We finish off Olivia’s questions with a chat about the value of a welfarist approach, and whether we should work within the system or try to make change from the outside.

In This Episode
For Olivia’s final question, they write:
Finally, just generally, do you think its more effective to build alternatives or reform current infrastructure? Should activists enter the workforce with the intent of unionizing, pursuing pollution reduction, etc. or should our efforts concentrate into building the whole new system from the grounds up and push the old system out of existence?
Joke in the Middle
I bought shoes from a dispensary (drug dealer?) today…
Links and Information
News

* Vegan-Friendly Amy’s Drive-Thru to Open in San Francisco Airport (VegNews)
* True Crime Podcast Luauches for the Animals (VegNews)
* ‘Justice for Laquan!’ Demonstrators Chant, as Chicago Officer Is Convicted of Murder (NY Times)


197 Activism Series: Episode 4 – Welfarism & Working Within the System vs Without

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

News

News Commentary


In typical VWPA fashion, we made the sudden decision to launch “Bitchy Shitshow” next week, so this week we are here with our very last VWPA episode, looking back at our first episode and examining how our thinking has changed over the years; also talking politics and SJW bullshit.







In This Episode



Next week, we’ll be launching “Bitchy Shitshow” and retiring VWPA, so this week we’re here to say goodbye to a wonderful, hard, messy, awesome, frustrating, magical phase of our lives and look forward to the next adventure. We hope you all will come along for the ride! 



We look back at our very first episode called “The Opposite of Right is….” where we take a very black and white view on doing harm, and discuss how our perspective has evolved over the years and what we think of this topic today. We roam into talks of politics and cancel culture. There’s a lot of laughs and passion (read: anger, especially from Nichole, she was all fired up during this one) and when we pulled off our headphones, there were tears in our eyes. 



Thank you for all the support and love, and please join us on the new show!

265 A Whiskey Goodbye to VWPA: A Retrospective.


It’s our anniversary! We’re celebrating five glorious years of TMI, rants, laughs, tangents, and listener love!







In This Episode



This year we’re talking about former celebrity crushes that now make us cringe, how much we love our listeners, tell a listener-original joke custom made for Nichole, and more! 



Sheabutterfemme’s amazing Twitter thread:  https://twitter.com/sheabutterfemme/status/1218894917709246469 

264 Celebrating 5 Years of TMI Talking About Our Clits: Who Can Get on Them and Who Needs to Get the Fuck Off Them. Also, a Big Announcement!!!


We tried to fight it, we held off for weeks, but, y’all…we need to talk about Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Spoilers ahead! (We honestly feel this is one of our best episodes we’ve ever done, please listen even if you don’t give a fuck about Star Wars!)







In This Episode



Advice Question



I’d love to ask you a question. I’ve read many vegan forums and couldn’t believe what people’s stance is. Would love to get yours. I ate some  vegan chocolates the other day. Was reading the ingredients and back of package. Realized that the chocolates were made in a facility that  process milk products. A) there could be traces of milk in the vegan items. How can they claim it’s vegan and how are vegans ok with it being processed in animal product facility. I’m very upset about it and I’m only a transitioning vegan. Most vegans don’t care that it’s processed in that type of facility. What’s your stance?



Joke



Why is Kylo Ren so angry? 



Main Topic



This week we finally cave and talk about the latest and final installment in the Constellation Battles saga. The movie was eating at us ever since we saw it opening weekend and after watching several analyses of it (links to some of our faves below), we felt obligated to weigh-in. 



Beyond our feelings about whether the movie was good or not, we could not move beyond issues we saw with racism and homophobia, as well as a narrative that essentially supports eugenics, completely trashed Leia’s/Carrie Fisher’s legacy, erased an important lesson about avoiding abusive relationships and self-love. 



References/Resources



* Kelly Marie Tran: I Won’t Be Marginalized by Online Harassment (New York Times)* Oh no! The Rise of Skywalker was real bad :( | Jenny Nicholson (YouTube)* Rise of Skywalker is (hilariously) Bad | Quinton Review (YouTube)

263 The Rise of Shit-talker: Y’all, We Need to Talk About Star Wars.


Inspired by (a.k.a. enraged by) the CNN Democratic Debate on January 14, 2020, we decided to do a bonus episode this week to talk about key points we wish the candidates and moderators were addressing, as well as our thoughts about the Warren-Sanders drama and the SJW reaction online. 







In This Episode



 (Posted early for Patreon members, support us on Patreon here)



We talk about the recent Democratic Debate in terms of issues that continuously come up but are never properly addressed, namely, single-payer healthcare and free public education, as well as the way that no one goes in on candidates like Pete Buttigieg the way they should on certain issues. 



We also address the Elizabeth Warren / Bernie Sanders “feud” in terms of SJW scripts run rampant on the internet, a call for us to use critical thinking skills in light of political tactics rather than following ally scripts, and not confusing issues like this with sexual assault claims. 



Resources



* Ep. 19: The Sad Downfall of Elizabeth Warren | Michael Moore (Rumble Podcast) – links to valuable resources, comprehensive* Jenny Nicholson Twitter Thread with link to Medium article by Katie McCort that talks about the alt-right and “antis” going after women on the internet with equal destruction fervor* Angie Speaks tweet: “The neoliberal recuperation of identity politics is a poison that will destroy the left unless we are bold enough to not back down when faced with cynical attacks. Warren is a liar PERIOD.”

B003 Bonus Episode! Democratic Debate 2020 and Lizzie v Bernie Drama


This week we cover Trump’s illegal assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, and then Nichole goes off on a tear about people being ableist AF around other people’s travel plans.







In This Episode



Iran



We give our take on the response to Trump’s actions against Iran this week, calling out Democrats for playing the “but he was a bad guy” game in regards to the ILLEGAL assassination of Qasem Soleimani and the threat of war. We talk about what a bully the 



Referenced in this Episode



* You are expendable. | Thought Slime (YouTube) * Eyes Left Podcast (iTunes)* Twitter thread by Kathrin on Veganuary



Post-recording update: Trump says ‘it doesn’t really matter’ if Iranian general posed an imminent threat (Washington Post)



Joke 



What is gray, has four legs, and a trunk?



Travel Rant



Nichole pops off and Callie joins right in about how much they fucking hate people being such busy-bodies about what you do on vacation. It’s annoying and ableist. Obviously not as important as Iran, but a fun way for us to end an otherwise heavy show. 



Relevant: September 2019 Short Questions: Part 1 (Captain Awkward) – specifically Q5



  “…words like “should” and “just” are shame-amplifiers…” Captain Awkward

197 Activism Series: Episode 4 – Welfarism & Working Within the System vs Without

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