Parenting is Political

Mo and Jasmine sit down with Dr. José Luis Vilson, executive director of EduColor and a former public school math teacher, to talk about what it means to treat public education as a common good. José shares how growing up on New York City’s Lower East Side shaped the teacher he became and the choices he makes as a parent. Together, they dig into school vouchers, segregation, and the pressure on families to make the “right” choice when access to a well-funded school is so uneven.Dr. Vilson's webisteEducolor WebsiteDr. Vilson's most recent book

In this episode, Mo talks with Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, about raising children amid ICE enforcement and family separation. Murad shares how his Palestinian roots shape his parenting, how he talks with his kids about what’s happening, and what parents can do to support immigrant families in their communities.Visit NYIC Website: https://www.nyic.org/Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenyic/Check out their resources & trainings: https://www.nyic.org/resources-training/resources/

Jasmine speaks with scholar and author Charisse Burden-Stelly about the intertwined histories of anti-Black racism and anti-communism in the United States. Charisse Burden-Stelly is the author of the book Black Scare/Red Scare: Theorizing Capitalist Racism in the United States. This episode explores political education, movement building, parenting, and the importance of continuing the struggle for justice.

This episode is for the truth-tellers, the burned-out organizers, the benched leaders, and the ones who refuse to play a rigged game. Host Jasmine Banks is joined by Vanessa Daniel, longtime organizer and author of Unrig the Game, for a searing conversation that takes direct aim at the nonprofit industrial complex, influencer activists chasing clout, and the weaponization of identity inside our movements. They talk survival, silence, and betrayal—especially what happens when women of color rise to power and then get crushed by the very systems they were told to trust. No fluff, no performative solidarity—just an honest reckoning with the question: What would it actually take for our movements to win?

The two-party system isn’t just broken—it’s failing our families, our communities, and our planet. In this episode of Parenting is Political, Jasmine sits down with David Cobb—eco-socialist, activist, and host of Redneck Gone Green—to unpack why the U.S. political system is designed to maintain corporate power and suppress real change. We dive into the possibilities and limitations of third-party movements, including the Green Party, and what a true challenge to the status quo would require. Cobb breaks down how the Democratic and Republican parties fail working-class people, why electoral politics alone won’t save us, and what it means to build a movement that actually serves the people. If you’ve ever felt trapped in the two-party cycle, this conversation is for you.Follow David Cobb: @redneckgonegreenUS Solidarity Economy Network; @ussolidarityeconomynetwork

Jasmine and Mo discuss deconstructing evangelicalism and deprogramming from high control movements spaces.

What would our lives look like if everyone had guaranteed income, housing, health care, college fund, and family care?? That's exactly what host Jasmine Banks discusses with Natalie Foster. Natalie is a leading architect of the movement to build an inclusive and resilient economy that works for all, and the author of The Guarantee: Inside The Fight For America' Next Economy. “Every family, every person, every child deserves economic security.” Follow Natalie's Instagram and visit her Website.

Say what?? Jasmine and Mo react to The Atlantic article Polyamory, the Ruling Class’s Latest Fad by Tyler Austin Harper. They discuss how the claims that Harper makes uphold the nuclear family model, how they practice polyamory, and how non-monogamy certainly isn't just a fad for rich people. Stay up-to-date with all our new episodes by subscribing or "following" our podcast. And if you want to help keep the podcast going, become a paid subscriber!

Host Jasmine Banks speaks with Dana Fisher, a dynamic speaker and author who writes about activism, democracy and climate policy. They discuss her most recent book, Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action. What are some practical steps that parents/caregivers can take to engage in advocacy for climate? What does community and solidarity have to do with saving our climate?  How do we support each other when climate shocks hit?  “How much suffering will we need to endure before a critical mass of people rises up to push actively and aggressively for social change?  Jasmine and Dana both want you to PUT DOWN THE DEVICES AND GO OUTSIDE. Dana Fisher’s Instagram Dana Fisher’s Website Dana Fisher’s Book

Host Jasmine Banks speaks with Laura Packard, cancer survivor, health care advocate, and host of her own podcast Care Talk, about America's broken healthcare system and how we can fix it. “We don’t have to live like this. Other countries have figured it out. People who need care get care.” Learn more about Laura's work: Laura's Website Listen to her podcast: Care Talks Follow her on Instagram: @laurapackardactivist