Beyond Resistance Pod

On this episode, Sarah and Jennifer interview Chedrick (Yes it’s pronounced like Cheryl) Greene, who’s running for Michigan’s 35th Senate District — covering Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City, aka the land of hardworking folks and very opinionated snow.

Who’s Chedrick?

He’s basically the Avengers if the Avengers were just one guy:

• 30 year Marine veteran who made Sergeant Major (peak of the enlisted world).

• Fire captain, meaning he saves people, teaches rookies to wipe their feet, and supervises emergencies with a calm--but firm--dad energy.

• Serial community volunteer who is everywhere — food drives, literacy programs, veteran groups, mentoring teens, you name it.

Why he's running: While working as district assistant to Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet, Chedrick met everyone — farmers, school leaders, county officials — and noticed something big: people across the district have different lives but the same concerns . . . and he basically held the Senate office together like duct tape until someone could be elected.

So he looked in the mirror and said, “If I were voting . . . I’d vote for me.”

And thus, a campaign was born.

What he stands for: Community, service, showing up, and doing the work without needing a camera pointed at him. He believes small things add up — like snowflakes eventually covering a whole yard. (He’s clearly done real time in Michigan winters.)

Fire captain life? He sees people on their worst days and treats them with care, respect, and boot wiping etiquette. He wants firefighters to be at community events before emergencies — especially because it helps recruit future firefighters (and gives kids a chance to honk the horn).

Hype songs?

• Before debates: “I Ain’t No Joke.”

• After rough days: “Off the Wall.”

This man is service, sincerity, and swagger wrapped in firefighter gear.

Strap in, folks, because this week’s episode of Beyond Resistance is a whole vibe: part political strategy, part existential dread, part cough drop powered survival. Jennifer kicks things off sounding like a chipmunk who swallowed a bag of Ricola, and honestly? It only adds to the ambiance.

The duo dives head first into Leftist-on-Leftist crime on Threads, where Jennifer encounters the classic hot take: “Democrats need to get out of the way for the real leftists.” Cue the alarms, caveats, disclaimers, and Jennifer gently reminding the internet she is a leftist—just one who believes winning makes more progress than acing the purity test. Extra credit gets you nowhere in this Midterm!

From there, Sarah and Jennifer drag the “entitlement to the party infrastructure” mindset straight to the curb, lighting it on fire with the truth bomb of the day: nobody gets automatic control of a political party. Want power? Earn it. Door by door, vote by vote, yard sign by absurdly-sized order of yard signs.

Then the mood takes a turn as they process a cascade of heavy national and international tragedies—Bondi Beach shootings, Brown University, and a truly awful celebrity-family news story—paired with the depressing cherry on top: a political figure responding with all the grace of a malfunctioning Roomba. Sarah coins the mood of the week: disquieted. Same, girl.

But hope returns in Step Five of building blue power: movement mindsets.

The big ones?

✨ Go big or go home (looking at you, 4,000 purple yard signs)

🌱 Live in abundance (there’s always more pie. Don’t be stingy!)

🔮 Be authentic (no schmooze-robot energy)

The episode wraps with favorite quotes—from the Serenity Prayer to Rumi to Lord of the Rings—because if you’re going to fight for democracy, you may as well take wisdom from wizards.

All in all? A raw, real, funny, heartfelt episode proving that even on heavy days, movements move.

#mindset #2026election #organize #GetStarted #BuildBluePower

Ever wonder what it takes to build blue power in a sea of red? Spoiler: It’s not magic—it’s people, passion, and a dash of tech savvy. In this episode of Beyond Resistance, Sarah Schulz and Jennifer Austin share how everyday conversations are fueling a grassroots glow-up.

The Spark:

Jennifer’s fired up because people—especially young folks—are eager to get involved. From swim meets to rainbow-filled birthday parties, she’s meeting future activists everywhere. The message? People want in. They just need a path.

Community = Power

Sarah reminds us that connection is key. Their recent holiday party wasn’t just festive—it was proof that blue dots exist even in red spaces. Bonus: new volunteers stayed late to stack chairs. That’s commitment.

The Nuts and Bolts:

Step 4 of their Blueprint: Tech and Data. Tools like Michigan’s VAN (voter database) and your own social media strategies amplify impact. Sarah nails it: Decide with data, lead with heart. Data helps campaigns target efforts and tailor messages without losing authenticity.

Social Media & Strategy:

Jennifer shares tips like avoiding links in posts (thanks, Facebook algorithm) and using Canva for graphics. Social media isn’t one-and-done—it’s a conversation. Mistakes happen, but progress beats perfection.

Holiday Joy:

Activism doesn’t take a holiday, but traditions keep things fun. Jennifer hauls home a massive Christmas tree (think 16 feet of festive glory), while Sarah skips cozy mornings for Christmas adventures. Both agree: joy matters.

Bottom line? Organizing is equal parts heart and hustle. Start small—create a Facebook event, write a letter, join a local party. The movement needs your magic!

For more ways to listen and to find our Blueprint go to beyondresistancepod.com

Subscribe, like, share to help us spread our message.

Patreon and Venmo available through our website if you want to support our efforts to build blue power in red communities!

#volunteer #bluepower #organize

Sarah and Jennifer talk about resisting the urge to respond to rage-bait trolls, navigating healthcare absurdities, and the discipline of channeling that fire into action. They then break down what it really means to show up--intentionally, consistently, and authentically--in red-leaning communities. From PTA meetings to swim meets to musicals: there is always a chance to make an impression and build blue power!

Find the Blueprint and the pod at beyondresistancepod.com

#bluepower #showup #politics #standup

What if changing the world doesn’t start with debate . . . but with thread, zines, and a room full of strangers? Sarah and Jennifer talk with Shannon Downey--craftavist, activist, and author--about building community through creativity, slow relationship-building, and neighborhood connections. They unpack why power grows one person at a time, why activism isn’t instant gratification, and how a crafternoon and curiosity can open doors that judgment slams shut. De-radicalize conversations, soften conflict, and keep communities connected—even across political divides. From “I notice, I wonder” to talking with non-Democrats (but maybe not your dad . . . yet), they explore curiosity as a radical activist tool and the antidote to influencer-era certainty.

For more on Shannon, check out badasscrossstitch.com and seriouslybadasswomen.com

For the pod, Blueprint, and more go to beyondresistancepod.com

Purchase Shannon’s book Let’s Move the Needle: An Activism Handbook for Artists, Crafters, Creatives, and Makers at all major retailers, but please check out your locally owned and small shops first! (Especially during the corporation Economic Blackout this week!)

#ShannonDowney #Craftavism #Activism #curiosity

Sarah and Jennifer welcome Virginia organizer and campaign worker Jiamie Pyles who is fresh from a cycle of big Democratic wins to talk about how the real magic happens on porches, not pundit panels. They unpack why community-rooted campaigning is the secret sauce behind Virginia’s momentum and reveal which emoji represents the state of politics today. Hint: it's not a smiley face . . .

Find all episodes, Beyond Resistance Blueprint: 5 Steps to Building Blue Power, and more at www.beyondresistancepod.com. Subscribe to our Patreon or donate via Venmo to support our work! Subscribe, like, comment, share!

#organize #virginia #2025Election #2026Election #BlueWave

From Capitol Hill to Crooked Con, Sarah and Jennifer recap their wild trip to DC last week. Jennifer had the chance to fangirl over her favorite podcast hosts (though she's still bummed she missed her parasocial best friend Jon Lovett), Sarah had some tips for how to make Crooked Con even more amazing, and they both agreed that Sarah McBride's Comms Team is the best (and most fun!) group of staffers in DC! Okay, one of the best. (They don't want their friends Shane and Diva in Rep. Rivet's office to get mad!) From highway yoga to Schumer fury, Sarah and Jennifer will keep you on your toes and ready to go!

For more on Beyond Resistance: https://beyondresistancepod.com/

To sign up for info on 2026 Crooked Con: https://www.crookedcon.com/

Note: Sarah and Jennifer expressed concerns that there was not enough focus at Crooked Con concerning on the ground organizing and turning red areas blue (obviously their topic of choice). Though there were discussions on those topics, they felt they were too broad. They would love to see more detailed analysis of organizing and building blue power where they said it couldn't be done. (@podsaveamerica call me!)

It’s a running joke—but also 100% true. The hosts of Beyond Resistance look ahead to the 2026 election, talk timelines, tactics, and why bottom-up change matters most. Expect laughter, lamination, and a healthy dose of hope as they prep for Crooked Con and remind us: democracy isn’t dying—it’s carpooling to DC.

We’re one year out, y’all — and this isn’t the warm-up lap. It’s the race. LFG!

Find the Beyond Resistance Blueprint: 5 Steps to Building Blue Power and the Resistance Tool Belt at www.beyondresistancepod.com

#organize #resist #activism #politics

Sarah and Jennifer sit down with activist coach and author Omkari L. Williams to talk about Microactivism—making change without burning out (or needing a bullhorn) and the importance of every single act of activism no matter the size. They swap stories of teenage revolutionaries, spreadsheet love/hate, joy as a strategy, fancy pajamas, and one guy named Milton with the world’s most powerful sound system. It’s proof that small moves, done with big joy, build the kind of power that lasts.

Find out more about Omkari L. Williams, author of Microactivism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World (Without a Bullhorn): https://www.omkariwilliams.com

Find Jennifer & Sarah's Beyond Resistance Blueprint: 5 Steps to Building Blue Power: https://beyondresistancepod.com/the-blueprint-1

Coming off the high of the No Kings 2.0 rallies, Jennifer and Sarah unpack the contradictions lighting up their comment sections — and dive into Step 2 of the Blueprint for Building Blue Power: how to map and grow community influence intentionally, not accidentally. Then, just when things get too strategic, they take on the ultimate test of patience and precision — how to make the perfect hard-boiled egg.

#shutdown #trending #blueprint #advice