Secret Door to the Left

In Episode 35 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances are back to unpack deconstruction of religion! Deconstruction works through fundamental faith-based questions and examining the lessons learned throughout one's faith journey. Alicia reflects on what she has learned in her deconstruction therapy sessions and questions Christianity with Frances. How do you feel about organized religion? Are you in a state of deconstruction? Let us know your thoughts! You can comment, email, or message Alicia and Frances to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Episode edited/mixed by Mikayla Elias for @crybabyaudiotn Suggested resources: Exvie & Atheist: An Exvangelical Subgroup Raising Children UnFundamentalist Facebook Group Exvangelical Facebook Group https://www.bartdehrman.com/ Richard Dawkins What Is Faith Deconstruction? — The Sophia Society --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 34 behind the Secret Door, we catch up with Frances and Alicia and discuss all the recent laws that went into effect in Texas on 9/1/2021. The duo kick off with discourse about Greg Abbott's mask mandate policies in schools and how that's impacting their own kids. Is the Delta variant impacting your area hard? Texas certainly is handling their outbreaks with, you guessed it, Ivermectin. Good news—perhaps more Conservatives coming out about getting the vaccine will push vaccination rates in the right direction! As of September 1st, open carry gun laws have been passed. Second Amendment organizations have pressured these particular laws to go through, causing stress on law enforcement and civilians. The 6-week abortion bans have also passed through Texas legislature, barring any pregnant person the opportunity to terminate a pregnancy after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Alicia and Frances discourse on the complexities of this hot-button issue. What are your thoughts on Darwinism? Are you prepared for the gun-slinging wild west of Texas policies? Tell us your thoughts on abortions and legislature surrounding them. You can comment, email, or message Alicia and Frances to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Episode edited/mixed by Mikayla Elias for @crybabyaudiotn --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 33 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances cover prepping for all kinds of situations. After spending a few minutes catching up with each other and discussing the finer points of minivan life, the pair start with a discussion on Rand Paul's accusations against Dr. Fauci and the “dangers” of vaccines. With more conservative influencers speaking up about getting the vaccine, the tides may be turning in the race for herd immunity. But we won't hold our breath. Next up is a discussion on the January 6th Commission. Nancy Pelosi has put together a group of representatives in order to assess the insurrection on January 6th, and she shut down radical conservatives trying to derail the commission. However, this means that she will have limited conservative representation. Will Trump zealots therefore respect their findings? Then, Frances takes the lead on an in-depth discussion of Prepping - what it is, why it's needed, and how to do it. Natural disasters and infrastructure failures prompt planning thoughts. Frances shares her thoughts on rational prepping versus extremist prepping and Alicia discusses her day-to-day prep and her dream prep for when the shit goes down. The two then take a deep dive on prepper culture! Come birding with Alicia and Frances and talk prep for the end of all things! What did you learn from Scouting? Are you concerned with the way your representatives are handling disaster infrastructure? Do you have special terms for the apocalypse? You can comment, email, or message Alicia and Frances to share your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Episode edited/mixed by Mikayla Elias for @crybabyaudiotn --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 32 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will be discussing Greg Abbott's legislature updates and concerns regarding border security. Alicia and Frances kick off our episode discussing the shortages happening in our supply chain with the initial wave of reopening after quarantine. On their trips, the two noticed shortages in business labor, which has been popping up across the country. People are switching industries at swift rates. As a result, businesses like restaurants have been short-staffed and overwhelmed by demand. Next on the docket, the two dive into the most impactful of Abbott's most recent legislature decisions. He vetoed over 20 bills while passing bills that allow for homeless people to be arrested rather than asked to relocate. Abbott also vetoed House Bill 686, which would have brought about more access to rehabilitation for youth criminals. Educational rights were also at stake in this session. Abbott vetoed another bill that would provide broadband access to rural areas of Texas on the basis that it would increase taxes. This kind of access to the internet would particularly help children with schoolwork. He vetoed another educational bill that would have allowed schools to teach about child abuse and domestic violence. Texas is looking to pass some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country. This bill would close polls at 1pm and restrict early and 24-hour voting under the guise of eliminating voter fraud. State Democrats effectively killed the bill by walking out during the voting session. A special session is upcoming in the next few weeks. “Constitutional carry” House Bill 1927 is being passed, which lessens restrictions on carrying firearms. Law enforcement has expressed disillusionment with this bill, and Alicia and Frances speculate on the impact this will have on communities and individuals. A few weeks ago, Abbott announced he would continue to work on building up the border wall. He plans to use $250 million of disaster relief funds to work on the project. The rest is to be crowdfunded, and $450,000 has been raised thus far. So much for Mexico paying for that wall! What do you think about the border wall? Have you also been feeling political fatigue? Have you been clotheslined by a sea turtle? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Sources: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/21/texas-greg-abbott-veto/ https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/16/texas-constitutional-carry-greg-abbott/ Alicia's Tik Tok Recommendations: @jegaysus @stage_door_johnny @kristen.cook @jenniferfulwiler Episode edited/mixed by Mikayla Elias for @crybabyaudiotn --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 31 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will be discussing the latest in politics and their lives once again after a short hiatus. The most recent news to hit the floor is the conviction of Derek Chauvin who was found guilty on all four counts for the death of George Floyd. Based on this verdict, there is a strong sense from many that perhaps police officers should have more training. There also is a belief that perhaps during a mental crisis the police should not be called but instead proper professionals of the mental health industry. The debate between police funding and outsourcing to other systems to improve how situations are handled is still ongoing. Also, many do have to remember that police face danger every day, and they are often called hurtful things in their shifts, particularly at nighttime. Either way, there could perhaps be more done to divide things better to help people and the police. Alicia and Frances will both hit different points of view on what perhaps could be done. The next piece of news is the presentation by the White House for the American Jobs Plan. The White House has brought forth the issue with the United States not being able to get back to where were economically before the pandemic, and their idea is to rebuild a new economy during this time of transition. The idea is to fix all major highways, bridges, transit systems, and airports. This includes rebuild if necessary and upgrades as needed. They also want to update the water systems, electric grids, and high-speed broadband systems. Essentially, they believe all Americans should have availability to these necessities. Alicia also brings up their plans for childcare and the schools to better serve more people in need of these services. The White House also plans to create jobs, raise wages, and create benefits for essential home care workers. These issues hit very close to Alicia due to her current standing in life, and she has thoughts on it that should be heard by her listeners. Alicia and Frances will also talk about the professionalism of Biden and his lack of tweeting in comparison to our former president. While others may have issues with Biden's lack of social media presence, many find it a nice refreshing peace of mind. And of course, Alicia will let us know the latest on what news platforms have tried to make false accusations and claims that they then have to fix in later statements. Find out what news platforms are still untrustworthy and give yourself a good laugh while hearing their poor journalism mistakes. Tune into the show to find out more about what's going on in the country, France's thoughts on the police perspective, and Alicia's latest tv obsessions. What do you think about the Chauvin trial? Has Biden's presidency been a nice break for you too? Do you know what the American Jobs Plan proposal is? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 30 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will discuss the most recent events from Texas's Governor Abbott and how it could potentially affect the country. In Abbott's first proclamation, he has declared that the mask mandate has been lifted. Small businesses have the right to ask for customers to wear masks, but any government or federal property will not require people to wear masks indoors. This comes just days after the CDC said that anyone outside who is vaccinated does not have to wear a mask. On Abbott's second proclamation, starting in late June all those on unemployment will no longer be receiving the additional COVID compensation. He claims that there are plenty of jobs out there, and that on average they are willing to pay at least $15 per hour. As this affects Alicia and her family directly, she had some concerns about this because her husband has still not been able to find a job. The blue-collar jobs have come back and done well, but the question is when will the white-collar jobs be available again. Overall, Abbott will be taking away the additional supplement given by the government in order to encourage more on unemployment to take the available blue-collar jobs that are potentially paying less. Finally, there has been a ruling in Texas that will take effect in September of 2021. Abbott has signed the bill that will prohibit abortions as early as six weeks. It will also allow any private citizen to sue abortion providers and others. This passing comes just after the Supreme Court decided to hear Mississippi's abortion case for 15 weeks. It seems that with Texas's new ruling and the Supreme Court's case, there is potential for Roe vs. Wade to be overturned in the future. Tune into the show to find out more about what's currently going on in Texas, France's thoughts on abortion, and Alicia's concerns about the new unemployment ruling. What do you think will happen with the new abortion ruling? Do you think the COVID numbers will rise again? Do you think it is fair to take away the COVID government aid so soon? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Sources: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/18/texas-heartbeat-bill-abortions-law/ https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/texas-federal-pandemic-related-unemployment-benefits/285-5da28e3e-dfe1-4ee1-9d4a-bdc8bd3271fa https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issues-executive-order-prohibiting-government-entities-from-mandating-masks Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 29 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances discuss Biden's American Jobs Plan, a.ka. his infrastructure bill. Frances and Alicia first spend time catching up with each other and sharing how they spent their Easter. Frances is busy at work with the exploding real estate market in the Houston area and Alicia is pulling her hair out with her 2 toddlers. Then they dive into the details of the American Jobs Plan. $115 billion to revamp highways and roads? $111 billion for clean drinking water? $213 billion to build and retrofit more than 2 million homes? Universal broadband? $400 billion to expand access to home- or community-based care for seniors and people with disabilities? $100 billion to upgrade and build new public schools? End federal tax breaks for fossil fuel companies? $50 billion to improve resilience to climate change, including by protecting electric grids (!!), food systems, urban infrastructure and hospitals in communities most vulnerable to flooding and other severe weather events? $35 billion toward clean-energy technology? Sounds good to them!!! Paying for it….that's another issue. Frances and Alicia discuss Biden's proposed plan to pay for his bill including tax hikes on corporations. Of course, Republicans don't want to raise taxes on their biggest donors and are arguing that the bill is less than 5% infrastructure - the rest is a pie-in-the-sky liberal wish list. So, getting the bill through Congress is going to be a big task for Biden. So what do you think of the infrastructure bill? Do you like what is included? Think it has any chance of passing? Or are the Republicans going to sabotage it? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Sources: https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/03/31/what-is-in-biden-infrastructure-plan/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/04/07/yellen-corporate-tax-infrastructure/?utm_campaign=wp_evening_edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_evening&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F31c3342%2F606e1d559d2fda1dfb461c42%2F59b6a3d29bbc0f706bb937ff%2F8%2F56%2F606e1d559d2fda1dfb461c42 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/04/05/gop-claim-that-only-5-7-percent-bidens-plan-is-real-infrastructure/ https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-biden-push-limits-infrastructure-definition --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 28 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances take a break from politics and discuss the latest in pop culture and talk about what's going on in their lives. They also cover the infamous Meghan Markle and Prince Harry interview. Pepe Le Pew is being removed from the next installment of Space Jam and any other future projects by Warner Brothers. Alicia discusses how Pepe helped normalize rape culture, while Frances remains skeptical that this is true. Disney has also chosen to make a decision in witness to their former cartoons' captions and narratives. They will be removing access to “Dumbo”, “Peter Pan”, “Swiss Family Robinson”, & “The Artistocats” from children-only profiles. If an adult logs into an adult profile, then the movies will be available, but a warning will be presented. The idea is to still allow access to the movies to audiences, but it allows parents the opportunities to teach their kids why certain parts of the movie are inappropriate. Dr. Seuss Enterprises has decided to stop publishing six books including “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” and “If I Ran the Zoo.” It portrays people in ways that are hurtful and inconsiderate. As Alicia's former co-worker explains, the images of the Asian community in “Mulberry Street” were portrayed in a way that is rude and inaccurate for that time. This includes out of date wardrobe, coloring of yellow skin, and long hair. All choices that were not realistic for the time when it was printed in the 1930s, thus providing proof to the stereotype and harmfulness of the book. Dr. Seuss Enterprises will continue to publish all the other books and will only stop publication for the six that were deemed inappropriate. Of course, Alicia's sweet little church ladies (SLCL's) on FB had a lot to say about this. Tune in to find out their take as well. Finally, in the interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left a lot to be discussed on Twitter and on Secret Door to the Left. Harry hinted to racist comments from his father, Prince Charles. The main concern was what color Archie would be when he was born. Meghan unfortunately not only dealt with racism within the family, but she also experienced brutality from the press in the UK. While she was pregnant with Archie, she evidently experienced suicidal thoughts and warned Harry that she should get help in order to prevent anything bad from happening. Unfortunately, she was not given the help she needed. Ultimately, the lack of help from the family, cruelty from the press, and racism that lead Harry and Meghan to decide to come to America. As always, Alicia and Frances have their thoughts on what happened. TikTok recommendations for this week include: @thejeffreymarsh, @worldsokaitest, @killersundy, and @bhambluedot. What do you think about the most recent victims of cancel culture? What did Alicia and Frances miss this week in pop culture? Do you think Meghan and Harry feel safer now? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 27 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will take a break from their discussion about Biden's first 100 days in office. In this episode, they will be talking about the snowstorm that caused power outages, water outages, deaths, and the lifted mask mandate order. Texas faced a winter storm during mid-February that caused unprecedented property damage to millions of homes. Many were without water, without power, and experienced burst pipes. The overall cost of the storm could be between $195 and $295 billion in total damages; this includes the lost income that occurred during the storm due to many businesses closing their doors. Part of Texas's issue is that the power grid is not centralized with the rest of the country. It is not properly regulated, and the first signs of major issues began back in 2011 when many lost power due to similar cold weather related issues. In some parts of the state, including the panhandle of Texas, they decided to reevaluate their power grid and join the national grids. However, many areas were either not affected or still refused to address the issue. Meanwhile, Ted Cruz decided that when he lost power to take a trip to Cancun with his family to avoid the storm. One of his wife's friends then posted saying that he had planned this trip with his wife after he had just released a statement saying he went because his kids “wanted to go.” In return, he then had a poorly set up photo op that showed him putting a singular case of water into a woman's car, in an empty parking lot. Needless to say, Alicia will be doing everything in her power to get Cruz voted out of office in 2024. Finally, when asked about the astronomical bills and power outages people were experiencing, the lieutenant governor explained that it was the people's faults for not looking at the fine print. While there is some truth to that statement, many people were experiencing bills that were a thousand times more expensive because instead of being charged 8 cents per watt they were charged 900 cents per watt. Frances argues that the current deregulated state of Texas's power companies need to be regulated in order to avoid this kind of predatory practice. After the governor blamed the outages on the Green New Deal and more false accusations, he then released a statement explaining that the mask mandate would be lifted, and Texas could go back to normal starting on March 10th. This was announced after finding out that Texas still has one of the highest per capita rates of COVID in the country. Tune into the show to find out more about what Texas experienced during the snowstorm, France's interesting doomsday prepping father, and Alicia's unsettling argument with her parents. What happened to you during the snowstorm? What do you think about the lifted mask mandate? Do you think you can trust your country/government at all? You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 26 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances continue their mini-series on President Biden's first 100 days in office. This week they tackle his plan to raise the minimum wage to $15/hr. Frances leads the discussion on this one detailing the pros and cons of raising the national minimum wage. Alicia plays the part of the bleeding heart liberal and argues that it is needed. Tune in to hear them battle this one out and then share your opinion on this topic. Are you a small business owner? How would it affect your business if a $15 minimum wage was implemented? Do you think the minimum wage in an area should be adjusted to the local cost of living? Do you think it should remain $7.25? Let them know your thoughts. You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 25 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will continue their discussion about Biden's first 100 days in office. In this particular episode, they will be going over Biden's current plan to tackle COVID. Biden currently has a $1.9 trillion dollar relief proposal. In this proposal, a third stimulus check of $1,400 would go towards those who qualify. There is a cutoff for the amount of income made in order to receive the stimulus check in full, but this is to ensure that those who need the money will receive it. However, in this stimulus check adult dependents could potentially be eligible, unlike the previous two checks. The bill would also extend the unemployment benefit to $400 and last until the end of August. Biden also proposed paid sick leave to those who do not receive it from their employers. Alicia greatly appreciates the help Biden is trying to give to the unemployed and Frances agrees that help should be sent to those who do still need it. Thankfully, Frances has been lucky enough to where she feels she should not be given money and thinks it should go towards someone more deserving. However, at the end of the episode, Alicia did have some updates on her guilty pleasures. For Tik Tok, she recommends @yourpal_Austin for funny videos. She also had a preacher and teacher that she follows that talk about the current issues with the Bible. For the Bachelor nation, she is up in arms about the current lack of respect to the diversity by having the producers not allow Rachel to come forward with a statement of apology for her former actions. These actions include going to a plantation for a Southern Belle party; confederate flags and men dressed up as Confederate soldiers were present and pictured. The host of the Bachelor went on former Bachelorette Rachel's podcast and he dismissed her concerns. He is now in talks about potentially being replaced for his actions. Tune into the show to find out more about the potential of the COVID proposal, France's latest gardening, and the gender swapped Twilight book Alicia recommends. What are your thoughts about Biden's presidency so far? What do you think Biden should do next? Do you have hope for our country again? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Source: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/19/politics/stimulus-house-democrats-proposal/index.html Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 24 of the Secret Door to the Left, Frances & Alicia begin their series on Joe Biden's first 100 days in office, diving deep into his first initiatives as president. This week's discussion centers on the what-and-why of the Keystone XL pipeline - what it is, why the oil industry wants it, and why environmental advocates do not. They also have a lively discussion (as always) about climate change in general and what we as people (and we as a country) can do about it. Want to join the discussion? You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 22 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances enjoy their signature drink “The Kamala” as they talk about Biden's first acts as president, the experiences from the last four years, and the sigh of relief the nation took on January 20th. As Biden is officially sworn in, Alicia describes the inauguration and celebration as being “let out of the kidnapper's basement.” An analogy that seemingly fits the last four years in this country, and this analogy will be used throughout the show to describe the effects Trump's reign had. Frances gives the recipe for her celebratory drink while also stating the first acts Biden had as president. She also explains her distaste for “fabricated pageantry” and the idea that some of the events on January 20th were just for show. However, both are extremely grateful that smart people are once again in office, and it is their hope that the nation can finally start to move forward and heal from the previous four years. Alicia and Frances now also want to move on from talking about Trump behind their secret door to talking about more liberal policies. Tune into the show to find out more about their feelings on Biden's first day, France's “The Kamala” recipe, and their perspective about the last four years. What are your thoughts about Biden's presidency so far? What do you think Biden should do next? Do you have hope for our country again? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Biden's First Acts as President: Ordered as stop to the US-Mexico border wall Ended travel ban from Muslim majority countries Declared intent to rejoin Paris Climate Accord Declared intent to rejoin the World Health Organization Mask mandate and social distancing required for federal employees and on federal property Revoked Trumps “1776 Commission” Source: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-inauguration-day-one-d6637de1ce993d272108337c1030b79d Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 22 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances discuss the news as of Jan. 13th, 2021, including the second impeachment of Donald Trump. The discussion kicks off with the second impeachment hearing of Donald Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors related to his actions before and during the Jan. 6th storming of the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. They cover the arguments made on the House floor for and against the impeachment. Frances also covers the difference between free speech and incitement. Alicia covers some of the stories she's read about how the Jan. 6th riot might have been an inside job with some members of Congress or members of law enforcement involved in the insurrection. They also discuss the ongoing threat of more violence leading up to the Inauguration on Jan. 20th. They end the episode on a lighter note: Frances shares her current garbage read, The ShadowHunter series, and Alicia recommends “Bridgerton” on Netflix and runs down a list of her current favorite Tik Tokers - @thebigweirdmom; @notstanleytucci; @thegoodliars; @nursemegrn; @allisonscleanin; @goodtrouble_; @marcus.dipaola; @pilot_brit. Listen in and join the conversation on their social media pages. You can comment, email, or message them to share your opinions and ideas at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 21 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances continue to express their shock, horror, and anger about the events that happened in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. We debunk the lie that it was Antifa that stormed the Capitol. We discuss the hypocrisy of some of the Trumpers who claimed to be media during the riot in order to avoid being arrested. We delight in the fact that Twitter has permanently banned Trump from their platform and that Google and Apple are going to remove Parler. We also remind our fellow Americans that the First Amendment doesn't cover Twitter. Next we express our worries that there will be future violence in the weeks to come based on what we've seen on social media. Then we discuss our great dislike of Ted Cruz, who is an embarrassment to the state of Texas and this nation. Lastly, we briefly discuss the articles of impeachment and what Congress hopes to accomplish with them. Also, did J.K. Rowling foresee all of this in her Harry Potter books with her discussion of Voldemort, the DeathEaters, and the Imperius curse? Alicia thinks so. Listen in and then join the conversation on their social media pages. You can comment, email, or message them to share your opinions and ideas at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 20 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances express their shock, horror, and anger about the events that happened in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. They recorded their thoughts after Congress reconvened following the riots and they pause several times to give their in-the-moment thoughts to speeches given by some Congresspeople. Listen in and then join the conversation. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 19 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances want to talk about their resolutions for 2021 as they look forward to the coming year, but most importantly they look forward to leaving behind 2020. Alicia and Frances will each list their resolutions for 2021 and include their reasoning behind their wants to better themselves next year. Alicia's goals include being nice to those who have differing opinions, be on social media less, and read more books. Frances wants to worry less and read more nonfiction books. Tune into the show to find out more about their goals, tips they had for each other, and their thoughts on how their 2020 resolutions went. What are your goals for 2021? Are you also ready to leave 2020 behind for good? How do you want to better yourself in the new year? You can comment, email, or message them to share your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 18 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will review EVERYTHING that happened in 2020. Topics of Trump, Black Lives Matters, wildfires, virtual schooling, and more will be discussed as they sum up this year's headlines. To start the show, they both begin listing off what happened this year starting with the Australian wildfires. They go chronologically from start to the end of the year. Following this overview, Frances hits on the main issue of the pandemic, but she also has some fun features at the end to lift everyone's spirits. Alicia hits two of the biggest topics of 2020: Black Lives Matter and Trump. This year was filled to the brim with chaos, confusion, and disappointment; however, there were many good things to happen this year including the confirmation of a UFO sighting by the Pentagon. Tune into the show to walk down the crazy memory lane of 2020. What were you highlights from this year? Are there any news stories we missed? What do you plan to do in 2021 to continue celebrating the good moments in life? Have you found any new hobbies? Did you adopt a shelter puppy or kitten? You can comment, email, or message them to share your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Highlights of 2020 Australian bushfires burned a record of 47 million acres. The World Health Organization announced Jan. 9th that a deadly coronavirus had emerged in Wuhan, China. Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26. President Donald Trump faced an impeachment trial starting in January 2020 but was later acquitted on Feb. 5th. “Parasite” took home the most awards at the Oscars on Feb. 9 including Best Picture. On Feb. 24, Harvey Weinstein was convicted, and many celebrated it as a win for the #MeToo movement. Black Lives Matter protests began in May 2020 after police-involved killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. Protests continued over the summer including in August when Jacob Blake was shot in Wisconsin by a police officer and paralyzed from the waist down. Joe Biden secures the Democratic Presidential nomination. Kamala Harris was chosen as Democratic Vice President candidate on Aug. 11th. On Aug. 28th, the world lost the Black Panther Chadwick Boseman after a four- year battle with colon cancer and shocked fans around the world. Marvel has since confirmed that Shuri will become the next Black Panther in the upcoming sequel. In mid-August, wildfires occurred from California and Washington state after a gender reveal party sparked the fire. Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Sept. 18th, the second woman to become appointed to the Supreme Court. Oct. 2, Trump tests positive for COVID-19. Joe Biden becomes President Elect on Nov. 7th. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 17 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances kick back and discuss a little bit of everything. The topics go from COVID to politics to Taylor Swift to the Crown, and it's a journey you won't want to miss. Frances reveals that she tested positive for COVID shortly before Thanksgiving and just finished her quarantine time. She is still unsure how she got the virus. She tells Alicia what it was like and what she did while she was resting - including watching new tv shows - which fans of Secret Door know is very uncommon for her. Alicia talks about what latest articles she's been reading, and what questions she has for the LGBTQ community. She also goes into details about what movies and tv shows she's been watching, including Taylor Swift's latest documentary featured on Disney+. There's even a surprise mention of the editor of Secret Door to the Left, Eryn, and her encyclopedia of useless information. Tune into the show to find out what quarantine craziness will do to you, discover new tv show and movie recommendations, and hear the lateness news in politics. Do you have any tv show recommendations for Frances? Did you have COVID and have a different experience? Will you be taking the COVID vaccine? Have you tried Joy's political tips on Facebook? Who are your favorite Tik Tokers? Share your comments, emails, or messages at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Topics of Discussion France's COVID and Quarantine experience, including how she handled quarantining with her eldest son. Alicia's update on what the hospitals and medical field are preparing for in the coming months with the vaccine. Alicia put Joy's political tips and tricks to work on Facebook this week, and things did not go exactly according to plan. In summary, people on the right do not trust the Washington Post. Alicia's most recent findings on Tik Tok - @thebigweirdmom and @christianmhull. Also, is butter under peanut butter on peanut butter toast criminal or perfection? Frances talks about what shows she watched during quarantine, including the Umbrella Academy. A show featuring Elliot Page who will continue his character of Vanya in the third season releasing in 2021. Alicia gives updates about her latest articles and tv shows she's been keeping up with. Secret Door to the Left editor, Eryn, is the fact checker for all information Alicia and Frances forget about. Ex: Knowing Shaun the Sheep aired on Disney Channel starting in 2007 and Nick Jonas is the Jonas Brother in the Jumanji reboot. Eryn also loves Taylor Swift and Alicia thought of her when watching her latest documentary “Folklore: The Long Pond Sessions” on Disney+. (Folklore Long Pond Session album available on all streaming platforms.) Alicia and Frances discuss the Crown and the royal family. Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 16 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances talk to their long-awaited guest and close friend Joy, a speech pathologist located in the Boston area. The episode is a Master Class on How to Be Kind on Social Media with Joy as the teacher. Joy walks us through her tips on how to effectively engage with people on social media and point out the misinformation and deception Facebook friends often have without being rude, insulting, or cruel. Tune in to hear Joy's tips on keeping your cool on Facebook when discussing politics, but also discover some of her rather unusual guilty pleasures. There may be some you have heard of, and there may be some that perhaps only an older Generational Z might know. Who's to say? How do you handle politics on social media? Do you have more tips for discussing politics in a civil manner? Or do you stay away from social media because of the politics issue? Share your comments, emails, or messages at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com How to Be Nice to Stupid People 101 by Joy Harms: When talking to others about politics, acknowledge their ego. No one will respond well to insults and/or all caps responses. Present them with facts, don't attack their intelligence/morals/character. It's useful to make them think that something is their idea. Figure out what you can appeal to in their belief system to start pointing them in the right direction. You might not change their mind in the moment, but it might plant a seed in them to reconsider their stance in the future. Remember that you were stupid once too. Everyone has their own blind spots or areas where they lack knowledge. Sometimes you can use that to help others realize their mistakes and ignorance. Opinions and yelling do not change minds. Facts and stories do. Don't say anything you wouldn't want your pastor/mom/kids to read. Remember that anything you post is forever and might come back to haunt you later. Stop feeding the bad wolf. Every person has a good wolf and a bad wolf in their mind. The stronger wolf will always be the wolf that you feed. When you allow yourself to think bad thoughts about others and call them stupid, or idiots, or etc. you are allowing yourself to feed the bad wolf. When you allow yourself to stop those thoughts and reframe your perspective to kindness, sympathy, and love you are feeding the good wolf. Sometimes feeding the good wolf is as simple as deleting the cruel comment you typed out and rewriting it. Joy's Guilty Pleasures: TV show: Watching her husband watch "The Bachelor" franchise. Movies: Shaun the Sheep-Animation, 5 seasons, 2007 Books: None Music: Chintzy Christmas Music Food: Dark Chocolate or any chocolate with mixed nuts in it, Bourbon Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 15 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances express their post-election blues, including a discussion of how the current President is handling his loss, Alicia's fights on Facebook with some always-Trumpers, and the hilarious Four Seasons Landscaping press conference. Alicia starts off the show with a bang by revealing how former guest Therese Odell feels about the current changes Trump has made in his defense, and she explains how it reveals the workings of a dictator-like attitude. Alicia goes on to explain to Frances how the country could be in trouble if Trump uses his new defense and refuses to concede the presidency to Biden. Also, on the show, two of Alicia's republican Facebook friends post outlandish arguments about the fraud conspiracy surrounding the election. Tune in to see how she replied, and the catchphrase Frances uses when someone has been “roasted.” Did you catch the Four Seasons Landscaping press conference? Do you think the ignorance in the Republican party will ever fix itself? Do you think Trump will ever concede the presidency or will Biden have to use the law to force him out? Do you think 2021 will be any better for our nation, especially given the rising Covid cases in America? You can comment, email, or message them to share your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 14 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances discuss their views on Election Night 2020. They discuss their disappointment in the count not being more decisive, discuss their opinion that polling may now be obsolete, and (semi-)brag that they were right in believing abortion, the economy, and “law & order” would be big driving factors in how people voted. So how did you feel about Election Night? Were you surprised that it wasn't a landslide? Or were you expecting it to be as close as it is? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Fun Moments: Alicia asks Frances if this is how it feels to be a Democrat in a Red state? None of the people you vote for win. Quick history lesson on LBJ's VP after JFK was assassinated. Both Frances and Alicia blame Ryan for his optimism that the election outcome would be more decisive. Alicia reads a great excerpt from @ThereseOdell's 11/4/20 blog post at FoolishWatcher.com. They discuss why they believe so many people voted for Trump again. Should America move away from a 2-Party system? Should there be parties created based on local interests? Ex.: The Farmers Party; The Steelworkers Party, etc. Alicia tells the story of losing her phone in Walmart and how her wonderful husband helped her find it. Alicia makes a bold claim that she believes that the general population of America are ignorant which explains why so many people voted for Trump. Frances tries to soften this statement. How will the Trump presidency be remembered in history? Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 13 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances decide to break from politics and interview their husbands. This way, you too can know their weird hobbies, love for terrible movies, and fascination with baseball. Frances and Alicia will ask Jamie and Ryan serious questions including what their (Alicia and Frances's) best and worst qualities are. After a brief election prediction, they will dive into the world of guilty pleasures including books, movies, tv shows, music, and food. In this episode, you can find out about their religious beliefs, political beliefs, weird food cravings, and love for horrendous movies. Including but not limited to, Ryan's obsession with baseball cards and Jamie's love of Rocky 3. Do you have husbands with terrible taste too? Do you need to talk to others about their weird habits? How do you think the election will go down? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Fun Moments: Frances and Alicia believe their husbands are both very thoughtful in different ways. Jamie did not make a political prediction, but Ryan thinks Biden will win in a landslide. Jamie loves Rocky 3 and will watch it endlessly. Ryan loves Enrique Iglesias while Jamie loves The Chicks and Kacey Musgraves. Jamie has no shame about enjoying Taco Bell and any Hostess product including ding dongs. Alicia praises Ryan's baseball card hobby because it pays for itself whereas her and Frances's hobby most decidedly does not. Don't forget to look up Bubba Ho-Tep and dive into its wonderful alternative history of Elvis Presley. Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 12 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will continue their series on discussing three different crucial points that they believe will determine the election. The last on their list is social justice and how your viewpoint of what happened this Summer could determine how you will vote in the upcoming election. Frances and Alicia will talk about how Trump handled this issue, what is the root cause of social justice, and other areas of our country that are being affected by social justice. They will look into what privileges each person has, how class can play into effect, and other determining factors of privilege besides race. Do you have an opinion for Alicia or Frances? Do you think social justice will be the reason you vote Democratic or Republican in the upcoming election? How do you feel about how Trump handled the protests this Summer? Do you think it was all Black Lives Matters fault or do you think it was the white supremacists? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 11 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will continue their series on discussing three different crucial points that will determine the election. The second on their list is jobs and the economy. Frances and Alicia will talk about the unemployment rate, the stock market, international trade, and the overall effects of the economy under Trump. They will talk about the facts and fiction of each issue, and they will give credit where credit is due. Do you have an opinion for Alicia or Frances? Do you think Trump has helped the economy as much as he claims? What do you think will happen as COVID-19 continues to be a threat? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions and ideas. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Key Topics: The stock market has risen considerably under Trump's presidency, but only half of the United States owns stocks. Therefore, the stock market is not an accurate representation of the economical climate. The unemployment rate was the lowest in fifty years in February 2020, but as we continue to recover from COVID-19, jobs have started slowing down in their hiring processes. Unemployment is still at eight percent. International trade is currently at a deficit, and we are bringing in more than we are exporting. Trump created a tax cut for larger corporations and the rich. The tax cut was from 38% to 21%. Biden wants to raise the taxes to 28% to benefit the people. When the larger corporations were given a tax cut, research discovered that no money was put back into their businesses to hire more people, give raises, or make changes to benefit the people. Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 10 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will start a new series where they will be discussing three different crucial points that will determine the election. The first on their list is abortion and where each side stands. Frances and Alicia will talk about the history of abortion in the United States, the history of abortion in politics, and the opinion they currently have on the issue. They will also go over how substantial the issue is in the South, in the overall election, and in the Republican party. Do you have an opinion Alicia or Frances? Do you agree or disagree the idea of abortion being a single voter issue? What do you think will happen to the current abortion laws? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions. Follow Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Key Questions When did abortion start in the United States? How long has an abortion law been in place? When did abortions become an issue to be discussed in politics? What was the start of the fight for female reproductive rights? Do you think Joe Biden is pro-choice? Can you be a liberal and be pro-choice? Do you think Trump will win the thirty percent of people who vote on this single issue? Do you think the Republican party has better marketing than the Democratic party? What is your stance on the abortion issue? Should it be for all cases, only certain instances, or outlawed? What do you think will happen to the abortion law if Biden wins? What do you think will happen to the abortion law if Trump wins? Sources “A Concise History of the US Abortion Debate” https://theconversation.com/a-concise-history-of-the-us-abortion-debate-118157 “Roe v. Wade Turns 40, But Abortion Debate Is Even Older” https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/01/22/169637288/roe-v-wade-turns-40-but-abortion-debate-is-even-older “The Complicated Importance Of Abortion To Trump Voters” https://www.npr.org/2020/09/17/913589176/the-complicated-importance-of-abortion-to-trump-voters “How a Divided Left Is Losing the Battle on Abortion” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/01/us/politics/abortion-planned-parenthood.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 9 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will talk with the author of the Foolish Watcher.com blog, Therese Odell. In addition to her blog, Therese is also a freelance writer for the Houston Chronicle. She writes specifically about tv and recaps several popular shows including Lost, The Real Housewives, The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, and, Alicia's personal favorite, The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise. Since starting her own blog FoolishWatcher.com she has also started talking about politics and giving her point of view on the current state of the world. Therese, Frances, and Alicia dive into their feelings on Ruth Bader Ginsburg's unfortunate passing and what they think will happen during this year's election. They will also give their opinions and thoughts on the last election to better prepare themselves for any possible outcome of the election this year. On a brighter note, this episode also discusses shows such as The Watchmen and Lost. Therese will explain how she started writing for television recaps and her opinions on Frances' thoughts about Lost. Alicia and Therese will also go into an in-depth discussion of the inner workings of The Bachelor franchise, their thoughts on the latest bachelor, and previous seasons interesting characters. Do you have questions for Therese, Alicia, or Frances? Do you agree or disagree with some of the political opinions? What do you think will happen in this year's election or in The Bachelorette? You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions. You can reach Alicia and Frances at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com You can reach Therese at: https://foolishwatcher.com/contact/ and follow her on Twitter: @thereseodell and on Facebook: Foolish Watcher - Home episode mixed/edited by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 8 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will discuss Christianity in Politics. Why does the Right believe they are best representing Christians? Can you be liberal and Christian? They will discuss their points on these important questions. They will also talk about the key points that separate most Christians from the Democratic party. So, why do you think the Right cannot get past the abortion stance? Do you think it is a woman's right to choose or do you think there are other options not available to women? Do you think gay marriage lessens your marriage? Why do you think many Christians are not for the gay community and gay people in general? Is there a different point of view you would like to discuss? Want to share your feelings on this topic? Alicia and Frances want to know your thoughts on this matter because it is important to them too. You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your opinions. Follow Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Key Moments The hypocrisy amongst the Right and how they do not act on what they are called to do. Jesus was the embodiment of love and told everyone to love others, not just your friends, not just your family, not just those who think and look like you. He called us to love everyone. The Right feels that legalization of gay marriage was an extreme loss for them. People should be able to choose who they want to love and what they want to do with their bodies. Why do we care so much about someone else's life? Why does the Christian community hate the gay community so much? Why does the Right think that the abortion laws mean that everyone wants to kill babies? Can you be both liberal and a Christian? Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 7 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will take a break from politics and share their guilty pleasures with you. They will go over their favorite books, movies, tv shows, music, and food that they simply cannot resist. So, do you think a guilty pleasure is something you should be ashamed of? Do you consider a guilty pleasure to be a source of garbage that you can't help but love? Do you have any genres Alicia and Frances didn't think of? What are your guilty pleasures? Do you have any favorites that are the same as Alicia and Frances? Want to share your favorite guilty pleasure? Whether it's a book, movie, or tv show, tell Alicia and Frances your favorite guilty pleasure so they can enjoy it too. You can comment, email, or message them to share with them your irresistible sources of enjoyment. Follow Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Frances's Guilty Pleasures Lost Outlander Tangled Twilight Divergent Practical Magic Dirty Dancing Fifty Shades of Grey True Blood Wedding Cake, specifically with buttercream frosting Alicia's Guilty Pleasures The Bachelor franchise, including spin offs, books, podcasts, Reality Steve, etc. Tangled Frozen Twilight Fifty Shades of Grey Taylor Swift Post Malone Stephanie Plum Chocolate Cake McDonald's Fries Chocolate Chip Cookies Episode mixed/edited by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 6 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances will explain the issues that the Postal Service is having and how it is currently impacting the election process. They will go over how the Postal Service is currently losing money, the new postmaster and his qualifications, and the thoughts the president has on mail-in voting. So, what do you think the Republican point of view is? Should more states be doing mail-in voting this year? Do you think the election will be impacted by mail-in voting? Do you know what your states' rules about mail in voting are? Do you think President Trump is creating voter suppression? Well, Alicia and Frances want to know your thoughts, and don't forget to tune in every Tuesday to hear other political opinions, talk with them about your thoughts, and feel connected to other liberal-minded people. Want to get in touch with them or give them ideas? Follow them at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Sources for Today's Episode How are absentee ballots and mail-in voting different? - The Absentee Ballot vs. Mail-In Ballot: Is There A Difference? 6 Ways to Help Save the USPS That Each Take Less Than 2 Minutes Key Moments President Trump appointed Louis DeJoy as postmaster general in May 2020 without any prior experience. The Postal Service is struggling to bring in money and is currently constantly losing money. Cuts to postal worker overtime has caused some to no longer receive their mail in a timely fashion. The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act required the USPS to pay the health and retirement benefits of all of its employees for at least 50 years and stipulated that the price of postage could not be raised faster than the rate of inflation. Could Trump be trying to delay the postal service to have someone to blame in November if he loses? Or is he trying to create voter suppression? What do the Republicans think about all of this? What is their point of view? Absentee Ballot-a ballot filled out by a voter who cannot physically make it to the polls on election day due to sickness, military, college, etc. Mail-In Voting-ballots are sent to residents and do not require an excuse. It is important to find what the rules of your own state are and do your research to learn how to vote properly before election day. Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 5 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances share with you the points found on a recent meme shared by a loved one that detailed points about Joe Biden vs Donald Trump from the Republican point of view. Frances and Alicia will discuss what they think of some of the points, and where they believe the meme is right and wrong in its representation. So, after looking at the meme on their Facebook page, what do you think about it? What did the meme get right? What do you think about the meme's representation of both parties? What other points on the meme do you have opinions about? What do you think of Alicia and Frances' thoughts about the meme? Share your thoughts with Alicia and Frances and don't forget to tune in every Tuesday to hear other political opinions, talk with them about your thoughts, and feel connected to other liberal minded people. Want to get in touch with them or give them ideas? Follow Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Highlighted Meme Points Biden vs Trump Killing Babies vs. Letting Babies Live -The ideas of pro-choice versus pro-life, and what each side actually means. Defunding Police vs. Supporting Police -The ideas behind defunding the police and the branding that is currently associated with that statement. Gun Control vs. Gun Rights -The idea is to provide more rules and regulations instead of taking away guns. Riots and Violence vs. Law and Order -The current situations in society representing the white supremacy control in riots and violence versus law and order. Higher Taxes vs. Tax Breaks -The ideas of a trickle-down system in comparison with more of the super-rich paying their due taxes. Let Anyone Vote vs. Voter ID -Every person who votes must show at least their Driver's license to vote, and the need for a Voter ID is not necessary in all parts of the country. Poverty vs. Prosperity -The idea that liberals want people in poverty is an absurd accusation. Defiance vs. Patriotism -Is the current patriotism Republicans use appropriate and a good representation of our country? Could it instead be considered nationalism? Episode edited/mixed by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 4 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances take on social media and their thoughts on its effects on society. The discussion includes what is good about social media, what causes the most anxiety, what are some tips for handling it, and what are some uplifting feeds to follow? So, how do you feel when you're always on social media? Do you feel yourself comparing yourself to others? Do you know how to handle it in a positive way? Is there a positive person Alicia and Frances should be following? Do you feel like you have to be on social media for work to stay relevant in your field? Alicia and Frances want to know your thoughts, and don't forget to tune in every Tuesday to hear other political opinions, talk with them about your thoughts, and feel connected to other liberal minded people. Want to get in touch with them or give them ideas? Follow: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Highlights Alicia and Frances talk about which social media apps they prefer. Alicia shows the positive environment by seeing other people's current events and big moments. Alicia and Frances discuss which social media apps appear to cause them most anxiety Comparison is the thief of joy and many find themselves comparing their life to others. Social media is a form of addiction because we always have an urge to check our apps. Alicia explains studies that show the serious side effects of social media. Alicia and Frances explain some profiles they like to follow to make their feed more positive. Episode mixed/edited by @erynbird22 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 3.5 behind the Secret Door, (recorded on Monday, August 10, 2020 - the day before Kamala Harris was selected), Alicia and Frances discuss the top six potential candidates for Biden's choice for Vice President based on the Washington Post's ranking of the top contenders. Potential picks include: Kamala Harris; Elizabeth Warren; Susan Rice; Karen Bass; Val Demings; and Tammy Duckworth. They give information about each woman, discuss their positives and negatives, and try to guess which arguments/insults the Republicans will use against each of them. They also go on to tell you who they believe should be picked vs. who they believe Biden will pick. (Spoiler alert: they were correct. Oh, yeah!) So, what do you think about Biden's pick? Do you believe he should have picked differently? Is there anyone that was not considered that should have been chosen instead? What was your pick? Who do you believe could be president tomorrow if needed? Let Alicia and Frances know your thoughts and don't forget to tune in every Tuesday to hear other political opinions, talk with them about your thoughts, and feel connected to other liberal-minded people. And stay up to date on their socials to see when they will give their opinions about Biden's final decision. Want to get in touch with them or give them ideas? Follow Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 3 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances take on Cancel Culture and their thoughts on its toxic behavior. Is it censorship? Does it have the ability to change someone's life ? How does it affect celebrities vs. “normal” people differently? Should we be saying it is wrong? Also, stay tuned to learn about “micro-cancelling” and how Frances sees Facebook arguments as a form of Cancel Culture. And let's find out if this week's controversial thoughts will get Alicia and Frances cancelled themselves. So, have you ever been cancelled? How do you feel about Cancel Culture? What do you think we should be doing about ? Do you think Cancel Culture is a form of censorship? Well, Alicia and Frances want to know what your thoughts, and don't forget to tune in every Tuesday to hear other political opinions, talk with them about your thoughts, and feel connected to other liberal-minded people. Want to get in touch with them or give them ideas? Follow them at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Highlights Definition of “Cancel Culture” and how “wrong think” plays into it. How they believe it is not as effective on celebrities as it is on regular individuals. How Cancel Culture can be dangerous to other's opinions and creating mob mentality. Several examples given of non-famous individuals whose lives have been severely damaged by the act of canceling. Why they believe hypersensitivity may be playing a factor into the Cancel Culture problem. Why they believe arguing on Facebook is a form of cancelling one another. How can we as people approach each other with kindness when disagreeing? --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

In Episode 2 behind the Secret Door, Alicia and Frances discuss COVID-19 in early July. The discussion includes opinions on masks, debating whether to send their kids to school, conspiracy theories on the virus, and the issue of not listening to scientists. Despite the discussion occurring in early July, they believe their main sentiments are still relevant and the overall issues they have faced are still relatable to others. So, how has COVID-19 affected you? Are you sending your kids back to school? How is your conservative environment handling the virus? Do you feel like you're the only one in your area that's doing your part to protect yourself and others? Alicia and Frances want to know what you're experiencing. Tune in every Tuesday to hear other political opinions, talk with them about your thoughts, and feel connected to other liberal minded people. Want to get in touch with them or give them ideas? Follow them at: Secret Door to the Left on Facebook @secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com Highlights Local school systems are only allowing students to be part of school activities and programs if choosing in person school option instead of remote learning. Many conservatives in their area are acting like the virus does not exist anymore. Many are choosing to not believe science and doctors, and the difficulties in understanding people who will not accept facts. Masks should be worn and required in order to protect yourself and others. How COVID-19 is affecting Alicia and Frances personally, and the toll it has on young children. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support

Welcome to the first episode of Secret Door to the Left with new podcasting hosts Alicia and Frances. Get to know them by learning about their background and their current lifestyle. And then, join their podcast journey as they explain their political history and experiences in being liberals in the conservative state of Texas. They will explain why they decided to start a podcast, what to expect in the next few episodes, and how to get in touch with them. So, do you feel like a fish out of water in a red state? Do you feel alone in your political opinions? Do you feel like you can't talk to your friends and families openly about current issues? Well, Alicia and Frances know exactly how you feel, and they're here to help. Tune in every Tuesday to hear their political opinions, talk with them about your thoughts, and feel connected to other liberal minded people. Want to get in touch with them or give them ideas? Follow Secret Door to the Left on Facebook secretdoorttl on Instagram @SecretDoorTTL on Twitter secretdoortotheleft@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretdoorttl/support