I have a question!
Comedian Amanda Van Nostrand has some questions and she needs answers. On I have a question! Amanda explores society’s less popular and sensitive subject matter through a comedic lens with the guidance of experts, politicians, lawyers, and activists.
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Working On My Fitness with Ashley Lentz, MS, MEd, ACSM, Founder and Executive Director of the Aunt Sister Project
01/10/2022
Working On My Fitness with Ashley Lentz, MS, MEd, ACSM, Founder and Executive Director of the Aunt Sister Project
When it comes to personal fitness, it turns out that one size does not fit all. This week Amanda is joined by personal trainer, Founder and Executive Director of the Aunt Sister Project - Ashley Lentz. Ashley has over 15 years of experience in the fitness industry and discusses with Amanda the importance of community, doing what feels good to you, and the fundamentals of understanding your own body. Spoiler: turns out not everyone is built the same! Ashley explains the six things that you should do while exercising to make it effective, and just because something has made its way into the fitness world, doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Ashley and Amanda also explore Ashley’s mission to bring exercise to those diagnosed with cancer and cancer survivors through her non-profit The Aunt Sister Project. Check out the and follow them on Follow the Missing Sock Network on and support us on . Access to bonus content and more! Follow I have a question! on Thoughts? More questions? !
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Sustainability and Ethics in Fashion with Kevin Robert Fernandez, Kevin Robert Designs
12/31/2021
Sustainability and Ethics in Fashion with Kevin Robert Fernandez, Kevin Robert Designs
The fashion industry is one of the most wasteful industries in the world, making up roughly 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions, it is the second largest consumer of water worldwide, and 85% of textiles end up in landfills every year. How can we change that and what is the difference between ethics and sustainability? This week Amanda is joined by Kevin Robert Fernandez of Kevin Robert Designs, artist, designer and stylist based in Brooklyn. After realizing he enjoyed getting dressed for his job in criminal psychology more than the job itself, it was time to reevaluate and pursue what he was actually passionate about--fashion and design inspired by waste reduction and sustainability. Amanda and Kevin talk thrift store shopping, developing your own style, and determining what stands out to each individual as far as ethical practices and what we can do on our own to support our personal missions. Everyone is capable of ethical practice, but it does require commitment. What companies actually have a good recycling program and what prevents others from participating in one at all (side eye to luxury brands). Stay up to date with the KRD collection on Follow I have a question! on Follow the Missing Sock Network on and support us on for access to bonus content and more! Thoughts? More questions? Email the show!
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Do You Wanna? Consent Education with Aela Mansmann, SafeBAE
07/06/2021
Do You Wanna? Consent Education with Aela Mansmann, SafeBAE
Turns out consent doesn't only apply to sexual situations. At the root of it, consent is really about permission. This week Amanda is joined by Aela Mansmann, peer educator with SafeBAE - Safe Before Anyone Else. Aela breaks down common misconceptions about consent (annoying, mood ruining, and lame) versus what it actually means. What is coercion? Why is sex so tied up in our ego? Spoiler alert: we should be talking about it much sooner than we are. Unfortunately, it's not students taking issue with it, it's our administrations and school systems. Oh, and it turns out, porn isn't doing us a lot of favors, either. Aela shares her personal experience with consent activism and how she became involved with the program. Consent revolves around personal boundaries and relying on our own intuition where the only clear message is: consent is not one size fits all and enthusiastic participation is paramount. Grey comes in many shades, let's get to know them better. SafeBAE is a survivor founded, student led organization that came to fruition after the 2016 documentary 'Audrie and Daisy' appeared on Netflix. The documentary chronicles several teenage women's rape cases and their outcomes. Join the podcast's BAEWalk team or start your own! Check out SafeBAE on and Follow the show on Follow the and donate to our for access to bonus content and more! Questions about this episode? Comments? What do you want to know more about? !
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Homelessness and the Right to Housing with Kara Birrell, Comedian and Host of Housing First Podcast
05/31/2021
Homelessness and the Right to Housing with Kara Birrell, Comedian and Host of Housing First Podcast
Is finding a solution to homelessness as difficult as we think? Prepare yourself for some worm cans! Amanda is joined this week by Kara Birrell, comedian, podcaster, and housing advocate. Kara shares her experience with homelessness in New York City and how she found her turning point by continuing her education. Many of the homeless population are not homeless by choice but struggle with addiction and mental health and the only way to make their way into housing is addressing those issues first, but is that effective? The cost of keeping people homeless is more expensive than finding permanent housing, but because the conversation isn’t making its way to the forefront, change isn’t happening. Kara and Amanda discuss the layers and layers of stigma and racism around this topic and what we can do as a society to improve the lives of everyone. Follow Kara and check out her incredible projects Kara on to fundraiser for iHomeless, Kara's app in development that is supported by HUD and the National Coalition for the Homeless Follow show on Follow the and donate to our for access to bonus content and more Questions about this episode? Comments? Is there something you would like to hear about? !
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The Foster Care to Prison Pipeline with Christina Sorenson, Esq., Juvenile Law Center
04/13/2021
The Foster Care to Prison Pipeline with Christina Sorenson, Esq., Juvenile Law Center
Instead of assuming what people want, we should be asking them what they need. This week Amanda speaks with Juvenile Law Center lawyer, Christina Sorenson, about the foster care to prison pipeline and the history of foster care in the United States. It’s difficult to understand how foster care got where it is today without discussing the history of it’s origin in the commodification of children. Foster care isn’t always to the benefit of the child, either. The common (puritan) perception of what is needed isn’t what has been linked to healthy child development, but many find themselves in situations that are beyond their control. This often puts children into institutional care where there isn’t an opportunity to acquire skills that are needed to healthily exist in society. Does the United States government give communities what they need in order to succeed? The short answer is ‘no’. Christina and Amanda discuss the differences in determining age between white children, native children, and children of color--it wasn’t the same for everyone. How does this system continue to perpetuate the adultification of children of color and the pipeline to prison? Why is removing a child from their home more cost effective than giving families the tools they need to thrive. Christina graduated from the Richmond School of Law in 2015. Afterwards she clerked at the Unified Family Court in Delaware. Christina is a Soros Justice Fellow, which funds outstanding individuals to undertake projects that advance reform, spur debate, and catalyze change on a range of issues facing the United States criminal justice system. Additional resources: Follow the on Follow the show on Follow the and donate to our for access to bonus content and more! Questions about this episode? Comments? Wanna say 'hi'? !
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A Different Kind of School Year with Mia Gault, Middle School Student
04/06/2021
A Different Kind of School Year with Mia Gault, Middle School Student
The children are the future--and they’re smarter than us. It’s been an exhausting, challenging, and eye-opening year, but what has it been like for the younger generation? This week Amanda sits down with middle school student, Mia Gault, to get the lowdown on what the past year has actually been like for students. Has virtual learning been awful? What has it been like witnessing the civil rights protests of the summer and other world events without being around a similar age group? Can new friends even be made during a pandemic? Not without the whole class knowing. Amanda and Mia gush about Hamilton, attending an International Baccalaureate Program, and in what spaces has it been ok to talk about what’s really going on--thank god for humanities class and theatre. Mia shares her reactions to Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and also talks to Amanda about the practice of self-love and the challenges in doing so. Mia also teaches Amanda about pack mentality and breaking away from things that don’t serve you. This episode serves as a reminder that the young are already ahead of us. Embrace their knowledge. Follow I have a question! on Follow the Missing Sock Network on and support us on for access to bonus content and more! Thoughts? More questions? Wanna say 'hi'? !
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Dear Britney, An Apology
03/30/2021
Dear Britney, An Apology
Amanda is on her own this week, and she has some baggage to unpack (this won't be the last time, either). Framing Britney Spears, presented by the New York Times, promises to take a deep dive into the #FreeBritney movement and her ongoing conservatorship battle with her father. As is her fashion, Amanda took away something else--the b-story-- and determined that she, Amanda Van Nostrand, a regular person, owes Britney Spears, a pop star sensation, an apology. How have women been taught to think of other women? Amanda explores her perception of Britney as a woman in the media at the height of her fame. How is it possible that the dichotomy of teenage girls is still baffling? Has Justin Timberlake been a dirtbag this ENTIRE TIME? Amanda attempts to untie the thread of her perceptions of womanhood in her teenage years, what society, history, and media have taught her about women, being one, and how to move forward with the understanding of how she wants to relate to women now. Follow the show on Follow the Missing Sock Network on and support us on for access to bonus content and more! Thoughts? More questions? !
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2021 NYC Mayoral Candidate, Dianne Morales
02/22/2021
2021 NYC Mayoral Candidate, Dianne Morales
Community based solutions, grassroots efforts, and a progressive agenda are just a few things that make NYC mayoral candidate, Dianne Morales, stand out. With a background in the nonprofit sector, Dianne served as former Executive Director of The Door where she developed an outreach program for homeless LGBTQ+ youth. She was a founding board member of Jumpstart, a national early literacy program, and her most recent role: CEO and Executive Director of Phipps Neighborhoods, which helps children, youth, and families in low-income communities in the South Bronx rise above poverty. Dianne acknowledges that New York doesn’t work until it works for everyone--and the underrepresented are the ones that have been keeping the city going. Dianne is ready to fix a broken system. Amanda and Dianne discuss the insurrection at the United States Capitol and the vulnerabilities that COVID has exposed nationally and locally. What does New York need to do to rise out of the ashes? Dianne believes that respect and dignity belongs to all New Yorkers and access to housing, healthcare, education, safety, and transportation are necessities that communities deserve to feel empowered to make the changes necessary to improve their lives. Dianne isn’t making promises to bring us back to normal, she is making promises to apply progressive movement that includes everyone in our city. Dianne's book recommendation, The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person by Frederick Joseph can be found Follow Dianne on and Follow her campaign site Follow I have a question! on Follow the Missing Sock Network on and support us on . Access to bonus content and more! Thoughts? More questions? !
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2021 NYC Mayoral Candidate, Kathryn Garcia
02/15/2021
2021 NYC Mayoral Candidate, Kathryn Garcia
COVID-19 has changed so much for the world as far as how we operate. We are having to consider new ways of doing things and we are being given an opportunity to rebuild bigger and better, and doing so in New York is no exception. Enter mayoral candidate, Kathryn Garcia. As the former Commissioner of Sanitation and the former COO of NYC Department of Environmental Protection, Garcia believes she has what it takes to get New York back up and running and that starts with empowerment. As a woman who has spearheaded many projects and worn many hats (Food Czar, Lead Czar), Kathryn understands the importance of accountability and wants to see it implemented more often; in our police force, our schools, and our economy. Kathryn Garcia has a vision and she is ready to lead. Amanda asks about the ever-delayed improvement of our subway system, the wealth tax, and the proposed development in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Gowanus. Who does Kathryn need to be most on board with her mission? And what stands out as her major issue? Amanda talks about her concerns for New York’s future, and the steps we need to take together to get there. Follow Kathryn Garcia on and Follow her campaign site Follow I have a question! on Follow the Missing Sock Network on and support us on for access to bonus content and more! Thoughts? More questions? !
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Finance Series: Hope Is Expensive
02/01/2021
Finance Series: Hope Is Expensive
Is this what money therapy sounds like? Amanda is on her own this week as she puts together the pieces she's learned over the past few episodes when it comes to personal finances. She speaks on her upbringing (a big part of how we think about money) and how a good work ethic was instilled at an early age but not how to ask for more. Money comes from hard work, but is that actually true? Amanda talks about her thoughts on people that have money, and while she wants more, how does one go about that without losing touch with the world around them? When is too old to decide that being broke isn't for you? She also talks about the level of maturity that comes from realizing that something isn't working and how to we balance new information and still give ourselves the life we want? Follow Amanda on and Follow the show on Have more questions or an idea for an episode? Check out the Missing Sock Network on and
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Finance Series: How to Have a Better Relationship with Your Money with Lindsay Goldwert, Spent Podcast, Author of Bow Down
01/25/2021
Finance Series: How to Have a Better Relationship with Your Money with Lindsay Goldwert, Spent Podcast, Author of Bow Down
What if you and money were dating? How did you meet? Is it serious? Amanda chats with finance podcaster and writer Lindsay Goldwert about the relationship between us and our money; the shame surrounding debt, and being the one that has to take a long, hard look in the mirror at yourself and be your own money therapist. Lindsay acknowledges the challenges we face when looking at our future in comparison to others, and coming to terms with the things that we want versus the things that we think we should want. We are so consumed by other people’s opinions that we prevent ourselves from keeping our best interests in mind--but we all know that most people are not thinking about us in the first place. Rough. Both women discuss the challenges of the starving artist mentality, and how people begin to treat you differently when money makes an appearance in your life. She gives advice on investment apps which have lowered the barrier to entry so that investing and saving are within reach. Lindsay has worked as a finance writer and editor for magazines as well as finance apps STASH and Zeta; she is a master at talking to regular people about the complexities of money and the role it plays in our lives. Check out Lindsay’s book Bow Down: Lessons from Dominatrixes on How to get Everything You Want This week’s episode is brought to you by , handmade masks from the Hudson Valley. New designs uploaded every Tuesday. Use code QUESTION25 for 25% off your order. Follow Lindsay Goldwert on and Follow I have a question! on Follow the Missing Sock Network on and support us on for access to bonus content and more! Thoughts? More questions? !
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Finance Series: Building Your Budget with Mary Pino, The Gilded Grape
01/18/2021
Finance Series: Building Your Budget with Mary Pino, The Gilded Grape
Savings accounts and investing and being able to buy nice things is, well, nice, but are you actually keeping track of how much you spend? How much you save? Amanda has haphazardly attempted budgets for quite some time, but it never seemed to matter, because when she made money she spent it. Mary Pino, former corporate accountant turned small business owner, has a bomb to drop: budgets are necessary for success and financial empowerment. Mary talks about the importance of creating a budget that works for you as an individual; everyone is different, but everyone needs to be able to understand where their money is going. Mary stresses the necessity of setting yourself up correctly so that you can create and reach whatever financial goals you may have in the long and short term. During the show, Amanda makes a stunning realization: that she’s always been frugal, but not necessarily managed her money well. A money-therapy lightbulb! Mary shares some basics for getting started, and other things that you should consider when creating your budget with the understanding that you should always be making adjustments depending on need and situation. Check out Mary’s . This week’s episode is sponsored by , handmade masks from the Hudson Valley. New designs added every Tuesday. Use code QUESTION25 for 25% off your order. Visit Mary at the the next time you are in Brooklyn (or if you're there already) and try some New York based wine and spirits. Follow the Gilded Grape on Follow I have a question! on Thoughts? More questions? !
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Finance Series: Preparing for Retirement with Jo-Ann Holst and Matt Snyder of JH Advisers Inc.
01/11/2021
Finance Series: Preparing for Retirement with Jo-Ann Holst and Matt Snyder of JH Advisers Inc.
There are two types of people: those that have a plan and those that do not. This week Amanda speaks with her very own financial planners, Jo-Ann Holst and Matt Snyder about preparing for retirement. Did you think this was irrelevant? It’s ok, so did Amanda. It turns out that it’s never too soon to start thinking about your future, especially when we don’t know what it’s going to look like! The world is continuously changing and it’s important to take yourself into consideration (like, really important). Jo-Ann and Matt talk about the benefits of working with a fiduciary and understanding that you have more options than you think-- even within your 401(K). There is no right way to do this, so it’s really a matter of doing what’s best for you. Some of you might be thinking, “Well, how the heck do I know what that is?” And here’s your answer: ask for help and inform yourself, there are people that want to help you, you just have to take the first step. That doesn’t mean diving headfirst into apps that claim to help you invest on credit, but doing some research to figure out what might be a good move for you. There is no ‘one size fits all’ formula when it comes to retirement, unfortunately, but this episode will clear up some of the secrecy surrounding the access to information and the reiteration that financial literacy has been underrepresented in our education system. This week’s episode is brought to you by , handmade masks from the Hudson Valley. New designs uploaded every Tuesday. Use code QUESTION25 for 25% off your order. Visit Jo-Ann and Matt Follow the show on Thoughts? More questions? ! A list of mentioned resources: by Robert Kiyosaki
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Bonus Episode (A Rant)
01/08/2021
Bonus Episode (A Rant)
Amanda completes a 12 minute, uninterrupted sentence about her feelings on the events that took place at our nation's capitol on January 6, 2021. Does she have the authority to do this? No. Is that important? Also no.
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Finance Series: Debts, Assets, Liabilities and Credit with Michael Dunn, CEO, Decade Financial Solutions
01/04/2021
Finance Series: Debts, Assets, Liabilities and Credit with Michael Dunn, CEO, Decade Financial Solutions
What’s your number? You might want a pen and paper for this episode... This week Amanda is joined by veteran and business owner, Michael Dunn of Decade Financial Solutions based in San Diego, California. Most of us are afraid to talk about money. It’s f*****g scary! And mystifying! Michael breaks down the differences between good debt and bad debt (most of us have bad debt), assets, liabilities, credit cards, and predatory lending. He stresses the importance of having finances in order before making any big moves, and most importantly being a qualified borrower. Most of us have not received the type of education necessary to make thoughtful decisions about our finances and Amanda and Michael talk about the steps you can take to make that happen. Michael suggests that we think about (like, really think about) where we want to be in the future, and keeping our blinders on when it comes to dealing with our finances vs what we see other people doing. Michael encourages Amanda to not think of money so linearly and teaches us that once we can understand the flow and control of debt, we will have a better grasp on what it is that we need to succeed. To top it off, Michael is offering 50% off of Decade's personal credit restoration for listeners. Check it out ! This week’s episode is brought to you by , handmade masks from the Hudson Valley. New designs uploaded every Tuesday. Use code QUESTION25 for 25% off your order. Follow Mike on Follow the show on Thoughts? More questions? !
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Library for President with Nick Higgins, Chief Librarian, Brooklyn Public Library
12/07/2020
Library for President with Nick Higgins, Chief Librarian, Brooklyn Public Library
If you do not value libraries then you do not value information or culture or wisdom. You are silencing the voices of the past and you are damaging the future. -Neil Gaiman When most of us think of the public library we think of musty smells, old librarians judging us over their readers reminding us that we are breaking the cardinal rule of the library by whispering to one another. But what would happen if we thought of libraries in the context of what they actually do? This week, Amanda speaks with Brooklyn Public Library’s Chief Librarian, Nick Higgins, Library Journal named ‘Mover and Shaker’. Amanda and Nick talk about the history of libraries, and why access to information continues to be a threat to those in power. Nick explains why the Dewey Decimal System is problematic and Amanda instigates an unintentional pop quiz of the five library laws of science. Nick explains the correlation between literacy, poverty, intentional underfunding, and what an ideal outreach program looks like. Serving over half a million card holders, BPL strives to be an institution that responds to the needs of the public it serves; a democratic space where everyone is welcome regardless of age, gender or ethnic group. It turns out, the library is much more of a political powerhouse than it gets credit for, and Amanda is ready to get libraries on the next presidential ballot. This week’s episode is brought to you by , handmade masks from the Hudson Valley. New designs uploaded every Tuesday. Use code QUESTION25 for 25% off your order. Follow Nick Higgins on and the Brooklyn Public Library on and Follow Amanda on and Follow the show on Thoughts? More questions? !
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Pelvic Health: The Studio Apartment of Your Body with Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, Pelvic PT, Greater Boston Urology
11/30/2020
Pelvic Health: The Studio Apartment of Your Body with Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, Pelvic PT, Greater Boston Urology
Can a poop onesie be a brand? Short answer: yes (an anatomically correct vagina is next). This week Amanda tries not to get too personal while speaking with pelvic physical therapist, Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas of Greater Boston Urology about pelvic health. You know, your internal banana hammock that no one thinks about nearly as much as they should? Dr. Jeffrey-Thomas talks about her COVID pivot to spreading accurate information to the masses via TikTok and Instagram, and how she is able to approach pelvic health from a more holistic standpoint with her co-worker and surgeon, Dr. Angel Johnson. Your pelvis holds A LOT OF STUFF, and synchronicity is more important than you think. Amanda gets the scoop on hovering over a public (or any) toilet seat, peeing in the shower, kegels -- which may not be the answer you need, why am I leaking (am I leaking?), and what in God’s name is the ? With great knowledge comes great responsibility about how your body works; you are going to be thinking about this all week. Follow the Pelvic Health Ladies on and Follow Amanda on and Follow the podcast on Support Thoughts? More questions? the show!
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Content Creation w/Andrew Cohen and Ryan Kieffer of Confidential Creative and Paisley Fields
11/23/2020
Content Creation w/Andrew Cohen and Ryan Kieffer of Confidential Creative and Paisley Fields
This week Amanda talks content creation with Andrew Cohen and Ryan Kieffer of Confidential Creative in Los Angeles along with queer country artist, Paisley Fields. With so many options these days for creating content (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch), the possibilities are endless, but what does it look like when you actually want to get an idea off the ground? The answer: just do it and figure it out as you go. With backgrounds in PR and law, Andrew and Ryan talk about how they teamed up after high school to start Confidential Creative, an incubator and animation studio. They discuss the importance of sharing the workload, not waiting on others to give permission to move forward with a good idea, and the fear of pursuing an option that seems outside of the realm of expectations. Paisley talks about learning from failure, what trust means to him when working with other creators, and creating the Paisley Show as a way to stay connected with other artists. They talk about steps they’ve all taken to get their foot in the door, and what they do to stay connected with their network, fans, and potential collaborators by being persistent but not annoying (there’s a difference). The three of them (with Amanda) tease a project in development; an animated series that centers around Paisley’s experience working in a piano bar in the village in Manhattan with a LGBTQ+ cast of characters. Follow Confidential Creative on Instagram and Follow Paisley Fields on and Follow Amanda on and Follow the show on Thoughts? More questions? Email the show! [email protected]
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Sister, Sister with Quincy Howard, OP
11/16/2020
Sister, Sister with Quincy Howard, OP
How do you solve a problem like Maria? Vows? Retreats? Motherhouses? This week Amanda speaks with Quincy Howard, OP, about her path to becoming a woman religious. From Texas, to New Orleans, to Wisconsin, to Atlanta and to D.C., Quincy spent a lot of time thinking that this life probably wasn’t going to be for her. With a background in urban planning and time in the Peace Corps, a chance encounter (and slight miscommunication) with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa put her on the path to reconnecting with communities; work that she found didn’t exist as she climbed the corporate ranks in her professional life. Quincy shares with Amanda what she’s learned during this process (what confirmation?), and how it’s fulfilled her in ways that she never would have expected. She explains how each congregation has their own ‘flavor’, but vows remain the same (though celibacy isn’t quite what you think it is), and that being around nuns is like being around 200 grandmothers. The two discuss Quincy’s current mission on Capitol Hill, how the political landscape is mirroring the Catholic one, and what Pope Francis means when he says marriage equality. Follow Quincy Howard, OP on Twitter @sisterquincy Email Sister Quincy Check out The Network https://networklobby.org/ Follow the show on Instagram @ihaveaquestionthepodcast Follow Amanda on Twitter and Instagram @amandavannos Follow Missing Sock Network on Instagram @missingsocknetwork Thoughts? More questions? Email the show! [email protected]
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Election Series: Recap
11/02/2020
Election Series: Recap
Amanda is her own guest this week as she discusses what she’s learned over the past few weeks. Amanda talks about her own insecurities in discussing politics and what has made this topic so intimidating. How has having good manners prevented her from speaking up when she thinks that something is wrong? When crying makes a point moot and protesting is disturbing the peace, how is anyone supposed to be heard? Amanda discusses recent political invocations like the US Constitution and Abraham Lincoln and how our founding fathers would have been terrible at hosting a party. How do we move on from here? What needs to be recognized before we can move forward with progress? Will we ever take into account the needs of those around us? WHY IS SEEING BOTH SIDES SO MUCH WORK? Follow the show on Instagram @ihaveaquestionthepodcast Follow Amanda on Twitter and Instagram @amandavannos Follow Missing Sock Network on Instagram @missingsocknetwork Thoughts? More questions? Email the show! [email protected]
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Election Series: Voter Suppression, Andrea Jones-Rooy, Ph.D.
10/26/2020
Election Series: Voter Suppression, Andrea Jones-Rooy, Ph.D.
Amanda is paying attention and feels like she knows less. Let’s just dive right in, shall we? Amanda wants to know if our election process is fair. Why does it seem like some countries have it figured out and America is still over here trying to screw in a friggin’ lightbulb? Clearly there isn’t a way to have a one size fits all approach to a nation so large, but it seems like we don’t even have a say in choices being made at all (Electoral College, heard of it?). Why are communities of color less incentivized to vote? Is voting a right or a responsibility? This week, Amanda is joined by NYU professor and political scientist Andrea Jones-Rooy, Ph.D. to discuss voter suppression. Andrea explains the ways in which people are prevented from making decisions that would be beneficial to our future. Autonomy generally seems like a good idea, but that tends to not work as well for a team mentality. And how about this slice: people in power have incentives to make voting difficult because they don’t want to lose. How do we get people to care about ‘D’? Andrea also shares the greatest equation of all time when discussing the personal ‘cost’ of voting. Check out ‘Ask A Political Scientist’ on YouTube, Thursdays at 7pm EST ‘The Anger Gap: How Race Shapes Emotion In Politics’ by Davin Phoenix Follow Andrea on Twitter and Instagram @jonesrooy Follow the show on Instagram @ihaveaquestionthepodcast Follow Amanda on Twitter and Instagram @amandavannos Thoughts? More questions? Email the show! [email protected]
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Election Series: Government Breakdown, Sarah Rosier Director of Strategic Partnerships, Ballotpedia
10/19/2020
Election Series: Government Breakdown, Sarah Rosier Director of Strategic Partnerships, Ballotpedia
What a week! Amanda feels like she's been playing political whack-a-mole and puts a call out to Google to help state websites with their accessibility--why is everything so hard? Amanda had the opportunity to sit down with Sarah Rosier, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Ballotpedia. Amanda needed a civics class refresher and Sarah delivered (who has what job, again?). Sarah put a spotlight on the importance of the census as well as the power of staying focused and informed about statewide elections. They also discussed the divisiveness occurring on both sides, and what happened to politicians making choices to benefit the nation as a whole. Also what in the the hell is a ‘special election’ and when did term limits get so sexy? What made this conversation especially great, is the Ballotpedia focus on neutrality. There was NO LEANING in this episode. Sarah encourages doing the homework and using the Ballotpedia sample ballot, available on their website, to prepare you for what is on your state’s ballot this November. Follow Ballotpedia on Twitter @ballotpedia Stay up to date with elections in your state by checking out www.ballotpedia.com Follow the show on Instagram @ihaveaquestionthepodcast Follow Amanda on Twitter and Instagram @amandavannos Thoughts? More questions? Email the show! [email protected]
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Election Series: Women AND Politics, Christina Reynolds VP of Communications, EMILY's List
10/12/2020
Election Series: Women AND Politics, Christina Reynolds VP of Communications, EMILY's List
There are a number of issues that are not at the forefront during this election cycle and Amanda needs some clarification, so she’s starting with something near and dear: women AND politics. Amanda had the opportunity to sit down with Christina Reynolds, Vice President of Communications at EMILY’s List and find out: What goes into running for office? Why the disparity of female representation? What is the female vote? Why does it matter what ethnicity is voting? How do we get women on the same page with so many differing views? Christina encourages women to hold people in power accountable and highlights the positive effects of social media. Are you registered to vote? Check out your state's deadline Follow Christina on Twitter @creynoldsnc Donate to EMILY’s List: Follow Amanda on Twitter and Instagram @amandavannos Thoughts? More questions? Email the show! [email protected]
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