Start Me Up with Kimberley A. Johnson

Steph is back! We had an in-depth chat about how the current fascist regime is affecting us-- us meaning all of us--and why it's so important to engage. Steph shared a story from grade school when she witnessed racism from a teacher, she told her father, and he confronted the principal--the outcome was positive. We discuss where Democrats need to step up their game, and it's up to voters t...

Sarah Burris is a reporter at Raw Story, Alternet and Salon. Topics: Supreme Court sides with South Carolina in ruling allowing states to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood and what that will mean; Trump's mental/physical health and corporate media's double-standard; the difference in what Raw Story reporters can cover compared to what's being reported on by the cable news...

Cheri is back for another rousing conversation. We start the show with our critiques of "And Just Like That," and then we dive into politics. Topics: what constitutes an effective political ad; Tucker Carlson went after Ted Cruz and Cheri emphasizes that no matter what things may look like, there's always something nefarious going on behind the scenes; podcasters and influencers who ar...

Jared Yates Sexton: Political Analyst, The Midnight Kingdom: A History of Power, Paranoia, and the Coming Crisis , Co-Host Muckrake Podcast , newsletter Dispatches From A Collapsing State , Board: The Change Campaign. Topics: the psychological and emotional toll of combating authoritarianism, the importance of self-care and maintaining a grounded perspective; our mixed feelings about Gavin Newsom,...

Wajahat Ali is the editor of The Left Hook Substack & Co-host of The Democracy-Ish Podcast. Topics: Wajahat talked about the challenges of maintaining hope and mental health while resisting a right-wing authoritarian regime; the normalization of extreme conspiracy theories and violence under Trump's presidency; concerns about the integrity of future elections; the dangers of underestimatin...

David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021. He's the author of Laboratories of Autocracy  and Saving Democracy . Topics: Courts say Trump tariffs are illegal--but will he obey the courts, and how would his defiance play to voters? Elon may be out of the White...

Jennifer Taylor-Skinner is a writer, essayist, and creator & host of the award-winning podcast, The Electorette—one of the longest-running feminist podcasts, offering analyses and solutions to the world's biggest political and social challenges, all through the lens of women. Topics: Both of us feel more hopeful about democracy than we did six months ago; Bernie Sanders' recent comment...

Kiersten is such a delight. No politics today. We chatted about her book, I wish I were an Ocelot: Adventures of an Essential Kitten ; upcoming projects; the hate Pamela Anderson is getting for being and looking 57; the pressure women are under to look sexy (for others) their entire lives, and much, much more. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle...

Stephanie is back!!!! No prep...just two best friends talking about what's happening out there. Steph talked up Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and shared what happened when she met him; Stephanie passionately discusses the importance of providing healthcare to all, regardless of immigration status or other factors, emphasizing it as a human right; we talked about the protests and backlash against t...

Cheri is back! Today's show was more about our personal lives wth a little bit of politics thrown in. Topics: What we do for self-care; Cheri weighs in on what may happen to Social Security; she also shared that surviving cancer has resulted in a healthier lifestyle; we shared rumors we heard about sex before we were sexually active, and we ended with supernatural experiences we've had. It...

Topics: We discussed Ann's latest book series, " After the Apocalypse ," and the Democratic party's response to the current political climate, focusing on the recent win of an important Supreme Court seat in Wisconsin and Cory Booker's 25-hour Senate filibuster. Ann emphasized the importance of Democrats showing up to town halls and engaging with constituents--as opposed to Rep...

Jody is Back!!! We avoided politics save for one piece of good news. I record on Zoom and this was the AI description of the show (lol) Kimberley and Jody discussed their personal experiences, including their emotional struggles, lottery wins, and encounters with celebrities. They also reminisced about their shared past, including their childhood trauma from watching a movie, their experiences at...

Christopher Bouzy is a serial entrepreneur, software engineer, and political maven and he’s the founder and CEO of both Bot Sentinel and  Spoutible.com . Topics: We talked about the current state of the country and the need for stronger resistance against the fascist regime. Christopher's opinion on what happened in the 2024 election has evolved. We also touched on the potential shift in the D...

D. Earl Stephens is the author of "Toxic Tales: A Caustic Collection of Donald J. Trump's Very Important Letters."   He's the former managing editor of Stars & Stripes, a Navy vet, and a prolific writer. His Substack:  Enough Already Earl and I are pissed off and we vented BIGLY! We discussed the corrupt influence of money in politics and how it impacts Democratic optics/messag...

Steve Pierson is back! He is an activist and seasoned campaign organizer who has dedicated his career to empowering grassroots movements. He and Jess Craven have launched The Practivist Pod -- the practice of activism made practical . Topics: Steve shared the news about his new podcast and then we discussed the importance of focusing on gratitude in these very trying times. We also discussed an up...

Greg Olear is back! He's the author of Rough Beast , PREVAIL  columnist & podcaster, and co-host of The Five 8  on YouTube. Topics: We discussed our concerns about the current political climate, including the potential threat to Social Security and Medicare, and the importance of a shift in the political landscape. We also discussed the potential impact of a general strike on February 28th...

Writer/Director Jay Arnold is back! He directed and wrote the original screenplay for the 2023 award-winning romantic drama “Shoulder Dance.” Jay’s first Documentary “Sergio Dondoli’s Happy Life” releases in Spring 2025. Topics: First, we talked about his upcoming documentary and then chatted a bit about self-care. Then we got into politics: Musk hacking into major government websites, how systemi...

Tara is back! She's a prominent resister, a freelance writer, and the author of THE SOUND OF SETTLING, A Rock & Roll Love Story.  Topics: Tara talks about her book and why she wrote it. We both spent time discussing the importance of self-care and how to achieve goals with how we think and what we believe is possible. Then we focused on how Democrats can improve messaging--and how voters c...

Sarah Wood is back and she's extra sweary today. We love when she's sweary and there's a lot to swear about! Topics: the fascists want to overwhelm us so we disengage; Trump 2.0 will be worse than Trump 1.0 because many guardrails are gone but we still have power and we need to use it; focusing on self-care is vital; Germany knows Elon gave a Nazi salute; our news media is weak and it&...

Mo Collins is an actress and comedian. A few of her credits include MadTV; Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm; Parks and Recreation; 40-Year-Old Virgin and much more. After talking about the devastating fires in Southern California, Mo shared a bit about her life growing up in Minnesota, how she got into improv and comedy; what it's been like for her as a comedian and actress, and then...

Nick Knudsen returns! He's the Executive Director of DemCast USA --a digital movement to combat the prolific disinformation that is spreading online, we ask everyday social media users to share the truth and calls-to-action in their own social media feeds.  Topics: Nick shares info about the premiere of his upcoming podcast; what everyday Americans can do to help rescue democracy; the Virginia...

Jennifer Taylor-Skinner is a writer, essayist, and creator & host of the award-winning podcast, The Electorette—one of the longest-running feminist podcasts, offering analyses and solutions to the world's biggest political and social challenges, all through the lens of women Topics: What we're doing to stay sane; trusted sources of the resistance; much of legacy media is obeying in adv...

Writer, performer, and activist, Lorraine Devon Wilke is back! She's the author of the award-winning novel, THE ALCHEMY OF NOISE; her next, CHICK SINGER, pubs March 2025, and her latest endeavor is a popular Substack titled "Musings of a Creative Loudmouth." Today's conversation was centered around how the election affected us and what we're doing to cope. We talked about pragm...

Christopher Bouzy is a serial entrepreneur, software engineer, and political maven and he’s the founder and CEO of both Bot Sentinel and  Spoutible.com . Topics: Christopher makes a compelling argument on why he feels the 2024 election was not rigged; Chris also talks about what went wrong with his (and others') optimistic electoral predictions): who can we trust to deliver the news; how we re...

Steph is BACK for Election Eve Steph is one of my best friends. She works for Planned Parenthood and we had an incredibly uplifting conversation about why there's so much to be optimistic about. She knocked on doors in Nevada and what she experienced was very positive. I detail why Florida is in play, and we both talk about how effective the DNC and the Harris campaign have been. If you're...