The Lean to the Left Podcast

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Beyond Left and Right: The Digital Politics Revolution In this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, we explore the pressing issues with America's current political landscape, such as big money's influence and lack of genuine representation. Our guest, Travis Misurell, founder of the Future is Now Coalition (FINC), discusses his groundbreaking initiative to build a citizen-owned political ecosy...

Welcome to The Dixie Dems, a monthly feature of the Lean to the Left Podcast — hosted by Bob Gatty (SC), Robert Thompson (GA), and Arthur Hill (NC). Together, these unapologetically Southern progressives tackle the most pressing political issues facing the South and the nation. In this video, get a taste of the passion, insight, and no-BS commentary that makes Dixie Dems the leading progressive po...

CBS canceled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert just days after he torched their $16 million Trump payoff—and the timing couldn't be more suspicious. Meanwhile, Congress slashed $1.1 billion from NPR and PBS at Trump’s urging, gutting emergency broadcast systems and trusted local journalism in rural communities. In this blistering commentary, Lean to the Left’s Bob Gatty connects the dots—from Col...

Join us for a compelling episode with Emma Soy, founder and CEO of Gentle Shepherd Care, as we explore her innovative approach to navigating Alzheimer's care and other forms of elder care. With over 35 years of nursing experience, Emma shares her journey from healthcare professional to entrepreneur, founding her company in 2019 to help older adults age gracefully in place. In this discussion, Emma...

Join us on the Lean to the Left Podcast as we engage in a compelling conversation with two dynamic guests, Tony Nagy and Sarah Buckner, also known as Sarafina Supernova, known as the Gnarly Girls. These talented stand-up comedians, podcasters, dancers, and artists discuss their extensive creative endeavors, including their Gnarly Girls Podcast and touring show, Grape Culture. In this episode, Tony...

A new Gallup poll shows that the wave of anti-immigration sentiment in the U.S. is cooling, even among Republicans, as Donald Trump's 2025 immigration policy continues his hateful purge of migrants in America. Behind deportation, there are personal stories to be shared. According to the poll, 79% of Americans say immigration is "a good thing" for the country, up from 64% a year ago, while only abo...

Impact of AI on Jobs and Society Welcome to the Lean to the Left Podcast! In this episode, guest Phil Woodford talks about the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its profound impacts on various industries, jobs and society at large. Host Bob Gatty shares his personal experiences using AI to enhance his podcast, and discusses the broader ramifications for jobs in fields like writ...

Understanding the Climate Crisis: Global Warming Is Real Welcome to the Lean to the Left Podcast, where we discuss pressing social issues. In this episode, we tackle the critical issue of Donald Trump's environmental policies that threaten our planet's future. Our guest is Tom Schumann, founder of Global Warming is Real and the Planet Watch Group, who shares his deep insights on the environmental...

Veterans vs. Trump: How Vote Vets is Fighting Back In this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, special guest Janessa Goldbeck, CEO of the Vet Voice Foundation discusses howTrump administration policies are harming veterans and how her organization, Vote Vets, is fighting back. Joined by Arthur Hill of North Carolina and Robert Thompson of Georgia, the conversation explores recent harmful deci...

How For-Profit Hospitals Harm Patients In this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast,we address the crucial challenges nurses face in today's for-profit healthcare environment, including staffing shortages, burnout, and the impact of private equity in the healthcare sector -- including how for-profit hospitals harm patients. Special guest Kathy Allen, founder of GutsyNurses.com and author of the...

No Kings Day: Challenging MAGA in the South Join us as the Lean to the Left Podcast explores the recent nationwide No Kings Day rallies opposing Donald Trump's actions, including significant protests in Myrtle Beach, SC. The discussion features John Vincent, a Democrat and retired US Navy Command Master Chief, who aims to unseat MAGA representative Russell Fry as he, in effect, is challenging MAGA...

The Battle for Press Freedom Join us in this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast as we discuss President Trump's contentious relationship with the media and the battle for press freedom. From banning reporters and cutting funding for public broadcasters to restricting access and filing lawsuits, his actions against the press are unprecedented and have helped lead to an increased lack of media...

Opportunities for Democrats in Red States In this episode of Lean to the Left's Dixie Dems, host Bob Gatty of South Carolina is joined by Arthur Hill of North Carolina, Robert Thompson of Georgia, and special guest Dan Schaefer. Schaefer, who previously ran for Missouri State House and plans a 2026 run, discusses his motivations, key issues like women's rights and labor unions, and the influence o...

Americas Political Divide In this episode of the Lean to Live Podcast, Bob Gatty engages with Dr. Craig Wiener, a seasoned psychologist from Worcester, Massachusetts, to explore Americas political and social divide in the United States as political polarization seems to be worsening nearly every day. With over 40 years in private practice and a wealth of experience in teaching and clinical directi...

Boosting Youth Voter Turnout: Connor Treacy on Lean to the Left Podcast In this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, host Bob Gatty interviews Connor Treacy, a California political organizer and former nightlife executive, about the low voter turnout among young people in the 2024 presidential election. Connor suggests that young voters shifted to Trump because of the participation of Elon Mus...

Host Bob Gatty interviews Chad Lewis, author of 'The Persuasion Game,' to explore the influence-peddling schemes of Rudy Giuliani, Lev Parnas, and Igor Fruman during the Trump administration. The discussion covers the impact of these schemes on American democracy, the spread of Russian disinformation, and comparisons to authoritarian regimes like Turkey. Global influence peddling was the name of t...

Beacon4Hope: Veterans and Youth Suicide Prevention Welcome to the Lean to the Left Podcast as we explore the pressing issue of suicide among veterans and young people. Our guest, Douglas Brinker, founder of Beacon4Hope, Suicide Prevention, and author of 'My Shadow From a Suicidal Self to a Purpose with Hope,' shares his incredible story of overcoming his own suicide attempts and turning his life a...

Dictatorship Dream: Trump Third Term Fantasy On the Lean to the Left Podcast, host Bob Gatty welcomes bestselling author Paul Greenberg to discuss his political satire, which imagines George Washington returning to run against a tyrant reminiscent of Donald Trump, who is seeking a third term in office. Greenberg shares his motivations for writing the novella, the importance of democracy to environ...

Aly Vredenburgh: Gen Z Mental Health in Crisis | Lean to the Left Podcast In this episode, mental health activist Aly Vredenburgh, author of "Out Of Focus dives deep into the mental health crisis gripping Generation Z. From soaring rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness to the crushing effects of capitalism, climate anxiety, student debt, and housing instability, we explore the systemic forc...

Republicans in South Carolina's 7th Congressional District believe they are in the catbird seat, that they are virtually unbeatable in what they call "Trump Country." It's the same old story in South Carolina politics. But Democrat John Gregory Vincent, a small business owner and retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief, believes he can knock off the MAGA GOP incumbent, Russell Fry in this slice of...

What happens when a Republican author slams Trump’s tariffs, calls out Medicare cuts, and pushes back on RFK Jr.'s health claims—all on a progressive podcast? In this episode of Lean to the Left, host Bob Gatty speaks with Michael Goodwin, Florida Republican and author of the political satire Vice Versa. With Wall Street experience and a sharp pen, Goodwin offers a rare, candid take on Trump’s eco...

In Elon Musk's Tesla backlash, his EV car company's profits have plunged 72%—and it's no mystery why. As Musk plays co-president with Trump, slashing federal programs and putting thousands out of work, the backlash is hitting his wallet hard. In this fiery commentary, Bob Gatty breaks down why Americans are fed up with Musk’s ego-driven wrecking ball approach to governance—and why Tesla’s fall fro...

Trump's Immigration Policies and Their Impact | Tahmina Watson on Lean to the Left Podcast In this powerful episode of The Lean to the Left Podcast, hosts Bob Gatty and Mark M. Bello explore with immigration attorney and author Tahmina Watson the devastating effects of Donald Trump’s immigration policies on immigrants, businesses, and American democracy. Watson, founder of Watson Immigration Law i...

In this episode, we delve into America's love for donuts, with over 10 billion consumed annually and the donut market valued at $11.22 billion in 2024. We highlight the caloric intake from donuts and discuss the controversial statement by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., suggesting that frequent donut eaters should cover their own healthcare costs. Is it fair to single out donut enthusiasts an...