108 Advocacy Day
Advocacy Bites
Susan and Renee share their experiences from a recent advocacy day at the North Carolina General Assembly. From organizing behind the scenes to meeting with legislators face-to-face, they reflect on what it really means to be an everyday advocate—and why personal stories remain one of the most powerful tools for change. Susan shares what it was like helping coordinate the event, training new advocates, and encouraging people to move beyond talking points to speak authentically about their lived experiences in public education, disability advocacy, and community organizing. Renee...
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106 With Prejudice: The Legacy of Leandro
Advocacy Bites
Renee and Susan discuss the dismissal of the Leandro Case and where we go from here. We discuss the April 2nd court decision that saw Chief Justice Paul Newbie dismiss the 30-year-old Leandro case with prejudice. Renee pulls no punches as she breaks down the legal "reverse engineering" used to end this landmark case, which sought to ensure every North Carolina child receives a sound, basic education. From the "flimsy" arguments regarding subject matter jurisdiction to the dismissal’s implications for generations of students, this episode serves as both a legal autopsy and a call to arms. But...
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105 Leading with Radical Love and Surviving the Emotional Labor of Advocacy
Advocacy Bites
Renee and Susan discuss the benefits of centering love and empathy in the work with so many negative voices and forces in the world. How do we continue to show up as advocates when the world feels increasingly polarized and heavy? In this episode of Advocacy Bites, hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book of Save Our Schools NC step away from the logistics of policy and primaries to have a vulnerable conversation about the emotional heart of advocacy. Renee shares a powerful experience from a recent conference in Washington, D.C., where she encountered the work of Valarie Kaur and the...
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104 Primaries!
Advocacy Bites
Primary season is here, and it’s one of the most critical times for everyday advocates to make their voices heard. In this episode, Renee and Susan from Save Our Schools NC pull back the curtain on how North Carolina primaries work, especially for the state's growing number of unaffiliated voters. From understanding "open primaries" to the nuance of "strategic voting," this conversation is designed to move you from feeling overwhelmed by a long ballot to feeling confident in the voting booth. Whether you are looking at local judicial races or major state offices, this episode provides...
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103 Mantras and Musings
Advocacy Bites
Renee & Susan reflect on the beginning of a new(ish) year, and the ideas and thoughts they want to bring into 2026. We kick off the new year not with rigid resolutions, but with honesty, compassion, and intention. As they enter their fifth year of podcasting, Renee and Susan acknowledge that January doesn’t always feel like a fresh start—especially amid relentless bad news, family pressures, and the emotional weight carried by so many everyday advocates. Instead of traditional New Year’s resolutions, the hosts explore the power of mantras: simple truths we can return to when...
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102 Anatomy Of A Right-Wing Legislator
Advocacy Bites
Susan and Renee discuss their deep-dive into a right-wing legislator’s social media and the patterns they noticed. In this candid episode of Advocacy Bites, hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book take listeners inside what they call the anatomy of a right-wing legislator, not by naming names, but by dissecting the recurring patterns, priorities, and contradictions that show up again and again in state-level politics. Drawing from an extensive deep dive into a legislator’s social media presence, Renee unpacks how Second Amendment absolutism collides with so-called “school safety”...
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101 Justice Denied
Advocacy Bites
Renee and Susan discuss the ongoing Leandro Case. In this episode of Advocacy Bites, hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book confront a sobering question: What is the value of a constitutional right if it cannot be enforced? Sparked by national conversations with education advocates and legal experts, this episode delivers an unflinching examination of how justice is delayed—and effectively denied—in North Carolina’s public education system. Renee revisits the Leandro case, focusing on the 2022 Supreme Court decision and the years of inaction that followed after a partisan shift in the...
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100 Advocacy Bites Turns 100!
Advocacy Bites
Renee and Susan celebrate our milestone 100th episode with a discussion of corruption and primaries. In this milestone 100th episode of Advocacy Bites, hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book celebrate four years of conversations about what it truly means to be an everyday advocate. From grassroots wins to tough legislative battles, this episode looks back at the moments that shaped the show — and the movement behind it. Renee and Susan share their favorite memories, from deep-dive episodes like the NC lottery breakdown to the unforgettable “Futurama Committee” series that perfectly...
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99 Winning In Big Ways And Small Ways
Advocacy Bites
Renee and Susan discuss the 2025 elections from national and local perspectives. In this episode of Advocacy Bites, they break down a week filled with big wins, surprising momentum, and a whole lot of hope for everyday advocates. From sweeping Democratic victories across the country to record-breaking turnout in local Wake County races, Renee and Susan explore what these results mean for communities, educators, families, and grassroots organizers in North Carolina and beyond. Renee reflects on the national landscape — including major shifts in Virginia, New Jersey, and Maine — and...
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98 Special Education From National News to Local Perspectives
Advocacy Bites
In this episode of Advocacy Bites, hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book detail what Susan is seeing on the local level and how that relates to national issues in special education. We dive deep into the state of special education—from alarming local stories in Wake County to the broader national challenges facing students with disabilities. Susan shares her family’s personal journey through the trauma of restraint and seclusion practices in schools, shedding light on the policies, data gaps, and systemic failures that continue to harm vulnerable students. Together, Renee and Susan...
info_outlineRenee & Susan reflect on the beginning of a new(ish) year, and the ideas and thoughts they want to bring into 2026. We kick off the new year not with rigid resolutions, but with honesty, compassion, and intention. As they enter their fifth year of podcasting, Renee and Susan acknowledge that January doesn’t always feel like a fresh start—especially amid relentless bad news, family pressures, and the emotional weight carried by so many everyday advocates.
Instead of traditional New Year’s resolutions, the hosts explore the power of mantras: simple truths we can return to when motivation is low and hope feels fragile. Renee shares her personal mantra, “I am capable,” reflecting on identity, self-worth, stay-at-home parenting, and reentering the workforce. Susan offers her own grounding reminder, “You’re enough”, and reframes survival, care work, and showing up imperfectly as meaningful and valuable.
The conversation then turns outward, as Susan calls on advocates to recognize their collective power, especially at the local level. From school boards to county commissioners to the North Carolina General Assembly, this episode emphasizes why community action still matters and why special education advocacy must be front and center in 2025. The hosts discuss proven policy solutions, fair pay and training for educators and instructional assistants, and the urgent need to fully implement Leandro recommendations.
In true Advocacy Bites fashion, Renee balances hope with sharp accountability, offering a blunt New Year’s wish for legislators: give a damn. The episode closes with concrete opportunities to take action, including upcoming public education demonstrations, teacher-led walkouts, and simple ways to practice showing up in community, even when it feels hard.
🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:
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Choosing mantras over resolutions
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Advocacy burnout, grief, and showing yourself grace
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Identity, caregiving, and self-worth
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Reclaiming personal and collective power
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Special education funding and policy solutions
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Leandro, public school funding, and educator support
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Practical ways to get involved locally in 2025
(02:18) - Choosing a Mantra: I Am Capable
(06:15) - New Year's Resolutions and Social Media
(07:53) - Empowering Advocates in Education
(12:23) - Legislative Resolutions and Advocacy
(15:46) - Hope and Action: Upcoming Events
(20:31) - Conclusion and Call to Action