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Billionaires are rewriting the rules of democracy—should we be worried? Join us alongside my guest, Ohio State Representative Joe Miller, as we dissect the seismic shifts in political influence.

We tackle complex questions about transparency, the rise of dark money, and the ethical dilemmas posed by wealthy billionaires steering political narratives.

We explore Steve Bannon's "flooding the zone with shit" tactic, a strategy designed to divide and conquer public attention. We'll reflect on historical lessons, like the fall of the Roman Empire, to stress the vital role of strong institutions in preserving democracy, looking closer at what our Declaration of Independence had to say about authoritarianism.

This episode offers new interactive avenues for dialogue and drawing inspiration from Matthew Desmond's "Poverty by America." Let's rally for balanced political solutions and resist the pull of manipulated outrage.

sources:
Michael Lewis Article, Has Anyone Seen The President?
Heimler's History Citizen's United v FEC : This audio was shortened to fit for time, but the key points remain the same.

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Growing up in a working-poor family, State Representative Joe Miller (OH-53) brings a gritty, firsthand perspective to the table that challenges the status quo. Our discussion weaves through Joe's life experiences and combines them with insights from Matthew Desmond’s "Poverty by America" to expose the harsh realities of poverty and the systems that cement it. Together, we question the efficacy of political campaign spending and school voucher programs, and how they might unintentionally deepen the chasms of inequality they aim to bridge.

The conversation pivots to the overpowering economic influence in politics, unpacking the staggering sums funneled into political advertising and the media's role in shaping public opinion. We reflect on how the middle class, once the backbone of democracy, has been increasingly sidelined by a wealth gap that grows ever wider. The notion that addressing this wealth gap is a provocative one, challenging the priorities of today’s billionaires as well as the affluent, and their potential impact on democracy.

Our dialogue culminates in a critical examination of education funding and the role of billionaires in government. As an educator, Joe shares poignant stories of hungry students whose potential is stifled not by ability, but by basic unmet needs. We critique the school voucher system's unintended consequences of increasing segregation and undermining public education.

Finally, we underscore the urgency of separating wealth from government to preserve the democratic ideals upon which our society is built. Engage with us on social media and YouTube as we explore these complex intersections of poverty, politics, and education.

Nashville Public Education Foundation Study
Federal Elections Commission Data
WOSU Story on Ohio School Voucher Study
Get the Book, Povery, by America excerpt from Chapter 9 Tear Down The Walls pages 161-165

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Jerry’s expertise provides a rare window into the, sometimes, exclusive world of investment strategies, encouraging us to question who truly benefits from the current financial system and how we can make smarter choices on our financial journeys.

Through the lens of corporate giants like Walmart, we dive into the moral and economic dilemmas surrounding minimum wage debates. Do higher wages lead to healthier, less stressed workers, or do they risk job losses and drive inflation? We unpack these arguments, focusing on how economic security can empower individuals while challenging corporations' role in perpetuating income inequality. This discussion sheds light on how capitalism shapes the lives of everyday workers and explores potential paths toward a fairer future.

We also examine the intricate ties between poverty, capitalism, and corporate power in government and society. Drawing from historical and contemporary debates on welfare and minimum wage laws, we debunk persistent myths that blame poverty on individual failure. Inspired by Matthew Desmond’s Poverty, by America, we delve into how corporate interests influence societal values and political decisions. This conversation urges us to rethink our roles as consumers and citizens in a system that often prioritizes profits over people. Join us for an eye-opening discussion that challenges conventional narratives and explores solutions to systemic inequality.

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Every day, millions wake up to a cycle they didn’t choose—a system built to keep them struggling, surviving, but never truly living. Poverty isn’t just an empty wallet or a lack of opportunity. It’s a network of barriers: broken systems, historical injustices, and policies that perpetuate inequality.

Welcome to Survive Everyday Podcast and our new series, Spark of Change. Today, we begin our journey into the systems of poverty—how they’re built, who they impact, and why they persist.

In this series, we’re not just talking about the problem. We’re talking with the people who live it, challenge it, and shape the policies that sustain or dismantle it. From everyday individuals navigating poverty to the politicians who have the power to shape anti-poverty laws, we’ll bring voices from every side of the story.

Because to change a system, we first have to understand it. Let’s begin.

This episode of Spark of Change was written an edited by Adam Gercak

Music provided by Pixabay

Buy the book Poverty, by America written by Matthew Desmond

A special thank you to Matthew Desmond and his team who provided a copy of the book to use for this series. 

This has been a production of Survive Everyday Media, LLC

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In Spark of Change: Anti-Poverty Conversations, join us on a road trip of deep reflection, raw family discussions, and unfiltered perspectives on politics, community, and the American struggle with poverty.

Together, we'll explore America's systemic challenges and ask if uniting around economic class and common struggles could spark a true change. Tune in for raw insights, thoughtful debates, and a shared mission to redefine our future.

Resources from this episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHAWbU11LB0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL59AckZN5Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnXiy4D_I8g&t=14s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1l9YnZgcwY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDA8dvqKKjk
George Washington's Farewell Address
"It's A Class Struggle. Goddammit!" A Speech by Fred Hampton 1969

Music provided by: Pixabay

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How do we survive this election? Let's tak about it. 

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May is mental health awareness month and on this podcast we’ve never shied away from talking about mental health. On this episode we are going discussing 6 topics  that  delve into the intricate workings of the human mind and explore ways to foster our mental well-being. I’m embarked on a profound journey to unravel the significance of taking care of our mental health years ago, but like anything the work is never done, and it’s always ongoing. I hope to try and uncover the layers of this essential topic that impacts every aspect of our lives.

In today's fast-paced world, where relentless demands and pressures consume our daily routines, the significance of mental health care cannot be overstated. Our mental well-being is the cornerstone of our overall health, affecting how we think, feel, and act. Just as we prioritize our physical well-being by exercising, eating well, and visiting the doctor, we must accord the same importance to nurturing our minds. So, let's explore why investing in our mental health is not just an option but an absolute necessity.

*Contest Info: Subscribe to the podcast in whatever app you want and screenshot it, and share it on social media. Make sure you tag the podcast so I can see it and you’ll be entered to win, we’re on Facebook and Instagram, and if you share on Tik Tok you can tag me personally. There is no limit at the number of times you can enter, but only 1 per day per social media network. Here’s the kicker. If you are a member of our coffee club and subscribe and share the screen shot, you’re post counts for 2 entries.  No purchase necessary to win*

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A little more than a week ago I asked a question on social media. 

If you’re a musical theater nerd like I am, there’s always a song early in the first act called, the “I want song”. 

This is the song the hero of the story sing to set up the journey you’re about to go on. 
In Hamilton it’s the song “My Shot”. In the Little Mermaid it’s a part of your world. In Rent, it’s the title song called Rent. In Wicked it’s the Wizard and I. I could go on and on and on. But in nearly every single musical there is a song. It’s belted out, loud and proud. 

Over spring break I really thought of what I really wanted and how would by song go? What would it say? What did I want? What has been my purpose?

This honest appraisal of what you want is a tough introspective look. It’s incredibly uncomfortable. 

Here's how my "I want" song goes....

Details on the Contest
*no purchase necessary to win
To get entered to win an 8x10 print by Adam, here's what you need to do. 

1. Subscribe to the podcast in any app you like, and screen shot that you did it. 
2. Share that screen shot on social media with a story on how you found the podcast, and make sure you tag Survive Everyday (Social Links are below) so I can see it and enter you in the drawing. 
3. You can enter once a day, per social network. (total of 3 per day of you really wanted to go nuts). 
4. If you join the coffee club each share counts for 2 entries. 

At the end of the month a Facebook Live will happen where we draw a name and I will ship the print anywhere in the world. 

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In our previous episode, we explored the importance of literacy. Today, we'll be diving into another form of language that is also essential to our survival - music.

From ancient times to the present day, music has been an integral part of human culture, connecting people across borders and languages. It has the power to inspire, heal, and uplift us during the most challenging times. Today, we'll be exploring why music is so important to our emotional and mental well-being, and it can help us overcome adversity.

So, whether you're a music lover or just curious about the power of music, join us as I do something a little different. We’re going to be hearing a few songs from stop.drop.rewind.

I’m thrilled to have the band joining us to share their experiences as a band from the beginning playing for the first time and to discuss the creative process behind their music.

stop.drop.rewind links:
web: stopdroprewind.com
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sdrklo?lang=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stopdroprewind
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stopdroprewind
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/stop.drop.rewind/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SDRklo

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Literacy is an essential tool for empowerment and change. So today we’ve assembled the literacy Avengers, to use a comic book reference, to talk about the power of literacy and the challenges we face in promoting it and what Cleveland is doing to empower us all to become literacy ambassadors. 

Our Guests:

Laureen Atkins-Holliday - Vice President of Strategic Initiatives with the Literacy Cooperative
The Literacy Cooperative’s links:
Web:  www.literacycooperative.org
FB: https://www.facebook.com/literacycoop
Twitter:  @literacycoop

Jessica Walsh-Fraizer- Community Outreach Director of the Cleveland Kid’s Book Bank
The Cleveland Kids' Book Bank links:
Web: kidsbookbank.org
FB: https://www.facebook.com/clevelandkidsbookbank
Insta: @kidsbookbank
Twitter: @kidsbookbank

Joshua Edmonds - Chief Executive Officer of Digital C
Digital C Links:
Web: https://www.digitalc.org/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCorg
Insta: @DigitalC_org
Twitter: @digitalc_org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digitalc/

Jennifer Jumba - Popular Library Manager at the Cleveland Public Library
Web: www.cpl.org
Insta: @Cleveland Public Library
Twitter: @Cleveland_PL

Ken Glanc - Founder and Director of Operation Comic Book
Web: https://www.operationcomicbook.org/captain-comic-book-1st-issue
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069678847933

Cleveland Reads Links:
clevelandreads.com
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

This podcast was recorded live in the White Room at Evergreen Podcasts in Downtown Cleveland.
Audio Engineer: Noah Foutz of Evergreen Podcasts
Special thanks to Dave Davis, Michael DeAloia, and Noah Foutz

Cover Art by Jennifer Gercak

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