GRITS

Aftyn and Anna are joined by April Jarocki, the coordinator with the Southern Connected Communities Project, who along with members of the Clearfork Valley, built their own internet by establishing a wireless internet system at the Highlander Research and Education Center in Jefferson County, Tennessee. April highlights the role of the pandemic in exacerbating the digital divide and discusses what broadband justice looks like to her community. Donate to SCCP by clicking here! #BroadbandGritty

Tressie McMillan Cottom in her piece examines the evolving Southern identity in the context of popular culture, the ebb and flow of "disdain and attraction" to the region. Aftyn and Anna address their own prodigal returns to the South post-college, and how they've navigated public opinion of the South in their professional capacities.

Some of you have been asking where is the infamous GRITS' travel correspondent, Momma B... well, she has launched her own podcast called "Red State, Blue Mom"! For this week's episode, we invite you to listen to the 2021 inaugural episode and subscribe! Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

With US student debt reaching $1.7 TRILLION, the girls deliver the state of play on student loans: what amount of relief Biden is considering; racial disparities in borrowing; and how privilege takes center stage in the debate whether to cancel it all. #StudentDebtGritty

New year, new… WTF. Aftyn and Anna are back for season 4 in the wake of the pro-Trump QAnon furry hat wearing insurrection identifying the Tennessee culprits and grappling with how to humanize those involved. BONUS: tips on how to talk to your people who believe in conspiracy theories LINKS Sign this petition to take down Steve Berger, Gov. Lee’s extremist pastor at Grace Chapel How to speak to people who believe in conspiracy theories Republican Attorney Generals launch robocalls Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver’s Tennessean patriot profile

For the final episode of the year, Anna and Aftyn dig into how the Democratic party should utilize three winning progressive policies to bring new folks in. Embrace an economic populist message and distribute LEGALIZE IT bumper stickers across the country: is it that simple? Happy holidays and the girls will see y'all in 2021! #KeepItGritty NYMag, Democrats Have a Problem. ‘Workers, Wages, Weed’ May Be the Answer Mother Jones, The $15 Minimum Wage Wasn’t the Only Progressive Ballot Measure That Passed in Conservative States Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Yes, President Trump is finally out of office, but with 72 million Americans showing up to vote for him after four years, who is really the winner of the 2020 election? Anna and Aftyn look past the presidential victory, highlighting the role of white women in maintaining white supremacy at the ballot box this cycle. “White Women’s Support for Trump Remains High in 2020 Election” The 53 percent issue AOC Interview in NY Times Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

We’re less than 20 days out in the election and it seems East Nashville, more than usual, is filled with Black Lives Matter yard signs. Anna and Aftyn unpack performative allyship and virtue signaling in this episode and ask their listeners to think about why they’re posting black squares on Instagram, and how they can truly be allies. Send an email to Lamar GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

With RBG’s death and the fate of the Supreme Court in question, Anna and Aftyn outline how we got here, what’s to come, and what you can do about it. TLDR: Aftyn’s arch-nemesis Mitch McConnell doesn’t play by the rules, and don’t let Tennessee’s Senator Alexander retire to Canada in peace. Send an email to Lamar GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Pratik Dash from Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition joins the girls this week to discuss his experience as a “brown kid” living in Tennessee following the September 11th attacks. #NeverForget the post 9/11 racism and Islamophobia and our country’s intervention in the Middle East which led to the region’s destabilization. GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Anna and Aftyn take a break from politics this week to reckon with coming of age and finding one’s purpose within the redefinition of Southern institutions. WARNING: lots of tears! GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Does your aunt Karen believe Tom Hanks is running a child sex ring in his basement, and that Trump will save the children? Join QAnon expert Chris Coleman for this deep dive into the “deep state”. #WWG1WGA GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Aftyn and Anna interview Claire and Safara, organizers with the Be Better Belmont campaign, which is pushing Belmont’s college administration to divest from the private prison system. #CancelCoreCivic. Links: Be Better Belmont Linktree Tennessean article about the campaign History of Belmont’s legacy with slavery and incarceration GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Aftyn and Anna are joined by Aftyn’s middle and high school classmate Tre Waters as he shares his experiences as a mixed-race kid at the private, predominantly white, prep school Webb School of Knoxville located in East Tennessee. This episode is dedicated to all the people of color that attended Webb School in Knoxville. If you would like to sign the petition “Webb Alumni Call for Commitment to Anti-Racism Action,” please click this link. Follow Tre on Instagram Listen to Tre on his podcast Segway to Logic Check out Famed Check out Beat the Odds Clothing Company GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

With their TN Holler launch, Aftyn and Anna release their conversation following the national uprising in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and our responsibility as white Southern women to engage in anti-racism work. #BlackLivesMatter GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Come along for a political pilgrimage to Arizona to visit the legacy of Barry Goldwater... Saguaro stealing, a (now) politically correct sun devil, and an Arizona pilgrimage to Barry Goldwater's home state... Our GRITS travel correspondent Mama Behn is BACK! Find out why no one ever talks about his photo collection...

Now that they're neighbors, Aftyn and Anna discuss their roles in Nashville's gentrification and why diverse neighborhoods are the FRUIT OF LIFE.  Oh, and Aftyn talks about her coffin ⚰️while Anna selects her 8, yes, that's right, 8 bridesmaids...

Anna and Aftyn return to discuss Tennessee's plan to extend paid family leave to 12 weeks and how the US falls short in terms of progressive pro-family policies. #letsgetprolifegritty Get Involved

Ahead of our 2020 launch, enjoy this gritty episode from 2019 featuring our guest, Anna's sister! Join us as you relive Casadagate, we answer your outstanding questions, and prepare for 2020 gritiness!  ...Why is Anna taking showers with her cats?  ...Why are Tennessee's kids losing health insurance? ...Why did Tennessee's pro-birth bald congressman pay for an abortion for his mistress? Links  Tennessee's #MeToo Movement 128,000 kids lose health coverage in Tennessee "Pro-Life" Scott Desjarlais pays for his mistress' abortion  

The legendary Dr. Carol Paris, former President for Physicians for a National Health Program, joins the girls to talk about the battle for Medicare for All in Nashville from her arrest during the federal ACA hearings to her removal from a Trump rally, pushing Rep. Jim Cooper to sign on to M4A. Tune in to find out what's next for #MedicareForAll! #LetsGetMedicareForAllGritty #ScrewIncrementalism  Show Notes

Aftyn's mom, the GRITS field correspondent, joins the girls in Anna's cramped closet to take the audience far away to a tropical destination where accountants wear sarongs and menstruating women are prohibited from entering temples. #LetsGetBaliGritty Happy Mother's Day to all the Mama Grittles out there! A special thanks to our mothers for putting up with us, especially during our rebellious, gritty high school years.

From activism to decision fatigue, Southern women are exhausted from working 80 hour weeks, causing good trouble and choosing where to eat on date night. If it’s 2019 and this is the new definition of Southern belle, we’re already tired. Next! Grittle Shownotes

With the Tennessee State House recently banning abortion after six weeks, Aftyn and Anna describe why southern states are on the front lines in the battle for a woman's right to choose. #LetsGetReproductiveGritty Gritty Show Notes:

Aftyn's mom guest stars on the pod, discussing her recent voyage to revolutionary France! In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, she spills the riveting history of General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas and provides her Bolivia rebuttal to Aftyn's tall tale. Let's get Mama gritty! Gritty Show Notes:

Where can you find karaoke and a history of the Democratic South? Look no further than your favorite GRITTY pod! Aftyn outlines how the GOP became the party of the South, and Anna explains why progressives win the culture wars. Gritty Show Notes:

You called, you tweeted, you harassed them while standing in line at Kroger's, and after 9 months of silence, THE GIRLS HAVE RETURNED. Aftyn and Anna, showing little remorse, update all the grittles on their adventures and shed light on what's to come in 2019. Anna's List of Show Notes:

After a two month dramatic hiatus, THE GIRLS ARE BAAAAACK. Catch up with your favorite Southern blondes: Aftyn changes jobs and gets to wear a wig full time, and Anna digs into healthcare overhauls featuring a public option. YOU'RE WELCOME MOM. Anna's List of Show Notes:

The girls return for their biweekly debut to demystify the urban legend of the crimson South. Aftyn gives a history lesson on Tennessee's role in the passage of the 19th amendment, and Anna dissects the underground Republican campaign to undermine electoral neutrality. #LetsGetGritty Show notes: How the Republicans rigged Congress — new documents reveal an untold story - Salon  Pennsylvania gerrymandering case - New York Times More reading: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-gerrymandering-carolina-supreme-court-20180112-story.html https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/10/gerrymandering-technology-redmap-2020/543888/

In the first full-length episode of the pod, Aftyn reminisces about doing the "pug dance" with Senator Elizabeth Warren and Anna walks the audience through Paul Ryan's obsession with "welfare reform." The girls get a little emotional talking about the Washington Post and progressive Southern women. Link to Chris Coleman's Work Requirements paper: https://www.tnjustice.org/trump-administrations-new-policy-allowing-states-deny-medicaid-unemployed-workers-will-harm-tennessee-families/

Aftyn Behn and Anna Walton are ready to bring policy and people to the table, and find the hospitality in the grit. #LetsGetGritty