Beyond Resistance Pod

It’s Election Day, friends. Take a deep breath... and maybe another one. In this episode of Beyond Resistance , Jennifer Austin and Sarah Schulz dive headfirst into the last-minute chaos, drama, and anxiety that always seem to find a way into election season. From the political shockwaves surrounding Michigan's U.S. Senate race to the emotional rollercoaster of watching polls, they unpack what's a...

What happens when you put a Mid-Michigan congresswoman, a microphone, and a conversation about corruption, healthcare, data centers, Social Security, gerrymandering, and why democracy is basically a team sport all in one episode? You get this week's Beyond Resistance . 🎙️ Jennifer sits down with Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet for a candid conversation about her first term in Congress, the re...

What happens when a teacher, single mom, grandmother, and all-around survivor decides she’s had enough of politics that forgets what real life looks like? You get AnnMarie Horseman . In this episode of Beyond Resistance , Jennifer and Sarah sit down with AnnMarie Horseman, candidate for Michigan’s 95th House District, for a conversation about affordability, healthcare, education, and why lived exp...

Democracy got on a bus, and we were there for it. In this special episode of Beyond Resistance , we're sharing a recording from a town hall with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed during his It Shouldn't Be This Hard bus tour across Michigan. Introduced by Sarah and attended by community members from across the region, the event focused on the everyday challenges facing Michiganders and what it will take to make...

🎉 Somehow, someway, we made it to Episode 101 of Beyond Resistance. We accidentally skipped celebrating Episode 100, which honestly feels very on-brand for two people juggling politics, community building, perimenopause, podcasts, and occasionally remembering what day it is. This week, Jennifer and Sarah dive into a question a lot of organizers, activists, and frankly, humans are asking right now...

🎉 Episode 100 is here! And what better way to celebrate than with a conversation that includes authoritarian tantrums, campaign strategy, family political debates, volunteer wisdom, and an unexpectedly heated argument about whether a hot dog is a sandwich. Jennifer and Sarah kick things off by sharing what's got them fired up this week, from concerns about attacks on press freedom to a deeper con...

This week on Beyond Resistance , Sarah and Jennifer sit down with Chris Girard, Mayor of Bay City and candidate for Michigan State House District 96, for a conversation that covers everything from infrastructure and economic growth to foster parenting, Pokémon cards, and yes... zombie runs. Chris shares the story behind his decision to run for state office, rooted in a deep love for his community,...

What’s the most valuable resource in a political campaign? Hint: It’s not money. It’s candidate time. This week on Beyond Resistance, Jennifer and Sarah dive into one of the biggest mistakes campaigns make: spending precious hours on activities that feel productive but don't actually move votes, build relationships, or raise meaningful amounts of money. From the infamous ritual of fundraising "cal...

Who needs cable news when your political analysis comes with relatable stories, common sense, and a healthy dose of "what does this actually mean for my life?" 🤷‍♀️ This week on Beyond Resistance , Jennifer and Sarah sit down with Florida-based political content creator and activist Sara Wiles to talk about the growing influence of creators in politics, why storytelling matters more than policy j...

This week on Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer dive into one of their favorite topics: community building, and why it beats transactional politics every single time. Drawing from years of organizing, they unpack how real relationships, not just voter lists and door-knocking quotas, are what actually turn red communities blue. From campaign fundraising and volunteer recruitment to leadership de...

This week on Beyond Resistance , we sit down with Rep. Aftyn Behn, Tennessee State Representative, organizer, activist, and all-around professional needle mover. From getting arrested while standing up to corrupt politicians to flipping the script on what winning looks like in deep red territory, Aftyn brings the kind of energy that makes you want to knock a few doors and maybe start a movement be...

Election Day is coming fast, and if you're a local organizer, candidate, volunteer, or party leader, it's officially go-time. In this episode, Jennifer and Sarah are back together in their brand-new podcast studio (finally!) and diving into what grassroots organizers should be focused on with just weeks left before the election. From volunteer recruitment and leadership transitions to slate cards,...

What happens when hope meets hustle? This week on Beyond Resistance , Jennifer sits down with Charles Douglas, Executive Director of Common Power , for a conversation about building real people power, one door knock at a time. From training first-time volunteers to sending teams into battleground states, Charles explains why elections are won by relationships, not just ads and algorithms. The conv...

What if the problem isn't that rural America left Democrats... but that Democrats left rural America? 🔥 This week Jennifer sits down with Teresa Purcell , founder of the Rural Strong Network , to talk about why rural communities feel ignored, misunderstood, and way too often taken for granted. Teresa has spent decades organizing, campaigning, and building power in communities that political consu...

The primaries are (mostly) in the rearview mirror, and Jennifer and Sarah are back from vacation, camping, and political doom-scrolling to unpack what it all means. This episode starts with a love letter to Michigan's unofficial anthem, Don't Stop Believin' , and why Abdul El-Sayed's post-primary victory ad hit every emotional button available. Hope? Check. Michigan pride? Check. Jennifer and Sara...

The Beyond Resistance crew is taking a quick summer breather, but not before squeezing in a conversation about two things Midwesterners apparently love: politics and camping. Jennifer and Sarah kick things off with excitement about their brand-new podcast studio (yes, it's in a basement, no, you won't be able to tell) and debate whether camping is a relaxing getaway or just remote work with mosqui...

Before we get started, a quick heads-up: our internet connections chose chaos for this recording. If JP sounds like he's broadcasting from a spacecraft every now and then, that's just the technology gods keeping us humble. Also, Sarah's lighting was doing something truly unhinged and made her look like she was participating in a witness protection documentary. We powered through. Democracy demande...

Everything you didn't know you NEEDED to know about Louisiana's absolutely bonkers election chaos. This week on Beyond Resistance, we sit down with Matt Gromlich, educator, congressional candidate, and all-around democracy defender, for a conversation that will leave you equal parts informed, horrified, and wondering how any of this is legal. Matt walks us through Louisiana's redistricting roller...

Grab your favorite beverage and settle in because this episode is equal parts political road trip, rally recap, and spirited reality check. Jennifer and Sarah unpack their two-hour trek across Michigan to attend an Abdul El-Sayed rally featuring Bernie Sanders and AOC, and spoiler alert: it delivered big main-character energy. The conversation dives into the electric atmosphere of the event, why e...

What happens when a Twitch karaoke performer, lifelong Christian, and accidental political content creator decide they’ve had enough of the chaos and start a podcast? You get Mike Winson, host of Breaking the Meta, and one heck of a conversation. This week, Sarah and Jennifer sit down with Mike to talk about the lost art of actually talking to each other. From empathy and curiosity to the dangers...

🚪 What happens when you make a plan to knock on 5,000 doors in one of Michigan’s reddest districts and actually listen to people? This week on Beyond Resistance, Jennifer and Sarah sit down with Brian Irizarry—Marine veteran, teacher, former mayor, city council member, and Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 110th State House District—to find out. Brian shares what it’s really like campaigning in...

(CONTENT WARNING: This show discusses sexual assault and victim blaming) Today on Beyond Resistance, Jennifer and Sarah come in spicy—and honestly, who can blame them? The conversation kicks off with the latest controversy surrounding Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner and quickly evolves into a bigger discussion about politics, accountability, rape culture, and what happens when supporters put...

This week on Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer are bringing the vibes, the stories, and maybe a few fish-in-the-basement flashbacks. They kick things off by talking about the growing wave of progressive wins around the country and what those victories might mean for the future of Democratic politics. The big takeaway? Voters aren't just looking for a party label anymore—they want fighters, vis...

This week, Jennifer and Sarah take a ride through Democratic strategy, primary-season drama, and why Jennifer has officially reached her Hunter Biden saturation point. From hot takes on New York’s political shakeups to a passionate plea for Democrats to stop helping Republicans do their messaging for them, this episode is equal parts organizing wisdom and friendly ranting. Highlights include: • Wh...

What if the secret to saving democracy isn't another viral tweet, campaign ad, or hot take—but a conversation on a front porch? This week on Beyond Resistance, Jennifer and Sarah sit down with Chloe Maxmin—former Maine state senator, co-founder of Dirt Road Organizing, and co-author of Dirt Road Revival: How to Rebuild Rural Politics and Why Our Future Depends on It. Chloe shares why she left elec...