While yes, 8 zillion other outrageous things have happened since Sunday night’s Meryl Streep speech that brought down the Golden Globes (and a certain volatile twitter account), we still think it bears discussing.
So today on the latest Spawned podcast episode, we’re chatting candidly about what she said, why we think her speech is worth defending (if you hadn’t guessed from the spisode title), and why we think it’s important that more people engage in politics and the issues they care about — not fewer — whatever their careers or backgrounds or hometowns.
It’s a passionate, fun discussion and we think you’ll really enjoy this one.
Plus, as parents, we talk about how other parents can pull out teaching moments from situations like these; how we’re talking about issues of respect, compassion, empathy, and political engagement with our own kids; why art and performance can be a great way for kids to get out their feelings about the world too.
Take a listen to the latest episode of Spawned here:
And make sure you’ve subscribed to our show on iTunes so you never miss an episode.
A few highlights from the show
-Should actors “stick with acting?” We’re going with no, and we’ll explain why.
-A hilarious but important Twitter rant from Veep actor Timothy Simons that takes down the “out-of-touch Hollywood elite” cliché, big time.
-Kristen shares some enlightening info about Ms. Streep and how she’s spent her life off-screen, which may cast some light on her decision to use acceptance speech the way she did.
– Whoa, Meryl Streep’s speech helped raise $60,000 in one day for the Committee to Protect Journalists.
-A site where you can look up various celebrities and the causes they’re involved with.
-The Human Rights Campaign is about to honor Meryl Streep with their 2017 Ally for Equality Award.
-Liz shares just a few politicians and pundits she like to follow on Twitter who have different politics or policy opinions from her own, to bring her a broader perspective including Evan McMullin, Anna Navarro, and David Frum.
-A chat about the decline of respectful disagreement and civil discourse. (Spoiler alert: Does the term, “UNFOLLOWING” ring a bell?)
This week’s sponsor
We’re happy to welcome the brand new Very Berry Cheerios, which our kids happen to be going nuts for. They’re made only with natural flavors and colors from natural sources, and they’re packed with the taste of real berries in every bite.
Also, they’re way easier (and less messy) than letting your kids try to create “their own” Very Berry Cheerios, as we learned from Kristen’s kids in this video!
Our Cool Picks of the Week
Kristen: Why Causebox is one subscription box you’ll feel good about buying. If only for yourself.
Liz: The Ticket to Ride Game is so amazing for Family Game Night, and in fact, a top pick for tweens and older kids in our newly revised Ultimate Birthday Party Gift Guide!
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Thanks for so much for listening to Spawned. We love hearing from you! Drop us an email spawned@mompicksprod.wpengine.com, catch us on Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #spawnedshow, and please subscribe to our podcast feed on iTunes.
I really like the parenting and life aspects of the podcast best, not political commentary.
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Thanks for the feedback. We know we can’t please all of the people all of the time, but we’re glad there are episodes you’re enjoying.
So now we have to endure hearing about your politics?
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Only if someone is forcing you to listen to a podcast about how we need more respectful dialogue even when we disagree, and the teaching moments that can come out of events like this. Otherwise, nope! You have free will, as always, to listen to whatever you’d like.
Great post!!! Keep up the great work!!!
Thanks for the heads up- I’ll be skipping this podcast. While I have strong political opinions (which are pretty similar to those you’ve both shared), I know that my job as a surgeon (or yours as a parenting writer/podcaster) doesn’t qualify me to preach those opinions to the masses.
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We’re sorry to hear that, Callie. We’d hope that you’d judge the podcast on its content after listening to it first yourself.
We try to be open-minded and present multiple points of view, including those we don’t agree with. We also list several pundits we enjoy following on Twitter who present alternative points of view from our own.
However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t push back on your assertion that we don’t have the right to discuss (not “preach”) the issues going on in the world today. We *all* have the right to discuss the issues in the world that impact our families, whatever they may be. We all have the obligation to speak out against perceived injustices and to try to make the world a better place in whatever way we can. That is, perhaps ironically, one of the main points of this episode.
We are all citizens and we are all entitled to discuss those laws, leaders, and policies that impact us and our children first-hand.
Also interesting: the other main takeaways of this particular episode, should you choose to listen to it, is why it’s important to have more discussions, debates and respectful disagreement on all kinds of topics, and how it would really make our world a better place if we weren’t all so quick to just yell UNSUBSCRIBE or UNFOLLOW without first trying to engage and learn from one another.
Have a great day. – L + K