homelessness or are low income.”- Annemarie Cuccia

“We all need help sometimes, and storytelling is the best way for us to truly see one another and inspire change.”- Molly Ruland

Key Takeaways:Street Sense Media’s MissionImpact of the D.C. TakeoverMisconceptions About HomelessnessShelter Solutions and ProgressSupporting Vendors and CommunityWays to Get Involved

Connect with Annemarie Cucciawebsite: https://streetsensemedia.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/streetsensedc/Twitter: https://x.com/streetsensedc /Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/streetsensedc

Call To ActionPlease consider joining our Substack to help us get this message to as many people as possible. Podcast on News and Politics – What We Do We Do Next

Produced by Heartcast Media

In this episode, Frank and I dig into the state of American politics right now—how public trust is shifting, why old political narratives are falling apart, and what that means for both major parties heading into the next election cycle. We talk about why authoritarian movements often lose steam over time, how perceptions of economic hardship are driving voter frustration, and the growing disconnect between what political leaders are promising and what the public actually wants.

We also look at the bigger picture: how economic pressures, media consolidation, and corporate monopolies are quietly shaping not just our politics, but our entire culture. It’s a wide-ranging, eye-opening conversation about where we are, how we got here, and—most importantly—where we could go next if we’re willing to imagine something better.

If you’ve been feeling disillusioned or just trying to understand the forces behind today’s political chaos, this episode offers clarity, context, and a hopeful look at how we can rebuild trust, solidarity, and a stronger democracy together.

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:10 “Frank A. Spring: Narrative Expert”06:12 - Republican Party’s Evolving Alliances07:22 - QAnon, Epstein, and Fringe Politics10:56 - Trump’s Decline in Media Savvy15:27 - Generational Perspectives on Israel-Palestine18:33 - Athlete’s Anti-Trans Activism Journey20:22 - “Engage and Groom Future Leaders”25:16 - Advocacy On Trans Athlete Policy26:21 - “Immigration System Controversy”29:42 - Understanding Immigration to the U.S.35:26 - Policy Disconnect Spurs Public Discontent36:57 - Privatized Prisons Exploit Immigrants42:34 - Disrupting Media Power Dynamics43:51 - Trump Administration’s Pro-Monopoly Stance49:33 - “Balancing Security, Comfort, and Democracy”52:00 - Embracing Simplicity Post-Pandemic Shift56:47 - “Bluesky Updates & Platform Change”57:44 - “Optimism in Dark Times”58:16 - Outro

Quotes:“We are living through a period in which the old stories aren’t true. The next chapter of the American story is how we write it—and how we get back that sense of security and possibility.”- Frank Spring

“We have so much more power than we realize, but we’ve grown comfortable. As that comfort leaves, people will wake up—and together we’ll see what we can do.”- Molly Ruland

Key Takeaways:Authoritarian projects eventually unravelEconomic realities drive political changeAmericans are becoming more aware and engagedLong-term strategy and engagement matterNarrative shapes how we see ourselves and our politicsCorporate power and monopolies are under scrutinyRoom for hope and renewal

Connect with Frank SpringWebsite: https://www.theundaunted.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-spring-66bb891/

Call To ActionPlease consider joining our Substack to help us get this message to as many people as possible. Podcast on News and Politics – What We Do We Do Next

Produced by Heartcast Media

On this episode of What Do We Do Next?, I sit down with Dr. Sam Monier, a wildlife biologist whose work spans species from birds to primates, studying how they adapt (or struggle to adapt) to a rapidly changing world. Our conversation dives into the hard truths of climate change, pollution, urbanization, and biodiversity loss, while also spotlighting the real power of individual choices, community action, and systemic change.

Dr. Monier shares what most people get wrong about climate action, why everyday habits do matter, and how voting, advocacy, and teamwork can create ripple effects far bigger than we realize. We also talk about the role empathy plays in solving global problems, the importance of supporting science and scientists, and simple, practical steps anyone can take to be part of the solution.

If you’ve ever wondered how to move from worry to action, or how your choices connect to the bigger picture, this conversation will give you clarity, hope, and direction for making a difference.

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:47 - “Adapting to Multifaceted Climate Challenges”04:20 - Diverse Solutions to Global Problems08:03 - Misplaced Priorities and Social Policing11:11 - Personal Climate Change Observations14:11 - D.C.’s Allergies Worsen with Trees18:47 - “Shifting Baselines Explained”22:15 - Elections Are Competitive Everywhere25:36 - Mocking Bird Legislation27:32 - Critique of U.S. Climate Inaction Argument31:12 - Pursuing a Zero-Waste Lifestyle34:06 - Adapting to Eco-Friendly Living37:22 - Rise of Diverse Plant-Based Options40:24 - Beware Greenwashing in Consumer Choices43:45 - Acceptance and Positivity Amidst News44:08 - Outro

Quotes:“There are countless ways to contribute. Let’s support how our community chooses to engage.”- Sam Monier

“One little step at a time. One little action leads to bigger movements and that’s how we make changes.”- Molly Ruland

Key Takeaways:Climate change is complex.Every action matters.Don’t shame small efforts.Shifting baselines are real.Everyday choices count.Vote and stay informed.Respect other paths.Individual and collective impact.

Connect with Sam MonierWebsite: https://www.samanthamonier.com/

Call To ActionPlease consider joining our Substack to help us get this message to as many people as possible. Podcast on News and Politics – What We Do We Do Next

Produced by: Heartcast Media

Travis takes us inside his 15-year journey from knocking on doors and organizing neighbors to stepping up and running for office. We talk about what really gets people engaged in battleground states like Wisconsin, why credibility is built one volunteer shift at a time, and how small, steady wins can ripple into big impact.

If you’ve ever wondered how to move from frustration to action—or even dreamed of running for office yourself—Travis shares practical, encouraging advice for getting involved at any level. Whether you’re ready to lead or just looking for a meaningful way to help behind the scenes, this conversation will leave you with concrete steps, real stories, and a fresh sense of possibility.

Discover how ordinary people create extraordinary change, in this episode, starting right where they are.

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:40 - Parenthood Meets Political Awakening04:09 - “Self-Leadership and Personal Growth”08:14 - “Listen and Learn Approach”12:38 - Wisconsin Gerrymandering and Political Shift15:18 - “Empowering Citizens Through Direct Democracy”19:54 - Organizing: Building Relationships & Impact21:21 - Podcasting: A Hopeful Alternative24:07 - Finding Your Volunteer Sweet Spot30:04 - Disconnecting to Reconnect Locally32:05 - Effective Personal Video Introductions34:34 - “Finding Purpose in Volunteering”35:00 - Outro

Quotes:“Small acts of service with the right mindset create meaningful, lasting change.”- Travis Retzlaff

“Nobody’s coming to save us. Any contribution you can make—no matter how small—moves us- Molly Ruland

Key TakeawaysThe long road to public serviceServant leadership starts with self-leadershipVolunteering builds credibilityLocal engagement mattersSmall wins make a differenceThere’s a place for everyoneProgress goes beyond electionsTake the first step

Connect with Travis RetzlaffWebsite: http://www.travisretzlaff.comCampaign YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@FightingfortheFifthPersonal YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/@TravisRetzlaff

Call To ActionPlease consider joining our Substack to help us get this message to as many people as possible. Podcast on News and Politics – What We Do We Do Next

Produced by Heartcast Media

In this episode of WDWDN, I sat down with Mike Baranowski, a political science PhD, professor of 27 years, and creator of The Politics Guys podcast. Mike’s story is fascinating: he went from being a far-right young Republican (who once thought Ronald Reagan was too liberal) to becoming a center-left Democrat and champion for genuine bipartisan dialogue.

We dig into the big questions: What makes someone change their political beliefs? How do identity and emotion shape our politics? And how can we have honest, respectful debates in such a polarized world?

Mike shares decades of wisdom from teaching, podcasting, and navigating America’s shifting political landscape. We talk about how to approach hard conversations with empathy, what to do when politics gets personal with friends and family, and how to protect your energy without giving up on the work that matters.

If you’ve ever struggled to talk politics without losing your cool, or your relationships, this conversation is for you. I really enjoyed my time with Mike, I learned a lot from him and I’m grateful for those lessons.

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:16 - Passion's Double-Edged Impact05:27 - Identity Challenges in Political Debates08:35 - Finding Common Ground11:25 - Understanding Through Empathy15:37 - Reaching Swing Voters Strategically18:14 - Graciously Disengaging from Politics19:53 - Engage Persuadable, Non-Voters25:54 - "Challenges of Verifying Information"27:35 - Pessimistic Reflections on Modern Politics29:54 - Trump: A Sad, Pathetic Figure34:17 - Embracing Dialogue and Self-Doubt38:48 - "Podcasting for Progress"40:01 - Embrace Being Uncomfortable42:44 - "Podcasting: All Guts, No Glory"44:47 - Outro

Quotes:"True strength is in listening, questioning, and growing, even when it’s uncomfortable."- Mike Baranowski

"Braver conversations make the world better. Connect and talk, even when it's hard."- Molly

Key Takeaways:From Far Right to Center Left: The Journey of ChangeIdentity and Politics: More Entwined Than We AdmitDon’t Aim to Convert Everyone—Focus on Who’s OpenGracious Disengagement Is Powerful Self-CareThe Art of Asking Good QuestionsQuality Sources Matter More Than EverLet Empathy Dilute Your AngerTake Care of Yourself to Stay EffectiveProgress Is Possible—But Only if We Get Uncomfortable

Connect with Mike Baranowski:

Website: The Politics Guys - Independent & Bipartisan Political Analysis

Call To ActionPlease consider joining our Substack to help us get this message to as many people as possible. Podcast on News and Politics – What We Do We Do Next

Produced byHeartcast Media

We talked about what it means to stay committed to justice over the long haul, how a deep spiritual awakening shifted her approach to activism, and why she believes sustainability, both personal and collective, is key to any real change. Beth doesn’t separate the personal from the political. For her, nurturing is resistance. Kindness is a strategy. And spiritual activism? It’s essential.

Together, we unpack big ideas: privilege, capitalism, burnout, and how to keep going when the world feels like too much. But this isn’t just theory, Beth shares real, actionable ways to show up, support each other, and stay rooted in community and accountability.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep fighting without burning out, or how to lead with both your heart and your hands, this one will meet you where you are, and remind you that change starts from the inside out.

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:40 - Spiritual Awakening and Transformation08:28 - "Wages for Houseware Campaign Arrest"13:27 - Coping with Overwhelming Change17:04 - Choose Regeneration Over Escape25:32 - Women's Historical Workforce Contributions27:49 - "Valuing Nonprofit Work in Society"36:12 - Economic Insights: Labor and Consumer Dynamics40:53 - Prioritizing Needs Over Profits46:48 - "Rethinking Independence and Governance"52:13 - Embrace Your Unique Gifts57:49 - Use Your Voice Now01:00:15 - "Invite Beth: Podcast Guest Promo"01:01:57 - Outro

Quotes:“To create change, we must stay centered, courageous, and compassionate. Hysteria only hinders our progress.”- Beth Green

“Your voice matters, no matter your background. Use it now.”- Molly Ruland

Key Takeaways:Standing the Test of TimeWhat is Spiritual Activism?Burnout and the Power of RegenerationPrivilege, Power, and NurturingRethinking the SystemReimagining Our FutureSmall Acts, Big ImpactGuided by the Future

Connect with Beth GreenWebsite: https://bethgreen.org/

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Call To ActionPlease consider joining our Substack to help us get this message to as many people as possible.Podcast on News and Politics – What We Do We Do Next

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A human rights leader on 1988, the prisoners who chose the gallows, and what the Iranian resistance actually wants.

Zolal Habibi has spent over two decades inside the Iranian resistance. She serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), advocating globally for a free, secular, and democratic Iran, and she has appeared at human rights forums and live broadcasts around the world. Her activism began in her teens, shaped by the loss of her father, a respected writer and political dissident killed by the regime in 1988.

In this foundational conversation with host Molly Ruland, Zolal lays out the full picture: the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, what the MEK and the NCRI actually are, the 10-point plan for a free Iran, the nuclear program the resistance exposed to the world, and the third option that isn't war or appeasement. If you've ever found Iran confusing or felt buried under propaganda from every direction, this is the episode that makes it make sense.

Key Takeaways

In the summer of 1988, after Khomeini's fatwa, the regime summarily executed political prisoners across Iran. The resistance documents some 30,000 killed; independent groups estimate fewer, but no one disputes that thousands died. Offered the chance to repent and live, they chose the gallows. Putting a name and a face to each number is the only way to grasp the scale.

The NCRI, founded in July 1981, is a roughly 500-member parliament in exile, more than half of them women, with detailed roadmaps for a free Iran: a six-month interim government, a new constitution, then free elections.

Maryam Rajavi's 10-point plan outlines the vision: a pluralistic, secular republic with the ballot box as the final word, separation of religion and state, an end to torture and execution, women's empowerment, a free-market economy, and a non-nuclear Iran.

The NCRI exposed Iran's nuclear program to the world, revealing the secret Natanz and Arak sites at a Washington press conference on August 14, 2002, the disclosure that triggered the first IAEA inspections.

The third option is neither war nor appeasement. It's recognizing the Iranian people's right to resist, and ending the policy of appeasement that has used them as a bargaining chip for decades.

Zolal Habibi said, "We can and we must."

Host Molly Ruland said, "Caring about Iran is caring about yourself."

Timestamps

00:00 Who Zolal Habibi is 02:00 The fundamentals: 46 years, and a people who never gave in 05:00 Executions, and putting a face to the number 07:00 The summer of 1988 and those who chose the gallows 12:00 What the MEK is, and decades of resistance 16:00 Inside the NCRI: a parliament in exile and the 10-point plan 24:00 The third option, not war, not appeasement 27:00 A young nation, and women choosing education as resistance 33:00 How the resistance exposed Iran's nuclear program 37:00 Is real change possible now 44:00 The Shah, the mullahs, and the false choice between them 50:00 How to help

Connect with the movement

National Council of Resistance of Iran: ncr-iran.org

Born in the 1979 revolution, her father killed in the 1988 massacre. She explains the path between war and appeasement.

Zahra Amanpour was born in Tehran during the 1979 revolution. Her father, a prominent advocate for the MEK/PMOI, was killed in 1988, the summer the regime massacred some 30,000 political prisoners. Raised within the Iranian resistance by her mother, she now serves on the board of the Women's Freedom Forum, amplifying the voices of women under repressive regimes, while building economic empowerment programs for underserved communities in the US. She has spent her life carrying one conviction: the cause of the Iranian people is a human issue, not a regional one.

She joined host Molly Ruland for what may be the foundational conversation of this series, the clearest explanation you will find of the third option. Not bombing Iran, not appeasing it, but supporting the Iranian people to free themselves. They get into how the regime manufactures a false choice between war and appeasement, why targeted sanctions starve the regime and not the people, why women lead this resistance by design, and the truth about Iran's nuclear program.

Key Takeaways

The regime thrives on a false binary, appeasement or war, that it created intentionally, because both options actually embolden it while the third option, supporting the Iranian people, does not.

Targeted sanctions are not about starving Iranians. That is regime propaganda. They are about starving the regime's bank accounts and its Revolutionary Guard through the specific channels that fund it.

Women lead this resistance by design, because the regime's first move was to suppress women, and the resistance recognized that giving women leadership is how you topple a fundamentalist dictatorship.

The resistance takes no money from any external power. It is grassroots funded and self sufficient on purpose, so no government or group can claim to own it, even though that limits its reach against the regime's well funded lobbying.

Iran's nuclear program is real and the regime will not give it up willingly, because it is a negotiating chip. The only thing that ends it is the end of the regime, which is part of Maryam Rajavi's 10 point plan for a nuclear free Iran.

Zahra Amanpour said, "We're not talking about taking food from the Iranian people's plates. We're talking about starving the regime's bank accounts."

Host Molly Ruland said, "Americans don't know the difference between discomfort and oppression."

Timestamps

00:00 Who Zahra Amanpour is 02:00 Her father, the 1988 massacre, and a human cause 05:30 The false binary: appeasement versus war 09:00 What the third option actually means 12:00 How individuals can help beyond watching 16:00 Targeted sanctions versus regime propaganda 20:00 Why women lead the resistance by design 26:00 The nuclear program, honestly 32:00 Why the resistance takes no outside money 38:00 Discomfort versus oppression, and the moment we're in

Connect with the movement

NCRI Women: search "NCRI Women" on any platform National Council of Resistance of Iran: ncr-iran.org

I am hopeful that so many of you feel the same way I do so I put myself out there and spoke from the heart, a sailor’s heart, but heart none the less. It’s not perfect, far from it, but it’s real.

If you can get through this and it makes you feel something, you are my people and I hope we can find our way forward together. I don’t have any answers but I am hoping by being honest it will help me find my way and find my people.

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

―Benjamin Franklin

Please connect with me on Linkedin and help me fix my algo.

We talk about what actually pulls people into cult-like groups, and spoiler: it has nothing to do with how smart or educated you are. Dr. Cochran breaks down the psychological patterns, emotional needs, and deep human longings that make us vulnerable: the need for safety, control, purpose, and belonging. And while it’s easy to keep the word “cult” at a distance, the truth is these same patterns show up in political extremism, toxic relationships, and even everyday communities that manipulate more than they nurture.

We also get into how to support someone who may be caught up in a group like this, what helps, what doesn’t, and why kindness and connection are often more powerful than confrontation. Dr. Cochran shares practical tools for fostering critical thinking, emotional resilience, and empathy, especially in a world that feels more divided than ever.

If you’re trying to understand a loved one’s choices, or just want to learn how to recognize and resist manipulation in all its forms, this episode offers clarity, hope, and some powerful tools for healing and helping.

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:19 - Holistic Mental Health Expert04:32 - The Allure of Absolute Belief09:07 - Religions, Cults, and Power Dynamics12:18 - Addressing the "Trump Cult" Divide14:14 - Critical Thinking and Sovereignty Struggle19:41 - Navigating Political Differences22:25 - Positive Memories Aid in Persuasion25:46 - Contrasting Responses: Empathy vs. Dismissal30:31 - "Fear, Control, and Behavior"32:56 - Compassion Over Condemnation Online37:16 - Seeking Solutions Amid Uncertainty38:01 - QAnon, Frustration, and Misguided Beliefs40:31 - Outro

Quotes:“Let’s extend empathy to those caught up, welcoming them back instead of succumbing to anger.”- Molly Ruland

“You have the ultimate control over your life through your reactions. Embrace this power, and you hold the key to your own strength.”- Dr. Margaret Cochran

Key Takeaways:Cult Members: Not Who You ThinkWhy People Join Cults: Salvation & ControlBrains Are Wired for Fear and ConnectionIsolation Fuels IndoctrinationIt’s Not Just Religion—Politics, Domestic Abuse, and MoreCritical Thinking is Our Best ArmorBreaking Through: Small Windows of DoubtKindness is RevolutionaryYour Mississippi MomentWe All Want Belonging and SafetyChange Happens Through Community, Not Shame

Connect with Dr. Margaret CochranWebsite: www.drcochran.com

Call To ActionPlease consider joining our Substack to help us get this message to as many people as possible.Podcast on News and Politics – What We Do We Do Next

Produced by Heartcast Media

We talk about where political disillusionment really comes from, why it feels like everything’s burning, and how the constant pressure of bad news, rising costs, and fear has reshaped our public mood. But Frank doesn’t leave it there, he offers a new way to think about fascism (and why it’s not as permanent as it seems), repositions the conversation around immigration, and most importantly, reminds us that hope isn’t naïve. It’s necessary.

If you’ve been feeling grief, burnout, or like your voice doesn’t matter, this episode is for you. We talk about how to stay engaged without falling apart, how to show up with your time, your money, or your energy in a way that’s sustainable and actually moves the needle.

This is a conversation filled with honesty, practical insights, and a quiet kind of encouragement I think we all need right now. Listen in, I think you’ll feel a little less alone by the end.

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:22 - "Stories: Patterns in Human History"05:35 - Exploring Montanans' Views on Democracy11:47 - Fascism: Aesthetic, Exclusion, Supremacy16:59 - "Tucker Carlson Criticized Amid Challenges"23:28 - Courts and Resistance in American Fascism31:08 - Rising Costs vs. Quality of Life31:49 - Middle-Class Costs Double in 20 Years38:09 - Democratic Party's Relevance Crisis46:52 - Shrinkflation: Profit Over Consumer Value49:12 - Immigration Insights and Social Media Chaos54:02 - "Anger and Distrust in U.S. Politics"01:01:05 - Rethinking Civility in American Politics01:07:05 - Finding Common Ground Beyond Politics01:09:35 - "Misguided Immigration Policies Critiqued"01:13:07 - Outro

Quotes:“America is imperfect but striving toward its potential. Stay present, grateful, and persistent. Together, we will overcome.”- Frank Spring

“Things may not be as bad as they seem. Together, we can move forward. Every action matters. We all have something to give.”- Molly Ruland

Key Takeaways:The Power of Storytelling in PoliticsFascism: A Minority That Always LosesResistance Looks Different For EveryoneThe Root Issue: The Cost of Living CrisisOur Government Can—and Should—Do MoreImmigration: It’s Not About Hate—It’s About ChaosStop Bringing Facts to a Feelings FightMourning Is Not The End—It’s Part of the ProcessStay Present, Stay Grateful, Keep Doing Hard Things

Connect with Frank SpringWebsite: Altum Insight & Undaunted Ventures

Call To ActionPlease consider joining our Substack to help us get this message to as many people as possible.Podcast on News and Politics – What We Do We Do Next

Produced by Heartcast Media

This episode isn’t about hype or false hope. It’s about the truth, the kind of truth that helps you figure out where you actually fit in this fight. We talk about what it means to build something from the ground up, how to support campaigns that align with your values, and how to show up for your community without burning out. We also get into why both major parties have serious blind spots, and why being disillusioned doesn’t mean giving up, it means getting smarter.

If you’re thinking about running for office, we break down the questions you need to ask yourself first and if running’s not for you, we talk through real, practical ways to still make a difference. From funding and volunteering to just unplugging from the doom-scroll and connecting with your neighbors, this conversation is packed with ideas for action.

Because the truth is: no one’s coming to save us. But that’s not a reason to panic, it's a reason to step up. And this episode will help you figure out how.

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:23 - Running for Office: Considerations05:28 - "Unqualified for Public Office"10:09 - Preparing for Political Leadership11:40 - Barriers to Running for Office14:28 - Life Spreadsheet Planning20:22 - Comprehensive Political Fundraising Solutions21:33 - Affordable Campaign Training Programs27:22 - Local Governance and Infrastructure Woes28:13 - Local Issues and Solutions34:18 - "Encouragement to Run for Office"37:47 - "Infrastructure's Role in Political Change"42:02 - "Collaborative Efforts Drive Change"43:25 - "Get Involved: Fascism's Urgency"47:14 - Podcast: A Beacon Amidst Chaos48:57 - Outro

Quotes:”If you want to take your power back, you're gonna have to work for it”- Eva Posner

"One of the things that keeps happening is that the Supreme Court essentially keeps saying, 'Okay, we're going to push it back to the States.' If that's their play, then it's up to us in the States to say, 'Heard, bet, got it.'"- Eva Posner

"Nobody will save us. Together, brick by brick, we protect each other and move forward."- Molly Ruland

Key Takeaways:Running for Office is Life-Changing—Do Your HomeworkQualifications Are More Than a Resume—Bring Your Real Life to the TableLocal Offices Make the Biggest ImpactIf Not You, Support Someone Who IsBuild Your Rolodex—Campaigns Run on NetworksLosing Isn’t the End—It’s Building Power for Next TimeDon’t Burn Out—Pick Your Battles & Protect Your SanityNo One’s Coming to Save Us—It’s On Us, Together

Connect with Eva Posnerhttps://www.evincostrategies.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evinco-strategies/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/evincocampaigns/

Book a Call with Eva Posnerhttps://www.evincostrategies.com/book-a-callBook a call if you want to run for office, you run a local or community org that needs more resources, or just want to get involved, and you don't know where to start

Call To ActionPlease consider joining our Substack to help us get this message to as many people as possible.

https://whatdowedonext.us/

Produced by Heartcast Media

The very next day I had a conversation with my dad and we were talking about this and I was able to have an extremely productive conversation with him about immigration. It was not from a place of judgement or anger, which I am not very good at hiding. My communication skills are really put into the spotlight with those conversations, and truth be told most of the time I fail, big time. Because of this podcast episode, we were able to find common ground and I am so grateful for that.

I started this podcast for this exact reason, not to talk to my dad, but to talk to anyone. I have this maybe naive idea that we all actually want the same thing. Some of us are more racist and horrible than others, but when it comes to my dad and I, I know who he is because Im exactly like him. We feel the same on a lot of issues but we can also be very divided because we aren’t able to actually get to the root of things. I know I am not the only one feeling this right now.

If this podcast can impact one positive conversation to find a path forward, together, thats a win. So, having said all that, I hope you take a listen and leave a review.

On this first episode I sat down with Ian Taronji—a dedicated asylum lawyer, lifelong advocate, and talented musician based in Washington, DC.

Drawing from his own family’s experience as the son of a Cuban refugee, Ian shares insights into the realities of immigration law and what it’s really like standing up for his clients as they face ever-shifting policies and pressures from agencies like ICE. The conversation dives deep into my recent and all-too-relatable run-in with ICE agents in Miami, sparking a frank discussion on civil rights, the lawlessness of current immigration enforcement, and what people—citizens, immigrants, and allies alike—can do if they find themselves or their loved ones in intimidating situations.

From practical advice on what to do if ICE comes knocking, to distinguishing the often-misused terms “illegal” and “undocumented,” Ian provides listeners with clear, actionable guidance and a heartfelt call to remain vigilant, organized, and compassionate. Plus, the episode explores the importance of documenting abuses, advocating for policy change, and supporting each other in the face of uncertainty.

Please join us for a conversation that's equal parts eye-opening, empowering, and grounded in real-world experience—setting the tone for a podcast dedicated to helping us all figure out, together, what we do next.

03:00 "Miami Airport ICE Encounter Story"04:52 Detained Before Flight Departure08:42 ICE and Civil Rights Concerns10:45 Lack of Accountability at DHS14:41 Plan for Limited Interactions with ICE16:50 Preparing for ICE: Key Steps21:10 Street Safety and Bystander Advice23:54 Tactical Surveillance Essentials27:59 "Filming Police: A Legal Overview"29:36 "Pre-Smartphone Witness Recording Service"32:54 Undocumented vs. Illegal Terminology37:59 Illegal vs. Undocumented Immigrants39:48 Advocacy for Undocumented Immigrants45:10 "Memorize Key Contacts for Safety"

Key Takeaways:

* Have a Plan—Always: Whether you’re undocumented, a green card holder, or a concerned family member, create and write down a step-by-step plan in case of detention. Memorize important phone numbers and make sure everyone involved knows what to do.

* Know Your Rights at Home and on the Street: If ICE comes to your door, do NOT let them in unless they have a proper judicial warrant. Out in public, never resist—stay calm, keep your hands where agents can see them, and communicate your status if necessary.

* Document and Communicate: Witnessing an ICE action? Use the SALUTE method (Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time, Equipment) to record and report what’s happening—without intervening or putting yourself at risk. Accountability starts with citizen vigilance.

Please consider joining our Substack to help us get this message to as many people as possible. https://whatdowedonext.us/

Produced by Heartcast Media

Some of you are probably following me now because of that story and how viral it has gone, but a lot of you have known me for years and know that this isn’t a new thing for me. I was indoctrinated by Behold a Pale Horse and Zeitgeist. I was radicalized by watching Eric Garner die on camera and take his last breath, because he was selling cigarettes. I spent a lot of years protesting, organizing, and learning about what being an ally means and man, I got it wrong, a lot. So, if you are looking for perfection you will be sadly disappointed. I sway more towards stand up comedy than highly educated and I learned from living, it’t not always pretty. Never, actually.

Having said all that, the goal of this podcast is to use my resources to talk to the people who ARE educated, experience, verified, etc to figure out what we should do next. Its not an anti anything podcast, its about the path forward. A path that I hope is filled with love, compassion and boots on the fucking ground. I can feel what is at risk and I’m terrified. Us Americans have had it really easy for a lot of years. I don’t want things to go back to how they were, do not misunderstand me. However, if you grew up in America like I did, you never had a war on your soil. So many of our global neighbors have not been so lucky. If you think that the collapse isn’t possible, look around the world. We can fight this though, one person at a time, one conversation at a time, one act of resistance at a time.

My goal is to create a harbor of truth and empowerment for you to find your path in the revolution. We all resist differently, we have different experiences and different things to protect. What I did at the Miami airport was a touch reckless, according to my therapist, but it wasn’t illegal. I was in a position to take that risk, so please know I will never judge anyone for how they show up. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me, I made that choice. I want you to use my story to shed light on whats happening and hopefully, with any luck and your help, this podcast will help us create a playbook.

I am going to personally cover the costs of the podcast production and some paid media. I have also created this Substack and 100% of the donations/memberships etc will go to paid ads. What does that mean? It means that the podcast will show up everywhere online and we will grow the audience rapidly. We can get actionable tools to the citizens of the world very quickly. Between people sharing it organically and the paid media, we can blow this up.

It’s not about me, its about the information. I want the podcast episodes to be guides for you to navigate this new world order. Easy to search, easy to share and empowering AF.

If you want to help, I will take it. Substack experts, clearly I am not, please hit me up.

Like Bob says,

“Rise up fallen fightersRise and take your stance, again 'Tis he who fights and run away, live to fight another day”

Thank you for your time, we got this!

Molly