Aftyn and Anna are joined by April Jarocki, the coordinator with the Southern Connected Communities Project, who along with members of the Clearfork Valley, built their own internet by establishing a wireless internet system at the Highlander Research and Education Center in Jefferson County, Tennessee. April highlights the role of the pandemic in …

Tressie McMillan Cottom in her piece examines the evolving Southern identity in the context of popular culture, the ebb and flow of "disdain and attraction" to the region. Aftyn and Anna address their own prodigal returns to the South post-college, and how they've navigated public opinion of the South in their professional capacities. 🍍BONUS 🍍Aftyn…

Some of you have been asking where is the infamous GRITS' travel correspondent, Mama B... well, she has launched her own podcast called "Red State, Blue Mom"! For this week's episode, we invite you to listen to the 2021 inaugural episode and subscribe! Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennes…

With US student debt reaching $1.7 TRILLION, the girls deliver the state of play on student loans: what amount of relief Biden is considering; racial disparities in borrowing; and how privilege takes center stage in the debate whether to cancel it all. #StudentDebtGritty 🍍LINKS 🍍 Run down of the imminent congressional showdown Biden signals new era…

New year, new… WTF. Aftyn and Anna are back for season 4 in the wake of the pro-Trump QAnon furry hat wearing insurrection identifying the Tennessee culprits and grappling with how to humanize those involved. BONUS: tips on how to talk to your people who believe in conspiracy theories LINKS Sign this petition to take down Steve Berger, Gov. Lee’s e…

For the final episode of the year, Anna and Aftyn dig into how the Democratic party should utilize three winning progressive policies to bring new folks in. Embrace an economic populist message and distribute LEGALIZE IT bumper stickers across the country: is it that simple? Happy holidays and the girls will see y'all in 2021! #KeepItGritty NYMag, …

#1 Grittle Rep. Gloria Johnson joins Aftyn and Anna to discuss the state of COVID19 in Tennessee, while the Tennessee Republican leadership points fingers at Venezuela for Trump’s loss. The girls apologize for the audio as they were not in Anna’s closet for this episode. 😁 CNBC article featuring Rep. Gloria Johnson Rep. Johnson co-signed a letter a…

Yes, President Trump is finally out of office, but with 72 million Americans showing up to vote for him after four years, who is really the winner of the 2020 election? Anna and Aftyn look past the presidential victory, highlighting the role of white women in maintaining white supremacy at the ballot box this cycle. “White Women’s Support for Trump…

Four days before the election, Anna and Aftyn provide the state of play for those wondering, "Does my vote even matter?" And if you live in a key battleground state like Texas, the answer is an absolute and resounding yes. Even if all of Aftyn's exes live in Texas, the girls uplift the work of southern states in the most important election of their…

We’re less than 20 days out in the election and it seems East Nashville, more than usual, is filled with Black Lives Matter yard signs. Anna and Aftyn unpack performative allyship and virtue signaling in this episode and ask their listeners to think about why they’re posting black squares on Instagram, and how they can truly be allies. Send an emai…

With RBG’s death and the fate of the Supreme Court in question, Anna and Aftyn outline how we got here, what’s to come, and what you can do about it. TLDR: Aftyn’s arch-nemesis Mitch McConnell doesn’t play by the rules, and don’t let Tennessee’s Senator Alexander retire to Canada in peace. Send an email to Lamar GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holle…

Pratik Dash from Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition joins the girls this week to discuss his experience as a “brown kid” living in Tennessee following the September 11th attacks. #NeverForget the post 9/11 racism and Islamophobia and our country’s intervention in the Middle East which led to the region’s destabilization. GRITS is part…

Anna and Aftyn take a break from politics this week to reckon with coming of age and finding one’s purpose within the redefinition of Southern institutions. WARNING: lots of tears! GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive vo…

Does your aunt Karen believe Tom Hanks is running a child sex ring in his basement, and that Trump will save the children? Join QAnon expert Chris Coleman for this deep dive into the “deep state”. #WWG1WGA GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks …

Aftyn and Anna interview Claire and Safara, organizers with the Be Better Belmont campaign, which is pushing Belmont’s college administration to divest from the private prison system. #CancelCoreCivic. Links: Be Better Belmont Linktree Tennessean article about the campaign History of Belmont’s legacy with slavery and incarceration GRITS is part of …

Aftyn and Anna are joined by Aftyn’s middle and high school classmate Tre Waters as he shares his experiences as a mixed-race kid at the private, predominantly white, prep school Webb School of Knoxville located in East Tennessee. This episode is dedicated to all the people of color that attended Webb School in Knoxville. If you would like to sign …

With their TN Holler launch, Aftyn and Anna release their conversation following the national uprising in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and our responsibility as white Southern women to engage in anti-racism work. #BlackLivesMatter GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holle…

Come along for a political pilgrimage to Arizona to visit the legacy of Barry Goldwater... Saguaro stealing, a (now) politically correct sun devil, and an Arizona pilgrimage to Barry Goldwater's home state... Our GRITS travel correspondent Mama Behn is BACK! Find out why no one ever talks about his photo collection...…

Only you can combat neighborhood stigma! Now that they're neighbors, Aftyn and Anna discuss their roles in Nashville's gentrification and why diverse neighborhoods are the FRUIT OF LIFE. Oh, and Aftyn talks about her coffin ⚰️while Anna selects her 8, yes, that's right, 8 bridesmaids...👰🏼 🗣Support these organizations and politicians! Tennessee Immi…

Anna and Aftyn return to discuss Tennessee's plan to extend paid family leave to 12 weeks and how the US falls short in terms of progressive pro-family policies. #letsgetprolifegritty 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Anna and Aftyn return to discuss Tennessee's plan to extend paid family leave to 12 weeks and how the US falls short in terms of progressive pro-family polici…

Do you like your GRITS hot, spicy and from 2019? Ahead of our 2020 launch, enjoy this gritty episode from 2019 featuring our guest, Anna's sister! Join us as you relive Casadagate, we answer your outstanding questions, and prepare for 2020 gritiness! ...Why is Anna taking showers with her cats? ...Why are Tennessee's kids losing health insurance? .…

The legendary Dr. Carol Paris denounces incrementalism and discusses the Southern fight for Medicare for All. The legendary Dr. Carol Paris, former President for Physicians for a National Health Program, joins the girls to talk about the battle for Medicare for All in Nashville from her arrest during the federal ACA hearings to her removal from a T…

Our field correspondent returns from tropical Bali with colorful political tales and the sarongs to match! 🌴#HappyGrittyMothersDay 🌸💐By Aftyn Behn and Anna Walton

Anna and Aftyn unpack the emotional and labor burden of being a Southern millennial woman. Dolly Parton must have meant working 7 to 7, right?By Aftyn Behn and Anna Walton

The girls discuss why Southern women are on the front lines of the country's abortion debate. #LetsGetReproductiveGritty With the Tennessee State House recently banning abortion after six weeks, Aftyn and Anna describe why southern states are on the front lines in the battle for a woman's right to choose. #LetsGetReproductiveGritty Gritty Show Note…