1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: Best of luck, especially if you're black and Brown. I'm 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: rooting for you. I hope you get listened to. I 3 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: hope you get a raise, I hope you get your pay. 4 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: Like I hope you get listened to, but otherwise, like, 5 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: I'm so sorry, I had it's again. It's not our ministry. 6 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 1: We can just be outside observers and commentators. There are 7 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: no girls on the Internet. As a production of my 8 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: heart radio and unboss creative, I'm bridget todd, and this 9 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: is there are no girls on the Internet. Here in 10 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: the United States. There are fifty days left until our 11 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: midterm elections. Election season can be a bit of a mess. 12 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: I used to work on campaigns and I can tell 13 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 1: you that it wasn't always hope and change. Sometimes it 14 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: was more like eating pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner 15 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: or crying in a storage closet. And even beyond the 16 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: way that staffers are treated on political campaig means, sometimes 17 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: it seems like the tactics out there to engage voters 18 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: are just kind of stale or just plaining old, not 19 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: effective and with so much at stake, you know, literally 20 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: the fabric of our democracy, shouldn't things be better? And 21 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: shouldn't everyone feel represented, engaged and checked in? So how 22 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 1: can we make sure that all voters are showing up 23 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: and that nobody is being shut out of our democracy 24 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: using digital tools? To answer that very question is to 25 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: tend as mission in life, I am to tend to 26 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: Miss Appatiki and I am the CEO and founder of 27 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: the voter formation project. So can you tell us a 28 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: little bit about the voter formation project? So I founded 29 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: the organization in December and we went public in twenty 30 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: one and it's an organization that I founded to be 31 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: a national organization that works in many states to use 32 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,559 Speaker 1: the best of digital marketing tactics in order to reach 33 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: black and Brown and other disape image communities. So we use, 34 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: you know, digital ads, we look at different ways that 35 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: corporate marketers are doing their campaigns. That way we can 36 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: apply it to political work. And then also we want 37 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,519 Speaker 1: to be doing education with people who are running smaller 38 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: organizations and may not have as much knowledge about digital 39 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 1: to be able to provide them with resources. When we 40 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: first met, you were working at facebook and I talk 41 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: a lot about facebook on this show. People are always like, Oh, 42 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: you really hate facebook, and I used to say like Oh, 43 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: I have a lot of good friends that work at 44 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: facebook and that no longer includes you. So can you 45 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 1: talk to us a little bit about how you went 46 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: from your work at facebook to doing the work that 47 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 1: you're doing now, really working to engage black and Brown voters? Sure, Um, 48 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:44,399 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's more of a direct path than 49 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: I think people would think. Um. I loved my job 50 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: on facebook and I was there. I was the client 51 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: Solutions Manager for democratic politics, which means that I helped 52 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: people on the left. So think parties, committees and did it, 53 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: and organizations and then the agencies that support them with 54 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: their facebook strategies. There buys Um thinking through how best 55 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: they could reach their goals on the platform and really 56 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: like being the voice of the company to these clients 57 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: and vice versa. Um. As you can imagine, between nineteen 58 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:20,800 Speaker 1: a gal or rough, there was a lot of things 59 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: that happened in that period of time which made my 60 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: job significantly less enjoyable, but I I felt very strongly 61 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,079 Speaker 1: about the work I did and the causes I got 62 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: to support and Um also how I was treated as 63 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: an employee. It was like the best employer I'd had. Um, 64 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: which I have no qual saying. And so it got 65 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: to the point where, Um, the company was like rethinking 66 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: how it was that they wanted to do political ads, 67 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: and I liked my old job and I didn't want 68 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: a different job and I couldn't find another role that 69 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: would really fulfill what I needed in my next steps, 70 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: and so I left to go to acronym to build 71 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: my own program one of the biggest frustrations of my 72 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: job and one of the biggest ones, and given all 73 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: the things that happened there, um it's saying a lot. 74 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: That this was a frustration, is that I kept seeing 75 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: the same kinds of campaigns engaging the same people over 76 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: and over again. There was very, very little experimentation in 77 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: terms of tactics or in terms of creative meaning the 78 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: ads that were put on, or in terms of strategies 79 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 1: that people were using for voter registration and mobilization, and 80 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: of the strategies that were being deployed. None of them 81 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 1: use corporate best marketing practices, which also just seemed insane 82 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: to me, given all the things I had learned. And 83 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: it's rare that political marketers or people who come up 84 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 1: in digital political work get exposed to how corporate marketing 85 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: works and get exposed to like, some of the best 86 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 1: minds in corporate marketing and how they think about building 87 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: their campaigns, and so getting to see that just like 88 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: blew my brain open and I just became a sponge 89 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: of like I want to learn so much more about 90 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: how all these different industries do their campaigns and why 91 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: they do their campaigns and the science behind them, which 92 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: only led me to think that the way that we 93 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: do things is so muched up. I was like, this 94 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: doesn't make any sense, given how the rest, like truly 95 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: the rest of the marketing UM industries, work. So I 96 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: wanted to go build my own campaign. So I um Terah, 97 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: allowed you to come onto acronym and said Yeah, build 98 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 1: what you want, test what you want, and that is 99 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: what I did. When it comes to testing out new 100 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: tactics and elections, campaigns are not really testing to figure 101 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 1: out effective ways to engage black and Brown voters the 102 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: same way they are with our white counterparts. Now, the 103 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 1: reasons for this are kind of complicated, but one of 104 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: them is just the good old fashioned systemic racism of 105 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: black and Brown people being shut out of systems for 106 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: so long. So we're about to break it all the 107 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: way down. It is a mishmash of corporate greed and racism, 108 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: like fundamentally. So let's start with AH, the racism is 109 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:52,160 Speaker 1: probably easier to discuss. So, like when folks are doing 110 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: their campaigns and they're thinking about like, okay, these are 111 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: the people I need to engage. It is harder to 112 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: reach people of Color Online. It just is. It's harder 113 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: because the data systems that are used both by platforms 114 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,119 Speaker 1: and by campaigns to identify voters are based on things 115 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: called data points, and data points are things like, Um, 116 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: your credit history, your addresses, your phone number, your racial identity, 117 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: your ethnicity, and people of color have fewer data points 118 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: because of systemic racism in society due to no access 119 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: to credit, not allowed to own homes, you kept from 120 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 1: home ownership, kept from your car ownership, Um, so all 121 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 1: of those things, like if you're a renter, you have 122 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 1: a lot fewer data points if you've never bought anything 123 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: with credit or don't have a credit card. Fewer data 124 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 1: points if you are on banked viewer data points. So 125 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: data points are the things that algorithms have built or 126 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: like targeting systems, have built into many UM social media platforms. 127 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 1: How they reach people. It's not exclusive, which is why 128 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 1: the Internet is great for reaching people of Color, because 129 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: it's not the only way you can do it, but 130 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: it is a pretty heavy way of doing it and 131 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: the systems that campaigns used to identify people. So because 132 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 1: it's more expensive Um and because many of the ways 133 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: that foundations or donors um evaluate programs is by cost, 134 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: these campaigns to reach people of color are often viewed 135 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: as more expensive and not as effective because the mechanisms 136 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: used to measure them a racist based on systemic data, 137 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: and the way that programs are evaluated is based on 138 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: this entire thing that makes it harder to reach voters 139 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: of color. So, like that's one piece, like and I 140 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: would say the biggest piece. It's something that I'm the 141 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: longer I'm a founder, the more I just want to 142 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 1: beat my head against the wall. I feel like I'm 143 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: having the same conversations over and over again and they're 144 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: just so frustrating. This frustration around systemic racism that limits 145 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: help black and Brown people are engaged by campaigns is 146 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: one thing, but adding the extractive nature of the digital 147 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: consultant class in the political landscape and all of this 148 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: inequality gets even more entrenched. Because, think about it, if 149 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: you're a consultant being paid by a campaign, you aren't 150 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: necessarily thinking about how to reinvent the wheel and you 151 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: probably are not going to take the risks necessary to 152 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: learn how to do this work effectively or really test 153 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 1: anything out. In short, you might just play it safe 154 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: because you want to be paid. So, in I would say, 155 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: the overall digital landscape of progressive politics and even like nonprofits, 156 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: socivic engagement work that is outside of like partisan politics, 157 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: there are a few major agencies that are hired by 158 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: most folks at a certain level to do digital buying. 159 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: Those people make their money based on promises that they 160 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 1: give to clients about effectiveness of campaigns, and when you 161 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 1: start to experiment or go outside of that, you are 162 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 1: introducing a risk, which means that you are less likely 163 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: to deliver for your client. And then when you're talking 164 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: about experimentation, Um, the experimentation tends to be less bold, 165 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: because how is it that you explain to your client like, Oh, 166 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 1: we're doing this thing and it might not work. You know, 167 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: clients are like not like organizations that have to report 168 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 1: to a donor. Are Not like keen to tell they're 169 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: like donor, like, Hey, I'm going to do this thing 170 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:13,839 Speaker 1: and it might not work and are going to pay 171 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: for it. Yeah, like it's it's hard to do. I 172 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,959 Speaker 1: like came into the space like putting a stick in 173 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 1: the ground that that's what I'm gonna do. So it's 174 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: been easier to me because I am like I am 175 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: the digital measurement lady and I am the person who's 176 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 1: going to say the things that no one's going to 177 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 1: say to you. I feel like I've built a bit 178 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: of that reputation. So I don't have the same fear 179 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,840 Speaker 1: as like other entrenched organizations who have made like promises 180 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: on efficacy or what not to folks and you know, 181 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: it's a chicken in the egg. Like there is a 182 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:42,959 Speaker 1: problem with these organizations not taking the risks and not 183 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: taking the risks in an environment that is constantly changing 184 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: and folks who refuse to be more lenient about how 185 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: it is that you evaluate program if a program is 186 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 1: more expensive by a couple hundred dollars per voter, it's 187 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: not great, but it also should not be the end 188 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: of the world and it shouldn't be the overall metric 189 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: by which you measure a campaign or that you decide 190 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: to disperse to a campaign, Um, and then to get 191 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: back through the racism. All of those organizations that do 192 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: the digital media buying or the measurement tend to be 193 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: round by white men or white women whatever, white people 194 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 1: who like aren't promoting people of color within their organizations or, 195 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: if they are, like blessed up. I hope you're okay, Um. 196 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: I certainly wasn't when I was in them. Um. And 197 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: so it just it's just this ever evolving cycle where 198 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: there needs to be an organization pushing from the outside 199 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:34,079 Speaker 1: saying this is crazy, this is not healthy and it's 200 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 1: actually not good for democracy, because if we are saying that, 201 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: we know that voters of color and people are of 202 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: color are kind of like the barometer for if we 203 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 1: have a fair society. Are they able to vote at 204 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 1: equal rates as their white counterparts? And the answer is no. 205 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: But then we're holding those organizations to an impossible standard 206 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: to reach the same quotas and cost effectiveness of, you know, 207 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 1: groups that target not even just white folks but like 208 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: include white people in their audiences, because that can have 209 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: a tremendous impact on cost. Like what? WHAT IS THE 210 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 1: MARKET RATE FOR DEMOCRACY? Like you tell me, like that's 211 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: one thing I've been saying, like, if you're going to 212 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: hold groups accountable to these cost measures, what what is? 213 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: What's the market rate of democracy for a voter of 214 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: color that's a brand new one, never has voted for before, 215 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: but may vote for the rest of their life? And Furthermore, 216 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 1: Republicans don't do this ship. They don't they don't care. 217 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: They care about getting power. So at the end of 218 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: the day, they do all these things and they have 219 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: some measurement, but like they got power over the course 220 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 1: of ten years. That's how they operate. Um, so it's 221 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: all just kind of wild. The longer I do it, 222 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: the more I learned, almost like I thought I knew, 223 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: and I feel like every two weeks I have like 224 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 1: a whole other revelation where I'm like, why am I 225 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: doing this? I should have quit politics like seven years ago. 226 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: Like I said, I went the first time, but then 227 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:46,199 Speaker 1: I love what I do and I care a lot 228 00:11:46,200 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: about it. Let's take a quick break at our back 229 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: in election, I heard so many people championing the political 230 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: leadership of black women for ostensibly saving the United States 231 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: from another four years of president trump. But these very 232 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:22,119 Speaker 1: nice sounding platitudes do not always come with meaningful investment 233 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 1: in the leadership of black women. For instance, to Tenda 234 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: is the only black woman in the United States who 235 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: runs a digital only voter engagement operation. I feel like, 236 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: especially on the lap and within the Democratic Party, we 237 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: love saying things like Oh, trust black women, elected black women, 238 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:42,439 Speaker 1: and I was sort of surprised to find that you 239 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: are the only you are running the only digital only 240 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: voter engagement operation led by a black woman, and obviously 241 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,839 Speaker 1: that's very exciting but also kind of disappointing. And I 242 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: guess my question would be if we, if we say 243 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 1: things like Oh, black women, black voters, where there the 244 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,559 Speaker 1: backbone of the laugh, the phone of the Democratic Party? 245 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: Why then, are we, are more black women, not being 246 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: invested in to do this kind of work? Why are we? Why? 247 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: Why are we not investing in this political leadership that 248 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: folks say they want, that folks say like is really 249 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: leading our party? Honestly, like to be very blunt about it, 250 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: it's performative bullshit by the white people in power. Like, 251 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: I don't have much else to say, like, like, honestly, 252 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: it's like trust black women until you have to pay 253 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: US fairly. Trust black women until we want a seat 254 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 1: at the table. Trust black women until we're asking for power. And, 255 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: you know, to be fair, there are some black organizations, 256 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: black lad organizations, that do the work, but they tend 257 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,560 Speaker 1: to be for profit or like organizations hosting for profits, 258 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: or they tend to be field groups that came out 259 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 1: of folks who were like came up in campaigns and 260 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: we're told like, Oh, you can do the black people work. Right, 261 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 1: one of the things that I care a lot about 262 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: is like being able to get institutional power for VFP. Like, yes, 263 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: we do work that's designed to reach people of color 264 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: only or like disadvantaged communities only, but like I'm the 265 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,959 Speaker 1: best at what I do, regardless of who else is 266 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 1: out there doing it, and I want to very much 267 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: so keep pushing the envelope so that that is something 268 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 1: that is seen and something that is understood. And I 269 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: feel like, whenever I say that, a lot of it's 270 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: like there's a bit of arrogance in it and Hubris, 271 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: but at the same time, like if I don't have that, 272 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: then then what am I doing here? Right, like I 273 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 1: don't get to fail the way my white counterparts do 274 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: when you say things like that, what's the response? I 275 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: think it's like a mixture of like people are like okay, 276 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: or they're terrified of me, which is really funny because 277 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: I'm like five ft three and I'm kind of a goofball, 278 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: and people who were like hang out with me and no, 279 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 1: my friends, like I'm kind of weird. It's it's fine, 280 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: but like, I guess I've been told I'm slightly terrifying 281 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 1: when I get in that mood. And okay, you know, 282 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: like I've been heard like, Oh, you're a lot to swallow, 283 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: we'll choke. I'm sorry, like this is what we're doing. 284 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: We're talking about the future of our democracy, the future 285 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: of what are, the fabric of our country, is going 286 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: to be like, and we don't really people like you 287 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: don't really have time to play small. People like you 288 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: don't really have time to play humble when we're talking 289 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: about something that it's this important. Yeah, and you're like 290 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: fighting for the livelihood of Your Org and like you're 291 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 1: you're you know, it's like my organization. I care a 292 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: lot about the people I employed, I care a lot 293 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: about the work I do, and so you can't go 294 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: into it, you know, trying to get into a fairly 295 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 1: entrenched system of like, Oh, these are the people who 296 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: do the work and these are the people they give 297 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: money to, or whatever. If I'm coming in and wanting 298 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: to establish an organization that does this work at scale, 299 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: you know you don't get there by thinking to yourself 300 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: a little bit by little bit. You kind of get 301 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 1: there by by setting a really big goal in chasing 302 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: after it relentlessly. I just don't feel like I have 303 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 1: any other choice, to be honest, and I know I'm 304 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:51,479 Speaker 1: again very, very, very good at what I do. Um. 305 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 1: So you almost got to adopt that Olivia Pope Swagger 306 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: and go for it, because otherwise you are going to fail. 307 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: And so it's almost like twenty two you. I don't 308 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 1: know anyone who got to where they are leading an 309 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: organization or leading a large organization, WHO's like you. Know, 310 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: I was just hoping for the best, like you. No, 311 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 1: like there has to be some deliver and there are 312 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 1: days I wake up and I'm like, how the hell 313 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: did I get here, because my career has been wild, 314 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 1: to say the least. I have had a wild variety 315 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: of experiences across a number of orders. Um. But yeah, 316 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 1: you just you just have to do it and you 317 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: have to think big. Well, and I know for you 318 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: part of thinking big is the ability to pivot, because 319 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: you know, our digital landscape is always changing. Like Apple's 320 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: privacy changed last year really limited the tracking capabilities of 321 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: digital advertisers, which I'm sure changed everything about how you're 322 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: reaching people online. So can you tell me a bit 323 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: about your goals and how they've evolved? Yeah, so I 324 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: there are. I would put them in kind of three buckets. 325 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: I think one is I'd love to register and mobilize 326 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: half a million people of Color in the next election cycle. 327 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: So register or mobilize, and I think that's very doable 328 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: if we reach our fundraising goals. We have to just 329 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 1: run a very, very smart campaigns Um and think very 330 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 1: strategically and be pretty relentless in our measurement and so 331 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,880 Speaker 1: I think the second goal would be for us to 332 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,399 Speaker 1: be able to release a lot of measurement about how 333 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: doing these campaigns has changed. We've already started doing that 334 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: with our twenty one programs, where we uncovered just how 335 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 1: much the apple privacy measures have impacted certain types of 336 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: advertising programs across all the platforms. So we have to retool. 337 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 1: You know, the cost estimates that we have. We have 338 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 1: to retool the strategies that we're using. We have to 339 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: re measure and understand what is working to reach these communities. 340 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 1: What types of creative are getting us there? What types 341 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 1: of data strategies are getting us there or not getting 342 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 1: us there right, like eliminating this idea. If we do 343 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: an experiment and the results are negative, that's not failure like. 344 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: That is a learning that we can then spread to 345 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 1: everyone and say, don't waste your money doing this. We 346 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 1: already did and guess what, it does not work. Um. 347 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: So that's a big one. Being able to disseminate information. 348 00:17:58,080 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: Another big goal of ours is to do a lot 349 00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: of trainings for smaller field organizations. I care a lot 350 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 1: about being able to give the information that is in 351 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: my head and in my team's head about how it 352 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,640 Speaker 1: is that you can understand digital to people who run 353 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: organizations who haven't really had a place to go and 354 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: get information about like this is what an ad is, 355 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 1: this is what an impression is, this is what an 356 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 1: influencer is, this is what people mean when they say 357 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 1: influence our marketing or like this is a text message program, 358 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,199 Speaker 1: you know, like these things are basic things that I 359 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:29,159 Speaker 1: take for granted because I came up in this space. 360 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 1: But you know, if you've been organizing in the field 361 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,199 Speaker 1: for years like you're not paying attention to like a 362 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 1: lot of it, and so we need a place for 363 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: those folks to go and learn about what these terms are, 364 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 1: what they mean and how they can structure their organizations 365 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 1: and resource their organizations to be able to do experimentation 366 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: and learn what works for them. So that's another big 367 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,120 Speaker 1: goal that I'm excited about. And then the fourth one 368 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: kind of has nothing to do with the work, but 369 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: how we do the work. How do we do the work? 370 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: It's a tricky question that a lot of people on 371 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: campaign don't really like to talk about, for instance the 372 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: fact that campaign work is usually pretty grueling. You work 373 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:12,719 Speaker 1: terrible hours for terrible pay and are treated terribly too, 374 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,399 Speaker 1: and I actually have a theory that it's one of 375 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:20,360 Speaker 1: the reasons why they're such tight knit camaraderie on political campaigns, 376 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,680 Speaker 1: because staffers have all gone through something traumatic together just 377 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:28,159 Speaker 1: by being on the campaign. And it doesn't even stop 378 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 1: when the election is over. Earlier this year, instagram accounts 379 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 1: like dear white staffer popped up on social media to 380 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: shed a little bit of light onto the mistreatment of 381 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 1: rank and file staff on campaigns, nonprofits and political offices. 382 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: This used to be to tender's life and my life, 383 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:54,679 Speaker 1: and I can't say that I really miss it. I 384 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 1: had been loving the great resignation and the result of 385 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: these like instagrams, like dear Dear White Staffer and dear nonprofit, 386 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:06,440 Speaker 1: all of them, because I was that person when I 387 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 1: was until recently, who was just like this industry is 388 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 1: sick and like crazy and run by maniable people who, 389 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: like do not care about stabs and there are so 390 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 1: many things that are taken for granted because this is 391 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: how it's always been done. And one of the big 392 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: things for me and starting this organs like we're going 393 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: to change how people work and we're gonna change how 394 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 1: people work at political organizations and we're going to treat 395 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:31,679 Speaker 1: people with dignity and respect and pay them well, and 396 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: we're gonna do it all under a nonprofit umbrella and 397 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 1: we're gonna do it during election years and we're all 398 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:39,199 Speaker 1: going to live healthy lives. I my nightmare would be 399 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: to wake up after an election and to have someone 400 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,199 Speaker 1: telling me I had to do to all nighters or 401 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 1: like sorry, like I gotta go. I picked up an 402 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 1: out or all, I gotta go because I was working 403 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: too much. Like, no, I don't want that for any 404 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 1: of my staff. I want my staff to be well arrested. 405 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 1: I want them to have vacations during election cycles. I 406 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 1: want them to not be on public assistant and to 407 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 1: be able to you know, there's a minimum salary of 408 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: at our it is what it is, because if people 409 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: are living in cities and if you are a scheduler 410 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 1: for me, you are still doing meaningful work that you 411 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: deserve to be able to like pay rent and pay 412 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 1: for groceries and maybe your student loans and like live 413 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: your life right. I don't want people picking up second, 414 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 1: third jobs out of necessity for living. And I think, 415 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: in turn, what we're going to find out, I'm positive, 416 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: is that when you treat people with this level of 417 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:31,360 Speaker 1: dignity and respect, you get better work, because people are arrested. 418 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:36,439 Speaker 1: So and there has not been an example of an 419 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: organization that has done this at scale. Like I will 420 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 1: fight anyone about it, like I am sure, like, I can't. 421 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 1: I can't. I was a facebook lady for so many ORCS, 422 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: like I know exactly what was going on with many 423 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 1: of these folks based on the email times I was 424 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:56,159 Speaker 1: receiving things like how they were feeling or tone or 425 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,639 Speaker 1: whatever like. There's got to be a better way, and 426 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: the only way that there's going to be of better 427 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 1: ways if we have like actual disruption with the proofpoint, 428 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 1: so that people are leaving jobs to force it to 429 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: be better. It's something I care about, like as much 430 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 1: as the rest of the work. I'm so glad that 431 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 1: you're that that is something that's baked into what you're doing, 432 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 1: because I am the same as the same as you. 433 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 1: Like I came up at a time where it was 434 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 1: just standard that if you worked in campaigns, if you 435 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:26,440 Speaker 1: were working in the progressive even the Progressive Movement, that 436 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 1: you were working until, you know, my the last time 437 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 1: that I was in that world, my nine to five 438 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 1: was really more like a seven to ten right. And 439 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 1: then you know, when you go out on campaigns, this 440 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 1: sort of like the idea that like people are working 441 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: second jobs or like going on government assistance, like it 442 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: wasn't great. And I think that whenever we, you know, 443 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: I'm a little older than some of our listeners, I think, 444 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 1: but whenever we would have converts, but we weren't having 445 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:54,440 Speaker 1: a national conversation about sort of how to treat people 446 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 1: in a workplace. It was still seem as like a 447 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 1: badge of honor that you care so much that you 448 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 1: basically don't really have much of a life and hate 449 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: you wake up like exhausted every morning. That was seen 450 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:07,920 Speaker 1: as a good thing. I'm so happy that we're now 451 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 1: having conversations that are getting away from this culture of Hustle, hustle, 452 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 1: hustle all the time and glorifying that, because I have 453 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 1: done that and there's nothing to be glorified about it 454 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 1: those times in my life. I cannot even imagine going 455 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,400 Speaker 1: back to those times, but I also hope that we'd 456 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:27,720 Speaker 1: like when I would talk to others about them, it 457 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: would be like well, that's how I did it, and 458 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 1: it was this like weird thing where nobody would break 459 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: the cycle because that's how they did it when they 460 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 1: were coming up. or it was like a pissing contest 461 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 1: of like well, this happened to you this week. You 462 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 1: know what happened to be and then you all feel 463 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:45,399 Speaker 1: like okay, well, it's fine because, like, everyone else is 464 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: in this and this is how it's supposed to be. 465 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 1: But like one I was always winning these pissing contests. 466 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,359 Speaker 1: Like I really have worked for some exceptionally like difficult 467 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,920 Speaker 1: people and too, what is the like if someone's willing 468 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,439 Speaker 1: to disrespect you at one level? Right, like I have 469 00:23:58,520 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: been cursed out. There was a day I thought I 470 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: going to get hit by my manager at work, physically hit. 471 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:06,679 Speaker 1: They hit something else instead of me. They're like and 472 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 1: then like what is the line between that? And then like, 473 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: oh well, you didn't get actually harassed. But then there 474 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: are people who are and we're not talking about it. 475 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: There are predators running around that. We all were running 476 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,919 Speaker 1: around doing whatever, but no one got in trouble and still, frankly, 477 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:19,679 Speaker 1: have not gotten in trouble to the level they probably deserve. So, like, 478 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:22,679 Speaker 1: what are we doing here? Because if we tolerate one 479 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 1: and we tolerate the next, then we are tolerating probably 480 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: most of it, because the overtoned window is already on 481 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:30,199 Speaker 1: the side of abuse. So like we gotta move it 482 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: completely and we have to shift about it, and I 483 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: think it's like our generation that's starting to come up 484 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 1: and like start our own orgs. That's probably going to 485 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 1: change the tide. But like this old mentality of like 486 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,640 Speaker 1: we need to suffer and continue to be paid discriminatory 487 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 1: compared to our white counterparts, or deal with x abuse, like, uh, 488 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: I'm done, I can't do it anymore. I can't, and 489 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: I'm so glad so many other people are getting to 490 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:56,159 Speaker 1: that point, because I've only not how to deal with 491 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 1: like pay issues at one job. So what are we doing? Exactly? Well, 492 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: that's my thing, is that we are meant to be 493 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:09,320 Speaker 1: the folks building a different future. And how can we 494 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 1: say that we're going to build a more free, more inclusive, 495 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: more equitable future when the structures that we are operating in, 496 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: the structures that we are mired in, are not even 497 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:21,120 Speaker 1: more free, or not even more equitable or not even 498 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 1: more inclusive? It just like doesn't compute to me. Yeah, 499 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:27,360 Speaker 1: because it's uncomputable. It doesn't make sense, but here we are. 500 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,399 Speaker 1: So I feel like it's not until more of us 501 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,199 Speaker 1: like snatch seats of power that it's going to be 502 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:35,880 Speaker 1: like different. And you know, I I think because of 503 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: my employment past over the last like what twelve, thirteen years, 504 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 1: that like I care so much about, like you know, 505 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 1: everyone on my staff, and I think they know the 506 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: like to a degree where they're like, I know I 507 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: just have the sniffles. I'm not sick. You don't need 508 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: to make me go home, like I'm good, and I'm 509 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 1: like okay, but like are you because you're sending so 510 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 1: like get off this Zom, you know, like that's the 511 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:02,920 Speaker 1: kind of the relation. Like they know I'm where are 512 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 1: we in terms of voter registration? Are we in a 513 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 1: good place? Are we in a bad place? Like what? 514 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:10,320 Speaker 1: What is it? What is the future looking like in 515 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 1: terms of getting communities of color registered to vote and mobilized? 516 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 1: I would say for me it's a frustrating place. So, 517 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:21,440 Speaker 1: from what I can gather from, you know, the campaign world, 518 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: it's a mid term and generally with midterms people are 519 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:26,439 Speaker 1: less concerned about registration. One because it's harder and more 520 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 1: expensive to do Um, and then too, because, at least 521 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 1: in this period, we've had like really unprecedented growth in 522 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: voter registration since about frankly, Um, over the cycle, cycle, Um. 523 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 1: And so I'm starting to hear whispers of like we 524 00:26:44,560 --> 00:26:48,679 Speaker 1: need to do less of this work um because we 525 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 1: have so, so many voters, and that just concerns me, 526 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: like why should you put the breaks on getting more 527 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 1: people involved? From a Um just it's like an American 528 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 1: point of view, like shouldn't we be trying to get 529 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 1: everyone to vote, like isn't our job done when everyone's 530 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 1: registered to vote? Like that? That makes sense to me. 531 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 1: But but you know what I mean, like campaigns, and 532 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 1: especially organizations that have political aims, are a resource constrained 533 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: and so they have to spend their money on getting 534 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: to like fifty plus one, and so voter registration is 535 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 1: not going to be a priority for many of these 536 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:22,679 Speaker 1: organs and it's probably going to be less funded than 537 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 1: it will be in twenty four, and definitely that it 538 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 1: wasn't twenty so I find that just disheartening disconcerting to 539 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: hear that. But the other thing that actually is quite concerning, 540 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 1: that it'sheartening to see but also concerning, is that we 541 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 1: do have so many new voters and so many new 542 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:39,280 Speaker 1: voters who voted and didn't vote in twenty and we 543 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: have so many new voters in twenty who probably won't 544 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:44,199 Speaker 1: vote in twenty two. And so mobilizing these folks who 545 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 1: are going to be viewed as like, not likely voters, 546 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: who probably won't be included in these campaign mathematics of 547 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 1: fifty plus one. However, are so imperative to keep involved, 548 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 1: especially because this is probably the first mid term or 549 00:27:56,720 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 1: second mid term or first mid term after they've been registered. 550 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 1: Is Really, really crucial because if you aren't working to 551 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 1: help establish those habits of regular voting, you know, you 552 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 1: can register someone, but that doesn't mean they'll vote. And 553 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:11,200 Speaker 1: so what is happening or like the necessity of getting 554 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,359 Speaker 1: folks who are new, newly registered over the course of 555 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 1: the last four years is also really really important work 556 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 1: that I think folks are starting to pay more attention to. 557 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:21,600 Speaker 1: But something that we're also critically thinking about is like 558 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:24,479 Speaker 1: these voters who are going to be viewed as unlikely 559 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 1: voters in a midterm, who probably won't be spoken to, 560 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: who probably were recently engaged to who may not have, 561 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 1: you know, frequent contacts or touches from any or doing 562 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 1: civic engagement work. We're really interested in making sure we're 563 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:39,480 Speaker 1: at least speaking to them, you know, over a longer 564 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 1: course of time, about like hey, you should consider voting. 565 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 1: It's good. More after a quick break, let's get right 566 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:01,480 Speaker 1: back into it. So if you have been a little 567 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: checked out of national politics lately, I do not blame 568 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 1: you or judge you because honestly, I'm right there with you, 569 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 1: and of course I think that everyone should vote if 570 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 1: they're able, but I also think that we need to 571 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:21,000 Speaker 1: have a world where candidates running for public office actually 572 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 1: give people a reason to be excited to vote for them, 573 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: where people, especially young voters, first time voters, black and 574 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 1: Brown voters and women voters, don't just feel like we're 575 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:36,400 Speaker 1: voting to keep somebody terrible out of office or that 576 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:40,240 Speaker 1: we're voting for the lesser of two evils. We deserve 577 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 1: a political landscape where are elected officials engage US and 578 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: don't give us so many reasons to just check out. Yeah, 579 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: I guess kind of along that vein. What do you 580 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:57,080 Speaker 1: say to people who maybe got especially like people who 581 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:00,480 Speaker 1: were first time voters back in like what do you 582 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 1: say to people who, I feel a little checked out, 583 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 1: who are like I don't like they're just not feeling 584 00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:09,680 Speaker 1: it right now, like, how do you? How do you? 585 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: I'm thinking of a lot of the younger people in 586 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 1: my life who are like, I don't see a point 587 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:17,400 Speaker 1: of voting. Neither of these parties is for me. I 588 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 1: don't feel like I'm being meaningfully engaged. I'm just completely 589 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 1: checked out. How do you. How do you speak to 590 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 1: people like that? I think it's a few things. One is, 591 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,160 Speaker 1: like it's totally fine to be checked out of national politics. 592 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:31,680 Speaker 1: I'm checked the hell out of national politics right now. 593 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:34,040 Speaker 1: But to like, I feel like a lot of times 594 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 1: the conversations are wrapped up at the Senate level and 595 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 1: these very like serious levels of government, I guess, if 596 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:42,080 Speaker 1: you will, or like high levels of government, when the 597 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 1: things that are going to have the most impact on 598 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 1: people's lives on a daily levels local government, and that's 599 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:48,080 Speaker 1: something that's a bit easier to track. It's people who 600 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 1: are more connected to your community. It is things that 601 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 1: will carry on. It is is your kid going to 602 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:55,360 Speaker 1: read a book by a Brown person in the year? 603 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: It is. Am I going to be paying more local 604 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 1: like taxes on my groceries? It is, you know, so 605 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 1: many other things, like am I going to have the 606 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 1: pothole fixed on my street? Like, my God, there's like 607 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 1: a whole thing right now. I'm my neighbor head about 608 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:13,760 Speaker 1: like Ali reconstruction. Like it's things like that that people 609 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 1: care about, that do have material differences or like are 610 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:19,680 Speaker 1: we going to have more frequent, frequent trash pickup, or 611 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 1: you know, things like that. So I think that's one 612 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 1: way to get people to be more engaged, just to 613 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 1: reconnect it to the local angle and say, Hey, I 614 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:27,160 Speaker 1: know you might be checked out of politics, but like 615 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:29,920 Speaker 1: here are some things happening that like could be impacted. 616 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:32,080 Speaker 1: It impacts your daily life, it impact your family and 617 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:35,880 Speaker 1: impacts your community, impact your working impact your coin. So 618 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:37,480 Speaker 1: I think that's the big one. Like we can shift 619 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 1: the conversation from like this big, like philosophical discussion of 620 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 1: like if the Republicans and Democrats are both bad and 621 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:47,440 Speaker 1: equal measures or whatever, into like an actual conversation about 622 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:51,400 Speaker 1: what your daily life could look like under different leadership. Um. 623 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 1: And I just think it's I. I. I kind of 624 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 1: take issue with the shaming of people being checked out 625 00:31:56,720 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 1: with national politics. Like, if you don't want people to 626 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:01,640 Speaker 1: be checked out and you govern, govern so that they're not. 627 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 1: I like don't view it as our role to, you know, 628 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 1: stand for whatever the administration is doing or to try 629 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:12,040 Speaker 1: and make like it's not. I am not messaging for 630 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 1: a C four to make sure people think Joe Biden 631 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 1: is great. That is not my job. And if they 632 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:19,960 Speaker 1: want people of Color to, you know, or young people 633 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 1: in particular, to believe they're doing a good job, then 634 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:24,840 Speaker 1: they can go figure that out, and they should, because 635 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 1: it's not going great. Um. So, yeah, I hope they 636 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 1: decide to but like pay, like cancel the loans. Cancel 637 00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:38,840 Speaker 1: the loans or do something for the climate. It's really 638 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:41,640 Speaker 1: not that hard, and do it big. That's the they'll 639 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 1: be back. Yeah, I can't blame anybody who was like, 640 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:47,840 Speaker 1: I don't feel fired up in any capacity right now 641 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 1: for national politics. I don't. I was like, I don't. 642 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:51,480 Speaker 1: I don't either, and I don't blame you and I 643 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:52,920 Speaker 1: don't want to get off on a ramp of like 644 00:32:52,960 --> 00:32:56,280 Speaker 1: complaining about this, but I feel like anybody paying attention 645 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,800 Speaker 1: right now at best a little disillusion right, and so 646 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:02,480 Speaker 1: I can't blame anybody for being like, I'm not even 647 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 1: paying attention. But you're right that that's almost the wrong 648 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:08,160 Speaker 1: conversation to be having. The right conversation to be having 649 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:10,600 Speaker 1: is perhaps like, Oh, do you care about what's happening 650 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:13,520 Speaker 1: on your block, on Your Street, in your neighborhood? That's 651 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:16,400 Speaker 1: very different than what's happening at a national level. Yeah, 652 00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:19,600 Speaker 1: because unfortunately, like my street like literally ends at the 653 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:23,600 Speaker 1: at the Capitol. So like that is my neighborhood. I 654 00:33:23,640 --> 00:33:25,960 Speaker 1: am in Washington d C. I do not live very 655 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,680 Speaker 1: far from the Capitol at all. Like I hear helicopters 656 00:33:28,680 --> 00:33:31,520 Speaker 1: and I'm like, WHO's coming home? But, like I'm not 657 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:34,080 Speaker 1: fired up, I'm not ready to go, like if someone 658 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:35,840 Speaker 1: told me, like I think the last thing I got 659 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 1: fired up about was like Cathy Hilton was on the 660 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:39,760 Speaker 1: hill like that. That fired me up and that was 661 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:43,920 Speaker 1: like it. I'm just not there and I'm in the 662 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:46,120 Speaker 1: thick of it and I was a political operative for 663 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 1: you know, what have you. So I can't blame anybody 664 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:52,440 Speaker 1: else who's barely civically engaged to care as much when 665 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 1: they've got like there's a lot of issues out here 666 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:57,800 Speaker 1: that are like impacting people's daily lives, and I hate 667 00:33:57,800 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 1: to sound like a Republican, but inflation is one of them. 668 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:01,720 Speaker 1: Like you have to address these things or speak to 669 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:05,239 Speaker 1: them in order for people to stay engaged. Like, but 670 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:08,640 Speaker 1: I I am throwing what is it? Like? I am 671 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:11,839 Speaker 1: not doing the hard works. I can't really go in 672 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 1: on it, but I've chosen for this not to be 673 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:18,560 Speaker 1: my job. I hope that. Yeah, I wish anybody who 674 00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:22,360 Speaker 1: is that's not my ministry anymore and I wish those 675 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:25,160 Speaker 1: who have adopted that as their ministry. I wish them 676 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:28,759 Speaker 1: the best of the best of luck, especially if you're 677 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:30,600 Speaker 1: black and Brown. I'm rooting for you. I hope you 678 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 1: get listened to. I hope you get a raise, I 679 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:35,160 Speaker 1: hope you get your pay. Like I hope you get 680 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 1: listened to, but otherwise, like, I'm so sorry I have 681 00:34:37,920 --> 00:34:40,120 Speaker 1: it's again, it's not our ministry. We can just be 682 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:43,080 Speaker 1: outside observers and comment leaders. I hope you get your 683 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:46,080 Speaker 1: raise and I'll definitely follow and like your like the 684 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 1: the account that you're running on the side. That's like 685 00:34:48,680 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 1: dear White Stafford. I'll definitely follow it. I live I 686 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:56,239 Speaker 1: check it every day. I like check Kanye and dear 687 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:58,799 Speaker 1: white stafford and deer nonprofits every morning. I'm like what 688 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:03,240 Speaker 1: happened that I need to know about. I love it 689 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:07,040 Speaker 1: and it's just abuse on all counts. That abuse, whether 690 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:14,240 Speaker 1: it's Kanier or dear white staffers, it's just abuse. Okay, 691 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:17,759 Speaker 1: so I have kind of an a sleeper, like off 692 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 1: the wall question for you. So we were talking earlier 693 00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:23,400 Speaker 1: before I was recording, about how I had long covid 694 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,480 Speaker 1: and so I spent a lot of time in bed recovering, 695 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:29,560 Speaker 1: watching catching up on trash dv and I rewatched real 696 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:34,120 Speaker 1: housewives of Potomac and I remember there is an episode 697 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:39,080 Speaker 1: with you in. Am I right? Yes, IPAD, I called 698 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:43,600 Speaker 1: my partner in and I was like, I know her. Yeah, 699 00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:45,799 Speaker 1: tell us, tell us. So, like this is a real 700 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:49,320 Speaker 1: intersection of my too interests, which is like voter civic 701 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:53,840 Speaker 1: engagement and trash reality TV. How did that come to be? Okay, 702 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:55,840 Speaker 1: so I'm a huge house wives fan. I also have 703 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:59,800 Speaker 1: a love for just reality trash TV. I love pop culture. 704 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:03,880 Speaker 1: It is like my hobby. So I used to teach yoga. 705 00:36:03,960 --> 00:36:07,359 Speaker 1: I stopped teaching in the pandemic because I like got 706 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:10,839 Speaker 1: my like. What restored me about it was the human 707 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 1: to human contact. But I taught yoga for five years 708 00:36:15,040 --> 00:36:17,560 Speaker 1: and I taught at a studio that it no longer exists. 709 00:36:17,560 --> 00:36:20,160 Speaker 1: It makes me so bad, mad or sad. It's called 710 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:24,680 Speaker 1: embrace and it's tough by this wonderful woman named faith hunter. She, 711 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:27,960 Speaker 1: I think, teaches on norder track. She travels and has 712 00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:30,040 Speaker 1: pop up classes in DC. If you ever have the 713 00:36:30,080 --> 00:36:32,200 Speaker 1: opportunity to go to a faith hunter class, I highly 714 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:34,279 Speaker 1: recommend it. She is just such a wonderful human being 715 00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:36,640 Speaker 1: and a wonderful boss and, like, I love her yoga 716 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:38,600 Speaker 1: classes and was so grateful she gave me my first 717 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:42,280 Speaker 1: teaching job in D C. So she got a call 718 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:45,480 Speaker 1: from producer saying hey, UM, they want to shoot at 719 00:36:45,560 --> 00:36:50,280 Speaker 1: Yoga class. This teachers or this housewife is interested in 720 00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:53,359 Speaker 1: pursuing yoga. Guys, it wasn't as real as they made 721 00:36:53,360 --> 00:36:54,800 Speaker 1: it out to be. I don't want to get in trouble, 722 00:36:54,840 --> 00:36:56,840 Speaker 1: but we don't have to get into it. But I 723 00:36:57,160 --> 00:37:02,000 Speaker 1: got a long story short, she had um sent an 724 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:03,880 Speaker 1: email to all instructors that were like hey, we need 725 00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:06,120 Speaker 1: people to come to this yoga class that a housewife 726 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:09,160 Speaker 1: is going to co teach with me. Is anyone interested? 727 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:10,759 Speaker 1: And let me tell you, there were two days notice 728 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:12,200 Speaker 1: and I was working at facebook at the time and 729 00:37:12,239 --> 00:37:14,400 Speaker 1: I think I have like interviews. I had something important 730 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:18,040 Speaker 1: to do and I texted my boss like immediately and 731 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:20,319 Speaker 1: I was like Hey, I need you to cover me 732 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:24,120 Speaker 1: for like these hours of whatever. I have the opportunity 733 00:37:24,120 --> 00:37:27,640 Speaker 1: to be around real housewives of Potomac and I can't 734 00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:30,040 Speaker 1: say no. So please don't make me come into work, 735 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,360 Speaker 1: like please do this for me. and My boss was 736 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:34,279 Speaker 1: like the fact that you're even admitting to me that 737 00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:35,680 Speaker 1: you were trying to skip work to go on a 738 00:37:35,719 --> 00:37:38,200 Speaker 1: reality television show, like I will do it for you. 739 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:41,879 Speaker 1: You obviously care so, so much about this. Like totally fun. 740 00:37:41,960 --> 00:37:43,840 Speaker 1: I was so excited I like hit my car in 741 00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:46,239 Speaker 1: a post going out of my parking garage. It was 742 00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:48,680 Speaker 1: like not the best day for me. After it, we 743 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:51,120 Speaker 1: were there shooting for I want to say four hours, 744 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:57,160 Speaker 1: four hours, and first off, these women are artists. They 745 00:37:57,160 --> 00:38:01,719 Speaker 1: are artists at their craft of reality television. Um, I 746 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:04,040 Speaker 1: accidentally yelled, like I didn't mean to yell, but like 747 00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:06,680 Speaker 1: the producers don't know about yoga poses, and they had 748 00:38:06,719 --> 00:38:09,200 Speaker 1: us in downward facing dog for like twenty minutes. Okay, 749 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:12,840 Speaker 1: only yoga instructors could hold downward facing dog on their shoulders, 750 00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:14,360 Speaker 1: and I finally like sat down in the middle of 751 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:15,800 Speaker 1: to take it. was like we need a different post, 752 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:19,919 Speaker 1: I can't do this anymore. And I got to see 753 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:25,400 Speaker 1: how they like shoot and it was incredible. And Giselle 754 00:38:25,560 --> 00:38:28,719 Speaker 1: and candice and Ashley are all stunning in person, like 755 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:32,200 Speaker 1: just stunning in person, but they refilm a lot of stuff, 756 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:34,640 Speaker 1: which is why sometimes you'll feel like the scene moves 757 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:37,759 Speaker 1: or yeah, which is why I was there for four 758 00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:40,520 Speaker 1: hours for what was it? Two minutes? Two minutes worth 759 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:45,200 Speaker 1: of episode. It's yeah, it's that it's so short and 760 00:38:45,239 --> 00:38:46,880 Speaker 1: like I'm in there and I'm just trying not to 761 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:48,640 Speaker 1: laugh because I can't remember what was going on, but 762 00:38:48,680 --> 00:38:51,040 Speaker 1: I just remember sitting there being like this is ridiculous, 763 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:53,839 Speaker 1: but Oh my God I'm so happy in here. So yeah, 764 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:56,480 Speaker 1: it was like one of the highlights, I think, of 765 00:38:56,640 --> 00:39:00,000 Speaker 1: the tens for me was getting to film real housewives 766 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:02,839 Speaker 1: signing the releases. I knew candice was a housewife before 767 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:06,920 Speaker 1: anybody because that was her introductory scene and I was 768 00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:09,760 Speaker 1: not allowed to talk about the new housewife to anyone, 769 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:11,520 Speaker 1: like they like make you sign your life away and 770 00:39:11,560 --> 00:39:14,360 Speaker 1: signed on these NBA. Yeah, so I had to like 771 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:16,440 Speaker 1: Hush Hush that there was a new housewife. I knew 772 00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:18,239 Speaker 1: exactly who she was. I knew her business because I 773 00:39:18,239 --> 00:39:20,759 Speaker 1: listened to like they do a lot of conversations when 774 00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:22,880 Speaker 1: they shoot, so I heard a lot about what was 775 00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:25,880 Speaker 1: going on in everyone's lives, and Michael Darby I like 776 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:31,560 Speaker 1: at one point I was like uh, yeah, it was 777 00:39:31,600 --> 00:39:35,680 Speaker 1: fantastic and I ended up in the the Monique Candice, 778 00:39:35,719 --> 00:39:38,719 Speaker 1: like Reunion episode where they go at it. They show 779 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:41,200 Speaker 1: candice is first scene and I am in it right 780 00:39:41,280 --> 00:39:43,719 Speaker 1: before her. So I'm watching the reunion and I was 781 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:48,680 Speaker 1: like and my dad's like, is that you? Because my 782 00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:51,319 Speaker 1: dad was watching it with me and it was just 783 00:39:51,360 --> 00:39:56,440 Speaker 1: like that. I was like yeah, Dad, it was too funny. 784 00:39:56,920 --> 00:40:02,239 Speaker 1: You're enshrined, forever, enshrined in House live's history. I just 785 00:40:02,680 --> 00:40:04,919 Speaker 1: I gotta Make It on another franchise. Like have me back. 786 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:07,360 Speaker 1: I could be a great friend of I'm not a 787 00:40:07,360 --> 00:40:09,560 Speaker 1: housewife by any means. I have no partner, but like, 788 00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:14,800 Speaker 1: I could be great entertainment. Bravo, producers. I agree. Producer, listening. 789 00:40:15,200 --> 00:40:19,360 Speaker 1: Make this happen. So, since it's almost the midterm election, 790 00:40:19,719 --> 00:40:23,600 Speaker 1: how can folks get involved with the voter information project? Yes, 791 00:40:24,080 --> 00:40:26,640 Speaker 1: folks can follow along with what we are doing. We 792 00:40:26,680 --> 00:40:28,520 Speaker 1: are very active on twitter. You can find us at 793 00:40:28,600 --> 00:40:32,520 Speaker 1: voter formation. We're pretty irreverent twitter handle. I would say 794 00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:34,640 Speaker 1: that goes in line with the Voice of myself and 795 00:40:34,719 --> 00:40:37,440 Speaker 1: the Organ Um. You can also head over to our website, 796 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:40,080 Speaker 1: voter formation project dot org. We have a blog where 797 00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:41,880 Speaker 1: we highlight a lot of work that we may not 798 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:44,239 Speaker 1: be doing, but things that folks should know that are 799 00:40:44,239 --> 00:40:47,359 Speaker 1: happening in the voting right space, voting access space, Um, 800 00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:49,960 Speaker 1: and you know, just different things that impact communities that 801 00:40:50,040 --> 00:40:52,680 Speaker 1: we care about. And then, finally, I would say it 802 00:40:52,920 --> 00:40:54,759 Speaker 1: seems a little backwards, but one of the things that 803 00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:56,360 Speaker 1: I would really love for folks to do, if they 804 00:40:56,400 --> 00:40:58,960 Speaker 1: want to take their activism another level, outside of donating 805 00:40:58,960 --> 00:41:01,000 Speaker 1: at the links or whatnot, would be to get involved 806 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:03,319 Speaker 1: with the local organization in your town. Um, we very 807 00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:06,560 Speaker 1: much so believe in the power of Um people talking 808 00:41:06,600 --> 00:41:08,600 Speaker 1: to people in their communities. We very much still want 809 00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:10,680 Speaker 1: to support organizers that are doing what I call the 810 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:13,000 Speaker 1: hand to hand combat, and so if you're looking to 811 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:15,000 Speaker 1: take it to another level, you don't need to go 812 00:41:15,080 --> 00:41:17,279 Speaker 1: through us at all. Like please find an organization in 813 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:19,160 Speaker 1: your town or in your state that is doing that 814 00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:22,440 Speaker 1: work and and support them either with volunteering your time or, Um, 815 00:41:22,760 --> 00:41:34,920 Speaker 1: also giving them money. Got A story about an interesting 816 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:36,960 Speaker 1: thing in tech. I just want to say hi. You 817 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:39,279 Speaker 1: can reach us at hello at Tangodi DOT COM. You 818 00:41:39,320 --> 00:41:42,520 Speaker 1: can also find transcripts for today's episode at Tangodi Dot Com. 819 00:41:42,520 --> 00:41:44,279 Speaker 1: There are no girls on the Internet. was created by me, 820 00:41:44,400 --> 00:41:46,759 Speaker 1: bridget tod it's a production of I heeart radio and 821 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:50,720 Speaker 1: unboss creative Jonathan Strickland, as our executive producer. Tara Harrison 822 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:53,560 Speaker 1: is our producer and sound engineer. Michael Amato is our 823 00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:57,200 Speaker 1: contributing producer. I'm your host, bridget tod if you want 824 00:41:57,200 --> 00:41:59,600 Speaker 1: to help us grow, rate and review us on Apple podcasts. 825 00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:02,720 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from IHEART radio, check out the IHEART 826 00:42:02,760 --> 00:42:05,320 Speaker 1: radio APP, apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. 827 00:42:17,760 --> 00:42:17,800 Speaker 1: m