Today, Beth joins me as we discuss the cross sectionality of owning a business, having experience in the startup world, and having spent the early part of her career in party politics and state government. We talk about how these collide, discussing the ways they fit together and the ways they don’t. She shares how the fact that she is a woman has played into this collision. We discuss the dangerous effects of cancel culture and talk about the benefits of moving away from party labels in such a culture. We note the theatrical tendency of many politicians, and we encourage you to find an issue you’re passionate about and run for local office to try to change it.

Today, I talk about the myth that women should be Democrats. I ask why our anatomy should define our political beliefs, and I note that women are able and allowed to have opinions about more issues than just reproductive rights. I list the reasons I find the assumption that I’m a Democrat offensive, and I note that everyone wants to hear a woman’s take on politics--until they find out she’s conservative.

Today, we talk about education. We discuss the ins and outs of school choice and stress the need for families to have a say in their children’s educations. We talk about charter schools and how they differ from public schools, exploring the reasons that a person might support or oppose them. We go into the history of the Boston school system and talk about its eccentricities, discussing its pros and cons. John also offers advice on how to get on a school board. Finally, I reflect on the power of focusing on our commonalities rather than our differences.

Today, I share my story. I talk about the various interests I pursued throughout my childhood and young adulthood in an attempt to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I note the impact of the tragedies that I experienced on my decisions, and I talk about how I finally settled on politics. I talk about the good friends and mentors that I met along the way, and I conclude that we all need to embrace our experiences as a part of who we are if we’re going to change the world even a little.