We’ve heard America called The Great Melting Pot. But what does that mean? Do cultures come together to create one giant American culture? Do individuals lose their identity in favor of a homogenous society? In this episode Dan and Kim explore this metaphor, dismantle what it’s come to mean, and look for a better way to describe America. With food, of course.
What would a basic income for every American do for our country? What would it cost? How would we fund it? These questions (and some random thoughts) come up in this conversation Kim & Dan have with Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears, Jr. of the Keep Your Voice Down podcast (of the Watershed Voice Network).
When so much of our lives are lived through social media, those interactions have power. If you only ever interact with a friend to argue, and not to invest in that relationship with other conversations, are you still a friend? Or have you become a troll?
That’s the question we’re asking on this episode. Are you a friend or a troll?
When an artist you’ve admired becomes a problem and reveals their faults, can you separate the art from them as a person? Can you laugh at jokes from a comedian who assaults women? Can you listen to music of someone who stands up for bigotry?
On this episode, Dan and Kim explore some of their "‘problematic favorites’ and ask if it’s okay to like art from a not-so-great artist.
With Kim’s union— The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)— in its 11th hour of negotiations and a strike possible at the time of the recording, plus the national story of labor shortages and the great wage debate, Dan and Kim decide to solve the 2020-2021 Worker Revolution.
Dan used to love entertaining conspiracy theories (Who killed JFK? Does Area 51 really have alien life forms? Could we have faked the moon landing?) But today, conspiracy theories seem more nefarious. From Q to pizzagate to the Big Lie about our elections, these disinformation campaigns are hurting our country. So Kim and Dan decided to fix it.
We live in a world of echo chambers, it seems. We follow the people we agree with on social media, we research our ideas with bias and we talk with those with whom we align. But that’s only the other person. That’s not us… right? In this episode Dan and Kim explore their own echo chambers and how they try to avoid them. Or how they embrace them. You decide.
Universal health coverage— does every American deserve it? Kim and Dan tackle this subject with some research, some opinions and even a few jokes.
Does it start with education? Insurance? Hospitals? How do we pay for healthcare for all? Listen in as Dan and Kim solve it all.
Allyship doesn’t come with a badge so people know “you’re a good person.”
“Allies, thanks so much for your support – but stop expecting us to thank you anytime you do anything.”
Allyship is work. It’s proving everyday that you’re here to help others. It’s not about getting a thank you or a pat on the back.
Kim and Dan unpack this idea and what it means for White Americans who want to show People of Color and other marginalized people that they’re allies. Without being douchey.
This episode started as a personal conversation with Dan exploring how church is failing so many Christians. From White churches ignoring social justice to Evangelicals lining up to support a mysoginist, philandering, lying, cheating, egotistical business hack (let’s not hold back) who embodies everything Jesus is not, Dan was feeling pretty abandoned. So in this episode, Dan and Kim unpack what church in our America looks like today and how we can do better.
Note: This is obviously through the lens of Dan’s midwestern, cisgender, hetero non-denominational Christian worldview. There are many flavors of Faith.
How is modesty culture hurting America?
Can a parent teach their children to be modest without body shaming?
How does modesty culture turn into victim blaming?
Dan (a dad to 2 teenage daughters) and Kim (a former teenage daughter and now adult woman) talk through these questions and more in this episode of My America.
