Being Extra

Think voting or being a Democrat means you’re in the Democratic Party? Think again. In this episode of Being Extra , Jeni and Phillip break down how the party actually runs—starting at the precinct level in South Carolina and working all the way up to the national DNC. From precinct presidents and county conventions to DNC members, we’re taking you behind the blue curtain. Whether you’re a seasone...

In this episode of Being Extra , Jeni and Phillip break down Trump’s April 2nd tariffs and what they really mean for your bank account, your grocery bill, and your future. From soaring prices on peaches and poultry to stock market free falls and potential job losses, we dig into how these so-called “patriotic” policies are hitting everyday Americans—especially right here in South Carolina. Are we...

In this episode of Being Extra , Jeni and Phillip sit down with former SC State House candidate Matt Vilardebo to unpack South Carolina’s newly passed (in the House) anti-DEI bill—and why it should have everyone paying attention. We break down what the bill actually does, who it affects, and how it fits into a larger national movement to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in public...

Buckle up, because this episode is what Being Extra is all about: honest dialogue, political realness, and emotional depth with just the right amount of sass. In this episode, Jeni sits down with Rebecca Reed, the unapologetically honest voice behind The Recovering Republican . Rebecca opens up about her journey from the far-right evangelical movement to becoming a liberal Democrat—and the importa...

This week, Jeni and Phillip dive into #Signalgate — the chaotic leak where journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a private Signal group chat with top U.S. officials, including JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth. What was shared? Oh, just sensitive details about upcoming airstrikes in Yemen. Casual. We break down the national security disaster, the White House spin, and what it...

In this episode of Being Extra , Jeni and Phillip take on the mystery, the madness, and the mess of political polling. After years of polls getting it wrong—2016, 2020, 2024—can we actually trust them? Or are they just astrology for political nerds? Jeni breaks down the numbers, why polls keep underestimating Trump voters, and how Democrats’ approval ratings are hitting historic lows (according to...

In this episode of Being Extra , Jeni and Phillip dive into the chaos surrounding the latest budget bill and the growing fractures within the Democratic Party. They break down what the bill actually did (spoiler: billionaires win, working people lose), why House Democrats fought against it while Senate Democrats caved, and what a government shutdown could have meant. The conversation gets heated a...

Trump just gave his first speech to Congress in his second term, and whew… it was a lot. From fearmongering to false claims to straight-up authoritarian vibes, we’re breaking it down. In this episode of Being Extra, we talk about some of Trump’s wildest statements, highlight the Democratic response from Sen. Elissa Slotkin, and—most importantly—talk about how we turn the fight into real wins. With...

We had to sit down to talk about what happened on Friday at the White House.

Join us on our first episode of the new season. This episode covers a bunch of topics because there has been so much going on. But the main message is that we need to make politics personal again. We have to build our communities and get involved. That is how we win! Follow along on your favorite podcast platform and follow up on social media: Facebook: /BeingExtraPodcast IG: @BeingExtraPodcast X:...

Welcome back to Being Extra. This season, we are going to dive deep to answer the question: When we fight, do we really win? It was our slogan in 2024: "When we fight, we win!" However, we did not win. Now, what do we do? What does winning look like in 2025? Join me as I talk to community activists, organizers, candidates for office, elected officials, and more while being a little extra.

On this episode, Jeni sits down with Katie Crosby of Lancaster County. Katie is a former teacher and a real estate agent. Katie is the Chair of the Lancaster County Democratic Party and ran for SC State House District 44 in 2022. And guess what? She is doing it again in 2024. Katie and Jeni talk about what it was like to teach during the pandemic, how Moms for Liberty impacts schools and her view...

Do you remember the 21st night of September? Because I do. We sit down for our first podcast together. We decided to be randomly extra, and we ended up talking for three hours. Believe it or not, this is how we talk all the time. We are just so random, and we love every minute of it. I decided to break up the conversation into three episodes since it was three hours long. I hope you enjoy it. PS:...

Do you remember the 21st night of September? Because I do. We sit down for our first podcast together. We decided to be randomly extra, and we ended up talking for three hours. Believe it or not, this is how we talk all the time. We are just so random, and we love every minute of it. I decided to break up the conversation into three episodes since it was three hours long. I hope you enjoy it. PS:...

Do you remember the 21st night of September? Because I do. We sit down for our first podcast together. We decided to be randomly extra, and we ended up talking for three hours. Believe it or not, this is how we talk all the time. We are just so random, and we love every minute of it. I decided to break up the conversation into three episodes since it was three hours long. I hope you enjoy it. PS:...

On today’s episode, Jeni sits down with Emily Mayer. Emily is a wife, mother, advocate, and all-around superhero for many. Emily and Jeni worked together on campaigns in 2022, and now Emily focuses on advocacy work at the SC State House. Follow along on your favorite podcast platform and follow up on social media:Facebook: /BeingExtraPodcastIG: @BeingExtraPodcastTwitter: @BeingExtraPodEmail: Being...

On today’s episode, Jeni reminds you to always buy the extended warranty. Jeni then sits down with Melina Rodelo. Melina is a wife, mother, and friend. She is a financial accountant and small business owner. She is also a 1st General America, born in America, and raised in Mexico until she was 6 years old. She is now running for 2nd Vice-Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party. The election i...

On today’s episode, Jeni sits down with Brandon Upson. Brandon Upson is currently the chair of the South Carolina Democratic (SCDP) Party Black Caucus. He is a US Army Combat Veteran and member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc He is a husband, father, and notable political strategist. He is now running for Chair of SCDP. The election is on April 29th at the SCDP State Convention. Full disclo...

In this episode, Jeni talks about her journey in her Ph. D. program so far. It has been an interesting journey so far and there is still a lot to learn. Jeni will continue to give updates about the Ph. D. program and her progress in the dissertation journey. Follow along on your favorite podcast platform and follow up on social media:Facebook: /BeingExtraPodcastIG: @BeingExtraPodcastTwitter: @Bein...

So I am bringing the podcast back...again. I know I took 2022 off but it is time to get back into it. I will have full episodes up in 2023 and will talk about the new journey in my life, all while being a little extra. Follow along on your favorite podcast platform and follow up on social media:Facebook: /BeingExtraPodcastIG: @BeingExtraPodcastTwitter: @BeingExtraPodEmail: BeingExtraPodcast@gmail....

Welcome to the first episode of 2022. Jeni shares updates on how 2022 has been going so far and the fun extra things that have happen already. Recently there was a winter storm in South Carolina. All over social media, all Jeni saw was how "bipolar" the weather has been in South Carolina. Why does society have the wrong idea about bipolar? Bipolar has such a negative connotation and people fear it...

Hey bestie!!! Guess what, 2021 is finally ending. So that means we get to welcome in 2022 with open arms, right? Right? Well take a look back at the year 2021, have you changed? Have you developed a new version of yourself? Jeni saw a saying the other day, you will have to listen to the episode to learn more about the saying. Jeni talks about how the last year has changed her, heck how she is a di...

Today Jeni talks about the importance of talking about things if you are ready. It is important to say stuff if it needs to be said. But, it is also important to ensure you are prepared for that. You have to set boundaries, you might need to talk with a therapist, or you might need time. Jeni lost her father almost a year ago and never got a chance to talk to him about things from the past and now...

Being Extra is back (again). This time Jeni is talking about her transition from her 9 to 5 job to being her own #bossbabe. Jeni talks about her new business and how it is important to plan when it comes to changing careers. But also about the importance of knowing your worth at your current job. Follow on social media https://linktr.ee/BeingExtraPodcastFacebook: /BeingExtraPodcast  Twitter: @Bein...

Have you ever been told that that you just need to smile more? Have you ever been told that you have RBF? Join Jeni on her rant about being told to just smile or being told that you have to say everything is great. It gets very tiring to just pretend that everything is okay. We are constantly taught in life to pretend that everything is great and everything is fine. That is very frustrating. Hope...