1 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: Good morning, peepson. Welcome to okay F Daily with Meet 2 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: your Girl Danielle Moody, recording from the Home Bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:25,119 Speaker 1: you know, there has been a lot of negative conversations 4 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: recently about our government, about our elected officials, thanks to 5 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: George Santos, the likes of Marjorie Taylor Green and others. 6 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: But the only way to actually get those people out 7 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 1: of office is for the courageous ones to decide that 8 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,919 Speaker 1: they have something to say and that instead of yelling 9 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: from the peanut gallery, that they will take up the 10 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 1: call to run for office themselves. So I'm excited with 11 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: this episode to welcome back to the show Ashanti Gooehler, 12 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: who is the president of Emerge America and the founder 13 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: of Black Girl's Guide to Politics. And I've joined a 14 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: shanty show to talk about politics and talk about expressly 15 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,400 Speaker 1: what is facing black women in politics. And so in 16 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: this conversation we talk about the ways that essentially training candidates, 17 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: particularly women, women of color, queer women, has changed and 18 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: not necessarily for the better. I open up the conversation, 19 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: you know, talking about this political climate and getting her thoughts. 20 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: But then also it is the norm that you need 21 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: to ask a woman multiple times to run for office 22 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: because oftentimes women feel unqualified, even though in a lot 23 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: of cases they are overqualified. So how can we use 24 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: this current media storm around the liar grifter George Santos 25 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: slash guitar slash. We don't know what the fuck his 26 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: name is or who he really is, and now we 27 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: know that his finances are, you know, as funny as 28 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: every story that he's told, and that funny ha ha. 29 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:09,959 Speaker 1: But how do we one convince women that you are 30 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: more than ready and capable to run for office, but 31 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:19,519 Speaker 1: then two train in a time of heightened political violence. Look, 32 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: it is not normal to even blurt out those words 33 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: and to say that, but the reality is is that 34 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: violence has become part and parcel of what it means 35 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,080 Speaker 1: to be in politics, particularly if you are a Democrat. 36 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: And so when you are a woman, we know that 37 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: the attacks on social media are absolutely disgusting. We know 38 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 1: that if you are a woman of color and you 39 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: are a queer woman, it is just astonishing the lengths 40 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:52,959 Speaker 1: that people will go to try and get you to 41 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: back down, to use media as a way to terrorize, right, 42 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: And so how do you train people who want to 43 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: serve their community who want to be public servants to 44 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: be able to deal with the energy right and the 45 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: very real physical violence that could come along with running 46 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 1: for office. So Ashanti and I will get into so 47 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: many conversations, including our shared love of astrology and what 48 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: we see in the stars about our political year to come. 49 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: Coming up next, my conversation with a Shanty Goler, Folks, 50 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 1: I am very excited to welcome back to wok f 51 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: Ashanti Goler, who is the founder of the Brown Girls 52 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: Guide to Politics and the president of Emerge America. It 53 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 1: is twenty twenty three, yes, and when we change the calendar, 54 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: we like to believe that we are also somehow changing, 55 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: you know, everything, We started new resolutions, everything is starting fresh, 56 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: except with our politics it doesn't seem that way. So 57 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: I wanted to get you know, your sense of how 58 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: you think that the year ended in twenty twenty two, 59 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 1: a Shanty and then where you see that we are 60 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: but you know, almost a month into twenty twenty three. Yes, 61 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: and it's so good to be talking to you again. 62 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: I just always love when we can chat it up. 63 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: And I know we've talked about how much I love 64 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 1: astrology and given how this year has started off. I 65 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: think I'm officially going to start my new year with 66 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 1: airy season, because oh mine god. Twenty twenty two. I 67 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 1: actually ended the year very excited because it was not 68 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: the red wave that people thought that it was going 69 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: to be, and that had to really do with again 70 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: women voters and black and brown voters yet again knowing 71 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 1: how much was at stake. So I was really excited 72 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: about everything that was going to happen, being able to 73 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: keep the Senate. We know that we lost the House, 74 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: but we picked up some great governorships, We were able 75 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: to create new democratic trifect us. We were going into 76 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three really strong. But of course Congress and 77 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 1: their foolishness. It's just insane that this has been the 78 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 1: first time we have seen that with the Speaker of 79 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: the House. Elections in decades and online tureity years. So 80 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: ten decades, ten decades, and the first thing that came 81 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 1: to mind for me is, y'all always wanted to give 82 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: Nancy Pelosi crap, but she had no problem getting elected speaker, 83 00:05:55,480 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: and you had Kevin McCarthy. Now the speaker cut deals 84 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 1: like they were like about to fight on the House 85 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: floor over things, and it's just ridiculous. It continues to 86 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: show how, especially for Republicans, conservatives, the Maga crew, our 87 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 1: democracy is just a plaything for them, where for us, 88 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,559 Speaker 1: we know that this is our life, this is something 89 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: we need to get intact. So I'm going to start 90 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: my new year with airy season because they wiled them 91 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: out here already. And you know, like, you're totally right, 92 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:36,280 Speaker 1: because we ended the year and began the year with 93 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: mercury retrograde and retrograde, right, yeah, And that is the 94 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 1: like I think it was kind of the first time 95 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 1: that that has also happened, and or the last time 96 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: that that happened. It was I want to say that 97 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: it was like the early two thousands, and so it 98 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: was we were with an economic meltdown and the changing 99 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 1: of the guards and foreclosure crisis and all of these things. 100 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:04,040 Speaker 1: It was a crisis, um. And so it makes sense 101 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: then fast forward, you know, ten plus years that we 102 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 1: are in this space because I like, you look, you know, 103 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: people I have gotten pooh pooed on on Twitter for 104 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: saying that, like I subscribe to astrology and I said, 105 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, Like it's you know, thousands of years old, 106 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: and what is to say that, like all of these things, 107 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: like I look at everything to try and understand this current, 108 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: Like I am looking everywhere with like the with a 109 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: magnifying glass. So you know that being said, what we 110 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: did see, like you had you had mentioned, was on 111 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: the good side. We saw our first gen Z candidate 112 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: get elected to office. We saw more black and brown 113 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: people get elected to office. We have our first out 114 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: lesbian governor. Or. I should say, I guess second um 115 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: the elected to office, you have representation that looks more 116 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: like America. But I also say that then there is 117 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: incredible violence that we've seen, the shootings that were happening 118 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: in New Mexico at the targeted towards Democratic leaders, you know, 119 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: and you know other attacks that we have seen on 120 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: Nancy Pelosi, on her on her husband. So with your 121 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: work with Emerge America, which is about recruiting Democratic women 122 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 1: to run for office, which you know, when Emerge America started, 123 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 1: it didn't seem like a dangerous prospect, right, So how 124 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: do you with this? With this work talk to people 125 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: who want to be public servants, that want to serve 126 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: their communities, but also address the realities of the climate 127 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 1: that we're in. And it is very real Emerge started 128 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: in two thousand and two with our first affiliate in California. 129 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: The national organization was created in two thousand and five 130 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: to replicate the program because it was so successful. So 131 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: now we're in twenty seven states. We've trained women in 132 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: forty five states. We have over a thousand women in 133 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: elected office, and this is something that we've had to 134 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: add to our training program is just the reality of 135 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 1: how unfortunately horrible it can be for a woman, for 136 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 1: a black and brown woman writing for office during this time, 137 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: but also for me. This is part of the plan 138 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: to keep us out of office. This is a part 139 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: of the plan the racism, the sexism, the misogyny, the 140 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: threats of violence, because even though we are seeing horrible 141 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: things happening, there are good things that are happening. Change 142 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: is happening, and they know when they threaten us, when 143 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 1: they scare us from running, that change isn't going to 144 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:04,599 Speaker 1: happen and things will stay the status quo with the 145 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: white male patriarchy running things. And we're just very fortunate 146 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: that we still see women stepping up wanting to run 147 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 1: because they know that they have to do it. But 148 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,319 Speaker 1: we talk about all the ways that they can keep 149 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: themselves safe. What they can do online to deal with 150 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: the hate. What our women have to do if they're 151 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: a Latina canvassing and someone says they're going to call 152 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: ice on them. You're a black woman and you're at 153 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: a campaign event and people will want to call the 154 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:40,079 Speaker 1: police on you, saying it's an illegal gathering. For our 155 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: trans alarms, who will get mis gendered when they're doing press. 156 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: These are things that we have had to add and 157 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: we have had to address, and for us, this is 158 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: part of the evolution of our merge, but it's also 159 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: an unfortunate part of the evolution of politics. But we 160 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: still want women and to know that they do not 161 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: have to face this alone, that there are groups like 162 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: ours that will support them. With our training program, you're 163 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: inner room of like minded women who are going to 164 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 1: be going through the same thing, so giving them that 165 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: support system. But the reality is, despite it all, we 166 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: still need women, especially stepping up to run for office 167 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: because if we don't, things won't change, and then they 168 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 1: will win. And I know none of us want for 169 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: them to win, because so much better can continue to 170 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: happen in our country if we have the right representation, 171 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: and that is Unfortunately, a fight that we're always going 172 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: to have to be in, especially as black and brown people, 173 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: is not going to stop for us. You know, I 174 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 1: think that that's right, which is the reminder that this 175 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 1: is just the fight, plain and simple. You know, I 176 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 1: think that you know, with the overturning of Ruvie Wade, 177 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: we saw signs and memes that's that I can't believe 178 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: I still have to protest this shit right and things 179 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: to that nature, which kind of gave us the feeling that, oh, 180 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 1: these rights are one and done right and what we 181 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,199 Speaker 1: and what we know is that it's not and that 182 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: we actually may never see full equity for women, people 183 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: of color, LGBTQ folks, folks that live at the intersections 184 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:29,359 Speaker 1: of multiple identities in our lifetime. But the fight continues 185 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: with each generation. So how do you how does Emerge 186 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 1: America talk to candidates about ashanti the emotional stamina that 187 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: is required in order to run a campaign right, in 188 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: order to keep going and even if you do lose, right, 189 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 1: that that's just the beginning. You have name recognition and 190 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: you keep going. So what does that what is the 191 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: training around emotional stamina? Look like, we are very real 192 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:07,239 Speaker 1: from the first day that women enter our Signature program, 193 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: which is the longer program seventy hours over six months, 194 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: to our boot camps, where we take the Signature program 195 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,719 Speaker 1: condensit down to two and a half intensive days that's 196 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: for active candidates, to our Step Forward, which is the 197 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 1: one on one for the women who are thinking about 198 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: running for office. We say, you have to prepare yourself physically, mentally, 199 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: and emotionally to run for office. That is the first 200 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 1: part of the game because it is a journey from 201 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: your campaign to elected office. And the thing that really 202 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: you have to center is your why why are you 203 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 1: doing this? Because that's what you're gonna have to go 204 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 1: to when you're having the hard days where you had 205 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: called time and no one wanted to give you money, 206 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: where you're going to on doors and people slam it 207 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: in your face, where your opponents putting out just all 208 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: of these lies about you and you know it's not true. 209 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:15,719 Speaker 1: You have to be mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared for 210 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: it because this is the game. So we talk about 211 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: what that looks like, who is your family support system, 212 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: But most importantly we talk about having the kitchen cabinet. 213 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: You're going to have your campaign staff. That's great, but 214 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: you're paying them. We need the people in your life 215 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: who are going to say, all right, yeah, maybe you 216 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: shouldn't have said it that way, you should have said 217 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: it this way. Well, this person is just a straight 218 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: up prick. I need for you to ignore them. All right, 219 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: you got your debate, what are you going to wear? 220 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: You need the people who are going to be on 221 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: your side, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I 222 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 1: think it's the same for your friend's circle. You need 223 00:14:57,560 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: to have those people who are always going to get 224 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: to you. And when you're running for office, that kitchen 225 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: cabinet is who you're going to rely on. So we say, 226 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 1: get those people in your life. Get a therapist in 227 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: your life. I just think therapy is amazing. I'm going 228 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: to say it, especially because we still have the stigma 229 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: in the black community around therapy. No, get you a therapist, 230 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: even if you're not running for elected office. Have that 231 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: person you can talk it out with. Make sure you 232 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: have a good doctor. Get yourself a mentor, get yourself 233 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: a coach. That is the key part of having that 234 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 1: mental strength is before you even start having all the 235 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: things in place that you can go to that you 236 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: can fall back on, so you're not in the middle 237 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: of your race and just wanting to give up. So 238 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: that's really what we talk about, and it's crucial why 239 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: at Emerge we have the network of support, something that 240 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: our alums say they love and they value because it's 241 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: not just in their state, it's across the country that 242 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 1: they're able to call and reach upon women who are 243 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: going through the exact same things. So that's really when 244 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: the mental part starts. Is you've got to prepare yourself 245 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: before you even file that paperwork and put your name 246 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: on the ballot. You know, I just think that it's 247 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: really important, just as you said in life as in politics, 248 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: to build your kitchen cabinet, to build your team, your 249 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 1: support system that is going to help you. You know, 250 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: I just did a video, a TikTok video where I'm 251 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: talking about the fact that you know, we just saw 252 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: the announcement about the doomsday clock, and you know the 253 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: fact that we are like ninety seconds to midnight, and 254 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: you know that this has been being tracked by the 255 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 1: atomic bulletin since nineteen forty seven, and never have we 256 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: been closer to what they have been tracking as just 257 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 1: self made human catastrophe. Then right now when they're looking 258 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: at you know, the compacted crises that we're in, that 259 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: wears on me like it is wearing on our country. 260 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: It is wearing on the world, this feeling of helplessness 261 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 1: and anxiety. And I think that you know, running for 262 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 1: elected office, whether that is at the state, local, or 263 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: national level, is kind of the way that one way 264 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 1: that people channel that frustration and channel that anger into 265 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: wanting to actively do something. What recommendation do you have 266 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 1: for people though, who are feeling this angst, this anxiety 267 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 1: that is very real, that is very existential, who want 268 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:51,360 Speaker 1: to do something, but running for office is not the 269 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: thing that they want to do. And what you said 270 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:59,879 Speaker 1: about the doomsday o'clock, where we are still dealing with 271 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: the pandemic and long COVID and variants, it has to 272 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: be us, y'all. No one is coming to save us. 273 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:10,679 Speaker 1: It's us. We have to be the ones to do it. 274 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:15,199 Speaker 1: I know we're really tired, but we cannot just think 275 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: that someone's going to swoop in and solve all the 276 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 1: problems and make a planet Earth go back to what 277 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 1: it was like. It's on us to save ourselves. So 278 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 1: there are those candidates that are going to step up 279 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: to run for office and support them. You can support 280 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 1: them financially, especially if they're women candidates, women of color candidates. 281 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: Small dollar donations are huge. It's one of the reasons 282 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 1: why I love Act Blue. It makes it so easy 283 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,879 Speaker 1: to donate. They also have a new CEO who's a 284 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,360 Speaker 1: black woman who I'm really looking forward to working with 285 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,760 Speaker 1: and seeing what she's going to do. Course of getting 286 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: out and vote. How can you volunteer even if you 287 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: don't live in a state but there's a super important 288 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 1: rate going on. How can you phone bank in Do 289 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: you know any people in that state that you can 290 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:10,119 Speaker 1: be talking to? Even on social media? Talking about the 291 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: importance in our training program, we tell everyone that when 292 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: you're running for office, the first people you're going to 293 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: go to for support is your network, either the financial, 294 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: the volunteering, all of that. And people will say, oh, 295 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: I don't have a network, and we all have a network. 296 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: Your network is in your phone. Your network is your 297 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: Facebook list, who's on your Instagram, your Twitter, it's your colleagues, 298 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: it's your church list, it's your sorrows, it's all of that. 299 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: We all have a network. And for a lot of 300 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 1: these people, they're in the same boat and they're waiting 301 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 1: for that person who's going to come and say, all right, 302 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 1: this is what we need to do. Be that person 303 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 1: for your network because you really never know who's looking, 304 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,160 Speaker 1: who's waiting, So we all need to just be channeling 305 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 1: that energy. And again, I know it's exhausting. I took 306 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 1: over a Merge right before the pandemic hit. A LOWO 307 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: pandemic was not a part of my ninety eight plan. 308 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: But but we have to push through it. And I'm 309 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: going into my fourth year as president of a Merge. 310 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: We're still strong and we're still seeing changes, and it 311 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: is why I'm still in the fight because it has 312 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:37,680 Speaker 1: to be upon us, and there's just so many opportunities 313 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: for us to get involved running for office. There's also 314 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 1: different groups that you can become a part of in 315 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: channel that energy by finding your why, what is driving 316 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:51,879 Speaker 1: you to want to do it, and find that group 317 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:55,400 Speaker 1: and channel your energy that way. And when you're around 318 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: other people who are hype like you, who are like, 319 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 1: we're gonna get this done, We're going to fight back, 320 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,439 Speaker 1: That's what gives me the energy to keep going. This 321 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 1: amazing network people like you we just gotta keep fighting. 322 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: You know, I'll be remiss if I don't ask you 323 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: this question before we wrap today, which is, you know, 324 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 1: women oftentimes need to be asked, right, what is it 325 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: five times to run for all five seven? That woman 326 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: was like people had to ask me seventy times. I 327 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: was like seventy times. I was like, now, now keep 328 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 1: that one to yourself, right. And yet we see that 329 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:37,359 Speaker 1: men like a George Santos do you know who have 330 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:43,159 Speaker 1: these super inflated views of themselves and their ego and 331 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 1: these things like is there a way you think Ashanti 332 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 1: to use George Santo's just absolutely spectacularly disastrous self to 333 00:21:55,359 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: say if this man, liar person can do this, like 334 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:05,119 Speaker 1: you absolutely can too. Yes, it's him. I've said the 335 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:09,479 Speaker 1: same thing about Trump. I talk about the stantist like 336 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:16,400 Speaker 1: literally he's banning black history, yes, in the state of Florida. 337 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:20,960 Speaker 1: And we see all of these men across the country, 338 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: all levels of government, and I still get upset when 339 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:26,880 Speaker 1: women are like, oh, I just I don't think I 340 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 1: have what it takes. Yes, I don't have the education, 341 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:34,400 Speaker 1: I don't have the background, you know, I just this 342 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: is my job, and all of these people you know 343 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: they've been fancy lawyers and this and that, and it's 344 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: still part of the conditioning of politics and who politics 345 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: is for. And I see that in women all the time. 346 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:51,920 Speaker 1: And the reality is like politics is for all of us. 347 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 1: As women were just not here just to vote these 348 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:59,159 Speaker 1: people into office. We are also here to put our 349 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 1: name on the bat, to have our seats at the table. 350 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 1: And we have to remember, if you don't run, they 351 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 1: are going to run. That is the biggest thing. And 352 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: if you don't want to run, you got to talk 353 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: to the people who you think should be running. That 354 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 1: is so important. So many women who I've talked to 355 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:21,679 Speaker 1: and I just say, hey, I just saw you speaking 356 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 1: on this panel. Have you consider it running for office? 357 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:27,880 Speaker 1: And just like I have it, no one's really asked me. 358 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:31,440 Speaker 1: So there's that too, the multiple times and not even 359 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 1: asking them, and they just needed that validation. So we 360 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 1: just gotta we already have it in us. So Cardi B. 361 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:44,160 Speaker 1: I love Cardi B. I remember she did a tweet 362 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: where she was like, y'all just wait until I go 363 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 1: to college and get my degree and I'm going to 364 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:52,360 Speaker 1: run for office and this and that. I was like, Cardie, 365 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 1: you already have it in you. I watch how you 366 00:23:55,520 --> 00:24:00,159 Speaker 1: talk about politics that woman is smart and people have 367 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: to just discount her as like the rapper and all 368 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 1: of this. So I'm like, jeez, even Cartie B wants 369 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:07,640 Speaker 1: to run for office, but she wants to make sure 370 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: she has a master's degree before she does it. I mean, 371 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 1: have we gotten there with Santos or any of his 372 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 1: degree is real? No, they're not. I mean I saw 373 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:20,160 Speaker 1: the stuff that came out today for the finance reports, 374 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,880 Speaker 1: like everything's one hundred and ninety nine dollars. I want 375 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 1: that one hundred and nine nine dollars Delta flight that's 376 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:27,399 Speaker 1: all I know. I was like, where you finding those that? 377 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:30,000 Speaker 1: Because I even come up when I searched Delta, so 378 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: it does not So I want, and it's a fraudulent 379 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 1: like everything else, you know, I do. I think that 380 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 1: it's important and that the Carti B example is a 381 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: really good one because again, women in particular always feel 382 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 1: like what it is that they have and who it 383 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 1: is that they are is not enough, and that they 384 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:53,879 Speaker 1: need to check every single box. Where you have woefully 385 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 1: unqualified men who don't think twice about what it is 386 00:24:58,000 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: that they're going to do, and they're like, I'm going 387 00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:03,240 Speaker 1: to I'm running for president, I'm running for Congress, but 388 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 1: without ever held any office, done any public service at all. 389 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: At late Danielle, it gets even worse, y'all, there are 390 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: men out there who are running for office not even 391 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,719 Speaker 1: knowing what the office does. There was a man who 392 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:23,199 Speaker 1: didn't know that when he ran for the state House 393 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: that he was going to have to go up to 394 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: the Capitol for half the year, and then won the election, 395 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 1: it had to resign because he said, oh, I can't 396 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:34,200 Speaker 1: do that with my job. That is the level a 397 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 1: mediocrity that is on the ballot. They're not even paying 398 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:42,440 Speaker 1: attention to what these offices do and what these offices require. 399 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: Like we're at the PTA meetings running the PTA, run 400 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 1: for the school board, We're always volunteering for the other candidates. 401 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 1: We know how to run these campaigns. Put your name 402 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:58,160 Speaker 1: on the ballot, run yourself. We're at the city council meetings. 403 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: We know the issues like the back of our hand, 404 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,679 Speaker 1: and we're in the audience yelling at them. Stop yelling. 405 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:07,920 Speaker 1: Let's move you to the dais. Yeah, we are already there. 406 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:10,959 Speaker 1: We are already doing the work. And I feel that 407 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 1: we continue to short change ourselves as women by not 408 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:19,440 Speaker 1: saying that we can be the one who is implementing 409 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: the legislation, signing the legislation like breaking it down five 410 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: her doing twenty thousand elected offices in this country, five 411 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: hunding twenty thousand people who get to shape our lives 412 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 1: with the stroke of a pen, and the majority of 413 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: them don't even know what they're doing. We need us there. 414 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 1: We got to run shade. Tell people how one they 415 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: can listen to your show, and then two how they 416 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: can get involved with Emerge America. Yes, so the Brown 417 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 1: Girls Guide to Politics you can find it wherever you 418 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 1: listen to your podcasts. We're also at www. Dot Thebegguide 419 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 1: dot com, and we are also on our social media Facebook, Instagram, 420 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 1: and Twitter at the BG Guide, And we also do 421 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:10,800 Speaker 1: some Instagram live conversations, you know, to keep the energy 422 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:16,200 Speaker 1: and conversation going because something's always going on. And with 423 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 1: our merge, we're at Emerge America dot org. You can 424 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 1: go to the training site or the training portion of 425 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:27,080 Speaker 1: our website to find all of our trainings and the 426 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:31,440 Speaker 1: state nationally, and you find us on social media all 427 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 1: of them because merges on all of them at Emerge America. 428 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:38,120 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for making the time for WOKA after. 429 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 1: It's always such a pleasure to have you on. Oh. 430 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:42,120 Speaker 1: I always have so much fun with you. I feel 431 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 1: like I just talked to you forever and forever. And 432 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 1: it's also the show I can come on and talk 433 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 1: astrology and politicans, so it's like my favorite come back 434 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 1: anytime to talk about all the things. We appreciate you. Oh, 435 00:27:54,920 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 1: thank you, says appreciate you. That is it for me 436 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:06,639 Speaker 1: to day, dear friends, an woke app as always Power 437 00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: to the people and to all the people. Power, get 438 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 1: woke and stay woke as fuck.