09: Gisele Fetterman on finding joy in a political world

08/06/24 • 28 min

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"I say all of my work comes from pain. I think it's really important to figure out the things that hurt and then work towards making it hurt less for the next person." - Gisele Fetterman

Gisele Fetterman is a Brazilian born activist, philanthropist, and non profit executive. When her husband, John Fetterman, was a mayor and then lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania, she was the first lady of Braddock and the second lady of the Commonwealth. Her husband is now a U. S. senator.

Gisele has helped found several nonprofit organizations that focus on the needs of lower income families. She's also an advocate for diversity and inclusion, pushing Congress to take a more humane and compassionate approach to immigration. Gisele is kind and courageous, she is empathetic and effective, and she is passionate and persuasive.

In this conversation we talk about Gisele’s childhood journey from Rio de Janeiro to America, what brings her joy, her experience of becoming a firefighter at age 40, and her commitment to helping others through her work.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

"I say all of my work comes from pain. I think it's really important to figure out the things that hurt and then work towards making it hurt less for the next person." - Gisele Fetterman

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

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08: Emily Amick on unleashing your political power

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“I want to see Republican women for gun reform and I want these women to start calling themselves Republicans and trying to exert more influence within their party. I want to see those Republican women step into their political power, for God's sakes, do the work. Your tears will never, ever change the current Republican Party, is really my message.”

Emily Amick is a lawyer, journalist, and political analyst who served as counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. She has taken the knowledge she acquired while working in policy to help women navigate teh political process and show us all how we can take action as citizens. Her new book, Democracy in Retrograde, reframes civic engagement as a source of joy, a form of self care, and an important way to combat hopelessness and cynicism.

Join us for a conversation all about finding your inner political power, advocating for yourself, and building a community of others who are both willing to believe in you and help you. Emily believes the key to curing our loneliness epidemic is through civic engagement.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

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10: Sharon McMahon on how small actions can lead to big change

"Sustainable change requires small, regular, concerted efforts by a lot of people doing the next right thing. All of us working together to change something has far more effect than five of us trying to do everything.”

Sharon McMahon is perhaps better known as America’s Government Teacher. Previously a government, history, and law teacher, she now shares her knowledge through Instagram, where she puts the latest headlines into context for her million-plus followers.

She’s also the host of the award-winning podcast Here’s Where it Gets Interesting, writes the newsletter The Preamble, and she’s the author of the upcoming book The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, From the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement, releasing on September 24th.

Sharon is a lifelong teacher who, rather than telling you what to think, gives you the context around an issue that helps you understand it and think more critically. She wants you to be able to make educated choices for yourself.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe