A Podcast about two accidental education advocates, what they've learned and how you can get involved in making your corner of the world a better place, whether you have one minute or one hour.
Renee and Susan discuss the 2025 elections from national and local perspectives. In this episode of Advocacy Bites, they break down a week filled with big wins, surprising momentum, and a whole lot of hope for everyday advocates. From sweeping Democratic victories across the country to record-breaking turnout in local Wake County races, Renee and Susan explore what these results mean for communities, educators, families, and grassroots organizers in North Carolina and beyond. Renee reflects on the national landscape — including major shifts in Virginia, New Jersey, and Maine — and what these wins say about voters pushing back on divisive policies, book bans, and attacks on marginalized communities. Susan brings the focus home, celebrating the surge of municipal engagement, the impact of the No Kings movement, and the growing desire for connection, community, and unconventional organizing. Together, they dig into: Why this election cycle felt different — and more hopeful How community-driven actions like rallies, walkouts, and local collaborations are reshaping advocacy What Gen Z and grassroots volunteers are doing that traditional political structures often miss Why disagreement, experimentation, and "just trying stuff" are powerful tools for change How advocates can keep the momentum alive through 2026 — without burning out This episode is a reminder that victories—big and small—matter. And that you don't need permission, a polished strategy, or perfect alignment to make a difference. You just need hope, community, and the willingness to act.
In this episode of Advocacy Bites, hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book detail what Susan is seeing on the local level and how that relates to national issues in special education. We dive deep into the state of special education—from alarming local stories in Wake County to the broader national challenges facing students with disabilities. Susan shares her family's personal journey through the trauma of restraint and seclusion practices in schools, shedding light on the policies, data gaps, and systemic failures that continue to harm vulnerable students. Together, Renee and Susan connect these issues to the national dismantling of education oversight, including the impact of cuts to the Office for Civil Rights and Department of Education staff, and what that means for families who rely on federal protections. This episode unpacks: Wake County's rising restraint and seclusion numbers — and what's behind them The role of lawsuits and media transparency in driving accountability How systemic bias impacts Black and Brown students in special education Why federal oversight matters now more than ever What parents and advocates can do to create safer, more equitable schools
Susan discusses Medicaid cut impacts on our families and schools while Renee does a deep dive on what is going on with the University system. In this episode of Advocacy Bites, hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book dig into what happens when the North Carolina legislature simply… does nothing. From stalled Medicaid funding to the growing crisis in the UNC university system, this conversation exposes how legislative inaction and political meddling are creating real harm for students, families, educators, and care workers across the state. Susan unpacks how the General Assembly's failure to reconcile its budget has left Medicaid providers, schools, and vulnerable North Carolinians facing devastating cuts — including $200 million in lost support for public schools. Then, Renee takes listeners inside the UNC System, revealing how decades of political control have eroded academic freedom, gutted funding, and fueled efforts to reshape higher education through partisan oversight and ideological censorship. It's a revealing, infuriating, and deeply important conversation about public education, healthcare, and democracy in North Carolina — and what everyday advocates can do to fight back.
Susan and Renee discuss the current free speech situation in the US, and the current financial situation in Winston Salem/Forsyth County public schools. Stay connected at: https://saveourschoolsnc.org
Renee and Susan talk about the legislature's failure to pass a budget (again), as well as the lengthy delay in the Leandro case. Stay connected at https://saveourschoolsnc.org
Renee and Susan discuss back to school tips and tricks Stay connected at: https://saveourschoolsnc.org
Renee and Susan review some of the terms used in advocacy and election volunteering. Stay connected at: https://saveourschoolsnc.org
Renee and Susan muse over some of the big ideas and feelings that have been floating in their heads recently. There may also be some light emotional breakdowns. Notes: Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back Author: Joan C. Williams
Renee and Susan discuss the various lies and misdirections that extremists use to obscure their actions and goals. Stay connected at: http://saveourschoolsnc.org and https://www.facebook.com/people/Advocacy-Bites/100085908254061/
Susan gives us an update on the legislature budget shenanigans, and Renee and Susan discuss Wake County's new cell phone policy.
Renee and Susan discuss what bills made (and didn't make) crossover, and how this represents a full-circle moment in their advocacy journeys. Notes: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/h636
Show Notes: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-robert-f-kennedy-jr-s-statements-on-autism https://autisticadvocacy.org/2025/04/leading-autism-organizations-release-joint-statement-on-upholding-scientific-integrity-and-supporting-the-autism-community/ https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/euthanasia-program https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2025/04/22/autism-what-to-know https://ejanc.org/2025/04/why-new-school-discipline-executive-order-should-be-ignored/ https://www.jacksonlewis.com/insights/does-employer-disparate-impact-liability-still-exist-latest-eo-pushes-eliminate-it
Renee and Susan talk about why everything in the NC government seems both expensive and poorly run. (Hint: it's the legislature. It's always the legislature).
Susan and Renee welcome a special guest to give us the scoop on SEL: what it means, what it looks like in schools, and why it makes extremists mad.
Susan and Renee talk about party politics (again) and the kind of fight they're looking for in party leaders.
Susan talks about the latest threats to 504 and Renee highlights our Trans kids as well as our school boards actions.
Susan gives a breakdown of the Public School's Forum annual Eggs and Issues Event. Renee gives tips to help us all deal with the overwhelm of bad bills hitting us all at the same time. Show Notes: https://www.ncforum.org/
Renee and Susan discuss what you can do to stay motivated when it comes to advocacy.
Renee and Susan celebrate the holidays with an episode about what's been making them think and bringing them joy recently. Books: Author Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice; and The Future is Disabled: Prophecies, Love Notes, and Mourning Songs Author Colson Whitehead The Underground Railroad Show: Star Trek Discovery, Severance Check out your Local Library and Indie Bookstores: In Raleigh, check out Quail Ridge Books, Trans Artist: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadeByMaxDesigns
Susan and Renee review over some ideas for getting started as an Every Day Advocate.
Renee and Susan process the 2024 election.
Renee talks about how a right-wing candidate engineered a controversy at the school board to make herself a free campaign ad.
Renee and Susan discuss a variety of news/issues that have popped up, including the North Carolina legislature's determination to expand vouchers, the recovery from Hurricane Helene, the bad proposed Constitutional amendment on our ballot, and new (and, it turns out) highly orchestrated attacks on our public schools and trans kids. For the show notes: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/08/us/politics/trump-republican-transgender-ads.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2024/trans-sports-girls-florida-bans/
Susan and Renee discuss what it means when candidates talk about “school safety.”
Renee and Susan talk about the important of judicial races this year.
Susan and Renee discuss the Republican plan for federal education policy.
Susan and Renee look at Oklahoma and Louisiana and discuss the trend of religious instruction in public education as well as the changes in Title IX. https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/we-fact-checked-what-oklahoma-law-says-about-teaching-the-bible-in-schools/ https://nondoc.com/2024/07/22/some-okc-metro-school-districts-spurn-ryan-walters-bible-directive-others-hesitant/ https://abcnews.go.com/US/enforcement-louisianas-ten-commandment-classroom-requirement-put-pause/story?id=112112612#:~:text=Louisiana's%20new%20law%20requiring%20all,legal%20battle%20over%20the%20policy. https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-releases-final-title-ix-regulations-providing-vital-protections-against-sex-discrimination
Renee and Susan discuss two of the most pressing budget items waiting on approval. While there was a little put forth for child care after the recording, the lack of a long term plan remains. https://www.wral.com/story/nc-lawmakers-rushed-dozens-of-bills-over-the-finish-line-what-s-next-for-the-high-profile-efforts-that-failed/21501173/ https://www.wral.com/story/nc-house-lawmakers-pass-67m-in-stopgap-funding-to-stave-off-child-care-cliff/21499071/
Susan and Renee talk about non-profits and the press handling of extremists.
Renee and Susan revisit the ongoing efforts to ban books in school and local libraries.
Susan and Renee discuss how meaningful and important it is when all different kinds of people are involved in advocacy and leadership.
Renee and Susan discuss the final report of this year's Futurama Committee (spoiler alert: there's a lot of "we should think about" and almost no "we should do" in the report). Show notes: Committee report: 86920 (ncleg.gov)
Helpful tips for neurodivergent advocates. Susan talks about her personal experiences as a neurodivergent person in education advocacy and together, Renee and Susan talk about how everyone can do something in the work. Resources: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1S5eipnnnSSIHGbUvdTEFqIrWiETFdD_o/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111501771460639390946&rtpof=true&sd=true
Susan and Renee discuss common tropes used around public education.
Susan and Renee sound the alarm (again) over Michele Morrow, the extremist running for NC Superintendent of Public Instruction. Show notes: https://saynotoextremistso.wixsite.com/my-site-1
Renee and Susan review the most recent developments in the Leandro case, why none of it is ok and why we're still hopeful and determined anyway. Show notes: Video of the February 22 rally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32uHt16uX_8 Roundup of press coverage of the Leandro hearing: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C6If03hz7vkVGZqXygZHULAgpzXB_UUxaJlJ8cMgqmg/edit
Susan and Renee talk about what to expect in the upcoming legislative short session, what happened at the most recent meeting of the Futurama Committee, and what's at stake in the primary elections. Show notes: https://www.ncleg.gov/Committees/CommitteeInfo/HouseSelect/218/Documents/17303
Susan and Renee discuss two issues in the news: the return of the Futurama Committee, and the debacle in Durham public schools. Links to the documents considered by the Futurama Commitee: https://ncleg.gov/Committees/CommitteeInfo/HouseSelect/218/Documents/
Susan fills us in on a glimmer of hope for one type of school funding, where the legislature may actually be considering making things better. Article that inspired this episode: https://www.wunc.org/education/2024-01-08/state-education-officials-recommend-changes-to-special-education-funding-services?fbclid=IwAR2cLQMP4vYjHAy9a-vkxz4S6Bv6zWl8QCsKnWRDjSeUAv7a1CQSCx5o7ls Postcard event: https://www.facebook.com/events/775929144577012/?ti=ls And don't forget to vote for us in the Maggy awards! https://www.carymagazine.com/features/vote-now-for-the-maggy-awards/
Renee and Susan talk about what's coming in 2024 and what they think voters should look out for.
Renee and Susan break down the year in education.
Susan and Renee welcome special guest Sarah Montgomery for a discussion of the importance of working in coalition. Resources: www.everychildnc.org
Susan and Renee discuss the importance of local press and provide some tips and how-tos for handling the press and writing Letters to the Editor.
Susan and Renee do a deep dive on the ties between the state lottery and education funding. Show links: https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148167357/lottery-money-state-by-state-mega-millions-powerball https://themissouritimes.com/press-release-floor-leader-john-j-diehl-jr-proposes-putting-state-lottery-back-ballot-calls-games-dishonest-way-fund-public-education/ https://publicschoolsfirstnc.org/resources/fact-sheets/the-facts-on-the-nc-education-lottery/ https://youtu.be/9PK-netuhHA?si=RfoOu5Uw5AV46vkS
Susan and Renee dive into the deep need for school construction bond in NC, and what's happened to previous efforts to pass one. 5 Year School Facilities Needs Report: https://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/news/education/2021/08/31/19852081/2109_BSOP_8_FNS_2020_Report_FINAL_-_2021-08-25_2755693hvsgnrblescr15gd3kacqoz-DMID1-5s26byplt.pdf Every Child webinar: Cracks in the Foundation: Facing NC's Public School Infrastructure Crisis. https://fb.me/e/53rSGIXFP
Susan and Renee break down S49, what it does and doesn't include, and what to look for as schools try to make sense of it all. Links: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2023/Bills/Senate/PDF/S49v4.pdf https://ncnewsline.com/briefs/school-leaders-want-delay-implementing-parents-bill-of-rights-requirements/ https://www.wunc.org/education/2023-10-04/nc-board-of-education-schools-parents-bill-of-rights-pronouns https://www.wfae.org/education/2023-08-23/cms-response-to-nc-parents-rights-bill-sparks-praise-and-calls-for-defiance
Susan and Renee share five action items to help determine which candidates are untrustworthy. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/09/party-flippers-democrats-becoming-republicans-00110334
Info about accessible voting: Accessible Voting - DRNC (disabilityrightsnc.org) Info about anti-voter bills: 5 Things to Know About This Week in North Carolina Politics (Aug. 28, 2023) - YouTube Voter ID Info: Voter ID — You Can Vote
Susan and Renee celebrate their 50th episode with a discussion of how civility is weaponized to stop discourse and to protect bad actors.
Renee and Susan highlight some education news coming from outside of NC, but that reflect trends we're either seeing here to expect to see soon. Links: Lawsuit aims to halt opening of St. Isidore, a Catholic charter school - The Washington Post PragerU's whitewashing of Frederick Douglass is exactly how you indoctrinate children with falsehoods about Black history - TheGrio
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