Best Benjamin Dawson Podcasts (2024)

1
The Opposite of Violence Isn’t Silence (with Scott Anderson) 49:24

1h ago49:24

49:24

This week we’re joined by one of our favorite guest hosts, political strategist Jess McIntosh. You know what they say… come to discuss the electoral process, stay to discuss the latest shocking thing to hit our newsfeeds. Jess, Amanda and Jasmine discuss the events of the weekend, the recent increase in political violence and violent rhetoric, and …

1
Politics Is Self Care (with Emily Amick) 53:21

3d ago53:21

53:21

We’re all still recovering from last week’s debate and what it means for the election, but like we said in our last episode, the stakes have not changed. There’s Project 2025, the right-wing plan to overturn democracy in America. There’s the constant attacks on reproductive rights. There’s even Mark Robinson, the MAGA candidate for governor in Nort…

1
It’s Dictatorship or Democracy (with Daria Dawson) 1:00:39

10d ago1:00:39

1:00:39

The past week has been tough. The presidential debate did not exactly go as we hoped. The Supreme Court ruled that Trump has absolute immunity for “official acts” as President. But all of that only makes the election in November more crucial. The choice is literally between a dictatorship and a democracy, and it’s essential that we encourage everyo…

1
Don't Underestimate Kids (with Pride and Less Prejudice) 49:05

17d ago49:05

49:05

This is our last episode of June, so before Pride Month is over, we wanted to talk to some more Troublemakers who are doing great work supporting the LGBTQ community. Amanda got the chance to sit down with Lisa and Dani with Pride & Less Prejudice, an organization that provides inclusive books to classrooms to help students and teachers to “Read ou…

1
Keep The Song Going (with Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead) 51:00

25d ago51:00

51:00

This week’s episode is coming out on Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. But before we can get to our discussion about it (including how JD Vance recently introduced a “Dismantle DEI” bill to roll back Biden’s diversity programs), it seems there’s always more reproductive healthcare news to talk abou…

1
What's Freer Than A Rainbow? (with Vanessa Joy) 41:46

1M ago41:46

41:46

It’s June, which means it’s Pride Month! Whether we’re standing up for birth control, libraries, diversity and inclusion, or trans rights, it’s all the same fight against extremism. Right-wing leaders like Ron DeSantis might try banning rainbow lights on bridges this month by calling it “Freedom Summer,” but what’s more free than a beautiful rainbo…

1
We CAN Handle The Truth (with Stefanie Feldman and Greg Jackson) 46:21

1M ago46:21

46:21

Whether we’re talking about the devastating consequences of abortion bans or the legitimacy of Trump’s criminal trial, there are too many people in this country who can’t seem to handle the truth. Stories like that of Ryan and Jess Hamilton, who couldn’t get medical care in Texas after a miscarriage, might be difficult to read but that doesn’t make…

1
Taking the Ick out of Politics (with Sarah McCammon) 47:38

2M ago47:38

47:38

When we hear news like Nikki Haley changing her tune and endorsing Trump, there’s no denying that politics can feel icky. But we have the power to make our voices heard - not just at the ballot box, but by reaching out to our representatives between elections too. This week, Amanda and Rachel sat down with NPR reporter Sarah McCammon to learn more …

1
You Messed with the Wrong Mom (with Ronna Dewey, Diane Taylor, and Mandy Mynhier) 49:15

2M ago49:15

49:15

Mother’s Day may have been last week, but we’re celebrating moms all throughout May in what we call our “month of moms.” And unlike NFL kicker Harrison Butker said at his recent commencement speech, we know women deserve options: to work, to not work, to have kids, to not have kids, and most of all to make those choices for ourselves. No politician…

1
Deconstructing the Suburbs (with Benjamin Herold) 48:07

2M ago48:07

48:07

This week, our hosts share stories about how they celebrated Mother's Day. But Republican Katie Britt had another idea about how we can celebrate Mother's Day - with a "mommy database" for the government to track who is pregnant. We'd rather have affordable childcare, universal pre-K, healthcare, or really anything other than giving extremists our …

1
There Aren't Two Sides To Democracy (with Jen Psaki) 51:25

2M ago51:25

51:25

This week we're excited to be joined by the one and only Jen Psaki! Jen isn’t just a former White House Press Secretary, she’s also the host of Inside With Jen Psaki and the author of a new book called Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World. Jen sat down with Rachel and Jasmine last month to talk about what it was like to work …

1
A Toast to Canines & Courage (with Jotaka Eaddy) 48:19

3M ago48:19

48:19

Amanda’s back this week and we’re so happy to have the gang all back together again. We’re less happy about the news… from Republican governor Kristi Noem killing her family’s puppy to the Supreme Court debating whether hospitals are obligated to save pregnant women’s lives, it’s been a rough week. But it’s not all doom and gloom, because after tha…

1
Truth Tellers In The Room (with Asha Dahya) 43:48

3M ago43:48

43:48

This week, we’re talking about repro. Again. Because somehow politicians and pundits still don’t understand that it’s not just about abortion – although abortion rights are critical. It’s also about birth control, IVF, and all of the other potentially life-saving procedures that are on the chopping block this year. Some of us may have been surprise…

1
Haircuts and Healthcare (with Amanda Zurawski) 50:03

3M ago50:03

50:03

*Content warning: pregnancy loss* The Suburban Women Problem is back! We've missed catching up about the news and sharing our conversations with amazing guests, so we're so excited to be back with you for Season 5. This week, Red Wine & Blue Founder Katie Paris is filling in for Amanda Weinstein. Katie, Jasmine and Rachel chat about all the news fr…

1
Heather Cox Richardson Live at the City Club 50:05

3M ago50:05

50:05

Last month, Heather Cox Richardson appeared live at the City Club of Cleveland to speak about her new book, Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America. With her was Katie Paris, the founder of Red Wine & Blue. As Heather reminds us, the past doesn't repeat itself; it rhymes. To understand today's political landscape, we must understand how …

1
Bonus Episode: The Cost of Extremism with @JoJoFromJerz 31:24

4M ago31:24

31:24

As Season 2 of The Cost of Extremism draws to a close, we're excited to bring you a final bonus episode. Today, we're joined by @JoJoFromJerz for an in-depth conversation about three stories that are particularly relevant today. First, we have author Seyward Darby from episode 5, The Crunchy Mom to Alt-Right Pipeline. During our interview about whi…

1
The Crunchy Mom To Alt-Right Pipeline 1:05:50

4M ago1:05:50

1:05:50

Crunchy moms and trad wife online content may seem innocent, but when you take a closer look, you start to see evidence of white-power ideology and conservative radicalization. So what happens when you go so far left that you end up alt-right? In this episode of The Cost of Extremism, we’ll take a deep dive into the crunchy mom to alt-right pipelin…

1
Turning Point USA: The Alt-Right Radicalization Of Young Men 49:37

4M ago49:37

49:37

On college campuses across the country, Turning Point USA is radicalizing a new generation of conservative extremists in an attempt to mobilize young Republican voters and build an alt-right movement backed by billionaire donors and political insiders. These alt-right extremists are wrapped in a neat package, presented as polished frat boys wearing…

1
PragerU: Coming To A School Near You 26:44

4M ago26:44

26:44

Across the country, conservatives are looking to overhaul K-12 public education with right-wing curriculums that contain misleading and inaccurate claims about slavery, racism, immigration, and LGBTQ+ history. In this episode of The Cost of Extremism, we’ll take a deep dive into the impact these curriculums have on public education, the harm they i…

1
The Growing Movement to Ban Books 37:39

4M ago37:39

37:39

In recent years, book banning has become an organized movement backed by right-wing organizations, politicians, and conservative donors. Under the guise of ‘parental rights,’ books centering on LGBTQ+ characters and people of color are being disproportionately targeted, putting both our democracy and free speech at risk. In this episode of ‘The Cos…

1
Crisis Pregnancy Centers: An Anti-Abortion Healthcare Crisis 30:08

5M ago30:08

30:08

Crisis pregnancy centers present themselves as genuine healthcare facilities; however, their main goal is to discourage individuals from accessing certain healthcare options like abortion and contraceptives. These centers, a well-supported arm of the global anti-abortion movement, are rapidly expanding by using deceptive tactics, medical disinforma…

1
Meet The Press Secretary (with Karine Jean-Pierre) 50:15

5M ago50:15

50:15

Today we were honored to be joined by Karine Jean-Pierre! She’s the current White House Press Secretary, and she’s the first Black and the first openly LGBTQ person to hold that position. She chatted with us about reproductive rights, what it’s been like to break so many glass ceilings, and the wins (so many wins!) from the Biden-Harris administrat…

1
We Go High With Love (with Rep. Sara Jacobs) 46:41

5M ago46:41

46:41

We know from both statistics and personal stories that representation matters. Whether it’s people of color, LGBTQ folks, or young women running for office, it’s crucial to our democracy that everyone’s voice is heard. And fighting for our values doesn’t mean we don’t "go high when they go low," it means we fight disinformation and fear with facts …

1
Fearless Women Uplift Each Other (with Sophia Danner-Okotie) 44:51

5M ago44:51

44:51

Lately there’s been a surge of attacks on diversity - affirmative action was overturned by the Supreme Court, Harvard president Claudine Gay was forced out of her seat with people calling her “a diversity hire,” and anti-DEI bills are popping up all over the country. So this week, as we start Black History Month, we’re talking about attacks on dive…

1
Planes, Vans, and Voting (with Tayhlor Coleman) 37:07

6M ago37:07

37:07

We’re only a month into 2024 but we already know that this November, our democracy depends on everyone coming together- all ages, all races, all genders. And just like other recent elections, we know we especially need young people to join in the fight. So this week, we’re talking to a young woman who uprooted her life in 2022 and started traveling…

1
What's So Complicated About Consent? (with A'magine Goddard) 45:36

6M ago45:36

45:36

This week is the 51st anniversary of Roe v Wade and it’s so disheartening to think that there are women alive today who celebrated that victory only to have it taken away from them. But although clearly the fight is never really over, we won those rights in the past and we can win them again in the future. Then we explore a little-known aspect of c…

1
Love, Not Lies (with Erin Reed) 45:53

6M ago45:53

45:53

We have an exciting announcement this week: The Suburban Women Problem just launched a Substack newsletter! It’s an opportunity for a deeper dive into each week’s topic and to share news, Troublemaker stories, pod videos, and more. To subscribe to our Substack, click here or search for “The Suburban Women Problem” on Substack.com. Our guest this we…

1
School Moms to the Rescue! (with Laura Pappano) 46:25

6M ago46:25

46:25

We’re officially back in the swing of things here after the holidays and we’re jumping right into it with an interview about public schools. But first, our hosts Rachel Vindman, Amanda Weinstein, and Jasmine Clark catch up about the news. We recently passed the 3-year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection and it’s upsetting to see how so many…

1
Chew Gum and Save Democracy (with Jill Jonassen) 23:04

7M ago23:04

23:04

Happy New Year, everyone! 2024 is a big year but we are ready to go, inspired by the victories and amazing conversations we had in 2023. In this special New Year’s episode, the hosts are joined by Red Wine & Blue story producer Jill Jonassen to discuss the best guests and conversations we had last year, how we’re feeling about this year, and what g…

1
Learn From The Past, Fight For The Future (with Ellen Cassedy) 47:20

7M ago47:20

47:20

This week we’re feeling inspired by the organizing work that women have done in the past, and ready to keep fighting for ourselves and the future. Our hosts shared their heartache over what’s happening to Brittany Watts in Ohio - a young Black woman who suffered a miscarriage at home and is now charged with a felony. These laws are terrifying and s…

1
Extremists, Worry About Yourselves! (with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz) 44:16

7M ago44:16

44:16

We’ve been feeling heartsick this week over the woman in Texas who couldn’t get the abortion care she needed; first it was good news when a judge approved her request, then it was horrible news when the TX Attorney General threatened to prosecute her doctor and hospital. The same AG who has been accused of bribery and admitted to an extramarital af…

1
What’s Your Superpower? (with Adrienne Kirschner and Julie Womack) 36:23

7M ago36:23

36:23

This week, we’re celebrating everyday superheroes. From our podcast hosts to our Red Wine & Blue community to you, our listeners, we are blessed and grateful to have so many superheroes on our side. But as the holiday season gets underway, even superheroes are feeling the stress. As moms, so much of the planning and decorating and gift shopping fal…

1
Who You Gonna Call? (with Keir Bradford-Grey) 41:06

8M ago41:06

41:06

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving week and were able to take some time to relax and recharge. We all worked so hard in the past few months to get the election results that we did, and it’s important to take some time to rest. This week, the hosts catch up about their holiday week and talk about the passing of Rosalynn Carter and, on the opp…

1
Conversations With A Side Of Cranberries 20:25

8M ago20:25

20:25

This week is Thanksgiving and we’re talking about how to survive the political conversations that come up during the holidays. Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel share their own personal experiences with those tricky holiday conversations, which can be even trickier when you’re a mom. It’s important to listen and figure out what values you have in common w…

1
Facts, Not Fear (with Dr. Leah Boustan) 43:12

8M ago43:12

43:12

It’s been a week since the election and we’re still smiling about the results! Republicans used scare tactics and misinformation about reproductive freedom, and it didn't work. So today we’re talking about another issue that becomes more about fear than facts… immigration. We got a chance to talk to Dr. Leah Boustan, a rockstar economist who studie…

1
When We Unite, We Win (with Jess McIntosh) 33:51

8M ago33:51

33:51

Today we are celebrating big wins! We were all holding our breath for Tuesday’s election results because there was so much on the line, from the ballot measure in Ohio to the Virginia legislature to school board races across the country. And we are so excited to say that last night, democracy won! We’re joined for this special election recap episod…

1
Vote For The Big Tent (with Maggie Hartmann) 37:42

9M ago37:42

37:42

There was a lot of bad news to talk about this week… the mass shooting in Maine, the extreme views of the new Speaker of the House, the war in the Middle East. But this is our last episode before the election so we all have to use this as fuel to get more involved, not to disengage. And there are always little victories to celebrate! Scholastic rev…

1
Build It Up, Don’t Tear It All Down (with Lily Franklin) 44:43

9M ago44:43

44:43

This week, we're talking about the personal attacks that Amanda and her family have been dealing with lately. Whether it’s over a local school board election, Ohio’s Issue 1, or any political issue, MAGA’s first move always seems to be personal attacks and downright creepy behavior. It’s not even limited to their political opponents on the left: ex…

1
The Power of the People (with Sec. of State Jocelyn Benson) 46:43

9M ago46:43

46:43

We’ve been counting down the weeks until the November election - we’re at three now, if you’re counting with us. And with everything happening in the world right now, it can be hard to feel motivated about an election. But local wins and little victories are the best antidote to the sadness and helplessness we might feel when we’re scrolling throug…

1
Momentum Matters (with Nikia Miller and Ann Shroyer) 32:52

9M ago32:52

32:52

This week, Jasmine and Rachel share their sadness about what’s happening in Israel. Our hearts go out to the civilians who find their ordinary lives torn apart by violence in the Middle East, in Ukraine, and even in the United States with gun violence. Tragedy can feel far away until it hits close to home, but by continuing to talk to our friends a…

1
Let’s Be The Vocal Majority (with Senator Amanda Cappelletti) 43:07

10M ago43:07

43:07

Did you know that just eleven people are responsible for 60% of book bans in this country? This week is National Banned Books Week, and we talk about how a vocal minority is responsible for everything from book bans to gerrymandered maps. And the media is so obsessed with extremists like Donald Trump that a lot of Americans aren’t even aware of the…

1
He Doesn’t Even Go Here (with Gaby Goldstein) 44:13

10M ago44:13

44:13

This week, hosts Jasmine Clark, Rachel Vindman, and Amanda Weinstein talk about how far the bar has lowered for conduct amongst extremists, whether it’s Georgia Governor Kemp cowardly and dangerously supporting Trump, a man going after someone’s child in a school board meeting, or Ohio’s Frank LaRose changing the rules of democracy to take away wom…

1
It's Not What You Say, It's What You Do (with Missy McGinnes and Shelly Rea) 26:10

10M ago26:10

26:10

This week, we’re joined by Missy McGinnes and Shelly Rea to learn all about TroubleNation! It’s a brand-new program from Red Wine & Blue that’s designed to help women all across the country organize for change in their communities. Whether you’ve never been involved in politics before, or you already have a grassroots group and just need some suppo…

1
Women Don’t Have Time For Extremism (with Rep. Emilia Sykes) 26:57

10M ago26:57

26:57

This week, Amanda Weinstein sits down with Ohio Congresswoman Emilia Sykes. Emilia is an inspiring force for good working hard for the people of her district! She and Amanda chat about how extremist Republicans keep trying to thwart the will of the people and deny women reproductive freedom, her amazing work to protect the victims of domestic viole…

1
Cab Drinking High Information Voters (with Jess Piper) 36:19

11M ago36:19

36:19

The Suburban Women Problem is officially back! And this season, we’re doing things a little differently: not only will the audio hit your podcast player every Wednesday, but you can also watch a video version on YouTube! You can find that link here: pod.redwine.blue/SWP. So this week, you KNOW we had to talk about a Fox News anchor calling us “low-…

1
Don't Mansplain Our Reproductive Freedom (with Katie Paris) 16:43

11M ago16:43

16:43

This week, Amanda Weinstein is joined by Red Wine & Blue founder Katie Paris to talk about the latest GOP shenanigans to prevent Ohioans from voting for reproductive freedom. In August, voters rejected Issue 1, which would have required a 60% vote on future constitutional amendments. But that wasn't the last Hail Mary pass for Secretary of State Fr…

1
The Cost of Extremism: A Conversation with @JoJoFromJerz 30:33

11M ago30:33

30:33

As season 1 of The Cost of Extremism comes to a close, we have one last bonus episode for you. We’re here with @JoJoFromJerz for a deep-dive into three stories that we think are especially important to hear right now. First, we have Mia Tretta from episode one, ‘The Impact of Active Shooter Drills.’ In her episode, Mia told her story of surviving a…

1
The School Board Culture War 41:05

11M ago41:05

41:05

Across the country, new right-leaning PACs are pouring money into school board races, aiming to flip control of who governs schools in favor of self-proclaimed ‘parents rights’ advocates. For significantly less than what it would cost them to influence a seat in the House or Senate, these PACs are pouring funds into local school board races and as …

1
Anti-Trans Bills Are Harming LGBTQ+ Youth 28:09

11M ago28:09

28:09

A flood of state-level efforts to restrict transgender rights are being fueled by many of the Christian and conservative groups that led the charge against Roe v. Wade. The political debate is escalating at a dangerous rate, putting the physical and mental health of trans youth at risk. Resources: https://redwine.blue/thecost/ https://www.thetrevor…

1
The Problem with School Vouchers 31:59

11M ago31:59

31:59

During our second episode, we take a look at the long history of school voucher programs and the state’s hidden agenda to increase religious education and further segregate our school system. At a time when public education is already underfunded, we can’t afford programs that allow wealthy families to use public funds for private and religious edu…

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Benjamin Dawson Podcasts

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