This episode had EVERYTHING:

• Trump’s tariffs might mean bye-bye Shein hauls 👋

• Teachers out here getting fit checks… from 5th graders 👕📏

• One furious white dad whose mixed kid came out looking… well, white 🤯

• And our legendary Top 10 Things We Need to Bring Back (spoiler: not low-rise jeans).

Buckle up. This one’s funny, messy, and a little too real. 🥴🤣

👉 Drop your “thing we should bring back” in the comments!

Featuring Tanja Hester, author of Wallet Activism

Your wallet is more potent than you think. In this special bonus episode of We Vote Too, we revisit an eye-opening archived interview with Tanja Hester—former political consultant, FIRE movement pioneer, and author of Wallet Activism—to explore how your everyday financial choices can become acts of resistance.

Tanja breaks down what wallet activism means, how to tell the difference between good and bad corporate behavior, and why slow change is still powerful. From critiquing philanthropy to unpacking performative travel activism, she helps us reimagine what it means to live our values—even when the system feels stuck.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, What can I do besides protest?—This episode is for you.

Because We the People? We Vote Too.

• 00:00 – Disclosure

• 00:32 – Intro music

• 00:52 – What is Wallet Activism? Setting the stage

• 06:40 – Interview begins with Tanja Hester

• 08:30 – Who is Tanja Hester? From politics to financial justice

• 10:56 – What is wallet activism—and why it matters now

• 12:42 – How to stop supporting the bad guys and uplift the good

• 16:34 – What does real activism look like—and who gets to be an activist?

• 19:28 – How to stay motivated when change is slow

• 22:06 – What's wrong with traditional philanthropy?

• 26:52 – Why travel isn’t always activism

• 31:20 – Breaking down her book Wallet Activism

• 34:31 – How to get involved and follow Tanja’s work

• 36:13 – Outro

Young voters are the largest, most diverse voting bloc in the country, but they’re also the most disillusioned. In this episode, we dig into the gap between political power and political participation among Gen Z and Millennial voters. Why do so many young people feel like voting doesn’t matter? What’s fueling their dissatisfaction, and what motivates them to show up?

We break down the numbers, bust the myths, and spotlight the organizers, campaigns, and conversations that are shifting the narrative. From TikTok to town halls, this episode is a crash course in how to reach future voters where they are, and why their voices are essential to the future of democracy.

🎙️ Featuring:
Bre DeShon, digital strategist and youth engagement advocate, socio-political commentator, and organizer

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 – Disclosure
00:32 – Intro Song
00:42 – Intro: Why Young Voter Engagement Matters
05:29 – Getting Younger Voters Out ft. Bre DeShon
06:10 – Who Are Young Voters?
08:57 – Bre DeShon’s Background
14:24 – Lack of Access to Politics / How Do You Break In?
15:57 – How Did You Get into the World of TikTok?
18:45 – Should We Use Fear to Get People to Vote?
19:28 – Are the Democrats Fragmented? Are We “Too Woke”?
19:44 – How Do You Reach Everyone as a Democrat?
20:21 – Conversation with Bre Jefferson
24:34 – The Environment & Climate Concerns
28:35 – What Should We Be Focused On?
30:37 – What Do We Need to Do Now?
30:49 – Are Student Loans on the Ballot?
34:28 – Do Younger Voters Still Care About Roe v. Wade?
36:31 – What Would You Say to First-Time Voters?

Whether you’re a civic educator, campaign staffer, content creator, or just a voter who cares, this episode has the data, the dialogue, and the direction we need to shape a more inclusive democracy.

What happens when red pill content leaves the group chat and hits the ballot box? In this episode of We Vote Too, host Leise Winny is joined by filmmaker, writer, host, and educator Nerra Muhammad to break down how red pill ideology has become more than just toxic dating advice—it’s a gateway to misogyny, racism, and far-right politics.

Together, we unpack why young white men are shifting toward Trump, how patriarchy harms everyone, and what it means to love—and fight for—a better future. From TikTok to the voting booth, it’s time to talk about how masculinity became a battlefield.

🎧 Timestamps:
00:00 – Disclosure
00:32 – Intro Music
00:45 – Welcome to Red Pill Content
03:21 – Interview with Nerra Muhammad begins
06:36 – Black men and red pill influence
08:31 – “Pick me” culture and internalized misogyny
11:03 – What causes men to go red pill?
13:03 – Intersectionality & protecting Black men without enabling harm
15:32 – Do women still want to be with men?
17:32 – The fantasy of the “trad life”
19:13 – Do men even like women?
23:23 – What is a feminist?
32:04 – How to communicate with red-pilled men
32:58 – Will we ever see a female president?
37:04 – Why men need to talk to men
38:15 – Nerra’s new doc: Love & the Gender War
40:10 – Final thoughts: “Just love more”
42:40 – Outro

In this episode, host Lisa Winny explores the disconnect between rising employment numbers and the lived reality of many Gen Z and Millennial workers, who say the job market still feels like a rigged game. From the fading promises of workplace DEI to endless rejection emails for being “overqualified,” we ask: What does work feel like today, and how does that impact civic engagement?

Additionally, we revisit a 2023 interview with Khaaliq Crowder, a journalist and media professional, who shares his candid experience navigating job rejection due to being "too qualified." Additionally, we revisit a 2024 interview with Khaaliq Crowder, a journalist and media professional, who shares his candid experiences navigating job rejection, being perceived as "too qualified," and why he refuses to give up on carving his path.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 – Disclosure

• 00:32 – Intro music

• 00:47 – Opening thoughts: Jobs, vibes, and the vote

• 05:21 – Interview intro: Khaaliq Crowder

• 07:46 – How hard is the rejection economy?

• 07:47 – Rejected for being over-qualified

• 11:59 – Khaaliq’s employment background & journey

• 15:58 – Can we fix the employment market as it is?

• 19:30 – Keep going. Make your way.

• 22:40 – Outro and call to action

📢 Got thoughts? Tag us @theMAPSmedia and share how your job journey has influenced your perspective on voting and power.

Is a third party a real alternative, or just the reason your least favorite candidate wins? In this episode of We Vote Too, we unpack the structural roadblocks, cultural skepticism, and political urgency surrounding third-party politics in the U.S.

Host Leise Winny sits down with political organizer Muhammad to discuss exploring third parties, exploring their historical role, whether third parties are viable, what role they’ve historically played in elections, and how they might better serve marginalized voters than the two-party system. Can a third party work—or is the system too rigged for real choice?

From the spoiler effect to single-issue voter traps, and from ballot access to the 2024 stakes, we’re asking: What would it take to build a third party that wins?

Because We the People? We Vote Too.

• 00:00 – Disclosure

• 00:32 – Intro music

• 00:33 – Can a third party work? Breakdown begins

• 03:48 – Interview with Farajii Muhammad

• 04:44 – Can a third party work in this system?

• 07:38 – Did third parties ruin past elections?

• 10:29 – The spoiler effect: myth or math?

• 13:36 – Should there be a third party for minorities?

• 19:55 – How to fix the single-issue voter problem in third parties

• 24:30 – Should we pause third-party pushes until Trump is out of office?

• 31:04 – What we should be doing to create third-party options

• 35:36 – Could a third-party candidate beat someone like Gavin Newsom?

• 39:57 – Will Democrats go too far left in 2024?

• 43:34 – How perfectionism hurts progressive movements

• 49:36 – Vote for who you want to vote for

• 52:54 – Outro

We've all seen what too far right looks like. But what about the other side? Can you go too far left… and what does that even mean in America?

In this episode, host Leise Winny and guest Deanna Neal (organizer, commentator, and unapologetic truth-teller) dig into the tension on the left—from disillusioned progressives to centrist Democrats losing the room. We unpack why some voters once fired up for Bernie ended up voting for Trump, and ask: Is perfectionism paralyzing progress? Are we labeling each other to death? And is the fear of being seen as "radical" holding us back from real change?

👉 A must-listen for anyone wondering where the progressive movement goes next—and how we win people over without compromising our values.

🗓️ Timestamps

• 0:00 – Disclosure

• 00:34 – Intro Song

• 00:48 – Can You Go Too Far Left?

• 03:36 – Interview with/ Deanna Neal

• 04:26 – Did We Go Too Left in 2024?

• 07:21 – Are We Mislabeling or Misframing?

• 09:37 – Is Perfectionism Hurting the Left?

• 16:35 – Can You Vote for Someone You Don't Fully Agree With?

• 18:26 – Why Do Far-Left Movements Get Demonized?

• 24:15 – The Bernie Problem

• 26:42 – Why Are We So Afraid to Be Labeled?

• 31:22 – Should We Talk to MAGA Supporters?

• 34:43 – Extremism Is the Problem

• 36:52 – We Have to Read the Policies

• 38:02 – Outro

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Immigration in the U.S. is more than headlines and border walls — it’s a complex system that touches millions of lives, often in invisible ways. In this episode of We Vote Too, we break down what’s going on: from visa categories and green card backlogs to DACA, asylum, and undocumented status.

We explain how these systems work (and don’t), what’s changed under recent federal crackdowns, and why immigration raids — like the ones unfolding in cities like Los Angeles — are just the tip of a much deeper policy iceberg.

Our guest, human rights and immigration attorney Yannick Gil, helps us understand how enforcement priorities have shifted, the impact on communities, and what legal protections remain in place.

Most importantly, we explore how these policies affect all of us — not just immigrants — and share tangible ways you can support families, combat misinformation, and advocate for meaningful reform.

Whether you’re brand new to this issue or deep in the work, this is your immigration explainer, action guide, and human story — all in one.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Legal disclosure (gotta keep it official)
00:33 – Intro music (get in the vibe)
00:48 – Trump's War on Immigration
04:31 – Interview begins with Yannick Gil: The State of Immigration
05:55 – What’s the difference between a refugee, an asylum seeker, someone protected by DACA, and someone here on a visa?
11:30 – The benefits of a robust immigrant population
14:30 – What does come here "the right way" mean? Pathways to citizenship
19:55 – What is due process? How this impacts us all
24:27 – What is ICE allowed to do?
30:14 – The Immigration and Nationality Act: A tool for surveillance?
33:31 – What does it mean to be stateless?
38:02 – What it's like in an ICE detention center
41:56 – How should we protest? Can the courts stop what’s happening?
49:29 – What keeps you hopeful?
53:22 – Resources for the public
55:01 – Keep standing up and protesting
56:47 – Outro

Today on We Vote Too, we’re diving headfirst into a conversation many avoid but desperately need: Why do so many low-income white Americans keep voting against their own economic interests?

Let’s be real—despite the myth of the “welfare queen” (hint: she doesn’t look like you think), white Americans make up the largest group receiving government assistance. In 2022, 51 million white individuals received welfare, more than triple the number of Black recipients. Yet the narrative still blames Black folks for “draining the system.” Why?

In this episode, we get into:

• How the post-slavery South gave poor whites their first real shot at economic freedom—and how they chose whiteness over solidarity.

• Why is it more convenient to punch down than to challenge the wealthy elites pulling the strings?

• Whether we should still be courting these voters or cutting our losses.

With special guest Marquis Lupton, we explore the deep roots of racialized class politics, media-fueled division, and whether there’s still room for coalition-building in a time of MAGA populism and billionaires cosplaying as “working class heroes.”

🔊 Time-stamped breakdown:

• 00:00 – Legal disclosure (gotta keep it official)

• 00:33 – Intro music (get in the vibe)

• 00:48 – The historical plight and dilemma of poor whites

• 03:38 – Interview begins with Marquis Lupton: Is ideology more important than interest?

• 07:49 – Why do some poor white Americans feel threatened by progress?

• 09:45 – Should we still be trying to “win them over”?

• 13:31 – What does engaging with MAGA voters really look like?

• 16:55 – The uncomfortable truth: poor white people have more in common with poor Black folks than with billionaires

• 20:29 – The media’s role in dividing working-class communities

• 24:18 – How Obama’s presidency may have paved the way for MAGA

• 26:33 – No more excuses—some folks are exactly who they’ve shown themselves to be

• 31:59 – “Black people are resting.” What does that mean in this context?

• 40:47 – Black voters have historically helped poor white communities, even when it wasn’t mutual

• 42:59 – Outro: messy truths, mic drops, and marching forward

This one’s witty, sharp, and probably going to get your uncle mad at Thanksgiving.

We Vote Too—because democracy doesn’t work unless we all understand the game we're in.

🗽 Featuring Edafe Okporo, NYC Council Candidate (District 7)

Podcast Description:
Capitalism gave us Netflix, Amazon, and five-dollar delivery fees for five-dollar tacos. But for Millennials? It's also given economic trauma, $100k in student debt, and an endless hustle culture wrapped in inspirational quotes.

In this episode of We Vote Too, we ask: Is it capitalism we hate—or just the broken version we inherited? Host Leise Winny breaks it all down with the help of Edafe Okporo, a human rights advocate and candidate for New York City Council District 7.

We talk generational disillusionment, overpriced degrees, and why GoFundMe shouldn’t be our national healthcare plan. From the housing crisis to political engagement, we explore what it means to fight for a system that works for everyone—and why Millennials aren’t anti-capitalist… we’re just pro-receipts.

⏱️ Episode TimelineBecause We the People? We Vote Too.

• 00:00 – Disclosure

• 00:32 – Intro music

• 00:48 – Capitalism background: Millennials vs. the system

• 03:22 – Interview starts: Edafe Okporo joins the conversation

• 04:17 – District 7: What it is and why it matters

• 05:18 – Edafe’s background as an advocate and immigrant

• 08:18 – Do Millennials hate capitalism?

• 11:32 – The cost of education and who it’s leaving behind

• 13:33 – How capitalism is choking higher education

• 17:22 – Rethinking capitalism: Is there a better model?

• 20:41 – Housing: The millennial affordability crisis

• 25:25 – What is socialism… and why is it taboo in U.S. politics?

• 29:02 – Can we get money out of politics?

• 35:13 – Political engagement without performative pressure

• 38:35 – Capitalism vs. Oligarchy: Is this what democracy looks like?

• 42:56 – Breaking the “Instagram grindset” myth

• 47:17 – Edafe’s NYC campaign and the policies he’s fighting for

• 52:00 – Outro: Fix the system or ditch the hustle?