Everything's Political

A chance for peace. It’s really something we’re all seeking whether in the world at large, or within facets of our lives. With all of the madness we’ve been collectively experience over the past few years, I’ve been more and more fascinated with the concept of peace and trying to achieve it. While it may seem pretty straightforward, in practice it requires hard convos and WORK.

On this episode I bring on Tyler Batson, a peace advocate and coach, who’s work initially began in Africa helping to bring peace to a country torn by political turmoil, turning into a documentary and as life-long journey with helping others discover peace work. Now he’s helping to spread the word on the importance of focusing on peace, working 1:1 with clients to mentor and coach their journey and bring actionable tips to the masses on how they can do the difficult work of confronting what peace means to them and how it can be infused into everyday life. This one was a true meditation for the soul and Tyler offers some amazing course-changing actions we can start doing - today.

Learn more about Tyler and his peace mentoring + coaching:

https://tylerbatson.com/

https://instagram.com/tylerbatson/

Fewer tasks are more consuming than putting together a comprehensive budget, but some people have the POV and tenacity to do it meaningfully. While we’re waiting on the looming outcome of Biden’s infrastructure plan to net out, I wanted to know how in IRL state and local money was allocated. Do these budgets and their allocation truly affect people? How does it work and connect with these larger federal policies and changes? I GOTTA KNOW MAN.

This week I have on Ted Walsh a budget analyst for the state of Maryland to help demystify the process. Ted’s scope of work includes carving out budgets for the state of Maryland and before taking on that role, he was entrenched in the DC nonprofit world discussing immigration reform.

As a MD native and Baltimore resident, he’s developed a deep love for the community and embedded himself into its fiber to make a hands-on change. Tune into as fascinating conversation about change at the state and city level, what it’s like to run for local office and some candid thoughts on paths to citizenship and reunification post-Trump.

Is it true that money changes everything? You’ll have to find out in our chat. :)

Lean more about Ted Walsh:

ON FB

LINKED IN

The past year we’ve been bombarded with messages surrounding American POV’s of China. From the country's environmental status, worries about extreme capitalism, to the COVID virus and monitoring citizen’s digital activity…it’s all been a hot topic for Americans. With so much hotly debated, I could only wonder…what is it really like to live in China as an American? What are the through lines, where can we learn and real talk - how amazing is the food?

Addressing the topic, I bring on Lion’s Share co-founder and DJ, Allyson Toy. Having spent time touring though China, she offers a rare and balanced perspective on the Chinese sociopolitical experience, views of the new generation and what we miss from the American mainstream lens.

Learn more about Toy on IG

Check out Lion’s Share

Over the past week+ a group I co-founded with 2 other Asian American women launched a petition to help bring mainstream media coverage of the heinous assaults and murders of elderly Asian Americans. The petition has gained support from 100,000 people nationwide and has been shared by Asian Americans and our allies alike. With the goal of gaining the attention of mainstream media to this issue, AAC was able to get the attention of these outlets through a groundswell of support from the community. In this episode my co-founders Caroline Yim and Grace Lee, plus our Art Director Mia LeBlon discuss our origin, mission and the whirlwind of standing up for our community to get our voices heard.

About Asian American Collective:

Asian American Collective (AAC) is the brainchild of music industry veteran co-founders Grace Lee, Caroline Yim and Zeena Koda. As first-generation immigrant children who independently made their way into the music industry, the founders connected through a passion for cultivating Asian-American representation within the industry. In a field traditionally dominated by non-Asians, representation felt sparse for the trio who identified the critical need for a community that promotes unity amongst all Asian-American communities within music, entertainment and the creative arts. One gap was crystal clear: to be it, you need to see it. It was that void that drives the heart of what AAC set out to do, incubate an encouraging community fostering growth, education and true connection for current and future creatives.

Focusing on mentorship programming, political and educational output, and profiling legendary Asian-American creative personalities, AAC aims to represent the full breadth of the creative Asian-American experience. AAC has developed a growing IRL and virtual community where hard-hitting, candid points of view are welcomed, encouraging honest conversation and inspirational perspectives. The AAC community is constructed to empower personal discovery and development, with the kinship of like-minded Asian-Americans to serve as a resource.

AAC connects the full Asian-American diaspora and is building a creative community for all Asian-Americans in music, media, entertainment, sports and all creative spaces. We're giving an amplified and proud voice to a community of the Dopest Asians, changing the world everyday.

Follow Asian American Collective:

ON IG

TWITTER

ALL AAC LINKS

SITE

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SITE / ZK ON IG / EP ON IG

One thing is clear from the past few weeks of Biden's presidency: he's got a LOT of work to do. 

With everything falling into top priority given the immediacy of the pandemic, glaring historical systemic racism hitting a head and wealth-gaps at a stark disparity, making those first steps and commitments is key. With a slew of executive orders in motion to help commit to a plan and objectives, one of the most pressing issues is Covid relief and increasing minimum wage to $15 an hour to help recalibrate systemic racism + offer immediate structural relief. People need the money, now more than ever.

On this episode I dive into the key moves that will help mend a fractured America, both financially and structurally, with my friend and fellow digital strategist + political enthusiast Lorraine Tran. We discuss some of the key moves that will help us mend the economy in the upcoming years (federal marijuana laws WYA?!) and how we can mend our relationships and understand each other better post-Trump.

Follow Lorraine

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Where do politics intersect with punk-rock? In the core ethos of the genre and with ex-Obama + Bernie digital strategist and Catalyst Campaigns founder, Scott Goodstein. 

Coming of age in the early 1990s Washington D.C. punk and hardcore scene, Scott rubbed elbows with the likes of bands such as Fugazi and Minor Threat. The concept that punk and politics cannot be separated resonated with him and he found a way to connect two of his deepest passions. He dropped out of American University to cut his teeth on grassroots organization before returning to complete both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After working on the Obama for America campaign in 2008, Scott co-founded one the nation’s leading progressive digital marketing agency Revolution Messaging. Today, he serves as the founder of Catalyst Campaigns, blending art, music and culture to engineer powerful, politically-charged programs for progressive candidates and politics. In this episode of Everything’s Political, we discuss Scott’s dedication to "the work," the political world of punk-rock and how the punk state of mind, will always be progressive. 

Scott Goodstein is best known for his work with unique political campaigns that blend art, music and culture. Co-founding Punkvoter.com, Rock Against Bush, Artists for Obama, Artists for Bernie, DailyAction, CreativeMajority, and LadyPartsJustice, Scott has built powerful programs that have changed the world in which we live. In 2009, Goodstein founded Revolution Messaging that quickly became America’s leading progressive digital agency. Prior to launching his own firm, Goodstein was External Online Director for Obama for America, creating the 2008 campaign’s groundbreaking social networking, mobile, and lifestyle marketing strategies. 

Today, Scott heads Catalyst Campaigns, creating connections between the world’s most influential organizations and their audiences. Join in for a stimulating conversation about his DIY approach to digital marketing political campaigns and how the worlds of music and politics, aren't really that different. 

Creep Scott @ https://www.scottgoodstein.com/

On TW @goodstein 

Follow Zeena + Everything's Political:

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IG + EVERYTHING'S POLITICAL IG

Cannaclusive is an organization focused on making the Cannabis industry more inclusive. From media the industry uses, to championing those involved on the back-end of the biz and fostering more opportunities for growers and distributors of color to be involved, the organization is changing the way that that the ever-growing, diverse cannabis industry shows up. 

Co-founder and activist Mary Pryor is a woman who has always showed the fu*k up to stand for what is right. She is the Swiss-army knife of the hustle and has spent the past few years building up Cannaclusive to diversify the Cannabis industry through a minority lens.

Learn more about them here: https://www.cannaclusive.com/

Follow the force that is Mary Pryor on IG and her organization Fit For Us 

If there is one thing that is for sure, the holidays are super political. Between spouses, siblings, friends, co-workers and everyone who might feel some kind of of way...if you make it out alive, you're definitely ready to conquer a new year. 

On this episode I bring back my sidekick Mia LeBlon to discuss the stress and political nature of the holidays and interactions that drive us crazy. We also dive into what it's like to have an immigrant kid Christmas. Don't know what that is? Gunna have to tune in.

Follow us on IG and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review! 

Follow Mia on socials 👀

Running for any public office feels terrifying. It's a motivation made for a very special type of human.

A dash of madness, coupled with an unyielding call to fight for what is right + need for little sleep, seems the fate of candidates running for any office. Running for district attorney in one of the world’s most scrutinized cities a.k.a Manhattan, is next level gutsy. It requires the stealth of a madman, driven by the lifeblood of virtuosity. In a city as fiscally conservative as it is left-wing progressive, a candidate certainly has their work cut out for them to read the proverbial room and walk with the desires of a myriad of stakeholders.

Enter in Janos Marton who has spent his career as a NYC civil rights attorney, activist and organizer, pushing for the hand of true justice. He rose to prominence through his work with the ACLU, working to shut down Rikers and in the mix during the Occupy Wall Street movement. Driven by his passion for equity, criminal justice reform and taking a progressive lens to current approaches, he comes with a much needed proactive point of view.

Janos took on Gov. Cuomo a few years ago when he tried to shut down an internal investigative commission aimed at slashing corruption. He’s ready to take on long-term incumbent Cy Vance and the other 8 candidates heavily eyeballing this coveted spot. Why? Because Janos has constructed a plan to address mass incarceration in Manhattan and systemically gut it from the inside out.

On this episode, we discuss many of the hot-button topics surrounding the 2021 primary. We discuss slashing upcoming DA budgets in a post-Covid world, de-carcerating Manhattan by 80% during his potential term, approaches to drugs, sex work and low-level crime prosecution, gun control and campaign financing. All areas that hit Manhattan, but have firm tentacles throughout the US. 

Janos breaks down what it means to be a DA, from the day-to-day issues, to scoping near and long-term strategies that will make Manhattan a better place to live and work.

Learn more about Janos Marton + his bid for Manhattan DA:

Official Site 

Follow him on socials:

TW @janosmarton

IG @janosforda

It's been months in the making but here we are with episode numero uno of Everything's Political. Boom.

To start it off I have on fellow musician / songwriter / creative director Mia LeBlon with me to talk about the heavy politics of being a working music artist, endless backstabbing, overt snd hidden racisms and all the challenges you go through to get a taste of success. It's a comforting look at the hardships she encountered (familiar to my own in trying to make it as a musician) and how she was able to play the hyper political game of songwriting, 

Follow Everything's Political on IG and please follow / subscribe as EP continues to grow. You can also find me directly, let's talk about what political elements of life you want to hear.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!