Hillary has always drawn inspiration from the “gutsy women” around her -- she and Chelsea even wrote a book about them. On today’s episode, we hear from two women who have defied expectations, overcome obstacles, and made some history along the way. First, Hillary speaks with Grammy-nominated singer and award-winning actor Andra Day. For the new film The United States vs. Billie Holiday, Andra immersed herself in the life of a woman who was supremely talented and fearless in shining a light on America's ugly history of lynching, even as she battled her own demons. Then Hillary talks to Tammy Duckworth, the senator from Illinois, about her new memoir, Every Day Is a Gift, about battling discrimination and picking herself up after loss, including a near fatal helicopter crash while serving in the Army National Guard. In a timely follow-up conversation, Hillary checks in with Senator Duckworth about her response to the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Senator Tammy Duckworth is an Iraq War Veteran, Purple Heart recipient and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs who was among the first handful of Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 after representing Illinois’s Eighth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms. Tammy’s new memoir is titled Every Day Is a Gift.

Andra Day started out her career as an R&B singer and songwriter, with her debut album Cheers to the Fall, which was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2016 Grammys. She joined Hillary to perform during the 2016 campaign, and performed in the virtual Inaugural Parade for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. She portrays Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday for which she received the Golden Globe for Best Actress and was nominated for an Academy Award. 

Read a full transcript here.

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