Megan Rapinoe decided to expand her lane beyond the soccer field that made her famous — and a world champion. Now, inspired by activists like Colin Kaepernick and the Ferguson protesters, she’s using her platform to champion causes like equal pay for women, racial justice, and civic engagement. Megan opens up about difficult conversations with relatives whose political beliefs discount her own humanity, and explains how anyone—yes, anyone!—can participate in activism. Plus: Why it’s so important to celebrate the journey as we fight for big wins.

You can find Megan on Twitter at @mPinoe

Text SUNSTORM to 97779 for updates on how you can take action

Head to sunstormpod.com to learn, read and find out how you can get involved!

Sunstorm is a project of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, in collaboration with Participant.

Sunstorm provides a platform for a diversity of viewpoints on policies and current events that are important to the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and its members. Guests on Sunstorm do not represent or speak on behalf of NDWA.

Ai-jen and Alicia are back! This season is all about finding your lane and discovering how YOU can make a difference, starting now… because we are the light in the storm. Stay tuned for wisdom, insights, real talk, and lots of belly laughs with guests like Megan Rapinoe, Jenny Yang, Raquel Willis, Bryan Stevenson and more. Launching September 8, 2020.

Sunstorm is a project of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, in collaboration with Participant.

Sunstorm provides a platform for a diversity of viewpoints on policies and current events that are important to the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and its members. Guests on Sunstorm do not represent or speak on behalf of NDWA.

Over 100 million Americans are in a caregiving crisis, trying to juggle the emotional, financial, and logistical demands of caring for loved ones across generations. Alicia and Ai-jen know exactly what that’s like—they’ve both found themselves caring for elders who used to care for them, in a system that’s confusing and wildly expensive. Where did this crisis come from, and what’s the solution? How can we shine a light on the invisible caregiving millions of women do? And how can we build a sustainable “care and repair” economy that prioritizes this important work for everyone? So many questions! We don’t have all the answers, but we can tell you what you can do right now to get involved and help build momentum for serious policy change.

A note: for many nannies, house cleaners and care workers the threat from Coronavirus is especially severe. We count on them every day to support our families—especially in times of crisis. That's why I'm asking you to join me in donating to NDWA's Coronavirus Care Fund today. Every dollar you contribute will provide relief to nannies, house cleaners, and care workers who need help right now—giving them the stability they need to stay home and help slow down the spread of the Coronavirus. Please, if you can, make a donation at DomesticWorkers.org/carefund today!

Sunstorm is a project of the NDWA, in collaboration with Participant Media.

Sunstorm is executive produced by Alicia Garza, Ai-jen Poo, Kristina Mevs-Apgar, and Jess Morales Rocketto. Sunstorm is produced by Amy S. Choi and Rebecca Lehrer of The Mash-Up Americans. Producers are Jocelyn Gonzales, Shelby Sandlin, Mary Phillips-Sandy, and Mia Warren. Original music composed by Jen Kwok and Jody Shelton.

Sunstorm provides a platform for a diversity of viewpoints on policies and current events that are important to the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and its members. Guests on Sunstorm do not represent or speak on behalf of NDWA.

For our season finale, Alicia and Ai-jen are answering your questions: How can we stay human in the midst of a global pandemic? What’s the secret to building a sustainable grassroots movement? And what should you be doing right now (from home, of course) to push for a progressive policy response to the coronavirus crisis? Plus, the ladies share their isolation faves (fancy tequila and reality TV are involved), and reflect on the most important lessons they’ve learned in their decades of activism.

Sunstorm is a project of the NDWA, in collaboration with Participant Media.

Sunstorm is executive produced by Alicia Garza, Ai-jen Poo, Kristina Mevs-Apgar, and Jess Morales Rocketto. Sunstorm is produced by Amy S. Choi and Rebecca Lehrer of The Mash-Up Americans. Producers are Jocelyn Gonzales, Shelby Sandlin, Mary Phillips-Sandy, and Mia Warren. Original music composed by Jen Kwok and Jody Shelton.

Sunstorm provides a platform for a diversity of viewpoints on policies and current events that are important to the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and its members. Guests on Sunstorm do not represent or speak on behalf of NDWA.

A new episode recorded on a phone call this week! Social distancing in full effect! Ai-jen, Alicia, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley connected from their homes to discuss hope in a time of crisis, movement building, mutual support, and comfort food. Rep. Pressley also explains how a casual photo op brought the Congressional Squad together, sparking friendship and a sense of progressive power that goes way beyond these four women. (She wouldn’t show us the Squad group chat, though.) Plus: The importance of birthday cake when it’s not your birthday, and Rep. Pressley’s top five tips for living well in “the time of the rona.”

The first dude of Sunstorm! Comedian, author, and United Shades of America host W. Kamau Bell explains how feeling like an outsider shaped his worldview, and gives props to his mom, who smashed barriers of all kinds while raising him alone. Plus: Why it’s OK to laugh at things you don’t agree with, learning the value of listening, and what we really mean when we say there are “two Americas.”

Sunstorm is a project of the NDWA, in collaboration with Participant Media.

Sunstorm is executive produced by Alicia Garza, Ai-jen Poo, Kristina Mevs-Apgar, and Jess Morales Rocketto. Sunstorm is produced by Amy S. Choi and Rebecca Lehrer of The Mash-Up Americans. Producers are Jocelyn Gonzales, Shelby Sandlin, Mary Phillips-Sandy, and Mia Warren. Original music composed by Jen Kwok and Jody Shelton.

Sunstorm provides a platform for a diversity of viewpoints on policies and current events that are important to the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and its members. Guests on Sunstorm do not represent or speak on behalf of NDWA.

According to “Queen Sugar” star Dawn-Lyen Gardner, she’d be Alicia and Ai-jen’s baby, if Alicia and Ai-jen had a baby. Dawn explains the complexity that drew her to playing Charley West—and how the role has helped her learn about herself. The ladies also discuss what it’s like to be “100% a lot of things” as members of many different communities, and get very, very real about Hollywood’s complicated relationship with activism. Recorded live at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.

Sunstorm is a project of the NDWA, in collaboration with Participant Media.

Sunstorm is executive produced by Alicia Garza, Ai-jen Poo, Kristina Mevs-Apgar, and Jess Morales Rocketto. Sunstorm is produced by Amy S. Choi and Rebecca Lehrer of The Mash-Up Americans. Producers are Jocelyn Gonzales, Shelby Sandlin, Mary Phillips-Sandy, and Mia Warren. Original music composed by Jen Kwok and Jody Shelton.

Sunstorm provides a platform for a diversity of viewpoints on policies and current events that are important to the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and its members. Guests on Sunstorm do not represent or speak on behalf of NDWA.

Winning is self care. Writer, podcast host, and all-around badass Aminatou Sow tells Alicia and Ai-jen why she believes that everything worth doing takes time—and why it’s so important to fight for ourselves and for those who come after us. The ladies also smash misconceptions about self-care (spoiler alert: it’s not just mani-pedis, it’s political) and discuss Shine Theory, a concept Aminatou developed with her BFF and “Call Your Girlfriend” co-host Ann Friedman. How are women building a new political culture based on the premise that “I don’t shine if you don’t shine”? How can we gain power by replacing competition with collaboration? And what does it take to truly invest in each other as friends?

Sunstorm is a project of the NDWA, in collaboration with Participant Media.

Sunstorm is executive produced by Alicia Garza, Ai-jen Poo, Kristina Mevs-Apgar, and Jess Morales Rocketto. Sunstorm is produced by Amy S. Choi and Rebecca Lehrer of The Mash-Up Americans. Producers are Jocelyn Gonzales, Shelby Sandlin, Mary Phillips-Sandy, and Mia Warren. Original music composed by Jen Kwok and Jody Shelton.

Sunstorm provides a platform for a diversity of viewpoints on policies and current events that are important to the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and its members. Guests on Sunstorm do not represent or speak on behalf of NDWA.

How can we stay present, focused, and engaged in these chaotic times? One answer: show up! Alicia and Ai-jen discuss why protesting is a powerful action—and a great way to get inspired and connect with your community. The ladies reflect on their first protest experiences (and arrests!), and offer practical advice for protesting, including what to bring, what to wear, and the ideal speaker-to-song ratio. You’ll also hear voices from Jane Fonda’s Fire Drill Friday climate protests in Washington D.C., as women from across the country explain their motivations for putting their bodies where their values are. 

Sunstorm is a project of the NDWA, in collaboration with Participant Media.

Sunstorm is executive produced by Alicia Garza, Ai-jen Poo, Kristina Mevs-Apgar, and Jess Morales Rocketto. Sunstorm is produced by Amy S. Choi and Rebecca Lehrer of The Mash-Up Americans. Producers are Jocelyn Gonzales, Shelby Sandlin, Mary Phillips-Sandy, and Mia Warren. Original music composed by Jen Kwok and Jody Shelton.

Sunstorm provides a platform for a diversity of viewpoints on policies and current events that are important to the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and its members. Guests on Sunstorm do not represent or speak on behalf of NDWA.

Twerking for the revolution! Make it clap so we can heal! In this ep, we cry laughing with Tony Award-winning writer/performer Sarah Jones as she  embodies the voices of many different characters to help us all get to the root of what we're fighting for. She tells Alicia and Ai-jen how her family inspired the varied voices that brought her from downtown cafes to Broadway, and why making people laugh is such an essential part of her work.

Sunstorm is a project of the NDWA, in collaboration with Participant Media.

Sunstorm is executive produced by Alicia Garza, Ai-jen Poo, Kristina Mevs-Apgar, and Jess Morales Rocketto. Sunstorm is produced by Amy S. Choi and Rebecca Lehrer of The Mash-Up Americans. Producers are Jocelyn Gonzales, Shelby Sandlin, Mary Phillips-Sandy, and Mia Warren. Original music composed by Jen Kwok and Jody Shelton.

Sunstorm provides a platform for a diversity of viewpoints on policies and current events that are important to the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and its members. Guests on Sunstorm do not represent or speak on behalf of NDWA.