1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine. 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 2: Hey, besties. Today, on the bright Side, the Future is Female, 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 2: we dive into the world the new Apple TV doc 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 2: Girls State. We'll be joined by co director Amanda McBain 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,799 Speaker 2: and a young woman from the film who might just 6 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 2: run for president one day. It's Tuesday, April ninth. I'm 7 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 2: Simone Boyce. 8 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: I'm Danielle Robe and this is the bright Side from 9 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine. Okay, Simone, before we talk about anything else today, 10 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 1: please tell me about your Total Eclipse of the Heart. 11 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: Tell me about your trip. 12 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 2: Well, it's true. Scientific name is a total eclipse of 13 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 2: the Sun. I mean, I've never seen something like it before. 14 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 2: The sky goes totally dark and then it comes back. 15 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: And being able to see it up close and in 16 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 2: person like I've seen I've seen it from far away, 17 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 2: but to see it this close, it was just remarkable. 18 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: Your dad's been planning this trip for like four years. 19 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: Do you think that it was all he wanted it 20 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: to be? 21 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 3: I hope so. 22 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 2: I hope it was everything that my dad wanted a 23 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 2: lot of his cousins and brothers and sisters there, so 24 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 2: it was a really special time. Okay, Danielle, you know 25 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 2: I'm a space nerd. You know, I would go to 26 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 2: space tomorrow if Jeff Bezos called me and asked me 27 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 2: to go totally nuts. But I think he should call you. 28 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 2: But I think I'm not the only space nerd out there. 29 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 2: So for all y'all who are interested, here's a little 30 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: bit about solar eclipses. It happens when the Moon is 31 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 2: positioned between the Earth and the Sun. And there are 32 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 2: other types of eclipses. You've probably heard about these, like 33 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 2: a partial eclipse where the Moon blocks out a chunk 34 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 2: of the Sun. A solar eclipse like the one I 35 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 2: saw is actually pretty rare, and it can only happen 36 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,119 Speaker 2: if the Moon aligns perfectly between the Earth and the Sun, 37 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 2: making them appear the same size. Fun fact, they take 38 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: place about every eighteen months, but the location changes, so 39 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 2: that's why in North America we haven't seen one in 40 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 2: seven years. 41 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: I didn't know if you were speaking English or not 42 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: for the last sixty. 43 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 3: Seconds, Danielle. It wasn't even that complicated. 44 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: It really is. You lost me at moon and Sun 45 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: and stars and location. 46 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 3: And yet when Channy's here, you're all ears. 47 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: And she has something to say about what that means. 48 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: I don't know but if you didn't make the trip 49 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: like me, Apparently you can still see a solar eclipse eventually. 50 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: The next one is in twenty twenty six. I read 51 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: and you can see it in Iceland, in Portugal and Spain, 52 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: or you can wait until two thousand and thirty three, 53 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: so like nine years from now and you can see 54 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: it in Alaska. That would be cool. Maybe we should 55 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 1: plan on doing that in nine years? 56 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: Do you want to go to Alaska? I heard Portugal, 57 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 2: and then I didn't hear anything else after that. 58 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: Well, apparently if you want to see it in the 59 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: lower forty eight states, you'll have to wait until twenty 60 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: forty four. So you're right, this is a pretty rare occurrence. 61 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I don't know that I'll get to 62 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 2: see another one in my lifetime. 63 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 3: Feels like a bucket list moment. 64 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: Yeah kay, I'm about to shift to something that's totally unrelated. 65 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:47,119 Speaker 3: Here we go. 66 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: There is all of these videos on social media of 67 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: women sharing their IUD insertion stories, and it's basically this 68 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: trend where women record themselves getting their IUD insertain and 69 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 1: I have to tell you, at first glance, I was like, whoa, 70 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: this is very personal to see watch here, and then 71 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: I felt differently. 72 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 3: Wait, they're showing what are they showing exactly? Because I 73 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 3: haven't seen these videos. 74 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: They're covered by the rope, But the girls that are 75 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: sharing these are saying that they felt really unprepared for 76 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: the pain that they felt when it was inserted, and 77 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 1: they wanted to share with other women. 78 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 2: So I've always been afraid of getting an IUD, largely 79 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 2: because one of my really good friends got it, and 80 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 2: she has had a horrible experience with it, truly a 81 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 2: saga to where it was problematic from the time that 82 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 2: it was inserted and then she had to get surgery 83 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: to get it taken out. And the thing is, I 84 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,279 Speaker 2: want to be careful here because I know that that's anecdotal, 85 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: and I know that there are lots of women who 86 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 2: have great experiences with IUDs and it can offer them 87 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 2: freedom and liberation from other forms of birth control. 88 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 4: Right. 89 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: So, I didn't grow up taking birth control pills. I've 90 00:03:55,600 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: always wanted to limit any exposure to hormones, and in hindsight, 91 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: I'm actually really glad I didn't do that. But a 92 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: few years ago, I think it was the summer of 93 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one, I had an abortion, and because of 94 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: that experience, I had an IUD inserted because I felt 95 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: like the risk that I was taking was too great. 96 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: It felt like I didn't want to have that experience again, 97 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: and I'd rather have an IUD. I like having it. 98 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,719 Speaker 1: It's given me peace of mind and freedom, as you said, 99 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: but I don't love the idea of having something foreign 100 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 1: inside of me, or having anything hormonal inside of me. 101 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: I'd rather have nothing, But at this point in my life, 102 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,239 Speaker 1: I feel like it's better than nothing. 103 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 3: Do you feel it? 104 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: I don't feel it. When I first got it, I 105 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 1: felt a little anxious for like a month or two, 106 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,239 Speaker 1: and my doctor said there's no actual proof that that's 107 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: the case, but he has had other women say that. 108 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: But the anxiety dissipated, so I don't feel it. I 109 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 1: don't feel effects from it. I'm grateful for it, but 110 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 1: I think every women nowadays are much more thoughtful about 111 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 1: what they're taking in terms of birth control. I think 112 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: before it was kind of like just pushed on everybody. 113 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I haven't taken birth control in the years because 114 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 2: it just does a number on my body. 115 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 3: I don't like it. 116 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: When you say a number, what do you mean just. 117 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 2: Not feeling like myself. So I think that you do 118 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 2: have to take everything that you read on TikTok with 119 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 2: a grain of salt. But the mere fact that we're 120 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 2: having these discussions that might prompt some of us to 121 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 2: go have the conversations with the experts, with the doctors 122 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 2: to get to the truth. 123 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: Up next, we're talking to the director and one of 124 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: the subjects of the new documentary, Girls State. The film 125 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 1: looks at the annual leadership event for girls and let 126 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:50,479 Speaker 1: me tell you, the future looks bright. 127 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: Danielle, I have been so excited about this segment because 128 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 2: the idea of young women becoming empowered to be leaders 129 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 2: is something that just gets me so fired up. And 130 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 2: that's what Girls State is all about. It's a week 131 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 2: long program for young women interested in politics, and every year, 132 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 2: hundreds of teenage girls gather in cities across the country 133 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 2: to create a mock government. At this summer camp, they 134 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 2: run for office, they debate their peers, and they even 135 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: pass mock legislation. 136 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: It's so cool and at its core, Girls State encourages 137 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: young women to engage politically and potentially to run for office. 138 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: And now there's a whole documentary about it called Girls State, 139 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: which you can catch on Apple TV. 140 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 3: Here's what went down behind the scenes. 141 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: Okay, So, in the summer of twenty twenty two, just 142 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 2: days before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, filmmaker 143 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: Amanda McBain traveled to Missouri to attend Girls State and 144 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 2: to meet the incredible young women who were participating in 145 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 2: that year's program. Now, one of them was nineteen year 146 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 2: old Emily Worthmore. Both Amanda and Emily are here with 147 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: us today. Welcome to the bright Side ladies. 148 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 5: Welcome, Hi, Danielle and Simone. 149 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 4: Hi. Thanks for having us. 150 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 2: Emily, I'd love to hear more about why you were 151 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 2: drawn to Girls State and politics in general. 152 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 6: Yeah, so, I since the fourth grade, kind of before 153 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 6: I knew what politics really meant. I had ran for 154 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 6: mayor of my fourth grade classroom and I had won, 155 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 6: and that was kind of my introduction to public office, 156 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:29,239 Speaker 6: I guess, and I decided at a very young age 157 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 6: that I wanted to be the president one day. That 158 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 6: was like my dream jobs from fourth grade forward. So 159 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 6: I had had time to look into the program, see 160 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 6: what it was about, and gain a lot of interest 161 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 6: in it. And then summer after my junior year, it 162 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 6: was time to go, and I was so ready and 163 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 6: excited for it. 164 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: You mentioned wanting to be president since fourth grade. I 165 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: used to dress up like Hillary Clinton for every book 166 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: report in like third and fourth grade. 167 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 4: Not Hillary Clinton, but I used to dress to placate 168 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 4: a president too. 169 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, but I was wondering who, because that for me 170 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 1: was a visible political figure that I looked up to. 171 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 1: But for you, who was it? Who did you look to? 172 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 6: Interestingly enough, I really liked Trump's press secretary. Her name's 173 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 6: Kaylee mcindinney, and I really liked her because I think 174 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 6: that she was really good at defending somebody who isn't 175 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 6: necessarily the easiest to defend a lot of times, but 176 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 6: she was always very well educated. She attended Harvard, She 177 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 6: always had a million facts of her sleeve ready to 178 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 6: go in her binder. And I also liked that she 179 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 6: kind of looked like Barbie, and she was like this 180 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 6: girl who was like not only like very feminine and 181 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 6: beautiful that I just like admired when I was growing up, 182 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 6: but also she was very powerful. I thought that was 183 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 6: really impressive and someone that I still look up to 184 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:42,599 Speaker 6: in politics. 185 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: Amanda, you and your husband Jesse Moss directed and produced 186 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: a prior documentary called Boys State, which followed thousands of 187 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 1: teen boys attending Boys State in Texas. So what drew 188 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: you to these programs? I feel like when documentarians get 189 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:00,080 Speaker 1: into things, it's usually because of a real passion. 190 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 5: Great question, I think for Jesse and I. 191 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:07,559 Speaker 7: Trump's election actually and the division of our country in 192 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 7: twenty sixteen was so top of mind that we were 193 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 7: looking for some project we could get into that would 194 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 7: help us kind of make sense of things. And that's 195 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 7: when we read an article in the Washington Post that 196 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 7: was coverage of Texas Boys State that year had their 197 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 7: legislature had voted to secede. 198 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 5: From the Union. 199 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 7: And we thought that was funny but also kind of 200 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 7: indicative of sort of the weather vein of our country. 201 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 7: And a light bulb went off in our head, like, oh, 202 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 7: here's what we need to do. This is we want 203 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 7: to check out how young people are coming of age 204 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 7: in this moment in our country politically. And we didn't 205 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 7: know about the program before that, honestly, either Boys State 206 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 7: or Girls State, which has been around for eighty years 207 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 7: and in California too, in every state, so we called 208 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 7: up Texas Boy State and made that film. We always 209 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 7: knew we wanted to make State too, and in fact, 210 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 7: we're talking to Texas Girls State at the time, but 211 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 7: it didn't work out that session twoenty eighteen, So then 212 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 7: we had to spend some time figuring out where we 213 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 7: were going to go, when we're going to go, how 214 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 7: we're going to go to a girl State somewhere in 215 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:16,839 Speaker 7: another state. 216 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 5: But it was never a matter of why. For us. 217 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 7: It was really then the question of do girls do 218 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 7: politics differently and what their take on the challenges of 219 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 7: representational democracy might be. And there are similarities and there 220 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 7: are differences. 221 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: Amanda, as you were making the film, I'm so curious 222 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 1: as to what you learn from the younger generation about 223 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: politics and the political climate right now. 224 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:46,079 Speaker 5: I'd say learning still not learned. 225 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 7: Part of it for me is a refresher on my patriotism, frankly, 226 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 7: because I think I'm so kind of traumatized by the 227 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 7: chaos of national politics. So these spaces are so special 228 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 7: because they are a place where people whose politics are 229 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 7: so different. Emily and I do not share the same politics, 230 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 7: but we can all come together in real life, right 231 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:14,599 Speaker 7: not online, and have conversations about very very tricky subjects 232 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 7: if we respect one another and. 233 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 5: Look at each other as human beings. 234 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:25,719 Speaker 7: When we talked to hundreds of kids before deciding who 235 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 7: we were going to follow, in the four or five 236 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:30,719 Speaker 7: months before the session starts, we talked to hundreds of 237 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 7: kids over in Missouri, and I got a real sense 238 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 7: from them that they don't buy into the binaries of 239 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:40,599 Speaker 7: Democrat and Republican. They're very all acarte with their politics, 240 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 7: which is really interesting. They don't identify as those parties 241 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 7: that they haven't had to right, they haven't had to 242 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 7: go to a ballot box and do this or that, 243 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 7: and so their flexibility, their elasticity, those are all things 244 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 7: that are really interesting about that age group. They're also 245 00:11:56,640 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 7: not naive, like they've watched unhealthy politics being played out 246 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:04,959 Speaker 7: in Congress and in the adult state for a long time, 247 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 7: and I feel the optimism is married with realism and 248 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 7: they're not naive, which is good. 249 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 1: Emily, do you feel like any of your political beliefs 250 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 1: shifted by being friends with these girls who have opposing 251 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 1: political beliefs than you. 252 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 6: I would not say that any of my political beliefs 253 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 6: shifted so much, but I do think. 254 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 4: That I have a lot of empathy. 255 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 6: And I think now, you know, as years go on, 256 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 6: we become more educated about things, and I'd say I'm 257 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 6: still politically pretty similar to where I'm at, but I'm 258 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 6: thinking of ways to make liberals conservatives alike more happy 259 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 6: with the situation that we have, like things with guns 260 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 6: and abortion and things like that. I think that there's 261 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 6: a lot of compromise that could be done. And having 262 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 6: these conversations and these friends, hearing those stories really humanizes 263 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 6: people and makes me realize it's not as black and 264 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 6: white as you know, we'd like to think of it, 265 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 6: you know, proble life approach, like, there's so many in 266 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,839 Speaker 6: between swow and I think that I'm more open to that, 267 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,959 Speaker 6: and I continue to think about ways that we could 268 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 6: solve problems without necessarily changing morals. 269 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 7: I think exposure matters, and that's part of the promise 270 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 7: of these programs is some kids who had lived in 271 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 7: small towns of three hundred people had never met somebody 272 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 7: from a big city and vice versa. And I think 273 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 7: that that interface actually may not change politics, but it 274 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 7: certainly makes you understand there's a human being who's on 275 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 7: the other side of that political position. And that's something 276 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 7: we can't do very much in other spaces because either 277 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 7: we're online and we don't bother to get to know them, 278 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 7: or I also want to say, there are no go 279 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 7: zones for me anyway. Election denying and certain like fact 280 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,079 Speaker 7: distortion is not something I actually want to have a 281 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 7: conversation about. 282 00:13:58,520 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 5: So maybe that's. 283 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 7: Something that But there's common cause, you know, between Emily 284 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 7: and I about that, right, And there's common cause about 285 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 7: the lack of female representation in politics. That's something we 286 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 7: have common cause. And she has a giant, giant, giant 287 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 7: heart and I have a you know, a good sized heart. 288 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 7: So those are the things you lean into. 289 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 2: You said that so well, Amanda. I think it's absolutely 290 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 2: about exposure. Emily, you are going through this mock government 291 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 2: process in the film and you decide to run for governor. 292 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 2: And there's a moment in the film when another citizen 293 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 2: of Girls State tells you don't feel like you have 294 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 2: to be so perfect, and it brings tears to your eyes. 295 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 2: Do you put that pressure on yourself or do you 296 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 2: feel like you have something to prove to everyone else? 297 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 4: I think that I. 298 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 6: Think it might be an internal pressure just and don't 299 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 6: I don't I wouldn't consider myself a perfectionist, and I 300 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 6: think that internally now I want to succeed. I think 301 00:14:56,200 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 6: that's a pretty natural reaction. But I think since then 302 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 6: I've learned to be a little less perfectionistic and more messy. 303 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 4: And I think that it's really good. 304 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 6: But the moment that her name's Charity, the girl that 305 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 6: had that conversation with me in the hallway, I think 306 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 6: that moment right before you're about to cry, when you're 307 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 6: holding in tears and then somebody says something nice to you, 308 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 6: like it's okay, and then you're just like. 309 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 4: Oh, and I'm really gonna cry. Yes, that was one 310 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 4: of those moments. So I think it's so funny that 311 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 4: it was. 312 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 6: You know, captured on camera because it's like that choking 313 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 6: feeling in your throat when you're like trying not to 314 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 6: cry and it burns and then like you like really 315 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 6: are trying to hold it in. That was like one 316 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 6: of probably the highlights of the film for me is 317 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 6: seeing like just somebody who was actually running against me 318 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 6: feeling be so kind. 319 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 4: I just it's so beautiful to me. 320 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 2: Big girls do cry, right, Danielle, Yeah, I like I'd 321 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 2: say at least once a week at work. 322 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: I agree, you know, at least once to at least 323 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: if you're not crying, do you really have feelings? 324 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 3: That's how you know you're human. 325 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: Amanda Is, you were making this film and observing these 326 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: kids govern them, were there any moments that struck you 327 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 1: as particularly powerful? 328 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 7: I think to watch all the girls that have been 329 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 7: finally made it through the very long, arduous task of 330 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 7: even getting a position on the Supreme Court and girls state. 331 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 7: So those seven girls they hold hands and they give 332 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 7: each other affirmations before they head on stage to hear 333 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 7: the privacy case. And then to watch them listen to 334 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 7: this privacy case, which had a lot of resonance at 335 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 7: the time because it was a week after this leaked 336 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 7: Dobb's opinion had come out. It was, you know, abortion 337 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 7: politics was top of mind for a lot of kids, 338 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 7: regardless of where you landed on the spectrum of pro 339 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 7: choice pro life. To have that case be argued by 340 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 7: two women in front of an audience of women. 341 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 5: Was very, very powerful because I was watching. 342 00:16:57,320 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 7: Young women in the state of Missouri, where there's a 343 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 7: trigger law that they all know is going to go 344 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 7: to and go into effect in a week. Making abortioning 345 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 7: legal to watch them take ownership of that conversation in 346 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 7: a really smart way too. This is not a moral conversation, 347 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 7: This is not do you believe in this? It was 348 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 7: a legal conversation. It was a constitutional conversation. To watch 349 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 7: them take ownership of that, if only for a brief moment, 350 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:24,360 Speaker 7: was very powerful for me to witness. 351 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:29,240 Speaker 2: Spoiler alert ahead, turnback if you don't want to understand 352 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 2: the ending of this film, Emily, your journey inspires me 353 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 2: so much because you're going through this mock government process. 354 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 2: After you lost that governor's race. That was a really 355 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 2: tough setback, but you make the most of the week 356 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 2: and end up winning a full scholarship to Lyndenwood University. 357 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,239 Speaker 2: Looking back, how did that rejection motivate you? 358 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 6: I mean, I had been one of those front runners 359 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 6: for every election of my high school. Then you go 360 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 6: into a place where nobody knows you and you have 361 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 6: less than a week to make an impression. 362 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 4: It's a lot of pressure. 363 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 6: And then to lose, which wasn't the end of the world, 364 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 6: and I knew that going in, but it still stings 365 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 6: a little bit. And then the scholarship was really like 366 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 6: the cherry on top, because now my life. 367 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 4: Is so different than it could have been. 368 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,159 Speaker 6: So overall, I owe a lot to Girls State, and 369 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:22,640 Speaker 6: I'm just so thankful for that. 370 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: Emily, after you lost the governor's race, you didn't give 371 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: up on Girls State. Instead, you switched to your other passion, journalism, 372 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 1: and you were able to uncover a major story that 373 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: ultimately led to your scholarship. What did you write about? 374 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:39,919 Speaker 6: Yeah, So the reason I actually went into writing the article, 375 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,199 Speaker 6: I throughout the week everybody was talking about dress code 376 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 6: and about you know, the boys have time for athletics 377 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 6: and we don't, and just some different disparities. And for 378 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 6: me personally, I wasn't necessarily too interested in the they 379 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 6: get to wear whatever they want and we don't. That 380 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 6: wasn't just the top of my list because it made 381 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 6: sense to me, Okay, we're at a professional camp. It 382 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 6: makes sense we're going to dress professional. Like I love craptops. 383 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 6: I'm wearing crop top right now. But that wasn't my 384 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,399 Speaker 6: big concern during the week. I was more annoyed with 385 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 6: how it felt like they were having a less sugar 386 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 6: coated political experience than we. 387 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 4: Were, and I really wanted that. 388 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 6: So that's what I was looking for when I first 389 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 6: started writing it, but I covered everything just for the 390 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 6: sake of being fair and balanced. I wanted, you know, 391 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 6: dress code, I wanted the gym things. And then I 392 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 6: was curious about the money that goes into both programs, 393 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:29,160 Speaker 6: because that's like an interesting you know, that's the way 394 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 6: you start something necessarily is look at how much funding. 395 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:37,360 Speaker 6: And so I went online and basically what I found 396 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:40,159 Speaker 6: out is they're funded by two different organizations. One's the 397 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 6: American Legion and then Girls State is the American Legion Auxiliary. 398 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 6: So that limits kind of where Girls State can pull 399 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 6: funding from versus Boys State. 400 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 4: And obviously there's not a ton. 401 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 6: That we can do about that because they do are 402 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 6: funded by separate organizations. But if anybody would like to 403 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 6: help or contribute, anybody can donate to the American Legion Auxiliary 404 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:03,120 Speaker 6: for Girls Missouri Girls State and have that directly impact 405 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 6: our program. 406 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 4: But it was just so I mean, I thought, at first, 407 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 4: while we're being ripped. 408 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 6: Off, and it just felt very wrong. But now I 409 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 6: understand why it's happening. But it still is an ideal obviously. 410 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 7: To watch Emily's pivot to leaning into her journalistic talents Frankly, 411 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 7: she's a great listener, which is what made her a 412 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 7: good candidate, but makes her a great journalist. And when 413 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 7: she's investigating the funding disparities between the two programs, she 414 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 7: knows that it could potentially jeopardize her getting this scholarship 415 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 7: because she is writing an article that's critical and who's 416 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 7: that going to rub the wrong way? And she does 417 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:50,680 Speaker 7: it anyway, and I think that that kind of risk, 418 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 7: high risk, high reward is a testament to her. But 419 00:20:56,520 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 7: to then have her publish this article, but then also 420 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 7: when the scholarship was just a great surprise but also 421 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:08,160 Speaker 7: not a surprise, It's exactly what should have happened. 422 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 1: We're going to take a quick break and we'll be 423 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:21,879 Speaker 1: right back. We're back with Amanda McBain and Emily worthmore 424 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: from the New Girl State documentary, which you can catch 425 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: on Apple TV. Amanda, you have two teenage daughters. How 426 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: did they shape the way that you and your husband 427 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,399 Speaker 1: thought about this film and how did it compare to 428 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 1: your prior film Boys Date. 429 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 7: I think we are sensitive to how coming of age 430 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:46,439 Speaker 7: during this moment is particularly challenging because the world feels 431 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 7: very binary. You're there in this camp or that you're 432 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 7: either in this gender or that gender. I mean, there's 433 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 7: just so many like make a choice, pick a side, 434 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,199 Speaker 7: and I don't think that's a good place to be 435 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 7: when you're young, because you should be trying on all 436 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:01,119 Speaker 7: the things. 437 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 5: I think we're also particularly sensitive to. 438 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 7: How girls are very hard on themselves in a way 439 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 7: that I was not surprised to see. At Girls State, 440 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 7: girls give amazing speeches and then walk off stage and 441 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:22,159 Speaker 7: itemize how they had not done everything they wanted to 442 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 7: do on stage and criticize their own performance. I had 443 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 7: not seen that. At Boy State. I'd seen Wow, I'd 444 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:33,120 Speaker 7: seen a lot of okay speeches. I mean, I'm a mom, 445 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 7: so I believe in everybody's speeches, but some of them 446 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 7: were okay and not great. And then a guy would 447 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:39,639 Speaker 7: get off stage and he'd go nailed it, and I 448 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 7: was like, that's awesome that you have that much confidence. 449 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 7: I kind of love it, But I'm also like, where 450 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 7: can I get some of that? 451 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:48,360 Speaker 5: You know what I mean? I would love some of. 452 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:51,359 Speaker 1: That, Amanda, how are girls responding to the movie? 453 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 7: In sharing this film on stage, We've sometimes had very 454 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 7: young kids in the audiences, like Emily, I don't even 455 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 7: remember there was a ten year old in the audience 456 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 7: in Missouri who came up to the mic afterwards to 457 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 7: make a statement that she just loved seeing all these 458 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 7: seventeen year olds kicking butt and doing amazing things in 459 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 7: leadership roles, but also that they'd shared how afraid they were, 460 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:16,840 Speaker 7: or how much how sad they were, or how hard 461 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 7: it was to do that, and that she felt seen 462 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 7: and that she saw herself in these girls. And I 463 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 7: think even just that as a storyteller, I'm like, I 464 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,719 Speaker 7: have done here if we just connected with this ten 465 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 7: year old and she saw something that inspired her in 466 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 7: that way and felt better about herself for that moment, 467 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 7: I was like, great. 468 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,640 Speaker 6: That's my favorite part too, is hiring little like young 469 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 6: people in the audience, and like, I think everybody young 470 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,360 Speaker 6: is like that really makes me happy to see younger 471 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:50,959 Speaker 6: people seeing this just if anything to be like an 472 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 6: encouragement of like, you can fail, you can go for 473 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 6: big things, especially like little girls like I'm just like, 474 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 6: oh my goodness. 475 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:00,400 Speaker 4: You know, it's the sweetest thing ever. 476 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 6: And I just hope that a lot of young, young 477 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 6: girls and young people get to see the film. 478 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 1: You know, there's so much rhetoric around the things that 479 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:16,160 Speaker 1: are facing us that feel so imminent. There's climate change, 480 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: there's reproductive rights, there's gun laws, and so often I 481 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 1: hear adults talking about how well, hopefully the younger generation 482 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 1: will fix this mess. Do you feel inspired by that 483 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 1: or do you feel frustrated by that? 484 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 4: I think that's frustrating, because I mean, even though I 485 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:35,920 Speaker 4: do it to. 486 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:39,360 Speaker 6: Myself a lot, where I procrastinate issues that are maybe smaller, 487 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,439 Speaker 6: like homework, and I'll say this is for tomorrow me 488 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 6: to handle, I think that it's a whole different ballpark 489 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 6: when we're talking about climate change and things like that 490 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,159 Speaker 6: that are very big, and it's not necessarily fair to 491 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 6: push it onto your children. So obviously it'd be great 492 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 6: if we could find solutions now to work towards, because 493 00:24:57,760 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 6: things only get worse as they get put off and 494 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:04,679 Speaker 6: for procrastinated. But I do think that my generation, I 495 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 6: think that they are very active in politics, regardless of 496 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 6: the side of the aisle, So I do think that 497 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:11,880 Speaker 6: if worst comes to worse, it does get pushed onto us. 498 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 6: We're more likely to find a solution then perhaps older 499 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 6: generations are. But I think it'd be better if we 500 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,639 Speaker 6: could all kind of start now and work together and 501 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:24,359 Speaker 6: maybe have those mentors guide us while we're so young. 502 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:26,920 Speaker 2: I think everyone should watch this movie because it gave 503 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 2: me a lot of hope for the future. The fervor 504 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:35,639 Speaker 2: and the determination in these women. It really inspired me 505 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 2: and moved to me. Emily, you've got aspirations in politics 506 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,399 Speaker 2: and journalism. You're a college student right now. What's next 507 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 2: for you after Girls' State? 508 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:49,360 Speaker 6: Well, currently, I'm a freshman majoring in broadcast, so I'm 509 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 6: focusing on that journalism side. I would love, ideally to 510 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,920 Speaker 6: go into political journalism and then run for maybe Missouri 511 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,399 Speaker 6: House of Representatives or wherever I end up living. 512 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:01,639 Speaker 4: That'd be the dream. 513 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:03,680 Speaker 6: I don't know if that'll be what happens, just because 514 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:07,199 Speaker 6: everything's very unpredictable and so whatever doors open for me, 515 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 6: I'll jump down them and see I'll see what's there. 516 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 6: So if you guys ever need a third podcast host, 517 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:14,159 Speaker 6: let me know. 518 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 3: She's hustling. She's hustling. 519 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:20,800 Speaker 7: I mean, I also want to say, just like, as 520 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 7: an aside, Reese Witherspoon was all over this film on 521 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:30,400 Speaker 7: some level because Tracy Flick, because Elle Wood's because sort 522 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 7: of female centered stories, Like she's someone I evoked in 523 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 7: my head. So an inspiration obviously in all all ways. 524 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 7: So it's extra special talking to you guys. And I 525 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 7: love the work she's doing. You guys are doing, so 526 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 7: go team. 527 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 2: I'm so glad that you brought that up, because there 528 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,960 Speaker 2: were several Legally Blonde mentions in the film. But also 529 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 2: as I was watching, I saw the nods to election. 530 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 2: I don't know if that was intentional or not, but 531 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 2: hanging up the posters in the. 532 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:00,640 Speaker 3: Hallway, Emily hands are up in the air. 533 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 2: Yes, and even the music that you used it it 534 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:07,720 Speaker 2: felt like an homage to election in a small way. 535 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 4: I've never seen Election before. 536 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 6: Fun fact, and I love Reese Witherspoon because I love 537 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 6: Legally Blonde so much. Definitely one of my favorite movies 538 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:19,680 Speaker 6: growing up. Actually, you asked me who my political role 539 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:22,800 Speaker 6: model is, it's uh, legally Blonde, Ellwoods. 540 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:23,640 Speaker 5: No. 541 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 6: But a lot of articles have been comparing me to 542 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:29,960 Speaker 6: Tracy Flick, and I read like every article that comes 543 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 6: out about this movie, because I'm just that person. And 544 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 6: so I googled like Tracy Flick Election and it says antagonists, 545 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 6: but then it said Rees Witherspoon, and I'm like, if 546 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 6: it's somebody played by Reese Witherspoon. 547 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 4: How bad can they actually be? 548 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 6: Like, I'm okay with being compared to an antagonist if 549 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:45,960 Speaker 6: it was played by Reese. 550 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 2: Witherspoon, But I do wonder if Election came out today, 551 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:53,160 Speaker 2: if people would be viewing Tracy Flick as an antagonist. 552 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,360 Speaker 2: I don't think she's an antagonist. I just think she's 553 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:58,359 Speaker 2: a complex woman. And I also think that we weren't 554 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:01,160 Speaker 2: ready to handle an ambition woman like her back then. 555 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:02,359 Speaker 4: So I need to watch Election. 556 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:05,199 Speaker 5: You absolutely do. I want to watch it with you. 557 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 7: But also, like, I love that Tracy Flick and el 558 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:14,119 Speaker 7: Woods very very different people, very different complicated female protagonists. 559 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 7: And that's sort of the joy of Reese too, is 560 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 7: that there's so many different ways to be a strong woman. 561 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 4: Please tell her, I said, Hi, we will. 562 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 1: Emily, Amanda, thank you so much for joining us on 563 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 1: the show. We really appreciate your time. 564 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:30,640 Speaker 5: Thanks so much for having us. 565 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:31,919 Speaker 4: Thank you so much meeting you. 566 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 2: If you haven't seen it yet, Girls State is available 567 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:41,920 Speaker 2: on Apple TV right now. Amanda McBain is the film's 568 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 2: co director, and Emily Worthmore is currently a college student 569 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 2: and who knows, maybe future president. 570 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 1: Before we go. We want to leave you with a 571 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 1: lesson that we learned today from Emily. Can't let the 572 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 1: things that get you down take you down. We can 573 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: always find a way to pivot from those defeating moments 574 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 1: and walk away with a different kind of win. We've 575 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:10,880 Speaker 1: actually learned from so many of our interviews that there's 576 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:13,200 Speaker 1: no such thing as failure. It's only a pivot. 577 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:17,600 Speaker 3: That's all for today's show. 578 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:20,680 Speaker 1: We'll be back tomorrow, same time, same place. 579 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:23,880 Speaker 2: Listen and follow the bright Side on the iHeartRadio app, 580 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 2: Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts so you 581 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:27,800 Speaker 2: never miss an episode. 582 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:30,640 Speaker 1: And if you're enjoying the show, please please show us 583 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 1: some love in the reviews. 584 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 3: I'm Simone Voice. 585 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 2: You can find me at Simone Voice, on Instagram and TikTok. 586 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:39,120 Speaker 1: I'm Danielle Robe and you can find me on Instagram 587 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 1: and TikTok at Danielle Robe. That's ro Bay. 588 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 2: We'll be back tomorrow with more culture conversation and inspiration. 589 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 2: Keep looking on the bright side.