The Practivist Pod

As we are all dealing with new challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, we are going to talk about what organizing and communicating look like as we stay home to flatten the curve. We are joined by Dr. Karen North, an expert in social media and psychology and a Clinical Professor at the Annenberg School of Communication at USC. Then we’ll hear from Swing Left’s National Field Director, Marisa K...

On today’s episode, Mariah and Steve talk about how to stay productive while social distancing. Then we talk to former Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold about what we need to do to win in the rust belt, and how you can get involved with the “Campaign for Nature” to, you know, help save our planet. Finally we are joined by Swing Left Wisconsin Field Director, Jared Launius. He gives us a report from...

Today we have a very special post-Super Tuesday pod and are joined by Former Senior Advisor to President Obama, Co-host of Pod Save America, and Author of the great new book, “Un-Trumping America”, Dan Pfeiffer! Dan’s gonna help us break down what we learned from Super Tuesday, and how you can help with his plan to win in 2020, and Un-Trump America! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/bra...

On today’s episode, we are joined by actress and activist, Piper Perabo! She shares her experiences jumping into this work, knocking on doors, and getting arrested at the Kavanaugh hearings. It’s been an eventful week and she’s gonna help us break it down and get YOU into action. Then we have an interview with one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world, Annise Parker. She was...

Today we are joined by Obama alum and author, Chris Liddell-Westefeld. After joining the campaign in 2007, Chris spent 5 years on the Obama White House staff. In 2014, Chris began documenting the story of the 1st Obama campaign through oral history interviews. That work culminated in his great new book, “They Said This Day Would Never Come - Chasing the Dream on Obama’s Improbable Campaign.” We he...

Today we hear from Sandra Fluke! She’s the activist and attorney that Rush Limbaugh went after a few years back -- the same skeevy Rush Limbaugh who was recently given a Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump. She’s got a lot to say about that and she has been doing incredible things as an activist since. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcirc...

Today’s episode is about the intersection between the arts and activism. First we are joined by actors Jonathan Del Arco and Tara Karsian. We talk about the Hollywood-DC connection and tease the Oscars by giving our favorite documentary picks. Then we interview former Senator Barbara Boxer and her daughter, documentary filmmaker, Nicole Boxer. They talk about what it was like to sit through the Cl...

On today’s episode we discuss the Iowa caucuses with Iowa Representative Cindy Axne. She gives us a look at how the caucuses work, how they help other important races, and why Iowans are ready for the Presidential candidates to get out of town! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s a star-studded and powerful episode. We take you backstage at the Women’s March Los Angeles where we interviewed activists and celebrities like Yvette Nicole Brown, Rosanna Arquette, Lea Thompson, CA First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, CA Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks, and many more… including… Seal! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcirc...

For our 20th episode, we’re talking about Swing Left’s plan for 2020! Swing Left’s leadership recently held a national organizing call with details about the plan for this year and most importantly, how you can get involved. Listen in to the strategy, answers to frequent questions, and get yourself 2020 ready! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle...

We are kicking off 2020 with communications expert, Anat Shenker-Osorio. She talks about how well our Presidential candidates are communicating, how she advised the Senate Dems to talk about impeachment, how to be effective when we talk to voters, and more. This episode will make you a better volunteer, a better organizer, and get you 2020 ready! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands...

We’ve got a special Holiday episode today. With all of the turmoil and uncertainty in the news, we are going to focus on what is giving us hope. It’s a look back at what we learned from some of the inspiring interviews that you may have missed. And we hear some special messages from the Swing Left leadership team and an “Impeachment Song” to ring in the New Year! Advertising Inquiries: https://red...

Today we go inside the Democratic National Committee with DNC Co-Chair and Assemblymember from the Bronx, Michael Blake. We talk about the DNC’s strategy to win in 2020, where and who we need to engage with, and we will hear about the viral moment when Michael Blake asked the question we all want to know the answer to… Why the HELL does Tucker Carlson still have a job at Fox??? Interview at 15:59...

On today’s episode… Christine Pelosi! She’s got a new book out about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. And she shares some great anecdotes about how her mom operates in leadership, what she doesn’t discuss with family, and that viral moment when she walked out of the White House in her orange coat and sunglasses. Interview at 17:22 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: h...

From “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” and Last Comic Standing, we talk about our favorite and least favorite news of the week with Comedian Alonzo Bodden. Then we have an inspiring conversation with one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people, Jess Morales Rocketto. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Civil rights activist, DeRay Mckesson is a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter Movement, author of “On the Other Side of Freedom - A Case for Hope”, and the host of “Pod Save the People”. We talk about the stories that the media isn’t covering right now, and hear DeRay’s advice on what we need to be doing in the run up to election day. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privac...

On today’s episode one of our favorite actors, comedians and man on the street, Billy Eichner! He’s not just one of our favorites because of his great work on Parks and Rec, The Lion King, and Billy on the Street, but also because he is a passionate activist who has some exciting news to share! Interview at 21:24 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcir...

Jennifer Epps-Addison is the President and Co-Executive Director of the Center for Popular Democracy and her life’s work is advancing campaigns for economic and racial justice. She talks about how we can build lasting change, by supporting the organizations who are in the trenches of communities our political system often leaves behind. Interview at 15:06 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.c...

We hear how Representative Harley Rouda navigates this partisan congress and Republicans in his own district, and gives us some hot tips for healthy Holiday conversations. Interview at 14:08 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s Get Out The Vote time in Virginia! We chat with Tori Taylor, the head of Political and Organizing at Swing Left. Tori is a campaign veteran who will take us through the tactics and strategies to help Democrats win the majority in all three branches of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Interview at 11:32 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/p...

On today’s episode you’ll learn how to support the young activists who are leading the way, making change, and bringing us all hope. We sit down with March for Our Lives co-founders Lauren Hogg and Delaney Tarr. They tell us how they’ve turned tragedy into a social movement. Interview at 14:15 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We are joined by powerhouse activist and organizer, Cecile Richards. President of Planned Parenthood from 2006 to 2018, she recently co-founded Supermajority, a new women’s advocacy organization dedicated to getting more women elected to office. We caught up with her in Las Vegas at the end of Supermajority’s cross country bus tour. Interview at 12:12 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/b...

Today’s episode is an inside look at the recent Gun Safety Forum in Las Vegas, featuring interviews with Senator Chris Murphy, and Giffords Executive Director Peter Ambler. Interview at 13:26 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Known for her work as an actress on shows and movies like Crossing Jordan, Revolutionary Road, Parks and Recreation, Step Brothers, Transparent, Bad Moms, and the upcoming Mrs. Fletcher (among many others), Kathryn Hahn has been active off screen lending her voice and time to progressive causes like Planned Parenthood and Swing Left. Interview at 7:43 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/b...

Five-term Congressmember Karen Bass is the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, a leader in the resistance movement, and started her career as a community organizer. We talk about how she got her start, what moved her to run for office, and yes, we talk about Trump’s latest criminal acts and impeachment. Interview at 9:32 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: h...