GRITS

With US student debt reaching $1.7 TRILLION, the girls deliver the state of play on student loans: what amount of relief Biden is considering; racial disparities in borrowing; and how privilege takes center stage in the debate whether to cancel it all. #StudentDebtGritty

🍍LINKS 🍍

New year, new… WTF. Aftyn and Anna are back for season 4 in the wake of the pro-Trump QAnon furry hat wearing insurrection identifying the Tennessee culprits and grappling with how to humanize those involved. BONUS: tips on how to talk to your people who believe in conspiracy theories

LINKS

For the final episode of the year, Anna and Aftyn dig into how the Democratic party should utilize three winning progressive policies to bring new folks in. Embrace an economic populist message and distribute LEGALIZE IT bumper stickers across the country: is it that simple? Happy holidays and the girls will see y'all in 2021! #KeepItGritty

Yes, President Trump is finally out of office, but with 72 million Americans showing up to vote for him after four years, who is really the winner of the 2020 election? Anna and Aftyn look past the presidential victory, highlighting the role of white women in maintaining white supremacy at the ballot box this cycle. 

Four days before the election, Anna and Aftyn provide the state of play for those wondering, "Does my vote even matter?" And if you live in a key battleground state like Texas, the answer is an absolute and resounding yes. Even if all of Aftyn's exes live in Texas, the girls uplift the work of southern states in the most important election of their lifetimes. Let's get #ElectionGritty. 🍍

We’re less than 20 days out in the election and it seems East Nashville, more than usual, is filled with Black Lives Matter yard signs. Anna and Aftyn unpack performative allyship and virtue signaling in this episode and ask their listeners to think about why they’re posting black squares on Instagram, and how they can truly be allies.

With RBG’s death and the fate of the Supreme Court in question, Anna and Aftyn outline how we got here, what’s to come, and what you can do about it. TLDR: Aftyn’s arch-nemesis Mitch McConnell doesn’t play by the rules, and don’t let Tennessee’s Senator Alexander retire to Canada in peace.

Anna and Aftyn take a break from politics this week to reckon with coming of age and finding one’s purpose within the redefinition of Southern institutions. WARNING: lots of tears!

Does your aunt Karen believe Tom Hanks is running a child sex ring in his basement, and that Trump will save the children? Join QAnon expert Chris Coleman for this deep dive into the “deep state”. #WWG1WGA

Aftyn and Anna interview Claire and Safara, organizers with the Be Better Belmont campaign, which is pushing Belmont’s college administration to divest from the private prison system. #CancelCoreCivic.

Links:

Aftyn and Anna are joined by Aftyn’s middle and high school classmate Tre Waters as he shares his experiences as a mixed-race kid at the private, predominantly white, prep school Webb School of Knoxville located in East Tennessee.

With their TN Holler launch, Aftyn and Anna release their conversation following the national uprising in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and our responsibility as white Southern women to engage in anti-racism work. #BlackLivesMatter

Only you can combat neighborhood stigma!

Now that they're neighbors, Aftyn and Anna discuss their roles in Nashville's gentrification and why diverse neighborhoods are the FRUIT OF LIFE.  Oh, and Aftyn talks about her coffin ⚰️while Anna selects her 8, yes, that's right, 8 bridesmaids...👰🏼

🗣Support these organizations and politicians!

Anna and Aftyn return to discuss Tennessee's plan to extend paid family leave to 12 weeks and how the US falls short in terms of progressive pro-family policies. #letsgetprolifegritty 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦

Anna and Aftyn return to discuss Tennessee's plan to extend paid family leave to 12 weeks and how the US falls short in terms of progressive pro-family policies. #letsgetprolifegritty

Get Involved

Do you like your GRITS hot, spicy and from 2019?

Ahead of our 2020 launch, enjoy this gritty episode from 2019 featuring our guest, Anna's sister! Join us as you relive Casadagate, we answer your outstanding questions, and prepare for 2020 gritiness!

...Why is Anna taking showers with her cats?

...Why are Tennessee's kids losing health insurance?

...Why did Tennessee's pro-birth bald congressman pay for an abortion for his mistress?

Links

The legendary Dr. Carol Paris denounces incrementalism and discusses the Southern fight for Medicare for All.

The legendary Dr. Carol Paris, former President for Physicians for a National Health Program, joins the girls to talk about the battle for Medicare for All in Nashville from her arrest during the federal ACA hearings to her removal from a Trump rally, pushing Rep. Jim Cooper to sign on to M4A. Tune in to find out what's next for #MedicareForAll!

#LetsGetMedicareForAllGritty #ScrewIncrementalism

Show Notes

The girls discuss why Southern women are on the front lines of the country's abortion debate. #LetsGetReproductiveGritty

With the Tennessee State House recently banning abortion after six weeks, Aftyn and Anna describe why southern states are on the front lines in the battle for a woman's right to choose. #LetsGetReproductiveGritty

Gritty Show Notes:

Aftyn's mom discusses the French revolution, democracy, and honeys of the world! (Strictly the liquid, not amorous crushes.)

Aftyn's mom guest stars on the pod, discussing her recent voyage to revolutionary France! In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, she spills the riveting history of General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas and provides her Bolivia rebuttal to Aftyn's tall tale. Let's get Mama gritty!

Gritty Show Notes:

Aftyn sings you into enlightenment, while Anna explains why centrism is your boring Tindr date you should ditch!

Where can you find karaoke and a history of the Democratic South? Look no further than your favorite GRITTY pod! Aftyn outlines how the GOP became the party of the South, and Anna explains why progressives win the culture wars.

Gritty Show Notes:

Midterms are over, the government is open, and the girls have returned after 9 months to carry you into 2019... GRITS style!

You called, you tweeted, you harassed them while standing in line at Kroger's, and after 9 months of silence, THE GIRLS HAVE RETURNED. Aftyn and Anna, showing little remorse, update all the grittles on their adventures and shed light on what's to come in 2019.

Anna's List of Show Notes:

Your thousands of calls, texts, and letters worked: Paul Ryan is finally retiring from Congress! AND EVEN BETTER, your favorite GRITS are back revealing why healthcare is so expensive in the USofA.

YOU'RE WELCOME MOM.

Anna's List of Show Notes:

Albino hedgehogs, gerrymandering, and young adult fiction. Yes, you read that right. All the weirdness, grittiness, and suffragettiness in a 40 minute podcast. #LetsGetGritty

The girls return for their biweekly debut to demystify the urban legend of the crimson South. Aftyn gives a history lesson on Tennessee's role in the passage of the 19th amendment, and Anna dissects the underground Republican campaign to undermine electoral neutrality. #LetsGetGritty

Show notes: