Jun 3, 2022
Today I have the honor of welcoming back Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers. Sarah and Beth are authors, speakers, and the hosts of the podcast “Pantsuit Politics.” You’ll get to hear from Sarah and Beth about the origins of the podcast, how it began back in 2015 as a bipartisan conversation about politics, and the nuances that could be found in these discussions. As you can imagine, after the election in 2016, life and conversations around politics began to change drastically, and the way we talk about issues, and how we encounter people who disagree with us has just gotten messier. Sarah and Beth’s first book, I Think You’re Wrong But I’m Listening, a guide to grace-filled political conversations was exactly what it sounds like. It still is a truly incredible resource for how to engage in political conversations, particularly for people who just don’t know where to begin navigating them when the climate in the US is so polarized.
Their most recent book, however, titled Now What: How to Move Forward When We’re Divided About Practically Everything is less about politics and more about relationships. As Beth says “we are not even talking about politics anymore in the things that divide us. We are talking about personality and generational differences and the relationships that exist in the world, not just the issue itself, it’s all the things that inform a person’s feelings, experience and it’s a response to issues.” We talk today about what got us here, where we see the heart of God in this journey, and how to just unearth our humanity with honesty, compassion, and nuance.
Beth reminded us that everyone has a story inside of them that they need to connect with someone about because they are still trying to make sense of and work through their version of what we have all been through over these last few years. Wherever you are on that journey, friend, I hope you know that you matter. And your story matters.
PS: If you are interested, the Pantsuit Politics community is currently walking through their new book online, if you’d like to dive into that, and as the news of late continues to be heartbreaking and charged, they attempt to have conversations on the podcast week after week, they have amazing offerings for their patrons on Patreon, live events coming up, and so much more.
Connecting with Sarah and Beth and Pantsuit Politics:
Instagram for Pantsuit Politics
JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going! You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.
References:
First time Sarah and Beth were on the podcast
Bluegrass Redhead (Sarah’s blog)
Escalation of Climate Change (December KY tornado)
Their new book Now What : How To Move Forward When We’re Divided About Practically Everything
Emily P. Freeman and “decision fatigue”
Iron Lungs and the Polio Vaccine
The National Museum for Peace and Justice (lynching museum) in Montgomery, AL
Rosa Parks statue in downtown Montgomery, AL
Scripture References:
Matthew 24:44, Hebrews 10:24-25, Revelation 22:12, 22:20 Jesus is coming back, y’all!
1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Ephesians 4- The body of Christ is made up of unique and diverse human beings
Hebrews 2:14-16- Jesus came and took on flesh
Acts 2:1-21- Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came and helped us understand one another each in our own language
Ecclesiastes 1:9- There is nothing new under the sun
Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories
Podcast:
Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com