Start Me Up With Kimberley A. Johnson

Jared is a political analyst and author. We had a fascinating conversation about the Iran attack, Trump's unhinged press conference and how Vladimir Putin is using all of this to his advantage. Jared offers valuable insights and even solutions on how we can do better as a people. We also talked about his book The Man They Wanted Me To Be Toxic Masculinity and a Crisis of Our Own Making. Jared does a fantastic job of explaining what toxic masculinity is and he's very open about his own experiences. A really great conversation.

Steph Walton is here and we're fired up! Trump is being impeached today and even though we're happy it's happening, it's sad it has to come to this. We talk about what comes next, 2020 is going to be crazy, and we discuss the super PAC started by Never-Trumpers. We packed a lot into this show.

Rebecca Sive is the author of Vote Her In and Every Day Is Election Day A Woman's Guide To Winning Any Office. We discussed the importance of multiple women running for POTUS in 2020; how women political activists can get involved in the Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina primaries no matter where you live; and we also talked about why women must attain executive political power.

Cheri Jacobus is a nationally recognized political strategist and she's the executive producer of America Reads The Mueller Report where actors and real voters read experts of the report. Was the unusual visit to Walter Reed last month really a way out if Trump can't take the heat of impeachment? Will he resign and cite health reasons? Cheri also expresses concern that the ten counts of obstruction noted in the Mueller Report are not included in the articles of impeachment, at least they aren't now. And we talk about Mitch McConnell's role in all of this.

The Feminist Next Door is back again for another rousing conversation. After revealing that we're the same person, we get to more serious issues including but not limited to how to deal with misogynistic trolls, Kamala Harris dropped out of the 2020 race, what about a Biden/Harris ticket, and how holding each other accountable is a good thing.

Steph is back. Facebook sucks and there are finally alternatives. Women favor impeachment over men. Trump hasn't been the same since his "unusual" trip to Walter Reed. Russia is attacking the United States. Will he resign? Obama isn't thrilled with the frontrunners and much more.

Tiffany Bond is a family law attorney who's running as an Independent in Maine to unseat Senator Susan Collins. Her strategy is unique, she doesn't take contributions. She has no campaign staff and she asks that if voters wish to support her with cash, they should use that money to support small businesses and charities in Maine.

Nicole Hobbs is the cofounder and executive director of EveryDistrict which was formed in 2017 to rebuild the Democratic from the states up. Just as public testimonies begin in the impeachment hearing, Nicole is here to let us know how we as voters can do more than just vote. She explained the ground game that flipped Virginia to blue, and why state races are so important. Lots of good and crucial information for citizens to get involved.

The comedy duo Frangela joined me for one of the most fun conversations I've had on this podcast. Frances Callier and Angela V. Shelton are real life best friends who met and honed their skills at the world famous Second City Theatre. First we talked about how they met, how they got started in the biz, and some of the obstacles they face. Topics were plentiful as we continued chatting. From white privilege to sexism to racism to the Dem candidates, we covered a lot of ground. We laughed the whole time. I love these two women and I know you will too.

Greg Olear, author of Dirty Rubles: An Introduction To Trump/Russia, joined me for an energizing conversation on the Democratic candidates, who he believes is the best person to beat Trump and hold the whole Trump/Russia gang accountable for their criminal behavior. Also, Pence knew, and Pelosi is handling the impeachment process beautifully. We covered a lot of ground.

Sarah Wood is back and we talk about how despite what some political pundits are saying the field of Democratic candidates is fantastic and they can beat Trump. Also discussed, why vetting candidates in the primaries doesn't mean we're attacking them and it's necessary so we can get the best of the already awesome bunch. Let's be clear, Katie Hill resigned beacuse PATRIARCHY. Also, Trump is a criminal, but we repeat ourselves.

Steph Walton is back and we revel in the deliciousness of Trump's downfall. There is a quid-pro-quo after all. Nancy Pelosi is indeed playing 3-D chess. What's up with Romney? And we discuss the harassment women experience at work, big and small.

My struggle with body shame and body hatred started at a very early age. Because I'm tall and have a large frame and big bones, I've always been different. I'm bigger than most women and it's caused me anguish. I've dealt with eating disorders and feelings of worthlessness. I've written about it but, until today, have never gone off in front of a microphone. I hope that anyone else who has similar feelings of body insecurity can find something positive in my story.

Ex MAGA and current Warren supporter David Weissman is back to talk about his journey from being a Republican Trump supporter to a progressive liberal. He explained how a conversation with Sarah Silverman helped open his mind and how Trump's behavior with Putin in Helsinki sealed the deal for him. We talked about why he likes Warren and had a very interesting conversation about abortion.

Charissa Liller is a candidate for judge in Bucks County, PA. She has 16 years of experience in family law. She was a social worker and she's currently a prosecutor. Her hands-on experience working with families gives her a unique insight. She's also a single mom which would also serve her on the bench. We talked about her life experiences, why she wants to be a judge and why she feels she's the most qualified candidate. I asked her about sexism in her line of work and we also discussed how the need for more women and diversity on the bench.

Khary Penebaker is a wonderful human. He's a strong advocate for suicide prevention and for gun safety. His mother used a gun to commit suicide when he was just 20 months old. He shares his story of grief and how it led to his activism. He pointed out that gun deaths aren't partisan just like cancer isn't partisan. That we should treat gun deaths as a human issue that affects everyone.

Em, AKA, The Feminist Next Door returns for another fascinating discussion. We talked about Elizabeth Warren and how she needs to win over people of color if she wants to win Democratic nomination, the myth of toxic femininity and how that term is often used to discredit the notion of toxic masculinity, and how Trumpism has affected the lives of American women.

Dr. Dena Grayson joined Steph and Kimberley to talk about impeachment, the release of the transcript of the call between Trump and Ukraine's president, how the Republican Party will handle the news that Trump pressured a foreign leader for dirt on a political opponent. Lots to unwrap.

My guest, GOP Congressman Joe Walsh, is one of Trump's primary challengers. He's a conservative Libertarian and I'm a liberal feminist, but one thing we have in common is our desire to see Trump defeated. I'll be honest and say I expected a different kind of interview.

Demcast founder Nick Knudsen is here to tell us all about the new grassroots media hub that just launched on September 19, 2019. It's a site where regular voters can find truthful articles, podcasts, videos and memes that lean blue and have been vetted. The goal is to fight the onslaught of disinformation from rightwing extremists and possible foreign adversaries looking to sway our elections.