Firestarters with Shannon Watts

Heidi Rose Robbins has been a professional astrologer for 25 years and is the author of Everyday Radiance: 365 Zodiac Inspired Prompts for Self Care and Self Renewal. She is a guest faculty member at Esalen in Big Sur and twice a year leads Radiant Life Retreats in Ojai for people wanting to go deeper into her work. Heidi has written several books of poetry, has been a featured poet at two TedX events, and has written a daily Moon Note about the astrology and poetry of the day on Instagram and Substack for the last eight years. She hosts The Radiance Project podcast and co hosts Chart Your Career with Ellen Fondiler. Her newest poetry collection, Ask Me, is out now.Heidi read from her new book and talked about what it means to say she has collected these poems rather than written them, gathering them over a lifetime rather than sitting down to produce a manuscript. This collection came together in the years after her father’s death, and she walked through how the book moves through five sections, beginning with departure and grief and ending in what she calls a downpour of grace and self compassion. We also talked about how twenty five years of reading cycles and seasons for other people did not make her own season of loss any easier to move through, and why she believes poetry, read aloud and shared with others, is still one of the most powerful tools we have for connection.Connect with Heidi: Website | Instagram | Substack | Buy the BookIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Audrey Francis is a Tony Award winning producer and the Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre, where she has been an ensemble member since 2017. As part of the executive leadership team, she has played an integral role in the company’s post pandemic turnaround, producing five of the top ten best selling shows in Steppenwolf’s fifty year history. Audrey is also the co creator of Steppenwolf IMPACT, which brings Steppenwolf’s ensemble ethos into the corporate world, and the co-founder of Black Box Acting, where she built a curriculum rooted in the study of human behavior. She has worked on nearly twenty productions at Steppenwolf as an actor and director, and coaches performers and executives alike at companies like Amazon, HBO, and NBC.In this conversation, Audrey traced her winding path from aspiring film editor to Artistic Director, and how a teacher’s offhand advice sent her from Colorado to Chicago and into an ensemble built around treating art as a team sport. She talked candidly about learning to fail in public, why she built an entire school around the practice of taking risks and celebrating each other for trying, and how she redefined failure for herself as walking away from a situation without being honest or brave rather than simply losing a role. We also got into what it took to lead Steppenwolf through the pandemic, why she coaches executives to stop performing command and start showing up as themselves, and what it felt like to stand on the Tony Awards stage watching Purpose, a play she and her co-artistic director greenlit with only forty pages written, win Best Play.Connect with Audrey: Steppenwolf Theatre | Black Box Acting | SubstackIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Shannon and Carrie sat down for an honest, warm conversation about one of the most significant transitions in a mother's life: the empty nest. Carrie is right in the thick of it, with her daughter back at college for her sophomore year and her 17 year old son preparing to leave for a cultural immersion program in Europe. Shannon opened up about navigating this transition five times over, sharing candid stories about kids who came home unexpectedly, the balance between staying connected and giving space, and why, as she wrote in you don't have to be miserable when your kids leave, she found herself more excited than devastated when the last child left.They talked about the grief that sneaks up on you not at the goodbye but in everything that shifts afterward, and about redefining your relationship with your kids without clinging or disappearing. As Shannon put it, you don't have to be miserable when your kids leave, but a rich next chapter doesn't happen by accident. You have to prepare for it, and you have to choose it.Connect with Carrie: Instagram | Substack | WebsiteIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Nicole Locklin for US Congress is an attorney with more than a decade of legal experience, most recently serving as Lead Commercial Legal Counsel for Healthcare and Life Sciences at Databricks. She grew up in a town of about a thousand people in rural Oklahoma, where her parents ran a crop dusting business. A first generation college graduate who relied on student loans to earn her law degree, Nicole is now running as a Democrat for U.S. Congress in Florida's 26th District, challenging a twenty plus year incumbent and making the case that working families in South Florida deserve a representative who actually works for them.We talked about what it has actually felt like to leave a legal career and step into a congressional race with no political background, the affordability crisis Nicole keeps hearing about on doorsteps across South Florida where homeowner's insurance averages $8,000 a year and a one bedroom apartment can run nearly $3,000 a month, and why Nicole believes corruption and corporate money in politics is the root cause blocking progress on every other issue families care about. We also discussed the gerrymandering that reshaped FL-26, why Nicole sees the seat as genuinely flippable, and what it means to run a grassroots campaign in a state where the political establishment has spent years trying to erase Democratic votes.Connect with Nicole: Website | Instagram | Substack If you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Melissa Jun Rowley is an author, journalist, and global communications strategist whose career has taken her across some 75 countries, from the startup ecosystems of Silicon Valley and Beirut to the front lines of climate activism and conflict reporting. She has produced business news for CNN, reported for BBC News, co-founded a humanitarian tech platform with Peter Gabriel called The Toolbox, and most recently served as Director of Communications at the environmental nonprofit REVERB, leading campaigns with artists including Billie Eilish and Dave Matthews Band to mobilize fans around climate action. She is currently pursuing a Mid-Career Master in Public Administration at Harvard University, and her new book, Beyond the Mic Drop: How Our Stories Shift Culture, Power and Policy, is a call to every person to recognize the storytelling power they already carry.Our conversation moved from the origins of the book to the deeper question of why so many of us, women especially, have quietly surrendered control over our own narratives. Melissa traced that surrender back to childhood, describing how the stories handed to us by families, institutions, and systems can calcify into what feels like fixed fact until we learn to question them. She talked about what her time in Lebanon, Puerto Rico, and across the Middle East taught her about the gap between the story a place is assigned by mainstream media and the stories actually being lived on the ground, and how that gap mirrors what happens to individual people who let others do their narrating for them. Connect with Melissa: Website | Instagram | Substack | Buy the BookIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Dana Suskind is the Founder and Co-Director of the TMW Center for Early Learning and Public Health, and the Founding Director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program. She has dedicated her research and clinical work to optimizing foundational brain development, with an emphasis on helping parents and caregivers understand their power as brain architects. Her new book, Human Raised: Nurturing Connection, Curiosity and Lifelong Learning in the Age of AI, explores how families can stay grounded in human connection as AI becomes part of how kids learn, socialize, and think.In this conversation, we went beyond the usual questions about screen time and app safety to ask what we risk losing if we outsource too much of childhood to systems built for optimization rather than connection. We talked about how the way children are raised today intersects with the future of democracy, misinformation, and civic life, and why it matters that many of the people building these technologies keep their own kids away from them. We also talked honestly about how parents can hold the tension between preparing their children for a high tech future and protecting a meaningful, deeply human childhood, without falling into fear or fatalism.Connect with Dr. Dana: Website | Instagram | Substack | Buy the BookIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Sarah Aviram is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and leadership coach who helps people navigate uncertainty and activate their own sense of agency. In 2019, she left her job as head of talent development at a New York tech company and spent 12 months living and working across 12 countries, from Latin America to Asia to Europe and South Africa, as part of a global research project on the future of remote work. Her new book, The Scenic Route: Following My Inner Compass Across 12 Countries in 12 Months, tells the personal side of that journey. In this conversation, we talked about how Sarah planned a year of travel with a cohort of 30 professionals, what it was like to leave behind everything familiar without any guarantees of what would come next, and the lessons she carried home, from a flamenco show in Spain to a stay with monks to a wild night at a drag performance. We also discussed her broader message: that there's no one right way to live your life, that you're allowed to change course at any time, and that experience can be a source of power at any age.Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram | Substack | Buy the BookIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Lucy McBride is a primary care physician and co-founder of the Ackerly McBride Group in Washington, DC. For over 25 years, she has practiced evidence-based, relationship-centered medicine. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Medical School, with a master's degree in Pharmacology from Cambridge as a Fulbright Scholar, she completed her internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She writes the weekly newsletter Are You Okay? and hosts the podcast Beyond the Prescription. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and USA Today. She has contributed to CNN, MSNBC, and PBS, advocating for a holistic, patient-centered approach to health. Her upcoming book Beyond the Prescription will be released August 11, 2026.In this conversation, we discussed how health isn’t just about getting answers but about asking the right questions, what primary care physicians are doing for their patients in an ideal world vs. what is actually happening, why doctors should treat the whole patient and not just a set of symptoms, and her upcoming book Beyond the Prescription which includes a 5 step process for taking charge of your health.Connect with Lucy: Instagram | Website | Substack | Buy the Book If you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Samara Bay has spent the last two decades helping leaders across culture with their public speaking and finding the words to bring rooms to life. Samara is also the author of the #1 bestselling business book, Permission to Speak. Her TEDx Talk The One Thing Every Great Speaker Does (And No One Teaches) is an Editor's Pick—a distinction given to fewer than .1% of talks.In this conversation, we discussed how your whole body is involved in the process of public speaking, why people are afraid to speak up (and what trust has to do with it), how to speak from a place of love instead of fear, and her number one tip for overcoming jitters before speaking on any stage big or small. Connect with Samara: Substack | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Buy the book | Watch the TEDx TalkIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Emily Amick is a lawyer, journalist, and political analyst who served as counsel to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. She created @EmilyinYourPhone to give people her insider insight into the political process and help them find ways they can take action. Her first book DEMOCRACY IN RETROGRADE: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives was an instant New York Times bestseller.In this conversation, we discussed how reclaiming our place in democracy helps alleviate the doom spiral, how civic engagement can bring us together in community again, how we can begin to address the extremism in politics and the media, how to demystify the political system and help women overcome imposter syndrome, and what the antidote to modern loneliness is. Connect with Emily: Instagram | Website | SubstackIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Jessica Mackler is the president of EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, working to elect Democratic pro-choice women at every level of the ballot. She is a veteran political strategist known for her political smarts and sheer grit, and a dedication to doing whatever it takes to get the win. She has spent more than two decades in Democratic politics.In this conversation, we discussed why it’s essential that the Democratic Party supports women candidates, Jessica’s experience as a Democrat, a woman, and as someone who runs an amazing organization that helps women run for office, why we can’t overlook problematic behavior from Democratic candidates, and how there’s a double standard for men and women in politics.Connect with Jessica: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Amber Goodwin is a lawyer, organizer, and public safety advocate who has spent her career working with communities and fighting for safety, health, and opportunity. She currently serves as an Assistant District Attorney in Travis County, where she is fighting the good fight against gun violence. She is running for Austin City Council because this moment demands leadership that listens, organizes, and delivers.In this conversation, we discussed how the 2015 shooting in Charleston inspired her fight against gun violence, how you can accomplish big things with small groups of people, why she decided to run for Austin City Council, and how affordability is a big issue for her constituents and how it goes hand-in-hand with violence prevention.Connect with Amber: Instagram | Website | Donate If you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Ann Warner has spent more than two decades advocating for the rights of women, girls and gender-expansive people around the world. Today, she serves as Executive Director of the Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity (CGRE), a growing community of donors and foundations uniting to advance gender, reproductive, and racial equity. Ann joined CGRE to grow its network of funder partners and grantee partners to build a movement of collective power that creates durable, lasting change. She also served as the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN), which is now one of the leading gender and justice advocacy organizations in the Southern United States.In this conversation, we discussed how building collective power comes from working in partnership with incredible people, her goal to create the conditions for women and girls to be able to thrive, how abortion bans are interfering with the ability of women and people to determine what is best for them and their families, the coordinated political attack on transgender people, and how we can’t stand by idly and assume that the rights we have now are permanent. Connect with Ann: LinkedIn | WebsiteIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Reshma Saujani, is a leading activist, an author, the founder of Girls Who Code, the founder and CEO of Moms First, host of My So-Called Midlife podcast, and executive producer of the new documentary No Country for Mothers. Named one of TIME’s Women of the Year in 2026, Reshma has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls’ empowerment.In this conversation we discuss No Country for Mothers, which argues that American motherhood has been deliberately designed to divide and distract women through false culture-war choices like “trad wife vs. girl boss.” We also talk about how childcare was once a bipartisan policy, how New York City’s universal childcare can be a model for what’s possible, and making childcare and paid leave defining voter issues in the midterms.Connect with Reshma: Website | Instagram | Substack | DocumentaryIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Kerry Docherty cofounded the lifestyle clothing brand Faherty with her husband and his identical twin. Kerry is someone who is passionate about using creativity and community to cultivate joy. Kerry is the author of the children’s book Somewhere, Right Now, and also recently published her memoir, Selfish, about rebelling against meeting other people's needs, and instead focusing on meeting her own.In this conversation, we discussed how becoming a writer has always been Kerry’s dream, why she compares writing a memoir to an archaeological dig, how putting yourself first can be a gift to other people, how it feels to reclaim the word “selfish”, how writing Selfish affected her husband and their marriage, and how to deal with blowback in a world that tells women to be small.Connect with Kerry: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website | Buy her booksIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Congressman D Goldman proudly represents New York’s 10th Congressional District. He’s running for re-election to get justice for our most vulnerable New Yorkers, tackle corruption and wealth inequality, and defend our democracy. Dan has spent his entire career as a public servant and, since joining Congress in 2022, Dan has emerged as one of the most effective progressive fighters in Washington.In this conversation we discussed how the biggest concern Dan’s constituents in New York have is the economy and affordability, his proudest achievements in office and his priorities going forward (healthcare, immigration, and more), why the issue of gun safety is so important, and the biggest difference between Dan and his opponent in the upcoming primary. Connect with Dan: Instagram | Website | Facebook | DonateIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Susan Piver is the New York Times bestselling author of many books, but her latest is Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics. Susan has an international reputation as a skillful meditation teacher. She’s been a student of Buddhism since 1993, and in 2012, she founded The Open Heart Project, the world’s largest online-only dharma center.In this conversation, we discussed what inspired Susan to write her latest book, why meditation is self-optimization and not just a “life hack”, how meditation wakes up our own wisdom, why the goal of Buddhism is to supersede the ego, how to balance being open and spiritual with having boundaries, and how you don’t have to be religious to take part in meditation. Connect with Susan: Instagram | Substack | Website | Buy the bookIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Alexis McGill Johnson is is a longstanding champion for social and racial justice, a respected social and cultural organizer, and a tireless advocate for reproductive rights and access to high-quality, affordable health care. She is also the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood Federation of America, a national nonprofit organization that is the country’s most trusted name in sexual and reproductive health and rights. In this conversation, we discussed why defunding Planned Parenthood threatens the full range of care that is offered (cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing, and so much more), the significant impact of patients no longer being able to use Medicaid at Planned Parenthood facilities, what has changed in the past 4 years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, why Democrats need to keep speaking up about abortion and reproductive rights, and why it’s so important to donate and support your local Planned Parenthood. Connect with Alexis: Instagram | LinkedIn | DonateIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Jordan Wood is a former Capitol Hill Chief of Staff and pro-democracy advocate. Barricaded at the Capitol during the January 6th Insurrection, Jordan recognized the threat of Trump’s election-denial movement and co-founded the bipartisan organization democracyFIRST to combat Trump’s attacks on our constitution and the rule of law. Now, Jordan is running for Congress in Maine and will fight to rein in Wall Street and Big Pharma, stop Trump’s lawless ICE agents from terrorizing Maine, and so much more.In this conversation, we discussed how coming from a family of public service helped Jordan find his calling, the impact that January 6th had on his decision to start democracyFIRST, his strong stance against corporate donors and super PACs and gun violence, and how voter cynicism is something he’s fighting against in Maine. Connect with Jordan: Website | Instagram | Facebook | SubstackIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Michael D. Tubbs is running to be California’s next lieutenant governor to build a California future that sets the example for how government can work for everyone. He was Stockton’s first African-American mayor in 2016, and the youngest mayor of any major city at the age of 26. Under his leadership, Stockton saw a decline in homicides and officer involved shootings, as well as record low unemployment rates. Michael is also the Special Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility; the Founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income; and the Founder of End Poverty in California (EPIC).In this conversation, we discussed how the desire to reduce gun violence inspired Michael to get involved in politics, what it was like to be the mayor of a struggling city, how government CAN work if leaders are willing to try something new, and why it’s so important to vote in California’s crowded primary. Connect with Michael: Website | Instagram | FacebookIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Pia Dandiya is running for U.S. Congress in Florida’s 22nd District. A former public school teacher, high school principal, and White House Fellow, she has dedicated her career to expanding opportunity for working families through education and economic mobility. Born and raised in the district she now seeks to represent, Pia previously worked on workforce and economic policy at the White House Domestic Policy Council and later led public sector initiatives at Apple. She currently lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband and son.In this conversation, we discussed the specific moment that inspired Pia to run for Congress, why Florida isn’t a “lost cause” in terms of red vs. blue, what it’s like being a female candidate knocking on doors and talking to voters in Florida, the issues that are close to voters’ hearts in Florida, and why education is a big priority for Pia. Connect with Pia: Website | Instagram | LinkedInIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Rachel Janfaza is the founder of The Up and Up, a research, media, and strategy firm focused on Gen Z. A member of Generation Z herself, Janfaza is best known for her theory of The Two Gen Zs. Her written work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, etc. And her on-air analysis has been featured on MSNOW, CNN, CBS, C-SPAN, and more. In this conversation, we discussed what the theory of the two Gen Zs actually is, the different lived experiences of the pre- and post-COVID era for Gen Z, the political differences between the two factions, how extremes on the political spectrum have led Gen Z to a larger desire for independent candidates, and how they are leading the analog revival movement. Connect with Rachel: Website | Instagram | SubstackIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Heather Haggarty is an attorney, mom, and now organizer. After Trump was elected in 2016, she realized that voting was not enough, and began to volunteer with grassroots organizations and campaigns. In October 2024, after watching traditional get-out-the-vote strategies fail with young voters, she and her Gen-Z daughter launched Donuts + Democracy.In this conversation, we discussed how Donuts + Democracy came to be, why it’s so important to reach and educate young voters, how low voter turnout in young people isn’t necessarily about apathy but frustration, and what advice Heather would give to women who have an idea but are unsure where to start. Connect with Heather: Substack | Website | Instagram | FacebookIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Matt Mahan is the Democratic Mayor of San José and a candidate for Governor, running to get California back to basics by lowering costs, ending unsheltered homelessness, improving public safety, and expanding economic opportunity. Elected to the San José City Council in 2020 and as Mayor in 2022, Mahan has focused on accountability and outcomes. Under his leadership, San José has reduced unsheltered homelessness, expanded shelter capacity, streamlined housing development, and strengthened public safety. Re-elected in 2024 with nearly 90% of the vote, he is now running for Governor to bring a results-driven, back-to-basics approach to state government.In this conversation, we discussed what motivated Matt to run for governor, how he plans to reduce gun violence throughout the state of California, his plans to protect children from the harmful effects of social media and AI, fixing the issues in California’s educational system, the realities of being a dad and husband and running for office, and more. Connect with Matt: Website | Instagram | FacebookIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Liuba Grechen Shirley is the Founder and CEO of Vote Mama, an interconnected trio of organizations dedicated to electing mothers, transforming the political system, and advancing family-friendly policies. Liuba's career highlights include her historic congressional campaign for New York’s 2nd District, where she achieved the highest vote share of any Democrat against the incumbent in 25 years and raised over $2 million without corporate PAC money. And she also made history as the first woman to receive federal approval to spend campaign funds on childcare.In this conversation, we discussed what motivated Liuba to get into politics, the biggest structural barriers moms encounter when they decide to run for office, how moms bring a different lived experience to policymaking, and how moms can get more involved in local politics and beyond. Connect with Liuba: Website | Instagram | SubstackIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Atima Omara is a nationally recognized award-winning political strategist, leader, writer, speaker, and advocate who’s worked in progressive electoral politics and issue advocacy for the last two decades. She’s also the author of the brand new book, The Instigators: How Black Women Have Been Essential to American Democracy (And What We Can Learn from Them).In this conversation, we discussed Atima’s book and what inspired her to write it, the writing process as a first-time author, the challenges Black women face when running for office, and how we can best support Black women’s campaigns.Connect with Atima: Buy the Book | Website | Instagram | LinkedInIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Rep. Gwen Moore was elected to represent Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District in 2004, making her the first African American elected to Congress from the State of Wisconsin. With over 40 years of public service, she has been at the forefront of some of our nation’s most significant legislative achievements and has gained the reputation of a fearless advocate for women and children.In this conversation, we discussed what women, in particular, need to know about the SAVE Act, Rep. Moore’s responses to Republicans who say that the SAVE Act is just a voter ID bill, how Trump’s policies on immigration affect abuse survivors, and what Democrats in power are doing to stop the SAVE Act.Connect with Rep. Gwen Moore: Instagram | WebsiteIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

lauren harper is the legislative director for the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Gun Violence and grassroots organizer dedicated to tackling the root causes of gun violence in Illinois. Dr. Anthony Douglas II, MD MPH, is a surgical resident at the University of Chicago and the founder of the nation’s first Surgical Advocacy Fellowship. In this conversation, we discussed what brought them both into the gun violence prevention advocacy and policy space, why grassroots activism is so important especially when it comes to gun laws, what the RIFL Act is and who it helps, and why shifting the costs of firearm injury back to firearm manufacturers will help reduce gun violence overall. How to get involved and support the RIFL Act: Instagram | Website | DonateIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Nourbese Flint is the President of All* Above All and All* In Action Fund, leading All* Above All’s work to achieve abortion justice and build the political power of voters of color. Prior to coming to All* Above All, she was the Senior Director of Black Engagement at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she worked on the strategic partnership to strengthen Planned Parenthood’s relationships within existing racial justice, reproductive justice, Black serving and civil rights organizations. Nourbese is a founding member of Trust Black Women, a national coalition dedicated to increasing respect and support of Black Women, and is one of the founding members of the Black Women’s Democratic Club.In this conversation, we discussed why reproductive control is a core tool of fascism, the ways in which the current administration is attacking abortion access, the impact of reproductive control on women and especially black and brown women, and how we can fight back and advocate for abortion and reproductive justice. Connect with Nourbese: Website | Instagram | LinkedInIf you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Amy Diehl, Ph.D. is an award-winning IT leader and Chief Information Officer at Wilson College, as well as a leading gender equity researcher. She is the author of Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work and a sought-after speaker, consultant, and expert witness. Driven by a commitment to advancing gender equality, she helps organizations dismantle systemic barriers so women can advance and workplaces can thrive.In this conversation, we discussed how (beyond the horrible sexual abuse and trafficking) the Epstein files also brought to light the casual misogyny and sexism toward women, the 6 barriers outlined in her book, Glass Walls, that she used to analyze the files and the significance for women in the workplace, how misogyny enables a collective silence to protect men and devalue women, and what we can do to correct these injustices. Connect with Amy: Website | Instagram | LinkedInFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Jenn Sherman is my favorite Peloton star trainer who was the very first cycling instructor hired at Peloton Interactive. She’s also the founder of The Back Nine Era, and her goal is to redefine life after 50 by training for longevity, health, and strength. In this conversation, we discussed how Jenn became a Peloton trainer in her 40s and how it’s never too late to make a pivot in your life, how imposter syndrome still rears its ugly head no matter what you’ve accomplished, why community is an important part of women’s health and fitness, what the “back nine era” is, and the 5 habits women should incorporate to live our best lives in our 50s and beyond. Connect with Jenn: Instagram | Facebook For women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Stefanie O'Connell is an award-winning journalist covering money, power, and ambition whose work has been published in Slate, Bloomberg, Newsweek, USA Today, Glamour UK, Business Insider, and CNBC.com. She wrote, hosted, and co-produced Real Simple magazine’s Webby Award–winning podcast Money Confidential and publishes the Too Ambitious newsletter. She’s also the author of the upcoming book, The Ambition Penalty: How Corporate Culture Tells Women to Step Up―and Then Pushes Them Down. In this conversation, we discussed the biggest obstacle to women’s opportunity and wealth, the myths surrounding gender equality and workplace bias, what the “ambition penalty” is, what women should do when the system is against us, and her upcoming book, The Ambition Penalty. Connect with Stefanie: Website | Substack | InstagramFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Annie Andrews has spent her career as a pediatrician fighting for children and families, and now she is taking that fight to the Senate. She is a mom and Democrat running to unseat Lindsey Graham in South Carolina. After nearly two decades in children’s hospitals, Annie saw how Washington’s failures reach all the way into her hospital room every day. Kids shot in their own neighborhoods, parents forced to ration medication, families unable to find mental health care. So she got involved in advocacy and policy—and what she saw in the halls of power appalled her. With public health under attack, we need leaders like Annie in office.In this conversation, we discussed what it’s like to go from a private everyday citizen to someone who is trying to protect people and force change, the pivotal moment that motivated Annie to run for Senate, why it’s important to support Democratic candidates in “red” states, and why we can’t stop fighting against the political corruption in our government. Connect with Dr. Annie: Website | Facebook | Instagram Click here to join Dr. Annie Andrews on March 25th at 8:30 p.m. ET for a virtual fundraiser. For women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Heidi Lescanec has been a licensed naturopathic doctor in British Columbia for over 25 years, a trained anthropologist, and founder of The Pink Zones—a global and grassroots search for the places, people, and practices where women are thriving through midlife and beyond. She also focuses on hormone and digestive health and culinary nutrition. In her previous work, she saw the transformative power of traditional styles of healing that addressed the health of the whole person, body, and mind, and it inspired her to pursue studying naturopathic medicine. She aims to reach more women who believe the second half of life could be the best part.In this conversation, we discussed the term “pink zones” and how those environments allow women to thrive, what happens when women stop feeling invisible (especially in midlife and during menopause), why conventional medical training doesn’t prepare women for the midlife transition, and we address the question of why women are living longer but aren’t necessarily thriving longer.Connect with Dr. Heidi: Substack | Website | Instagram For women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Juliana Stratton is the Lt. Governor of Illinois and a candidate for the U.S. Senate. Juliana is also a mom, a caregiver, a Chicago South Sider, and a fighter for the people of Illinois. Alongside Governor JB Pritzker, she’s spent the last decade working to make life more affordable and expand opportunities for the middle class, and now she’s ready to bring that blueprint to Washington.In this conversation, we discussed Juliana’s political journey and why she decided to run for Senate, why it’s imperative to stand up to Donald Trump and his administration, why she feels so strongly about not accepting corporate PAC money for her campaign, how she’s focused on making life more affordable for everyone, and why it’s so important and significant to elect Black women in the Senate. Connect with Juliana: Website | Instagram | FacebookFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Oona Metz is a Boston-based psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience supporting women through the emotional, psychological, and identity shifts of divorce. She is also a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, a Certified Group Psychotherapist, and her practice is focused on individual adults and group therapy. She specializes in working with women+ who are in transition. She is also the author of Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide For Women, about how women can navigate the emotional side of divorce and emerge stronger, more confident, and ready to thrive.In this conversation, we discussed the struggles women face in the midst of divorce, how to reduce shame and stigma and feelings of isolation around divorce, what “gray divorce” is and why it’s on the rise, and the five stages of divorce grief. Connect with Oona: Website | Instagram | Facebook | IndeedFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Maria Sophocles is a board-certified OB/GYN and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. She is a nationally recognized thought leader in menopause and female sexual function, and a frequent panelist and speaker for women’s health advocacy, investment, and policy. She is also the author of The Bedroom Gap: Rewrite the Rules and Roles of Sex in Mid Life (available on February 10th), which offers a roadmap for midlife women, couples, clinicians and anyone wanting to understand – and change – how we age, sexually speaking.In this conversation, we discussed why sex ed in schools needs to be revamped, how menopause can impact your sex life (and how to talk to your partner and doctor about it!), how resources like hormone replacement therapy and vaginal estrogen can help women in menopause, and we dispelled myths about sex and aging. Connect with Maria: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | TED Talk In case you missed it, read my essay on why women in midlife are having the best sex of their lives.For women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Marcus Flowers, Lisa Schreiber NBC-HWC, Author, Maximilian Hardy, dcdiversity, Caroline Pompizzi, and many others for tuning into my live video with Daniel Biss! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Jennifer Wallace is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author who explores the power of mattering in everyday life. Her first book, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic — And What We Can Do About It, was a New York Times Bestseller, an Amazon Best Book of the Year, and a Next Big Idea selection. Her forthcoming book Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, will be published on January 27th. Jennifer is also the founder of The Mattering Institute, whose mission is to create cultures of mattering in workplaces and communities.In this conversation, we discussed how people in today’s society no longer feel valued, why mattering is an essential human need, the distinction between belonging and mattering, and tips on how to help people (and ourselves!) feel like they matter. Connect with Jennifer: Website | Instagram | LinkedInFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Mikala Jamison is an award-winning journalist, the creator of the bestselling Body Type newsletter, and a health and culture writer for outlets like The Atlantic and The Washington Post. She has worked as a certified group fitness instructor and trained as a competitive powerlifter, and also created the body-image focused live storytelling show, The Body Show. In this conversation, we discussed her experience with a binge eating disorder, the power of strength training, and how to get help for the people in your life who are struggling with body image.Connect with Mikala: Substack | InstagramFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Malynda Hale is a multi-hyphenate content creator, award-winning actress, and singer based in Los Angeles who uses her voice and platform to drive meaningful conversations around activism, justice, and human rights through digital media and storytelling. During our conversation, Malynda and I discuss her spiritual journey, how activism and faith can go hand in hand, and how she handles the blowback she gets for attempting nuance online. Malynda also tells us about The New Evangelicals, her new nonprofit focused on confronting Christian nationalism and redefining Christian activism.Connect with Malynda: Website | Instagram | SubstackFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Society often telegraphs that there is just one way to experience grief, but widow, cancer survivor, and author Lisa Keefauver wants us to know that grief can and should be allowed to be experienced in multiple ways. During our conversation, Lisa shared some of the insights from her book, “Grief is a Sneaky B***h: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss,” including something she refers to as “the grief time warp,” how to handle “grief thieves,” and how to break the isolation often felt by grievers in a culture obsessed with productivity.Connect with Lisa: Buy the Book | Instagram | Substack | PodcastFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

We’ve been talking about imposter syndrome, specifically in the workplace, this week. I was grateful to talk with Dr. Amy Diehl and Leanne Dzubinski, the co-authors of “Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work.” Together, they share with us the six gender bias barriers and how they are affecting women every single day across all industries, as well as how these systems, built for and by men, are holding women back.After watching the replay, be sure to check out the other pieces in this series:* Why women feel like imposters in spaces that value masculine traits* Five women who are the first in their male-dominated fieldsJoin us on Friday to round out this series and share your experiences with imposter syndrome in the workplace.For women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Soraya Chemaly is an award-winning writer, activist, and director known for her influential work on feminism, gender justice, and women’s rights. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger (2018), which explores how women are socialized to suppress anger and the transformative potential of channeling that emotion constructively. Her work in examining issues ranging from gender-based violence and online harassment to media representation and institutional sexism has resulted in her latest book, “All We Want Is Everything: How We Dismantle Male Supremacy,” an unflinching analysis of how naming male supremacy—in everything from private relationships to global politics—is essential to resisting the forces threatening democracy.Connect with Soraya: Website | Substack | Instagram | Buy the BookFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Katherine Clark, the highest-ranking woman in Congress, has made supporting American families a cornerstone of her congressional career. From championing policies like universal childcare to supporting paid family leave to providing affordable healthcare, Democratic Whip Clark is dedicated to creating policy that will ease the financial burdens and daily challenges facing people across the country. In this conversation, we talk about the suffering caused by the six-week Republican government shutdown, including a pause in SNAP payments, increased insurance premiums, and shuttered child care facilities. We also discuss the status of the shutdown, and what every-day Americans can do to make Republicans come to the negotiating table.Connect with Whip Clark: Website | InstagramFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

In her new biography, Lorissa Rinehart delivers the first-ever detailed account of the life of Jeannette Rankin, the first American woman to serve in Congress. “Winning the Earthquake: How Jeannette Rankin Defied All Odds to Become the First Woman in Congress” shows how Rankin’s determination, moral conviction, and savvy ultimately resulted in a cultural and political seismic shift in the US.Connect with Lorissa: Buy the Book | Substack | Website | InstagramFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

I had the great opportunity to chat with Jessica Mackler, president of EMILYs List. EMILY’s List has been working for 40 years to elect Democratic, pro-choice women up and down the ballot all over the country. They’ve elected more than 1,800 women in the time that they’ve been doing this work. These elections are more important than ever. Tune in to learn how YOU can get involved in getting more women into office.Connect with EMILYs List: Instagram | Important LinksFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Today I had the great honor of talking with Joanna Schroeder, co-author of the book “Talk To Your Boys: 16 Conversations to Help Tweens and Teens Grow into Confident, Caring Young Men.” In our current climate, this conversation and this book is more important than ever. Take some time to watch the replay of our conversation above.Connect with Joanna: Buy the Book | Instagram | SubstackFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

Check out my conversation with Jennifer Gerson, a reporter for The 19th News and point person for the new organization’s new newsletter about all things perimenopause and menopause. Jen and I dove into many of the medical, cultural and generational aspects of middle age during our Substack Live. Watch the replay above and follow The 19th to sure you have all the information you need to live a long and healthy life.For women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe

“Your job isn’t what makes you interesting, your hobby is.”- Karen WalrondCheck out my conversation with the delightful Karen Walrond, author of the brand new book In Defense of Dabbling: The Brilliance of Being a Total Amateur. For her book, Karen tried out seven new hobbies — everything from pottery to surfing to piano playing — to show readers how to do the same. She even provides a list of over 200 hobbies others might want to try — all in the interest of tuning out, tapping into ourselves, and finding joy. Connect with Karen: Buy the Book | Substack | InstagramFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe