Elise Williams Rikard

For Love & Justice

Society EN ↓ 27 episodes

Host Elise Williams Rikard, writer and recently diagnosed neurodivergent person, does her best to make sense of all the BS hurled at Americans daily— while spilling the tea with the best and brightest of her central Arkansas communitea. All in the name of Love and Justice, of course. Join us for candid talks on politics, relationships, mental health, grief, books,reality TV, and pop culture – and brace yourself for an unapologetically unlimitless dose of Mean Girls quotes and all things Taylor Swift (the limit does not exist).

Author

Elise Williams Rikard

Category

Society

Latest episode

Jul 6, 2026

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Episodes

Diving Deeper on Hobbies + Burnout with Landon Phillips 06.07.2026

Raise your hand if you've ever turned a hobby into a side hustle and accidentally sucked all the joy out of it. 🙋‍♀️ This week, I'm joined by my friend and former coworker, Landon Phillips, to talk about hobbies, burnout, work-life balance, and why doing something simply because it makes you happy is becoming a radical act. We unpack hustle culture's obsession with productivity, the guilt of "was...

Grieving Home, Finding Joy, and Preserving Hope—With Rachel Garrett Steele 25.01.2026

My first interview of 2026 is one I’m honored to share. I sat down with Rachel Garrett Steele to talk about the life-changing choice she made to leave the U.S. in search of safety, freedom, and joy. As political attacks on trans people escalate — from restrictions on gender-affirming care to federal language rewritten to erase entire communities — Rachel’s story offers clarity, courage, and a remi...

A Deep Dive Into Taylor Swift's Most Political Lyrics 02.10.2025

Is Taylor Swift political? Some say no — but her lyrics tell a different story. In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into Taylor Swift’s most political songs — 16 tracks that span themes of feminism, power, religion, LGBTQ+ rights, and resistance. From gaslighting and double standards to purity culture, political despair, and queer visibility — Taylor’s songs are more than breakups and fairyt...

RFK Jr., Tylenol, and the Politics of Women’s Pain 24.09.2025

RFK Jr. is back with another dangerous claim — this time saying that Tylenol causes autism. Not acetaminophen, not evidence-based science — but Tylenol, the brand name. And here’s why that matters: Tylenol is the only safe, widely recommended pain reliever for pregnant women. Which means this misinformation isn’t just sloppy — it’s cruel. It’s another attack on women’s health. At the end of the da...

What is Gerrymandering, and What’s Happening in California & Texas? 19.09.2025

What if I told you states are using maps like power plays—drawing lines not for fairness, but for political survival? That’s gerrymandering. In this episode of For Love & Justice, I break down what gerrymandering is, why it matters, and how California and Texas are battling it out over redistricting. From Texas Republicans aiming for five extra House seats to Gavin Newsom going full Trump on T...

Charlie Kirk, Political Violence, Outrage Culture, & What it All Says About Us 17.09.2025

In this episode of For Love & Justice, I’m unpacking not just the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, but the explosive reactions that followed. Why did this one act dominate the feeds while other tragedies barely registered? What does the rush to blame reveal about the culture we’ve built—where outrage is currency and projection replaces truth? I talk about: -The immediate politicization of...

Gerrymandering vs. Voter Suppression: What’s the Difference? 10.09.2025

Gerrymandering vs. Voter Suppression: what’s the difference? And why do they matter for our democracy? This week’s episode breaks down how maps are manipulated, how access to the ballot is restricted, and why both strategies tilt elections. Plus—what we can do to fight back.

Rescue Pets, Black Cat Myths, & the Realities of Animal Adoption 26.08.2025

From rescue stories to black cat myths to why adoption matters — join me (and my furbabies!) for a cozy, heartfelt dive into animal advocacy. Today’s episode is a little different — and a lot furrier. I’m joined by my very special co-hosts: my rescue cat Lazarus, my gentle pup Ginger, and my chaos-loving ferret Mochi. Together, we’re diving into the messy, magical, and meaningful world of animal a...

Pay Fights, Term Limits, and Presidential Grifting: What You Missed in July 30.07.2025

In this episode, we’re recapping the stories you might’ve missed in July — the ones that slipped through the cracks of your algorithm but still matter. From Harry Styles selling out vibrators and Travis Kelce feeding the Swifties, to WNBA players demanding equal pay and Ms. Rachel shutting down billionaire worship, the “love” portion of this roundup is just the beginning. We’re also getting into t...

Faith, Politics, and Washington's New Law: Is It Anti-Catholic? 12.06.2025

Washington State just passed a law requiring clergy to report suspected child abuse—even if it’s revealed in confession. The Catholic Church calls it a violation of religious freedom, and Trump labeled it “anti-Catholic.” Is it a necessary safeguard or an unconstitutional overreach? I’m joined by my friend and devout Catholic, Chris Eden, to break it all down—from legal implications to faith-based...

Trump’s Big BS Bill, $400M Jets, & Other BS You Might’ve Missed 06.06.2025

Today we’re talking billion-dollar jets, billion-page bills, and about a billion bad decisions — with a dash of June Gemini chaos and cucumber safety, of course. In this episode, I break down the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” — a 1,000-page disaster passed by the House that basically takes from the poor to give to the rich. Even Elon Musk called it an abomination, and Marjorie Taylor Greene regre...

Viktoria Capek on Dear Reader & Taylor Swift's Lyrical Legacy 04.06.2025

In this special episode of For Love & Justice, I sit down with author and Swiftie scholar Viktoria Capek to dive deep into her enchanting new book, Dear Reader: An Immersive Literary Journey Through Taylor Swift’s Lyrics. We’re diving into the magic of Taylor’s words, the inspiration behind Viktoria’s book, and what it was really like bringing Dear Reader to life. Let's get into it! 📚 Preorde...

The It Ends With Us Drama Part 2: Taylor Swift Subpoenaed?! 30.05.2025

Welcome back to Part 2 of the It Ends With Us drama breakdown—because yes, more has gone down. I recorded Part 1 months ago when things were still fresh, but now the dust has barely settled and the chaos is still escalating. From feuds and lawsuits to Taylor Swift being dragged into the mix (!), it’s time to revisit the mess. In this episode, I: Break down the full timeline from 2023 to now Cover...

Reputation Fantasy Draft: New Swiftie Obliterates OG Swiftie 30.05.2025

In this episode, I’m joined by my bestie for a no-holds-barred Taylor Swift Reputation fantasy draft—and things get spicy. One of us is a longtime Swiftie, the other’s a newer convert, and neither of us is holding back when it comes to picking our ultimate Reputation tracklist. Expect passionate debates, lyrical deep dives, and a few shocking snubs (sorry in advance). Whether you’re team OG or tea...

The Importance of Doing Hobbies With Friends 21.05.2025

What if joy was the point? In this feel-good episode of For Love & Justice, I’m joined by my best friend and longtime creative partner, Meleah Bowles, to talk about something that deserves way more love: doing hobbies just for fun — and especially doing them with a friend. From painting badly on purpose to wandering bookstores for hours, we share our favorite low-stakes hobbies, why they matte...

Wish-fulfilling Taylor Swift’s Stages of Grief Playlists 16.05.2025

This one's for my fellow Swifties! In this episode, we dive into the official Stages of Grief playlists Taylor curated on Apple Music—and ask a very important question: why were Debut and Reputation left out? From the rose-colored haze of Denial to the clarity of Acceptance, we unpack each playlist’s emotional terrain—plus, we take our Swiftie magnifying glass to Reputation and Debut to figure out...

Child Fight Clubs, Salmonella, Mental Health Awareness Month, + Other Ish You Might've Missed 08.05.2025

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—and in this episode of For Love & Justice, we’re breaking down what that really means in 2025. From a staggering rise in depression screenings to shady moves by policymakers who say they care about mental health but cut funding anyway, we’re naming the contradictions and calling for clarity. We also dive into the latest shifts in astrology, relationship dyn...

Make it Make Sense: Elon Musk's Villain Origin Story 23.03.2025

Is Elon Musk a misunderstood genius or a billionaire on his way to full-blown villain status? In this episode, we break down his rise from apartheid-era South Africa to becoming the most controversial figure in tech. We dig into his "power" moves at Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), his love for chaos, and the ethical gray areas fueling his empire. Plus, we take a closer look at what those...

Jumping Down the Conspiracy Theory Rabbit Hole (With Shannon Sanford) 30.01.2025

Get ready for a whirlwind tour through the wild world of conspiracy theories! We explore shocking truths about conspiracy theories rooted in history, from wars fought for oil to political profiteering, with a spotlight on Overthrow by Stephen Kinzer, a must-read on U.S. interventions. We also unravel lingering mysteries like the JFK assassination, eyebrow-raising claims about the 2024 election, an...

Straight From the Horse's Mouth: Broligarchy Edition 26.01.2025

While Trump was busy signing 42 executive orders on his first day (remember when tantrums were thrown over Biden signing 17 his first day???), the broligarchy was busy yapping. Today, I'm reading quotes straight from the horses' mouths—because it's increasingly important we keep our eyes and ears open. Scary stuff is going down.

Make it Make Sense: The It Ends With Us Drama, Explained 30.12.2024

This episode unpacks the escalating drama surrounding It Ends With Us and all the legal he-said-she-said. We explore the public and industry fallout, what it reveals about Hollywood’s persistent issues with on-set misconduct and accountability, and why you shouldn't watch this awful movie. Tune in for the latest twists in this high-stakes legal showdown.

Real Housewives Midseason Recap: RHOBH & RHOSLC 20.12.2024

The Real Housewives have taken over our televisions (there's a franchise airing almost every night of the week), and Beverly Hills and Salt Lake City are particularly juicy this season. We're recapping the midway point on both shows, breaking down the friendship dynamics, and analyzing the psychology behind the batshit behaviors. 

Reflecting on 2024, the Danger of Elon, & Main Character Energy 18.12.2024

As 2024 comes to a close, we're reflecting on all the crazy ish that happened this year—plus discussing the dangers of having the richest man in the world in the president's ear and looking ahead to 2025!

Welcome to For Love & Justice! (Start Here) 28.10.2024

If you're new here, start with this episode! I'm diving into all the reasons I started For Love & Justice, and what you can expect to hear here. I'm also sharing why I'm so personally invested in the ongoing fight for reproductive freedom in hopes that it will help humanize and normalize those of us being forced to have these conversations. Nothing will ever change until we can come together a...

How to Vote (and Are We?) 04.10.2024

If you’re planning on voting in the 2024 presidential election (and you should!), you need to make sure you’re registered first. So, how do you register? In this episode, I’m breaking down the steps from registering, to updating your registration, to checking for your polling location. Arkansas has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the country—so grab a friend and let’s get to the polls, y’...

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