Ep. 147: An IWL State of the Union

EQ: What exactly is the state of this union right now?

Megan and Hope convene for the annual IWL State of the Union. We kickoff the episode discussing the “official” SOTU and favorite and most absurd traditions from the event. We also talk about their own  “Dumpster Fire’s” from the previous year, like the potential Republican POTUS nominees for 2024, but also highlight the “Glimmer of hope” that come along with these things. The second half of the episode is focused the effort to avoid performative outrage and avoiding “basic” activism and allyship. We discuss how easy it is to get caught up in cyclical outrage and how it is important that we not, because the real people that are impacted by these issues go on being impacted even when the public stops paying attention. We share that we are going to be recording follow-up episodes about these key topics in the coming weeks and months. Starting with revisiting Residential Schools in both Canada and the United States.

If you have any helpful/relevant information of know somebody who would make a good guest for any of the following topics, please reach out to Hope (hope.teague@gmail.com) or Megan (megan.holyoke@gmail.com) :

• Banning of books in classrooms/educational laws in Florida

• The water crisis in Flint, MI and/or the Ohio train crash environmental crisis

• Immigration and border crisis regarding the children separated from families at the border

• Chinese Residential Schools for Tibetan Children

Related Articles:

• State of the Union Traditions

• “How Florida’s New School Librarian Training Defines Off Limits”

• Desantis’ Academic Restrictions Show He Hopes to Change History By Censoring It

• Why Are There Empty Shelves in Florida Schools?

• Crippling Teacher Shortages

• Tennessee Bill to ban Drag Shows in Public Spaces

Ep. 129: Wheel of Nonsense

EQ: How do we  manage life’s wheel of nonsense?  

After a bit of a hiatus we’re happy to welcome Megan back to the show for today’s episode. It is a hodgepodge of topics chosen by the “wheel of nonsense”. We felt there was so much going on yet with summer looming we should temper the serious with the nonsensical. Enjoy!

Related sources:

• Hot Girl Summer Tips

• Power to Prosecute Crimes on Reservations

• Curbs limit on Greenhouse Emissions

• The most likely impact of the Jan. 6 hearings on Trump - The Washington Post

• Live updates: Biden endorses scrapping filibuster; Ketanji Brown Jackson to be sworn onto Supreme Court - The Washington Post

Ep. 115: Confessions of an Ed Policy Insider

EQ: Do the Nov 2 election results give us a preview of how the campaigns against education will impact elections/politics as we move forward in the United States?

Guest: Sandy Boyd Sandy is the CEO of Seek Common Ground (SCG), an organization committed to empowering independent state and local organizations advancing equitable solutions with and for children, families and communities. 

Sandy shares with listeners the impetus for starting Seek Common Ground and some of the work they are currently engaged in. A majority of the conversation centers on the politics of education and how policies have really not changed over the years. We theorize about the impact of Covid on student learning and if the pandemic was a catalyst for the fight around CRT (note: this was recorded prior to the Mom’s for Liberty bounty nonsense in New Hampshire--white rage anyone?). 

References in the show:

• What happened in Last Nights Elections, and what does it mean for Democrats?

• Did Critical Race Theory Really Swing the Virginia Election?

• Aaron Rodgers and his idiotic interview where quoted MLK to justify not getting vaccinated 

• Texas House Committee investigating (state Rep Matt Krause) books on race & sexuality (or whatever students have “discomfort” about)

Do Your Fudging Homework:

• Megan: Read the articles linked in the show notes & pay attention to local politics.

• Hope: Check out the work of Seek Common Ground & if you have a chance to help partner with them, use it.

• Sandy: Check out what’s happening locally including school board elections

Ep. 113: TexYikes--Advocacy Has No Borders

EQ: What the hell is happening in Texas and why should we care?

In today’s episode, Hope and Megan discuss the anti-abortion bill in Texas and how it is impacting not only citizens in Texas, but communities around the Country. They start the episode with a new segment “Does it Venn?” where they coin the term Preventative Outrage. This conversation moves into discussing what is happening, what does this law do, and who does it disproportionately impact. They also discuss what is now happening across the country do to the inaction by the SCOTUS on this case, and predict that we might be seeing more of these laws being passed. Hope and Megan end the episode talking about how advocacy has no borders, and despite not living in Texas, there is still an obligation to advocate. There is a list of resources linked here where you can get involved and help from a distance. 

Related Resources:

• Abortion in the Middle East

• Argentina Ground Break Law abortions up to 14 weeks

• Center for Reproductive Rights--Map

• We annotated Texas’ near-total abortion ban. Here’s what the law says about enforcement.

• Supreme Court will hear arguments in Mississippi abortion case challenging Roe v. Wade on Dec. 1

Do Your Fudging Homework:

• Hope/Megan: Donate to organizations fighting for women’s reproductive health

  • 20 Organizations Fighting the Texas Abortion Ban