Advocacy Bites

Renee and Susan talk about the Property Tax Amendment that'll be on the ballot in November.  The Property Tax Problem might sound like an episode about budgets and tax bills, but it's really a conversation about the future of public education, local government, and democracy in North Carolina. In this episode of Advocacy Bites , hosts Renée Sekel and Susan Book break down one of the proposed North...

What happens when constitutional rights exist on paper, but the government refuses to enforce them? In this episode of Advocacy Bites , hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book take a deep dive into the growing tension between constitutional rights, separation of powers, and public education funding in North Carolina. Using the ongoing Leandro school funding case as a backdrop, they explore what it means...

Susan and Renee reminisce about the teacher march both past and present. Renee gives a little update on vouchers. Justice, public education, and the future of advocacy in North Carolina take center stage in this powerful episode of Advocacy Bites. Hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book unpack the ongoing Leandro school funding case, the constitutional fight over educational rights, and the growing tensi...

Susan and Renee share their experiences from a recent advocacy day at the North Carolina General Assembly.  From organizing behind the scenes to meeting with legislators face-to-face, they reflect on what it really means to be an everyday advocate—and why personal stories remain one of the most powerful tools for change. Susan shares what it was like helping coordinate the event, training new advo...

Renee and Susan discuss the dismissal of the Leandro Case and where we go from here. We discuss the April 2nd court decision that saw Chief Justice Paul Newbie dismiss the 30-year-old Leandro case with prejudice. Renee pulls no punches as she breaks down the legal "reverse engineering" used to end this landmark case, which sought to ensure every North Carolina child receives a sound, basic educati...

Renee and Susan discuss the benefits of centering love and empathy in the work with so many negative voices and forces in the world.  How do we continue to show up as advocates when the world feels increasingly polarized and heavy? In this episode of Advocacy Bites , hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book of Save Our Schools NC step away from the logistics of policy and primaries to have a vulnerable co...

Primary season is here, and it's one of the most critical times for everyday advocates to make their voices heard. In this episode, Renee and Susan from  Save Our Schools NC pull back the curtain on how North Carolina primaries work, especially for the state's growing number of unaffiliated voters. From understanding "open primaries" to the nuance of "strategic voting," this conversation is design...

Renee & Susan reflect on the beginning of a new(ish) year, and the ideas and thoughts they want to bring into 2026. We kick off the new year not with rigid resolutions, but with honesty, compassion, and intention. As they enter their fifth year of podcasting, Renee and Susan acknowledge that January doesn't always feel like a fresh start—especially amid relentless bad news, family pressures, and t...

Susan and Renee discuss their deep-dive into a right-wing legislator's social media and the patterns they noticed. In this candid episode of  Advocacy Bites , hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book take listeners inside what they call the anatomy of a right-wing legislator, not by naming names, but by dissecting the recurring patterns, priorities, and contradictions that show up again and again in state...

Renee and Susan discuss the ongoing Leandro Case. In this episode of  Advocacy Bites , hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book confront a sobering question: What is the value of a constitutional right if it cannot be enforced? Sparked by national conversations with education advocates and legal experts, this episode delivers an unflinching examination of how justice is delayed—and effectively denied—in N...

Renee and Susan celebrate our milestone 100th episode with a discussion of corruption and primaries.  In this milestone 100th episode of Advocacy Bites , hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book celebrate four years of conversations about what it truly means to be an everyday advocate . From grassroots wins to tough legislative battles, this episode looks back at the moments that shaped the show — and the...

Renee and Susan discuss the 2025 elections from national and local perspectives. In this episode of Advocacy Bites , they break down a week filled with big wins, surprising momentum, and a whole lot of hope for everyday advocates. From sweeping Democratic victories across the country to record-breaking turnout in local Wake County races, Renee and Susan explore what these results mean for communit...

In this episode of  Advocacy Bites , hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book detail what Susan is seeing on the local level and how that relates to national issues in special education. We dive deep into the state of  special education —from alarming local stories in Wake County to the broader national challenges facing students with disabilities. Susan shares her family's personal journey through the tr...

Susan discusses Medicaid cut impacts on our families and schools while Renee does a deep dive on what is going on with the University system. In this episode of  Advocacy Bites , hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book dig into what happens when the North Carolina legislature simply… does nothing. From stalled Medicaid funding to the growing crisis in the UNC university system, this conversation exposes...

Susan and Renee discuss the current free speech situation in the US, and the current financial situation in Winston Salem/Forsyth County public schools. Stay connected at: https://saveourschoolsnc.org

Renee and Susan talk about the legislature's failure to pass a budget (again), as well as the lengthy delay in the Leandro case.  Stay connected at https://saveourschoolsnc.org

Renee and Susan discuss back to school tips and tricks   Stay connected at: https://saveourschoolsnc.org

Renee and Susan review some of the terms used in advocacy and election volunteering.  Stay connected at: https://saveourschoolsnc.org

Renee and Susan muse over some of the big ideas and feelings that have been floating in their heads recently. There may also be some light emotional breakdowns.      Notes:  Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back Author: Joan C. Williams  

Renee and Susan discuss the various lies and misdirections that extremists use to obscure their actions and goals.   Stay connected at: http://saveourschoolsnc.org and https://www.facebook.com/people/Advocacy-Bites/100085908254061/

Susan gives us an update on the legislature budget shenanigans, and Renee and Susan discuss Wake County's new cell phone policy.  

Renee and Susan discuss what bills made (and didn't make) crossover, and how this represents a full-circle moment in their advocacy journeys.   Notes:  https://www.ncleg.gov/ BillLookUp/2025/h636  

Show Notes:   https://www.pbs.org/ newshour/politics/fact- checking-robert-f-kennedy-jr- s-statements-on-autism https://autisticadvocacy.org/ 2025/04/leading-autism- organizations-release-joint- statement-on-upholding- scientific-integrity-and- supporting-the-autism- community/ https://encyclopedia.ushmm. org/content/en/article/ euthanasia-program https://www.wbur.org/ hereandnow/2025/04/22/autism...

Renee and Susan talk about why everything in the NC government seems both expensive and poorly run.  (Hint: it's the legislature.  It's always the legislature). 

Susan and Renee welcome a special guest to give us the scoop on SEL: what it means, what it looks like in schools, and why it makes extremists mad.