1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Hey, everyone, it's Sophia. Welcome to a bonus episode of 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: Work in Progress. Ye First of all, thank you so 3 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: much for listening to Work in Progress through and congratulations 4 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: everyone we made it somehow to the end of this year. 5 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: When I look back on the past year, I'm going 6 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: to frame the high highs and low lows by the 7 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: guests we've had on the show and the conversations I've 8 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: gotten to have and learn so much from. As I 9 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: think back on this year, I'm struck by how much 10 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: all of us are doing in our day to day 11 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: lives and as a society, and even more by how 12 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: much there still is to do and our motivation to 13 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: get it done. To that end, I thought I'd take 14 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: an opportunity to help make sure we can all pitch 15 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: in to start off right. Let's start it on one 16 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: of those high notes with a few charitable organizations that 17 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: can use your donations or volunteer time or your voice 18 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: to make a difference. Now, these aren't in any particular order, 19 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: and you may recognize a few of them from some 20 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: of our regular and bonus episodes from Let's Chat giving 21 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 1: back In the past couple of weeks, we've all been 22 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 1: having some pretty intense discussions on social media about what's 23 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: going on in the world. And one of the things 24 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: that is the hardest pill for me to swallow is 25 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: our epidemic of gun violence, and especially how it affects 26 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 1: young kids, from school shootings to firearm accidents in homes 27 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: where those firearms are not locked up. We have a problem. 28 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 1: And I know there's a big debate about responsible gun 29 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: ownership and and the hobby that comes with it. And 30 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: by the way, I'm a hobbyist too, so I I 31 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: come to this debate from both sides at the same time, 32 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: as a person who grew up with that being part 33 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: of my family life and as a person whose family 34 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: has been touched by a gun violence. Guys, the reality 35 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: is that gun violence touches every town in America. It 36 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 1: touches every place that we live, every community, and unfortunately 37 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: eventually every single one of us. And for too long, 38 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: life saving laws and policy have been thwarted by the 39 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 1: gun lobby and by leaders who refuse to have a 40 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,519 Speaker 1: same debate on ways that we can all take common 41 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: sense steps that will save lives. Now, I don't think 42 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: saving children's lives should be partisan. I don't think protecting 43 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: families should be partisan, but a lot of big corporations 44 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: have spent a whole lot of money to make us 45 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: think that these conversations are and I think we can 46 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: do better. Part of the reason I believe that we 47 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: can do better and I believe in change is because 48 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: of every town and Moms Demand action. More than six 49 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: million mayors, moms, teachers, survivors, gun owners, students, and everyday 50 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: Americans from all over this country have come together to 51 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 1: make their communities safer. Shannon Watts founded and leads Mom's Demand. 52 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: I am so honored that through this work, I not 53 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: only call her an idol, but I call her a friend. 54 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: And she has inspired people everywhere, and I know she 55 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: will inspire all of you. Every town in Mom's Demand 56 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: starts with us, met you, and it starts in our neighborhoods. 57 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: By introducing evidence based solutions in every town, we can 58 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: end gun violence. And I believe we can do this together, 59 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: and I really believe that we have to. So if 60 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: you want to get involved, if you were as freaked 61 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: out in the second week of December as I was 62 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: about a TikTok challenge going around encouraging gun violence in 63 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: schools like what is happening? Things have gone too far. 64 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: If that freaked you out, if you are from a 65 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: town that has been touched by gun violence, if you 66 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: know someone whose family has been touched by gun lands, 67 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: and even if you think you don't, you know me 68 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: so you do, please consider getting involved. You can learn, 69 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: you can listen, you can show up, you can volunteer, 70 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: and the best place to start is to download their app. 71 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,719 Speaker 1: Every Town and Mom's Demand share an app which makes 72 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: it easy. You don't have to have to and you 73 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,919 Speaker 1: can download. We'll put the link in the show notes. 74 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: You can donate, You can volunteer on their text or 75 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:30,359 Speaker 1: call team. Visit the website every town dot org or 76 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 1: Mom's Demand dot org to get started. Together, we can 77 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: prevent the gun violence that we all know is preventable, 78 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 1: and I think together we can remain committed to doing 79 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: what it takes to keep our families and our neighbors safe. 80 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: When we think about how things affect kids, like the 81 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: epidemic of gun violence we just referenced, we also need 82 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,160 Speaker 1: to pull back and think about how whatever they're facing, 83 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: whether it is that epidemic, whether it is the pandemic 84 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: of COVID whether it's poverty and community, whatever it is 85 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 1: kids are up against, it affects their mental health. And 86 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 1: I know so many of us are coming to terms 87 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: with talking about our mental health and what we need 88 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: to take care of it as adults. You know, Millennials 89 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: and gen Z were really open about those struggles and 90 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: those gains that we're making. But what about kids? That's 91 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: where On our Sleeves comes in. On Our Sleeves as 92 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: a national movement that is working to break stigmas around 93 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: children's mental health because they believe, as I do, that 94 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: no family should struggle alone on that journey. And so 95 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: many kids are reporting issues of mental health, anxiety, depression, stress, 96 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: a hard time focusing in school, and the idea that 97 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: you know, an eight year old, a five year old 98 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,600 Speaker 1: could be dealing with this stuff just breaks my heart. 99 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 1: And I'm so relieved that On our Sleeves exists to 100 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: provide free mental health and educational resources to every community 101 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: in America to educate families and empower advocates. They support 102 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: access to services by connecting families to trust the local resources, 103 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 1: and they even provide resources for classrooms so that teachers, 104 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: as they run their curriculum can include curriculum about mental 105 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 1: health and communication. That really helps kids open up about 106 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: this and that helps parents too. So if you want 107 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: to get involved in supporting kiddos, whether they're yours or 108 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 1: kids you love, or siblings in your family, you can 109 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: visit on our Sleeves dot org. You can pledge to 110 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: do one small thing, you can plan an event, you 111 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: can plan a fundraiser, and you can check out the 112 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 1: show notes for more news about the incredible work that 113 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 1: On Our Sleeves is doing. The next group I'd love 114 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: to talk about also involves a former work in progress 115 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: guest chef, Jose Andres and his incredible organization, World Central Kitchen. 116 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 1: World Central Kitchen uses the power of food to nourish 117 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 1: communities and strengthen economies through times of crisis and beyond. 118 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 1: Whether there is a natural disaster like a hurricane or 119 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: a flood, World Central Kitchen is on the ground. If 120 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,719 Speaker 1: there is a community that is suffering, World Central Kitchen 121 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: is on the ground. Jose Andres shows up where people 122 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: are needed, and one of the things that people need 123 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: most when they're going through something is a hot plate 124 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: of food and the knowledge that they're cared about, Especially 125 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: with the outbreak of COVID and what happened all across 126 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,559 Speaker 1: the globe. The world changed profoundly, and World Central Kitchen 127 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: activated in communities all around the US and around the 128 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: world to meet the daily needs of families in need 129 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 1: of a warm plate of food, and they supported thousands 130 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: of local restaurants in the process. That's one of the 131 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 1: things that I think is so cool. Whether it's a 132 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: health crisis or a man made or natural made disaster, 133 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: they show up to keep people fed, loved, and to 134 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: keep local businesses alive. And I'm just endlessly inspired by 135 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: what they do. If you missed Jose Andrea's episode of 136 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: this show, I highly suggest you check it out so 137 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: that you can learn from the man himself. And if 138 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: donations that bring fresh meals to frontline medical staff and 139 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: communities need inspire you, please visit w c K dot 140 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: org that stands for World Central Kitchen dot org. You 141 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: can follow them on Twitter. They are hiring, you can volunteer, 142 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: and of course you can donate. And finally, I want 143 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: to talk about an organization that I'm incredibly proud to 144 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: have helped co found and that I'm so honored to 145 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 1: be a part of, and that is I Am a Voter. Guys, 146 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: I Am a Voter is a nonpartisan movement that is 147 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: aiming to create a cultural shift around voting and civic engagement. 148 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: We need to unify around a central truth. Our democracy 149 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: works best when we all participate, and we all participate 150 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: best when we are informed. It's easy to get started 151 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: with I Am a Voter. You can text the word 152 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,199 Speaker 1: voter v O T E R to to six seven 153 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: nine seven. We will not bombard you with a whole 154 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: bunch of information, but what we will help you do 155 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: is registered to vote. Check your registration status, because y'all 156 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: know there are nefarious groups out there purging voters from 157 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: the rolls and that is not hey. So you can register, 158 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: you can check your status, you will get election reminders, 159 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: and of course you can donate, volunteer your time, whatever 160 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: it is you choose. To learn more, visit I Am 161 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: a Voter dot com, follow us on Instagram at I 162 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 1: Am a Voter, and remember that when you vote, you're 163 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,319 Speaker 1: powerful and honestly sexy. Cific engagement is sexy. Let's be 164 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: honest about it. I want to say thank you again. 165 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: I just can't express enough how much getting to do 166 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 1: this show means to me and how much I appreciate 167 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: you all for listening and supporting the podcast extra thanks 168 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: to our Wondery plus subscribers, and for all of you, 169 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: seriously thank you for being a part of Work in Progress. 170 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: The fact that we I'll meet here in this digital 171 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: space to share thoughts and to learn lessons and to 172 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: learn how we can further work on ourselves makes me 173 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: feel like we all share a common goal of progress, 174 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: more goodness, more kindness, more ideas, more thought, and that 175 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: that's the thing I cherish most is year ends. So 176 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: happy New Year to all of you. I'm grateful for you.