Beyond Resistance Pod

This week on Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer sit down with Ashley Painter—a mom, photographer, social worker-in-progress, and absolute powerhouse running for South Carolina State House in a district that’s . . . let’s just say not exactly a walk in the park.

Ashley didn’t come from political privilege—she came from foster care, real-life struggle, and a deep understanding of what it means when government actually fails peo...

Fresh off a BIG special election win (like . . . historic-level big), we’re not taking a victory lap—we’re hitting replay on how it happened and what comes next.

In this episode of Beyond Resistance, we’re joined by Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel to break down the anatomy of a landslide and why grassroots energy is having a moment right now. From 10,000 doors knocked in just four days to voters literally caravanni...

Episode Notes: Midterm Mode Activated 🚀 + A Big Win (But No Chill Yet)

We’re back, and yeah . . . it’s official: midterm mode is ON. Like, two-feet-on-the-gas, cancel-your-chill-plans ON . . .

In this episode, we sit down with Senator-elect Chedrick Greene—Marine vet, retired firefighter, community-rooted leader, and honestly . . . kind of the main character right now—fresh off a major special election win in Michigan’s 35th...

Okay, so . . . we did a thing.

Chedrick Greene won—and not in a squeaker, not in a nail-biter, but in a full-on “wait, is that number correct??” kind of way. 🎉

In this episode of Beyond Resistance, we’re breaking down what actually happened in Michigan’s 35th—and spoiler alert: it wasn’t luck, vibes, or a last-minute campaign miracle.

This was years in the making. Like . . . a decade of organizing, relationship-building, ...

Change is hard. Democracy is messy. And sometimes your biggest resistance comes from . . .your own side. 😬

This week on Beyond Resistance, hosts Sarah Schulz and Jennifer Austin get fired up (shocking, we know) talking about what happens when grassroots candidates start winning—and the political establishment absolutely does not take it well.

Enter Joanna Whaley, a Michigan State House candidate who is doing the radical thin...

What if the secret to winning elections is . . . running everywhere, even where Democrats “can’t win”? 👀

This week on Beyond Resistance, we’re joined by Michele Hornish, founder and executive director of Every State Blue, to blow up some tired political myths and make a bold case for funding candidates in the reddest of red districts.

Michele breaks down why progressive organizing, grassroots fundraising, and local elections...

- - What happens when you bring a behavioral scientist, a rigged map, and a whole lot of “why are we still doing it this way?” energy into one political podcast episode? Absolute fire. 🔥

This week on Beyond Resistance, we’re joined by Kate Barr — organizer, founder of the Can’t Win Victory Fund, and the woman who famously ran as an openly fake Republican to expose gerrymandering from the inside. Yes, really.

We dive into why...

What do dragons, Disney adults, and a sheriff running for governor have in common?

Apparently . . . this episode of Beyond Resistance.

Hosts Sarah Schulz and Jennifer Austin kick things off fired all the way up—processing the heavy reality of misogyny, online radicalization, and why being a woman in modern politics can feel like playing defense 24/7. From there, they pivot to something we desperately need in this political mo...

This week on Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer are fresh off what can only be described as a ✨Very Democratic✨ long weekend in Detroit — and they have thoughts.

From a boho Airbnb near Eastern Market to Broadway tears at Suffs, to heels, hats, marching bands, DJ booths, and yes . . . Robert’s Rules of Order, this episode is your inside scoop on the Michigan Democratic Party’s record breaking nominating convention. (Over 7,20...

In this episode of Beyond Resistance, we sit down with Lisa McIntyre, candidate for Michigan State House (District 22), therapist, school board leader, mom of three, and all-around proof that local politics is where the real action happens. If you’re into progressive political podcasts, grassroots organizing, or conversations about how to actually win elections in swingy districts, this one’s for you.

Lisa shares how her backgro...

In this fiery episode of Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer dive headfirst into the great progressive debate of 2026: Do protests actually matter, or are we all just getting our steps in? Spoiler: they matter — a lot.

Fresh off a wave of online hot‑takes claiming protest is pointless, your favorite co-hosts break down why collective action still moves hearts, shifts culture, and builds the kind of courage that flips very red ...

In this week’s episode of Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer come in fired up and ready to unpack the political circus we’re all trying to survive. From TSA chaos and ICE lurking in airports like the world’s least helpful mall cops, to the nonstop stress being cooked up in D.C., this episode is basically a masterclass in modern activism, community organizing, and staying sane in an authoritarian‑ish era.

But that’s just the w...

This week on Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer are fired up (yes, again) and diving into what it really takes to build Democratic power, increase voter turnout, and move beyond the “blue wave will save us” magical thinking. Spoiler: it won’t. (Sorry, internet commenters.)

We’re joined by Justin Onwenu, Detroit-born organizer, environmental justice advocate, law professor, economic opportunity champion — and now candidate for...

In this fiery and fun episode of Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer come in hot, kicking things off with what might be the most passionate political rant you’ll hear all week (Jim Clyburn, we’re looking at you). From aging incumbents to billionaire adjacent self funders, this one dives deep into the realities of modern campaigns, grassroots organizing, and why everyday people deserve leaders who actually get what everyday life f...

This week on Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer come in hot — like “are-you-really-going-to-fund-Trump’s-random-war?” hot. We kick things off with a fiery breakdown of Democratic wobbliness in Congress, political “poison pill” bills, and why doing your own Googling might just save democracy (or at least your group chat). It’s the kind of cathartic political‑podcast energy that pairs perfectly with rage‑cleaning or panic‑scrollin...

This week on Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer are fired up (shocking, we know) — and they’re taking you from “kitchen table issues” to the wild world of real-life political chaos, media buzz, and the everyday struggles Americans are carrying everywhere except an actual kitchen table.

They dive deep with Ethan Wechtaluk, a smart, grounded, actually normal human running for Congress in Maryland’s 6th District. Ethan’s a dad, ...

Strap in, organizers and blue state dreamers — this week on Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer sit down with Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel Jr. for a conversation that’s equal parts real talk, strategy session, and “wait… did he really just say Wu Tang Clan?” vibes.

Curtis brings the heat on what went wrong in 2024, what gives him hope heading into 2026, and why listening — like actual listening — might be the ...

Strap in, snowflakes (the avalanche kind, not the internet kind) — this week’s episode brings the heat and the heart. Sarah and Jennifer sit down with Callie Barr, Michigan’s 1st District congressional candidate, community powerhouse, veteran advocate, mom, attorney, mediocre violinist, and elite-level cookie distributor.

Callie breaks down what it means to fight for an Affordable LIFE — literally. Local housing, Income, Food, E...

In this episode of Beyond Resistance, Sarah and Jennifer sit down with the unstoppable Erin Petrey — Kentucky native, bourbon expert, international policy nerd, former diplomat, job‑creator, Kentucky Colonel (yes, really), and now candidate for Congress in Kentucky’s trending‑blue 6th District.

Basically: if LinkedIn were a person, it would be Erin — but way more fun.

We dig into what it means to run a bold, progressive, pop...